Weddings have been getting something of a bad rap lately, with average wedding costs going up and low marriage rates across the U.S. and Great Britain. More and more couples are choosing to have small civil ceremonies or just simply choosing not to have a wedding at all. Planning a wedding can cost a lot of money and time, but it looks like having your own special day is coming back into style, thanks in part to Prince William and Princess Catherine.

According to an article from Monsters and Critics, one DJ says that wedding music playlist creation by internet users are an indication that getting married is back in style:

“More than 78,000 wedding playlists have been created on digital music service Spotify since the royal couple tied the knot on April 29, 2011, and the celebrity disc jockey [DJ Sam Young] believes couples are ‘desperate’ to recreate the royal pair’s nuptials.”

Spotify, a major music social web application, allows users to make and share playlists of free music with friends and the public. Young asserts in the article that wedding themed playlist should prove that wedding planning is beginning to start up again all over the globe. Young has linked up with Spotify to create his own Royal Wedding playlist, which features traditional British wedding songs (“God Save the Queen”) and more contemporary pop hits (“Poker Face” by Lady Gaga). This playlist coincides with the one-year anniversary of the Royal Wedding last year.

Although a U.S. wedding playlist might be slightly different – “I’ve Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas has been long atop the most requested U.S. wedding reception songs – I have to think that wedding planning is growing amongst engaged American couples as well. Judging from Spotify may not be scientific, but the popularity of wedding playlists certainly adds something to the planning process.

This blog has covered a number of topics about weddings – from planning to parties with everything else in between. It is important to stay informed about wedding planning – you never know when you might stumble on an idea that you like or a tip that proves useful. However, one topic hasn’t been covered here, and it is essential to the planning process – someone has to propose to their future spouse.

Beyond getting the girl to say yes, there are a lot of things that can help your chances when proposing. Here are some ideas that might help you get the answer you’re looking for:

Ring Ring! – I have heard one too many proposal stories that don’t work out because the proposer doesn’t have a ring. That’s right, a ring. Having a ring is a major part of your commitment to the question you’re asking. Just as a circle never ends, you are saying that you want to be with this person forever. Give your girl (or guy!) something to show off, even if it isn’t an expensive piece. So seriously – get a ring.

Parental Advisory – If you are proposing, you should have some background on your future spouse’s parents and family. Your girlfriend might not have said so, but you should probably ask for her parent’s blessing to propose. This may seem a little too traditional and not modern enough, but the majority opinion points towards asking the parents. Even if it’s not necessary, it will merely strengthen your intentions.

Say It Correctly – All in all, the marriage proposal can be as inventive and non-traditional as you want to make it. However, you should always ask the question the same way – ‘Will you marry me?’  Most people look forward to hearing this for a major portion of their lives, so say the line we’ve heard in the movies. Say it right and you just might get the ‘Yes!’ you’re looking for.

As you probably know by now, planning a wedding requires a lot of work. And when I say “a lot,” I mean A LOT. When sifting through the choices that need to be made, from choosing a reception facility to picking out the best wedding photographer. Beyond those big choices, there are a million little details that can make you go crazy, so we are here to help. Here are some tips to help you stay sane during the wedding planning – you don’t want to become a dreaded Bridezilla!

Get the Help You Need – You probably don’t need therapy for your wedding planning problems…you just need a friend or two to help out! While many brides pick out a family member to aid in the preparation, you should try and find a friend who has a good head on his/her shoulders. Keeping your family out of the day-to-day elements of your planning can keep your head a bit clearer, especially since they are going to be major parts of your ceremony.

Be Ready for the Worst – With all of the different things needed to pull off a wedding, don’t think that you will be the first person to get yours perfect. Your best bet is to figure out ways to deal with situations as they come and don’t let all the possible disasters ruin your mood in the days leading up to your wedding. If problems occur the day of, just let them go and continue enjoying your first day with your new spouse. That’s the important part.

Focus on What Matters – Do not think about what your guests want from your wedding, but what you and your fiancé want. By keeping your wishes in mind, you stop worrying about what your family wants you to do or the kinds of food your guests might not like. Your wedding is just that – yours – and reminding yourself of that can save you from ruining your day.

When you think about your wedding planning, there is a lot of information that needs to be spread around to your ceremony’s guests before the actual day arrives. This is one reason why having a printing service (or a nice computer / printer setup) is extremely important. You’re probably thinking primarily about the invitations themselves and although they are important, there is another element of the wedding service that gets left out of consideration: the wedding program. Wedding programs are not a traditional requirement of your big day, but they can have benefits.

