LITE DECORATIONS

• Home wedding - choose a single colour scheme for flowers, linens - to unify various objects, elements.
• Country Setting - dress up white linens with stripes, polka dots; go for splashes of table colour - buckets of vivid wildflowers, fresh fruits; cover the ground with straw, bright quilts.
• Outdoor lighting - paper lanterns, a chandelier hung in a tree, hurricane candelabrum with tapers on each table.
• Outdoor decorations - a rainbow of ribbons, "curtains" of rice paper hanging from trees.
• Victorian wedding - cluster collectibles on tables (porcelain figurines, silver frames, ribbed nosegays); dress tables with damask cloths, lace runners, doilies, brocade napkins.
• Garlands - adorn with flowers, fruits, vines, ribbons. Drape across doorways, windows; swag around tables; intertwine among buffet dishes.
• Romance - tapers throughout the room; votive candles on each table, pastel shades (peach, pink, lavender, cream), centerpieces of roses in full bloom, rose petals scattered on tables.
• Scent - fragrant flowers (e.g.; roses. Lilacs, gardenias) scented oil in votives.
• Formal evening - go bold - burgundy, black overlays on gold-fringed tablecloths; rent statuary, leather screens. Doric columns topped with huge floral arrangements, topiaries to flank doorways.

THE CAKE

Cake Innovations

• Woven basket icing.
• Spun sugar swans, butterflies.
• Delicate sugar orchids, roses, anemones, lilies, pansies, daisies, etc., coordinating with the floral decorations.
• Gum paste flowers and beaded medallions echoing colour and details of the wedding dress, colour scheme.
• Elaborate lace and embroidery details in icing, echoing the wedding dress.
• Rainbow-hued pulled sugar ribbons.
• Clusters of white chocolate, coloured berries, grapes, cascading across lattice work tiers.
• Icing baskets filled with sugar field flowers.
• Photograph of couple on ski slope, tennis court, reproduced on cake.
• Different flavor for every tier.
• Edible 22k-gold leaf for art deco weddings.
• Satellite stands display large wedding cake and several smaller cakes; some rotate, have fountains between tiers.
• Marzipan fruits and flowers; candy hearts; white or dark chocolate.
• A cake with tiers shaped and decorated like festively wrapped packages.

Creative Cake Toppings

• Porcelain bridal pair.
• Porcelain figurines painted to resemble bride and groom in colouring, features and attire.
• Blown glass ornaments.
• Electric lights illuminating golden bells.
• A music box playing a favorite song.
• Animals in bridal attire (e.g., dogs, bunnies, etc.)
• Famous cartoon couples (e.g., Mickey and Minney, Kermit and Miss Piggy).
• Regional symbols (e.g., cowboy and cowgirl)

Creative Activities

• Live statues that wink, blow kisses, fall off pedestals - to amuse and surprise guests.
• Fortune teller.
• Handwriting analyst.
• Mimes.
• Professional dancers who give a demonstration, a group lesson.
• Disposable cameras on each table so guests can pose or snap their own candids.

THE WEDDING DRESS

Dress Trends for the Bride

• Instead of a traditional long veil, fresh (or silk) flowers are caught with a wisp of veilings; a hat is tied with tulle, banded with fresh flowers.
• Initials and wedding date are embroidered on handkerchiefs by brides, then passed to the next woman in their family to wed.
• Traditional clothing is worn by brides to reflect their heritage.
• Good luck symbols - small silver charms - are sewn into the hems of bride's gowns.
• Symbolic bridal bouquets - composed of flowers with special meanings, or flowers whose first letters spell out a message.
• Some brides carry the first flowers the groom ever sent them, or wildflowers from a family garden.

Gown Shopping List

Here are what to wear and bring when shopping for your gown:

• Strapless bra or bustier, to give you the versatility to try on all gown styles.
• White control-top panty hose or regular white panty hose.
• White slip (petticoat should be bought with dress, or a special one may be made for the dress).
• Shoes the same heel height you'll wear on your wedding day. (Buy wedding shoes to match dress style, before the first fitting.)
• Hairstyle planned for wedding day.

Wedding Dress Contract Tips

Specify these points in signed and countersigned contract or bill of sale:

• Dress manufacturer and style number, size, colour (white, eggshell, ecru).
• Embellishments (hand-embroidered Alencon lace, sequins, pearls).
• Special order requests and costs (e.g., raise the back three inches, taper dolman sleeves).
• Delivery date.
• Price and payment schedule, deposit paid, fitting and pressing costs.
• Store's policy on refunds (should be 100 percent if garment is never delivered), cancellations.
• Store policy for gown storage, pickup (can gown be borrowed for a pre-wedding photo session and returned).

