t hink Phantom of the Opera-level mystique, without the nasty surprise at the unveiling. In fact, those hiding behind the sequined, feathered masks, elaborately embellished gowns and Venetian wigs are all friendly faces – mom, dad and grandma all decked out on the dance floor. Hosting a masquerade wedding is a great way to celebrate your high-profile love, because masquerades are, by nature, endowed with regality. Most recently, actress Salma Hayek and billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault held a pre-hitching masquerade ball. If you want to do it up right too, infusing mystery and provocative allure into your evenin

l ove looks not with the eyes, but with the mind. Why not cast a spell of metaphorical context upon your wedding nuptials? You and your king may be titan royalty like Oberon and Titiana, enraptured sweethearts, Hermia and Lysander, or violently lustful like Helena and Demetrius. You may even be two giggly, mischievous Pucks. Whichever literary pairing you emote to the most, explore the boundaries of your imaginations through wedded thematic elements, pulsing with empyreal rhythms, coercive lyric sensibility, and decadent swags of moss and dewdrop.

t he ravenous twenties were indeed hands down the bee’s knees of all decades. Molls and dolls, flappers and dappers, Real McCoys and good old flyboys were at the heart of what was deemed the Jazz Age - the era of the juice joint, a boozin’ and schmoozin’ Gin Mill of hooch-induced capers and fringe clad hoofers. Nestled in a chronological niche like no other, the twenties teemed with sexy liberties and booming prosperity. So if you’re keen on a hotsy totsy medley of a wedding, kick start that jalopy and roll down those stockings – the groom won’t know what hit him.

a ll brides capping off the decade, wondering what’s hot to trot down the aisle for the 2010, need not look any further. Oh-nine standbys, like the vintage craze, hold fast at number one, reigning in updated newcomers, like the all-drama, no-cumber birdcage veil. Couture cupcakes, retro invites and monogrammed everything have yet to lose their mojo, so if signature drinks float your boat, don’t let them drift past your reception for playing passé. As for the new kids on the block, the trend amongst trends is all about personal details and local flavors, forcing even the most avid fad-follower to unleash her true lo

s tripes bring to mind zebras, candy-canes, fast cars, after-dinner mints, French girls, nautical stuff, Bill Murray, Beetlejuice, Emily the Strange, rainbow toe socks, hot pseudo-nurses, a certain garage rock duo, and those redwhite&blue popsicles that taste like lemonade. Nice work, stripes. You’ve put y

w hether pin-up and camp or country-cottage and quaint, polka-dots scream spring-time festiveness and gal-pal squeals. Stretch your imagination beyond the traditional "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” and opt for a spread that is positively speckled with dimple-inducing spheres. open the polka-dot door

i f you’ve always wanted Willy Wonka for your best man, embody your sugar-spun fantasy with a Candyland-inspired wedding. A little pop culture tidbit – the word ‘sugar’ is derived from the Sanskrit word, ‘çahn-da,’ meaning ‘piece of.’ Too-sweet-to-be-true morsels make for dee-lightful inspiration when it comes to conjuring up a saucily butterscotch ceremony. Caramelize your special day with Turkish delight and peppermint patties, coating your attendants in candy-floss colors, and sprinkling your guests with a deluge of dulcification. The result? A malted, cherry-on-top reverie of tiny-tot wonder and grow

t he look of the starlet is forever young – when you combine the gamine classiness of Hepburn, the sensational rhythm of Ginger, the empowerment of Kelly, and the seductiveness of Taylor, you’ve got the world of feminine mystique wrapped around your little finger. Incorporate the dazzle of spotlights, the sheen of a scarlet pout, and the ultra-hot lux of a wavy coif into your wedding day with just a few key aesthetic pairings. A glitzy, outrageous affair makes for a knock-out evening, polished off with lacey accoutrement. Return to the golden age, where true romance reigned, and style stole the show.

f or something that’s off-the-wall trippy and dee-lightfully delightful (not to mention Holly-worthy, thanks to Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz’s through-the-looking-glass nuptial fame), an Alice in Wonderland extravaganza is a fun, pun-tastical, tongue-twister of a time for both young and old alike. So don your most floppiest of top hats and your prettiest of frocks – it’s down the rabbit hole you and your sweetheart go. advice from a caterpillar

i f you can claim it was love when you both reached for the same Who record, then a beatific mod wed-up may be just for you. Hedonist and hyper-cool, the mods rode the curtails of the British Invasion, sporting page boy flair and mop top cuts, pillbox hats and Jacqueline gloves. Camped-up café culture, Italian art-house flicks, and Kinky witticisms are just a Carnaby Street away when it comes to the throwing the Harvey Wallbanger of all themed weddings.