Uses for Antiques in Your Wedding

Vintage is very popular for weddings, so why not go right to the source and include a few original antiques in your wedding? It is a wonderful way to create a totally unique ceremony and reception. These are some thoughts on creative uses for antiques in your wedding design.

There are lots of interesting and offbeat uses for a cool old piece of furniture. You can take an old dresser that has a marred finish and repaint it in one of your wedding colors. A pretty pink dresser would make a fantastic stand to display the escort cards when your guests arrive at your reception. Wouldn’t that have more character than a rented table with a white cloth on it?

Furniture is certainly not the only type of antique that you can use to enhance your wedding décor. The warm glow of vintage silver candlesticks would be a lovely addition to the tables at your reception. Antique silver vases and urns are an elegant option to display your centerpieces, and you can find them at specialty rental services. If you like a more relaxed style, scour antique shops for an eclectic assortment of vintage white pitchers and vases for your flowers; hobnail vases are particularly nice.

Some brides will be fortunate enough to have an antique piece of jewelry to wear on their wedding day. A very chic look is to combine the old with the new. This can be done very artfully. For instance, a vintage brooch can be used as an accent on your gown’s sash, and you can pair it with new pearl bridal jewelry such as a simple pair of drop earrings. Many brides may have a very traditional heirloom, such as a classic pearl strand that they want to update by mixing it a modern classic like a pair of crystal chandelier earrings. It is very stylish to put your own twist on the classics.

Acorn and Oak Leaf Wedding Motif

If you are planning a wedding for this fall, this is the perfect time to decide on your motif and get your details planned. A wonderful theme for an autumn wedding is acorns and oak leaves. Acorns symbolize good luck and oak leaves represent strength and longevity – what an auspicious start to your marriage!

With so much meaning behind your theme, you will want to be sure to share an explanation with your guests. Your wedding programs can be the perfect chance to say a few words about the luck and longevity behind the acorn and oak leaf motif. A short paragraph can be placed at the bottom of your program, or even on the front cover.

As your guests arrive at your ceremony, greet them with a stunning handmade velvet acorn and leaf wreath. You can use real or high quality faux leaves layered in all of fall’s beautiful colors. Then create little velvet acorns using real acorn caps for texture. These can be scattered throughout the leaves to create a gorgeous wreath. Finish it off with a wide satin bow. (You can get detailed instructions on how to make the wreath from Martha Stewart.)

Such a beautiful theme can even be carried into the wedding attire. The bride could think about having an acorn and leaf design hand embroidered somewhere on her gown, such as the train, or on a sash at the waist. Choose warm colors for the design that will tie in with your flowers and bridesmaid dresses. Handcrafted bridal jewelry in a warm color like copper or bronze would make a lovely accent. You can choose bridal jewelry that is handcrafted with sparkling crystals or lustrous pearls for that perfect bit of flair.

The Bride Wore Pants!

Can a bride wear pants for her wedding? The answer is sure, if the outfit is done well. If you are exploring the possibility of wearing something non-traditional for your wedding, a really special pair of pants could be the perfect answer.

Not just any pants will do when you are a bride. You should definitely not plan to pull a pair of work trousers out of your closet to wear on one of the most special days of your life. One bride I knew who was being married on a boat had an entire ensemble custom made based on the idea of the pants. The pants themselves were a pair of flowing palazzo pants created from layers of white silk chiffon with an opaque lining. They were simple, but perfect in their soft flowing feminine style.

You may be wondering what type of top would be fabulous enough to wear with custom bridal pants. Imagine having a top made that is very similar to the bodice of a classic bridal gown. This bride chose a one-of-a-kind strapless bustier style top which was made from a stunning embroidered silk dupioni. The two pieces together looked unbelievably chic and elegant. As a finishing touch, she wore a lovely set of custom bridal jewelry and skipped the veil.

Although most brides will choose to wear a wedding dress, it is great to know that there are other options out there. Brides who are looking for something unique and comfortable to wear for an informal wedding might find that pants are ideal for them. A fabulous pants based bridal ensemble will give you a look that is chic, confident, and totally individual.

Orange Bridesmaid Dresses and Bouquets

First the dresses: one of the prettiest trends in weddings is the use of tangerine. It has the freshness of a true orange, but is a little easier to wear. Tangerine chiffon is especially lovely, and it looks great paired with a soft lime green for a citrusy color palette. For a late summer wedding, think about using a slightly richer orange, such as a deep orange silk dupioni for your bridesmaids.

When choosing a dress in a strong color like orange, accessories need to be strong enough to hold their own without competing with the dress. And no matching orange shoes, please! A stylish neutral shoe like a jute espadrille wedge or a strappy gold sandal would be very chic. When you are looking for the perfect bridesmaid jewelry to give as gifts, the same idea applies. Bridesmaid jewelry gifts like big white pearls or substantial silver pieces are a better option than orange jewelry, which would be too much of a good thing.

