It sounds a little odd, but it’s actually a neat idea. A company, such as WeddingShowerGifts.com can send you a ceramic guest book plattter. You choose the size and design. The heart shaped platter is for up to 50 guests and they have several other sizes and shapes up to the 18.5″ oval platter for 200 guests.

You will receive the handpainted personalized platter along with a ceramic marker. At the wedding, your guests sign the platter with the special marker like they normally would a guest book. After the event, you fire the platter in the oven for 30 minutes and it’s done!

At Weddingshowergifts.com, they also offer a signature photo quilt that can be a great alternative to a guest book as well. You can order a large 53″ x 60″ quilt that features a 16″ square with the wedding photo. Around the photo, there is enough room to fit up to 150 signatures.

These keepsakes are something unique that you will cherish for a lifetime!

The price for a quilt with one center photo is $159.99. The price of the platters starts at just $78.

Elegant Affairs Caterers is a 5-Star, full-service catering company that has been catering to social and corporate clientele of Manhattan, Long Island and the Hamptons for the last decade. Andrea has extensive experience planning all types of weddings from the simple affairs to the most lavish galas.

Here are some tips and trends from Andrea and Elegant Affairs Caterers:

What’s In & What’s Out

• Round tables for reception seating is out and a combination of square, rectangle, and round tables are in.
• Symmetrical floral centerpieces are out and varying size and shape floral centerpieces are in (different vases and vessels used at each reception table).
• All white weddings are out. Chocolate brown accented with either pale blue, celadon, or pale orange is the hot color combination for 2008.
• Fried food and heavy entrees are out. Lighter fare, organic cuisine, and vegetarian cuisine are definitely in.

Gift Trends

• Many brides are requesting that a donation be given to their charity of choice in lieu of wedding gift.
• For bridesmaids gifts, it’s a great gesture to take the girls for a spa treatment, or manicures and pedicures followed by a ladies lunch catered at the spa or at a local restaurant.
• Using an online photo shop, create personalized photo books of memories throughout the years. Try shutterfly.com to get some great ideas.

Wedding Cake Trends

• Round cakes are out and square cakes are in.
• The days of the white cake are over. Brides are opting for cakes with bold colors and abstract shapes.

To learn more about Andrea Correale and Elegant Affairs, please visit elegantaffairscaterers.com.

From Shannon: “Renting a tux is no longer the only thing that is being borrowed for the big day; brides are also taking part in this wedding tradition, but in a whole new way. Just as celebrities don borrowed jewelry and other items for their walk down the red carpet, brides are seeking out retailers who also have a rental option available for their accessory needs. Bag Borrow or Steal is one such retailer that allows jewelry rental from such names as Vera Wang, Miriam Haskell and Chanel to handbags from Rafe New York and Badgley Mischka for as little as $10 a week.”

When wearing glitzy jewelry, it’s essential to wear your hair in an equally glamorous up do. In this video, Joe Carol’s Tolga Ackay creates a gorgeous up do with lots of height and style. He places rose petals into the hair and adds a wonderful tiara.

1. Eco-friendly weddings. Hollywood put everyone on notice by making large scale events like the Emmys and Oscars green. Now couples are looking to go green with their weddings.

2. Ice. Ice continues to stay on the trend list because it can be used in so many ways. Don’t think intertwined hearts or kissing swans, envision lush centerpieces housed in vases made of ice, dramatic martini luges or a chandelier with crystal embellishments all made of ice.

3. Wardrobe changes. The bride will show everyone it’s her party and she can change if she wants to. Expect this year’s bride to have two to three different looks throughout the wedding day.

4. Weddings become theatrical. While cookie cutter weddings are a rarity these days, couples will stop at nothing to create a wedding that is completely different from anything else. From dramatic entrances to jaw dropping decor and food, weddings will truly be productions with producers, prop masters and stage hands in the background to make it happen.

5. Budgets will sky rocket. It doesn’t matter what the feds say weddings are recession proof — whether ultra-conservative or over the top — couples will stop at nothing to show the world the true meaning behind what’s love got to do with it!

Vanessa is the Host of The Wedding Coach cable television program; Editor-In-Chief of The Wedding Coach Playbook; Creative Director for Wedding Fantasies, the annual bridal event for affluent brides and a featured Columnist in the society magazine The WAG. Under The Wedding Coach brand, Vanessa has authored “82 Fashion & Beauty Tips for the Full-Figured Bride”, “101 Money Saving Tips for the Bride & Groom” and “The Groom’s Pocket Guide to Wedding Planning” and has served as a special guest speaker and commentator at bridal events for Fortunoff, Bloomingdales and Westchester Weddings magazine.

Vanessa is also the Founder and Executive Director of The Foundation for Living and Loving Life, a non-profit organization with the mission of assisting female cancer Survivors with their wedding planning dreams.

Don’t get me wrong; I love wedding favors—I gave away favors at my wedding and, by golly, my sister will give them away at hers.

What I mean by awkward is, when do you give them to your guests?

