What’s hot and what’s not for weddings

• Hot

• Bolder, deeper, richer colors such as fuscia, apricot and sage. Lora Ward, a wedding consultant with A Day to Remember, says brides are not afraid to be bold with theme colors and are also using theatrical lighting to lend a “wow effect” to the reception room.

• Sweetheart table (small, round table for the bride and groom only). Members of the bridal party sit with their spouses or dates at tables on either side or near the front.

• Lighter foods with fruity or salsa-style sauces

• “Fusion” foods (a mix of ethnicity in one bite). Vicki Duke with Capital City Catering gives the examples of Asian ravioli and Mediterranean beef.

• Sangria, martinis or the bride’s favorite cocktail

• Large bridal parties (six to eight attendants)

• Cascade-style bouquets

• White and purple hydrangeas for flower arrangements

• Small nosegay bouquets for mothers

• Personalized CDs of the wedding couple’s favorite music as favors (if favors are given at all)

• Fun introduction of the bridal party. For example, they dance in when their names are called; the best man carries the maid of honor; or the bridesmaids ride piggy-back on the groomsmen.

• The first dance takes place right after the bride and groom are introduced

• “Love Story” videos during the reception. According to the Florida-based Wedding and Event Videographers Association, this is a story of how the couple met and fell in love.

• Wedding video on DVD

• Not

• Subtle colors such as pink, peach and seafoam green

• Head table

• Heavy food, creamy sauces, skewered food and stationary hors d’oeuvres

• Full bar including hard liquor

• Small bridal parties (one or two attendants)

• Round, hand-tied bouquets. Angie Zimmerman with Heavenly Flowers and Events notes that when bridal magazines depicted small clusters of flowers to show off the dresses, the trend toward smaller bouquets caught on. But today’s brides want a more traditional look, she says.

• Favors. Ward says they are now considered optional and unnecessary.

• Bridal party dance

• Disposable cameras (handed out at the reception)