Pink and Gray Wedding Colors

Pink is always a popular color for weddings. For the last several years, pink and brown have been an especially hot color palette, but this year, a new neutral has replaced brown as the top companion to pink. Take a look at these great ideas for using pink and gray wedding colors.

Bridesmaid dresses are a great place to begin planning your wedding colors.  For an elegant evening wedding, try floor length charcoal gray dresses in a soft silk chiffon. It is one of the most chic bridesmaid dress styles of the season, and your ladies are sure to look graceful and sophisticated. If your wedding is in the daytime hours, think about opting for a pink bridesmaid dress. Something with clean lines would work best with the chic gray accent color, rather than a dress which is very frilly. To bring in the gray accents, try sets of pearl bridal jewelry in a dove gray shade.

Naturally pink flowers will be the ideal choice for a pink and gray wedding. Elegant pink roses, exotic orchids, lush peonies, and unique ranunculus are among the flowers which would be especially beautiful. Bring in your signature shade of gray with special bouquet wraps, such as a charcoal satin ribbon binding the stems. A fabulous accent idea would be to pin a pewter and crystal brooch to the handle of the bride’s bouquet, or ask your florist about incorporating some gray pearls in amongst the blossoms in the bouquets.

When the wedding flowers favor the pink, more gray can be used in the table linens at the reception. Choose carefully, as too much gray can bring down the energy of the room. Tablecloths with a hint of shimmer will ensure that the gray is elegant, rather than dreary. Charcoal gray silk dupioni or an embroidered pewter organza would be beautiful reception linens that would provide the perfect backdrop for pink floral centerpieces. The upscale and elegant pink and gray color palette is an excellent option for any bride.

Lush Peonies for Weddings

One of the most gorgeous wedding flowers is the peony. Feminine, gracious, and charming, peonies are one of the favorite flowers for spring brides. These are some ideas on how to incorporate lush peonies into your wedding bouquets and centerpieces.

Peonies work beautifully for round bridal bouquets. Their full and ruffly blooms are ideal when a lush bouquet is the goal. A mass of peonies makes a fabulous wedding bouquet all on its own, or it can be combined with other flowers with a similar shape for a bouquet which looks like it was handpicked from an English garden. Some of the prettiest blooms to combine with peonies are garden roses, sweetpeas, and French tulips.

Peonies are usually seen in pale pink, hot pink, a pinky-red, and white. Pale yellow peonies are also available, as are double peonies, which are two toned. The pinks tend to be the most popular for weddings. They are great for both the bride and her bridesmaids. A pink peony bridesmaid bouquet is perfect for a preppy style bridesmaid dress with the attendants in simple strapless dresses and pearl bridesmaid jewelry. Hot pink peonies are a great contrast to more richly colored bridesmaid dresses such as charcoal, navy, or brown.

There are many fantastic centerpiece designs which are based on peonies. The flowers themselves are so beautiful that they look incredible in even the simplest arrangements. For DIY wedding centerpieces, a lush bunch of peonies in shades of pink can be stuffed into short tin pails or white pitchers. If you prefer a more formal effect, the same flowers would be stunning in a tall footed urn. Just remember that peonies look best when they are packed together to be very full and rich looking.

From garden to ballroom, preppy to romantic, the peony is the perfect flower for so many styles of weddings. Always gorgeous, this luscious spring flower is sure to become one of the favorite things about your wedding decorations.

Heart Shaped Jewelry Gifts for Brides and Bridesmaids

There is no symbol more romantic than the heart shape, which is why it is a perfect symbol for a wedding. A lovely way to use a heart in a wedding is in the form of beautiful jewelry. Always romantic, and an enduring design which will be cherished for years, heart shaped wedding jewelry makes a wonderful gift for a bride or bridesmaids.

For a casual heart theme gift, sterling silver wedding jewelry is great. A heavy silver link necklace or bracelet with a Tiffany inspired heart tag charm is a wonderful way to thank your bridesmaids for being such a special part of your wedding. This is the kind of wedding jewelry which your attendants can enjoy wearing every day after the wedding, which makes it as versatile as it is thoughtful. Naturally, you will want to personalize each piece of silver jewelry with the recipient’s initials or monogram on the heart charm.

A lovely wedding jewelry design is a simple Swarovski crystal heart pendant on a silver chain. If you wish to keep the look elegant but understated, opt for a petite heart in clear or “ab” finish crystal. Or opt for an extra dash of femininity and romance by selecting a rose pink crystal heart. That makes a very sweet gift for everyone in the bridal party, including the bridesmaids, junior bridesmaids, and flower girl. Another fantastic option is to choose a bright Siam red crystal heart pendant, which is the perfect expression of passion. The red hearts are especially appropriate for the bridal party at a Valentine’s Day wedding. They also make a touching declaration of love from the groom to the bride at any time of the year.

