Top Advice for Planning a Wedding Around a Holiday

The first tip is to give careful thought to the timing of your holiday wedding to ensure maximum attendance among your guests. If you want to plan your wedding to coincide with a fun theme like St. Patrick’s Day or Halloween, it would naturally be appealing to host the event on the actual date. That said, if St. Patrick’s Day happens to fall on a Wednesday, how many of your friends and family will be able to come to your wedding to admire your green bouquet and crystal shamrock bridesmaid jewelry gifts? In some instances, it might make more sense to have your wedding on the weekend that is closest to your favorite holiday to make sure that all of the important people will be able to join you.

Some holidays are considered sacred. You would not plan a wedding on Christmas Day or Easter if you want anyone to be in attendance (nor would you be allowed to have a wedding on those dates in a church). But having a Christmas theme wedding in mid-December would be absolutely delightful. You can decorate it in gorgeous shades of red and green, using sumptuous fabrics like velvet or tartan with gold threads. Your bridesmaids can wear velvet dresses with burgundy crystal bridesmaid jewelry gifts and carry bouquets with holly sprigs in them. As long as you schedule your wedding so that it does not interfere with the family holiday plans of your guests, they will be thrilled to attend your holiday season nuptials.

Long holiday weekends like Labor Day and Memorial Day are very popular for weddings. Since most people have an extra day off work, it makes travel much easier for the invited guests, and attendance tends to be quite good. Additionally, these are not weekends that are typically very family-oriented, so most people will not mind leaving town to go to your wedding. The main consideration for these long weekends is that due to their popularity, all of the best venues and vendors are likely to book up early. Add several months to your lead time when planning for a very competitive date. Also be sure to send out a save the date notice at least six months in advance so that your guests do not make other plans for the long weekend. Something else to think about when planning a wedding around a holiday is how much of the holiday’s theme you wish to incorporate into your decorations. When planning a holiday wedding, these are the personal choices that every couple gets to make for themselves.

Easy Ways to Make Your Wedding More Eco-Friendly

One: Use Less Paper. Think about how much paper is used in a traditional wedding: save the date cards, invitations, response cards, double envelopes, bridal shower and rehearsal dinner invitations, programs, menus, escort cards, table numbers, gift wrap…the list goes on and on! It is actually pretty easy to reduce the amount of paper you use for your eco-friendly wedding. Skip the response cards, save the dates, and double envelopes. Write the reception menu on a chalkboard, bistro style. Wrap the bridesmaid jewelry gifts in pretty scarves instead of wrapping paper (plus the scarves will be nice bonus gifts in addition to the bridesmaid jewelry!). And for the essentials like the wedding invitations, opt for recycled paper or an alternative fiber paper like hemp or bamboo.

Two: Think Beyond Cut Flowers. Every wedding needs beautiful decorations. That does not mean that you necessarily need to buy hundreds or even thousands of cut flowers that will be thrown away at the end of the reception. For the centerpieces, consider potted flowering seasonal plants that can be planted in the ground after your wedding. Little pots of herbs displayed in groups in the middle of the table could be not only eco-friendly centerpieces, but can also be taken home as the wedding favors. Grow them yourself from organic seeds to save money. If you do opt for cut flowers, choose organic locally grown blossoms whenever possible.

Three: Serve Organic or Local Food. Wouldn’t your guests enjoy a wonderful meal made from wholesome fresh ingredients grown without the use of pesticides? And wouldn’t they prefer a flavorful piece of free-range chicken that is not full of hormones or antibiotics? Food that is raised or grown with care is both better for the environment and tastier. Local produce and meat are also good options, even if they are not organic. At least you will be supporting local farmers and reducing the amount of fuel used to transport the food from the farm to your reception table. Consider working with local farmers to produce something special like farmhouse cheddar or goat’s milk soap for the wedding favors.

Four:  Plan a Green Honeymoon. For couples who want a relaxing honeymoon with a reduced impact on the planet, a trip to an eco-lodge is just the thing. They are located in naturally beautiful spots around the globe, and are retreats which focus on conservation and appreciation for the local culture. At the same time, the amenities at many eco-lodges are top-notch, so don’t feel like you will be roughing it as you lounge in solar powered splendor. Isn’t it wonderful when you can green up your wedding without sacrificing a thing?

