Bye Bye bland and ordinary; hello inventive and inspired! Toss conventional wedding standards out the window and embrace your creative side. Heres a peek at whats hot for summer 2006.

1) Unique Settings To add a personal touch, couples are venturing outside of the traditional ceremony at place of worship followed by a banquet room reception. The beach remains the most popular spot for summer brides, but also consider a mountainside, garden, yacht, museum, lighthouse, theme park or historic mansion. Anything goes - be original!

2) Destination weddings Start the honeymoon early, and head to an exotic destination to exchange vows. Destination weddings are becoming more and more popular, with couples only inviting close family and friends to share in the festivities. This saves a lot of money, time and stress and allows everyone to enjoy a fabulous summer vacation. What guest wont appreciate that?

3) Keep it Small Forget inviting 400 of your closest friends. (Who needs the hassle?) Todays weddings are more personalized and intimate, with many guest lists topping out at 100 people. Trim your guest list, and treat your true friends and loved to something truly spectacular.

4) Buzz on Bars Theyre not just for drinks anymore. Take your guests on a culinary journey of the senses with strategically placed food stations. Dynamic bars with bite sized samples allow guests to mingle and savor a number of flavors. So when you think catering think tiny and scattered.

5) More Seating Options Go ahead, ditch the head table and opt for something a little different. More personal less awkward. Consider instead a sweetheart table for two, and enjoy a few minutes of alone time with your honey. Sit with your parents or other guests; it may afford you the opportunity to spend some quality time with people not a part of the wedding party. Or do away with reserved tables and assigned seating altogether, and mingle with your guests throughout mealtime.

6) Go Clubbing - Of-the-moment brides are consulting the club scene for wedding dcor inspiration. Transform your reception space into a swank lounge with romantic nooks and crannies conducive to conversing and flirting. Think sexy lighting, seductive music, plush couches and low coffee tables.

7) A Warm Welcome - With the emergence of destination weddings and guests often spread all over the country, savvy couples are taking advantage of a golden opportunity to offer a warm welcome and set the tone for a fabulous series of events. What a great idea! Welcome baskets are an added touch that immediately comforts the travel-weary and makes your guests feel right at home.

8) Beyond Blush and Bashful - Gone are the days of adhering to light pastels and muted shades. Todays summer brides are opting for bold and interesting pairings of colors. Not afraid of mixing purples and oranges, the post-millennium color palette is expanding. Especially hot this year purple, in vogue in every shade.

For a complete guide to creating an elegant and memorable wedding celebration, visit http://www.elegala.com/, your ultimate wedding planning resource.