Elegant Wedding Tent Decor

Outdoor weddings are incredibly popular. If you are planning to have a tent over your reception area, you will have some special design challenges. How do you go about transforming a plain white tent into an elegant and unforgettable reception?

The trends for decorating an outdoor wedding are similar to what brides are doing for inside receptions. At a tented wedding, you may find more natural elements being used, but the basic framework is still going to be the same. You want your tent décor to fit in with your overall style. If you are having a very classic ceremony and the bride is wearing a traditional gown with custom pearl bridal jewelry, then you want that timeless feeling to carry through into your reception décor.

The hottest trend for weddings inside or outside is to hang decorations from the ceiling. Often this is in the form of a chandelier. You can rent one massive crystal chandelier for the center of the tent if your reception is going to be very formal, or have smaller feminine chandeliers suspended over each table. This is an interesting flip on the idea of bringing the outside to an inside venue. In this case, you are making your reception more elegant by bringing an indoor element, such as a chandelier, to an outdoor space, the tent. It will certainly be a surprising element that your guests will notice right away.

When you are trying to make a plain white tent appear more elegant, it is important to cover up the utilitarian parts of it, such as posts and other supports. There are many beautiful ways to do this. One idea is to drape lengths of fabric from the ceiling of the tent. If you choose a soft color like peach or rose, it will also cast a very flattering glow onto the skin of everyone present. Fabric can also be used to hide vertical supports in a tent.

A tented wedding can have a magic all of its own. You have the ability to transform your wedding reception into a place that brings your vision to life. When you take the time to consider the tent decorations, the result will be a gorgeous space to dine and dance the night away.

Rehearsal Dinner FAQs

When Is It Held? Usually the rehearsal dinner is held shortly after the wedding rehearsal on the day before the wedding itself. Sometimes one event flows directly into the other, although there may also be a lapse of a couple of hours in between. The time of day is important, as well. Ideally, you want to have your rehearsal dinner end fairly early, so that the bride and groom can get plenty of rest for their big day.

Who Should Be Invited? The key players in the rehearsal dinner are the bride and groom, their wedding party, the parents of the bride and groom (in any form or number!), and the officiant and his or her spouse. It is often common to add extended family and out-of-town guests to the list of invitees, as well.

Who Pays For It? The traditional answer was the parents of the groom, and this is still often the case. However, in many families, the old rules about who pays for what at a wedding are no longer strictly observed (which is usually a relief for the bride’s parents, who had to foot the bill for most of the wedding costs).

How Formal Should It Be? The formality of the rehearsal dinner in no way needs to match the level of formality of the wedding. You could be having a very grand black tie wedding with all of your guests in tuxedos, gowns, and their best wedding jewelry. That does not mean that your rehearsal dinner the day before the wedding can’t be a clam bake on the beach. In fact, a more relaxed atmosphere can be ideal for letting both sides of the family get to know one another better before the wedding.

Tangerine and Lime For Spring Weddings

“Tangerine and lime?”, you may be thinking, “do those even go together?”. Aah, but they do. Imagine the look of a bowl of fresh citrus fruit, and you will see how well these two contrasting colors in fact complement one another. They will add a modern and exuberant feel to any spring or summer wedding.

You can use tangerine and lime together in so many aspects of your wedding. An ideal way to tie them together is to choose prints or designs that feature both colors. Stripes and polka dots are in keeping with the lighthearted feeling of bright citrus colors. You can also go more sophisticated with a chic scroll pattern in lime and tangerine. Round out your color palette with a crisp white.

When you are using a consistent color duo throughout your wedding, you can even get away with mixing and matching different prints and patterns. For instance, why not use lime and tangerine scroll patterned napkins over a tablecloth striped with tangerine, lime, and white? The effect will be eclectic, to be sure, but in a really cool way. If you are going out on a limb by choosing a non-traditional color palette, you can allow yourself the freedom to go a little crazy and have fun with your design.

Lime and tangerine can also be great for your bridesmaid dresses. To keep the look soft when using such strong colors, choose sheer fabrics like organza or chiffon. For an outdoor wedding, a tangerine colored tea length dress would look fantastic when tied with a lime sash at the waist, almost like a refreshing citrus drink on a warm day.

To complete the effect, you can have bridesmaid jewelry custom made in your wedding colors. A sprinkling of lime and tangerine Swarovksi crystals will add just the right amount of color to strands of pearl bridesmaid jewelry. Once you get going, you will discover that the fresh and modern color combination can add style to all of the elements of your wedding.

Unity Candles and More

A unity candle is a beautiful addition to a wedding ceremony. The bride and groom each have one small taper candle that they use to light the flame of a larger pillar candle. It symbolizes the union of the two individuals into one, and can also represent the blending of two families.

There are plenty of alternatives to the unity candle, if you are looking for a different ritual with the same type of symbolism. One very pretty option is the sand ritual. The bride and groom will each have a container of colored sand. At some point during the ceremony, the couple will pour their sand into a larger vessel, mixing the two colors of sand as they are combining their lives.

