Now that you've attended a wedding fair, what do you do with all that information? Feeling a little overwhelmed?

Like any first meeting, you know when you click with someone. Review your notes and go to the Web sites of the vendors you liked the best. Make personal appointments and book vendors you liked before someone else does.

We noticed a trend: Many August weddings. A good, longtime vendor will not book more than one wedding in a single weekend. With only four weekends in a single month vendors will book up quickly. Don't wait!

Many wedding fairs leave you with a multitude of trends and ideas that you might not have even thought of before which can be both inspiring and daunting. The first thing to do once you have booked your favorite vendors is weed out the trends you absolutely did not like. No matter what it is (or who of your friends loved it) you have to clear out the ideas that are only gumming up your creativity.

Once you are down to the ideas you actually like, take stock. Many of the trends thrown at you by vendors will not necessarily match up to your vision of your wedding. You don't have to use every idea you like in your wedding. Be choosy.

Keep a book of written ideas, clippings from magazines and brochures and even sketches that inspire you and take it to your in-person vendor meetings. This book of your vision will give your cake decorator, your florist, your photographer and everyone else a clear picture of who you are and what you want.

As floral designers, we at Middletown Florist noticed two interesting trends at the Robinson Rancheria wedding fair: August dates, as stated before, and red and white color schemes. Our “Evening Elegance” display that included mirrors, vibrant red and white roses and black accents was a real eye-catcher and drew a lot of favorable attention.

This brings us to a point I feel must be noted: No matter the similarities between brides' choices, every wedding is completely different. Each and every one of those red and white August weddings will be worlds apart. Some will be classic, evening, even vintage-inspired. Others will be laid-back and country. Still others will have a unique sense of cultural individuality.

Keep in mind that you don't have to stick entirely to trends, nor do you have to choose to use them at all. Keep in mind that no matter if your vendors have three other weddings in your month with the same color scheme, yours will be a unique event unto itself.

You don't need to compare your vision to the images you saw in a photographer's book of examples because someday soon he will be showing off the photos of your exquisite event to a whole new set of brides-to-be.

Congratulations again on your pending wedding!

Tina and Tenae Stewart operate Middletown Florist.