What to Do When a Member of the Wedding Party Gets Sick

As with anything, there are degrees of illness. If a bridesmaid catches a cold the week of the wedding, she needs to take some cold medicine, stuff some tissues into her tiny little handbag, and show up at the appointed time in her dress and bridesmaid jewelry, ready to go. Pay your sick bridesmaid a little special attention by having some orange juice or a nice warm bowl of chicken soup waiting for her when she shows up to get her hair and makeup done. Of course, she would be forgiven for leaving the reception right after the cake cutting to go home and sleep.

Something like the flu, on the other hand, has the potential to knock a groomsman or bridesmaid right out of the wedding party. You don’t want someone standing at the altar who is likely to vomit right when the minister asks if anyone objects to the marriage! For that matter, your guests will not remember your wedding fondly if they all caught the flu from a highly contagious groomsman. If the fluish one happens to be one of the parents of the bride or groom, obviously they would do their best to make it to the wedding, but they should definitely skip the receiving line!

When the illness is more serious, flexibility is the key. This is no time to worry about whether the groomsmen and bridesmaid numbers will end up uneven at the last minute. If a member of the bridal party does have to bow out due to a serious illness, it would be very gracious of the bride to pay for her bridesmaid dress and bridesmaid jewelry and give it to her as a gift. If you are having a wedding program, by all means list her as an honorary bridesmaid. It would be very, very sweet to have a bridesmaid bouquet made for her and have it delivered to her bedside as well.

In very rare cases, an immediate member of the bride or groom’s family (parent, grandparent, or sibling usually) might be so very ill right before the wedding that their very life hangs in the balance. There comes a point when it is necessary to either postpone the wedding or to scale it back dramatically. If the very ill person is one of the bride or groom’s parents, they may even wish to consider having their ceremony at their parent’s bedside, if the patient is up to it. At least that way, all the most important people would still be there to witness the marriage.

A Forest Theme Wedding

Imagine how beautiful it would be to have a forest theme wedding. The soothing natural colors, the charming woodland creatures, and the abundance of rich textures would all combine to make a truly delightful experience. These are some ideas and inspiration on how to design a forest theme wedding.

As with most weddings, the place to begin is by selecting your wedding colors. For a forest theme wedding, choose rich colors like chocolate brown, moss green, and touches of gold (either metallic or not). These colors will be equally at home in an actual forest clearing or in a more conventional indoor reception site. Chocolate, moss, and gold can also be used for any season; change the tone by fabric selection. For instance, in the autumn or winter, you could use sumptuous materials like velvet and shantung, whereas in the spring or summer, things can be lightened up a bit with organza or chiffon.

For the wedding attire, something a bit non-traditional would best suit a forest theme. Think romantic and soft, maybe a bit ethereal. The satin ballgown is definitely out. You could use a couple of different inspirations for a forest-y wedding gown. One would be the dreamy woodland fairy and another would be the more down-to-earth but romantic Robin Hood style. The bridesmaids’ dresses would be gorgeous in a moss green with chocolate colored accents. Topaz colored crystal bridesmaid jewelry would be a stunning accent or choose Swarovski crystal leaf pendants and earrings as the bridesmaid jewelry.

Decorating the ceremony and reception sites for a forest theme wedding will be really fun! Gather natural materials such as pinecones, moss, and branches as your primary materials. You can go with a very rustic feeling or take the theme in a more elegant direction by adding touches of metallic gold. Of course the ideal place for a forest theme wedding would be a clearing in an actual forest, but you can also transform an indoor setting by bringing in all of the natural elements. Gobo lights projecting tree shadows onto the walls of a tent or ballroom would be a wonderful detail.

Blue Bridesmaid Dresses for Fall and Winter

In the autumn months, rich and deep colors are usually the order of the day. For bridesmaid dresses, a color like cobalt blue would be gorgeous. It is deep, yet vibrant, and would work equally well for a daytime or evening wedding. Cobalt is a popular color this year, and it is especially easy to picture it as the color choice for a September wedding. It bridges the gap between summer and fall beautifully.

Navy is another excellent shade of blue for fall and winter. Try a navy strapless faille bridesmaid dress for an afternoon wedding, or a long navy satin V-neck gown for a formal evening ceremony. Sets of pearl bridesmaid jewelry are a natural choice with classic navy dresses. As for flowers, mixed bouquets in shades of purple are particularly attractive against navy. Use a combination of plum, fuchsia, and lavender blossoms in loosely arranged bouquets tied with navy velvet ribbon. Another idea is to have play up the crispness of navy with bouquets comprised of all white flowers, surrounded by a cuff of bright green leaves.

