Your season doesn't have to dictate your scheme

When you think of a spring wedding, delicate, soft pastels might come to mind. A winter wedding might conjure up images of pristine whites, muted blues, and silver accents. A summer soiree might be inspired by fruity cocktails, brightly colored popsicles, and bright, lush greens. If a fall wedding is more your thing, a palette of deep browns, rusty reds, and shades of marigold and burnt orange might be the scheme.

But wait! The story doesn't have to end there.

Who says your wedding has to match the season you’re getting married in? After all, you are the boss lady in this scenario and you’ve earned it, you’ve been planning since you were a little girl! After countless years of imagining your perfect wedding, you shouldn’t let anyone, anything, or any time of year alter your image of your dream wedding. There’s no problem with having nudes and muted colors in the summer instead of bright fluorescents. In fact, a muted color palette is the perfect juxtaposition to the hot, steamy days of summer. We love it with bundles of white, fluffy flowers, sparkling twinkle lights, and rich, luxurious fabrics paired with crisp, white linens.

We especially LOVE the variety of bridesmaid dresses pictured here....such a fresh, fabulous take on bridesmaid fashion!

image via the wedding hunter

We love this for spring, summer, winter, OR fall. It just feels so fresh and clean...it reminds you of a warm summer day as the fall is in full swing, or can be worked for a classic winter wonderland wedding. We also love it for spring...the gray and white color palette is reminiscent of winter, but is so fresh that it feels like a new beginning.

image via style me pretty

We love this peacock inspired wedding for winter! The rich colors and textures are perfect for the crisp, clean feel of winter....and will help brighten a dreary winter day!

image via the perfect palette

The most important thing to remember is that it is YOUR wedding, and you can have whatever colors YOU want. Have fun with it, and don't feel like you have to be "traditional" in your selection of decor.

DIY Branch Centerpieces

It doesn’t take long to realize just how expensive weddings can be. $1200 for INVITATIONS? They’re paper! $200 a centerpiece? Who wants to spend that for something you use for a few hours? After the initial panic sets in, you may find yourself trying to figure out how to have the wedding of your dreams without going bankrupt. How can you have a fabulous centerpiece without breaking the bank? DIY, of course!

When I decided to start my own event planning company, I knew the best way to get the word out was to host a launch party with a friend who had recently opened a bakery (shameless plug...you MUST check out Select Confections...to die for! www.selectconfections.com). We were both new business owners, and on a VERY tight budget. We tried to save money wherever we could. I had to get creative to come up with a centerpiece that was glamorous and CHEAP. I had seen beautiful centerpieces using manzanita branches dripping with crystals, but those were way out of my budget.

I did a little nature hike (ok I walked to my backyard) and started collecting branches. I spray-painted them black, let them dry, then hit them with a healthy dose of spray adhesive, and coated them with Martha Stewarts black onyx glitter. Once these humdrum sticks were dry and transformed into glamorous pieces of magic, I stuck them into a piece of floral foam that I had cut to fit into the bottom of a 20” cylinder vase. Obviously floral foam is hideous, so I had to cover it up. I used black sand from Michaels to fill the bottom of the vase, and topped it off with black glitter for added sparkle. I’m a firm believer that you can never have too much shimmer, sparkle, or shine, so I tossed some clear gems in the vase.

Now that I had the branches firmly anchored in the vase, it was time for more sparkle. I couldn’t afford beautiful strands of crystals to hang from the branches, so I had to improvise. I found clear acrylic gems at Michaels for $3.99 a bag, and they had holes in them that I could string black wire from. I wrapped these around the branches in random places, and the impact was fantastic. The picture doesn’t do it justice...when the candlelight hit the centerpieces, they sparkled and shimmered and looked absolutely gorgeous, if I do say so myself!

I had a lot of the supplies on hand (the vases, which I had used for another event, were the most expensive part!), but if I had to guess I would say it cost about $30 a centerpiece, including the vases. You can get spray paint for $0.99 a can, and you could always try skipping the spray adhesive and just glittering the freshly spray painted branch. Also, Martha Stewart glitter is the couture of glitter, so you could always do silver or white glitter from the dollar store (which would look best if you used silver or white spray paint).

the finished project

Hold Your Breath, Stupid Baby.

