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One of the great things about planning your own wedding is that you have complete control of your vision. When it comes to details and decor, you can go the traditional route, or you can make it all your own and be completely unique. Instead of having your guests sign the traditional Wedding Guest Book, here are a few alternative ideas sure to give your wedding a special little touch. 1) Wishing Tree with Leaves: Consider having guests write special messages, and of course, their names on paper leaves which they can then hang on a wishing tree. You can then either display your wishing tree inside your home or take the leaves off the tree and place them in a special scrapbook. 2) Rocks or Seashells: Ask your guests write their well wishes on flat rocks/stones or perhaps even on the inside of a smooth shell interior. Then collect those in a glass vase as a lovely and unique keepsake. 3) Thumbprint Tree: Have your guests leave their stamp on your wedding with their thumbprints. Pen a tree trunk with empty branches on a beautiful scroll and have your guests place their thumbprints and names along the branches to create an incredible tree of wishes. 4) Snapshot Photo Book: Create a photo station equipped with polaroid or fuji instant cameras. Your guests can snap a simple portrait of each other, glue it on the pages of an empty guests book and of course add their well wishes. That way you'll have sweet photos to go along with the kind words shared by your guests. Whatever option you decide to go with, just make sure your coordinator or perhaps even your DJ, reminds your guests to visit the "guest book" at some point during the celebration to ensure that you've got all your guests accounted for! - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.

Planning your Wedding will likely be one of the biggest "projects" you take on during your lifetime. So ensuring that your wedding details and decor mesh correctly can often be a cumbersome and costly task. But making sure your wedding celebration is picture perfect, doesn't always have to break the bank -- as long as you carefully craft your details and put your money where you can get the most bang out of your buck. Here are some decor/details ideas that make a huge impact when it comes to setting the scene: 1) Your wedding colors: Color is the most impactful way to set the tone for your wedding. Stream your wedding colors throughout your dress, decor and details -- think about it, color doesn't cost a thing. So choose your colors carefully and run with it. When I got engaged, one of the first things I did was run to the paint section of my local hardware store to pick my color palette. From there on out, I kept my swatches close at hand whenever it came to choosing decor/details. 2) Lighting: Lighting is everything, and I'm not just saying that because I'm a photographer But light truly sets the scene like no other details -- be it natural light from the sun, the glow from candles that line your tables or the string lights that hang above your reception area. Light conveys a mood and sets the scene for your celebration from beginning to end and this is especially true if your celebration takes place in the evening. Just remember, lighting matters! 3) Ceremony arrangement: Yes, it's true -- you don't have to have a traditional wedding aisle. There are so many different ways to give your ceremony setting a different feel. While you can certainly go the traditional route, have you thought of perhaps creating a circle of guests chairs around your ceremony area to give it a more intimate feel? Or if it's on the beach and you know the ceremony will be quick and simple, your guests may align the area standing. Chairs setup in a half circle can also give your ceremony a different feel. Consider a variety of ceremony setups that will go best with your ceremony length, style and setting. 4) Table arrangement and Reception layouts: How will you arrange your tables at your reception? This is another simple but easy detail that can create a huge impact on the entire vibe for your reception. Will you have a sweetheart table or have a long table in the front with your bridal party by your sides? Will guests sit in assigned seats or is it open seating to allow more guests to mingle with each other? These days couples are also looking into having long tables to allow for a more formal feel and it also allows for amazing tablescape decor. Also consider how your tables will be setup with the dance floor in mind. The layout for your tables is an important aspect that will create the mood/feel as you celebrate the night away! 5) Decor/Guest Favors: Consider implementing guests favors into your tablescape decor. It's an easy way to give dual purpose to your details -- for instance, line your tables with tiny candle vases that your guests can take home. Or perhaps use floral touches that also double as guests favors. This is a simple way to give your decor some pizazz while at the same time thinking of your guests! - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.

Your wedding invitation often sets the theme of your destination wedding celebration, so it's no wonder why so many couples spend extensive time and money picking and choosing their official wedding invites. Here are a few destination wedding invitation ideas/themes to help get you started: -- The Passport Invitation: If you're inviting your guests to an international location, then get the travel vibe started with a unique passport invitation. A passport cover in the colors of your wedding with lots of wedding information on the pages inside are sure to get your guests excited about the adventure that awaits! -- The Boarding Pass Invitation: Sharing your nuptials abroad but still want to keep it simple? How about a boarding pass invite? If you're crafty enough and have the time, it's definitely got some DIY possibilities (just do a search in the forum and you're bound to come up with templates from past BDW brides!). The boarding pass can be simple or intricate -- either way it will get you and your guests pumped up for your destination celebration. -- The Postcard Invitation: It's a simple but sweet way to get your invites out. Think of a postcard -- one side is a gorgeous photo and the other side has your text. Get your info out to guests in an easy way that doesn't involve much hassle or thought. It's also a very cost-friendly option that screams, "let's go on an adventure!" -- The Beach-Themed Invitation: If you're planning to tie the knot with sand in between your toes and the waves crashing in the background, then start the beach escape with a beach-themed invite to your guests. Think seashells in a box or perhaps a bottle filled with sand -- hey, who doesn't love a beach party?! -- The Nature-Inspired Invitation: Think graphics of birds, fish, butterflies, flowers or greenery. Anything that conveys nature and all its beauty! -- The Glam & Glitz Invitation: If you're having more of a chic or fancy celebration, perhaps glitz and glam is the way to go. With metallics all the rage this wedding season, you can't go wrong with gold, silver, copper or rust touches. Or perhaps you want to go completely blinged out with jewels or pearls. These invitations are sure to impress and let your guests know they're in for a glamourous affair. -- The Eco-Friendly Simple Invitation: Think linen or ecru with shades of neutral accents. Are you whisking your guests away to an eco-friendly location and decorating your celebration with lots of light colored hues? If so, this may be the way to go. - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.

