Trendspotting: Boston

Taking the Cake

The Idea: Skip the all-American white wedding cake and serve a dessert of a different sort. At one Boston wedding, guests indulged in a croquembouche, a tower of custard-filled pastries.

Why We Love It: The French wedding confection can be tastier than some American wedding cakes, and the stacked pastries look just as dramatic as their tiered counterparts. —Meredith Bodgas

Photo Booth

The Idea: Send guests home with photos of themselves as favors. Decisive Moment Photography (decisivemomentphoto.com) set up a makeshift booth, snapped photos of guests and then printed them out on classic photo strips.

Why We Love It: Guests will have a blast posing for a pro, and they'll be able to reflect on the fun they had at your reception.

How Artsy!

The Idea: Have an artist do a rendering of your reception. Danielle Malfitana, a catering manager in Boston, hired painter Gail Fitzpatrick to capture her evening wedding on canvas.

Why We Love It: Besides your photos and video, the painting will be the best memento of your wedding—not to mention a classy decoration for your home.

In Her Shoes

The Idea: Bridesmaids choose shoes they love, while you maintain a uniform wedding-party look. Shoes to Dye For in Natick (shoestodyefor.com) sells Dyeables shoes that come in matching styles, in a range of heel heights, from classic kitten heels to mile-high stilettos.

Why We Love It: They keep you and your bridesmaids happy!