Looking past the trousseau

"It’s not just the little white nightie any more," says Pam Flasch of Miss Groove. Brides are choosing camis, tap sets and lounge outfits, comfortable for sleeping and perfect for Sunday morning, reading the paper with the new husband. "The lounge outfits are sexy and cute, plus you can throw a T-shirt over them to run out to the grocery store."

Our most romantic moment:

My most romantic moment was at the reception, when Andy sang ‘More’ by Bobby Darin. Andy says it was when he saw me walking down the aisle.

How we met: Yahoo personals

Matron of Honor: Stacy Fitzgerald

Best Man: Craig Carlson

Bridesmaids: Jennifer Rahe, Kristi Wieland and Heidi Nieth

Groomsmen: Kent Waugh, Tony Filippone and Chris Stack

Shelley McCaffery & Andrew Carlson

June 26, 2004 • Wedding: St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Genessee Depot • Reception: Saxes, Wales

After the ball is over

After all the hugging, eating and dancing, that wedding gown might be a little worse for wear. Consider this suggestion from Tiffany Craig of Andre Furs and Allure in Mequon. "Dresses need to be properly cleaned, repaired and stored," stresses Craig. "The dress might be soiled, or sequins might be missing. We’ll clean the dress, repair it and store it in a temperature and climate controlled environment. The dress isn’t boxed, it’s hung, preserved for future generations."

Our most romantic moment:

The few seconds Ben and I had just after the ceremony, before everyone else made it to the end of the aisle. It was our chance to relish in the fact we were married and celebrate before the photos and the reception started.

As my dad and I prepared to make our grand entrance into the church my dress got caught in the door. Dad and I laughed as my personal attendants and five ushers freed the train. That broke the tension!

How we met: We met at the age of 8 when I moved into the district. We were in the same fourth grade class. We were separated during high school but found each other again senior year and began dating. We are blessed to say we married our grade school sweethearts.

Groomsmen: John Zeirke, Tim Zeirke, Matt Krauski and Eric Heagle

Benjamin Hein & Sarah Zeirke

December 6, 2003 • Wedding: St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy, Delafield Reception: Olympia Resort & Conference Center, Oconomowoc

Skipping in line:

Paula Garvens, executive event planner at Ellen Zilli’s Catering says the interactive stations concept may replace the standard buffet. Four stations are set up around the hall, with a customized menu itinerary. Guests are invited by table to take their place at one of the stations, eliminating the conga line around the buffet table.

Jessica Jallings & Brian Gomez, Milwaukee

July 31, 2004 • Wedding and Reception: The American Club, Kohler

Our most romantic moment: The whole ceremony was meaningful and personal. We wrote our own vows, liturgy; even the reading was something we came up with. It was all very unique and personal.

We gave the DJ the wrong song for our first dance. It wasn’t the most romantic of songs, but we just kept on dancing and now we laugh about it!

How we met: through friends.

Groomsmen: Jeff Gomez, Griffin Feddersen, Brad Putz, Paul Munsterman, Roger Nienaber and Jason Harris

Trending away from typical:

"Brides are choosing color for their bouquets," says Dana Meredith of The Flower Garden in Hartland. "A lot are going with strong colors, not the pastels, but bright, Hawaiian colors. And I’d say that 90 percent are going with hand-held clutch bouquets with the stems showing."

Melissa George & Daniel Fisher, Jr.

October 9, 2004 • Wedding: St. Joseph’s Catholic church,

Grafton • Reception: Joey Buona’s Pizzeria, Milwaukee

Our most romantic moment:

When I asked Dan at the reception what the most romantic moment was, he replied by saying when I came out in my sock hat because I came out being the true me.

It was sure nice to have family and friends in town to celebrate the special time in our lives.

We honeymooned in London and Paris. I truly felt like a princess and loved every minute of it, from going to the very top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris to walking around in the parks, to seeing "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang."

How Dan proposed: Dan took me to the Cedarburg Chocolate Factory and I was like a deer in the headlights when he asked me to marry him.

Bridesmaids: Elizabeth Grekso, Jackie McGraw, Brianne May and Michelle George (maid of honor)