1. 15 Must read tips

Find a Theme.

Want to make your wedding memorable? Find a common chord to play through all the elements. Ideas: choose a motif, like butterflies; pick a palette, such as turquoise and coral; or mimic a mood, like a chic, retro cocktail party. Sticking with a theme will help keep you focused and make your style decisions (somewhat) easier.

Think the Unexpected.

For example, guests expect leaves and pinecones at a fall affair, so surprise them with ferns and green apples -- you can go sophisticated (real ones dusted with shimmering gold sparkles and placed in copper-colour bowls as decor) or sweet, literally (caramel-dipped Granny Smith's wrapped in cellophane as wedding favours).

Pick a Palette.

Flip through home decor and fashion magazines for colour combinations that catch your eye. To help you choose the exact hue for your wedding details, carry around paint chips in your wedding colours to make sure everything you choose works in your palette.

Get Inspired by Nature.

Can't decide on just one or two colours for your wedding? Don't worry. In fact, many extraordinary weddings weave a variety of colours, sometimes up to five, that work together as a whole to create a specific sensibility. For example, you might pick bright green, summery yellow, pale pink, rich red, and caramel brown for an English garden look; or leap into autumn in New England with pale green, ruby red, burgundy, and gold.

Colour Coordinate.

When it comes to working with your invitation designer and cake baker, pay as much detail to colour as you do to design. If you have access to a Pantone book, use this collection of colours to select your shade the same way graphic designers do. Many invitation designers mix ink to match the colours in this book, and many cake bakers use Pantone numbers as a reference when creating dye for the frosting.

Personalize Your Flowers.

The Victorians had a strong belief in special meanings of flowers, and they chose their floral arrangements accordingly. Daisies represent innocence, while Stephanotis ensures happiness in marriage. Orchids symbolize true love, mums guarantee wealth and abundance, and mixing freesia and gardenias alludes to your innocence and purity.

Give Extra Meaning.

Keeping the guest list small means that you'll have more money for extra details -- providing limousine services, loading up the gift baskets, and six-course feasts for your guests. Think boxes of chocolates instead of a single truffle, the best champagne rather than sparkling wines, and luxurious arrangements of roses and rare orchids as far as the eye can see.

Site Specifics.

Don't forget that your space should influence your design decisions. For example, beaches and lakes are breezy, so keep decorations simple and well secured. Also, consider providing a small throw blanket on each person's chair as your wedding favour since it's always a bit cooler at the shore.

Size It Up.

Consider setting up different sizes and shapes of tables (circular, square, rectangular) and use different textures or designs for the fabrics (pin-stripe fabrics on round tables and tiny polka-dot covers on square ones).

Customize With Customs.

Even if you're planning a fairly traditional ceremony and reception, you can still incorporate ethnic customs. In France, for example, the bride and groom drink from an engraved two-handled cup at the reception; to represent joy and celebration, the Chinese decorate with the colour red; and in Indian tradition, guests sprinkle flower petals over the heads of the bride and groom after they've taken their vows. Just research the origin of the customs so you know you're not offending anyone.

Top it Off.

If you're marrying in a holiday season, give a little extra cheer. Saying 'I do' on New Years' Eve? Make sure the countdown to midnight is merry. The waiters should start pouring champagne a good 15 minutes early to make sure everyone is able to hold a glass aloft during the final seconds of the countdown.

Go For Glam.

Going all-out-glam? Don't overdo it! Glamour is best displayed in subtle, unexpected moments: Violinists greeting guests at the sidewalk and escorting them to the event makes for an impressive (not over-the-top) entrance.

Get Informed.

Be sure to have the 101 on your wedding site before you start making big plans. Having an outdoor wedding by the water? Be sure to check the tide schedule! Tides coming in are noisier than tides going out, plus you risk the chance of water creeping up on you as you wed.

Find Your Focus.

Keep bride envy in check. Every time you hear another fabulous idea, don't feel as though you need to find a place for it in your wedding.

Just Say No!

Make a pledge that for the last three weeks before the wedding you will not take on new initiatives. Yes, that includes those DIY flip-flops!

2. 15 Unique reception ideas

Looking to have a wedding like none other -- at least like none other you've ever attended? Don't be afraid to try something new and something that's intrinsically you. The first step is to define who you are as a couple. Investigate your likes and dislikes. Ask yourselves: What do we enjoy doing in our spare time? Which is our favourite season? Favourite artists, movies, and music? Favourite era? Once you've unveiled your personal style, you're ready to take the second step and start developing a wedding-day theme.

Your theme doesn't have to be something so complex as a Hawaiian luau, replete with a roast pig, leis, and grass skirts, but it should pinpoint an element that can be used as a thread throughout your wedding day -- a colour, a flower, or even a vintage brooch. You may be inspired by pink roses, a pearl-studded purse, or snowflakes (because the two of you met on the ski slopes). Or you may love sunsets so much that you host your ceremony at sundown, have wedding programs designed in shades of the sunset (from burnt orange to pale pink) and choose amber-colour pin-lighting in your reception venue. Need more ideas? Here are 15 ways to craft a one-of-a-kind celebration.

1. Find the right spot.

Locating the right spot to host your fun, formal affair is your greatest challenge. Having the wedding in a hotel ballroom will lend a very different tone than having it in an old weathered barn on your grandfather's farm. Locate a distinctive venue -- scout out old nightclubs, movie theatres, city roof gardens, hip restaurants, art galleries, or historic mansions. Or transform the space you choose into something different by setting up screens to create different environments for dinner and dancing. You can even change the mood from one area to the next with the lighting: one room might feature white and ivory paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling while the next may be outfitted with deep red beaded lampshades on every table.

2. Develop a theme.

Finding a common chord to play through all the elements of your wedding -- from your paper products to your party -- will help you put on a production that's truly unforgettable. Try a masquerade ball! Infuse your theme from the reception venue (a fancy ballroom or an old theatre) to what to wear (have guests come in costumes, such as butterflies and angels) to the favours (give guests handmade masks) to the honeymoon (go to Venice during Carnevale).

3. Pick an unforgettable guest book idea.

Have a photo booth set up at the site so that your friends and family can take their own pictures or group shots. The results are a little like a home video without sound. Whether you pose properly, make funny faces, or try your best Rockette kick line, you'll be caught on tape showing your true colours. Compiled into a visual wedding-day guest book, these are photographs that will be treasured by brides and grooms for years to come.

4. Pay attention to the decor.

The vibe of every wedding is dictated by the decor. To achieve an event that reverberates with romance, adorn your space with dozens of red roses and golden ornamentation. For casual elegance, try candles set afloat in pools, flowers floating in fish bowls, and a string quartet playing love ballads.

5. Go classic.

White-on-white is never out of style. As many people as there are looking for hot, hip new colours and coordination there are those craving the ultra-traditional. Talk to your florist about mixing shades of whites for the bouquets; use all-white linens or linens that mix various shades of white -- ivory cloths with white overlays, for example; and have a white wedding cake with white rolled fondant frosting and accented with ivory sugar blossoms. Final touches: waiters dressed in tuxedos with white jackets (hello, James Bond), and, of course, a white limousine.

6. Embrace colour.

Develop a visually stunning scene using monochromatic colour, whether blue, violet, or kiwi green. Consider setting up different sizes and shapes of tables (circular, square, rectangular) and use different textures or designs for the fabrics (pin-stripe fabrics on round tables and tiny polka-dot covers on square ones). Although your colour palette will remain the same, each tabletop will render a distinct personality.

7. Set your tables apart.

Who says the tables must sport uniform arrangements? Think of your spread of tables as a garden, each row or corner with its own identity. Place some of your chosen blooms in tall opaque vases, float other flowers in short bowls, use others in clear vases filled with rocks and water. Accent the shorter centrepieces with tall taper candles and the taller ones with shorter votives or tea lights.

8. Make it intimate.

If you've chosen a huge reception space to accommodate your massive family, make it more intimate by adding lounge furniture. If you can't bring in couches and plush chairs to create a sitting area, try seating only four people to a table instead of eight to ten, or drape the walls and ceilings with rich velvety fabrics to close in the space.

9. Go for good lighting.

Lighting is a key (and usually forgotten) element. Okay, so there's always candlelight or chandeliers or strung twinkle lights. But before you take an easy way out, ask if your venue has another form of lighting and use it! Find out if your venue can provide cool effects like gobo lighting to create shapes with light. Yes, it could border on cheesy if you overuse it, but initialling the white walls with your new monogram during your first dance can add an unexpected element to the occasion.

10. Cool Getaways

Give guests a lasting impression with a fabulous send-off. Have a fireworks display over a nearby lake; be the last to leave and thank each guest personally as you hand out favours; or have one final dance song with everyone on the floor!

11. Drink it up.

Espresso bars are hot and a good accessory to dessert -- especially if you serve your espresso with cordials. These bars also provide a good jolt toward end of the night as the party winds down and the yawns start pouring in; plus, lattes and cappuccinos served on dainty china can be very sexy drinks.

12. Have a dessert buffet.

Bring in 20 different sweets like chocolate-covered strawberries, banana fosters, and crème Brule. Talk to your caterer for clever ways to decorate tables and present mini desserts. Your family can join in the fun -- ask your best friend's mother to make her famous brownies or your aunt to make those pecan delights. A dessert buffet encourages mingling and ensures getting people off their seats and closer to the dance floor. If you still can't pass on the multi-tiered confection, box the individual cake slices and distribute as favours.

13. Go pro.

Book professional entertainers. An a cappella group or singing waiters during cocktail hour will turn on the charm. Hire a group of dancers -- choose from belly dancers to Irish jig or salsa dancers -- who'll perform during courses. Bring in some different music for an hour or so, perhaps a steel drum band, a barbershop quartet, or a mariachi band.

14. Add a cigar roller to your reception.

A master cigar roller who demonstrates the art of cigar rolling will prove to be a big hit. You might ask him to display and hand out an array of rare or limited-edition cigars for guests to enjoy after dinner -- do this in conjunction with a lounging area or around a martini or vodka bar for an added chic factor. Or, have him entertain guests during the cocktail hour while you two are busy taking pictures.

