5 Wedding Trends We Wish Would Go Away!

Remember how your mother used to say, "If (insert best friend's name here) jumped off a bridge, would you do it too?" Consider this our version of that old saying. Just because everyone else is doing it doesn't always mean it's appropriate or in good taste. Here, a list of 5 wedding trends we can't stand:

Including a registry announcement in your wedding invitations: You can tell yourself that this makes it more convenient for your guests, but trust us; it's tacky. Word-of-mouth will always lead guests to your registry, so don't worry about making sure they know where you're registered. Besides, in this day and age, gift receipts are practically a certainty, so you can always return duplicates or items you don't want.

Asking for money or registering for things other than gifts: This is a huge trend right now, but again, it's in poor taste. Asking guests to contribute to a down payment on a house or to purchase a scuba-diving excursion on your honeymoon is bound to offend some--particularly your older, more traditional guests. Call us traditional if you want, but we have to agree.

Most "group" dances: This is one situation where tradition should definitely be ignored. The Chicken Dance, The Electric Slide, conga lines...sure, they get everyone up and moving, but so does "Beat it" by Michael Jackson. Any bride that forgoes these tired dances for something more original scores major points in our book.

Bridezillas: Yes, this is the day you have been dreaming of for ages. Yes, you want everything to go perfectly. But turning into a shrew and abusing everyone from your great-grandmother to your future husband is not the best way to ensure your big day goes as planned. Nobody likes an entitlement complex. Ever heard of the expression "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar?"

Seating charts: We understand you want everything organized down to the last detail, but your guests (most of them, anyway) aren't in elementary school, and they're perfectly capable of choosing their own seat. Plus, the "singles" table is just humiliating. As long as you've got enough tables and chairs for all your guests, relax and let them decide who they want to sit beside for the next four hours.

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Save-the-Date Tips

Congratulations! You've picked a day to get hitched. Now it's time to tell your family and friends - and all other potential guests - the good news. Save-the-Date cards are a great way to spread the word about your wedding. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when sending your Save-the-Dates:

Keep it brief. It's tempting to crowd your Save-the-Dates with lots of info, but hold back a bit. Keep the motto "less is more." Remember, Save-the-Dates are supposed to be teasers for your invitation.

Make an impact. Use Save-the-Dates to show your style and personality. Save-the-Dates do not need to be overly formal, so take the opportunity to be cute and creative. You can send postcards, note cards, pamphlets, magnets, or even pens with your wedding day info on the barrel of the pen. This is the first impression your guests will receive regarding your wedding, so wow them as best you can!

Don't overdo it. You're excited about your wedding, but be cautious before you start mailing Save-the-Dates to everyone you know. They'll all be expecting an invitation to the wedding, and you don't want to accidentally exceed your guest list limit.

Contributor: Kristen Castillo

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Trends for Flowers in 2009

Trying to decide on the perfect floral scheme for your wedding? There are several fun trends for 2009. There are also certain flowers that never go out of style. According to Kyle Robino of Old Market Habitat in Omaha, roses are always timeless, but there are interesting ways to add a modern twist to their classic elegance. "The hybrid roses today are just amazing colors. Hocus Pocus, which has a dark burgundy rose with a lime yellow zebra stripe running through it, and Nightflash, which has a red and white zebra stripe, are two examples."

Two hot trends in 2009 are hydrangeas and Gerbera daisies. "Gerbera daisies are big right now, as they are kind of a retro-mod seventies flower and come in many colors. They're a whimsical, happy flower, and you only need a few to make a statement," Robino says. Colored calla lilies and pixie calla lilies are also popular, with favorite colors being dark eggplant purple, flame yellow, and rusty orange.

According to Stacy Combs of Lincoln's Petal Creations, hot pink and orange flowers are out and all ivory is in, as are other monochromatic color palettes. She says combos like tiffany blue with chocolate and ivory with lime green are also popular right now, as are several graduated shades of one color, "like the paint strip samples in the paint store." She adds that red is always classic and in style.

Combs also notes that the "roundy moundy" style of bridal bouquet is out, and trailing bouquets are in. "This is not your mother's cascading bouquet of a shield of roses, however," she says. "It's more asymmetrical and off to one side, and has greens you wouldn't normally see, like grasses, hala leaves, or aspidistra leaves."

For contact information on the best florists in the Nebraska region, including those mentioned here, visit NEweddingday.com. You can also pick up the latest issue of Nebraska WeddingDay Magazine for more information on floral tips and trends.

Contributor: Kathryn Bechen

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Money-saving honeymoon ideas

With the economy in such bad shape, brides everywhere are looking for ways to cut costs. But when it's the day you've been dreaming of since you were 5, it's hard to let go of that gorgeous designer wedding gown or the fantastic floral centerpieces you've fallen in love with.

One great way to save money without letting it affect your big day is to scale back your honeymoon. Of course that trip to Jamaica would be nice, but your honeymoon is really all about spending some time together as a newlywed couple. You can just as easily enjoy each other a little closer to home, can't you?

There are plenty of options for great places to visit near Nebraska that don't even require a plane trip. Check out ngpc.state.ne.us for information on Nebraska state parks. You can even venture a little further out--to the Rocky Mountains or Estes Park in Colorado, Yosemite in Wyoming, or Mount Rushmore in South Dakota--without having to spend a ton of money on a flight or gas.

If getting back to nature isn't really your thing, another great option is taking a cruise. While that may not sound cheap, cruise lines are slashing their prices left and right, and most cruises are all-inclusive (room, board, entertainment, etc.), so you won't have to worry about bringing a huge amount of extra spending money. Look for a reliable travel agent to help you find an affordable flight to your destination and the best cruise for your money, and you could end up having that tropical honeymoon you dreamed about for far less than you imagined! Check out neweddingday.com for a list of reputable travel agencies in your area.

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