Make a statement upon your guests' arrivals with a dramatic centerpiece—like this sky-high grouping of polo roses, peonies, and viburnum—at the entrance of the reception.

From elaborate to chic and classic, these ideas from real weddings are sure to raise your affair to new heights.

Editorial director of Martha Stewart Weddings Darcy Miller worked closely with a designer in the creation of her hand-sewn gown: Slim through the bodice, it's laced, corset-style, down the back, then opens to reveal a profusion of ruffles that flounce at her heels when she walks. Bride's gown made to order by Vera Wang, 212-575-6400.

For Jessica and Cody's "Today Show" wedding, Martha envisioned the bride's bouquet with two kinds of orchids and white and blue pearlescent beads. The stems are bound with double-faced blue satin ribbon, which is tied in a bow and embellished with rhinestone buttons.

Bride Carter, wearing a hand-painted tulle gown by Carolina Herrera, carries the branch theme of her wedding onto the skirt of her gown.

Cake baker Sylvia Weinstock made 40 cakes for Eleanor and Rodney's reception, in different shapes and sizes, including a grand white one. This cake has round layers, pink icing, and white sugar tulips.

Giant diamonds, chiseled by ice sculptor Shintaro Okamoto in honor of this event's venue, Tiffany's, are set on a massive carved-ice bar. Frozen coolers hold Champagne; rose petals and strawberry slices rest in square dishes of clear acrylic.

Ceci New York created these custom-designed, letterpress wedding invitations, which echo the bird and branch elements at Carter and Fred's formal wedding. A laser-cut sleeve reminiscent of a birdcage slips over each invitation, and the door can be opened to see the orange bird on the band underneath. On the outer envelope is a custom postage stamp with the same bird illustration.

Jim Smeal created this custom confection, with gray branches piped onto each tier and orange-berried twigs and birds nested atop the cake. The tiers alternate between carrot cake and coconut cake.

Martha Stewart Weddings editorial director Darcy Miller's bouquet is lily-of-the-valley laced with sprays of crystal rhinestones and cuffed with gardenias.

Elizabeth and Barton exchange vows as the bridal party looks on. The flower girls join the bridesmaids, who wear formal, strapless, floor-length gowns by Amsale in the bride's favorite color, Tiffany blue.

Guests at this wedding will find their names and table assignments on calligraphed die-cut birds tied to branches.

Cookies from Eleni's rest beside cappuccinos and napkins embossed with calligraphy by John DeCollibus.

Engraving and calligraphy embellish the wedding paper for Darcy and Andy's wedding. The invitation, program, and menu are all the same size, lending a sense of unity to the stationery, and the extravagant calligraphy makes them attractive mementos. The bride and groom had a monogram designed for the occasion; the matchbooks bear a smaller version. Thoughtful details grace each piece: The invitation beckons with lyrics from the couple's song, and the wedding program itself concludes with a dedication to the grandparents of the bride and groom.

Five show cakes designed by K. Rose Cakes sit on an English tea table for display during the reception at Devon and Dan's upscale wedding. Seven-layer Smith Island Cakes (Maryland's "state cake") from Classic Cakes Bakery were flown to Charlottesville for guests to enjoy.

Hundreds of roses in cream, pink, and coral are arranged in floral-foam cones to form topiaries and then set in silver vessels; handcrafted silk flowers are placed among the arrangements. The tables shine in pale-pink linens topped with golden runners. Table design by florist Matthew Robbins.

Escorted by her father, Liezel enters Saint Josaphat Church. Her cathedral-length veil of handmade scalloped lace belonged to her mother.

A string quartet plays classical music before and during this ceremony.

These linens were custom-made from blue taffeta with eyelet fabric bands around the bottom. Place settings include eyelet dishes, chosen to match the fabric and modern arrangements of white fuji mums, sweet peas, and gardenias.

On a table just inside the entrance are small tokens that bride and groom Darcy and Andy have provided for each guest to take before proceeding to the ceremony: Linen handkerchiefs for "les femmes" and stephanotis-and-bay-leaf boutonnieres for "les hommes" are set out on boards covered in silk and edged in taupe ribbon.

The dinner tent for Carter and Fred's reception is set up on a sea-grass carpet and punctuated by cream textured linens and gray and cream Ikat runners. Napkins are tied with orange and white ribbon with printed menus tucked into each napkin. Guests begin their dinner with a special salad created from the bride's family recipe. They also dine on quail breast stuffed with grilled harvest apples, calvados sauce, and fresh chives, served with grits and sauteed haricots verts. The meal is perfect for a fall evening.

Bride and groom Liezel and Christopher use petite handmade coral and aqua quotation books as seating cards. The couple compiled favorite sayings about life and love and bound them in card-stock covers with thin brown satin ribbon.

Table cards, calligraphed with the names of guests and their table numbers, are laid out at the entrance to Darcy and Andy's reception.

Bride and groom Carter and Fred drive off in a vintage Rolls-Royce from A Star Limousine to start their honeymoon in Mexico. The custom sign was created by The Lettered Olive.

Navy taffeta window treatments with contrasting pink edging match this wedding's palette of blue and pink. Pale-blush pin-tucked satin linens cover each table. Dendrobium orchids, cafe au lait dahlias, pink French tulips, and blush Akito roses sit high above the tables' centers.

