5 Hot Wedding Trends

By GalTime Lead Ambassador, Jenny Tiegs, for GalTime.com

sizzling hot wedding trends to try

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These days, weddings have taken on a competitive edge. Blowing bubbles and throwing birdseed at the happy couple just doesn't cut it anymore. Today's weddings are more than a celebration of  the newly minted Mr. and Mrs.-- they are also spectacular pull-out-all-the-stops extravaganzas.

Here are some of the hottest trends in weddings right now.

1. Magic

It used to be that the couple's first dance together served as wedding entertainment-- but modern couples have kicked it up a notch by hiring REAL entertainers like magicians.

Nash Fung, voted The Knot's "Best of Weddings" pick in 2012, is a magician at the forefront of this trend. Known for his classy and interactive acts, there is no fear that your guests will feel like children as they watch a Fung pull scarves from his hat. The magician starts his act by walking around and socializing with guests during cocktail hour. According to Fung, "Weddings are unique in that it will most likely be the first time people from different sides of the family meet each other." He adds, "Most wedding guests will only interact with people they know. So, I work as an ice-breaker among them. When I get a reaction or roaring laughter from one group, it will catch the eyes of another. That’s when I invite them over and introduce them to a new group.” Tada! Now guests know more people and it’s the magic that brought them together. “My magic is all about bringing strangers together,” explains Fung.

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2. Handpainted Shoes

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If you’ve ever been a bride or bridesmaid, you know the struggles of finding a perfect pair of shoes. Hourglass Footwear has knocked this dilemma back on its heels by creating the perfect solution: hand painted shoes. Kira Bundlie and her business partner, Lisa Strom, work with their talented artists to help “smart, stylish women of all ages express their individuality and personality” with their one-of-a-kind footwear. They are a huge hit among brides. After the masterpieces are painted, the shoes are sealed so the color stays on after months of wear. The artists themselves don their own shoes and not only have a pair of fantastic heels to wear, they also get compliments everywhere they go. Every bride wants something unique at their wedding and these shoes are a perfect fit.

3. Late Night Snacks