15. Invest in a watercolour artist.

There are wedding watercolour artists who will draw in pastels, or paint in watercolours, the reception as it unfolds. This can be a great gift for the bride and groom, but it's also some quiet entertainment for guests and especially good for weddings set in great scenery -- creating a collage of events like guests dancing outdoors on the sand and the best man's toast by the water at a beachside bash.

3. The wedding style

1. Casual

It's the new obsession. As many social circles have collectively declared the traditional pomp and pageantry of workaday weddings to be too much, couples are now choosing a more laidback approach that's elegant in essence but never stilted or overblown. It's a beautiful breed of informality that allows for a carefree aesthetic, as well as expressions of personality, wit, and style. In rejecting cookie-cutter conventions, many brides and grooms are discovering "casual elegance." Luxe with less is definitely more, but exactly how do you plan a played-down party? Here's how we'd do a cool, casual wedding.

The Litmus Test

First things first: Ask yourself, do you really want a casual wedding? The term speaks to simplicity and a dressed-down ambience. For some, informal means stripping the wedding of all the bells and whistles in favour of more free-spirited fancies. Sometimes "simple elegance" conjures up a sophisticated, understated soiree, probably set in a chic hotel ballroom, but with a minimalist, less-is-more theme driving the decor. We think contrast is key -- tuxedoes and bare feet; beach grass in cut-crystal vases; Spit braai served on luxurious white linens....

Whatever your interpretation, committing to casual usually means forgoing the voluminous gown, the dramatic ice sculptures, the sprawling buffet, and towering centrepieces. That said, you never want to be in the position of having to reject certain details or concepts that are important to you in an effort to appear stylish, or because someone tells you they aren't in good taste. Many wedding consultants tell their couples to close their eyes, imagine the scene of their wedding, and then describe the specifics as best they can. In fact, this is how you'll find the answers to all of your vibe and formality issues.

The Invitations

The look and language of your invitations typically prescribe the degree of your wedding's formality, cluing guests in as to what to wear, the mood of your celebration, and who you are as a couple. While the classic ecru, engraved invitation is straightforward and elegant, we prefer the use of handmade papers with soft, sumptuous surfaces, textured or detailed ribbons, echoed motifs (bumble bees, butterflies, snazzy monograms), and imagery for a casual wedding. Colour also helps to create an evocative picture of the fun to come: for ink, instead of black, think copper or burgundy. Or, better yet, incorporate unexpected colour combos -- lime with raspberry or hunter-green with burnt orange -- into the design scheme. Personal, imaginative wording is another way to flaunt your casual style. Hip invitation designers urge their clients to compose the text of the invitation in their own voice, as if they were writing a letter to their guests. Your own handwriting might work well; otherwise, ask your designer to see samples of type styles that are not too flourished. Or send e-cards, now that's really easy!

The Setting

Basically, you want a location that allows for stretching legs, letting down hair, and leisurely, unpretentious partying. You want a place where guests can feel free to throw a Frisbee after dinner, or where children could comfortably set up a picnic on the grass. Meanwhile, just as easily, other guests could be twirling parasols or sampling oysters from a nearby display. Frolicking dogs are charming, too. Rustic but refined is a good rule of thumb: a meadow, a white tent on the beach, a clearing in the forest...all of these settings will provide a fitting and welcome sense of informality. City slickers might head for a small town in the country, appropriately equipped with pared-down peace and quiet. Likewise, pastoral bed-and-breakfasts offer unbeatable seclusion and intimacy. Still, such venues don't mandate a rough-around-the-edges kind of revelry. For instance, no aspect of the decor should look styled; instead, the scene should seem spontaneously decorated. For table linens, ditch the demure ivory damask and go for heirloom lace tablecloths, toile, plaids, Provencal patterns, or cheery checked cloths.

Flowers -- Gerbera daisies, sunflowers, or gathered wildflowers -- can be displayed in eclectic containers like jars and pitchers. The lighting's as au naturel as possible, subtly illuminating the fete in the form of clean, white candles, antique candelabra, or rustic metal railroad lanterns.

The Look

Simply put, a casual-but-elegant bride may wear whatever she likes. It might be a streamlined sheath with crisp, columnar lines, a strapless sundress with a straw hat, or a smart, retro pantsuit. While plush and princess-like are never entirely out of place, the wear-again potential is often a priority. We love the idea of revamping a vintage gown, transforming a lace-heaped creation with multi-tiered petticoats into something more runway-worthy: maybe a fresh, flirty, above-the-knee masterpiece. Her relaxed groom can sport an East Coast ensemble: tan trousers with a navy blazer, perhaps, with a colourful grosgrain belt and bow tie. A jacket might not even be necessary -- we love un-tucked white dress shirts worn with neckties partly pulled undone. As far as wedding party attire, abandon the matchy-matchy urge. Let the guys get gussied up in their own gear, and dress the girls in flowery "summer-at-the-seashore" cotton frocks. Bouquets have only to show some stem, while stalks of wheat or sprigs of rosemary make beautiful boutonnieres.

The Menu

In the midst of multiple toasts and other blissfully unstructured reception moments, guests can enjoy a grand gourmet feast or a pleasant picnic repast -- both are fair game. We envision guests dining family-style at long wooden tables, passing stoneware platters piled with oak-smoked meats and aromatic grilled vegetables back and forth. Anything you can eat with your fingers is appropriate. Think olives, ripe raspberries, imported cheeses. Rustic loaves of bread served with sweet butter and an assortment of homemade preserves are ideal accompaniments. Pitchers of ice water, lemonade, or sangria might grace the tables, along with carafes filled with wine from local vineyards.

The Parting Gesture

Say goodbye graciously: Give out thoughtfully chosen favours, modest and meaningful. How about a perfect pear, apple, or white peach? An assortment of penny candy makes a kitschy keepsake, while indigenous delights like wax-sealed jars of honey from a local farm are deliciously quaint. Making a donation to a local charity or historic property is yet another way to show good taste. Finally, a few words about presentation: Think twice about tulle pouches and pearl-edged ribbons. Instead, look to the powers of antique handkerchiefs, dried herbs and flowers, raffia, burlap, and other unexpected materials.

The wedding style

2. Formal Affairs

A formal wedding calls for grand gestures, good taste, and glamour. If you've always dreamed of this kind of wedding, we've got ideas and tips for creating the ultimate class act. One word of advice: Don't fret if you're working with a champagne taste on a small budget. Focus on important aspects like the site, the entertainment, and what you're wearing, and let the rest fall formally into place.

The Inspiration

First, get in the mood. Start by dressing up and going out one night for drinks, just the two of you. Order real cocktails, like martinis, gimlets, or cosmopolitans (no beer!). Next, try some visual inspiration. Flip through Mom and Dad's wedding album for some of that retro vibe (check out their clothes, their hair, the car they drove away in). Have a movie marathon one Saturday afternoon to study the style of the masters: the smooth moves and savoir faire of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Top Hat, the polished white tie and witty banter of Myra Loy and William Powell in The Thin Man series, and the immortal Cary Grant in just about anything (see him exchange bon mots with Katharine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story). You can also prep for your swelligant event with some fancy footwork of your own-that's right, ballroom dance classes. Grab your partner and learn how to foxtrot, waltz, maybe even swing. Then it's time to start planning.

The Announcement

The most classic invitation is engraved, written in black ink on white, ecru, or ivory paper. It's more formal and traditional to not include a reply card, but since many of today's wedding guests aren't aware that they're supposed to sit down and write a formal acceptance note, you'll probably be better off using them. Have a calligrapher hand-address all the invitations. A rule of thumb to keep in mind: The later in the day the wedding is, and the more people attending, the more formal a celebration it is. In other words, white tie for 500 people really should only happen at night, so if that's what you have in mind, plan the timing accordingly. You can indicate "White Tie," "Black Tie," or "Black Tie Optional" on your invitation to make it clear to your guests that now's the time to dust off (or rent) some formalwear.

The Setting

Your venue will set the scene: Go for glamour and drama. When it comes to decor, candlelight is key; if your reception location has high ceilings, you may want to use tall candelabra with long tapers to illuminate the room without making it impossible to see others across the table. Fancy bamboo-look reception chairs are naturals for a formal affair. If you use folding chairs, choose subtle white or black ones instead of the thick, heavy metal kind. If you can swing it, choose seat cushions or tablecloth overlays in rich fabrics. For flowers, you can't miss with roses, red or white. Or, consider potted trees with tiny lights strung in their branches.

The Look

So, what will you wear? When it comes to gown elegance, less is more. Opt for the simple, clean design of an A-line. However, one acceptable area of apparel excess is the train. Remember that the more formal you go gown-wise, the longer it can become. You might choose a "chapel" length train, or a "cathedral" length train. (For a formal daytime wedding, a shorter train is also appropriate.) Naturally you'll want to bustle up a long train during the reception. Alternatively, a ball gown with a full tulle, silk, or satin skirt is a perfect formal look sans train.

A long tulle veil (in a length that complements your train) with a "blusher" (the part over the bride's face as she advances down the aisle) adds to the drama. Also keep in mind that veils can be designed for removal at the reception. If you don't care to wear a veil at all, an up-do is your best bet, especially when worn with a tiara, a beaded comb, silk flowers, or a wreath of fresh flowers. For the finishing touch, try wearing elbow-length gloves if you have a sleeveless gown, or carry a silk, tulle, or velvet wrap (depending on the season).

The Formalwear

For an evening wedding, the groom may wear a tuxedo (black-tie) or tails (white-tie). Another option is the white tuxedo jacket (very James Bond). During the day, traditional formalwear is a morning coat: a grey or charcoal tailcoat worn with a vest or waistcoat and ascot instead of a bow tie and cummerbund. Technically, tuxedos should not be worn before 6 p.m., but that "rule" no longer holds. If the reception begins around or after 6, it's okay to wear a tux to a ceremony that starts in the afternoon. If the groom has several black-tie events in his future (and what gentleman doesn't?), he may want to consider purchasing his own tuxedo; alternatively, renting is fine as well.

