WEDDING CAKES TRENDS

Gone are the days of white cake, white icing and a figurine of the couple on top.

"Many couples are taking their cakes to new levels with unique fillings such as caramel apple or cream cheese, while others are making each layer of the cake a different flavor," says Diane Forden, Editor-in-Chief of Bridal Guide Magazine.

"The days of the white cake are over. Brides are opting for cakes with bold colors and abstract shapes," explains Andrea Correale of Elegant Affairs Caterers.

The cupcake wedding cake is also becoming extremely popular. Instead of a fancy, expensive multi-tiered wedding cake, many couples are opting for cupcakes arranged in the shape of a cake. This is a much more affordable alternative to a traditional wedding cake.

Your guests, young and old, will enjoy the cupcakes at your reception. What's fun is that you can get the cupcakes in a variety of flavors.

If you'd like, you can still have a smaller, separate one tier cake used for the cake cutting ceremony

WEDDING FLOWER TRENDS

Symmetrical floral centerpieces are out. Choose centerpieces of varying size, shape and color. Stay away from using the same vases at each reception table. Choose local, organically grown flowers. After your wedding, donate the arrangements to nearby hospitals or other facilities.

"In color palettes, green is still the most sought after color with accent shades of creams and white or hot pinks and mango coral," says Clara Varga-Gonzales, owner of Tiger Lily Florist in Charleston, S.C. "However, combinations of deep burgundy red Black Magic roses, Black Forest mini Callas and rich purple, almost black, tulips are striking against ornate damask linen. No more white linen on guest tables for sure."

"Many cost conscious and younger brides are opting to veer away from the exotic, elegant vibe and instead find flirty uses for the everyday blossom," explains Tara Simone Powell, floral and event design expert and owner of Barbara's Flowers. "Whimsical bouquets designed with gerbera daisies or dare I say 'carnations!' Carnations, so often frowned upon as a 'funeral flower' come in a wide range of colors and of course are very reasonably priced. For a day time wedding, consider a tussy of carnations bound with a whimsical patterned ribbon!"

How to Get Him to Open Up

Although it is unlikely that we’ll ever join you in your love of The Notebook, sometimes it is okay to be in touch with your sensitive side, and you just have to keep reminding us that. Here are some top tips on how to dig beneath the beer, cologne and testosterone and convince us to open up to you.

HOW GUYS COMMUNICATE

It's not that guys don't want to communicate; it's just that they do it differently. Being a man of few words doesn't mean he's not into you, it's just a guy thing. Here are two simple equations to understand men better:

Men + communication =  less is more.

Women + communication = tell us everything all of the time.

MEN SAY WHAT THEY MEAN AND MEAN WHAT THEY SAY

Ladies, men really do want to communicate with you, and they may actually enjoy it most of the time. Getting men to open up really doesn't take much. You just need to let men do it on their own time, in their own way. Here are some examples:

Woman: Honey, how was your day?

Man: Good.Woman: Tell me about it.

Right there is the fundamental difference between men and women. When guys say "good," it's cause they mean good.That's it! They're not keeping secrets and there's no secret password you need to know to get men to say more. Men are pretty simple that way.

Now, when it comes to arguments, that's a different story.

Guys can get into an argument with very little effort, and will fight to the death. Just like you, though, they'd prefer to have a simple, peaceful conversation. So if you truly want to talk, don't start from a confrontational position."Why didn't you do X?" is asking for a defensive response. Phrase your opening question carefully and you'll soon find that getting him to open up is easier than you thought.

Let your guy communicate in his style and on his terms and he'll open up more. It will probably still be a soundbite compared to your soliliquy, but chances are, it'll work.

What Men Look For In Women

There are hundreds of self-help books that teach women how to act to get a man to like her more. But what is it that initially draws a man to a woman? I asked. They answered.