There are a number of parts to your wedding program that need to be organized and put together. Here are a few tips to help you start yours:

The Essentials – When planning your wedding program, there are some absolutely essential things that should be included. This begins with the bride and groom’s full names and wedding date. Sometimes the names of the couple’s parents are added as well.  This is followed by the order of events at your wedding ceremony. In case your ceremony has a religious element, list the important parts of the service and any readings that might express how you and your fiancé feel about the day.

The Sometimes – In some cases, couples may be holding their wedding at a location separate from the reception hall where the party is taking place, like a church. Adding directions to the banquet facility is a good idea, especially if your guests aren’t from the area. If you are having an interfaith ceremony, consider adding explanations to the wedding program that might shed light on the religious sections of the service.

The Maybes – If you have extra room and a bigger budget than most, you might consider put a few photos of you and your fiancé in the program, along with the song selections you are using during the wedding. These are always nice touches to your program.

The internet has made the process of putting together a wedding a little bit easier, especially when it comes to communicating with guests and getting recommendations for your big day. There are websites dedicated solely to helping you plan your ceremony from top to bottom, whether you need a spot for your CT wedding or just a place to start! Having a plethora of choices for this topic is both a blessing and a curse – which site do you use (besides this one, of course!). Here are some of our favorites:

The Knot – The Knot is a massively popular wedding planning site, featuring resources for everything you could possibly need. Are you looking for the newest wedding dress styles? Check. Need ideas for your bachelorette party? Check. Looking for a checklist to keep yourself organized? Well, check. The best part is that it’s free and there is a large community of other brides-to-be to discuss your issues with.

One Stop Wedding Planner – Although it might be a great idea, not all of us can afford a fancy wedding planner. In most cases, we have to take care of all the planning ourselves. How do you keep yourself organized? One Stop Wedding Planner helps you organize every element of your wedding. Take care of your budget, registries, floor plan, favors and every other facet of your big day in one place. Tired of that big binder? This site might be for you.

Our Wedding Day – A lot of couples have started making their own websites dedicated to keeping technology-savvy guests in the loop about the latest developments. For those adventurous fiancés, Our Wedding Day allows guests to RSVP online in lieu of traditional snail mail. Although you may not be able to reach everyone this way, you will save some money on paper invitations and speed up the guest list process.

So what happens when you get engaged? You probably tell your family and friends and celebrate. Then it dawns on you – what exactly do I do now? While some couples may sit back and just enjoy the initial engagement period, I would suggest you do the opposite – start planning! It may seem a little soon, but believe me, it’s never too soon to start planning your wedding. Here’s why:

Banquet Facility – If you are thinking of having a big wedding with a lavish reception, you’re going to need to rent out a reception hall for your party. Everyone knows that dates get booked months in advance at these venues, but the best halls are sometimes booked years in advance. Having an idea of a site’s availability will help you choose your wedding date, especially if you have your heart set on a specific place. Starting early gives you the best chance to grab a prime date!

Guests – Putting together a guest list for your wedding is always a very time-consuming and sometimes stressful process. If you start working on your list relatively quickly, you may be able to get this step out of the way. Furthermore, it will give you a better idea of how your budget will work (or not) with the size of the list.

Photographer – Securing wedding services is always predicated on two things – timing and availability. You may find that the wedding photographer you would like for your wedding takes reservations at a lower price if you book a year in advance. This will also allow you to have significant time to meet and discuss exactly what you would like your photos to look like.

There are other elements of your wedding that can benefit from getting an early start. Consider early planning for your wedding – it will always work in your favor!

A lot of what is discussed in the blog is about the time of year that you should have your wedding during. The general consensus is the summertime, when it’s just hot enough to not be humid and not windy enough to ruin the pictures. You know how you always hear about “a June wedding?” I’m going against the grain a little bit. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the spring is the best season for weddings.

Hear me out. I know there is generally more rain in the spring than the summer, but take a look at all of the spring elements you can mix in with your ceremony:

Patterns – Depending on your personal preference, it is easier to slip in some more daring patterns into the scheme of your wedding. Polka dots, stripes and light pastels fit in better during the spring time than they do at other points of the year. Use these types of patterns for the tablecloths and centerpieces.

Flowers – The flowers in springtime are absolutely perfect for any type of wedding. Lilacs, lilies and tulips all look the best in the spring. Adorning the saved seats and doors with bouquets wrapped in ribbon with a splash of neutral tones will give the CT wedding facility a nice theme.