Elegant Fall Wedding Colors: Grape and Magenta

Rich colors are always beautiful for an autumn wedding. But that does not mean that the only option are traditional fall colors like orange and red. For something unexpected, consider the elegant fall wedding colors grape and magenta.

One of the great things about grape and magenta is that it will be very easy to find flowers in your signature hues. You can use roses, orchids, gladiolus, calla lilies, orchids, stocks, lisianthus, carnations, tinted seeded eucalyptus, alstromeria, and dahlias. With so many varieties, you will definitely be able to work with your florist to create the perfect bouquets, centerpieces, and ceremony arrangements. An equal mix of the two colors will look magnificent. If you wish to make your centerpieces more formal, display them in silver footed bowls or tall tapered vases.

Grape and magenta are gorgeous colors for the bridesmaid dresses. Cocktail style party dresses are a very hot trend for bridesmaids right now, and there are some fantastic ones available in deep purple. Some of the most chic are those which have a bit of a mid-century inspiration, such as a portrait neckline or cap sleeves, done in satin or dupioni. Classic pearl bridesmaid jewelry will suit these elegant silhouetted. If you like dresses with more of a modern twist, opt for a chic one shoulder dress in grape or magenta. Just steer clear of summery fabrics like chiffon and organza. Dramatic crystal bridesmaid jewelry made with amethyst colored crystals would be fantastic with modern dresses.

A unique idea for your wedding reception is to hire a lighting specialist to use your signature colors to dress the venue. A magenta colorwash would be gorgeous cast on one wall of the reception site. It is a high energy color, so consider using it during the dancing part of the evening. Another possibility is to drape the reception ceiling with white fabric (so pretty for a tented wedding) and cast the light onto the ceiling for a subtle glow. What a wonderful way to infuse your wedding with your special hues.

Rude Things That Brides Do By Accident

While the majority of brides do their best to be pleasant and polite, there are times when even a well-meaning bride does something rude. It is often accidental, but that doesn’t make it any less offensive to those people affected by the behavior. Learn about these rude things that brides do, so you can make sure to avoid these mistakes at your own wedding.

Money is often tight when planing a wedding, and one typical mistake is to put the comfort of the bride and groom above the comfort of the wedding guests. Common money-saving measures like cash bars are often seen as very rude by the guests who discover they are expected to pay for their own refreshments. This is doubly true when the couple decides to spend less on their guests so they could spend more on something for themselves like a designer wedding gown or a stretch limo. Whether you have a lot of money to spend or just a little, make your guests the top priority in your wedding budget. The same goes for your bridal party, by the way; it’s no fair skipping the bridesmaid jewelry gifts to afford a more expensive veil.

One thing that is sure to drive your guests crazy is a big gap between the wedding ceremony and the reception.  It is often a result of an early afternoon church ceremony followed by an evening reception or the couple wanting extra time for photography. While the bride and groom surely to not intend to be rude, expecting your guests to hang around for a couple of hours with nothing to do really is quite inconsiderate. If you need extra time for photography, take some pictures before the ceremony. And if your church only performs 1pm ceremonies, plan an afternoon reception that can follow, rather than scheduling an evening party that won’t start for hours.

Something else that is a common faux pas is putting bridal registry information on the wedding invitations. Brides are often talked into it by the store that set up the registry, touting it as a “convenience” for the wedding guests. Unfortunately, many guests are more likely to see it as an attempt at a gift grab than something done to make their lives easier. Avoid this perception by leaving bridal registry information off of the wedding invitations. People who are interested in shopping from a registry will ask you where you are registered. You can be sure that a bride who is thoughtful and considerate is always noticed and appreciated.

Match Your Wedding Invitations to Your Wedding Location

It is always said that the wedding invitations help to set the tone for the event. They are a wonderful way to give your guests a hint about what to expect. A fantastic way to do this is to select invitations which are inspired by the site where you will have your wedding. Learn how to match your wedding invitations to your wedding location with beautiful results.