For brides planning a fall wedding who are not crazy about dark colors, consider a medium blue dress with a chocolate brown sash. Picture the way that brown leaves look against a brilliant blue autumn sky to envision this winning color combination. The chocolate color brings in enough of a fall flavor to keep the dresses feeling seasonal. Bring the brown color into the bridesmaid bouquets by incorporating flowers such as chocolate cosmos or mini sunflowers. Natural accents like dried seed pods or berries will make the bouquets feel even more autumnal, and make a nice contrast with the medium blue of the dresses.

In the winter months, it often seems like all the bridesmaid dresses are red, red, and red. However, another fabulous winter wedding color scheme is an icy “Winter Wonderland” theme, with which ice blue bridesmaid dresses would be fantastic. The key to making such a pale color really work with the season is to use it in a distinctly wintery fabric like a heavy satin. Then add more wintery accents, such as crystal snowflake pendants and perhaps even white fur wraps for the ceremony, tied with lustrous satin ribbons. The end result will be stunning!

DIY Fall Wedding Decorations

These are some beautiful ideas for DIY fall wedding decorations that anyone can create…

The brilliant fall leaves are one of the most distinctive features of autumn, and they make a great inspiration for a wedding design. You know how pretty your bridesmaids will look in leaf theme crystal bridesmaid jewelry, such as amber colored Swarovski leaf pendants, so why not extend that motif to the rest of your wedding? Use either silk leaves or preserved real leaves in a multitude of brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges.  Long strings of leaves can be hung behind the ceremony altar for a beautiful backdrop for the bride and groom.

Fall leaves also work wonderfully for centerpieces. You can actually preserve real leaves right on their branches to use for table decorations. Suspend tiny lanterns with tea lights from the branches for a magical effect. Scattered leaves are an easy addition to any fall wedding, with absolutely no creative experience required. They can line the edges of the aisle for the ceremony, be scattered on a guest book or cake table, or even be used in place of standard place cards at the dinner tables. What an easy way to give your wedding a great autumnal touch!

Pinecones have a great late fall feeling and can make an excellent decoration for a wedding around Thanksgiving. Take real pinecones and spray paint them with a soft gold color. Suspend them from regular sewing thread in a bronze or gold color, and hang them from white birch branches for a modern centerpiece design with an autumnal flavor. Surround the vases with votive candles in ruby red glass holders to bring a pop of color to the design. You can also wire the special pinecones into wreaths for church doors.

It is impossible to mention diy fall wedding decorations without bringing up pumpkins and gourds. Hollow out a white pumpkin and fill with fresh wildflowers for a simple but beautiful altar decoration. Arrange clusters of odd and interesting gourds in golden wire baskets around the cocktail hour. Use your imagination, and you will find tons of fall items that will make very easy diy projects to enhance the style and beauty of your wedding.

The Big Wedding Following a Private Ceremony

For a variety of reasons, sometimes a couple decides to have a very small private wedding ceremony with a justice of the peace, rather than a full scale wedding bash. Whatever the reason, it is not uncommon for the happy married couple to decide several years later that they would like to have a full traditional wedding with all the trimmings, the one that they did not have the first time around. This is a look at the etiquette and practical considerations about planning a big wedding following a private ceremony.

Here is the thing: if you are already married, you are already married. When having a formal wedding following an earlier marriage ceremony, it is technically a renewal of vows. Much of what you do can be the same as any first time wedding, but a few changes are in order. Can the bride wear a long white gown? Absolutely. Is a long veil and a train appropriate? Not to be a downer, but no. A floor length bridal gown with a stunning piece of hair jewelry instead of a veil is the way to go. You can still have bridesmaids, all dressed up in pretty dresses and bridesmaid jewelry precede you down the aisle, and by all means, have a flower girl if you wish.

Gifts are a large part of weddings, but most couples who are already married prefer to make it clear to their guests that no gifts are required. Never write anything about gifts on a wedding or vow renewal invitation, not even if it is a no-gifts request. Ask your close family and friends to spread the word instead, which is very effective. Should someone choose to give you a present anyway, just graciously accept it and consider yourselves lucky to know such generous people. By the way, a bridal shower is not appropriate for a woman who is already married. You could, however, have a special night out with your bridesmaids; it would also be the perfect time to give them their bridesmaid jewelry gifts.

Perhaps the most fun part about planning a big wedding after a private ceremony is that you finally get to have exactly what you want. By the time a couple gets around to it, the bride is usually mature enough that she is comfortable taking the reigns, rather than deferring to her mother on the wedding details. After years of dreaming, it is truly a delight to see your wedding vision come to life!