Large crystal heart pendants are truly spectacular. Swarovski offers its signature crystal hearts as big as a silver dollar, which is a marvelous when you want your wedding jewelry to make a statement. The largest sizes of crystal hearts are particularly favored by brides, who need their jewelry to have a presence. They are generally created to have a clear finish, to maximize sparkle and brilliance. This is a stunning look with a strapless bridal gown or any other open neckline. There is no doubt about it, hearts and weddings are a perfect match.

Unique New Wedding Centerpiece Designs

The thing which is making the wedding centerpieces for 2010 fresh and interesting is not so much the flowers used as the way in which they are used. If last year was all about offbeat materials in simple vessels (think river rocks in a clear square vase), this year is almost the opposite: the flowers are more traditional, but the vessels have a lot of personality. You can choose vessels which tie in with your wedding theme, your favorite color, or ones which just look cool. The choice is yours.

Let’s say that you are planning a wedding with bright citrus colors like lemon and lime, bringing your signature colors through everything from the bridesmaid dresses and jewelry to the ceremony programs. Rather than simply choosing yellow and lime flowers and putting them in clear vases, you can really run with your color palette when you design the centerpieces. A great look would be to fill a clear plexiglass box with real lemons and limes. On top of that, place a collection of clear short cylinders, each of which holds a perfect white and yellow daisy. Sheer perfection and utterly unexpected.

Who is to say that all centerpieces must be placed on the dinner tables? A really fabulous effect can be created when the floral displays are suspended above the tables. One of the most gorgeous wedding photos I have seen in a long time was of a cluster of white rose pomanders suspended over the wedding tables in lieu of standard centerpieces. Another spectacular idea for hanging centerpieces would be long strings of orchids, either in pure white or in a bold color like hot pink.

Funky props are another top centerpiece idea for 2010. Instead of a vase, use your favorite knick knacks as table décor. Fill a Morrocan lantern with blossoms and let them spill over the sides. This is an area where a couple can really think outside the box to come up with a centerpiece which says something personal about them. A couple who adores travel, for example, could use old fashioned globes on the reception tables. Drape them with greenery and surround them with tiny tea lights, or be brave and cut the tops off of the globes; instead of the Arctic Circle, your centerpiece globes could be topped with flowing white flowers. Centerpieces this distinctive will make your wedding truly unforgettable.

Colorful Wedding Bouquets

Colorful wedding flowers can be a great way to inject personality and style into your wedding. Even a fairly formal wedding can benefit from a bit of color in the wedding bouquets. As long as the flowers which you select are sufficiently elegant, adding color will in no way detract from the formality of your ceremony. Roses are an excellent option, as they are both traditional and available in a beautiful array of colors. For an autumn wedding, bouquets with roses in fall shades of terra cotta, sunflower yellow, and rich red will strike the perfect mood. Extras like red hypericum berries and velvet ribbons will enhance the effect.

Colorful flowers are always fun for a summer wedding. Make your garden wedding romantic with pink and green bouquets for all the ladies in the wedding. Lush pink peonies and vivid green hydrangeas are a winning combination. Pink and green striped grosgrain ribbon bouquet wraps will up the preppy factor, or splurge on gorgeous watercolor painted ribbons with all of the flower colors for a bit of luxury.

It is really easy to come up with fantastic informal wedding bouquets in bright colors. Gerbera daisies in fuchsia, orange, and yellow are festive and cheerful on a hot summer day. Mixed wildflowers in shades of purple, yellow, pink, and orange will look like you gathered them yourself on the morning of the wedding. Spring brides can enjoy bouquets combining yellow mini daffodils, purple hyacinth, and white roses.

Exotic bouquets can also be colorful. The hottest trend going is to enhance your flowers with fanciful peacock feathers. Pull out some of the shades in the feathers for your flowers. Deep purple with dashes of gold and green flowers will look stunning with the peacock feathers. Tie it all up with a big gold bow. For the bridesmaids, echo the effect with a smaller number of feathers. You can take it one step further and choose bridesmaid jewelry gifts in some of the feather colors. A bridesmaid dress in a neutral but glamorous hue like gold would be the perfect backdrop for gifts of bridesmaid jewelry in an assortment of peacock colors. Really allow yourself to have fun and express yourself with colorful wedding bouquets.

How Real Brides Save on Their Weddings

Take a look at these ideas that real brides have used to save money on their weddings…

Trim the Guest List: You do not have to invite your second cousin or your old college roommate whom you never see anymore. Even if they had you at their weddings, you are not obligated to invite distant relations or casual acquaintances to yours. The absolute best way to trim your wedding costs is to be ruthless about cutting down the guest list. You will save thousands on food, decorating the tables, invitations, favors, and more. Not only that, but the people who you do have at your wedding will be the ones who mean the most to you.

Seek Deals Online: Many times you can find significantly lower prices for your wedding essentials at online retailers. This is especially true when buying items which are specifically designed for weddings, like many favors, bridesmaid jewelry gifts, unity candles, and decorations. Bridal stores often have large mark ups on all of the little extras that brides need, and it can add up to be quite a large sum. The bridesmaid jewelry gifts which cost $75 each at your bridal salon might go for as much as 60% - 75% less at an online bridal jewelry store, so it really pays to shop around.

Choose Your Venue Wisely: Look at your reception venue selection as a business decision. Before signing on the dotted line, find out the details about what they provide and what they allow you to provide. If you can find a venue which permits you to bring in your own alcohol, you can save thousands of dollars just on that. Venues which include all of the basics like tables, chairs, and linens in their base price will also be far more cost effective than places which require you to rent each piece individually. All of the little ways in which you save money on your reception can really end up being a lot of money left in your pocket at the end of the day.

Guide to Choosing Wedding Colors

Think about how many elements of your wedding will feature your chosen color or colors: the flowers, the bridesmaid dresses and bridesmaid jewelry, the invitations, the wedding cake, maybe even the invitations. That is why the color that you select is so important. Almost any color can be beautiful for a wedding, but not all will be ideal for the style that you wish to create. First and foremost, the wedding color that you select should be one which you really love, but beyond that, it should suit the season, the location, and the formality of your event.

Pastel colors like pink, yellow, lilac, and celadon are all wonderful for springtime weddings. They have a light and airy effect that is as lovely as the first breeze of spring on a sunny day. Colors this light will tend to look the best for daytime weddings, especially those which are held outdoors. The softness of these shades makes them very easy to use in combination with each other, as well. Just be careful that your wedding does not end up looking like an Easter egg!

Bright colors such as hot pink, lime green, turquoise, and true orange are very festive. They work beautifully for a summertime wedding, especially a casual one. These bright choices are cheerful and fun, which makes them great when your main goal is to design a wedding at which everyone will really get into a party spirit. They are not so great for formal weddings, however, as they really do feel more like a beach afternoon. The turquoise and lime green make a fantastic pair, and the hot pink and orange are equally terrific together.

Rich colors such as red and purple are more elegant and formal (depending on the shade of red and how it is used it can also work for a casual wedding). Think of deep red roses or dramatic purple orchids for an opulent evening wedding. To enhance the feeling of richness, choose silver or gold accents. On the other hand, these same colors can be used with a more lighthearted approach by combining them with a bright or light shade. Lime green with cherry red is modern and fresh, and lilac mixed with purple will brighten it up for a daytime wedding.

How to Have a Dream Wedding

One bride’s dream is another bride’s nightmare. For every woman who wants to have a Cinderella fairy princess wedding in a castle, there is a city chic gal who gags at the very thought of it. By the same token, for every bride whose idea of the perfect wedding involves a trendy urban loft filled with hip lounge furniture, there is an earthy woman who cannot imagine getting married without the natural beauty of flowers and trees surrounding her. This is why the most important step in designing your dream wedding is to first figure out exactly what a perfect day would look like to you and your fiance, not your mother, and maybe not even Martha Stewart.

With your concept of the perfect wedding day firmly in mind, you can begin to set everything into motion. Begin with your venue, which will be the biggest choice you make for your wedding (other than the groom, of course!). Make sure that it fits in with your vision, in terms of style, size, and location. Be realistic! What if if that picture perfect meadow overlooking a lazy river is soaked with three days’ rainfall? Is that ultra-cool loft in a neighborhood where your grandmother would feel safe walking from her car? It is all too easy to get blinded to potential serious issues with a wedding location when it captures your heart, so be careful about this.

Once you have a venue booked which has the right style, move on to the wedding attire, as this will be the next most important factor in setting the tone for the event. It is extremely helpful to wait to pick your wedding gown until you know where you will be having the ceremony and reception. Certain details will work beautifully with specific types of venues, and when it all comes together harmoniously, the effect will be breathtaking.

