So...You're Getting Married
Wedding Tips & Trends

Congratulations, you are getting married! The hardest part is over-finding the love of your life, your soul mate, the person you want to spend the rest of your life with.

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However, the sometimes overwhelming task of actually planning your wedding has just begun.

How did you meet your fiancé? Maybe you were high school sweethearts, college loves, met in a corporate setting or on-line. Have you survived a long-distance relationship, are you blending a family? Perhaps you dated for many years before getting engaged, or knew from the very first date that you were meant to be married.

Whatever your path has been to engagement, it has been perfect for you two. Just as there are many paths leading to the big proposal, there are a plethora of options leading you to the marriage altar.

Couples in the Columbus area will spend over 100 hours planning their wedding with a budget often exceeding $30,000. With such a substantial investment, couples want to maximize their return on investment and also host an affair to remember. Couples are getting married at a slightly older age, after formal education and starting their careers. Often, couples are bringing children or beloved pets into the union and want to incorporate them into the ceremony. Homeownership is also a top priority for newlyweds. Perfecting this balancing act takes a lot of specialized skills and time.

There are many varying styles in weddings right now. There are styles including formal/traditional, environmentally-conscious/eco-chic, modernists, ultra-glamorous, and whimsical. Do you picture yourself walking down the aisle in your childhood place of worship surrounded by all of your family and friends? Could you imagine only yourself and your fiancé barefoot in the sand saying your vows over the sound of crashing waves? Maybe your perfect wedding is an intimate gathering at your new home. Have you always dreamed of getting married at your parents’ country club, or do you want to be unique and possibly say “I do” in a park at sunset? Your wedding dreams are so personal and it will take a lot of meticulous planning to make sure all of your special details are covered.

From my experience over the past 8 years, couples in Columbus are looking for something unique-not the cookie cutter weddings they have been to. I have had requests for weddings in dog parks, zoos, on yachts and on farms. Couples want their weddings to be a clear reflection of their personal tastes and preferences. Whether it is a favorite color scheme, a custom monogram, specific theme or cultural influence, couples are weaving their personalities into their weddings. I have witnessed the Ohio State Alumni Band playing at wedding receptions as well as Brutus the Buckeye leading the entrance of the wedding party.


Couples who want to infuse a fun and whimsical element have placed photo booths at their receptions to capture their guests’ funniest faces. Brides are incorporating color into their dress or wearing two dresses over the course of the wedding and reception. Many brides allow their bridesmaids to wear the dresses of their choosing from a common color palette.

The possibilities are limitless if you know what you want and where to find it and Wedding Cafe Online id the perfect place to begin!


Sylvia Harris Douglas is a wedding coordinator in Columbus Ohio and owner of
A Wedding By Sylvia