For instance, imagine that you plan to hold your reception in the grandest hotel ballroom in town. Perhaps your vision includes chandeliers, an orchestra, a bevy of bridesmaids in designer gowns and crystal bridesmaid jewelry, and black tie attire. Convey the elegance of your wedding by selecting engraved invitations with opulent flourishes, such as hand calligraphy on the envelopes. If you wish, you could have your stationery bejeweled with crystals or adorned with a chandelier motif. Your guests will definitely know to expect a swanky wedding when they receive your elegant invitations.

Outdoor locations are extremely popular for weddings, and they tend to be a bit less formal than a ballroom wedding. Maybe you are getting married in a field of wildflowers; an invitation made from paper with petals in it would be ideal. Or perhaps you will exchange your vows with a stunning mountain view in the background. A natural choice for wedding stationery would be paper with an abstract mountain design. If you plan to tie the knot at an oceanside yacht club, a classic nautical motif like a sailboat or nautical flags would be appropriate. Couples getting married on the sand in Florida could choose stationery with a palm tree embossed on it.

A modern wedding calls for invitations which are unique and non-traditional. Let’s say that you have planned a hip reception in a modern loft and your bridesmaids will wear chic cocktail dresses with unique bridesmaid jewelry. Give guests a hint at the style of your wedding by choosing something with an ultra-modern vibe. Look for paper that is square or round, use a bold sans-serif font, and play with unexpected color combinations. When your guests receive your contemporary invitations in the mail, they will know that your wedding is not going to be a generic cookie cutter affair. By selecting wedding invitations that coordinate with your venue, you will be able to showcase the character and style of your wedding.

Colorful Flowers for Summer Weddings

What could be more cheerful than a daisy? A brightly colored gerbera daisy! These happy flowers come in virtually every color a bride could ever want for her wedding, making them a terrific choice for an informal summer wedding. Combine fuchsia and orange gerberas for a spicy summer look, pale pink and lime for a preppy ceremony, or yellow, hot pink, and orange for a casual backyard wedding. Gerbera daisies usually look best as round bouquets, but for other decorations they can be displayed in all sorts of creative ways. Hang strings of daisies behind an outdoor ceremony altar, place single stems in test tubes down the middle of a table for a modern centerpiece, or plant them in boxes of wheat grass for a whimsical design.

Zinnias are a wedding flower whose stock is on the rise. They are not as widely used as traditional blossoms like roses or peonies, but maybe they should be. Zinnias have a lot going for them: they are inexpensive, full, and come in tons of vivid hues. They are generally regarded as an informal flower and would be fantastic for a country wedding. Pop mixed colors of zinnias into vintage tea tins, white hobnail pitchers, or Mason jars for a great look. Feel free to mix and match unexpected shades of zinnias like bright purple and crimson. You might just like the combination so much that you have custom bridesmaid jewelry made to coordinate.

If you really want to make a splash, opt for dinner plate dahlias. True to their name, a single blossom is as large as a plate! It won’t take many of those stunners to create a remarkable summer wedding centerpiece or bouquet. Dahlias can be found in a gorgeous array of vivid hues like yellow, red, pink, purple, and orange. Some of the most spectacular dahlias are variegated blossoms with more than one color per flower. Picture enormous flowers in orange and yellow, pink and white, or red and white and you get the idea. A single dinner plate dahlia tied with a satin ribbon would be a very chic bouquet for a bridesmaid. It would look marvelous with a polished cotton strapless bridesmaid dress and custom bridesmaid jewelry in a coordinating shade.

Colorful flowers will add a festive and cheerful flavor to your wedding. Whether you mix in a few with more classic white and pastel blossoms or go for an all out explosion of color, the bright flowers will look fabulous. The upbeat hues are just perfect for a summer wedding.

Sophisticated Gifts for Your Wedding Party

Gifts of bridesmaid jewelry are among the most traditional for wedding parties. The wonderful thing about jewelry is that there is a piece of jewelry which will suit the taste of any woman. When you seek bridesmaid jewelry gifts which are sophisticated and stylish, look for pieces made with unique design elements. A pair of keshi pearl drop earrings is a chic gift for the bridesmaid who loves fashion. For your maid of honor, add a necklace with keshi pearls strung on a fine silver chain.

Bridesmaids who adore beautiful things will also enjoy receiving sophisticated gifts of silver. A monogrammed silver compact mirror would be a terrific bridesmaid gift for your friend who likes designer bags. After all, she wouldn’t want to pull a cheap plastic mirror out of her fabulous handbag! For your bridesmaid who likes home decorating, a chic silver picture frame with her initials is an elegant wedding party gift. If you have a friend who is crazy for jewelry, a great gift idea is a small engraved silver jewelry box to hold her most treasured pieces. It is perfectly fine to choose a different personalized silver present for each attendant, as long as they are all of comparable value.

Let’s not forget about the men in the wedding party. Groomsmen deserve sophisticated gifts too! A terrific present for a formal wedding is a pair of monogrammed silver cufflinks that can be worn for the ceremony. Choose oval cufflinks for the men who have the most classic taste and square ones for the guys who like more modern streamlined style. Executive silver gifts are also highly appropriate for a group of groomsmen who are mature and successful professionals. An engraved silver business card holder will make a handsome addition to a man’s briefcase or desk. Pen sets and silver plated USB flash drives are also very sophisticated choices.

Personalized leather gifts are another excellent idea for the groomsman with sophisticated taste. A leather portfolio is a nice choice for a lawyer or any professional who needs to keep a notepad handy. Or how about a monogrammed leather passport cover for your best man, the world traveler? A customized leather and plaid covered flask will add style to a tailgate party for your buddy the college football fan. As with the bridesmaid gifts, groomsmen gifts can be chosen for each individual, or you can select one item that you think the whole group will like.

A Wonderful Wedding Whatever the Weather

Wedding day rain is the most common weather challenge faced by brides. You plan for every tiny detail of your wedding, right down to the custom bridesmaid jewelry for your attendants, but the one variable which is completely out of your control is the weather. Rather than let a rainy day give you the blues, it is important to put your inclement weather plan into effect. You do have a plan for rain on your wedding day, right? If your wedding is scheduled to take place outdoors, a solid “Plan B” is essential.

So what should you do if rain threatens? Step one is to round up an army of golf umbrellas and enlist the ushers to cover guests as they arrive. If your ceremony or reception is to take place outside, you must either have an indoor location as a back up or have a tent erected. When reserving a tent, be sure to also get a floor installed if it has been raining before the tent goes up. Otherwise, your guests will have dry heads, but muddy feet. The last thing you want is to have the bride in all her finery and the bridesmaids looking lovely in their gowns and pretty bridesmaid jewelry dragging their soggy hems through the wet grass.

Rain is the most typical wedding day weather problem, but there are other things to be considered. Winter brides may need to contend with snowstorms or sub-zero temperatures. You might not think that cold weather is a big deal, unless you have ever found your car battery dead on a freezing cold day – what if that was your wedding transportation? For wintery weather, your biggest ally is time. Rather than dressing at home and then heading to the church thirty minutes before the wedding, leave several hours early and dress at the ceremony venue if at all possible. That way you will definitely be there on time. If a snowstorm is in the forecast for your wedding day, make sure to arrange for four wheel drive transportation for all of the wedding party and your immediate families so that no one is left stranded. It would be a nice touch to reward your wedding guests for braving the wintery weather with a hot toddy awaiting them when they arrive at your wedding. It will quickly take the chill off and get everyone in a festive mood for your special day.

For most brides, rain on their wedding day turns out to be little more than a theoretical worry. But a little planning can go a long way towards ensuring that if Mother Nature does unleash her fury, you will be able to go on to have the wedding of your dreams.

How to Style Neutral Bridesmaid Dresses

Shades of gray have been surprisingly popular for bridesmaids in the last few seasons. While colors like deep charcoal or slate gray do not exactly scream festive, they have become beloved for their sophistication and elegance.  Take a charcoal dress from drab to fab by adding intense pops of color in the flowers and accessories. For a summer soiree, bright colors like canary yellow look marvelous as a contrast to a deep gray hue. Pin a yellow organza blossom to the waist of a long charcoal gray gown to give it a quirky style. Yellow blossoms such as orchids, billy balls, or classic roses will stand out beautifully against a neutral dress.

