Going to any weddings today? August 8, 2008 is supposed to be as, if not more, popular than the 7/7/07 weddings of last year. In San Francisco, the clerk’s office is doing 128 weddings today, three times their current capacity. (UPI.com) Here are other interesting facts about the 8/8/08 wedding date.

1) In comparison to this day last year, which fell on August 10, WeddingChannel.com has had a 213 percent increase in registry entries for 8/8/08 weddings. (NY Daily News)
2) There are over 40,000 The Knot couples getting married today.
3) The number 8 is considered lucky in Chinese culture. The more 8’s in a couples life, the luckier they will be. For more information, check out Chinese Weddings by The Knot.
4) Other factors that make 8 great? Flipped on its side, the number becomes the symbol for infinity. August is a great month to get married. And, the Olympics starting today makes it even more special!
5) Ways couples are incorporating this lucky number in their wedding day? Having 8 bridesmaids, 8 different cocktails, 8 layer cakes, 8 course meals and the number designed on everything from the aisle runner to their favors.

Image from: Gawker.com

By guest blogger Geeta Sachdeva

A popular Men’s Wearhouse commercial suggests that the groom rent a fine suit because “…when everyone is looking at the bride, she will be looking at him.” While it is true that the bride and groom are the center of attention at any wedding, the decorations form another important part of the ceremony and can be a great way to express your style and taste.

When it comes to the altar, most brides have some idea of the effect they want to achieve. However, paying attention to the other details, like the entrance to the cathedral or the aisle, can fully complete the look of your decorations. Here are some tips for decorating the aisle, entrance and pews of your wedding ceremony:

Aisle: Custom painted aisle runners with your monogram or a meaningful quote make a deeply personal statement. They instantly dress up the space, and stylishly demarcate the path for the bridal party to walk up to the altar.

Pews: Flower-filled baskets, buckets or small wooden umbrellas can be suspended above the pews with ribbon. You can even shape a large tropical leaf to form a pocket that you can fill with a few delicate flowers, or attach a single large bloom (my absolute favorite right now is a lime green hydrangea) with a satin or organza bow.

Entrance: Line the steps leading up to the church or other venue with tall plants or ferns in terracotta pots. Then, adorn the doorway with a wreath made of the same flowers that are in the bride’s bouquet.

Another nice finishing touch is to hand out sprigs of fragrant herbs or flowers along with the wedding program, and explain its significance on a small card like these Garden Place Cards from Wedding Paper Divas.

How incredibly fun are these wedding Pez dispensers covered with Swarovski crystals? InStyle Weddings has compiled an amazing slideshow of “Fabulous Favors,” including personalized gifts, donations to charity and these fantastic little bride and groom Pez dispensers from Dylan’s Candy Bar. Even if you don’t want to fork over $300 per favor, there are some other great ideas for any couple looking to add some sparkle to their ceremony.

InStyle also announced that Amy Adams, the adorable star of Enchanted and one of my favorite actresses, is engaged to actor Darren Legallo. Congrats, Amy!

Wedding Paper Divas place cards received two mentions in Modern Bride’s August/September issue on its list of their favorite 100 ideas.  The article titled “100 Ideas We Love” features both the Leaf Flourish and the Plum Blossom place cards.

Wedding Paper Divas was so excited to learn that we have been included in All tops exclusive list of the top wedding blogs. Created by former Apple evangelist and marketing guru, Guy Kawasaki, Alltop lists the crème de la crème of blogs in every arena. Some of other wedding blogs that were also featured include some of our favorite reads, as well:

• I Do Sugar
• Wedding Bee
• Nearlywed
• Southern Wedding Style
• Offbeat Bride
• Style Me Pretty

I am excited to reveal the new Wedding Paper Divas Press Center! This section of our website will offer updates on the latest Wedding Paper Divas news and highlight what the media is saying about our company and designs. To visit the press center, click here.

We love when we receive kudos from the press! Currently on stands, InStyle Weddings is featuring our Solid Monogram wedding invitation in an article titled “Extraordinary Invites.” We invite you to check it out:

Happy Valentine’s Day! Today is an important day for cupid as I suspect that many nervous guys and gals are planning to “pop the question” today. In fact, this time of year is the busy season for Wedding Paper Divas as over 30% of all engagements happen between Christmas and Valentine’s Day.

With so many couples taking the leap and starting to plan for their upcoming nuptials, Wedding Paper Divas released the top trends expected this wedding season. Last month, Lynn posted some wedding trends expected in 2008. A few more recent trends that we are seeing include the following:

Non-traditional shapes

Many couples are opting for wedding invitations in non-traditional shapes. Gone are the days choosing between 5″ x 7″ rectangles - now couples can select square and tea length cards.

Bright Colors & Unique Color Combinations

Couples are incorporating vibrant colors and unique color combinations into their weddings like yellow. Brides are also creating unique color combinations such as pink and orange. These colors are not only seen on invitations, but also on wedding place cards and programs, and incorporated throughout the reception.

Something old, something new

Brides love options and many combine modern designs with traditional stationery elements like ecru paper and letterpress printing.

Get Cultured

More couples are adding a little ethnic flavor to their stationery, whether through cultural motifs, meaningful quotes or relevant color combinations.

Wedding Websites

Wedding websites are continuing to grow in popularity and are becoming more elaborate than ever. These pages include details about the couple, their courtship, and their wedding. Couples are encouraging their guests to read more about their event or even RSVP online by adding the URL to their wedding website directly onto bridal shower invitations and wedding invites.

So, what trends are inspiring you as you plan your event?