Food – The spring allows you to keep the menu light and fresh, as opposed to hearty and heavy. Start with the normal choice of soup or salad, but make gazpacho and frisee salad the choices. Continue with a light dish of penne a la vodka. The main courses and dessert is up to you. Your guests will be pleased to see some different choices at the wedding.

Favors – Keep the season in mind when choosing the favors at your wedding. You may want to give each guest a potted plant or a selection of your favorite seeds for planting. That way they’ll be reminded of your fun and beautiful spring wedding when they bloom!

There are so many pieces to put together to ensure that your wedding goes off without a hitch. You start with the basics – the date, the wedding facility, etc. – and then move on to the details – the photographer, the DJ and every other little thing you might miss. One thing that should be considered throughout the wedding planning is the wedding favor – the small trinket of appreciation you give to your honored wedding guests.

To ensure that your guests leave with the wedding favors – and don’t leave them in the trash on the way out – here are some ideas for wonderful favors at your reception:

Useful Items – The main tenet of a good favor is to make it useful to the people you’re giving it to. For instance, an inscribed champagne flute or commemorative seeds for planting will definitely be used once the guests get home. Some more inventive couples have given out dipping oils, salt and pepper shakers and other food items. People love food!

Personalized Favors – Weddings with smaller guest lists have the luxury of getting personal with the gifts. A great example of this is giving each person a bottle of wine with a personalized label on it. These types of gifts are perfect when your ceremony is a destination wedding. Obviously, you may do this for a bigger crowd of guests, but it may become a headache!

Made at the Wedding – One of the biggest trends at weddings is having favors that are made at the reception. This shows guests that you value them by providing a truly personal experience. Many couples have chosen to have wedding photo booths, wax hand artists and other really creative personal gifts at their ceremonies.

There are so many big moments that comprise a full wedding ceremony – from the nuptials all the way until you embark upon your honeymoon. Obviously, the wedding reception is a major element of this process, what with all of the wedding photography and CT reception hall amenities. However, one portion of your entrance as a newly married couple is sometimes overlooked until the last minute – what song will you and your new partner dance to for the first time? Unless you have a special song chosen already, you may find yourself in a bind. For you procrastinators, here are a few first dance songs to get you thinking:

In Your Eyes – Peter Gabriel – This has been a classic ballad ever since John Cusack held the iconic blasting boombox above his head in Say Anything. It’s not the movie connection that makes this a great first dance song though – it’s the emotion behind the lyrics. I know you will get at least a few ‘awws’ when this number comes on.

Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley – Elvis. The name itself strikes a chord with almost anyone with an ear for good music. This song, a truly stunning number, has been a harbinger fior true love over the many years since it was released. If you don’t fancy yourself an Elvis fan, consider U2 or Bruce Springsteen’s cover. Either version will take your breath away.

All My Life – K-Ci & JoJo – If you grew up with late 90s radio (like I did) you might remember this massive one-hit wonder from your middle school dances. It may be a little too cheesy for your wedding, but it might jog your thought process in the right direction.

Amazed – Lonestar – I’ve heard this song played at more weddings than I care to remember, but it remains a true classic for pop country fans tying the knot. When your wedding music is missing some twang-y guitar, look no further .

If you are in the midst of planning your wedding you may have an eye out looking for trends that are popping up as we swing into 2012. Trendsetters in the wedding world range wide and far but thanks to resources like bridal magazines and the internet brides-to-be can easily find trends compiled. While it would be difficult to gather all of the anticipated trends for 2012 in one blog post we can certainly tackle a few of them. Whether your wedding is quickly approaching or you have just recently become engaged check out a few of these trends and decide if you want to utilize them in your wedding!

Getting Back to Traditional Photography – If you have had friends tie the knot in recent years you may have noticed that their wedding photos were highly stylized, artistic, and may have even utilized a variety of filters. More wedding photographers are converting back to traditional photography and letting the couple, the wedding party, and their guests be the center of attention as opposed to the vision of the photographer.

Interesting Wedding Venues – While churches may be a traditional venue for weddings more and more brides are starting to venture to alternative wedding facilities. Whether you want to tie the knot in the same locale as your reception or you want to go down an even more alternative road and get married somewhere that only you and your future spouse would choose you may want to look into a unique venue.

Celebrity Wedding Dresses – While a bride finding celebrity-like wedding dresses isn’t a particularly new trend there are many women, real and fictional, this year that designers may be looking to for wedding dress inspiration. From the Snow White films that will be released this year to famous brides who will be making their way down the aisle designers will have plenty of inspiration to look to when creating dresses for 2012 brides.