Consider Color

A pristine white wedding gown has been a traditional symbol of bridal purity since Victorian times. Ivory, champagne and even blush pink have become more mainstream in recent years. Consider incorporating your favorite colors into your wedding in an unexpected way, like this gown from Tara Lynn Wedding Gowns or a more delicately embroidered gown from Jacqueline Bridal . The bold and colorful embroidery and applique provides an opportunity for self-expression which makes your wedding more personal and representative of you.

This planner has the honor or coordinating a wedding for a couple who love the outdoors. The bride's favorite color is golden yellow and the groom's is sky blue, those, combined with the bride's favorite flowers, Joseph's Coat roses create a pallet of festive color. All of these colors and more are included in the delicate embroidery of the bride's gown, which is accented by a golden sash.

Attendants (the groom's sisters) will wear gowns in a similar cut in softer shades that echo the colors of the wildflower decor. Groomsmen will wear polka dot bow ties in coordinating colors.

Lavish use of floral accents continues this colorful celebration and brings the outdoors in. Table decor for the reception dinner includes centerpieces featuring life-like butterflies from www.thinkgeek.com surrounded by rings of fresh florals on sky blue and golden tablecloths.

Consider your favorite colors and incorporate them into your big day in ways that please you.

Reality Check

Recently, this organizer had the pleasure of meeting a charming bridal couple who have big plans and no sense of reality in terms of the effort involved or the funds required to pull off the "wedding weekend" they so desire.

For those of you who want the gala (and, hey, why not!?) but don't want to begin married life deep in debt, may I humbly suggest the following:

Rather than holding the rehearsal dinner party at a $200.00 an hour specialty bowling alley, consider the local Dave & Buster's. True, you won't have the place to yourself, but you will have a great time at less than half the cost.

Rather than providing limos for all of the guests staying at the reception site hotel (to the tune of $75 to $100 an hour) speak with your concierge or hotel liaison - many hotels have shuttle vans they would be happy to provide for a small fee. Not as swanky, to be sure, but far more economical and far more environmentally responsible.

Rather than the $50 per person plated dinner plus an open bar consider the $40 per person plated dinner with limited choices of entree and two or three choices of signature cocktails. Average saving: $30 per guest.

Rather than the private dining room and $30 per guest brunch buffet for your hotel guests the next morning, consider asking the hostess to designate an area of the regular dining room for your party. It's the same food, but only $20 per guest.

Lastly, please, do not expect your vendors and professionals to provide their services for free or next-to-free simply to get your business. The old adage "you get what you pay for" especially applies in this situation. If you want a certain something a certain way, be prepared to pay for that something.

Antique Elegance

When choosing the ring that will symbolize you love and commitment to one another, it is a temptation to hit of all the big chain jewelry stores, all of the elite boutiques and all of the jewelry stores in between. May we suggest skipping the modern, trendy or of-the-moment styles and instead search for that symbol at antique and estate sales? Timeless classics never go out of style. Choosing an antique ring, particularly if it is a family heirloom lends a certain continuity as well as sentiment to the occasion. Be it great-grandmother's ring or a new-to-you heirloom in the making, it is certain to reflect your commitment to one another in style.

Renewal of Vows

My favorite bridal couple is not a wedding at all, but a vow renewal. The bride and groom are in their early 80's and celebrating a milestone anniversary few couples are fortunate enough to reach - 65 years!

The bride will be wearing a lovely three piece skirt suit from JC Penney in a delicate orchid color. The groom will wear a dark suit with an orchid shirt and tie.

The bridesmaids, the daughters of the couple, will also wear elegant skirt suits from JC Penney in shades of pale green and pale pink. The groomsmen, the couples sons, will wear dark suits and pastel shirts and ties.

Flowers for this occasion will be cream roses and delicate wildflowers from www.thebridesbouquet.com.

The reception will feature a slide show of pictures of the couple and their family through the years set to a musical background during cocktails and dinner. After dinner the couple and their guests will dance to the sounds of big band music, just as the happy "newly-weds" did during their courtship.

Beach Wedding

Here in Indiana a beach wedding means the lake. Since we have snow on the ground six months of the year, many beach loving bridal couples opt for a destination wedding to an oceanfront resort. In these trying economic times, that dream may not be realistic. However, it is possible to create your own "beach wedding" no matter where you are.

Invitations embossed with a seashell motif invite guests to a wedding and reception venue that has been transformed into a pseudo-beach. By using an abundance of potted palm trees grouped in the corners of the room and along the walls, the room becomes more alive. tables are covered in simple white linen and scattered with small seashells around simple white votive candles. A cd playing sounds of surf and gulls served as a background music during the cocktail and dinner hours to further evoke the feel of the beach.

The bridesmaids wore simple dresses in shades of blue and aqua while the groomsmen wore tan - the colors of sea and sand. The bride and groom both wore simple white, very breezy and yet elegant. The bouquets and florals consisted of tropical flowers and greens with small seashell accents.

The centerpiece of the gathering was the wonderful wedding cake; simple white layers, accented with small seashells and surrounded by brown sugar sand.

Sunrise Wedding

One lovely young bride recently came to us with an unusual request. In honor of her late father, who was an avid fisherman, she wanted her wedding to be on a local lake at sunrise.

Wearing a lovely and simple chiffon dress, she approached her groom, she paused at the altar and tossed a single rose from her bouquet of mixed roses and wildflowers onto the glassy surface of the lake in a silent tribute to her dad.

To accommodate her guests, we arranged a brunch reception. Starting with champagne mimosas, bloody marys, screwdrivers, and many non-alcoholic offerings of fresh juices, coffees and teas. The guests were pleased with the menu offerings of fresh fruits, poached and scrambled eggs, bacon and sausages, pancakes and waffles as well as a wedding cake made of Krispy Kreme donuts. The buffet and guest tables were simply and elegantly decorated with wildflowers.

After the reception, guests were encouraged to relax in the shade of weeping willows or try their hands at fishing with cane poles we provided for their use.

It was a touching and lovely ceremony and a fun and unique reception.

Retro Wedding Reception

This theme begins with the wedding invitation - white on black. The groom and his men all wear classic black tuxes and cocky fedoras in the tradition of Sinatra. The bride and her maids are delightful and de-lovely in sleek, streamlined cocktail dresses, reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn. Florals are classic white roses and lily-of-the-valley. The wedding party will enter the sanctuary to an instrumental version of the standard "It Had To Be You." This retro feel is carried on to the reception. The cocktail hour prior to dinner will feature a signature cocktail - the classic martini - served with appetizers. The entertainment will feature the music of Old Blue Eyes, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Mel Torme, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn and other hipsters of the era. The bridal couple's first dance will be to the seductive sounds of Sinatra's "The Best Is Yet To Come". It will be a "Forever Cool" evening for all.