If you give out favors as your guests arrive, they’re stuck carting around the cute little trinkets for a few hours. And they might even (gasp!) forget them.

If you wait till the end of your reception to give out favors, though, there’s no guarantee everyone will get one. What about poor grandma who had to take off early to get to her Jazz dance class? Or your dad, who so kindly spent the latter part of your reception making sure all of your presents were packed nicely in your car?

Ok, so maybe I’m being a little drastic here—handing out your favors before or after your reception are both good options, but I think I’ve found an even better one.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could combine your favors (something you want to give out) with something you’ll need to give anyway, like place card holders? Well, surprise of all surprises: you can!

Imagine pairing your favorite wedding favors with a cute little bride and groom that tells your guests where to sit. Or what if you gave the perfect Vegas themed favors for your reception at the Luxor? I’m really falling in love with some of these Coaster wedding favors.

Clearly I’m sold on this little trend, but what do you think? Yay or nay? Tell me; I can take it.

After 27 years in business, Preston Bailey has become especially renowned for his ability to completely transform raw, ordinary spaces into sumptuous, theatrical environments, translating his clients’ fantasies into awe-inspiring reality. Preston’s one-of-a-kind events, which include the most extravagant weddings and galas for Royal families across the globe, have earned him a reputation as the world’s preeminent event designer.

He has attracted such clients as Donald Trump, Oprah Winfrey, Uma Thurman, Joan Rivers, Donna Karan, Liza Minnelli, Matt Lauer, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas, Laurence Fishburne, Emmitt Smith, and Bill Cosby. Learn more about Preston at prestonbailey.com

Here are the trends, straight from Preston!

Format
More relaxed! I am thinking a lot more couples are going to be doing cocktail parties and less formal affairs.

Reception
More and more I am seeing the trend of couples hiring celebrity vocalist at their weddings, we have had Stevie Wonder and Patti LaBelle just to name a few. Music is becoming a bigger part of the reception couples who cant afford to hire a celebrity singer or having their local bands/singer perform at the wedding instead of a DJ.

Flowers
Classic flowers are making a comeback, which I love. Gardenias, orchids, and stephandois are very much in trend for 2008.

Cocktails
I think people are going to veer away from a signature cocktail and go more with a fresh juice bar where each guest can customize their own drink with the help of a bartender.

Cakes
As with flowers, I really see the more classic shapes and colors returning. Rather than bright contrasting colors and unconventional shapes, I see brides returning to the tiered shape with colors that compliment the décor.

Venues
Destination, destination, destination! I just see this trend getting bigger and bigger. I love these events because everyone from the mother of the bride to groom’s childhood best friend really relaxes and focuses on the spirit of the wedding.

Invitations
I really like that people are being a bit more playful with the look of their invites. I also love that more and more couples are creating wedding website with all the logistical information. Not only does this cut down on paper in the envelope and make your wedding little bit greener, it lets the design of the invite shine which sets a tone for the whole event.

Entertainment
Along with celebrity performers, couples are taking it upon themselves to entertain their guests. In the past couple of months, I have seen some really wild first dances, I am sure you have all seen the phenomenal “Sir-Mix-a-Lot” dance on YouTube, which really sets to the for the party. At an event we did, the couple hired look-a-like professional dancers and dressed them in the couple’s wedding outfits. They went out the dance floor for the first dance, and blew the guests away with a tango. They quickly exited the dance floor, and in walked the real couple!

Themes
As you know, I love themes. I think it is such a great way to unify the event from the invite to the favors. Next year, I see couples letting the location inspire the design of the event and really letting nature do most of the work.

“I approach designing a wedding as if I were designing a home,” says Scardina Becker. “From ceremony to cocktails to reception, each room represents a transition of space, having its own personal identity, but still belonging to a cohesive whole. I work with lots of colors, fabrics, materials and lighting to create a ‘living space’ for the wedding and a fabulous experience for all. Each wedding ‘performance’ should be seamless and magical!”

A Turn in Colors

Complex and exotic describe the delicious and intriguing color trends for weddings:

Embrace nature with clever, extraordinary and unexpected color combinations…be daring…here are some palettes to ponder:

• Tangerine with Azure Blue and a shot of Espresso
• Sky Blue, Navy Blue, Celadon Green and a splash of Purple Wine
• Glossy White, Metallic Grey, Bold Magenta and Sleek Black…very Chanel
• Dark Cocoa, Seafoam Mint, Metallic Silver on Ivory
• Blueberry, Raspberry, Lavender, Black and Charcoal Gray
• Jewel tones mixed with antique metallic for Fall and Winter
• Reinvent the wheel on Black and White, add a splash of apple green; or if you’ve already seen enough “green” weddings, try citrus yellow instead!
• Glam it up with embroidered ribbons, broaches, buttons and feathers
• Replace the single centerpiece with groupings of various heights and shapes of floral vessels
• Illuminate your night with a professional lighting designer – create style that glows, decorate with eclectic arrangements of lanterns inside and out.

