Top Wedding Trends for 2008

From the time we when our role models were fantasy princesses to the time they morphed into saints, celebs or CFOs, we've lived in a society soaked with fashion and design, red carpet glamour, and yes — the all-important wedding!

Fairy tales starring hunky knights and feel-good "romcoms" continue to show that women have always longed for a spectacular wedding — one so special that the memories last a lifetime.

So, how does today's wedding differ from the recent past? "Brides want anything but boring this year," says Carley Roney, editor-in-chief of the Knot magazine, a leading wedding guide to everything bridal. "Couples are going to new lengths to infuse their personalities into their big day." Translation: creativity's a major force in 2008's wedding preparations... and that includes yours!

Excited to dial in on this year's trends? Well, here they are:

The Social Network Wedding

The new millennium proves a high-tech society where internet dating abounds, and videotaped proposals appear within hours on leading social networking websites like You Tube, Facebook, MySpace or Friendster. Once the exclusive bastion of the bride and her mom, weddings have become ventures in shared, public planning. Many couples use blogs and social websites as a way both to broadcast information and solicit opinions.

The Creative Wedding — 2.0

Many couples opt for uniqueness or creativity when it comes to their special day. We've seen individual wedding style grow more pronounced in the new millenium: that's no surprise. But 2008 has its own twists, such as:

-Documentary-style wedding coverage (including prep and post-wedding parties).

-High-concept, fashion editorial-style wedding photography with a definite edge.

-The return of the retro (brides in birdcage veils and pin up hair with vintage jackets or hairpieces, antique, oversized rings and jewelry, and grooms in zoot-style suits).

-Vera Wang designs that redefine the idea of the wedding dress.

- "Trash the dress" shoots, where the bride cavorts in her gown (or an alternate gown) in surprising, gritty locales like weedy lakes, beach surf or graffiti-strewn alleys.

-Themed weddings, where couples inject their personalities and even their joint wedding "brand" into the event design.

The Green Wedding

As Americans show their support for the environment by supplying their own grocery bags and seeking out organic foods, they also go for eco-friendly stationery, garden weddings and bio-friendly wedding gowns made of 100% silk or cotton. A heart-shaped potted plant of mini bamboo or personalized seed cards are two examples of creative, popular eco-favors.

Hieress (or Paris!) for a Day

Brides can now enjoy luxurious, designer labels at sites like bagborroworsteal, where you can rent a $2,600 pair of Vera Wang diamond and pearl-studded earrings at a no-stress price.

Red Carpet Glamour

Just like their favorite A-listers, brides are craving or three wardrobe changes throughout the night. Starting with an elegant wedding gown and sleek classic updo, they then wow their guests with a sexy dance frock and looser ringlets just in time to hit the dance floor.

In addition, more couples want the "Marie Antoinette" reception, straight from Versailles' golden halls. If you can afford lush floral centerpieces, hand-painted invitations, a soaring banquet hall with intricate cupolas, velvet drapes and richly gilded trim — not to mention exceptional cuisine with extravagant dessert displays — why not?

Useful, Practical Favors

Regardless of the budget, many couples opt for uniqueness even when it comes to the favors. You're far less likely to see the traditional miniature wedding bells or tulle circles of Jordan almonds as a keepsake. Instead, favors vary from potted plants and seed packets to miniature jars of honey or fruit preserves (sometimes cooked up by the hosts!), personalized tea bags, delicious desserts with recipe cards or anything else that guests are truly likely to use — and that displays a delightful dash of creativity.

Daring Destinations

The destination wedding trend will continue to evolve as new celebrity-fueled hot spots emerge across the globe. Whether the event's held in a dreamscape in Hawaii or Napa Valley, the Bahamas or Puerto Vallarta, couples definitely want a wedding to remember!