Trend - Photo Stamps

Personalize your invitations and reply cards with photo stamps….it can be a picture of the two of you or it can match your invitation theme of swirls etc…If you google photo stamps you will come up with businesses that can do this for you. It’s that extra special touch!
Trend provided by Allison Stahl Photography
Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Ignite the Flame- Sugar & Spice

Give him sugar and spice and everything nice - There are a great many things that can be done to keep the flame burning between you and your hubby in your post-nuptial years, some are terribly romantic and others terribly mundane. The bad news, the mundane actions receive little credit (which means no great “thank you”); the good news, they are easy to implement in your marriage, free of charge, and prevent big fall outs (which means a continual state of bliss and prevention of the “I’m mad at you and you’re not getting any” moments).

Mundane efforts pave the way for a life full of romance! One of the best ways to keep your marriage happy is to let your husband know how much you appreciate him. It’s as easy as reminding him often how great you think he is. Chances are you spent a lot of time in your dating years bragging about him to everyone for some reason, this kind of behavior often dwindles off once vows have been exchanged. Once you’re married, he’s just part of life and you have to live with the good, the bad and the ugly parts of him every day. Often times we tend to focus a little too much on the little things that annoy and take for granted all the great things he does too. If your boyfriend or your fiancé did all the laundry, you probably thought it was the sweetest gesture because he didn’t really have to; so now you’re married and guess what he really has to. Probably, you don’t spend as much time telling him how sweet he is for doing it. Make an effort to acknowledge all the wonderful things he does, no matter how small.

Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Cloud Nine - Don't Get Swept Up

Downtime: These days we are all stressed and busy. Between cell phones, Blackberry's and iPhone's we are never far from the reach of work or family or friends. So what's a newly-married couple to do?Dead Time: Set aside at least 2 to 3 hours a night where you both turn off your cell's, home phone's, TV, computers, etc. Make dinner together, eat dinner together or just hang out. But reconnect and share. This will help you both to get perspective on problems at work or figure out an issue.

Photo courtesy of Sharpe Photographers

Trend - Reception Lounges

Reception Lounges are all the rage when designing the guest’s first impression of what’s to come at the dinner reception. So how can you have a reception for your reception? By using oversized leather ottomans, faux fur upholstered foot stools, high bar stools all are new ways of meeting and “seating” your guests for the cocktail portion of your evening! IN doors or OUT doors, Weather of course is a big factor for what types of “lounge seating” to use in your theme…Try garden style wrought iron for an outdoor, spring Saturday or red, plush, velvet circles in the ballroom foyer for an ethnic, formal or romantic theme. What about WHITE leather chaise benches at the end of the rose garden for a more traditional all white wedding day? Serve your best cocktail for this kind of a greeting! CHEERS !

Trend provided by Slip of Elegance Chaircovers
Photo courtesy of Allison Stahl Photography

Survey Says - What Area Of the Wedding Took the Most Work?

What area of the wedding took the most work?

Figuring out a vision and finding vendors to implement that vision. The process can be very time consuming and frustrating but do it right and it more than pays out in the end.
- Alyssa, married in 2007

Seating.
- Rosie, married in 2006

The details: linens, place cards, favors, all the little things that make a big impact when it's all put together.
- Jennifer, married in 2006

The parts we took charge of ourselves seemed to be the most work – our vendors made the flowers, photography, music, food, etc., really easy for us. But, we made our own save-the-dates, invitations, seating cards, etc., so that was a lot of work, and took a lot of planning. I’m glad we did it ourselves, though – it was mostly a lot of fun, they came out really beautifully, and we saved so much money.
- Hannah, married in 2006

Towards the end, I spent the most time on assembling the favors and figuring out the seating chart. The favors turned out really cute, but I spent a lot of time on them. The seating chart was a nightmare. Trying to make everyone happy is impossible. You just have to do it once, and try to resist the urge to change it repeatedly.
- Alison, married in 2007

We reserved blocks of rooms at hotels in the area for our guests to make reservations at, and in the end most of them went unused. Luckily we steered clear of the hotels that would have charged us for unused rooms, but I definitely wasted a lot of time making the reservations.
- Julie, married in 2007

Photo courtesy of Profinish Design

Tip - Be Flexible With Florals

Flexibility is the key to getting the best flowers for the season at the best price. Start by selecting a floral designer based on their previous work and referrals from other brides – this will give you the comfort you need to trust the designer. During the consultation process, allow the designer to suggest flowers or hard goods. The designer may suggest something that had never come to your mind. It never hurts to open your mind to new ideas -- you may love them.
Broaden your horizon so you can get all the options possible for your time of year and budget. Keep in mind that some flowers are not available all year long; however, a good designer can offer substitutes that look similar.

