Overall Trend: Grand Exits – Having a formal ceremony or reception exit is not only fun for you and your guests, it’ll make for great photos. Alternatives to bird seed: paper airplanes, ticker tape, sparklers, and eco-confetti. One of my most memorable exits was a Helicopter take off from Drees Pavilion in KY. Click HERE to see the video.

Trend 1: Retro-Chic Weddings – A wedding filled with vintage details, whether from the 1950s, ’60s, or even ’70s, can make for a meaningful heirloom-filled, back-in-the-day vibe, and the decor options are limitless.

Trend 2: Dinner-Focused Receptions – Think of it as a re-creation of a dinner party in your own home: lots of food and a comfortable setting are both key.

Trend 3: Innovative Ceremony Setups – Skip the common aisle-down-the-middle arrangement and create a living-room vibe using a mix of couches and chairs, replace all those chairs with hay bales covered with quilts, or even spread blankets on the ground right in front of the altar for the kids.

Trend 4: Shorter, Tea-Length Dresses – Find a dress made with cotton or layers of airy tulle for an outdoor spring or summer wedding, get a silk-satin gown for a more formal wedding, or go for heavy silk with a soft bolero or even an overcoat for a wintertime wedding.

Trend 5: Classic White Wedding Cakes – Order a simple, round, three-tiered cake frosted with white buttercream or covered in white fondant and finish it with an antique cake topper (from your parents’ or grandparents’ wedding), a few fresh flowers that match your bouquet, or leave it clear of add-ons for an even simpler look.

Trend 6: Textural Flower Arrangements – The typical tall centerpiece, overflowing with roses and calla lilies, has given way to low, textural arrangements that call to mind a springtime garden, crisp autumn foliage, or a snow-covered evergreen.

Trend 7: Turn Table DJs/Specialty Music – The popularity is rising for skilled turntable DJs who are able to create a unique collection of music tailored to your guests. If it’s in the budget, hire a specialty band that speaks to your relationship or wedding locale (like a jazz trio, bluegrass band, or even funk group) for the cocktail hour.

Trend 8: Souped-Up Photo Booths – The photo booth trend is not going away but becoming more personalized. You can create your own backdrop using a piece of patterned fabric, a simple curtain, or even paper streamers. You could also make a completely custom photo backdrop out of wood, cover it with wallpaper or paint, and then decorate it with fun frames or anything else you can think of. Cut out circles for your guests’ faces, or encourage everyone to get comfortable together on a great couch placed in front of the backdrop. And don’t forget the funny props, like hats, fake mustaches, and glasses!

Trend 9: Themed Engagement Photo Shoots – The couples are personalizing their engagement occasion by creating themed engagement photo shoots, from Humphrey and Bacall, to Mad Men, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s to more obscure 1950s backyard barbecue shoots. Not into the theme idea? Tone it down with a couple props, like colorful balloons, umbrellas, or a tandem bicycle.

Trend 10: Wedding Videos – Couples are asking their videographers to use motion picture in new and creative ways, such as a short wedding Super 8 wedding videos for that grainy, vintage look (which can later have music dubbed in).

HERE IS THE COMPLETE LIST.

Here is the latest from one of our 2009 Brides

“Maxim Photo Studio was amazing. The owner, Max, came just because I felt I needed him to. So, he came for the first hour, and did wonderful shots. Along with Max, were my two photographers. They were personal, helpful and made everything exactly to my liking. If there was anything we wanted, they did it. It was all about US! That was wonderful. And, my album, IT’S BEAUTIFUL. I love it! People around here in Southern Ohio have never seen anything like it. I’ve seen albums like this all over San Francisco and LA, so it was perfect for me. Also, having all the rights to my photos is very convenient. If I could refer Maxim Photo Studio, I would suggest his work to anyone who wants to be catered to and cared for like family.”

Check out this latest batch of reviews: http://bit.ly/datcTA

This year’s card features my 6 year old Brady (left) and almost 8 year old Slade (right). We ventured out to Cox Arboretum and I saw this great setting sun. I used my 22″ Beauty Dish to balance the ambient light and light up my boys. This was one of the better images from our shoot as controlling rambunctious children during photo session long enough for them not to want to make faces or hit each other is never an easy proposition for parents. Also, as with many of my Wedding Albums, I am going to be printing this Metallic paper for an extra dose of punch. For those of you who know us, expect the cards early next week.