Wedding Planners’ Tricks of the Trade

Not every bride will hire a professional to organize her wedding, but that does not mean that you cannot benefit from their know-how. Over the years, a good wedding coordinator learns all sorts of nifty tricks that make weddings more beautiful, better run, and more cost effective. These are some of the tricks of the trade that wedding planners use.

Reuse Ceremony Decorations. Why pay for everything twice when you can reuse much of your ceremony decorations for the reception? While your guests are enjoying a fabulous cocktail hour, the vendors can move the ceremony chairs, altar flowers, and any other decorations you had into the reception space. Think about how much money you can save by not paying for duplicate chair rentals and floral displays!

Variety is the Spice of Life. If there is one thing that every planner strives to do it is to create a wedding that is unique, not cookie-cutter. A simple way to do this on your own is to break up the sameness of repeated elements with some variations. Rather than having the same centerpiece design repeated for a dozen tables, pick three centerpiece designs with similar flowers, but of varying heights. The same goes for your bridesmaids. Pick complementary dresses and sets of bridesmaid jewelry in several styles instead of having all the girls match exactly.

Great Food is a Must. Wedding planners have attended enough receptions to know that if the food is not delicious, the guests will be grumbling. Even worse than lackluster meals are weddings that do not have enough food. There is nothing worse than having the food at the cocktail hour run out before the end of the event! Scrimp in other areas of the wedding as needed, but keep your guests happy with food that is tasty and plentiful.

Evening Wedding Themes

Evening weddings have a special appeal all their own. After dark, you can really pull out all the stops when it comes to glamor, sophistication, and even entertainment. These are some ideas for spectacular evening wedding themes.

Casino Night. If you want your wedding to have an emphasis on fun and glamor, consider a casino theme. Base your wedding design around the sophisticated style of an upscale casino in Monte Carlo or one of the palaces in Las Vegas, all with a bit of retro flair. Crystal chandeliers, gold chargers, and heavy cut crystal glasses are the order of the day. For the bride, a slinky beaded sheath dress with dramatic crystal chandelier earrings would be fabulous, and the bridesmaids can be equally glamorous in satin column dresses with crystal bridesmaid jewelry. Naturally, the high point of the reception will be the gaming; bring in professionals to run games like roulette and blackjack after dinner. Chances are that real gambling for money would be illegal, so let your guests play for chips and pride.

Starry Night. Picture a clear ceiling tent under a mass of twinkling stars for your wedding reception. This would create a spectacular place in which to celebrate your wedding. If you cannot conjure up real stars, drape midnight blue fabric over the ceiling of your venue and light it with thousands of tiny twinkling white lights. Play up the star theme in subtle ways throughout your wedding, such as using pierced votive candle holders which have tiny star shapes. A wedding cake painted to resemble Van Gogh’s famous “Starry Night” painting would be a real show stopper.

Masquerade. This is a particularly fun theme for a wedding on New Year’s Eve. Instead of standard wedding favors, give each guest a beautiful handmade mask to wear for dancing after the reception. You can take your inspiration from the lavish masks which are made in Venice, Italy or the flamboyant purple, gold, and green masks which are a huge part of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The perfect bridal gown for the masquerade theme would be a lavishly embroidered and beaded strapless ballgown, worn with opulent wedding jewelry, and of course, a custom white feather and crystal mask. One thing is for sure: you will get some fantastic wedding photos!

Brown Wedding Color Palettes

Brown is one of the most versatile colors for weddings. While not necessarily considered to be one of the most festive colors, brown adds a richness and sophistication to a wedding color palette that can really enhance the overall design of the event. Take a look at some of the elegant ways to include brown in your wedding color palette.

In the spring, a soft cocoa color pairs wonderfully with lilac. The unexpected color combination is chic and stylish, and the brown helps tone down the Easter egg effect of the spring pastels. Try bridesmaid dresses in lilac organza or shantung with cocoa brown sashes and mocha bridesmaid jewelry sets. Bouquets in a range of lilacs and light purples tied with cocoa satin ribbons will be the perfect coordinate.

For a late summer wedding, try mixing brown with a bright coral color. The depth of the brown will tone down the intensity of the coral and make it more sophisticated. It is great for an evening wedding, but would also be quite chic for the afternoon. A deep chocolate or even an espresso shade is an excellent match for the coral. If you wish to add another color to your palette, try mixing in touches of mango for a little more warmth. All these colors work beautifully for the centerpieces and bouquets, and will also look great for all the reception details. A tiered wedding cake covered with smooth chocolate ganache decorated with coral and mango mini calla lilies would be the height of elegance and style for any reception.