Bridesmaid attire and flowers will be the other things which are most important in coordinating your dream wedding. The bridesmaid dresses should in some way complement the style or silhouette of your bridal gown. You can also tie everything together with similar jewelry, such as the tin cup necklace design. The bride can wear a white pearl tin cup necklace and the bridesmaids can wear floating pearl necklaces in a color which look good with the bridesmaid dresses. And then there are the flowers, both for the ceremony and reception. They should be in harmony with the rest of your wedding plans, both in terms of style and color. With all of your details tied together, you will be well on your way to making your vision of a dream wedding come to life.

Affordable Tin Cup Necklaces for Brides and Bridesmaids

The floating pearl necklace worn by Renee Russo in the movie “Tin Cup” made a huge impact on the fashion world. Today, the pearl tin cup necklace is one of the favorite designs for brides and bridesmaids alike. Yet not everyone can afford to shop for their jewelry in Beverly Hills, which may leave one to wonder, it is possible to find affordable tin cup necklaces?

The answer is absolutely yes! While some tin cup necklaces are indeed very costly, savvy brides can find the same fantastic look in a fine quality necklace for a reasonable price. The best place to start your search is the Internet, although there may also be some local boutiques with good prices. Many of the more affordable floating pearl necklaces are every bit as beautiful as those which go for two or three times the price in designer jewelry stores.

A fantastic way to get the gorgeous look of a tin cup bridal necklace at a good price is to select a necklace which is handcrafted with freshwater pearls rather than more costly Akoya pearls. Today’s freshwater pearls can be just as round as the traditional salt water ones, and also boast a fabulous luster. Happily for brides on a budget, you give up none of the beauty of the pearls by choosing freshwater instead of Akoya. The only thing that is different is

Typically, a bride will be inclined to splurge a bit more on her own wedding jewelry, but will try to save what she can on her bridesmaid jewelry gifts. After all, when you have to buy 5 or 6 sets of jewelry, it can add up, no matter how reasonable the price is. For this reason, a very popular idea for bridesmaid gifts is to purchase tin cup necklaces which are handcrafted with beautiful Swarovski pearls. With an even lower price than the already affordable freshwater pearls, Swarovski pearls can be a fantastic option for a bride who has to give gifts to a large group of attendants. Not only is the price right, but a Swarovski pearl tin cup necklace can be created in a color which complements the bridesmaid dress.

The classic elegance of a pearl tin cup necklace is within reach of brides with every budget size. By carefully choosing the right jeweler, type and size of pearl, you can find stunning floating pearl necklaces for every member of your wedding party.

David’s Bridal or Local Bridal Salon?

With brides looking for ways to have a beautiful wedding on a budget, more of them are considering shopping at discount retailers like David’s Bridal instead of their local bridal salon. After all, the idea of getting your wedding gown for only $99 sounds pretty good! But of course, there are advantages and disadvantages to most things in life; to help you sort it all out, here is what you need to know about the differences between shopping at a bridal warehouse versus a smaller bridal salon.

Certainly the number one reason to shop at a place like David’s Bridal is price. There is no doubt that they will have some of the lowest prices in town. However, that is not to say that you will get the best value for your money. They are not selling top quality gowns like you would find in a local bridal shop. When shopping at a wedding warehouse store, you are not getting the same gown for less, you are getting a totally different type of dress. This may be just fine for some brides, but for others it will not be.

Of course, there is one advantage to mass produced gowns, which is that there will be a full size range available in the store. Plus size brides in particular appreciate being able to try on the wedding gowns in their own size. Designer bridal salons only carry one sample size in each style, and it can require a lot of imagination to picture how the gown would look when it does not come close to fitting you. However, with that said, all made to order gowns can be ordered in every size, and a good consultant will know which gowns will look best when they fit properly.

One of the intangibles is the level of service that you will get at a small local salon as compared to a mass merchandiser. At a discount bridal warehouse, you may be able to get help, but many brides end up in a self service situation, which can be a very challenging way to shop for a bridal gown. In the end, it all comes down to what you want in terms of a wedding gown and a gown shopping experience. If you want to be pampered, and have a personal consultant who will help you with everything from picking out your gown to suggesting styles of bridesmaid jewelry gifts, a bridal salon is for you. Brides who are perfectly comfortable picking out their own gowns may be happy with a bridal warehouse which has a large number of dresses in stock. And then there is the matter of finding the right balance between quality and budget, which is a decision that each bride has to make for herself.