Ombre for years has quietly been on the wedding trend radar. Occasionally we see it pop up on a flamboyant wedding gown, on the pointed toe of a heel or in a bouquet or floral centerpiece.

om·bré (äm′brā′, äm brā′): shaded or graduated in tone: said of a color (source).

Because a cake often has several tiers, it is quite possibly the most ideal detail of your wedding in which to organically incorporate the ombre style. The photos we’ve hunted down below are proof that incorporating ombre into your wedding may be easy, with the result being prettier than you would imagine; the descending richness of color is quite pleasing to the eye. Don’t you think?

Love,                                                                                         Raya & Erin

(Credits, from top: Bridella (uncredited), Martha Stewart, Cake Coquette, Whipped Bakeshop, Martha Stewart.)

(Credit: (l) Alvina Valenta, (r) Lazaro.)

Once upon a time bridesmaid dresses close to white in color were considered a no-no, as to outshine the bride was avoided at all costs. Due to this we’ve seen bridesmaid dresses of all shades accompany white and ivory wedding gowns. News flash: these days the bride is giving her bridesmaids more and more room to shine. This trend is making way for timeless appeal, and colorless elegance.

A light-colored bridesmaid dress lends for a classic, no-fuss wedding appeal.

It’s chic.

It’s crisp.

It’s clean.

Here’s proof:

(Credit: A Bryan Photo.)

So much room, too, is left for bursts of color elsewhere for the bridesmaids; a black satin sash, fuchsia heels, or a pop of emerald jewelry earrings. So if you’re having a tough time deciding on the color of your bridesmaids’ dresses, think: champagne, ivory, cream, bone, and even (gasp!) white.

Love,                                                                                            Raya & Erin

Growing in popularity is a trend of which Weddingish is very fond. More and more brides are recruiting artists to sketch an illustration of possibly the most important, and most beautiful, dress or ensemble of their lives. Designers have used sketches to bring their creations to life, and the same can be done for brides seeking the ultimate in customized art.

Many artists, and aspiring artists alike, boast websites documenting their custom sketching services. However, before signing a contract, view your potential artist’s portfolio to ensure that his or her style fits your artistic vision. The creation will be a lasting piece of art, and you will want to enjoy admiring it, after all! Weddingish recommends Dreamlines, or seeking out artists on Etsy or Craigslist if you have a stricter budget. Know a friend who draws well? Recruit him or her to sketch; they will more than likely be delighted to play a special part in your big day.

A bridal gown sketch can be utilized in a variety of ways. Display the drawing in a gorgeous frame in your apartment or house, or make mini-sized copies to send in your “thank you” cards. If you’re not a bride, a sketch is a wonderful, and unexpected, wedding or bridal shower gift.

Custom gown sketch by Megan Hamilton.

Custom gown sketch by Dreamlines

Custom gown sketch by Soliloquy.

Expert groom blogger Chris Easter is co-founder of TheManRegistry.com – the leading online resource for grooms. The site offers a unique wedding registry for men, groomsmen gift ideas and a wealth of content aimed at helping men make it through the wedding planning process in one piece.

Have your guests sign in on some of these fun alternatives we found from Brides magazine:

1. River Rocks, to display in a glass bowl

2. An album, filled with photos shot during the reception

3. Quilt Squares, to be quilted together later as a keepsake blanket

4. A jeroboam (three-liter) champagne bottle, to be sipped on your first anniversary

5. A poster-sized photo of the reception location (mounted and set on an easel)

6. Cards, to be hung from tree branches

7. A meaningful object to the couple, (a guitar, a globe, a surfboard, etc.)

8. A long scroll of paper that’s been inserted into a typewriter

9. A video, guests won’t be able to sign it, but can leave verbal messages from the heart!

10. A platter, to later display or use at home

Tip: be sure to provide the appropriate writing tools for whatever option you choose!

Whatever style or option you choose, remember, a wedding guest book is only as good as the number of people who sign it. So remember put it somewhere eye-catching!

