• Did You Know?
• Wedding Cake Trends This Season
• Financial Tips for Cost-Conscious Couples
• Respectful Ways to Honor a Deceased Parent
• Creative Ways to Get Married

Did You Know?

Most brides-to-be, roughly 75 percent, receive a diamond engament ring, according to the National Association of Wedding Ministers. Sixty-seven percent of repeat brides also will receive a diamond engagement ring. After the question is "popped," the average American couple spends 16 months being engaged.

Wedding Cake Trends This Season

Black-and-white wedding cakes are one theme that couples routinely turn to for their dramatic flair and aesthetic appeal.

The multi-tiered cake that is a favorite wedding tradition that's often presented at the end of the night. The happy couple takes a slice and enjoys the first piece.

In recent years, wedding cakes have become more of an artistic centerpiece than just a confectionary treat. Couples often seek out renowned wedding cake bakers for a cake that will amaze the crowd and complete the theme of the wedding.

The average couple will spend between $700 to $800 for their wedding cake. Although many catering halls or reception sites will include the wedding cake in a package deal, many couples choose to order their cake from a specialty bakery who creates culinary masterpieces.

If television trends are any indication, many people are opting to spend several hundred to thousands of dollars on a customized wedding cake. These fondant and buttercream creations may be elaborate in nature, so much so they'll likely need to be ordered several months in advance.

Couples looking for something a bit different for their upcoming nuptials, many want to consider these trends in wedding cakes.

• 3-D accents on the cake, such as graphic appliques.
   
• A black-and-white motif that gives the cake a simplistic, yet trendy appeal.
   
• A lot of bold color in the cake, instead of just white or ivory.
   
• Dramatic monograms that can add class to the cake.
   
• Painted cakes with edible food coloring paint that feature beautiful landscapes or a portrait. A work of art, they're both delicious to eat and fun to admire.
   
• Cakes that mirror the style of the wedding gown, including fondant ruffles and appliques.
   

Many couples still opt for the traditional, and that is always in style. Instead of experimenting with the outside of the cake, couples can be creative with cake flavor and fillings. Imagine cutting open the cake to find red velvet or a chocolate ganache filling!

Financial Tips for Cost-Conscious Couples

Choosing less extravagant floral arrangements is one way couples can save money on wedding expenses.

In a recent survey released by Visa Inc., 88 percent of couples believed they overspent on some aspect of their wedding. Over the years, weddings have become a major financial commitment, in many instances ensuring a couple's first task as man and wife will be paying off the mountain of bills they accrued to achieved their dream wedding.

In today's economic climate, the cost of weddings is even tougher to swallow, as both the domestic and global economy remains difficult to predict. Economic uncertainty has left many young couples fearful of making a big financial commitment to their weddings. But it's still possible for couples to make the most of their wedding without landing themselves in heavy debt once the honeymoon is over and the bills must be paid.

• Limit beverage availability. In the Visa survey, respondents felt they overspent more on food, drink and cake than any other aspect of their wedding. The bar tab can quickly add up at the end of the night, but couples can limit the bar expense by making on a few different types of drinks available. Offer just two or three drink options instead of a full bar. Couples can also consider a cash bar for mixed drinks to help lower the bar tab by the end of the night.
   
• Switch fromSaturday. Saturday weddings are not only the most popular, but also the most expensive. Couples with some flexibility can save money by moving their wedding to a Friday or Sunday. Couples who move their weddings to Friday often find they get to spend more time with their friends and families the following day, as guests are more inclined to stay in town an extra day than they are on Sunday afternoons following a wedding.
   
• Forgo a traditional honeymoon. Seventeen percent of male respondents to the Visa survey felt they overspent on their honeymoon. While it's certainly nice to fly off to the Caribbean and spend your first week as a married couple soaking up some sun, a more local getaway for a couple of days can be just as relaxing and save couples substantial amounts of money. Once the bills have been paid, couples can then enjoy a more traditional honeymoon, possibly in celebration of their first anniversary.
   
• Limit the guest list. Inviting all friends and family members might be a nice gesture, but it's also an expensive one. Cost-conscious couples can save a good deal of money by only inviting those friends and family members who are closest to them.
   
• Order less extravagant floral arrangements. Floral arrangements for a wedding can prove very expensive. But couples can trim those costs using more greenery in the floral displays and ordering less expensive, seasonal flowers. When discussing arrangements with the florist, explain that the budget can only allow so much for flowers, and work together to find ways to add aesthetic appeal without breaking the bank.
   

Respectful Ways to Honor a Deceased Parent

Weddings are supposed to be joyous events, which can make it difficult to honor a deceased parent. Doing so in a way that does not compromise the upbeat mood of the event can prove quite a challenge to prospective brides and grooms.

The death of someone close is rarely easy to accept, especially when it happens close to a couple's wedding day. But there are many ways couples can honor a deceased parent at their ceremony.

• Display pictures of the deceased with the wedding couple so that the memory of these people can be part of the festivities.
   
• Set up a table with a special floral arrangement and photo with a placard that states, "In memory of ..."
   
• Wear a piece of clothing or jewelry that belonged to the deceased. Cufflinks from a father or a veil from a mother.
   
• Ask the pastor or officiant to specifically mention the deceased in the wedding ceremony and offer a special prayer in that person's name.
   
• Add a memoriam line to the end of the wedding program. "Today we honor Mary Smith, mother of the bride who could not be with us today."
   
• Dedicate a special song during the reception in the person's name.
   
• A bride who will not be able to walk down the aisle with her father can choose to do so with her mother or another relative and carry something that belonged to their father.
   
• Set up a photo slide show that includes photos of the deceased. Choose poignant but upbeat music so that the moment is not overly somber.
   
• Light a candle at the ceremony for the deceased relative.
   
• Leave an empty chair and place setting at the reception for the person who could not be there.
   
• Display something that symbolizes the person at the wedding, such as a flag for a deceased veteran or an item that represents the person's favorite hobby.
   

There are many ways to remember a special loved one at a wedding without bringing down the mood of the event.

Creative Ways to Get Married

The idea of getting married atop a roller coaster could be amusing to some couples.

Many weddings adhere to tradition, with a big church wedding, a white gown and a bustling reception.

Still, there are some couples whoprefer to do something a bit unique and unconventional. They may choose to get married underwater or while skydiving.

If a "creative" wedding is for you, here are some ideas to think about.

• Prison wedding: A visit to an abandoned prison or haunted location may appeal to the couple with a taste for the macabre.
   
• Skydiving: The concept of taking the plunge takes on an entirely new meaning when jumping out of a plane at several thousand feet while reciting vows.
   
• Wedding of the "Stars": Trekkies may want to recite vows while dressed in costume and speaking native Klingon, while Star Wars fans may want to do so with Storm Troopers attending the festivities.
   
• Mountain climbing: Couples can reach new heights while scaling a mountainside and saying their "I dos."
   
• Life in the fast lane: Couples who are NASCAR fans can recite their vows and then take a spin at 200 mph around a neighborhood track.
   
• Amused festivities: Some couples might prefer to get hitched while enjoying the ups and downs of their favorite roller coaster or other amusement park rides.
   
• Scuba diving: Some couples prefer to recite their vows with a few bubbles in between and marine life as their witnesses.