Trend - Signature Plate

Consider a signature plate in lieu of a traditional guest book. All your guests can leave their well wishes on a fun signature plate that you can display in your kitchen.

Photo courtesy of Celebration Plates

Trend - A Bunch With A Hunch

Piecing together small bouquets of flowers with individual fortunes attached can be fun for the lucky girls that catches these beautiful designs.

Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

Tip - Creative Ceremony

If there are people that you want involved in your day that break tradition, remember that tradition is only a guideline, not a rule. If you are more comfortable having your brother walk you down the aisle, don't worry about the logistics of him being in the wedding party and escorting you. The most important part is including those that mean the most to you and your fiance on your big day. How things look is not a concern, it's how you feel in that moment that's important. Follow your heart.

Photo provided by The Memory Journalists

Trend - Mazel Tov Memories

Planning to break some glass at your wedding? If your groom is going to stomp on the wedding glass during your ceremony, consider Mazel Tov Glass. This innovative concept was created by a creative team looking for an original keepsake gift. Mazel Tov Glass provides you with a hand blown Mazel Tov Wedding Glass (in your color choice) in a velvet Mazel Tov bag imported from Israel. After the glass is stepped on, you mail the glass shards back in the container provided and they suspend the glass pieces with clear molten glass to create a Mazel Tov Glass Heirloom.

Love it! "Mazel, Mazel. Good things." (from Along Came Polly)

Photo courtesy of Mazel Tov Glass

Tip - Don't Shirk Going Shorter

Don't be afraid to try a shorter wedding dress (knee or cocktail length). You shouldn't feel like you have to go floor length because it's traditional. You can pick a shorter dress with some traditional elements incorporated, like lace, beading or ruffles and still look wedding chic.

Photo provided by Carmela Sutera

Trend - Money Dance

Many brides and grooms honor the tradition of the money dance at their wedding. Guests make an offering to dance with the bride or groom. This is a way of wishing good fortune on the bride and groom and helps them out financially. While many understand the history behind the money dance, for those that don't they may see it as "tacky". I suggest finding a way to make this "tradition" understood. You could possibly put it in the program or have the DJ announce the money dance, explaining briefly it's history.

Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Trend - Combined Traditions

Many couples marrying from different backgrounds are now combining their two traditions to create a fun, original wedding. Nowadays you can possibly see two ceremonies and many different traditions incorporated into the reception to make for a personal day that allows everyone to experience new things.Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

08/08/08 - A Big Day For All!

So today is a big day all over the world! The start of the Olympic Games in Beijing. The festivities begin on 08/08/08 at 8 p.m., signifying a lucky day, according to the Chinese who relate the number 8 to good fortune.

While the athletes are getting revved up to compete, many couples in China are getting ready to tie the knot on this very lucky day. Over 15,000 couples are set to marry today in Beijing, reports the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, claiming 08/08/08 to be the luckiest day on the Chinese calendar. Choosing to marry, or register for marriage on 08/08/08 helps promote the prosperity and happiness of all newly weded couples. Congrats to all those couples choosing to tie the knot on 08/08/08. We wish you a lifetime of happiness and prosperity!

Get ready everyone and let the games begin!!

Trend - Sharing Cultures

So you and your hubby to be don't come from the same cultural background? Well why not incorporate some of your (and his) cultural wedding traditions into your big day? Whether it be the Jewish Glass Breaking, or the traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony. The family from the other side may find each culture very interesting and it is a great way to bring multicultural families together.

Trend provided by Dynamite Weddings
Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Survey Says - What Guidance Would You Share?

What could you have used guidance on?

Etiquette, the traditional things (example: Addressing the invites).
- Rebecca, married in 2003

The only part of the process I needed and used guidance on was vendor selection. I carefully gathered references and found out who works well together and who worked well with me. If I had done the search blind, without bridal industry experts offering recommendations, I think I may have ended up with a different day-of product or maybe an anxiety attack!
- Alyssa, married in 2007

Our coordinator did a great job providing guidance on hiring all our vendors, and structuring our day – our minister did a great job of providing guidance for our relationship. Unfortunately, because of illness, my parents weren’t able to be as involved as I know they would have liked to; I would have loved having more of their perspective.
- Hannah, married in 2006

The timeline for the day was super important and I knew nothing about coordinating; help with coordinating some of the smaller details of the ceremony.
- Melanie, married in 2007
Photo courtesy of Sharpe Photographers

Tip - Have Fun With Tradition

When throwing the bouquet or garter, usually the DJ will count to 3 or something like that. As an alternative, why not have the bride or the groom do the counting. As another twist, you may have your guests do the count down. If your groom is a football fan, wrap the garter around a (soft) football and hike or pass it. There is not a guy around that will intentionally let a thrown football become an incomplete pass!

Tip provided by Music on the Move DJs
Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue

Who knew tradition could be so much fun? I loved how creative and sentimental you can make every aspect of a wedding. I opted for a something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue that told a little story about me…

Something old: My something old was very sentimental. I used my grandmother’s engagement ring as my wedding ring (the hubby proposed with an amazing eternity band instead.) She was married in 1932, and my grandfather was a jeweler so he selected the diamond and designed the ring himself. When she passed away, she willed her wedding set to me. My grandma was my hero, best friend and closest confident (even if she was 72 years older than I). Somehow being married with her band makes me feel like she is still with me.

Something new: There are so many fun new things involved in weddings! My favorite was my made-for-me dress by Miosa Couture. It was elegant and circumspect, yet completely quirky and unexpected…it was so ME! I adore this dress!!!

Something borrowed: My mom let me borrow her diamond and pearl broach, also from my grandpa, that I pinned to my bridal bouquet. It was very special to me to have something from my grandparents and mother with me as I walked down the aisle to start my own family.

Something blue: It is fun to get creative with this one! I am a closet shoe freak: I have an absolute love affair with pretty shoes, so naturally I looked to my feet for my something blue…and found the cutest, most whimsical Hale Bob sparkly blue heels.I love seeing what other people select as their special choices too! You can get to know so much about a bride by her choices. So tell me, what are/were your something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue?

All photos courtesy of The Memory Journalists.

Tip - Don't Forget It's Your Wedding. Personalize it.

It’s all About You! - Infuse as much of your personality as possible into your wedding. There are very few rules anymore about what can and can’t be done at a wedding. Make your day as unique as you are. Use your favorite colors! Play your favorite music! Infuse the history of your relationship throughout your wedding.
Whether it’s a Lego cake topper or naming your tables after your favorite kinds of beers put as much of your uniqueness as possible into your wedding day. Your guests will love the experience, and your pictures will be one of a kind.

Tip provided by Sarah Maren Photography
Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Trend - Don't like cake?

You don’t have to be traditional, you just have to be you. If you want to serve ice cream cones, your favorite pie, or other non cake dessert, then do so! Have fun, relax, and laugh. Be yourselves!

Tip and Photo provided by The Memory Journalists

Trend - Personal Thank You

The popularity of personal thank you cards is growing. Create two large poster size sign boards with “Thank” on one, and “You” on the other. The wedding photographer takes a photo of the newlyweds holding up their signs. Other words, such as “Just” and “Married” have been used, or “Mr. and “Mrs.” Imagine the combinations.

Trend provided by A Day to Remember Wedding Consultants
Photo courtesy of Sarah Maren Photography

To cake or to cup, that is the question

One of my dearest friends is getting married this summer and has opted against the time honored cake for reception fare. Instead, she has decided to go with a delicious assortment of gourmet cupcakes, arranged in a tiered manner, designed uniquely to coordinate with their color scheme and with their monogram. I am so excited by this! The cupcakes will be in a variety of flavors, with a bunch of different yummy fillings. I love this take on a “modern” cake…what is more fun than cupcakes? There's something so shabby chic about making a childhood delight an elegant dessert.

If you too would like to go for this modern take on old tradition, Sacramento has a new delectable gourmet cupcake bakery called Cupcake Craving. A cupcake stand could also be a great way to save treasured wedding funds by making them yourself. It could be a perfect opportunity to bond with family or bridesmaids, or to let great Aunt Martha feel needed—it’s a bit difficult to make a bad cupcake (particularly a chocolate one!) and easy to bake until you get it right. Just imagine the fun you could have on all those trial runs! Michael’s craft store sells cupcake tiers in a variety of sizes, and offers a recipe for making decorative fondant cupcakes.

Ask Marvin - Tradition vs. Trend

Dear Marvin,
I'm a modern bride getting married in an old-fashioned church. My bridesmaids really want to wear strapless dresses. I must admit, they are the most flattering on all of their figures, and really cute. The problem is my mom is driving me crazy about how inappropriate it would be, and how upset it will make my grandmother. I'm not even sure if strapless or halter dresses are allowed in the church. But, my bridesmaids are footing the bill and I feel awkward telling them they have to buy something they hate. What should I do? I don't want to upset my family or church, but I don't want to upset my friends either.
Help!

Signed,
Strapped with Confusion

Dear Strapped,
First off, it is your wedding day and your friends are there to support you as part of your special day. If that means wearing a yellow feathered dress to a carnival themed wedding, so be it. That's what friends are for. That said, it is lovely (and so un-bridezilla) of you to listen to their desires. I happen to agree that it is better for all, and far less stressful on friendships, when bridesmaids are happy. But it is not good for anyone when mothers and grandmothers are upset; and it is certainly never good etiquette to be disrespectful in places that many hold sacred.
Lucky for you, I have just the solution to your problem and it doesn't require upsetting anyone. If you are having an evening or Fall or Winter wedding, give each of your bridesmaids a pashmina (or similar) wrap as a thank you gift. Buy the wraps in a color that coordinates with your wedding and the dresses so they can wear it during the ceremony. After, they can take it off at the reception and party in their pretty strapless gowns. They come away with a lovely gesture that they can actually wear again (I don't care what anyone says: NO ONE wears a bridesmaid dress twice, just ask Goodwill). You get to be the bride that saved the day; and who doesn't love playing hero! If you are having a spring or summer wedding and a wrap would be to warm, you could achieve the same affect with a cute bolero jacket.

Best wishes,
Marvin

Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Trend - A Flashy Twist on Old Tradition

Don't forget your something blue!

It used to be a handkerchief, undergarments, a garter belt...things that people didn't see except you and your new husband. Amazing, original jewelry is the perfect way to display your something blue, old, new or borrowed.

Trend provided by Dynamite Weddings

Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists