I’m here helping my good friend plan her fairy tale wedding even though I’m not sure that she’s found her Prince Charming. I need your help ladies.

I’m looking for the perfect gift for her shower - something she would really love but would never buy for herself, AND I’m also looking for some advice.

Those of you engaged right now, would you want to know if your fiance has cheated on you since the moment you all met? I worry about my friend because we’re in our mid 30s and I think she might be rushing a bit, and overlooking some major character flaws. I recently found out, through a mutual friend, that he has definitely never stopped seeing his so-called ex-girlfriend.

He’s a liar and a cheater; is it my place to tell her? Would you want to know? I’m not sure if I can stand up for her at her wedding knowing the kind of man that she’s marrying. HELP PLEASE!!!

— Renee

But now, it's like the most visible Hilton heir: Paris — just Paris. Everyone knows who you mean.

Chocolate Brown is the color that fuels any number of high-flying color schemes. It's the go-to hue, whether it's a fall wedding that needs a touch of naturalism, or a fresh concept by a "design progressive" bride armed with a Gocco press, a bucketful of Etsy bookmarks and shelves groaning with artisan papers.

Alas for the chocolate-tigued, that's a migration not likely to happen — at least not soon. The world's still crazy-in-love with chocolate, and all its savory cousins: coffee, mocha, tan. Its hoped-for heir apparent, steel gray, has made inroads ... but has yet to take the wedding world by storm.

And that might not happen right away, because among the neutrals — unlike gunmetal gray! — chocolate brown is warm. Inviting. Feminine, even.

Pair it with just about any imaginable pastel or bright tropical hue, and you've got intimate, instant chic.

How to Get Down With Brown

But later on in the craze, we started to see new hues: butter yellow, lime or apple green. And that original pink got bumped up to sizzling fuchsia. We saw ultra-warm pairings like salmon, peach and burnt orange take their cue. So did aqua and teal.

As royal purple and eggplant colonized the pages of Vogue, they too started flaunting their charms against a field of chocolate brown. So did lavender.

Now, cutting-edge weddings interweave brown with fire-engine reds, copper and oranges, adding exotic touches like pin-tucked linens and fringe. Sometimes, you see brown with burgundy, a dark but elegant pairing ... and sometimes with crisp, patterned black and white.

Beautiful Byways

Also down with brown: monochromatics like champagne, khaki and cream. All this adds up to a Tuscan vibe that's positively royal. Just add dabs of gold, olive or brick.

Designing Brides

Then, you've got naturalistic weddings — keyed to the blazing hues of a New England hillside in fall.

Here, you see all those sassy, style-infused hallmarks of modern events: patterns (paisleys, damasks, moroccan or henna-style, just to name a few!). And bright chunks of contrasting satin ribbon.

Then, you see cakes stacked in 'gift box' designs, or flaunting quilted, embossed or hand-painted fondant, ribbons, or graphic accents (polka dots, swiss dots, art nouveau swirls or preppy stripes, anyone?).

And modern centerpieces look sharp in this setting: think trays full of wheat grass studded with gerber stems. Or clear cylinders filled with 'drowning' florals and topped with a floating candle.

Papers are uber-important, too. As for invites? Spunky and graphic, if not outright letterpressed in some swanky coastal atelier.

In other words, chocolate brown weddings really are all about detail.

Dialing Up Table Details

Then, for focal points, mix up your centerpieces in color and style. If your colors are pink and brown, work in some pale green and peach blooms to add depth to your palette. Use higher centerpieces on some tables, lower on others, and simple lanterns or hurricane lamps on still others.

Funkified Florals

Want actual brown blossoms in your bouquets? Take a look at chocolate brown cosmos, hot chocolate mini-callas, or sultry leucadendrons, to name a few: all of which look fabulous with cream mini-callas or green orchids. Fiddleheads are another super-stylish accent.

For bridesmaids in brown, monochromatic cream bouquets in a tight posy style are simple but stunning.

Over-the-Top Touches

For fun photo ops outdoors, hand your bridesmaids some super-bright parasols in your alternate color and ask them to pop 'em. They'll look like free-wheeling flowers in pics.

And here's one fun last idea for chocolate brides: liven up your bridal attire with a pair of bright heels to match the theme: fuchsia, teal, or lime green!

Talk Back!

Tags: chocolate brown wedding

You've got plenty of company!

This all-American flower ... so eloquent in traits like optimism and resilience ... beguiles brides across the country in settings that range from beaches to backyards, from alpine peaks to New England barns, and everywhere in between.

Sunflower Settings

This theme's also a favorite of bridal shower planners everywhere!

Complementary Colors

Fresh orange and white stripes look fabulous with this bloom, as do stylish newcomers to the bridal palette, like chocolate brown and celadon.

But for a modern and unforgettable take on sunflowers, pair them with shiny steel gray fabrics ... or a big, graphic, op-art style black and white wedding. Nothing sets off a bouquet of mini-sunflowers with more explosive appeal than a bridemaid's LBD (little black dress).

Fetching Floral Pairs

More Center-Stage Touches for Sunflowers

Nothng else looks better than these substantial blooms when it comes to big, bright garlands. Drape over the front of the head table, or dress a birch or iron wedding arch to the nines.

Choose invitations with a cheery, letterpressed graphic interpretation (modern) ... or printed on beautiful hand-pressed papers (rustic).

If you're having a late-season backyard bash and a few months to plan, it's easy to grow a towering sunflower aisle for guests to wander through and admire.

A plush, oversized sunflower head and a pinned-on satin ribbon makes a one-of-a-kind ring pillow for your little bearer.

Delight the deserving mothers: hand each one a single long-stemmed sunflower to honor them during the ceremony.

'Sun'-suous Tables

A simple hand-tied arrangement of full-size and mini suns looks stunning in buckets, vases or watering cans of galvanized metal. They're equally lovely in white painted pails or small stoneware milk jugs.

Unexpected accents that set off this bloom's beauty: twisted copper wire, heather or wheat, or green hypericum berries.

For a sweet Tuscan look, place a single large bloom in a beautiful olive-green wine bottle.

Or combine these blooms with sassy citrus fruit in containers: lemons or oranges, whole or cut, make the perfect pairing.

Romanticize your suns by surrounding with yellow and cream-colored rose petals on a sumptuous fabric base.

Finally, don't forget the water treatment! Single heads float beautifully in water features (bowls, fountains, pools). And for a casual, chic beach wedding, fill mason jars with blue-tinted water, topped with a small bouquet of these beauties.

Bright and Flirty Favors

You Might Also Like ...

Tags: sunflower wedding, sunflower theme wedding

But now that we're here, something novel is happening. To wit, brides are reclaiming white. It's almost like this: now we know we can push the boundaries with impunity, it's suddenly attractive to pull back.

The phenomenon started with a big rise in all-white bridal bouquets, and a resurgence in what used to be sniffed at as "plain white wedding cake."

But now we're seeing more and more weddings flanked by white from start to finish, bringing to mind new beginnings, crisp flapping sails on a lake and fresh starched laundry in the breeze.

The Tao of White

White also lets you pile on textures and layers. What might look fussy or overdone with too many hues looks elegant, even architectural, in whites and ivories. So go ahead, lay on the details: fabrics, piping, scrolls and overlays.

Best of all? When you pore over your wedding album years later, you'll never think, "yeah, that was 2008." You'll see a timeless-looking celebration, not a period style.

White-on-White Playbook

But blinding white reigns supreme on a bright summer day. Picture this: an outdoor setting that beckons with airy tents and grassy carpets. Bright white brings an elegant center to even to the most freeflowing of outdoor events ... even a clambake!

Wedding Wear: Keeping it Light

For that lighter-than-air effect, try dressing your 'maids in off-whites, pale pastels or even white. Distinguish their gowns with a simpler design, a different silhouette (for example, try a two-piece tea length dress with a fuller skirt), a contrasting sash or a distinctive fabric, like dupioni silk.

Beguiling Blooms

Other great choices: white orchids or gerber daisies, dahlias or spider mums, lisianthus or Casablanca lilies.

Mix textures and types for a contemporary look, or hark back to the past: wrap a nosegay of roses in a shiny satin ribbon wrap studded with pearl pins. For the tables, full-sized calla lilies tucked in trumpet vases look absolutely elegant.

A Few More Ways to Set the Stage

• Use floating lengths of organza to fashion pew markers and arch decor.

• Scatter heaps of white rose petals down a grassy aisle, with a few tinted petals thrown in for depth (such as pink or chartreuse).

• Scatter white parasols on the lawn for a festive look, or hand to your bridesmaids.

• Group votives at the base of your centerpieces, to bring flicker and life to tables inside a tent.

You Might Also Like ...

Tags: white wedding

Chic Country Colors

Bridal Finery

Bridesmaids’ attire flows from your color scheme, but popular choices include black or wine-colored cocktail in cocktail lengths. Show off your maids’ physical fitness with a flirty bit of back!

Expertly Crafted Atmosphere

Be sure to leverage the gorgeous old oaks dotting the grounds: dress them up with lengths of organza; long, sheer ribbons; hanging pomanders; tin or paper lanterns; or flower heads dangling from microfilament.

Apply the same romantic sensibilities to park benches, trellises and arbors. And call on classical urns to stash sparklers, programs, breadsticks or post-ceremony bouquets.

Toss a bit of linen over a wine barrel and you have the perfect mini-table for escort cards or your guestbook.

A outdoor parquet dance floor lets guests get their waltz on, while your string quartet sweetly calls down the evening stars.

Fabulous Florals

So, you’ll often see favorites like burgundy, black magic or cream-colored roses mixed with hypericum berries, or amaranthus and deep red hydrangeas tucked in a gorgeous satin wrap. But you’ll also see whimsical fiddleheads, chic jade roses and leucadendron.

Alternative: giant, cheerful sunflowers lend a distinct Tuscan feel.

Topping the Tables

Unforgettable Favors

Sandalwood fans double as décor, and pretty white parasols help keep your bridesmaids cool. Or, fill gold or burgundy favor boxes with a rich bite of brownie or champagne bubble candies.

You Might Also Like …

Tags: wine country wedding, wine theme wedding

As a bride, you want all the elements of your wedding ensemble to underscore and enhance your natural beauty — not jostle for attention! That's why most experts recommend wearing simple wedding jewelry sets.

But as always, individual flair can't be summed up by a one-size-fits-all rule.

So, which items deserve a slot in your jewelry ensemble? The answer largely depends on your personality, gown and hairstyle. That said, here are some quick tips to help you look like Rachel Zoe personally stepped up to style your big day.

Earrings

Rule of thumb: if your dress is elaborate, keep the earrings simple. Popular choices for a formal look include pearl studs, diamonds, and crystal solitaire earrings.

Hair Jewelry

If you choose an eye-catching piece, like a tiara that would look at home in a royal retinue, let that be the star of your jewelry ensemble. On the other hand, a laid-back piece like a pearl comb can happily cohabitate with more elaborate jewelry.

Back Bling

Pendants or Pearls

Keep in mind that different lengths work best with different necklines: generally, you want a gap between the neckline and necklace. On the other hand, you can wear long pearls or a necklace below the neckline if your dress is less adorned. Done carefully, this can be a keystone in a fetching retro / Art Deco style.

Wrist Wear

Or, wear a delicate bracelet as an accent piece. Too much "going on" around your wrists or hands will distract your guests from you and the gown, and fragment the look.

But of course there's one major exception: the strapless gown. A chunky cuff or other substantial bracelet is all the rage, and can really show off your bared shoulders and arms.

Earrings, necklace, hair jewelry, back bling and bracelets: wear all, some or none. But keep in mind that together, they should balance out. And of course, the ensemble should completely reflect you and your personal style.

Tags: wedding jewelry, wedding accessories

Want a wedding veil made to your specifications, but don't want to start out married life with a second mortgage? Consider making it yourself!

It really isn't that hard, and it's almost always cheaper than buying. The specifics will be as unique as you are, but the general steps to making your own veil are always the same.

Step 1: Choose your veil's style, shape, length, edging, and embellishments.

To gauge the right length, measure from the point on your head where you'll attach the veil to the point where you want it to fall. To get the exact shape and look you want, experiment with tracing, pattern or tissue paper. Or, find an inexpensive used veil with the right shape and take it apart to use as a pattern!

Then, to figure out how many yards of tulle, organza or chiffon you'll need, add the total length of all tiers to the blusher length (if applicable), divide by 36 inches, then round up to the nearest yard. When you're done — and you've settled on decorations and finishing touches — you're ready for a big pat on the back ... and step two.

Step 2: Go shopping!

Other supplies sure to come in handy: a rotary cutter (or sharp scissors), a pad to cut on, weights to anchor the tulle, measuring tape, pins, and needle and thread to match your tulle and edging. Plus, you'll need fabric glue, toothpicks for detail work, embellishments or other decorations and the edging. If you plan to secure the veil directly to your hair, buy a plain veil comb. For a detachable veil, buy Velcro or bridal loops.

Step 3. Lay out and cut the fabric.

As a guide when cutting the material, use the pattern you made earlier. To prevent sliding, lay coasters or other weights near the edges. Remember to fold the pattern in half just as before, and pin it to the material if needed.

Step 4. Finish the edges.

Step 5. Add your embellishments!

But before gluing, spread foil or other non-porous material on the table (but not newspaper — the ink will bleed onto your veil). As with the edging, perfect your technique by practicing first. Allow the glue to dry before moving onto step 6.

Step 6. Gather the veil and sew on the comb.

And now, your dream veil's finished. Exactly what you wanted ... at a fraction of the cost!

Tags: wedding veil, diy wedding

But wait: didn't pink once belong to hopelessly girly-girl brides who had to go by the book?

Even if that was ever the case, today's revved-up pink and green are modern dynamos, urging each other on to ever-higher heights.

Don't get us wrong, pink and green doesn't have to be all about setting new trends. Play it softly, and you have a classic English garden theme you might find in your mother's wedding album (one that you're sure to still swoon over!).

But this combo can also drive you to color outside the box. Which is why you see brides turning up the heat with greens like lime or honeydew, and pinks that border on fuchsia. In short, you can take these two anywhere: from Newport Beach to Negril and everywhere in between.