Another custom to consider is to use rope or ribbon that is interwoven and knotted together. The hands of the bride and groom are tied together in a ceremony that is known as handfasting. This is an ancient Celtic tradition, so it would be a nice addition to the wedding service of a couple with Irish or Scottish heritage. Handfasting today is also often used in pagan wedding ceremonies, particularly when the service will be held outside.

When the marriage of the bride and groom will also mean the union of step-children into a blended family, it is a very nice idea to have a portion of the ceremony that involves the children as well as the newlyweds. One of the more popular rituals involves presenting gifts of wedding jewelry from the new step-parent to the child. The wedding jewelry gifts are often pieces with a symbolic design, such as a Celtic knot, or a sentimental piece like a locket with a portrait of the new blended family inside.

These are just a few of the unity rituals that you can include in your wedding. Most cultures will have their own customs, so take the time to look into the traditional rites of your own heritage. If none of the traditional rituals feel just right for your wedding ceremony, feel free to invent your own ritual to commemorate your union as husband and wife.

Surprise Bridal Showers

Bridal showers are always a lot of fun. The close friends and relatives of the bride all get together to celebrate her upcoming nuptials and give her presents – what could be better? For a really terrific bridal shower, consider throwing a surprise shower.

Since the element of surprise is what makes a surprise bridal shower so much fun, the key is to make sure that no one blows the secret. The invitations should make it very clear that the party is a surprise, and have very explicit instructions about things like when to arrive and where to park so that the bride doesn’t see all of her family’s cars and guess what is happening.

As for the party itself, it will be the most enjoyable if you try to make it fit the style of the bride. If she is a funloving sort, why not try a great theme like a Hawaiian luau? This makes an especially good idea for a co-ed party. A very girly-girl will love a pink themed party, whereas a bride who loves vintage would be delighted by a Victorian tea party.

There are lots of great gifts that you can give the bride. The hostess might consider gifts that are of a more personal nature, like wedding jewelry. If you know that the bride has been eyeing a particular set of wedding jewelry, it surely be one of her favorite gifts of the day. Other great ideas include monogrammed items for the home, or a beautiful picture frame to hold a wedding picture.

Lastly, don’t forget some nifty favors for the guests. After all, they helped to keep the secret and make the surprise party a success. A surprise bridal shower will be one party that the guest of honor will never forget!

Adorable Flower Girl Attire

The flower girl is always one of the most precious parts of a wedding. When she totters down the aisle, every guest at the ceremony will smile. Make her look her most adorable by choosing very pretty flower girl attire.

Typically, the flower girl’s dress will either be in the same shade of white or ivory as the bride’s gown, or it will be in the color that the bridesmaids are wearing. If you like the idea of the white dress, you can always add a sash in the same color of the bridesmaids’ dresses to tie your bridal party together. The all-white flower girl dresses are usually the most formal, and they may have some details that are similar to the embellishments found on the bridal gown, such as lace, embroidery, or light beadwork.

For an informal spring or summer wedding, your flower girl could wear a cotton dress with a dainty floral print in your wedding colors. A sleeveless pinafore dress that buttons down the back could be worn alone for a hot summer afternoon, or with a short sleeved white blouse (with a Peter Pan collar) for a wedding closer to Easter. For a winter wedding, velvet would make a beautiful choice.

It is customary for the bride to give a special gift to her flower girl, just as she does for the rest of her bridal party. The most popular gift is flower girl jewelry. Most little girls do not own much in the way of real jewelry, so a dainty pearl pendant or a special silver bracelet will be incredible meaningful to your flower girl.

Then all that remains is to put a wreath of flowers or a fancy barrette in her hair. Hand your flower girl her basket or mini bouquet, and she will be all set to march down the aisle. Just watch the hearts melt as she does!

Pink and Green Centerpieces

Pink and green is one of the prettiest color combinations to use for your wedding. It is a cheerful duo, always fresh, feminine, and upbeat. For beautiful centerpieces at any time of the year, use pink and green flowers to create your displays.

There are so many ways that pink and green can be used together. The combination is classic and preppy, meaning that it never goes out of style. Pink and green flowers are perfect for the bride who is wearing a timeless gown with pearl bridal jewelry. Of course, you do not have to limit the colors to your flowers – pink and green bridesmaid dresses would be wonderful, and they also pair beautifully with classic pearl bridal jewelry for your attendants.

Nothing says “spring” like a tulip. These elegant flowers are available in many shades from the palest pink Dutch tulip to the wildest hot pink parrot tulip. It all depends on if you prefer your centerpieces to be more classic and restrained or more exuberant and bold. The parrot tulips can be combined with exotic flowers such as green cymbidium orchids; the more delicate pale pink tulips would be lovely when accented with soft green gray lamb’s ear.