The Fare

At the cocktail party of a formal event, the operative word is "cocktail". Have your bartender serve a classic martini, or maybe an updated version preferred by the two of you. A seated multi-course meal (appetizer, salad, sorbet/fish course, entree, cake/dessert, coffee) is the most formal option. If you want to have people mingle a little, a dessert buffet can loosen things up. Elegant china is a must. If you want to go all out, serve caviar and oysters, and have different fine wines and/or champagnes for every course. You may even want to have a cheese course with cordials. If you're not into a full dinner, don't rule out a simple cocktail reception, with drinks, passed hors d'oeuvres, and maybe a jazz combo or string trio as entertainment.

The Music

The ultimate formal entertainment: a danceable and entire-crowd-pleasing standards band. A string orchestra provides superb background music, while inspiring a bit of ballroom dancing. Nothing's more elegant than a dance floor packed with floating, graceful couples. Think Sinatra ("I've Got the World on a String"), Cole Porter ("Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love"), the Big Band orchestra sound of Benny Goodman or Count Basie, even the tunes of crooners like Tony Bennet and Harry Connick Jr. Test drive a few favourite songs with some new CDs a few months beforehand, and practice the new dance moves you've learned in private before you make the grand entrance for your first dance.

The Gratitude

Your sophisticated style should touch everything; right down to the gifts you give your guests and the bridal party. For your groomsmen and bridesmaids, something to wear with their wedding attire always scores big points. Consider monogrammed silver cufflinks or cigar holders for the men, and pearl earrings or a lovely engraved necklace for the ladies. Guests will appreciate being spoiled with stylish favours such as silver dragees, high-style cigars, a split of champagne, or delectable chocolate truffles.

The Lasting Impression

Once your glamorous night comes to a close, you'll want to make your getaway in a memorable mobile. As guests bid you adieu and marvel at your amazing good taste, picture yourself climbing into the backseat of a classic car such as a Rolls Royce or a Bentley waving graciously to the crowd gathered behind.

Wedding Style

3. Home Weddings

We can't resist saying it: There's no place like home. For your wedding, that is. Picture saying your vows under the beloved oak tree you climbed as a kid, sipping cocktails among the roses of your mother's garden, and dancing with Dad near the grove where he caught you locking lips with your eighth-grade boyfriend. Home (yours, your parents', or a friend's) is about the most meaningful wedding setting possible.

Reality check: home weddings come with a special set of issues all their own. Unless you're planning a very intimate wedding where guests will be dining off the family dishes and sitting on your dining room chairs, a home-style affair won't necessarily save you money. Considering everything you'll need to bring in for a smooth event, you might spend as much as you would by renting a traditional site. But if money is the issue and you still can't resist the call of home, ask yourself these 10 questions before planning your home-sweet-home soiree.

1. Is the Space Suitable?

How many people are on your guest list? Will there be enough room for a dining space, a bar, and a dance floor? Is there a large, open outdoor space to erect a tent? If you'd like to hold your ceremony and the reception at home, double-check that your officiant is willing to bestow his blessing outside your place of worship (some won't; as an alternative, you may need to find a licensed wedding officiant). Is there a quiet, picturesque backdrop where you can say your vows, far from the neighbour's dog and hissing air conditioner?

2. What Do I Need to Rent?

Think about everything you need to make guests comfortable. Where will they put their coats? (You may want to hire a coat check person.) Where will guests sit, and what will they eat on? Chances are, you don't have a stadium-size stash of seating and dinnerware at home to accommodate the multitudes on your guest list so you'll have to bring in these items. Rental basics include tables, chairs, china (your caterer may bring this stuff along), napkins and other table linens, place settings, and barware.

If you're holding the majority of your event outdoors, you'll need shelter such as a tent, gazebo, or canopy (see below). Add a dance floor (to protect the grass and ladies' high heels), and maybe some fun treats such as a disco ball, smoke machine, and candelabras. Got an in-ground pool? Make it the centrepiece of the party by renting a clear-top dance floor to cover it. Check with your caterer to see if you'll need to rent coolers, roasters, or cooking grills. Begin the search for rental companies early -- you'll want to reserve equipment as early as six months before your event.

3. Who's In Charge?

On home turf, you and your parents have the last word, but why bother Mom and Dad with a thousand wedding-day details? Consider giving your parents the day off and hiring a professional wedding planner, or maybe your caterer (yes, you'll need one of those; see below), to act as your ringleader. Don't even think about doing it yourself -- you'll want to savour every second of your special day unencumbered.

4. How Will We Serve Everyone?

You may fancy yourself a young Julia Child, but trust us: leave the planning and preparation of your wedding-day feast to a caterer who specializes in off-site events. The idea is no distractions! Discuss how much of the food will actually be prepared at your home, what the kitchen and electricity requirements are, and how soon before the event he or she will require access to the site. Will there be staff to set up and run a bar, or do you need to book a separate bartender to serve drinks? If you insist on taking a do-it-yourself approach to food and drinks, choose a menu-or decide on a theme -- and ask family and friends to contribute a dish to a potluck buffet.

5. How Will We Decorate?

What features make your home special? Is it the huge house? An expansive lawn? A spectacular lake view? Don't over-decorate: Strut your home's stuff and add special accents. Think about setting up displays of personal objects or photographs. Dress up beloved pets in bows and let them have their normal run of the grounds (provided they're people-friendly). Fill the house with flowers. For an evening event, lighting is crucial both for safety and atmosphere, so you may want to hire a professional lighting designer. Otherwise, garden lamps, paper lanterns, and tiny white lights strung along tree branches conjure a warm and festive ambience.

6. How Much Noise Can We Make?

What's a wedding without dancing and unbridled whooping? Whether you select a DJ or band for the entertainment, check to see if local noise ordinances require a permit or place restrictions on noise. Be nice to your neighbours and alert them about your party plan (heck, maybe even invite them to join in), and commit to a time when the band will unplug (though neighbours probably share in your joy, no doubt they'll want to catch some z's, at some point). Find out from the DJ or band what their electricity needs are -- you may have to rent portable generators to keep on rocking.

7. Where Will Everyone Park?

One of the lesser benefits to having a home wedding is that most of your guests will know how to get there, but you'll still need some place to stow their wheels while you celebrate. Check local ordinances to see if it's okay to have a convoy of cars parked along your street (day and night rules may differ), and ask neighbours if they would be kind enough to loan their driveways as additional parking spaces. For large numbers of parkers, you may wish to consider hiring a valet service to handle all the autos or have guests park at a large nearby lot (school, mall, park-n-ride) and provide round-trip shuttle service to your home.

8. What About the Bad Weather?

The skies could be crystal blue one minute, dark and stormy the next. Because of Mother Nature's unpredictability, it's a smart idea to pitch a tent or some other form of shelter for your outdoor affair. Party tents are available to rent in all shapes, sizes, and materials (not all are waterproof; be sure to check) that can be chic or casual. In addition to coverage, you'll also want to take temperature control into consideration. Tents and outdoor spaces can be cooled during the blaze of summer by using fans and portable air-conditioning units and kept warm in chillier months with tall patio or floor propane heaters. And don't forget Mother Nature's other foil: bugs. To help keep uninvited skeeters from attending your event, have the location sprayed two days before or surround the area with citronella candles.

9. Long Lines for the Bathroom?

Bathrooms. Not a pretty topic, but to avoid guests traipsing through the house, lines in the halls, and overworking the septic tank, renting Port-o-Sans is the, um, only way to go. Two toilets usually serve 70 alcohol-swilling people for four hours. Increasingly popular for weddings today are the more upscale "restroom trailers," which have anywhere from two to 10 toilets. These toilet trailers generally have lighting, sinks, heated water, even air-conditioning. Be sure to beautify the bathrooms with flowers and amenity baskets as you would at a standard reception site, and have enough toilet paper on hand for restocking.

10. Do We Need Wedding Insurance?

No plan is foolproof, which is why there's insurance. If you're having the wedding at someone else's home, be sure to find out what their homeowner's insurance covers -- you may want to purchase a supplemental policy that will defend you against any damages. If you're having your wedding at your house, it's a good idea to review what is covered in your own homeowner's policy (usually, this covers any property that's yours -- if your house is struck by lightening, for example). Let's say your gown is damaged (Aunt Vera starts a kitchen fire and ignites your Italian lace). It's considered personal property, and any damage would be covered. If your rented tent tears, however, it would not be covered, since it's not your personal property. Gifts get stolen by party crashers? Depending on whose property they are on at the time, gifts may or not be covered. In addition, liability insurance protects against claims against you (for a guest's martini-fuelled fall, for instance). When hiring vendors, it's a good idea to make sure they also have their own insurance.

Wedding Style

5. Glamorous Affairs

If you think that less is less and more is really more, you're a glamour girl at heart. So why should your wedding day be any less dramatic? To plan your fabulous affair, you'll need a heavy dose of romance, an awe-inspiring vision, the discipline to get it perfect, and the grace to take it all in stride. Think hundreds of fragrant flowers, fine china topped with artistically presented food, music that swells as you enter the room. Take your cues from Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas or Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt (I wonder what Bradgelina will do when/if they tie the knot!). The former indulged in a 40-member Welsh choir that sang at the ceremony, 20,000 cream-colored roses, a feast that featured lobster and a 10-tiered wedding cake, and entertainment that included performances by Gladys Knight and Art Garfunkel. As for the Pitt-Aniston nuptials -- there were four bands, 50,000 flowers, and fireworks, to boot. Yes, it's true -- both are estimated at $1 million dollars, but you don't have to be a movie star to sing under the chandeliers and toast with Taittinger's. Even so, there's a super-thin line between cheesy and chic. How do you pull off a totally stunning celebration without bubbling over? Here's our take on hosting a glamorous gala your guests will fall head over heels for.

