Though we’re half way through 2008, the wedding trends of 2007 are still relevant today. From eco-friendly weddings to couples spending a little more on rings, here is a list of all the great trends that made 2007 weddings unique.

1. RINGS-Couples were spending more dough on engagement and wedding rings in 2007. In fact, women asked for larger diamonds, which were seen as status symbols. The most popular diamonds were round or princess cut, and white diamonds were favored over colored ones. Antique styles and ‘branded diamonds,’ or diamonds from a particular retailer such as Tiffany and Co., were also popular. (photo from The Knot.)

2. WEIGHT LOSS-There was an increase in wedding purchases related to weight, such as joining gyms or weight loss programs, or buying slimming products such as SPANX.

3. DIY-Couples transformed into Martha Stewart in 2007, making their own centerpieces and planning their own weddings to save money.

4. INTERNET-The Internet was being used for everything from finding invitations to finding vendors and sharing experiences with other brides on online message boards.

5. MEDIA-TV shows such as Bridezilla and Martha Stewart, and the visibility of celebrity weddings significantly influenced couples’ styles, trends and ideas.

6. UNIQUE-Last year, couples tried to make their weddings unique by focusing on ways to make their weddings special for guests. This was seen in unconventional gowns or white gowns with colored sashes. Leaving in an antique car and serving diverse food and cake with unconventional flavors such as pistachio and mango were other ways they tried to make their wedding stand out.

7. PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY-To cut down on costs, a lot of couples bought their own alcohol in bulk at stores like Costco, and then forwent hiring a videographer to have their relatives do the honors. Technology is so accessible these days that it was easy for them to create their own slideshows and edit their wedding videos. MP3s allowed couples to control their music and decrease the need to hire a DJ.  (This is all sounding eerily familiar to me!)

8. GREEN WEDDINGS-Rising trends that are still in full effect this year include couples renting their wedding attire, choosing eco-friendly sites and requesting that guests contribute to charities instead of buying them gifts.

Source: The Wedding Report

In line with my previous post about what no one tells the bride, I decided to continue with my own addition to the list. Although my fiancé will tell you I have a stack of wedding magazines as tall as him, there are some things that magazines don’t tell you. Or at least I haven’t read those that do. So here we go:

If possible, attend the wedding site with your vendor before you sign with them. If you are on a strict budget as most of us are, this will prevent either of you from adding things to the contract. What once started as a doable total, somehow went over by a lot! No one likes this kind of surprise so remember this before you get the impulse or get pushed into signing right away.

Go on dates. One friend told me to remember to go on dates once a week with my fiancé where no one can talk about the wedding. This is great advice. Make time for wedding talk on specific days and save date time to just be together. It’ll help to strengthen your relationship and remind you of why you’re getting married in the first place.

Consider hiring a wedding coordinator. While I was on the fence for awhile about this one, I finally decided to hire my own personal coordinator. This way everyone, including me, will be able to relax at the wedding. In addition, I learned that a lot of coordinators help with a variety of things including helping with favors, invitations and assisting you with planning the rehearsal dinner.

Everything won’t always go the way you think it will. This seems obvious but I think every bride-to-be envisions their wedding as a fairy tale day and it still can be. Like everything in life sometimes things happen better than the way you foreseen it. I say try as much as you can to accept your wedding for what it is, unique and different like you and your groom.

How are you brides-to-be doing?

With a few more months left of planning, I can feel your pain! While a part of me is attempting to embrace and appreciate these last months, another part of me is looking forward to it being over.

To relax and enjoy the ride, I think it is important to really take care of yourself during these next few months. That way you’ll be a happy bride and happy brides do make pretty pictures!

While it is easy to fall into the trap of obsessively finishing everything which even I can admit to doing, it’s really important to pace yourself so you don’t burn out early in the process. I think the worst thing that can happen is not the decorations not coming out the way you want it to, but just throwing yourself blindly and unconsciously in the process. In that case, you’ll be several thousands of dollars poorer and not have the memories that make the day worth it.

Make a list of fun, relaxing things you can do for yourself whether it’s reading a book or getting a massage. You don’t need to cut deep into your already tight budget. But have fun and be creative. Finding things you can do along the way and taking mini moments for yourself is priceless. You can also schedule lunches with friends who you might have unintentionally neglected in the midst of all your wedding to-dos. This way you will be refreshed and excited for your wedding and surrounded by friends and family who have been with and supported you along the way.

The bottom line: Take some time for yourself and the payoff will be worth it!