Each guest receives a silver bell tied with ribbon and tucked into a suede bag to ring during the recessional at Jessica and Cody's New York City wedding.

Custom-made wedding breads, gifts for bride and groom Darcy and Andy by Poilane, a favorite Parisian bakery.

In keeping with their theme of vintage glamour, newlyweds Melissa and Sam depart from their reception in a rented 1950s Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud. Gold ribbon draped across the hood and tied to the hood ornament suspends a wreath of garden roses and their tiny buds in shades of pink, peach, and cream. The bride and groom were surprised to discover that the car's leather interior was aqua blue, a color prominent throughout their wedding.

Bridesmaids at Liezel and Christopher's Chicago wedding wear silk mikado gowns with matching wraps by Blue and carry bouquets with large, pink peonies.

Bride and groom Carter and Fred create a separate tent for dancing, decorated in more vibrant and bold colors. A large, white bar is set up in front of orange shelving filled with stemware and candles. Additional lounge areas, with Ikat pillows and black lacquered tables topped with candles in mercury-glass votives, border the dance floor.

Tables at Anne and David's reception are set with arrangements of hydrangeas and roses in varying combinations of green and white, pink, or lavender. Supper-club lamps add old-fashioned flair, as do the dance cards at each woman's place. Inside, men write their names by the songs they wish to claim for dances.

Parcels full of old-fashioned candies are set at each place at Melissa and Sam's wedding. The striped paper liner is sealed with a personalized sticker, and the guest's name is calligraphed on a menu bound to the favor with gold cord.

At Liezel and Christopher's wedding, coral and aqua silk brocade fabrics cover the ceremony programs, which are tied closed with brown satin ribbon.

Individual-size wedding cakes are gifts for each couple at Darcy and Andy's wedding at the Four Seasons.

This six-tier cake, covered with buttercream, is filled with fresh-blueberry and white-chocolate buttercream filling.

For this "Today Show" wedding, Jessica and Cody's reception is held at the hub of glamour and romance in New York City -- Tiffany and Co. Waiters pass rose Champagne to guests as they enter.

The bride's mother made pouches to hang on each seat at this ceremony; inside, a calligraphed program and tissues with a note attached that reads "Tears of Love, Tears of Laughter, Tears of Happily Ever After."

Letterpress menu cards, bound to napkins with gold cording, also serve as place cards, with each guest's name calligraphed across the top, at Liezel and Christopher's wedding.

Welcome bags are given to Carter and Fred's guests, filled with a visitors' guide, a current issue of a local magazine, homemade rosemary-roasted cashews, cheddar-pecan biscuits in custom glassine pouches, and a booklet created by The Lettered Olive that details the events of the weekend, a transportation schedule, and the bride and groom's favorite sights to see around town.

Melissa and Sam's invitations are embossed with a gold monogram. Reproductions of stamps from the 1800s, ordered from the U.S. Postal Service, are used on the envelopes.

Bridesmaids in floor-length, pink silk Vera Wang dresses and a flower girl in a Zoe dress hold sweet peas. Peonies and sweet peas form the bride's bouquet.

Perfect Endings made the coconut-buttercream cake for Christina and Alexander's wedding. It is embellished with a vintage topper Christina found on eBay.

Dinner at Darcy and Andy's New York wedding concludes with a fantasy buffet of candies, cookies, cakes, and other treats, set up in the Grill Room of the Four Seasons for guests to enjoy between dances. Meringues, dark-chocolate truffles, petits fours, M&Ms candies in special colors, and miniature brownies are just some of the treats. A towering croquembouche and a decorative topiary of macaroons provides counterpoints to the height of the majestic wedding cake.

Paperweights decoupaged with roses anchor a parchment-color paper scroll for family and friends to sign, and a vintage ribbon fastens it closed. Above it, snowberries and garden roses are arranged in an antique blue-enamel loving cup.

Letterpress moons and stars adorn the wedding stationery for Anne and David's wedding. Audrey Hepburn stamps add Hollywood charm to the envelopes.

Bride Carter brought in a beloved Tony Duquette book to help inspire the decor for this wedding. In the book is a photograph of a bird cage with a table for two nestled inside. With the bird theme already in play, Tara Guerard Soiree installed a large atrium with removable glass windows to house the wedding party's table -- a play on the photo in the book.

Bride and groom Christina and Alexander leave their ceremony in a 1955 Ford convertible.

Sweet treats -- monogrammed chocolates, marzipan candies, even chocolate cake toppers -- are found around the reception venue at Darcy and Andy's wedding throughout the night.

Ring bearers Cole Helgeson (at left) and Aiden Hurley, nephews of the groom and bride, respectively, sport Marie Chantal short suits with knee socks.

About halfway through the reception, Devon changes out of her ball gown into a lighter frock by Lela Rose, which she found at Hitched Salon.

The meeting room in the Old State House in Hartford, Connecticut used for the ceremony was decorated with a blue and white hand-painted aisle runner featuring graphic motifs inspired by Spode porcelain pieces that played such a big part in the wedding of Allison and Jacob.