Table linens are textured (as in touch-me brocade) and luxurious, pooling at the corners. Candelabras and candles set off this look to perfection.

Some brides will work striking black embroidery into the bodices of their gown — which is sometimes mirrored in the cake design.

And brides who love the black and white theme but want a softer version might accent with pale shades of pink.

And for the cake: oversized black dots on a stark white foundation, or the simplest and most architectural cake imaginable banded with black satin ribbons.

This fluff-free look is even hotter when paired with today's super-saturated colors, such as lime green, coral, fuchsia or tiffany blue.

Not only does the black-and-white look appeal mightily to couples seeking to bypass frills and butterflies, for some, it has appealing interracial undertones that support the meaning of their marriage in more than just a visual way.

Plus, this is one of the few themes that doesn't forget about the men. It's all about the tux with black and white, and this gender-neutral look tends to lead to favors, centerpieces, invitations and more that appeal to men and women alike.

On the whole, though — whether you go Old Hollywood or Up-to-the-Minute — the black-and-white look is a formal one, lending itself to evening weddings and black tie/white tie attire. So leave the kids at home, because this is a night for the grown-ups to shine in tuxes, cocktail dresses and full-length gowns.

*this gorgeous cake by CakesByDarleen