I hate baby’s breath. I EFFING HATE BABY’S BREATH. I cannot think of a more disgusting, vile example of flora than that obnoxious little breath of baby. Everytime I’m in the grocery store and I pass by the floral department, my skin literally crawls when I see a bouquet of red roses with little sprigs of baby’s breath. And the ferns. DO NOT GET ME STARTED ON THE FERNS.

WHO thought that this was a good look? Who deemed it necessary to add ugly little fillers into bouquets of otherwise flawless roses? What 1977 prom queen decided it should be worn on the wrist as a high school rite of passage?! And Brides, do not try and make it modern and chic by mixing it with calla lily’s. Not. Gonna. FLY.

Do you know how you can tell if a guy is a keeper? If he gets you a flower arrangement that does not contain BABY’S BREATH. Or ferns. Stupid ferns.

Any of my closest friends can attest to my unwavering (irrational?) hatred of baby’s breath.

HOWEVER.

There is an exception.

Baby’s breath done right can be so, so right. SO RIGHT. This means the baby must breathe alone. No other flowers. Just the simplicity of it standing alone is what makes it work. An added bonus? Babys breath is cheap. DIRT CHEAP. You can make a great impact with it for little cost...perfect for the bride on a budget!

Of course, it must suit the occasion. Personally, I think doing a super glam chic wedding with massive bouquets of baby’s breath can be breathtaking (I know, I know...I’m so punny!) It looks like a beautiful, fluffy white cloud, and is especially fabulous in tall arrangements. I like this on long, rectangular tables, with small, low arrangements and candles interspersed with the tall arrangements. I just love something that keeps the eye moving.

Love it in the aisle!

Baby’s breath can also work for a shabby-chic or rustic wedding....clustered in bud vases or mason jars, or intertwined with burlap, the baby’s breath is simple and perfect.

My all time favorite use of babys breath? (ok “all time favorite” is a bit of a stretch-but my favorite if it’s a life or death choice. I digress)

Submerged. I am such a fan of submerged blooms. It makes such a fabulous impact, and you only need a few flowers to do it! Yet again....another great way to save those dollars! (And put them towards something useful. Like Christian Louboutin bridal shoes) And submerging baby’s breath is practically FREE!

So, in conclusion....today we have learned that you don’t EVER use baby’s breath (or ferns) as filler, unless it is for a hugely tacky wreath for Great-Aunt Myrtle’s funeral.

Spice up that seating

Hello Bridal Beauties!

Once upon a time, most weddings took place in the sacred space of a church. Guests were seated in pews where they patiently awaited the mesmerizing moment when the stunning bride makes her entrance. However, like many other aspects of current weddings, things have drastically changed. As you may know, weddings can take place virtually anywhere. Some choose to be wed on a sandy beach of an exotic location, while others choose a more intimate setting like in their very own backyard. Others prefer parks, lavish hotels and restaurants, or even on the rooftop of a building at night as the city lights sparkle below. No matter the setting you choose, there are several ways to spice up the seating arrangement for your guests. Not only allowing each guest a clear view of the bride and groom as they say their “I do’s”, but also creating a visually pleasing atmosphere.

First, there is the spiral seating arrangement which is great for a large backyard, park place, or other outdoor wedding. You are truly the center of attention, where all guests are given a great view of you and your other half while you exchange vows. And how amazing does this look in pictures?!

Another option is the round seating arrangement creating an especially intimate setting for not only the guests but the bride and groom as well. Like the sprial seating arrangement, the bride and groom are quite literally surrounded by those that love them the most!

Another rather unique and creative idea for a seating option is turning these simple stacks of hay into your guests seats for the ceremony. Different colors and patterns of cloth cover light padding that was placed underneath the hay stack. Then to add a pop of flare and elegance, beautiful wildflowers were inserted on the side. This would be absolute perfection for a shabby chic or rustic glam wedding in a natural setting.

