Trend Alert: All White Weddings

It's a nice day for a white wedding -- after all, an all-white affair is a classic and timeless choice that can go either traditional or trendy, depending on your personal style. The clean, monochromatic palette works well with both modern and contemporary venues and looks sophisticated in any setting whether country club or city rooftop. While purple and tangerine may come and go, "you will never look back at your wedding pictures and be in shock that you picked a dated color palette," says Amy Atlas of Amy Atlas Events. Stationer Ceci Johnson of Ceci New York especially loves the chic look for beach weddings as it "creates such a clean pure palette of all the guests against the light sandy beach and such a lovely contrast against the crisp blue ocean and sky," she says. "It looks amazing in pictures, too." Click through the gallery below and get inspired by these all-white wonders.

Invitations
Any wedding style starts with the invitation. Stationer Ceci Johnson of Ceci New York suggests the best ways to communicate the tone of an-all-white wedding on your invite: "As the invitation must be legible, it's really important that you make sure you use the right printing techniques that are appropriate for your audience," she says (also make sure your stationer is using quality printing methods and paper stock). Below are the top techniques:

1. White or pearl foil stamping on white paper: This technique looks chic and modern on an uncoated or a shimmering white stock. Make sure you're getting deep and crisp impressions of the text so guests can read it.

2. Silver foil printing on white stock: Silver ink is easier to read, and the silver foil conveys a light feeling without dominating a white color palette (just leave plenty of white space for the type so you see a lot of the white paper that communicates your vibe, Johnson says).

3. Tone-on-tone letterpress printing: This is a luxe way to incorporate intricate details without making them too overpowering, Johnson says. Since the ink is so light, you can be a little more daring with patterns because the overall effect is subtle.

Guests
So, can you ask guests to wear white? Sure! Most friends and family will be excited to dress in the crisp, clean palette of your wedding (plus, it solves the issue of what to wear). However, be sure to state your request in your correspondence with guests. Etiquette expert Faye Rogaski of Socialsklz in New York suggests including the information on the RSVP card of your invitation: Try something like, "This is a white-themed wedding; please dress in white!" or "Please dress accordingly for our white wedding!" And if you have a wedding Web site, include it there as well. Get inspired by this bridal party dressed in all-white designs by Thread.

Cake
The wedding cake is one of the centerpieces of the reception, so choose a cake that fits with the all-white theme. Butter's pale yellow hue gives this genuine buttercream three-tier confection by MarneyCakes in Oceanside, NY, an elegant ivory tint. Owner Marney White says you can do any kind of cake beneath a white exterior, but this creation features two tiers of lemon cake with vanilla buttercream filling, and one tier of cannoli cream, all iced in pure almond buttercream (for a pure white effect, opt for fondant). The addition of white gum-paste stephanotis and hydrangea makes for a sweet finish.


Flowers
Many brides carry an all-white bouquet down the aisle, but consider expanding the look to your centerpieces and decor. Peter Grontas of Flowers of the World in New York says white weddings are wonderful to design because "we can create a unique aesthetic with varying shades and tones of whites." Your florist can play with different flower varieties such as hydrangea, peonies, orchids, roses, ranunculus and calla lilies to create a fresh texture and new twist on the white palette. And get creative: "Using reflective touches such as crystals and mirrors can further enhance the elegant and glamorous look," Grontas says.

Bridesmaid Dresses
Instead of thinking you need to stand out in a snow-colored gown, consider a chic-looking all-white wedding party. White bridesmaid dresses have recently become more popular, says Melissa Akey of Thread, which has a gorgeous collection of festive white frocks. "Brides are starting to appreciate that an all-white palette can complement, rather than compete with, their wedding gown," Akey says. "A party of all-white bridesmaids is an easy and unexpected way to create a fresh, crisp and elegant overall aesthetic for a wedding."

Reception
Use all-white decor at your reception to create a thoroughly chic vibe. You can use anything from balloons and candles to flowers and little white lights to enhance the all-white romance of the day. Event planner Colin Cowie created this all-white tablescape for a beachfront celebration in Cabo. The easy-breezy whites complement and highlight the chic setting and beautiful surrounding waters.

Dessert Bar
This sleek all-white dessert table by Amy Atlas included an enticing assortment of torrone nougat, coconut macaroons, dusted truffles and white lemonade with calligraphed "Best Wishes" straws. The best thing about white: It all coordinates. "You won't have to worry about matching hues of colors (like finding the perfect pink flowers to match the pink linens)," Atlas says.