The Inspiration

If you're already having dreams of a brilliant wedding with the best-dressed guests in the biggest ballroom, with an expansive dance floor, trumpets that burst with bold, sexy tunes, and gold candelabras lighting every tabletop, then you're halfway there. Your mind is focused on all the right elements. Now it's time to evoke your inner celebrity by getting comfortable in the spotlight. You'll need to learn how to work a room, make an impression, and feel fabulous doing it. We think the fastest way to being fabulous is to feel confident in your own skin, so ballroom dance lessons are a definite must. A glamour girl cannot be found seated in the corner at any part of the night. If you can pull off the cha-cha with grace, you get extra points as a glamour gal.

The Announcement

You'll have to properly inform guests of the extravagant event you plan to throw. A classic ecru invite with black engraved script and a silver border is appropriate, but not too enchanting. To go totally out without stepping out of bounds, consider some of these ideas. Choose the finest paper: 100% cotton fibre, a heavy stock, or marbled papers for the rich European look. Forget the natural floral-pressed papers; even rice paper is a little too delicate, earthy, and ethereal. We're not talking "pretty", we're talking big, bold, and beautiful: elaborate typefaces -- scripts that feature curlicues and flourishes, or fonts that are thick and heavy -- and evocative colours like moss green, apricot, and fuchsia; and rich textures such as velvet ribbons and baby brass bells.

Embrace embellishments. A gold leaf border or a copper wax seal might be enough trimming. Design a motif like a gold-press of roses, or even a monogram watermark, that can be used as a unifying element for your invite, reply card, menu card, envelope, and even program. Include a reply card and have a calligrapher hand-address all the invites. Whatever design you choose, make it's eye-catching, and be sure to indicate your wedding celebration as a black tie formal affair.

The Setting

It's certain -- you must look for a venue that is both glamorous and dramatic. Opulence is key. The more the decor looks like you stepped into the gold-gilded

Antique mirrors enhanced with pin lighting would prove both romantic and extravagant, especially under brilliant chandeliers. If your reception space doesn't already provide sitting room furniture, think about renting plush couches and armchairs to place before a working fireplace or in a separate "smoking room". You can also create a separate lounging area, a place where guests can gather around a vodka bar or cocktail tables, with a change of lighting -- try little tea light lamps with red beaded shades that will produce a warm, seductive hue.

The Look

Go couture! Think beaded bodices, blue fabrics, hand-sewn Swarovski crystals, and gold sashes. Imagine bugle beads, fur-trimmed opera gloves, and peau de soie. A glamour wedding calls for a slinky, backless, fully beaded sheath or a suave strapless gown with metallic embroidery and a long sweeping train. Your look should include the crowned jewels -- a glittering tiara is most appropriate -- accompanied by a beaded handbag and shimmery shoes, something with a diamond or rhinestone buckle. A silk, tulle, or velvet wrap (depending on the season) is a glamorous accessory that should not be overlooked. And the guys should outfit themselves in their finest black tuxedos, with custom-made shirts (try Thomas Pink) and Hermes silk ties.

The Fare

Have a signature drink for your cocktail hour -- vodka and lemonade or chocolate martinis -- served on shiny silver trays. Your tuxedo-dressed waiters should offer appetizers on trays-consider sushi, tapas, or other easy-to-eat foods such as duck with caramelized onions, tuna wrapped with roasted red pepper, and prosciutto with melon. A seated multi-course meal served on fine china is a must. Start with a regional or seasonal soup that's poured at each place setting. Serve both fish and meat-lobster and filet mignon are top choices. Perhaps have a multi-tiered wedding cake just for your family (or just for show) and, instead, serve a variety of desserts -- white chocolate-covered strawberries, crème Brule, and individual chocolate and pecan tarts. You'll need a fully stocked bar for sure, and you may wish to consider serving different fine wines or champagnes for every course.

The Flowers

This is where you will really make your impact. One hundred dozen roses arranged in platinum vases on custom-made linens and overlays-that should do it. But honestly, a glamorous gala would not be complete without exuberant, extravagant displays. There are many ways to achieve this: use overflowing candelabra and topiaries as centrepieces, and accompany each arrangement with tall tapers mixed with smaller votives in glass cylinders. Colours that are kept monochromatic (all whites or various shades of whites), as well as colour combinations that range from sexy jewel tones to boisterous hot hues, will all have the same affect -- so long as there's abundance. When it comes to flowers, it is always about quality, but, when it comes to glamour, it's also about quantity.

While you can never go wrong with roses, you don't have to limit yourself to one choice of bloom-arrangements that feature a variety of roses but include green amaranths, grapes, leaves, seeded eucalyptus, berries, and hydrangea evoke drama. When you run out of flowers, add texture with various vines and branches.

The Music & Entertainment

Are you planning to set up 76 trombones to lead the big parade? You've got the idea, then! Envision a musical group that will send notes through the roof, maybe something with a horn section that will astound all of your guests. You can start the evening with a string orchestra playing smooth tunes during dinner. Or perhaps you will request a soloist, a harpsichordist, or cellist who can take the stage when your band takes a rest. You'll want to hire anywhere between an 8- and 15-piece band that will usher in an evening of dancing and play your timeless favourites from jazzy artists like Nat King Cole and Charlie Parker to smooth soulful singers, like Marvin Gaye and James Brown.

For additional live (but clean) entertainment, you can hire belly dancers or an a cappella singing group for a pre-dinner delight.

The Gratitude

Since you've chosen to go over the top, go for great gifts. Ideas for the wedding party may include pashmina shawls, pearl necklaces and earrings, or small handcrafted jewellery boxes for the ladies, and a small box of imported cigars or initialled platinum flasks for the men. As for favours, send all your guests home with a little something special -- chocolate truffles or personalized chocolates are always a favourite. For something more outrageous, give guests individually boxed versions of your wedding cake. Chinese paper folding fans, with their sophisticated, graceful look, are becoming popular today. By personalizing each wooden handle with each guest's name, these favours can double as place cards. Match your star-studded wedding with a sparkling gift for your sweetie. Give the groom some diamond cuff links; give the bride a star in the sky (yes, believe it or not, you can "buy" one) and name it after her.

Greeting Guests

Even when you're going all out, it can't be just all about you. Fabulous brides treat guests to the finest in hospitality, with gift baskets overflowing with scented soaps, bottled spring water, gourmet teas and coffees, some fresh fruits, figs, or berries, and delectable chocolates. Prove you're thinking about the comfort of your out-of-town guests by pampering them. Reserve rooms ahead of time at various chic hotels or cosy bed-and-breakfasts around the city. You should provide transportation to and from the airports-some hotels may have their own services, but you may want to reserve some cars ahead of time, just in case.

The Lasting Impression

You know you are going to have a fabulous, almost famous, getaway in a classic car (who can pass up an antique Rolls-Royce?), so prepare your guests for the final scene. Make sure they are equipped with small silver or gold buckets full of rose petals they'll toss in your honour as you leave the party. You'll want to sip wine and eat chocolates as you head for your honeymoon suite; ask your caterer to put some delectable delights in the backseat of your getaway car. But before you make your quick escape, have one last showstopper -- a fireworks display, with a grand finale of two intertwining hearts or your initials spanning the dark night sky.

Wedding Style

6. Intimate Affairs

When it comes wedding celebrations, many couples agree: size matters. Fewer people can mean a more personal celebration. There is more time for the bride and groom to spend with their guests, the group really gets to know one another, and everyone contributes to the event in his or her own way. Intimate celebrations, it seems, have certain advantages. Here, we unveil the truth behind small celebrations.

Keep to a Smaller Budget

You might decide that a four-course dinner for 50 is better than cake and punch for 100. Some couples having fewer than 75 guests have cut their guest lists to the bare minimum in order to maximize their budgets. It becomes a choice between cutting corners in order to have 150 guests or cutting the list in half and having everything just the way you envision the day.

Treat Your Guests Well

A small wedding gives you the chance to really go all out. Perhaps guests can stay at a luxurious inn or your rehearsal dinner can be more elaborate and take place in a wine cellar with a wine-pairing for each course. We know one wedding where all 20 guests were picked up by limousine and were delivered to the wedding ceremony. Afterward, guests were taken to a private room at a top-notch restaurant for an unforgettable dinner. Keeping things small means that the extra details, like providing limousine service, loaded gift baskets, and six-course feasts for your guests, are suddenly more accessible. Think boxes of chocolate instead of a single truffle, the best champagne rather than sparkling wines, and luxurious arrangements of roses and rare orchids as far as the eye can see.

Pay Attention to the Details

Often when a pair is planning a small wedding they're inclined not to hire a wedding consultant. We warn: smaller is not synonymous with simpler. When the wedding is small, every detail is noticed, so careful attention to detail is called for. There is no hiding behind the crowd at a small celebration -- goofs and gaffes that might have gone unnoticed with 200 people milling around but will be painfully obvious with 50 and under.

Make it Entertaining

This is perhaps the best part of having a smaller wedding: With fewer people on the scene, it's easy to get everyone into the act somehow. Depending on how small the event will be, you can have everyone read a line of a prayer or a special reading at the ceremony, have them stand and encircle you as you exchange your vows, seat them at one big table at the wedding reception, or pass around a blank guest book and big box of coloured pencils for all to share their favourite memories of the bride and groom.

Limit the Guest List

Do you find yourself agonizing over the guest list thinking, who is so and so? No mother's best friend's dentist will be attending your wedding. Not wanting to deal with a sea of unfamiliar faces on such an emotional day, some couples decide to limit their lists agreeing that a smaller celebration can create a more joyful atmosphere: The guests attending a smaller wedding are there to offer their love and support to the bride and groom not just on their wedding day, but every day of their lives which makes for a meaningful, love-filled day.

Bonus: There are so many creative options for locations when one is not trying to accommodate hundreds of guests. There are unique restaurants, rustic bush lodges, cosy cabins, posh private clubs, settings with exquisite views and gardens, natural or fancy.