If you are hoping to create bridesmaid bouquets that are colorful but formal, you can find roses in an amazing array of orange hues, including coral, bright orange, and peach. Mix in hypericum berries and rusty orange parrot tulips for bouquets that are rich and multi-dimensional. You can create beautifully old-fashioned bouquets by combining hotpink ruffled sweetpeas with some of the pretty shades of orange.

As bright as it is, orange can be a fantastic addition to any bridal party. Whether you choose to go with orange bridesmaid dresses, bouquets, or both, you will find that the cheerful nature of orange will make your wedding feel even more festive and fun.

Russian Wedding Customs

In many ways, Russian weddings are simpler than those in the United States. The guest lists are shorter (usually under 100), there is not a wedding party, and in general, less fuss is made about details like the flowers and music. What is important is having a really, really fun party with an abundant supply of alcohol and food.

All couples in Russia must be married at the Registry office to make it official. A short church ceremony can follow the civil service, if desired. Generally there is a small group of witnesses present for the ceremony, with most of the guests making their appearance at the reception. The ceremony can be very amusing, with funny scripts being read by the close friends and family members of the couple.

Traditional Russian wedding attire consisted of an elaborately embroidered pinafore worn over a fancy blouse. Pearl bridal jewelry has been worn by Russian brides for hundreds of years, and still is today. In addition to a pearl necklace, another popular form of bridal jewelry in Russia was a string of turquoise beads, which represent fidelity. These days, Russian brides wear white wedding gowns very similar to what is worn in Western countries, although they are more likely to be handmade by the bride or her mother.

The ceremony is followed by a reception at a restaurant or home, and this is when the party really gets started. The bride and groom will be greeted with many toasts, such as “Za molodykh!” (for the newlywed), and there is much cheering and kissing. Many of the assembled guests will offer up a toast to the bride and groom, and at that time will give them a gift (cash is customary). After the toasting there will be eating, dancing, more eating, and plenty of drinking. Remember,  it is considered rude to stay sober at a Russian celebration!

Homespun Wedding Details

There is nothing as special as a wedding that feels very personal and unique. One of the best ways to make your wedding feel uniquely your own is to include some handcrafted elements. These are some ideas for homespun wedding details that will add charm to your special day.

Homespun details are especially nice at country or informal weddings, as they will make your guests to feel almost like they are in your home, rather than a wedding venue. One of the best places to start is at the end: the wedding favors. This can be a perfect area to try your hand at making something, or to give a homemade look to a favor that you purchased. A great example would be a homemade jar of jam wrapped in a red check cloth. Tie a little note to each jar with a piece of cotton string or twine thanking your guests for being a part of your wedding.

Your homespun details can also be a part of the bride’s attire. It is often nice to have some sort of a wrap to wear in the evening over your bridal gown; a very cozy style would be a handknit shawl. Another thing that is nice to have handmade is your wedding jewelry. Handmade wedding jewelry feels so much more personal because you know that it was carefully crafted by human hands, not stamped out by a machine.

A very nifty idea for your wedding is to make your own paper flowers. They can be used in bouquets, boutonierres, wreaths, and more. Tissue paper flowers have a beautiful delicate look, and they also make a fun momento of your wedding. Paper flowers will also allow you to have your bouquet be any color that you like, and will even save you money. Just be sure to start your paper flower project a long time before your wedding date!

Scenic Outdoor Wedding Sites

Beauty, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder, and this is definitely the case when it comes to weddings. For some couples, there is nothing more wonderful than seeing the sun set over the ocean. Another bride and groom might think that a field of wildflowers is the prettiest sight on earth. For winter lovers, what could be more stunning than a towering pines with snow-capped mountains in the distance? Whichever of these styles speaks to you, there will be plenty of terrific venues that offer them.

Almost any natural setting has an unspoiled grace, but some are definitely more gorgeous than others. Look at a location as though you were looking through the lens of a camera. Do you see elements that would have great visual appeal for photo shoots, like bridges over streams, a row of flowering trees, or a country lane covered in a canopy of fiery autumn leaves?  These are the types of elements that will take your wedding location from merely pretty to spectacular.

Once you have found that ideal outdoor wedding location, be sure to play up its best features. Let’s say that you have decided to be married in the fall, with the brilliant leaves of that season as your backdrop. You can emphasize the glorious autumn colors by featuring them in your wedding. Fiery reds, warm yellows, and pumpkin oranges are wonderful colors to use in so many ways for everything from décor to bridesmaid dresses to the bride’s bouquet. Also, be sure to let your photographer know which views are your favorite!

