Free Wedding Cake Giveaway!

  I have another wonderful giveaway to tell you about. Colorado brides getting married this year can enter for a chance to win a free wedding cake!  I’ve worked with Kelley before, and her work is amazing (and yummy!) Check out her blog for all the details, good luck!!

 

The Wonder of Etsy

   If you haven’t been exploring through the thousands of wonderful products at Esty, you are truly missing out. This site is a great resource for buying handmade products for your wedding, or getting ideas if you want to try your hand at re-creating them yourself. From veils and favors, to cufflinks and lawn signs, the ideas and choices are nearly endless. And if you don’t find exactly what you are envisioning, you can create a request for what you want and receive bids from sellers. Here are some things I found looking through today:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giveaway!

  The wonderful owner of Paper Platypus is giving away some of her wonderful paper flowers. Check out her blog to enter for the chance to win $50, $150, or $300 worth of her gorgeous products! 

Elegant Backyard Wedding

   I know when most people hear backyard wedding, it isn’t normally coupled with elegant (especially if your backyard looks anything like mine!). But it can be a wonderful idea that can save you big bucks in the end. I have never planned a backyard wedding before, but my brother is talking about pulling one off for his wedding. I stumbled upon this site that is full of wonderful ideas and cute DIY creations for an elegant backyard wedding.

    Here are some photos of their wedding:

 

 

Weddings in the Rain

   Don’t let the rain dampen your spirits on your wedding day. Instead, grab an umbrella, kick off your heels, and take advantage of a wonderful photo opportunity. Plus, rain on your wedding day is considered good luck. It originated from several cultures, mainly from the Hindu, with the idea that a wet knot is harder to untie–since marriage is often referred to as tying the knot. Rain was also a symbol of fertility to agricultural societies, since rain restored and maintained the wellness of crops. Crops were people’s main source of stability and income, so it was thought to guarantee a long and happy marriage!

 

Photo Session Giveaway!

Megan Hardre is giving away an hour photo shoot to one lucky family/couple. Here is the info on her blog. Become a friend on facebook, and send an invitation to a friend or two, and you’re eligible for the drawing. Free photos, yay!!

Wedding Invitations

   As some of you may know, I also have a wedding invitation business. Since my website is lacking according to my standards, I have found a partial solution: an invitation blog. Check it out!!

   I love creating custom invitations, share your vision with me, and I’ll create something unique and personal that you’ll love. Also, as a special bonus: if you book your wedding with me, I’ll give you 10% off your invitations!

Wedding Trends of 2010

   I was reading through an article that boasted the wedding trends of 2010, or at least the projected trends of 2010 based on what was hot at the time. I love seeing things new things becoming more prevalent and other “traditions” disappearing. Let’s examine what “trends” are hot this year:

1. Retro-Chic Weddings - I love this, it is a perfect solution for the couple that doesn’t want an over done romantic theme. Using inspiration from the 40s and 50s can create a classy and lovely atmosphere while keeping the tone light. Vibrant colors, tea-length dresses, malt and soda bars, birdcage veils, big bands, and classic cars–who wouldn’t have a blast?   

2. Dinner-Focused Receptions - Unlike the first trend, this one seems a little skewed to me. While buffet and hor’ dourve receptions had been popular recently, what seems to be influencing that, in my opinion, is economy. When faced with cutting budgets, serving a buffet or hor’ dourves is a wonderful idea without compromising on quality. I see this as a sneaky ploy of the wedding business to convince couples that only a sit-down dinner is “trendy.” Don’t fall for it!!

3. Innovative Ceremony Set-ups - I’m not too crazy about some of the ideas in this “trend.” While having your guests lounging for a party (envision plush carpets and low couches with numerous pillows in plum, emerald, and cerise) is a wonderful idea, I can’t wrap my mind around it for a wedding ceremony. Perhaps I need to be liberated?

4. Shorter, Tea-Length Dresses - For the summer wedding, this is a wonderful look, for both brides and bridesmaids. This goes along with the retro wedding theme perfectly, but can also go with other themes. Even if you want a more traditional ceremony, having a second short gown is a lovely idea for a more casual reception. Also, having your bridesmaids in tea-length dresses while staying in a floor-length gown works together as well.

5. Classic White Wedding Cakes - I’m not sure about this one, personally I love the classic white, but I don’t know about the general public. I’m also a huge fan of a butter cream frosted cake, because the taste is as important as the look in my book. I would love to see this trend come about, it reeks of simple elegance.

 

6. Textual Flower Arrangements- Instead of tall centerpieces filled with lilies and tree branches, low arrangements with a lot of texture are supposedly the next thing. I love it when brides use several different heights in centerpieces and non-traditional elements. I also love the economical use of using tree branches, and would like to see it stick around.

 

7. Turn Table DJs/Speciality Music- I think this is also a budget buster in today’s economy, but a nice touch if you choose to do so. Having a DJ mix for your wedding can be a little plus, but will the guests (or you) remember such a detail? However, having a live band can often get a non-dancing crowd out of their chairs, and I am very favorable of this personal touch.