Now the hard part: You may be greeted by howls of protest from your families when you ask them to cut down portions of their lists to the lean-and-mean few who really matter. And, of course, you and your sweetheart must be prepared to do the same. This may mean having to explain to friends who expected to be there why they will not receive an invitation. There is no easy way to do this, except to be perfectly honest. Tell your friends that you are keeping the event very small and limiting the list. But be prepared for the occasional hurt feelings and lingering bitterness.

Party On

This is an option for couples who find themselves guilt-ridden at the thought of cutting guests off their list. If an intimate ceremony is most important, you can create a separate, larger guest list for the reception. Just be sure to inform your guests of the arrangements. If you want the whole event to be intimate, you might choose to have a large, casual party a month or so after your wedding. Of course, this means paying for another event, but it can be fun to have a bigger crowd gathered in a more relaxed setting -- call it a housewarming if you have moved into a new home.

Wedding Style

7. Victorian

A Victorian wedding is about class and grace, and calls for romantic gestures of a dainty nature --fine floral china, lots of lace, and sweet-smelling rosebuds. We've always been fans of era-embracing events: '40s swing celebrations, medieval affairs, and Western weddings are all creative and delightful. But it's the Victorian-style events that are a little more refined, as all modern wedding things are essentially Victorian in nature. After all, it was Queen Victoria who set the trends for white wedding gowns and white floral arrangements. But most importantly, there are few (if any) historical periods that are more romantic. So to plan your affair, you'll need to start considering things like lace hankies, corsets and petticoats, and cupid cake toppers. How are you going to pull off a celebration that's elegant and romantic, but not stuffy (or, even worse, tacky)? Here's our take on hosting a vivacious Victorian celebration.

The Setting

Certain settings seem sensational for a Victorian wedding. Indulge in nostalgia. A botanical garden is a popular choice, for its sprawling acres of manicured lawns and plentiful rose gardens. Keep in mind the Victorians loved statues and fountains, so a garden with one as its focal point would be appropriate. Many couples feel most comfortable hosting a Victorian tea party in the gardens of their family's home. A backyard, with large oak and willow trees, that features tables spread with tea sets and picnic blankets strewn over the lawn creates a charming and casual scene. Meanwhile, the opulent interior of a beaux-art mansion lends a perfect atmosphere for a more refined affair. When choosing a ballroom, consider ones that are drenched in Victorian colour palettes: pinks, greens, and gold, or rich jewel-toned blues, burgundy, and copper.

Other good choices include an historic Victorian inn with gingerbread exteriors and antique furnishings, Italianate-style 19th-century estates that boast the Victorians' adoration for floral fabrics and Persian carpets, or even a Victorian art or history museum.

The Look

Dressing the part is the most fun aspect of the wedding. Victorian gowns were so extravagant that you'll feel like the queen herself underneath the many layers of ruffles, lace, and accessories. Since Queen Victoria's wedding, white has remained the traditional colour for wedding gowns, so you won't have to search far for vintage colours. The Victorians considered the hourglass shape to best flatter the female form, and women were forced to wear restrictive corsets to achieve this ideal shape. You can practice sitting and eating with more modern-day corset tops. The early Victorians (1850) wore gowns with fitted bodices, small waists, and full skirts falling over hoops and petticoats. The late Victorian (1890) bridal gowns (which were made of organdy, tulle, lace, silk, linen, even cashmere) saw the transformation from puffy mutton-leg sleeves to fitted sleeves, and eventually, to bell sleeves, and also from crinoline to bustled skirts. Needless to say, however the styles changed, they were always big, bold, and beautiful.

When choosing your Victorian-themed bouquet, stay away from figs (which represents idleness), foxglove (insincerity), larkspur (infidelity), and lavender (distrust).

As for accessories of this era, the cameo became the hot item by the mid-19th century. Meanwhile, necessities included white kid-leather gloves (wrist-length or elbow-length), embroidered handkerchiefs, silk stockings, and flat or brocade one-inch heel shoes.

A Victorian gentleman's formal attire consisted of a cutaway coat or a frockcoat, a waistcoat, cravat or ascot ties, and trousers. You won't go wrong by imitating Hugh Grant's style -- grey morning coat with pinstriped trousers, waistcoat, and ascot tie -- in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). And don't forget the top hat -- a definite must.

The Announcement

Your invitations will set the stage to the whole day, so be sure they fit your theme. You might start by sending Victorian-era announcements. While announcements were hand-delivered in the 19th century, you don't need to do this, but creating a homemade valentine is both period-appropriate and poetic. Besides, you can save the more formal announcements for the actual invite.

Your invitations should be crafted on smooth white or ivory paper, scripted, with calligraphed envelopes. Use Victorian lettering (the kind where the first letter of each line is very ornate --think fairy tales) and be sure to investigate vintage-looking stamps or ones with a cupid-and-heart motif for the reply card. Your final task is to decide on some decorative touches that will follow you from your invite and reply card to the programs and all other paper products -- whether it's floral patterns, your new monogram, ribbons, bows, or even doves.

The Flowers

The standard Victorian flower is the rose. But other flowers such as pansies, hyacinths, tulips, and stephanotis evoke similar romantic emotions. Your bridal bouquet should be arranged in the style of a nosegay or tussie mussie, which were then most popular, and should feature blooms symbolic of fruitfulness. The Victorians had a strong belief in special meanings of flowers, and they chose their floral arrangements accordingly. Daisies represent innocence, while Stephanotis ensures happiness in marriage. Orchids symbolize true love, mums guarantee wealth and abundance, and mixing freesia and gardenias alludes to your innocence and purity. The most important of these flowers (and one you should be sure to incorporate, if even only as a replica) is the orange blossom.

The Victorians were sure to include orange blossoms in their bridal bouquets (sometimes even in their headpieces or on their dresses) to represent purity, chastity, and the bearing of many children. This custom, which originated in China, was brought to England in the early 1800s. When Queen Victoria wore them in her bridal wreath in 1840, the classic floral theme for the Victorian bride was set! Entwining orange blossoms into the bridal wreath became a must-do, and, in fact, was even stated in the very influential etiquette journals of 19th century. Orange blossoms became so in demand that when real orange blossoms (the official state flower of Florida, by the way) were in short supply or not in season, wax replicas were used instead.

The Backdrop

Your decor will truly speak a thousand words. Start envisioning the decorations as if you are painting a dreamy picture. We recommend mimicking the sentiments explored in the famous French impressionist painting, Le Moulin de la Galette (1876) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (Okay, so he's not English, but this much-loved painting displays both the colour scheme and dress codes shared by Queen Victoria's kingdom).

First and foremost, the place should be brimming with antique lace and vases filled with romantic blooms. Fine china and teacups should grace each place setting (literary buffs may want to name tables after Victorian-era artists, such as poets Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Alfred Lord Tennyson). If it's possible, search through attics of your family homes and look for heirlooms -- family linens, serve ware, even handkerchiefs. Scour yard sales and thrift shops for fancy sets of cups and saucers, and mix a variety of styles (whatever you find, it doesn't have to match) at various tables set up around the room. Make sure each table is adorned in layers -- the Victorians loved fabrics and textures. Floor-length tablecloths should be covered with Battenberg lace overlays, topped with fringed coasters or silk doilies. For these items, your first shopping stop should be flea markets and yard sales.

Candles are essential, but for additional lighting, drape small lamps with fringed ivory silk scarves for a soft touch, and scour antique stores for oil lamps. Other romantic touches include having a big open treasure chest for guests to place presents in, and using the traditional gift table for setting up black-and-white family wedding portraits in an assortment of vintage-style frames. You can use this table for your guest book as well, but in lieu of an actual journal, perhaps purchase as many vintage postcards as you have guests and ask each friend and family member to inscribe their warm wishes on the backs of the cards. These are relatively inexpensive and can be boxed and saved as a loving collection of heartfelt letters from the people you love most.

The Music

For the music and entertainment, think strolling violins during the cocktail hour and harps in between courses at dinner. Selections should include anything from Beethoven, Chopin, and Tchaikovsky. For dancing, you could hire a string quartet that will anchor your performances in popular period dances: the waltz and reels. You and your sweetie might wish to take ballroom dance lessons to perform a waltz for your dancing debut.

The Fare

A Victorian wedding-day meal can be anything between a proper English breakfast and a 10-course fanciful feast. First think of the selection, then the presentation. The afternoon tea reception selection: tea sandwiches such as cucumber, tuna, and watercress; scones like currant, raisin, and cranberry; a selection of fresh jams; and piles of fresh berries. The dinner reception menu: combinations of roast mutton, pork, roast beef, rabbit, turkey, duck, pheasant, and sole. Plum pudding, apple tarts, and mince pies can be served for dessert. Garnish each dish with rose petals and serve on fine floral china that rests on white lace doilies.

The actual wedding cake was often a fruitcake decorated with white frosting in ornate scrolled designs and topped with orange blossoms. Favours -- charms with specials meanings, such as a penny for wealth and a horseshoe for good luck -- were attached to long ribbons and baked inside the cake. If you are having a large dessert selection, the cake can be boxed and given to guests as they depart.

For drinks, it's obvious -- you'll need a proper number of English teas. If you choose to have an evening reception with a multi-course meal, serve evocative white wines and bubbling champagnes, then for dessert, have the waiters bring out the tea sets to serve some classic English brews such as Earl Grey, Darjeeling, and English Breakfast. You can indulge in tiny bite-size treats to go along with the tea -- anything from chocolate-covered strawberries to petit fours to shortbread cookies; even individual lemon tarts or chocolate tortes will do.

The Gratitude

You've enchanted your guests with your polished feast and fanfare, now it's time to thank them for sharing in your evocative wedding dreams. Consider giving your bridesmaids period-gifts like engraved lockets, ivory combs, or soft kid-leather gloves (before the diamond wedding ring became popular, Victorian grooms presented brides with such adornments). For your maid of honour, consider a hand-carved cameo; you can find cameos carved in seashells today, a tradition that was popularized by Queen Victoria.