There are so many ways to get creative with your guests seating arrangements...the possibilities are endless so don’t be afraid to try something new and daring that your guests will always remember!

Favors: Keep it classy, not cheesy!

Wedding favors are great way for the bride and groom to show their appreciation for the guests that attended and supported the union of the lovely new husband and wife. However, guests often find themselves feeling less than thrilled with the small token of appreciation that in some cases is known as the cheesy wedding favor.

Ladies, if you thought your grandmother, single friend, and little cousins wanted a matchbook, mixed CD, and/or shot glass with your name on it, you are simply mistaken. Not to mention, you may run the risk of appearing cheap and chintzy (and this is never an option for someone as fabulous as you)

Don’t fear brides and grooms, there are plenty of ways to come up with wedding favors that are classy while still being affordable. Let’s also not forget the primary point of this particular blog is to realize that there are many options of providing favors that your guests will actually ENJOY! I should take a moment to point out that while favors can be great...if you are on a tight budget, it is one item that you can cut out completely and people won’t really notice.

That being said, let’s begin with things that everyone loves to receive...food or drinks! Guests love having something they can nibble on while they are on the way home from your wedding, and EVERYONE loves to get a personalized bottle of wine or champagne. You can do a candy bar so guests can fill containers with the goodies of their choice, a cookie in the shape or color of something that reflects you or your wedding theme, or a snack that is special to the town or region you are in.

Here's a candy bar I set up for Courtney & Robb's fuchsia and navy wedding

People love things that they can use. They just don’t want your name and wedding date all over it. How about a wine bottle stopper? There are SO many out there that you can get one that compliments the feel and theme of your wedding. I also love the idea of giving a pretty vase with a single bloom in it. Or if you have a green/eco-friendly wedding...what about a package of seeds or bulbs for your guests to plant? If you have a charity that you love to support, a card at each place setting letting your guests know that a donation was made in their honor is a great way to do something nice and make people feel good.

I adore this burlap covered bud vase from etsy!

This fabulous stopper is less than $3 each!

Don’t forget that presentation is essential when it comes to keeping it classy with your wedding favors. The key to making a simple favor elegant and memorable lies in the presentation, so be creative. Whether you plan to bag or box your favors choose fabrics, colors, and textures that go along with your wedding theme. I love love love bags & bows...they have such a great assortment of pretty things to wrap your favors in!

To clone or not to clone?

This post was originally a guest post I did for the FABULOUS Capitol Romance Blog. Now check it out here!

Is there anything worse than a bride surrounded by clone bridesmaids?

I honestly can’t stand seeing a wedding party where the bridesmaids are in the exact same dress, shoes, jewelry, and hairstyle. Not only does it look ridiculous to match everything perfectly, it’s unrealistic. Unless your bridesmaids actually ARE clones, not all of them are going to look their best in the exact same style dress. We’ve all seen the variation on picking a color and fabric and having every girl pick a different style dress, but that’s old news. That’s been done, and it’s boring.

If there is anything that will make your wedding day fresh and fashion forward, it is mixing and matching styles, colors, and patterns to create a look that is both visually appealing and cohesive. Enter the patterned bridesmaid dress. I love the idea of using a patterned dress to make a statement. Whether you choose floral, stripes, or polka dots, putting one or two bridesmaids, or the whole group in something other than a solid satin will set your wedding apart from the norm.

A few of my favorite bridesmaid looks:

Love this orange/turquoise/chocolate combo. So fresh and fun!

I love the muted tones of this one. I like how the lace is a subtle use of pattern in the dresses, and is perfect for the bride who wants something different, but not overpowering

I love this eclectic mix of patterns...talk about a look that’s so different, but comes together perfectly!

Love this pattern...yes, they’re all in the same dress, but the fact that it’s a pattern and not a solid makes it fresh!

Love the purple floral paired with a solid purple. This would be so great for a fall wedding!

Same pattern, different styles!

If patterns aren’t your thing, consider dresses in different shades of a color. I love the look of this wedding with bridesmaids in shades of aqua, turquoise, and blue