Okay so you just got back from your honeymoon and the impending chore of your thank you notes is stressing you out. Etiquette experts would probably veto multiple choice cards for thank you notes, but these cheeky fill-in-the-blank cards make quick work of writing thank yous in a witty, irreverent manner.  In true Mad-Libs style, busy brides can thank gift givers with a few check marks for, say, “the future heirloom,” or “the versatile cash,” and promise to “enjoy it” or “put it out when you come to visit.” Best used for less formal engagement or shower gifts, they offer a sassy way to thank those with a sense of humor.  But consider yourself forewarned: You’ll probably still want to go the traditional route when writing your great grandmother about that hand-knitted scarf she gave you. 

Add a bit of enchanted whimsy to your outdoor wedding decorations with these solar-powered glass balls. Inside each of these glass ornaments is a sprinkling of phosphorescent dust that glows from sundown into the evening.  Hang the Fairydust Balls (no, we didn’t come up with the name) from tree branches for a little woodland magic; you can also hang them in a window or float them in a pond. They’ll begin to glow softly when the sun sets and will last for two to four hours.  They require a full day of charging in direct sun, but they can be used again and again to enhance you new home’s patio or garden decor long after the wedding.

Although monograms have made their way onto just about every possible surface, stamping it onto a plate is relatively creative outlet for incorporating initials into your wedding day.  These stylish melamine plates feature bold designs that vary from traditional scripted monograms on damask patterns to modern block letters on sassy polka dots or zebra print.  There are scads of ways to use these plates: order several with your bridesmaids’ initials for pretty and practical bridesmaid gifts, or order in bulk for your bridal shower and take them home yourself for use for the parties you’ll host as a married couple. 

Pink, the perpetual hot color on the wedding décor palette, has resurfaced to satisfy our palate for the bubbly during the wedding toasts. Rosé, French for pink, is a growing trend in champagne and the perfect accompaniment to a romantic wedding reception.  Usually very dry and versatile at the dinner table, the pink color comes from adding small amounts of red pinot noir or pinot meunier juice to the white base wine.

If you’re not the stereotypical poofy white dress type of bride, you may have noticed the lack of suitable alternatives that still make you, well, look like a bride. A handful of independent designers are answering that call with sophisticated and unique wedding dresses that have an artistic, edgy quality while still being pretty.  Seattle-based Chrissy Wai-Ching, an artist who forayed into dress design, specializes in custom hand-dyed silk gowns featuring color choices like golds, reds, blues and greens.  San Francisco-based Mignonette Bridal offers custom and ready-to-wear gowns with shorter hemlines, svelte silhouettes and non-traditional colors.  Both designers cater to brides all over the nation.