You can order Joyce’s book Countdown to Your Perfect Wedding, published by St. Martin’s Press, on www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com.

Thanks for the tips, Joyce!

There is certainly something about the atmosphere of a still, snowy winter’s day that reminds us of Elizabeth Bennett finally getting together with Mr. Darcy and leaves us feeling all warm inside. That is, at least for the romantic bride.

Aside from the warm fuzzies you’ll get from experiencing your fantasy wedding, though, you’re bound to be pretty cold if you’re dwelling around outside in an attempt to get pictures, or especially if you insisted on an outdoor ceremony to set the ‘winter wonderland’ mood. Fortunately, there are a few extra things you can do to make sure you’ll stay warm even when it’s oh so cold outside.

1. Stop by Starbucks: You’ll definitely want to be all warmed up on the inside if you’re going to brave the winter winds. Stop by your favorite coffee shop and get something that will warm you up before you walk down the aisle.
2. Wear Your Hair Down: Even if you are having your wedding somewhere that is notorious for humidity, on cold winter days your hair is a lot less likely to go flat than it would be in summer months. Also, by wearing your hair down, you’ll avoid having your ears turn as red as Rudolph’s nose!
3. Accessorize: Winter weddings make it possible to add extra accessories you wouldn’t see in the summer. Having a wedding cloak and hand muff could add a romantic element to some of your pictures while keeping you warm at the same time. You’ll probably wear just your dress at the reception, so it might be fun to look a little different for the actual ceremony!
4. Keep Your Feet in Mind: You probably should opt out of open-toed shoes for your winter wedding; that’s a given. Have you thought about wearing furry white boots though? Not only will your feet be warm, you’ll have a very distinctive style about you!
5. Watch the Clock: You’ll want to make sure an outdoor ceremony is short, sweet, and to the point and that it goes of without a hitch. Not only will watching the clock keep you from spending extra minutes in the bitter cold, your guests will appreciate the chance to get out of the cold sooner too!

Here are a few of my favorite choices, which will add a touch of class to both civil and religious wedding ceremonies.

If Thou Must Love Me
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

If thou must love me, let it be for naught
Except for love’s sake only. Do not say,
‘I love her for her smile – her look – her way
Of speaking gently, for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day’ -
For these things in themselves, beloved, may
Be changed, or change for thee – and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity’s wiping my cheeks dry:
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love’s sake, that evermore
Thou mayst love on, through love’s eternity.

Because She Would Ask Me Why I Loved Her
Christopher Brennan

If questioning would make us wise
No eyes would ever gaze in eyes;
If all our tale were told in speech
No mouths would wander each to each.

Were spirits free from mortal mesh
And love not bound in hearts of flesh
No aching breasts would yearn to meet
And find their ecstasy complete.

For who is there that lives and knows
The secret powers by which he grows?
Were knowledge all, what were our need
To thrill and faint and sweetly bleed?

Then seek not, sweet, the “If” and “Why”
I love you now until I die.
For I must love because I live
And life in me is what you give.

The Art Of A Good Marriage
(shortened version)
Wilferd Arlan Peterson

A good marriage must be created.
In marriage the little things are the big things…
It is never being too old to hold hands,
It is remembering to say “I love you” at least once a day,
It is never going to sleep angry,
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives,
It is standing together and facing the world,
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family,
It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways,
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget,
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow,
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful,
It is not only marrying the right person, it is being the right partner.

I know you’re excited now. You’re honeymoon is supposed to give you a break from the everyday; it’s supposed to be a time for you and your new hubby to enjoy your first few days (maybe even the first few weeks) of your marriage.

As nice as it would be to go gallivanting all over the world, sometimes that’s not the best option. Do you have a passport? Do you have enough time to attain a passport before your wedding? Do you have an extensive budget to accommodate a Caribbean getaway? Do you have family or work that can be accommodated from afar?

Clearly there are a lot of things to consider before you even decide on the location of your honeymoon! In any case, for one reason or another, it might suit you and your hubby-to-be a little bit better if you choose to remain stateside rather than jetting off to some remote location.

You might be a little disappointed to find you can’t or shouldn’t cross an ocean for your honeymoon, but you really have a lot of options if you choose to stay here in the U.S. Think about it, the United States is home to beaches, mountains, national parks, historical cities, and even islands. Really, it’s a world of endless possibilities if you just use your imagination!

That said, there are certainly a lot of places you could go, but maybe you’re not so sure where you should go. To help you decide, we’ve decided to include the top 10 stateside honeymoon destinations courtesy of About.com. Take a look at these locales and let us know which one you choose! Enjoy!

1. Hawaii
2. Las Vegas
3. Florida
4. California
5. Texas
6. Georgia
7. Virginia
8. New York
9. North Carolina
10. Colorado

(Note: These top stateside honeymoon destinations were acquired from About’s Vacation Travel Spots USA. Their data was derived according to page hits on About’s Honeymoon information website.)