Wedding Trends

One of the most exciting aspects of knowing you'll be invited to a wedding is receiving the invite in the mail. Although it may seem silly, seeing awe-inspiring stationery adorned with fancy writing often leads people to circle the date on their calendars and get all giddy when the day draws near.

So if you're currently in the midst of wedding planning, why not make sure your invitations are something incredibly special? Although it may take some careful planning and preparation, the work you put in will pay off in the end.

First, try to pick out invitations that match the colors of your affair. For example, if you asked your bridesmaids to wear violet and silver shoes, purchase lilac stationery and emblazon the paper with silver writing.

Additionally, don't skimp on calligraphy! Everyone loves to see a beautifully handwritten invite that was specially addressed to them. Match them with your wedding favors and your guest will be chatting about your event for the rest of the year.

Your wedding dress is the most personalized gift you can give yourself – it practically defines the ceremony's style and says a lot about your personality. Naturally, choosing that perfect gown is no simple task, but you can make the process a lot easier on yourself by finding inspiration before hitting the boutiques.

A good method of figuring out what exactly you want by watching memorable ceremonies, like Forrest Gump's modest country marriage or Princess Diana's lavish royal fairytale. Find weddings that speak to you and note what it is about them that catches your eye. As you compile a selection of dresses that you like, you should start to see a unifying theme, be it color or style. Flipping through a bridal magazine or two will also work.

Whatever you choose, just remember that this is your day and that ultimately the only opinion that matters is your own. And once you have your gown squared away, you'll be able to concentrate on wedding favors and picking the perfect menu. Remember, if you look fabulous and your guests leave smiling, it's bound to be an event to remember.

Your wedding party is crucial to making sure the big day goes off without a hitch. It's important that you express proper gratitude for the people who spent their weekends tying tiny bows on hundreds of bags of wedding favors.

The end of your bridal shower is a good time to give your bridesmaids a little token of thanks. It's a nice gesture after you've spent the last few hours opening gifts. If you're already on a budget, you may want to skip the individual Flip Cameras and go for something a bit more intimate.

Personalized gifts are a great way to let your bridesmaids know how much you appreciate them without breaking the bank. If you've got photos of the group, consider giving out picture frames that feature the entire bridal party. Give out miniature bottles of champagne, call for a toast and tell your friends how grateful you are to be celebrating your upcoming nuptials with them.

These are some of your best friends and they're more than happy to help you plan such an important occasion, but a nice, thoughtful gift will make them feel important and really cement the importance of their role on your big day.
 

There's a treasure trove of resources out there offering advice on what you can do to make a wedding a memorable occasion. But what about what to avoid? A lot of people find themselves breaking the unwritten rules of weddings. Here's how to prevent yourself from being one of them, as a guest or host.

This shouldn't need to be said, but just in case: don't wear white! You may look really good in that dress, but this is the fastest way to become an unsavory topic of conversation at a wedding.

Showing up without actually RSVP'ing probably won't get you thrown out, but it's inconvenient to have to rearrange seating assignments in order to accommodate you. Keep wedding invitations near a place you frequent so you remember to mail in the response card. Similarly, don't bring an uninvited plus-one.

As the couple, do your best to get an open bar for the reception. Your guests may be spending a lot on travel and gifts and at the very least they deserve a free drink for their troubles.

Lastly, don't expect your guests to shell out a certain amount on your gpresentsifts. Some couples actually expect their guests to reimburse the wedding's cost through their presents! No matter what, this is definitely a no-no.