Another excellent neutral color for bridesmaid dresses is navy blue. It is an ideal choice for a wedding with a classic sensibility, and will definitely be easy to wear again down the road.  To give this classic color a festive appeal, start with elegant pearl bridesmaid jewelry sets. Then bring in pops of color to liven up the navy dresses. Red, lime green, and pink are the best choices for accent shades. A red belt and red espadrilles would be darling for a nautical wedding. Lime green with navy looks fresh and summery. It could be added in the form of a patterned sash to strapless navy faille dresses, or you could add bold lime green crystal bridesmaid jewelry sets to flowy navy chiffon dresses for a funky summer look.

Champagne is another timeless neutral for bridesmaid dresses. Play up the richness of the color with deep chocolate accents. Start with a simple champagne satin dress with a column silhouette and use it as the base to create something really spectacular. For a winter wedding, how about adding a brown fur stole tied with a wide satin bow to each gown? Layer on custom sets of bridesmaid jewelry in bronze colored crystals, and chocolate velvet evening shoes for a truly spectacular style. If your wedding is in the summer months, use a lighter metallic such as bronze to bring out the rich tones of the champagne dresses. Wrap a wide obi style sash around the waists of the dresses and pin gorgeous vintage brooches to them. Your bridesmaids will feel like movie stars instead of mere wedding attendants!

A final neutral shade to think about is ivory. In the wake of the Pippa Middleton’s bridesmaid dress at the royal wedding, we are sure to see more brides going with ivory dresses for their attendants. Keep the look very light and ethereal by styling ivory gowns with bouquets in the palest shades of pink and peach. Champagne colored silk sandals will look less bridal than matching ivory shoes. Simple pearl and crystal bridesmaid jewelry will be the perfect understated finishing touch. Now you know – a neutral color can make a very grand statement.

A Silver and Gold Theme Wedding

Silver and gold is a wedding theme which can be used at any time of the year. If you wish, add an accent color in a seasonal hue to tailor it to the time of the year in which you will be married. Silver, gold, and pink are delicate and romantic for a formal spring wedding. Or add burgundy for a rich autumn color palette. Black, gold, and silver look spectacular for a New Year’s Eve wedding. Or simply enhance the metallic hues by pairing them with white, cream, or pale champagne. The results will be stunning.

Your bridesmaid dresses are a great place to introduce your wedding colors. Choose a dress in either silver or gold, unless you happen to find an elegant jacquard dress which combines both metallic hues equally. Clear crystal bridesmaid jewelry is always an excellent choice with a metallic dress. Bouquets of beautiful white or ivory blossoms such as roses, orchids, peonies, or calla lilies will be perfect when tied with a silver and gold ribbon. The bride can choose a wedding gown with metallic embroidery, wear silver or gold shoes, and carry a white bouquet tied with metallic ribbon.

Painted accents are a wonderful way to bring the silver and gold wedding colors into the floral arrangements for the ceremony and reception. Tall branches can be painted in metallic colors to add drama and elegance to centerpieces and altar arrangements. Decorate them with white roses, orchids, and hanging crystals for a spectacular design. For a fall or winter wedding, natural elements such as pine cones will look great painted gold or silver. You can dip the edges in glitter for an extra bit of sparkle, if you like. Wire your metallic pine cones into bouquets and centerpieces for an unexpected detail. Non-floral decorations such as metallic Christmas ornaments or metallic vases are another great way to bring your wedding theme into the centerpieces.

For the wedding reception, choose either silver or gold silk dupioni tablecloths. Quilted silk cloths are also extremely elegant. You can layer in napkins in the other signature metallic shade. You may also wish to rent gold or silver chiavari chairs for the seating. Select china with a silver and gold scroll design around the border for a rich effect. You may also wish to rent heavy silverware which is both silver and gold to set your regal table. Even place cards and menu cards can have a metallic edge to add to the look.  Any formal wedding could be enhanced with a regal silver and gold color palette.