• Make sure to set your guest book, or alternative to, on a table near the reception-site entrance, this way everyone can see it and send their good wishes your way.
• Grab your guests’ attention by decorating the table with flowers, candles, photos, or whatever fits into your theme and budget.
• If possible, designate a person to carry the guest book from table to table afterward until you’ve gotten all of your guests’ wishes and thoughts!

source: Brides Magazine, March 2010

If you’re thinking of popping the question soon, you’ve probably already started to consider what kind of ring you’ll be giving her.  After all that’s been drilled into your head about diamonds being a girl’s best friend, is there any way you can possibly give her an engagement ring that doesn’t include a diamond. Surprisingly, that answer is yes.

We’ve partnered with our friends at Whiteflash.com to identify four of the most popular non-diamond engagement ring styles that grooms and brides are targeting in 2010. Here are some quick descriptions of tanzanite, sapphire, emerald and ruby straight from the experts at Whiteflash:

Tanzanite – a rare gem only found in the Merelani Hills which was discovered in 1967 in Tanzania. This stone is a newcomer to the gemstone market and is referred to as the “Jewel of East Africa.” Tanzanite is typically brown with reddish, orange, yellow, or bronze hues and is a unique variety of the mineral zoisite.

Sapphire – is the ultimate blue gemstone that represents the soul and fidelity. Sapphire is an extremely durable gemstone that comes in a variety of colors, the most common being blue – a color associated with friendship and loyalty as well as harmony. It is known as “The Jewel of the Sky” and is the birthstone for September.

Emerald – an intense green gemstone, its magnificent green color speaks volumes as well as being May’s birthstone. It is known as the “symbol of spring.” In the ancient world this gem was believed to symbolize hope, arrival of spring and rebirth. Emeralds come in various varieties of light and dark shades of green and sometimes having background hues of different colors like yellow, blue, brown of gray. In its finest quality, an emerald is more valuable than a diamond.

Ruby – the birthstone for July is also known as the “King of Gems”. The ruby is considered the ultimate gemstone associated with love and passion and its sometimes referred to as the “blood” gemstone representing courage and bravery. It is rare to find in its top quality which displays all the characteristics of a precious stone: pure brilliance, lasting hardness and stunning color, which is noted as ruby’s most appealing feature.

Non-diamond engagement rings aren’t for every woman. We strongly recommend sitting down and spending some time talking with your fiancé-to-be about what ring styles she likes. She is, after all, going to be the one wearing the ring for the rest of her life.

Because it’s all in the details, it’s important to find the small elements that needn’t go unnoticed.  Placing a wedding-themed stamp on your invitation adds just a little something special to an otherwise mundane detail.

In case you haven’t seen, there is a plethora of wedding-themed stamps from which to choose.  You have your pick of postage that relays something special about your wedding. Whether it’s a photo of your bouquet flowers, or an image resembling your ring, you can literally put a unique stamp on your day.

Zazzle.com offers an array of wedding-themed stamps, and USPS.com unveiled wedding stamps last year.  At zazzle.com, customers have their pick of Small, Medium, or Large.  Though the stamps cost more than their face value (a sheet of 20 small stamps, for example, costs $20.60), it’s a small price to pay for a unique wedding detail.

And for an easy way to tie everything together, aside from sending matching stationery, purchase the same stamp in bulk.  Use the same style stamp for your save-the-dates, thank you cards, and any other item included in your stationery repertoire.  It’s a simple way to ensure your theme remains constant.  But if you prefer variety, stamps with “RSVP” or “You’re Invited” are also available.

Which stamp will look perfect on your wedding invitation?

Brides may ask: Being environmentally aware is yet ANOTHER thing I have to worry about on my wedding day? Truth be told, your wedding is a fabulous time to be eco-conscious. Being green is in.

Spread the word, along with some eco-cheer, with Weddingish’ fashionable Go Green collection. In fact, the Go Green line is very popular and  the tank tops were most recently featured in the “what’s hot” section in the current issue of Get Married magazine!

So make an eco-fashion statement and take your pick from our organic Go Green line. It’s a fabulous start for your green wedding – and it’s never been more chic to be green.

Other ways of going green are offering your guests environmentally friendly favors. Check our green favors.