8. Souped-up Photo Booths- I love the idea of letting your guests take home a photo to remember the occasion, this is an even better! Using props, you don’t even need to pay for a photo booth, instead make one yourself and have your photographer take the shots for you during the reception when there aren’t many photos to capture.

9. Themed Engagement Photo Shoots- I am in love with engagement and trash the dress photo sessions. Especially for those of you who had less than desirable wedding pictures, this is a great solution (and a wonderful excuse to get back in your wedding dress and get dolled up!). Being creative is the key, plus having a wonderful backdrop can create a wonderful picture. On a carousel, next to a unique work of outdoor art, in the middle of a bridge are great backdrops. Adding some props can make the theme coherent.

10. Wedding Videos- I never even thought about having a video made of my wedding, just because it was not important to me. It is really amazing what a good videographer can create out of wedding video, something quite different than the videos of the 80s and 90s. I’m still not excited about such a trend (mainly because I am not involved in the process), but if done correctly, it can be a wonderful keepsake.

 

Wedding Party Attire

   Not only does the bride and groom have to decide on attire for themselves, it is very common for them to choose what the wedding party wears as well. Deciding upon attire that suits your friends and family can be quite tricky and sometimes stressful. Thankfully the trend of having your bridesmaids in perfectly matching dresses in odd colors (that normally remain in closets years after the event without seeing the light of day) has been disappearing. Realizing that not everyone looks good in a strap-less chenille gown in turquoise is a huge relief to me, and bridesmaids everywhere.

   Picking a color scheme and working within that parameter can still create a cohesive and attractive “line-up” of the wedding party. For example, in my wedding I didn’t want to have my bridesmaids heft out large chunks of their savings to buy a dress at the over-priced bridal salons that they wouldn’t normally buy, just to wear once at my wedding. Instead, I told them they could buy a dress anywhere as long as it was black, floor-length, and didn’t have any embellishments on it. I created floor-length sashes in purple that were tied on each dress to creat a cohesiveness. The same purple sashes were used on my, and around the base of our bouquets.

   There are a few things that must coordinate when choosing bridesmaids dresses, or the look will be wrong. Choose a length: tea- or floor-length, and stick with it for all of your bridesmaids (your dress is the one exception). The colors need to go well together, each bridesmaid can have a separate color, but they all must remain in the same color family (pastels, jewel-toned, brights, etc). Don’t feel excluded by solid colors, patterns can add a much needed element to a look, but don’t go overboard. Don’t go with different patterns or they might clash, and only use small patterns as an accessory (sash, trim, clutch, etc) or the effect will be too busy. Let the bridesmaids pick a style that flatters their figures, because more than likely, they won’t all have the same body types. By allowing them to wear a dress they love, they will be happier and hopefully get some more use out of the dress…and perhaps when it’s their time to be the bride, they will reciprocate for your attire.

   Groomsmen seem a bit easier to dress, thank goodness. If your bridesmaids are in floor-length gowns, go for a more formal look. This doesn’t mean they have to be in tuxes–suits would work wonderfully as well. If the bridesmaids are wearing tea-length gowns, try to lean more casual (not jeans and a t-shirt). Khakis are a great look with a button down shirt and tie. Even suits without jackets would be more casual if you wanted a darker pant, or a navy jacket with khaki pants is classic. I am in love with a patterened sweater vest for the guys over a light shirt and bright tie for a splash of color. Of course, you can’t go wrong with black tuxes!

    Flower girls are my favorite of the wedding party to dress up. Don’t limit yourself to looking in bridal salons, check out department stores and consignment stores for great finds on Easter and church dresses. My daughters are going to be in a wedding this spring, and I just bought them dresses. I wasn’t even looking for dresses, but saw them hanging in a children’s consignment shop on a 50% off rack. They are absolutely adorable–not to mention they still had the original tags on them, and I snagged them for $27. Just remember, kids are expensive to take care of, so cut the parents’ of your flower girl some slack and let them buy a cheaper alternative to the mini-replica of your dress (she most likely will only fit into it for a few months, anyway). Attire for ring bearers should go along with your groomsmen, and you can also find such clothing in department stores and consignment shops for much more affordable prices.

    Let your maid of honor and best man stand out. You can have them in a darker shade of the one you have chosen for the remaining bridesmaids and groomsmen, or even an entirely different coordinating color. If you incorporate patterns into the attire, the bridesmaids can have solid dresses with patterned sashes, while your maid of honor has a patterned dress and solid sash. You can even bring patterns into the guys attire with pinstripes,  patterned ties or even shirts. Whatever you decide for your wedding party, make sure everyone looks and feels amazing!

 

Book Your Wedding Now

   I’m having a Winter Sale until the end of March, book before then and I will knock off 10% of the package price. Don’t wait too long, 2010 is starting to book up! Email me to get more information, I’d love to help coordinate your wedding!!