while these ideas sound cute and trendy for 08, a bride should keep in mind the elements of a timeless and classy wedding. it would be a real shame to look back on your wedding and be embarrassed by your outdated bridal gown or your silly bridal pictures. if you want to add color to the gown, keep it simple like the recommended champagne or pale pink - a bright sash should be worn by the flower girls. let's all be reminded too that a picture included in an invitation is a complete taboo. If you must send a picture include it in your thank you card.

Unless you have the money to just buy everything you want. The more you stress over the wedding and reception, the less fun it is and the more you'll regret it. It's not worth going into debt over either. If I had mine to do over, no formal reception at all, just a casual open house, with no gifts, a nice dress I'd plan on wearing afterwards to church instead of a wedding dress. I'd buy a sheet cake, make some punch, get a few party trays and be done with it. My mother would have been appalled, but that would have been less stressful than all the worrying over details nobody but she and I remember now.

I'll be wearing a silver sheath dress at my wedding in August, and my fiance will be wearing Converse with his tuxedo. We both just wanted to do things we thought were fun rather than staying inside the lines.

If my daughters want a splash of color, then great. I really wanted a pale pink dress instead of white when I married back in 1989. Of course, I had to do what my mom said... :-( I didn't even wear my gown in the temple, so I don't see why it mattered. I love the ideas of splash of color, like a sash. I've seen it in Brides, and also on-line. I love it!

wow, nyc, that's quite a soapbox you are on. Utah certainly has its own culture; particularly when it comes to wedding traditions. While normally it's considered gauche to include a photo with the invitation, it's common and even considered necessary here. It would be like me saying to a Texas bride that it would be tacky to serve BBQ at her reception.

I'd also have to say that any wedding photo is going to look dated 10-30 years after the actual event. It's only after something has acquired a real sense of history that it becomes vintage or nostalgic. Art is a reflection of its time, even if it's a simple form such a wedding photography. The trends that are followed today will be recognized for its cultural value by generations to follow, even it comes across as hokey in 10 years.