For favours, we love potpourri and sachets boxed and tied with ribbon, homemade shortbread cookies, boxed scones, fresh jams with a personalized wedding label, petit fours or chocolates shaped as doves, hearts, or cupids, and, last but not least, ornate Victorian paper fans featuring images of lovers and love poems, and fashioned with lace, dried rose petals, tiny satin bows, and a tassel.

The Lasting Impression

In the 19th century, immediately after cutting the cake, the bride and groom would change into travelling costumes and ride off in a carriage drawn by white horses. You, too, can imitate this by having the cake-cutting ceremony toward the end of the reception and changing into sleek getaway outfits (even if you aren't leaving that night for your honeymoon).

And, like any couple looking for an historic, romantic getaway, you should leave the party in a horse-drawn carriage driven by an escort dressed in Victorian-era garb: top hat, coat and trousers, and stark white gloves. In the 19th century, guests would throw satin slippers, hoping to toss one into the carriage as it departed (a symbol of everlasting good luck in marriage). Equip your guests with environment-friendly rice to throw, but perhaps purchase a pair of satin ballet slippers and tie them onto the back of the carriage, symbolizing your good fortune and happiness in love.

Wedding Style

8. A French Fete

Say "France," and people think romance, non? And what could be more romantic than getting married high atop Le Tour Eiffel? Fortunately, you don't have to board an Air France jet to have a French-infused fete. Plan the wedding on your home turf and let your creativity soar. Here are some suggestions for a fabulous French-style soiree:

Location & Decor Have the party at a French restaurant, in a French-inspired reception hall, or at a borrowed chateau. No chateau in the neighbourhood? No problem. Go with an ordinary home or hall and create a cafe environment. Use small, ice-cream-parlour-style tables topped with bottles of wine, Dijon mustard, and Perrier. Hang Toulouse-Lautrec, Monet, and Cezanne framed posters on the walls. Place huge baskets of baguettes on the sideboards. Erect a postcard stand filled with pictures of Paris for people to take home and set up a continuous slide show of images of Paris. You can even have your waiters wear berets to make the scene complete.

The Attire For the bride, why not go Marie Antoinette -- huge skirt, tight top (or bustier), lots of lace. You might want to check out costume shops for something authentic-looking! If you want to go couture, check out the Paris-based wedding-dress designer Kastine; for a more modern affair, consider the sleek, Givenchy, Breakfast at Tiffany's look. Then set your hair to match your gown. (You wouldn't want a Louis XIV hairstyle with a '20s-style dress.) But a classic chignon would fit right into a French-themed wedding. And for the groom? Either go the Louis XVI costume route to your bride's Marie Antoinette, or pick a handsome handmade suit by a French designers Pierre Cardin or Yves St. Laurent.

The Fabulous French Food

To truly emulate the French, you must think about food and wine before all else. Start your onslaught of all things francais during the cocktail hour. Have five or six different French wines available, with a wine expert (or wine-buff friend) on hand to pour and explain the different vintages to your guests. It's an old French custom for the couple to drink their reception toasts from an engraved, two-handled cup called the "coupe de mariage." They then save the cup to pass on to their children. Follow this tradition with your own two-handled toast. You can buy two-handled cups from a fine furnishings store, or see if a local glass-maker sells or can create one for you.

For hors d'oeuvres, pass canapés, miniature croissants and quiches, and escargot, and serve various spreads, such as gourmet cheeses and fine pates, on French bread. Also fill a table with a variety of pates and tureens, cornishon pickles, Brie, apples, grapes and, of course, baguettes. For dinner, serve French dishes such as onion soup, beef burgundy, and coq au vin. For dessert, serve mousse au chocolat, crème brulee, and a Poire Belle Helene -- poached pear served with vanilla ice cream and drenched with melted chocolate. Complement dessert with hot chocolate and, of course, cafe au lait.

For a very formal affair, consider a truly French meal served mise en place (everything in its place). Each course is served, in proper order: appetizer, soup, main course, palate-cleansing sorbet, salad, cheese, dessert and coffee, and a cordial. This will require true culinary skill and may work best if you're holding the affair at a French restaurant, or you're using a caterer whose specialty is French food.

Later, at the post-wedding brunch -- or for an afternoon wedding -- serve mimosas, a blend of champagne and orange juice. And how about a make-your-own crepe bar? For a summer picnic, you could install several crepe stations on the lawn, drape large red (or blue-and-white check) picnic blankets all around, and let guests order their own fillings and then carry the steaming crepes with them to their blanket.

Music & Entertainment

Recreate the scene at the Seine by hiring portrait artists to set up easels and paint portraits for your guests during the reception. All the while, have a few strolling musicians playing romantic tunes. For your first dance, why not chose Edith Piaf's bittersweet classic, "La Vie en Rose?" Or how about Gershwin's "An American in Paris?" If you're having a DJ, have him play Piaf, Jacques Brel, and all the great American jazz greats who made their name in France.

French-inspired Favours

During the reign of Louis XVI, brides handed over their old fans to bridesmaids as favours. The fans were decorated with mythological paintings. You probably don't have a stock of fans in your closet, but you can adapt this tradition by giving new fans as gifts, or some more modern, mythologically decorated vanity items, like hand-held mirrors or ornate miniature boxes. Check out your local crystal shop or another new-age venue for myth-inspired options. Or, there are a number of French fashion houses that should make the gift-giving easy. Give tres chic Izod shirts, Hermes scarves, or Chanel makeup compacts, to the attendants only, of course (tres expensive!). Favours for all guests? We love the idea of giving away pocket-sized French cookbooks, mini bottles of French wine tagged with a personalized wedding label, or small vials of French perfume or cologne placed on each guests' plate.

Wedding Style

9. Colour co-ordinated weddings

The hottest thing happening at wedding receptions isn't just on the dance floor -- it's on the cake, the invitations, the centrepieces, and even the bride's gown. It's big, bold colour. Years ago brides used colour to accent their white wedding-day decor, but now they're using colour to cover every inch of the wedding. We've developed a step-by-step guide on colour coordination (from choosing it to decorating with it) to help you dream up a bright wedding day.

Choosing Your Colour

First things first: location. When deciding on a scheme, you must consider the reception space or choose a space without decor or colour. If you've chosen a country club with navy and maroon oriental carpets, a colour scheme of lime green and hot pink won't work.

Next, become aware of colour combinations that you like, whether browsing art galleries or flipping through a stack of fashion magazines. You might be able to narrow down your colour choices to a half a dozen. To help you choose the exact hue for your wedding details, visit a fabric store or neighbourhood paint shop and collect swatches or chips of colours you might want to use. This will help you get specific, so that when you decide on green you'll know if its lime green, Kelly green, sage green, or forest green. If you have access to a Pantone book, use this collection of colours to select your shade the same way graphic designers do. Many invitation designers mix ink to match the colours in this book, and many cake bakers use Pantone numbers as a reference when creating dye for frosting. Can't decide on just one or two colours? Don't worry. In fact, many extraordinary weddings feature a variety of colours, sometimes up to five, that work together to create a specific sensibility -- like an "English garden" with green, yellow, pink, red, and brown, or "Fall in New England" with orange, red, brown, and gold.

Where & How to Execute Colour

Where and how you use colour really depends on the mood you are trying to create. The best way to get started is to figure out what emotions your want your celebration to evoke. A peaceful, Zen-like retreat? A regal, romantic affair? A jumping, high-energy party?

For instance, a vibrant summer yellow mixed with chocolate brown (think sunflowers and bees) is perfect for a country-chic wedding style; add gold to the mix, and the combination becomes more reminiscent of Northern Italy. As another example, leaf green paired with cantaloupe is pretty for a waterside wedding; but pair this green with copper, and you have a colour scheme that's formal enough for a ballroom or an estate setting. If your wedding takes place in multiple spaces, each room can have its own colour scheme.

The Elements of Style

The Attire: The bride's gown doesn't have to be solid white, especially since colour accents are increasingly more available. A blue or red sash around the waist is striking and still very bridal. The groom and his guys can also sport colour in their ties or on their cuff links. But colour will be most prominently displayed throughout the day in the bridesmaid dresses. Some fervent folks might want to match the dresses to the invitation ribbons, the favour tags, and the bouquets but this is not the only way to define a style. Mixing and matching dresses in varying shades -- pink and orange, or pale green and yellow -- can sometimes make a statement stronger than uniformity.

The Invitations: Your invitations set the stage for the event, so remember that mood you want to evoke? This is your time to show it off. Coordinating the invitation colours with those of the wedding can be as easy as choosing a colour font, ribbon, or monogram or as elaborate as layering colourful cards.

Flowers & Decor: No matter what colour you've chosen, chances are you will be able to find flowers in that shade -- but that, of course, does not mean the blooms will be available or affordable. If your dream flowers aren't an option, use neutral white flowers with centrepiece containers or other decor elements in your colour.

Wedding Cake: The cake is one of the easiest places to add colour -- all it takes is the right mixing. The colour should reflect the other style elements used throughout the wedding. But when it comes to cake, your colour options are the most flexible. White icing makes a marvellous background for colourful sugar flowers, sugar-paste stripes or polka dots, or other effects. Fondant can also be created in any number of shades. For instance, a yellow and brown country-chic wedding might have a wedding cake iced in a light brown basket weave and topped with fresh sunflowers.

The Favours: Ultimately, it's more important to give something meaningful rather than something that matches, but it can be a nice touch to your favours package in your colour scheme. Use gift tags and ribbons to incorporate your colours into your favours. If favours will be left at each place setting, consider how they will look with your wedding linens and flowers.

New Ways to Use Colour

We should point out that overdoing it with a matchy-match look is entirely possible (you don't want your guests thinking, Um, yeah, lavender...we get it.) Begin with the five essential wedding elements (attire, invitations, flowers, cake, and favours) and see where you can -- or should -- add more colour. Then consider details such as napkins, candles, a tiara, a signature drink, a ring pillow, or a guest book made from the same fabric and in the same colour and as the bridesmaid dresses.