Tip provided by Visual Impact Design
Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Ask Marvin - Pre-Nup Predicaments

Dear Marvin,
I'm flabbergasted. My fiance wants me to sign a pre-nup! This seems crazy to me! We both come from wealthy families and have our own money and one would not be dependent on the other. I never even considered having him sign a pre-nup but apparently his family is insisting. This just hurts me. Does this mean they don't like me? And why are we PLANNING for our divorce before we are even married?

Love vs. Money

Dear Love vs. Money,
Money is always a touchy subject. But I don't think you should take it personally that a pre-nup has been brought up. This is also about protecting yourself. Pre-nup's are just for the super wealthy now. You have to think about your future. If you don't plan for your future and something was to happen in your marriage and you don't have a pre-nup you could be leaving the division of your assets completely up to a judge, a stranger. Having a pre-nup can actually help eliminate some of the stress of your future. Talk very frankly with your fiance about the pre-nup and how it has made you feel. Work out the details between the TWO OF YOU not your families. This is about your marriage, not your familes. Best of luck!

Marvin

Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Tip - Be Choosy With Chairs

Use beautiful chairs for your ceremony and reception….if the location you have chosen for your event doesn’t provide the type of chair you would like you can always contact a rental company to bring in your favorites. They can make an elegant difference!

Tip and photo provided by Allison Stahl Photography

Trend - Micropleating

Hot for 2008: micropleating! Look like a grecian goddess in the new chiffon gowns with empire waists and tiny pleats throughout.Trend provided by Bella Donna Bridal Salon
Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Trend - Dress Up Your Comfy Shoes

Add lace, beads and sparkle to white sneakers or flip flops to wear for dancing at the reception. Beautiful doesn’t have to be painful! You can have cute trendy shoes that match your gown and keep you comfy through the evening. Trend provided by Alterations by Patina
Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Tip - Don't Forget To Brush...Your Ring

Engagement ring looking a little dingy? Don't have time to run to the jeweler and get it cleaned? Here's a quick fix. Toothpaste! A little toothpaste on a toothbrush with hot water and your jewels will gleam again!Tip provided by Dynamite Weddings
Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Trend - Boutonnieres

The wearing of a flower in the man's lapel goes back to a knight wearing his chosen lady's colors. In some cultures the wearing of a boutonniere started by wearing small clusters of herbs to ward off curses and evil spirits. In modern times a boutonniere worn by a man is usually reserved for proms and weddings. But gone are the days of the giant rose nestled in a pouf of Baby's Breath.
Today’s trendy boutonnieres make a stylish and personal statement. Fashionable boutonnieres are designed with an eye towards detail. Look for unexpected and different elements. Beading wire, pods, ornamental grasses, feathers or patterned ribbon can be fabulously incorporated into fashion forward boutonnieres. Any way you pin it, the boutonniere is meant to be the final perfect touch for a very special day.

Trend provided by Flourish
Photo courtesy of Allison Stahl Photography

Tip - Hand Canceling Invites

One of the most important things you can do for your invitations when mailing, aside from proper postage, is to request hand-canceling from your local post office. Hand-canceling bypasses postal machinery, thereby, ensuring your invitations arrive in the best possible condition to your guests. This is especially important if you are mailing pocket style invitations or invitations with three dimensional embellishments like crystals, ribbon or wax seals.

Tip provided by Stephanie J Designs
Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Tip - Prep Those Toasting

Plan in advance who will be given the microphone during the toasting time. Give those people notice to plan something nice to say and you won’t have the babbling, long winded, inebriated friend try to take over the reception.Tip provided by Pfeiffer Event Planning
Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Trend - Desert Dinner...Have A Dessert Reception

Dessert Wedding Receptions - Feeding your wedding guests might be more difficult than anticipated. One way to sidestep the worry of what to serve is to forgo dinner all together and invite your guests to an evening of decedent desserts. With the easy availability of Chocolate Fountains and delicious baked goods you can give your guests and evening of sweet sensations. Just remember that a slightly smaller wedding cake may be in order as guests probably won’t eat as much. You can also keep the large cake, and send home slices in custom boxes.

Trend and photo provided by Sarah Maren Photography