Fab 5: Stylish boutonnieres

Think beyond roses, baby's breath and bows and let your groom don a boutonniere that's stylish and, well, a little more manly. Calla lilies are always a popular choice for a sleek modern look, but reach a bit further outside the box and check out these fabulous five options:

1. Modern Elegance
   
   Creamy white flowers accented with a bit of purple create a stunning accent against a black tux. Match the accent color to the tie for pulled together look.
   Image from Get Married
   
   
2. Starring Role
   
   Two stephanotis flowers paired with a sprig of berries create a modern boutonniere for the costar of your wedding day.
   Image from The Knot
   
   
3. Unexpected Twist
   
   Leave the floral behind with this all green bout made of succulents and green amazon coleus for a decidedly non-feminine look.
   Image from Brides.com
   
   
4. Something Blue
   
   Whether your wedding colors are blue or your groom wants to get in on the "Something Old" tradition, lean toward the unexpected with these charming blue blooms.
   Image from The Knot
   
   
5. Keep It Simple
   
   Let his boutonniere accent, not distract. This lily of the valley bout is simple and understated.
   Image from Wedding Channel
   

Pittsburgh flair: Sports garters

Many Pittsburgh brides choose to wear a garter that represents their (or their husband's) love for one of our local sports teams--usually the Steelers, though I'm all about showing the love for the Penguins and Pirates myself. Google "Steelers garter" and you'll find thousands of Web sites selling different versions of this wedding tradition.

Unfortunately, combining the ultra-feminine laciness of a typical garter with the sporty colors and logos of your favorite team can result in gaudy hideousness (case in point one and two). And, whether the garter is officially licensed or not, many sites charge a premium for purchasing a team-affiliated item.

Enter Kristi's Charmed Life on eBay. Here you'll find the garters previously sold on the Morning Glory Garters eBay site. The sports team garter sets feature sheer organza accented with a bit of ribbon, a sports pin and one team logo for a simpler, cleaner look than most other sports garters out there. Plus, for around $20, you can purchase both a keepsake and a toss garter in the set, making this site my recommendation for Pittsburgh sports garters.

Kristi's Charmed Life currently offers garters for the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates. She also sells a Penn State garter in her college collection, though no Pitt or WVU garters are currently for sale.