Wedding Style

10. Outdoor Wedding

Few venues can compare with the great outdoors when it comes to inspiring wedding-day awe, and the choices are limitless: the drama of a rocky ocean shore, a fragrant and romantic botanical garden, and even the sentimental familiarity of your own backyard. Think sunsets, cool breezes, and the tranquillity of a twinkling, star-filled sky. Here are the four most popular outdoor wedding settings plus general tips and site-specific ideas for each.

Enchanted Gardens

Who needs a florist when you can be surrounded by free flowers! Imagine the bounty: vibrant roses, marigolds, tulips, hibiscus, pansies, and geraniums blooming all around you. Not only does it look good, it smells great! There are plenty of reception sites that have outdoor facilities and if the weather turns ugly, you will already have a built-in backup plan. Use the gazebo, lily pond, or canopy of trees on your reception site's grounds. Many botanical gardens rent space for weddings -- have the ceremony outside and the reception inside, or vice versa.

Theme Ideas: Enhance your surroundings by taking a cue from the colours, country of origin, or shape of flowers, trees, or topiaries near where you tie the knot. Exchanging vows in an Oriental garden? Have curly bamboo stem centrepieces and wispy paper lanterns strung in the tent or trees to conjure a warm and festive ambience. Are topiaries shaped like zoo animals overseeing the ceremony? Go for a tribal theme under the tent and line your aisle with tiki torches. Create an aisle with buckets filled with flowers or glass vases filled with water and floating petals.

Specific Issues: Double-check that the sprinkler schedule. Also, be mindful of the fact that some people may be allergic to what's blooming at that time of year; be sure that your invitation makes the garden location of the ceremony and reception clear.

Waterside Soirees

A ceremony and reception that overlooks the water is magical. Festivities are beautifully reflected in a placid lake and the silky sand of a beach wedding makes everyone feel like they're on vacation. Be sure to time your event with the sunset for outstanding photo opps. In addition to local lakes and beaches, many reception sites offer waterside wonders.

Theme Ideas: For a seaside affair, think silly or high style: Print your save-the-date cards on a beach ball and attach your invites to a starfish, carnation lei, or a pair of flip-flops. For readings, pick up a copy of Gift from the Sea by Anne Lindbergh, who likens relationships to the changing tides. More ideas: Create a walkway made of seashells, use boxes of wheat grass as centrepieces, and arrange flowers in large conch shells or colourful beach pails.

Cost & Legalities: Staging a wedding in the sand is a snap if you book it through a hotel and stage it on their private beach. Otherwise, a public beach is, well, public -- don't be surprised if people stop, stare…and applaud! You may not be permitted to serve alcohol, and you will need a "Use of Park Facilities" permit for a large gathering of people, if allowed at all. You may be able to reserve private spots along bay beaches, but deposits and/or fees may be required and you may have to purchase pricey parking stickers for cars -- a good incentive to rent a bus for round-trip shuttle service. Contact the city's Parks & Recreation Department for site-specific information and clarify noise restrictions (decibel limits). You'll often have to turn the music way down, if not off -- or move inside -- before midnight.

Specific Issues: Beaches and lakes are breezy, so keep decorations simple and well secured. Beware heels, which will sink in the sand. Another idea: provide a small throw blanket on each person's chair as your wedding favour since it's always a bit cooler at the shore. Also check the tide schedule -- tides coming in are noisier than tides going out, plus you risk the chance of water creeping up on you as you wed.

PARK IT!

The soaring peaks and verdant valleys of America's national parks provide grand backdrop vistas for your guests and wedding photographs. Remember that these parks are also public domain, so reserve someplace as far from the road as possible to avoid the possibility of rubberneckers -- and their blaring radios -- and/or an interested audience of hikers.

Theme Ideas: Your creative decor options may be limited but one mantra is certain: Don't compete with Mother Nature. Instead, enhance the background you've chosen, whether snowy slopes, a thick fir forest, or sculpted sandy desert stretch. Make an aisle out of pinecones, give birdhouses as wedding favours, and wear a headpiece woven from ivy, vines, and berries.

Cost & Legalities: You do have to request a "Use of Park Facilities" permit, but in many cases it is free. The catch is that there are a limited number of spots where gatherings are allowed, and they book up quickly, so request a permit as soon as possible. The number of people allowed is determined by the amount of parking available, but it's usually no more than 100 people. Receptions are usually not an option in public parks, as many parks do not permit you to bring in tables, chairs, amplified music, lights, or alcohol!

Specific Issues: Bugs may be an issue, so you should be sure guests are forewarned and prepared for any onslaughts with bug spray or wipes. Think about where the sun will be during the hours of your wedding. Be sure there are plenty of shady trees for the hottest hours.

OUTDOOR ELEMENTS

The skies could be crystal blue one minute, dark and stormy the next. Attempt to schedule for good weather, then plan for the worst: Pitch a tent or some other form of shelter for your outdoor affair. Party tents are available to rent in all shapes, sizes, and materials (not all are waterproof; be sure to check) that can be chic or casual. In addition to coverage, you'll want to take temperature control into consideration. Tents and outdoor spaces can be cooled during the blaze of summer by using fans and portable air-conditioning units and kept warm in chillier months with tall patio or floor propane heaters. And don't forget Mother Nature's other foil: bugs. To help keep uninvited skeeters out, have the location sprayed two days before your event and surround the area with citronella candles.

CHOOSING A SPACE

If you forego the traditional outdoor venues available at many reception sites, there are a few questions you'll need to ask: What are the restrictions, if any, for the number of guests, food preparation, tables, tents, noise (bands or DJs), and alcohol consumption? Are there any time limits for the event? Is there enough room to erect a tent over a dining area, bar, and dance floor? Is there an indoor or covered space nearby for emergency relocation of the party if your tent takes flight? Where will the Port-o-Sans be located? Does the indoor space have bathrooms? Where will the DJ plug in? Is there space for guests to park? If not, is there a large nearby parking lot (school, mall, church, park-n-ride) where they will be permitted to ditch their cars and come in by shuttle bus? (This saves guests the hassle of taking cabs or walking a long-possibly muddy and dangerous-distance.) What permits are required?

You may also need to hire additional staff to handle everything from electricity and lighting to construction and catering and you will need to rent everything from shrimp forks to tent poles. Of course, one thing you won't have to rent is ambience -- just look around you!

Wedding Style

11. Personalise your wedding

It's a funny thing about personalization. You hear about all these great details -- a monogram, a symbol -- but your challenge is to own the concept, to make it mean something to you. It's not just about putting your initials on the packaging, but also adding your mark to a wedding memento that will never get tossed away (like your groom's tie). It's actually a pretty simple proposition. We came up with dozens of innovative new twists on personalization -- complete with the inspiration behind the idea. That way, you can personalize our personalization tips! Don't ever say we left you lost in translation.

Look for Hidden Meaning

Personalization isn't always about the how -- it's also about the why. Put some thought behind the elements you're choosing to decorate your day, and enhance the sentimentality with ancient meaning. Start with your bridesmaids. They have been your wing women throughout your engagement period; don't return the favour by making them feel like a pack of taffeta-clad tarts. Instead, suffuse their bouquets with symbolism.

During the Victorian era, the language of flowers was created as an ultra romantic lingo in which flowers replaced words in expressing feelings. For instance, dahlias mean gratitude while gerbera daisies profess friendship. Pick a single flower for each of your ladies, then attach a handwritten card explaining why you chose that particular bloom for her. (For more on personalizing flowers, see our story "Say It With Flowers.")

Amaze with Colour

Now, we know choosing a wedding palette is pretty standard for you in-the-know to-be-weds, but how bold do you dare to go with colour? We're not talking about the shade you choose -- that's so obvious -- rather the placement. Dashes of brilliance in unexpected places will amplify the ooh-and-aah factor for your guests.

For a modern look, think coloured water as the base of your centrepieces (with or without flowers); signature cocktails in unconventional colours (Blue Curaçao, Creamsicle Cosmopolitan, Purple Passion Tea); and mixed and matched table linens and glassware. If you prefer subtle style, carefully conceived lighting can change the look of your drab burgundy ballroom to an ethereal pink palace. Another fun idea? Switch up your colour palette from cocktail hour to reception. Decorate your cocktail tables in one fabulous hue; then use another colour to coat your reception. (Tip: The colours should complement each other.)

Reinvent Tradition

What could be hipper than taking an item, an idea, or even a custom that's synonymous with weddings and making it uniquely yours? For instance, look at the standard unity candle in a new light. Consider buying one in a rich colour that matches your palette, or, better yet, give the traditional white pillar a face-lift: Wrap a gorgeous grosgrain ribbon around the middle, and carve your initials in the wax using a monogram stamp.

Breaking the glass? Don't feel limited to traditional drink ware -- step on a replica of the (thin glass) vase you use when your mate gives you flowers or a pint from the bar at which you first met (just be careful when you stomp). The bouquet toss? Curb the catfight and borrow a custom from another land. In Turkey before the bride walks down the aisle, she asks her single bridesmaids and relatives to sign the sole of her bridal shoe. After a night of dancing and prancing, tradition states that the person's signature who has faded the most will be the next to marry. Pick up a pair of blue shoes (a very cool twist on something blue), grab a ballpoint pen, and give it a go.

Wax Nostalgic

Looking to the past is a great way to bring personality to your present. Ask your parents (and your future in-laws) about their weddings. Did they start any stealable traditions? Turn something old (your mother's veil) into something new. Incorporate your grandmother's wedding flowers (or her rosary beads -- totally trendy) in your bouquet.

Or add a little nostalgia to your reception: Place old family wedding photos, using classic frames in your wedding colours, or classic white, around the room. For a single hit of history, group them at the guest book table, or on a mantle in the room. Your families will love the sentimentality of the shots, and so will your guests. If you're really looking to make a fashion statement, consider reincarnating both your mothers' and grandmothers' old dresses and display them on dress forms at the entrance to the reception. It's a chic fashion flashback, and an accent that no one is likely to have seen before. Well, except your dads.