Dress Features For Each Body Type

• Hourglass shape-off the shoulder portrait neckline flatters large chest; v-shaped basque waist and full skirt flatter waist and hips.
• Short waist-princess shape creates long, slim, silhouette; high-low waist lengthens torso.
• Thick waist-empire line with skirt flowing from below the bust minimizes waist, creates a long, lean silhouette.
• Boyish figure-ornamentation at neckline enhances bust; wide band of pleating at waist adds dimension to lanky upper body.
• Full figure-tapering leg of mutton sleeves flatter full arms; v-neck and v-waist de-emphasize bust and hips.
• Small bust-flowers around strapless bodice balance pear-shaped figure; bows on the off-the-shoulder neckline add shape to slim torso.
• Petite-simple gown flatters a tiny figure; sheath elongates look; subtle shoulder detail keeps focus up and adds height.
• Great legs-above the knee sheath with detachable overskirt or simple mini-dress plays up perfect legs.

How to Walk in a Gown

Here are tips for walking gracefully, without tripping, in a floor-length gown, with or without a train:

• Scuff new bridal shoes in advance.
• Practice walking at home in your gown and shoes.
• Keep head erect, shoulders back, so gown hangs properly on your body.
• Hold gown from the sides and slide it smoothly upward a few inches when ascending or descending stairs.

Something Old, Something New…

• Something old: a family heirloom - a Bible, antique lace on the gown, jewellery - for continuity.
• Something new: the bride's clothes, lingerie-for optimism.
• Something borrowed: a lacy handkerchief, jewellery borrowed from a happily married relative (happiness rubs off).
• Something blue: blue ribbon treaded through lace slip, in garter-for purity, fidelity, love.
• Penny in your shoe: a sixpence in England, a quarter in Canada, a penny in the US - to ensure a life of fortune.

GROOM'S ATTIRE

Dress Trends for the Groom

• Some grooms are wearing outfits that reflect their heritage.
• Most grooms are choosing to wear a wedding band-rings are of gold or platinum, some studded with diamonds, or other gemstones.
• Grooms are wearing a boutonniere that makes a meaningful statement: a bachelor's button (celibacy), a red chrysanthemum ("I love you"), a myrtle sprig (love), a white rose ("I am worthy of you"), sweet William (gallantry).
• Grooms are having bachelor parties that they and their friends enjoy, where they can talk to each other: dinner at a favorite restaurant, a baseball game, a ski weekend with old friends.
• some are selecting their own groom's cake, baked in their favorite flavors (banana, chocolate), in a clever shape (top hat, golf course, tennis racquet).

Your Unique Exit

Here are unique ways to make your exit:

Hot air balloon Dogsled, skis Horse and sleigh Horse and buggy Water or ski gondola Bicycle built for two Fire truck

Rollerblades Mobile home Trolley Helicopter, small plane Antique car Motorcycle In costumes, with musical serenade

Car Decorating Tips

Ushers must decorate carefully so as not to damage the car or obscure vision for driving:

• Use masking or floral tape, or shoe polish. Avoid using glue, cellophane tape, rubber cement, or paint, which can cause damage to the car's paint finish.
• Don't write or drape streamers, balloons, across windows; obscuring views are dangerous.
• If it looks like rain, steer clear of coloured crepe paper, which might bleed.
• Be sure it is the right car!

Child Attendants' Do's & Don'ts

• Do include child attendants in the rehearsal so they can practice their parts and become familiar with the site.
• Don't invite children to attend an evening rehearsal dinner or other prewedding parties.
• Do invite child attendant to the reception, along with their parents.
• Do seat the parents of child attendants on the aisle, in one of the front pews. Parents are familiar faces, and can offer encouragement to their children as they walk past. Children may also sit with them after going down the aisle. This eliminates fidgeting while standing at the alter and distracting everyone's attention from the ceremony.
• Do assign a relative (or hire a baby-sitter) to supervise young attendants at the reception. A teenage guest might set up a play area with activities and snacks. Or include a children's table in your seating plan (arrange for an adult or teen to supervise; provide colouring books and crayons).
• Do choose outfits in which young attendants will be comfortable, and which are appropriate for their age.
• Don't insist on a cummerbund, bow tie, or other accessory if a child resists wearing it.
• Do thank the children for their participation with a gift (e.g., a teddy bear dressed as a bride or groom). Thank their parents, as well, perhaps with a nicely framed photograph of their child walking down the aisle.

Gift Receiving Etiquette

• Register your gift preferences together.
• Ask relatives, attendants and friends to spread the word where you are registered. Or suggest that your maid of honor send out a "wedding newsletter" to other attendants, shower guests and wedding guests, listing where you are registered.
• Never print registry location on wedding invitations. It is acceptable to have shower hostesses enclose printed registry cards in shower invitations only.
• Keep all enclosure cards and accurate gift records. Buy a wedding planning notebook or gift record book from a bridal salon, stationer or bookstore as soon as you get engaged.

Thank You Note Tips

• Enlist your groom's help.
• It's acceptable to write on thank you note for a gift given by a large group.
• Acknowledge gifts received before the wedding within two weeks of their arrival; within a month after the honeymoon for gifts received on the wedding day; within a month of receipt afterward.

Buy Thank You Gifts For

• Bridesmaids and ushers
• Honor attendants
• Child attendants
• Pre-wedding party hosts
• Ceremony readers and soloists, musicians who are friends
• Friends who lodge or drive out of town guests
• Parents
• Each other