The right backdrop will go a long way towards making your wedding feel even more magical. It is such a momentous occasion that you deserve an equally impressive site. Having an altar with a stunning view is definitely a great idea.

Chic Attire For Wedding Guests

The perfect outfit for a wedding guest is both in fashion and yet timeless. Those pictures will be around forever, so you do not want to wear anything that will look hopelessly dated in a couple of years. Naturally, you will also want your outfit to fit the style and location of the wedding. Last but not least, you want to look absolutely fantastic without drawing attention from the bride.

There are plenty of great styles available that will help you to achieve all of these goals. Many of the looks that are coming out for this spring and summer are actually updated versions of styles that have been popular in past years, which makes them feel less risky and more worthy of splurging on. Some of the key styles include modified safari (like a stylish “Out of Africa” inspired blouse), beaded tops, and lots of great jewelry.

Many women prefer to wear a dress to a wedding, although if it is not too formal, you can also get away with separates, which will make the pieces more versatile in the future. This is especially nice if you have been invited to several weddings this year. You can use the same base piece, say a great metallic linen skirt, and change the look with different tops and wedding jewelry. Pair the subtle metallic skirt with a blouse in a hot color like coral for your niece’s afternoon wedding in a garden, and wear a heavily embellished top with the skirt for your cousin’s wedding at the country club. Perfect!

If you have been invited to a beach wedding, you will find that there are many terrific options available to you beyond the basic sundress. Long maxi dresses, done in bright colors with tiered skirts, are being seen in the shops this season. The look is not hippie grungy, but rather 70s bohemian luxe. Finish it off with a dramatic wide brim hat for both style and sun protection, and you will be the most chic guest at the wedding.

Old Wedding Trends That Are Back

They say that if you wait long enough, everything comes back into style. This is even true of weddings, although thankfully we have not yet seen the re-emergence of puffy sleeves! Read on to learn which old wedding trends have come back into style – who knows, you may even want to use them in your own wedding.

The fashion of bridal gowns goes in cycles just like any other type of fashion. A few years ago, most of the high end gowns were streamlined, minimalist creations made from fabrics like silk mikado or satin. These days, brides are looking for gowns that are not so austere, and one of the biggest trends to re-emerge is the tulle skirt.

Tulle skirts, which were incredibly popular for years, fell by the wayside as being too “bridey”, and there came a point where they were considered to be a bit tacky. Not anymore; these days all of the top designers are offering tulle skirts for their brides, so if you always loved the lighter-than-air look of tulle, you are in luck.

There is another bridal gown trend that has come back into vogue recently, which is less sparkle and more fabric details. Designers are working more with details such as ruffles, fabric flowers, and pleating to make a statement. A good complement to the softer feeling of the bridal gowns is lustrous pearl bridal jewelry.

Another wedding trend that has been coming back around is the buttercream wedding cake. After years of smooth as glass fondant, brides are going back towards traditional buttercream frosting, which actually looks like, well, frosting. Buttercream is also much more delicious than fondant, and less expensive to boot. The classic buttercream wedding cake looks perfect toped off with beautiful fresh flowers or even a vintage bride and groom cake topper.

Perfect Wedding Bouquets

When you are choosing the bouquets for your wedding, there are a variety of things to factor in. You not only want your bouquets to be beautiful, but they should suit both you and the style of wedding that you are having. Here are some tips on how to choose the perfect bouquets.

Some of the things that you will want to think about are size, style, color, and season. The size of the bride’s bouquet should complement the size of the bride herself. More petite brides are generally advised to carry more dainty bouquets such as poseys or nosegays. Taller women can get away with a more abundant bouquet, either in the form of a larger nosegay or as a more dramatic cascade or arm bouquet.

The shape of the bouquet that you choose should echo the style of your wedding gown. For instance, if you plan to wear a 1950s inspired strapless gown with a full skirt, the round shape of a nosegay is the perfect complement. On the other hand, if your gown is a slinky silk sheath, a slim and sophisticated bunch of calla lilies would be a much better match. Be careful that you do not cover up any of the special details on your gown with a bouquet that is overly large or has a lot of trailing greens.

Often a bride will carry a white bouquet, but she prefers something more colorful for her attendants. A simple way to handle this is to choose bridesmaid bouquets that are in the same flower as the bride’s, but in the color or their bridesmaid dresses (or another color in your wedding palette). Just as brides are having crystals added to their bouquets for sparkle, you can pull a detail from the bridesmaid jewelry to bring into their bouquets. For example, if your bridesmaids are wearing bridesmaid jewelry created from deep red crystals, a really chic idea would be for them to carry green bouquets accented with wired red crystals.

The wedding bouquets are one of the most important accessories. They will have a big impact on the look of your processional, and you will see them in photographs for years to come. Take the time to choose the bouquets that will add the most beauty to your wedding day.