If you like a dramatic look, think about mixing a rich chocolate with a dark plum hue (sounds almost good enough to eat!). This would be a regal and striking palette for a winter wedding. These colors look excellent in the luxe fabrics of the winter season such as sumptuous silks, velvets, and even faux furs. When using a palette this rich, go overboard with opulent details, such as towering centerpieces set on quilted silk tablecloths with beading. Take it over the top with a chic lounge at the reception featuring low slung plum velvet sofas with cream and chocolate faux fur pillows scattered about. Too fabulous!

Beach Wedding Hair Jewelry and Veils

Naturally the bride will want something fabulous to adorn her hair on her wedding day. As a beach wedding tends to be more relaxed, it is best to choose a headpiece which is not overly formal. Rather than a tall tiara, for instance, try a double headband beaded with crystals and pearls. The gems will make it beautiful enough for a wedding, but the headband style will look more appropriate on the beach. Select a headband which complements your bridal jewelry set. Another great thing about a headband is that if you opt to wear your hair down, it will keep the ocean breeze from blowing your hair in your face during the ceremony.

A beach theme hair ornament can be a wonderful accessory for a wedding by the ocean. A starfish pin in your hair makes a lovely alternative to a fresh flower, and as a bonus it will not wilt in the hot sun. Small starfish clips or pins would also be fun for the bridesmaids. They would make a nice add on to the bridesmaid jewelry sets that the bride gives as gifts. Tie a pretty starfish clip to the jewelry box with an organza ribbon for a nice addition to the bridesmaid gifts that will also make the box extra special.

Pearls are a natural choice by the ocean. A cluster of pearl hairpins would be an elegant addition to a simple updo. Low buns are very chic and are un-fussy enough for the beach. They are also a classic staple to have in your jewelry box for future special occasions after the wedding. Wear your pearl hairpins with pearl bridal jewelry, such as a drop pendant or a unique keshi pearl necklace. Add some coordinating earrings, and you will be ready to walk down the aisle in style.

A veil on the beach can be a bit tricky, but any bride who wants one should definitely wear one. For a wedding outdoors, the veil should always be shorter than floor length. The last thing you need is to have your delicate veil catch on a wooden boardwalk or deck and tear. Nor do you want to have a long veil dragging behind you on the sand picking up seaweed and other beach debris from the sand! A calf length veil gives the effect of a long veil with none of the potential perils. Fingertip veils also work well, but be careful about choosing a very short veil, as it will fly around your face with the slightest breeze; in fact, the shortest veils are actually called “flyaways”.

Beach weddings are always beautiful, and with the perfect accessories, you can be sure to look absolutely stunning. From headbands to pins to special veils, there is a combination of beach wedding accessories that will be perfect for any wedding and to match any bridal gown.

Polka Dots and Stripes in Wedding Design

Polka dots and stripes would be particularly great for a spring or summer wedding, as they are often created in color palettes which suit the season. The key to successfully combining the two patterns is to pick one color scheme to use for both. It could be pink and green, yellow and blue, or even orange, pink, and red. As long as you are consistent, it will look great! Dashes of a neutral like white or brown can help to keep your design from spinning out of control.

The bridesmaid dresses are a good place to begin using your polka dot and stripe theme. A very easy way to do it is to use one of the patterns for the bridesmaid dresses and the other as an accent ribbon on their bouquets. When the dresses have a busy print, keep the other details more simple. Single color bouquets will look very nice, and pearl bridesmaid jewelry will complement the colorful dresses.

All of your wedding stationery can carry through the stripe and polka dot pairing. Create stylish invitations by choosing an invitation with a polka dot border to use with envelopes lined in a stripe. Remember that as long as all of the colors match, it will look great together. For the table numbers, pick a coordinating paper with an overall polka dot pattern and print the numbers in a bold font right over the printed background. As long as the ink is dark, the numbers should be very easy to read, and it will be a cute detail.

Speaking of details, your centerpieces should always coordinate with your wedding design theme. There are so many ways to achieve this with stripes and polka dots. One trend right now is to cover boxes with a fabric instead of using standard glass vases. How about a striped fabric for your centerpiece vessels? Then fill with a cheerful arrangement of flowers. If you like, you can even play up the polka dot idea by creating “dots” of flowers. Use blossoms which can be packed together into a very tight ball, such as roses or carnations, and then add small flowers in a contrasting color at regular intervals. For instance, you could create a round arrangement of pink carnations and insert small lime green Kermit mums for the cutest and preppiest pink and green wedding centerpiece ever. It is so cute and original - your guests are sure to love it!