Brides and Bouquets 2009

Although most couples will always remember their engagement and wedding days, the rings they choose to show their love are permanent reminders of not only those special times, but also of their commitment to one another. That's why it's so important for brides and grooms to pick rings they'll love wearing years from now as much as they do the day they first slip them on.

You've got a million things on your plate and tons of people to deal with: Family, friends, food, fittings, décor, dresses and, of course, your partner, the soul mate youâ•˙re about to exchange vows with. Weddings and premarital planning have long been notorious culprits in driving brides to the edge. However, with the right tools, you can outsmart these culprits, maintain your composure and look good doing it.

Rare is the bride whose wedding budget knows no bounds. Whether you want to economize here and there or need to keep costs to the bone, you can save money without feeling stingy on your big day. The number one way to economize is to limit your guest list, according to Denise Fields, co-author of "Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget" ($15, Windsor Peak Press). "Obviously, to feed 200 people is going to be your biggest expense," she said.

Some women fancy themselves a fairy tale princess, others a vision in vintage, but nearly all are set on finding the perfect dress. After all, what would a dream wedding be without a glorious gown? With a handful of magazines and a heart full of hope, they leap towards the bridal shop. Suddenly, faced with a seemingly infinite wall of white, they feel a rise of panic, a dash of hope and a single thought: Where's a fairy godmother when you need one?

From small wheat cakes in Roman times to today's elaborate fondant covered towers, the wedding cake is constantly evolving, according to Ron Ben-Israel. He should know -- his design studio and bakery in New York City has helped change the look of the ubiquitous wedding confection. "I started doing wedding cakes 15 years ago as a reaction to what I was seeing in the pastry world," he said. "Currently there is a lot of poor design and use of inferior decorations."

"They look so young," I whispered in my husband's ear. "They're the same age we were when we married," he whispered back. Megan and Mike met in junior high and began dating their sophomore year of high school. After graduation they went off to different colleges -- Megan to Kansas State University and Mike to Loyola University of Chicago. Now here they both were crazy in love and about to say, "I do." Life as they know it will never move slow again.

Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but romantics do love their flowers. However, modern brides are requesting blooms that are far more unique than the roses their mothers carried when they walked down the aisle.

Weddings celebrate the epitome of commitment: Two people uniting, marrying their lifestyles and ideals and sharing their love; two hearts cohabitating in one union. What if those two hearts come from places foreign to one another? How does one couple from two different cultures glide into marital bliss without hitting a fork in the cultural cross road, all while still holding true to their traditions?

From drawing up the invitation list to dealing with children or former spouses, "encore" brides and grooms may find themselves needing to make tough decisions before taking another walk down the aisle.

There was a time when getting married was a formal, by-the-rules rite of passage. The wedding was in a church, synagogue or courthouse. The reception in the church hall, banquet room or family home featured white wedding cake, punch, mints and mixed nuts. No more. Now weddings may take place in a vineyard or on a mountaintop, out-of-state or out of the country. Vows are made underwater, in a hot air balloon or while roller skating. The bride can be a princess and the groom can be in kilts. Some weddings are a surprise to the guests or even to the bride.

The most beautiful wedding gown in the world is made even more beautiful by the crowning touch of the perfect headpiece, veil or tiara. For many brides standing in a bridal salon, wearing the gown that may be "the one," the look is not complete -- nor do the tears of joy start flowing -- until that perfect veil or tiara is affixed to her head.

In this day of cell phones and e-mail, a modern wedding calls for modern etiquette. Just don't forget your old-fashioned manners. Sending an e-mail, for example, will be useful as your nuptials approach, but it has its limitations. "E-mail is a terrific tool for reaching lots of people quickly," said Anna Post, great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post and a spokeswoman for the Emily Post Institute. "But if the wedding is formal, it deserves paper invitations. Even with the movement toward green weddings, there are terrific options for using recycled paper and soy inks to create a wonderful keepsake of the wedding."

Worried you might look a little silly doing the slow dance shuffle during your first dance as a couple? Thanks to television shows like "Dancing with the Stars," an increasing number of brides and grooms are turning to professional dance instructors and wowing guests with elegant waltzes, sexy salsas and high-stepping swing moves.

You'll have your ring. You'll have your vows. And you'll have the photos. Long after the guests go home and you pack away that gorgeous gown, your wedding album will be one of the few lasting reminders of your big day -- but it will also be one of your biggest expenses. By making smart choices and a few small sacrifices it's possible to get a deal, or at least get more for your money.

Dowdy, frumpy, sequin-splattered mother of the bride dresses are a thing of the past. Today's mothers and stepmothers of the bride and groom are the luckiest generation ever when it comes to finding the perfect wedding day dresses and accessories, since high fashion and fabulous fabrics mean they get to wear ensembles that are every bit as gorgeous as the bride's.

Few days in life are as significant as a wedding day, and the details associated with it are numerous. Most revolve around the bride and groom's celebration of their union, but there is one element of the day that specifically nods to the guests. The wedding favor is a token gift shared with those who attend a couple's important event, and it is an opportunity for the bride and groom to demonstrate style, spunk, creativity and gratitude.

The median ages of those marrying for the first time have been on the rise since the 1960s.

Don't let the struggling economy cast a shadow on your honeymoon. Here are plenty of ideas to save some money on your special trip.

From carrying flowers to throwing rice, weddings are rife with traditions. Here are some popular ones and their origins: