The 1940's could be split down the middle as far as wedding trends go, the first half of the decade during World War II and the second half during the boom that came after. Wartime brides often had to throw together weddings in just a few days to accommodate their grooms coming home on leave or being sent overseas.
Because everything was rationed during the war, often wedding items were donated by friends and family or pulled double duty. Brides would be married in their nicest outfit, often a suit dress, not having time to order in or make a new dress for themselves. Flowers for bouquets and decoration were donated from relative's gardens and flour, sugar, eggs, milk, and butter rations were donated to help bake a celebration cake. Bridesmaids would wear their nicest outfits, leading the way for the mix-matched bridesmaids look that many brides opt for today!
You could also say that the 1940'd helped shape the modern groom; military grooms began wearing their dress uniforms- a tradition that carries on to this day. The 40's also brought us the men's wedding ring, men who were shipped overseas wanted a simple reminder of their wives back home and began wearing gold bands to show that they were married.
After the war, when the boys came home there was a boom of engagements and weddings. Married veterans of the war were given subsidized housing in "developments" (known today as sub-divisions), causing hundreds of weddings in the year after the war ended. Brides had a little more time to style their weddings, but were still frugal with their spending. Wedding dresses were often simple and made so that with a few alterations the dress could be worn again. Veils were replaced with stylish hats and worn with the era's traditional "victory rolls" in the bride's hair. 
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