If you were to take a poll of what women want in a man and vice versa, you'd be surprised at how similar both men's and women's answers are. The difference is in their expressions. It's really been an amazing experience combing through some of these responses. Here are the best ones:

What men want

• "A lady in the street, but a freak in the bed."  - a lawyer

• "A woman who is intelligent without arrogance, funny without vulgarity, compassionate without being maudlin and beautiful without the stain of vanity. Also, there is little that is more repugnant than a woman who reeks of entitlement." - Dan, an author

• "1. Unconditional sex 2. A nag-free relationship. 3. Physical beauty." - Anthony from Los Angeles

• "As a man, what I look for in a woman is compatibility. The most important thing to me is that there be spiritual compatibility from the perspective of dating someone that has a strong faith in God as I do. There must also be some mental compatibility so that we can communicate on similar topics we both enjoy. And lastly, there must be some physical attraction. I want to be able to look at the individual and enjoy what I am beholding through my eye gate." (Yes, this man just wrote "eye gate") - an author

• "Initially, there has to be some physical attraction -- any guy who says otherwise is lying. It's the way our brains are wired. That being said, we all like different things. Some like big butts, some like big bellies and some like big boobs. As far as the physical thing goes, a great smile, great teeth, nice hair, etc. are all as equally important as any of the aforementioned items. For me, a great personality can override another physical attribute, but don't confuse that to mean that a great personality means you don't need to be attractive at all. Sexually, I don't care about experience -- you can be trained. If someone is willing to learn and is inexperienced, that's fine. If you are too experienced, you better hide some of it, or I'll wonder if that's your job. Finally, she better not have an entitlement attitude. I will freely give things and stuff and meals, but the day she stops saying thanks and thinks she 'deserves' these things, she'll be gone." - Randy

• "I think men do initially notice a woman's look. But after that, men look for a sense of humor, someone who has a similar intelligence to them and also someone who has a streak of independence as most men hate to be smothered." - Keith

• "1. Non-smoking/non-drug taking (bonus for non-drinking but not a deal-breaker). 2. Attractive face/eyes (sure, large breasts are nice, but you can't have a dinner conversation with them!) 3. Shapely figure/size -- preferably hourglass or buxom, not skinny nor fat (weight no more than mine). 4. Personality -- an individual, with a will of her own plus a sense of humor to appreciate my constant silly jokes. 5. Reasonable intelligence/education -- able to converse on various subjects. High IQ an extra turn-on but not necessary; I just can't stand the "dumb blonde" stereotype. 6. No kids/don't want kids. 7. Dark hair/eyes. 8. A job/self-sufficiency." - Mike in advertising

• When he was younger, Philip had practically no requirements for women, just reasonably attractive and willing to have sex with him. With age, comes maturity. Now, in no particular order, here are his requirements: "Intelligent, attractive, takes care of herself, self-confident, not bitchy, knows what she wants, fun to converse with, great sense of humor, it's the best if she's musically savvy, meaning classical music -- and even better if she's a musician herself!" - Philip, certified health coach

So... what do you think, ladies?!

How to survive your first vacation as a couple

Just because you get along at home doesn’t mean a vacation together will automatically be fight-free. If your relationship is ready for that next big step -- your first trip as a twosome -- there are a few things to keep in mind before you book.

Talk about what you want from the trip

Even if you think you know your partner well and what they would want from a vacation, avoid assumptions. He might not be the adventurous type when it comes to travel, or he might be more into a cross-country road trip than a villa in Tuscany. Talk about what each of your ideal scenarios are when it comes to your vacation and then find a way to come up with a plan that works for both of you.

Do your research

Before you book something (flights, hotels, activities), do your research so you know what to expect. Read reviews, talk to friends who have been there and aim to choose the best option for what you’re both looking for.

Be willing to compromise

There will be times when he wants to do something you’re not keen on. Maybe there’s an excursion he’s really excited about or a day trip he wants to go on. Unless it’s something you’re dead-set against (sky diving, bungee jumping), make an effort to do some of the things he wants to do. Then he can accompany you when there are things you want to do that aren't his first choice.

Don’t expect perfection

It may rain the entire time you’re away, or you might not fall in love with your Tuscan villa. These things happen and the key is to make the best of any situation or your trip will be ruined. It’s not the rain or the fact that the villa doesn't look like the photos that will put a damper on your vacation -- it’s a negative attitude. The more positive you are and the more laid-back you can be, the better the trip will go.