At the just concluded Martha Stewart Bridal Fair, the audience had a chance to listen to the talk of Rajo Laurel, one of Manila’s in-demand designers. Would-be brides learned a lot about what wedding gown styles would flatter them the most, with the prime consideration being knowledge about one’s body type.

In the latter part of the talk, Rajo was asked about wedding trends for 2009 and his answer opened up our eyes to reality. We can’t disagree with these trends because they’re good!

The shift to “non-colors” for the wedding motif. Whereas in the previous years, motif colors were sunny and bright (think about lime green or even fuschchia), this year it’s going to be all tame. Gray and champagne, here you go!

Metallics rule! Different shades of silver will make your wedding up-to-date, with a touch of shimmer or without. Gold is more last season’s.

It is okay to wear your mom’s or grandma’s wedding dress! Vintage makes a resurgence and doing so is a welcome challenge. It’s just a matter of finding a good couturier or gown maker to make alterations, if needed. We are reminded of presidential daughter Luli Macapagal-Arroyo who wore her grandmother’s old gown for her wedding to Luigu Bernas last year. That spoke of the kind of simplicity we admire.

The ‘eco trend, and being “environmentally-friendly.” A recycled paper gown, anyone? By this we mean going back to nature, and eschewing materials that harm Mother Earth. Recycling is simply the way to go!