There are countless other fantastic pink and green centerpiece ideas for weddings of any style or season. A large tall vase overflowing with pink and green hydrangeas would be lovely for an elegant summer affair. Green viburnum also blends well with the full round hydrangea for additional texture and interest.

There are a surprising number of other options for green flowers and accents to layer in with pink blossoms in your centerpieces. Anything from lemon leaves to ferns to gladioli can be used to give a pop of green in your pink displays. You will be able to create centerpieces for your wedding that manage to be both visually interesting and still timeless at the same time.

Advice for Grooms

The first thing that grooms need to realize is that although the wedding day is only one day, for most women, it is the most eagerly anticipated day of her life. So although you may think that it is silly to spend so much time and money on a wedding, don’t say that to your fiancee! You might think that you are being realistic, but to a bride it will feel like you are stepping on her dreams.

Even though the bride will be the focus of the wedding, the groom can definitely be a part of the planning. Offer to help with the things that interest you, like the food, the cake, and the music. Many grooms today are getting even more involved, by really helping to craft the overall design and theme of the wedding. This can be especially nice if you have some cultural traditions that you would like to include in your wedding. So if you want to wear a kilt, by all means, speak up! Your bride will be glad to see that you have an interest in planning the wedding.

One thing that the groom must do for himself is select his best man and groomsmen. Think carefully about this. Your best man should be someone that you not only feel close to, but that you can trust with the wedding rings. For the sake of peace and harmony, try not to avoid choosing a friend for a groomsmen that you know your bride despises, especially if she thinks that he is a bad influence! Once you have picked your attendants, you will also want to give them special groomsmen gifts. Yes, you could let the bride choose the gifts for your groomsmen, but they will be more personal if you do it yourself. Even guys who hate shopping will find that they can get their groomsmen gifts taken care of quickly and painlessly, if they buy them online.

The most important thing that a groom can do, of course, is to love and support his bride. Wedding planning can be a thrilling and emotional time, and your fiancee will need your help to survive it. Just remember, the wedding will pass before you know it, and you will soon have her all back to yourself!

Summer Bridal Accessories

One of the nice things about summer is that you don’t have to be so serious. It is the time of year when people relax and lighten up. When it comes to choosing your bridal ensemble, this is a great approach to take. Forget about being too serious or formal, and let yourself have fun picking accessories that are pretty and make you happy.

Your bridal jewelry will have a huge impact on your finished look. A simple gown can be radically transformed depending on which way you decide to go with your jewelry. Do you like the classic look of pearl bridal jewelry, or the sparkly effect of Swarovski crystals? The choice is yours. Whichever you choose, look for pieces that are light and airy for summer.

For summer veils, the idea should still be to lighten up. Wispy breezy veils are more in keeping with the season than very heavy lace veils. Sometimes there is nothing more elegant than a very long plain veil. Instead of wearing an elaborate tiara, look for hair jewelry like pretty hairpins that can be tucked into the loose hairstyles that are so popular for summer.

Once you have all of your accessories, you will be all set to be your most fabulous on your wedding day. For summer brides, choosing all of the perfect finishing touches should be a very fun task. And while you are at it, don’t forget to pick up a few pieces of sexy jewelry to bring on your honeymoon for those sultry summer evenings.

Sexy Mermaid Bridal Gowns

Are you looking for a bridal gown with that “wow” factor? The dress that will make your fiance’s jaw drop when you walk down the aisle? Then look no further than the sexy mermaid style bridal gown.

A mermaid gown is a silhouette that is fitted through the bodice and the hips, and then flares out into a fuller skirt at the knee. Mermaid gowns are usually made of fabrics that can hold their shape, such as satin, lace, or tulle, to really emphasis the signature flared hem. It is a style that is made for a bride who wants to make a dramatic grand entrance.

Wearing a mermaid gown is not going to be for everyone. You have to be comfortable with your figure, and with having a lot of attention drawn to your hips. This can actually be a shape that is flattering on a variety of different figures. Girls who are blessed with great curves will look eye-poppingly gorgeous in a sexy mermaid gown. Brides who have more straight figures will find that a mermaid style can add the look of curves to their frame. The one category of bride who should avoid a mermaid gown at all costs is the pear shape.

Because the mermaid gown does have a glamorous feeling, you will want to choose accessories that are equally fabulous. For your wedding jewelry, look for custom bridal Swarovski necklaces. The sparkle of Swarovksi crystals will add the drama that you want in custom bridal necklaces. When the piece is handcrafted just for you, it also allows you to make changes so that the necklace is a perfect match to the style of your gown. Finish the look with dazzling crystal earrings and a matching bracelet.

You can’t beat the mermaid style bridal gown for drama, elegance, and sensuality. It is a style that always stays in fashion because of how great it makes a woman look and feel. If you want to be drop dead gorgeous on your wedding day, then definitely give the mermaid shape a try.