Focus on Your Favorites

Make Julie Andrews proud: Incorporate a few of your favourite things to do, eat, listen to -- you get it. It goes without saying that your wedding will have some of your aesthetic preferences -- curlicue calligraphy, sweet pea wreaths, and antique place settings, perhaps? But what about the things you can't live without? Mac and cheese, grandma's meatballs, and chocolate! Wave bye-bye to white cake and indulge your darkest chocolate fantasy with a confection that melts in your mouth. Your menu is a blank slate waiting to be treated to your taste buds.

Don't stop with the food -- think of all the elements that make up your day. Are the two of you wild about bossa nova? Who says you can't have your band play a set of the groovy Latin tunes? You love bowling? How about gigantic gumballs with your wedding date hand painted on (with edible ink of course) as a favour. Love love letters? Send pencils printed with your names and wedding date as your save the dates. The options are as vast as your interests.

Honour Your Love Story

While you're individualizing your wedding, don't forget how you got to this point in the first place. Draw on meaningful moments you and your hubby-to-be have shared. Eschewing table numbers for names has become popular, so follow suit with your own sentimental style. Name the tables after your first, second, third, etc., date spots (keep it PG, of course). Or group them by your all-time favourite movies, mountains you've climbed together, or neighbourhoods in which you've lived. Take the idea up a notch and gather the best photos of the two of you from different points in your life and relationship and create table cards for each memory. On the back, write where you both are, your ages, why you're there, and what you could have been thinking at the time.

Make Lasting Memories

When all else fails, turn the tables and let your guests help personalize the day. Create a guest book that leaves your guests feeling like they've really left their mark. For instance, find an object that symbolizes you two, like a rugby ball for sports lovers, and ask everyone to sign the pigskin. Or, think inside the box: Leave a blank note card at each guest's plate so that can write down their well-wishes for you as a couple. Once done, ask them to slip the note in a gorgeous box (you could even ask your florist to create one out of flowers, then transfer the notes to something more solid later). Read them after the honeymoon, then at your first anniversary, and your second...handwritten notes will never lose their power of personalization.

Wedding Style

12. Winter weddings

The Decor

• For a holiday-theme fete? Place potted evergreens around your space and decorate them with ornaments. Affix mini jingle-bell wreaths to every doorknob.
• We love the idea of dressing a winter wedding like a social scene from Old Hollywood: Layer on the rhinestones, hang hundreds of pretty round white paper lanterns from the ceiling, and use old black-and-white photos as table numbers.

The Invitations

• Create white on white layers: a white card with an off-white border wrapped in a pearly-white silk dupioni wrap.
• Place your wedding programs in fur-trimmed silk pockets.
• Use silver accents to make any colour scheme more winter-y.

The Flowers

• Carry pomanders of white stephanotis (these four-pointed, star like flowers remind us of snowflakes).
• Accent your bouquet with tiny crystals.
• Love the white on white idea? Add texture to your white rose and calla lily bouquet with a handful of wintry white feathers.

The Menu

• Warm guests up with a creamy, winter-y mixed drink made with Kahlua.
• Serve a colourful seasonal puree made of butternut squash or purple potatoes.
• Dish up a hearty chilli in individual-sized clay ramekins.
• Pass around a mini-dessert course of a family sugar-cookie recipe before you serve the cake.

The Cake

• Serve a dense chocolate cake with raspberry filling covered in creamy white fondant frosting and decorated with chocolate-covered cherries.
• Ice the entire cake in a gray-blue frosting (trust us -- it will look super cool) that can be decorated with pearly-white dots to look like freshly fallen snow.
• Top it with cascading flowers, fresh or fake (if you go for fresh flowers, make sure they aren't sprayed with any pesticides so that your guests can actually eat the cake).

The Favours

• Signature chocolates finished off with your monogram is sophisticated.
• Mini bottles of champagne
• Consider creating personalized CDs full of your favourite songs (including the first-dance song).

Wedding Style

13. Summer weddings

The Decor

• nvoke a nature theme and use insects (um, cute ones, that is) such as ladybugs (representing good luck) and bumble bees (representing honey, as in your sweetheart) all over your space.
• To create a seaside feel, use seaglass-colour table linens, white bamboo chairs, and lots of candlelight.
• Name each table after places you both love to go this time of year, such as a special beach or a favourite restaurant.

  The Invitations

• Pick a logo and feature it everywhere: atop your invitations, your save-the-dates, and your thank-you cards.
• Add a surprising element -- affix a three-dimensional mini starfish to the top of your invite.
• Use beautiful organza ribbons in your colours to ornament your invitations. Summer centrepieces evoke the shades and the sensibility of the season. Photo: Liz Banfield Photography

  The Flowers

• Pair your favourite flower with seasonal fruits: Place lemons and limes in tall clear topiaries and top with loose floral arrangements.
• Go for a lush garden look and plant bright pink hydrangeas in antique urns to flank your outdoor aisle. (After the event is over replant the blooms in your garden!)
• Select bouquets for the maids that, when placed all together, look like the horizon during a sunset.
• Choose a palette and feature centrepieces in different shades at each table: pale pink, hot pink, and peachy pink, for example.

  The Menu

• Feature tropical-colour martinis as signature cocktails.
• Serve fresh green salads accented with organic flower blossoms.
• Offer a "light" choice on your menu for waistline-watching guests.

  The Cake

• Be a kid again with tiers of light and fluffy vanilla cupcakes.
• Have a light touch with fresh berries topped with whipped cream.
• Serve big bowls of cherries.
• Cool off with gelato (yum!). Seasonal blooms include -- but are not limited to -- dahlias, cosmos, roses, and sunflowers.

  The Favours

• Offer relief from the sun with personalized paper fans and parasols.
• Give flip-flops in your wedding colours.
• Go nostalgic and get a penny-candy cart. Or if you can't manage to find an old-school cart for rent, set up a countertop or table with big clear jars filled with candies (one with caramels, another with lemon drops, a third with Twizzlers, and so on). Leave glassine bags beside the jars so your guests can help themselves and leave your wedding on a sugar high note.

  Wedding Style

  14. Autumn weddings

  The Decor

  • Think rustic elegance: stalks of fall flowers tied to tent poles, glass jugs filled with cider, or dozens of bales of hay for guests to sit on.
  • Go all out with rich: chocolate brown burn-out velvet table linens, brown velvet curtains and chair cushions, and brown beaded candleholders for the cocktail tables.

  The Invitations

  • Incorporate an autumnal icon such as a maple leaf or pinecone.
  • Send your invitation in a velvet pocket featuring stitching of your first names.
  • Use metallic gold paper to give any colour scheme a fall feel.

  The Flowers

  • Pair your favourite flower with bunches of berries or a ring of leaves.
  • Include fruit, such as tiny pears, in the centrepieces.
  • Combine flowers with colourful votives in rustic antique lanterns.

  The Menu

  • Use small pumpkins and butternut squashes as bowls for creamy pumpkin soup.
  • Use colourful seasonal produce in interesting ways -- serve a bright red beet puree or a salad of miniature vegetables.
  • Give a nod to Halloween by serving chocolate martinis with Hershey's Kisses, or green-apple martinis with apple-flavoured Jolly Ranchers.

  The Cake

  • Try a basket-weave style cake topped with fresh seasonal berries.
  • Dazzle guests with a cupcake tower or tower of donuts.
  • Go for drama with a four-tier confection wrapped in dark chocolate fondant and covered in green sugar-paste apples.
  • Opt out of a traditional wedding cake and serve slices of apple, cherry, and pumpkin pie instead.

  The Favours

  • Give out pieces of homemade fudge with the family recipe attached.
  • Create a bundle of cookies packaged with a monogrammed label.
  • Offer spice-scented -- think gingerbread -- candles.
  • Make a jar of homemade jam adorned with a label reading "Spread the Love."
  • Give a kid treat: caramel-dipped Granny Smiths wrapped in cellophane.
  • Give a small potted plant in a cool container.

  Wedding Style

  15. Spring weddings

  The Decor

  • Do all-over preppy: Go crazy with pink gingham cloth, and feature it everywhere.
  • Pair patterns: Go sophisticated with stripes, or flirty with polka dots. Combine a couple of patterns for a playful effect.
  • Use slightly different shades of your wedding colours for each of the table linens. They'll look unified, but not matchy-match.

  The Invitations

  • Have a common springtime motif, such as a rose, printed on the invites.
  • Choose an engaging font to reflect a fun spring feeling.
  • A casual spin: Use a wide ribbon in your wedding colours or pattern instead of a more traditional belly band or wrap.

  The Flowers

  • Pair your favourite flower with fruits (ruby-red raspberries, luscious blackberries, or even figs) for a fete that feels as home-grown as a picnic in the park.
  • Hang heart-shaped floral wreaths from doors or from trees.
  • Create a space that's awash in tiny blooms -- from single-bloom bud vases lining the bar to floral-adorned baskets in the bathrooms.

  The Menu

  • Fill large punch bowls with lemonade, iced tea, and white-wine sangria.
  • Serve spring lamb instead of more traditional beef with a garden-fresh herb sauce.
  • Present delicate chilled pea soup in shot glasses as hors d'oeuvres.

  The Cake

  • Serve a white cake covered in sugar-frosted slices of apricots and pears.
  • Go for something light and fluffy, like a strawberry shortcake covered in pale pink fondant and topped with real strawberries.
  • We love the look of pastel-coloured cascading sugar blooms as much as a traditional ivory-coloured cake dotted with simple Swiss-dot motif.

  The Favours

  • Give bulbs guests can plant in their gardens or window boxes, or packets of flower seeds tagged with a personalized label that reads "Let Love Grow," for example.
  • Be benevolent and offer a charitable donation in each guest's name.
  • Offer mini potted herbs that guests pick up on their way out to enhance a garden theme.