wedding receptions

It wasn't too long ago that wedding food options were limited to beef, chicken, or fish with a champagne toast and frosted white cake to follow. Of course, with infinitely creative couples finding new ways to set their celebrations apart, there's no longer a set formula to the American wedding menu. Drawing upon traditions from other world cultures, couples can honor their diverse backgrounds or create new traditions that define them as a pair. We've rounded up several customs worthy of consideration for your unique nuptials!

After a long night of dancing and drinking, wedding guests need a little late-night bite to munch on while they retire to their cars and head back to their hotel rooms. Cookies and milk, hamburgers and fries, and even miniature quesadillas and churros are a few items that happy couples are serving at the last hour of their wedding receptions. Take a peek to find inspiration for your own wedding — or just because junk food in mini form is always cute!

More and more, couples are choosing to create a signature cocktail at their wedding. When we asked you where you stood, most of you said you loved the idea! Whether you're currently on the lookout for ways to make a standout cocktail or love some wedding eye candy, here are some great cocktail ideas from real weddings.

When it comes to liquor and weddings, people (especially guests!) have their opinions. Are you for open bars and against the idea of a cash bar? Do you feel like every wedding should have a Champagne toast, or do you think it's unnecessary? Now's your chance to dish about where you stand on drinking at weddings with these poll questions.

Why shouldn't his cake be just as involved? These days, groom's cakes are just as important as the main wedding cake. The main departure from a traditional wedding cake is that the design is usually a little lighter, and many reflect personality and hobbies. That said, we've searched the web for some tasteful cakes that are worthy of any groom on his big day. From gadget to hiking themes, we bet you'll find something for your guy that's full of personality without being cheesy. Have a look!

Some of the toughest decisions you have to make when planning a wedding revolve around the music. First, you have to decide if you're going with a band or a DJ; then you have to choose the songs for the guests' arrival, the reception, and the cocktail hour; and most importantly, you have to pick the songs for the processional, recessional, grand entrance, first dance, father/daughter dance, mother/son dance, and exit. It can get overwhelming! So to help you out, we went to our fellow brides and brides-to-be at Sugar HQ to find out what songs they used or are planning to use on their big days. In this second post of our Sugar Bride Guide series — be sure to check out the first one with proposal stories — we get the inside scoop from Sugar brides on what songs they chose and why they are so special to them.

The week is winding down, and I don't know about you, but I'm ready for some relaxation! To prep you for a mellow, laid-back weekend, I've rounded up five very different images that epitomize outdoor ease. From a pretty backyard wedding reception to a Pacific Coast Mexican getaway, see what spaces are inspiring me this week.

At the San Francisco Wedding Fair this year, attendees (including myself) were wowed by a room filled with pop-star-inspired tables designed by wedding and event planning company Floramor. The glitzy table setups each drew inspiration from the musical style and personality of a different female singer, including Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Fergie, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga. So if you want your big day to pop, get some ideas from these glamorous tablescapes!