This theme calls for some true guilty pleasures when it comes to blooms and other flora: pink peonies or zingy tulips, blushing roses or stargazer lilies; and for green, kermit mums, cymbidium orchids and hypericum berries, small green apples or zesty limes.

Ribbon and ties tend to play a big role in this wedding, too, from bridesmaids' gowns to chair sashes. On the modern side, you might also find citrus fruit piled up in clear eiffel vases, or polka dots that jazz up the bridesmaid or flower girl attire. Tea-length gowns are popular for the 'maids in this warm-season wedding. So are fun, casual touches like cafe-style menus done in pink and green chalk, or candy buffets filled with treats for both the eye and the palette, in pink and chartreuse.

Tell Us About Your Pink & Green Wedding

You Might Also Like ...

Tags: summer wedding, spring wedding, pink and green wedding

To begin with, champagne's inherently romantic. It's the color of times-gone-by, when fabrics were made of natural fibers and woven by hand.

Plus, it blends so perfectly with pink, you can knock these two together fearlessly (for example, your reception will look beautifully coordinated even if you choose pink for some of your table runners or chair sashes, and champagne for the others.)

In short: combine them, and you've got color alchemy that captures that fleeting season we barely have time to savor before the flower buds fall to the ground, the trees lose their baby shade of green, and the fairy quality of spring light on morning grass fades into summer's more no-nonsense rays.

Getting the Look

Then, echo your gown's lacy details with beautiful damask table linens. But avoid an overly formal look by topping off your tables with exuberant garden flowers: tea or spray roses tossed together with billowing pink peonies, delicate ranunculus and ivory hydrangeas.

A detailed white-on-white cake covered in scrollwork also mirrors your dress, especially when set on a classic silver cake plateau and topped with a profusion of spring flowers. A dab of chartreuse in the form of green roses, or a few scattered orchids, adds an almost heartbreakingly lovely third dimension to a palette that can otherwise be too sedate.

Designing a Place in Time

Finally, remind your guests that appreciating spring in full means lingering over the delicate aromas of the moment. Tempt their palates with lighter-than-air morsels served in miniature, such as trays of lemony marscapone cream puffs, petit fours, or mini-cupcakes topped in butter frosting of champagne, pink and pale green.

Lure them further with fettucini spiked with tender baby vegetables, roasted white asparagus, tea sandwiches, mini quiches, and salads with fresh baby field greens and a lemon-dill dressing. As for the toasting and dinner wine, serve the closest thing to spring in a bottle: flutes of crisp bubbly, or our personal favorite — Prosecco.

Spring into Action

You Might Also Like ...

Tags: pink and champagne wedding, pink wedding, spring wedding

Here we try to do just that. Granted, these are just suggestions ... and they don't take into account destination weddings, or seasons outside of North America, for that matter. Not to mention: a grandly-decorated venue is a blank slate you can transform into anything, any time of year. And some of these themes and colors are really fine for year-round use, though we didn't want to repeat them over and over (Black & White or Fifth Avenue Aqua being two examples).

But all disclaimers aside: if you want some great color combination or theme inspirations for January, June, or anything in between, read on!

March, April

Some popular themes for spring? Cherry Blossom, Butterfly, and Irish or St. Patricks, to name a few.

Also, popular spring color combinations that double as themes include Aqua Blue (Fifth Avenue Style), and Pink & Green.

May, June, July

Color Themes for the warm summer season include all kinds of Green, Cornflower Blue, Orange & Fuchsia, Black & White Toile with summery accents like yellow or pink, Aqua Blue (beach style), and the lighter purples, like orchid or Aubergine.

August, September, October

Popular colors for this time of year include latte, mocha and chocolate brown, rust orange and burgundy, hunter green and gold. Nature-minded themes are all the rage right now, including New England Harvest, Harvest Modern and Halloween, "Perfect Pear" and Apple, Tuscan and Wine Theme, Herbal and Rustic Country. Chocolate Brown also amounts to a theme ... one that suits the season to a 'T'.

November

December, January, February

Top themes that fit the season include those with a pale palette and opulent look, such as Calla, Parisian or Versailles, or those with a holiday feel, such as Christmas, Victorian Christmas, Winter Wonderland, or Diamond or Crystal Theme. Of course, Valentine's Day is a natural for those marrying in February, but the bold red and white palette works just as well for any other deep-winter setting. Finally, maybe it's the Oscars, or just a need to cut loose after too many dark afternoons, but there's no better time of year to hold an Old Hollywood or even Vegas theme wedding.

As for color themes that suit this time of year? All-White, Regal Red, Black & White, and Royal Purple.

What'd We Miss?

Tags: november wedding, august wedding, january wedding, march wedding, april wedding