Wedding details -- you either love em or hate em. In my case, they consumed tons of my wedding planning because I wanted every detail big or small to perfectly mesh together. And I wanted my details to be unique. When it came to a lot of our floral details, we opted for artificial ones because it was more economically feasible for us and well, I wanted to make sure our flowers were exactly how I envisioned them. One of my favorite finds was our groomsmen boutineers! We had these specially made through an Etsy creative and till this day, I still love them! Handcrafted boutineers via Etsy is a great way to add style and a touch of uniqueness to your wedding party without breaking the bank. Click here to view some incredibly cute wedding boutineer options in various styles, sizes and colors to fit your taste! * Wedding Finds is a BDW feature that will highlight special little finds or ideas that may help you along during your wedding planning journey. If you have a special wedding find to share, feel free to add your suggestions in the comments section!

According to wedding resource expert, The Knot, this year's wedding trends are all about personalization. "Weddings are more personalized than ever, with couples putting their own unique touches on classic traditions," says Kellie Gould, editor in chief of The Knot. "Couples are taking entertainment up a notch by hiring contemporary choirs that will sing an a cappella version of their first dance song, and upgrading the signature cocktail to satellite bars featuring specialty drinks with engraved glassware and elaborate garnishes. Guys are even upping their grooming game and stepping into the spotlight more with custom suits and accessories." Here's a list of The Knot's 2016 wedding trends: 1. Two-in-One Dresses & Fashion-Forward Florals: brides are opting for convertible dresses that combine a formal ceremony gown and a fun reception frock in one. Flowers are being infused beyond the bouquet and centerpieces -- flower dress accents and flower crowns are among some favorites. 2. Wedding Concierge Pros: Wedding planning is getting easier because now there's either a pro or an app to hire/use to execute any element of the day. 3. Satellite Bars: personalize the party with your favorite libation, or even serve a tasting of preferred wines. Set up a bar that highlights your preferred drink, like champagne or a specialty gin. 4. Contemporary Choirs & Late-Night Karaoke: Surprise guests by hiring a marching band or gospel choir and have them perform a favorite rock ballad for the walk down the aisle or an a cappella version of the first dance song. And if you're hosting an after-party, karaoke is king. 5. Sweet Endings: The wedding cake is here to stay, but it's no longer the only dessert on the menu. Passed treats, especially of the frozen variety like shaved ice or fruit-infused ice pops with the couple's names on the stick, are trending along with installations like doughnut walls. 6. Wow-Worthy Websites: Couples are hiring design gurus to create a completely custom site with a unique URL, bespoke details and personalized illustrations. 7. Total Personalization: The new wedding tells a couple's story, meaning a complete customization of details. From serving the couple's favorite dish from a local restaurant or having an ordained family member officiate the ceremony, elements will reflect their favorite tastes and interests, making their wedding day uniquely their own. Couples are even choosing original themes that represent the two of them. 8. 3-D Printing: Paper will always have a place in weddings, but couples are creating memorable 3-D save-the-dates that set the vibe for a modern celebration, and even making a 3-D printed cake topper that looks just like the bride and groom. 9. Food-Inspired Floral Elements: Artichokes and Kale vs. Roses: Bouquets and centerpieces are getting a style boost thanks to untraditional floral elements, like fruit and vegetables. 10. Stylish Grooms: Guys are now looking for a second look, opting for a unique reception look too. Custom suits with embroidered monograms, velvet loafers and personalized cuff links give guys more style options than ever before in 2016. 11. Locally Sourced Food: The new wedding menu will mimic the offerings at your local farm-to-table restaurant. Forget standard chicken or beef and say hello to "free-range Happy Days Farm hen." Good food, both in taste and provenance, is playing a greater role in dinner fare. 12. Metallic Palettes: It's all about shimmer and shine this year. Don't be afraid to mix silver and rose gold or gunmetal and gold—metallics play well together. The addition of luster elevates any look, giving a couple's wedding style an extra-special feel.

I don't know what it is about the Wedding Cake, but it's one of my favorite details to photograph on the Wedding Day. And well, frankly, cake is just awesome in general Wedding cakes come in all shapes, sizes and designs -- from simple to intricate, to colorful and beautifully simple. Wedding cakes are simply pieces of art with a whole lot of deliciousness to boot! And for many couples, the wedding cake design is a crucial part of the Wedding planning process. Here are some Wedding cake photos (taken by yours truly of MarieSam Sanchez Photography) to give you a sweet little slice of inspiration! (Take a peek at Part 1 and check out Part 2!) - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.