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.

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.

Wedding Day Transportation

When you are planning a wedding, it is important not to overlook any of the important details, like how you will get there. It is not only the bride and groom who require transportation either, the entire wedding party (and sometimes even the entire wedding) must be accounted for. Here is what you need to know about wedding day transportation.

First of all, the bride needs a way to get to the ceremony site, as do her bridesmaids. It is customary for all the members of the bridal party to assemble in one place to get dressed. This is a fun ritual, and it is also very practical, as the attendants can help each other with zippers, clasps on bridesmaid jewelry, etc. (Certainly someone will also need to help the bride get ready also.) Usually the bride and her attendants will travel together to the ceremony site in a limo. This is very convenient and it ensures no stragglers.

The men will often make their own way to the ceremony site in their own cars, but they may also hire a car if they wish. From there, it is time to get from the ceremony site to the reception venue. The bride and groom will travel together in the same limo which she rode in with the bridesmaids. No one else should ride in the car with the newlyweds, as this is their special private time to share together. Of course, there are other options, such as renting an antique car, a horse and carriage, or even a tandem bicycle.

At the end of the evening, more transportation will be needed. The bride and groom will need some sort of vehicle for their grand exit. It is a very fun part of a wedding when the newlyweds dash off together to their waiting car while their guests cheer and wish them well. A tip for the wedding guests: if your friends have hired an antique Bentley as their getaway vehicle, the chauffeur may not take kindly to having it decked out with “Just Married” written on the windows in soap or lipstick, so tread lightly!

Unique Ways to Decorate With Wedding Flowers

Flowers are a staple at any wedding, and there is no doubt that they add beauty and romance. Of course every bride knows about basic bouquets and centerpieces, but there are many other original ways in which to use flowers to enhance a wedding. These are some of the most unique ideas on how to decorate your wedding with flowers.

For a truly striking effect, rent clear fillable tables for your reception. Made from clear glass, the tables are essentially flat boxes which can be filled with whatever you like. An absolutely gorgeous look is to stuff the tabletops with fresh flowers. Choose something that is very round and full like hydrangeas or carnations. Skip the tablecloths and floral centerpieces. Use candles in the middle of the table, or for a pop of color, fill a tall clear footed vase with limes or green apples (depending on the season). Your guests will be blown away by your ultra cool tables!

One of the best ways to achieve a strong impact in your wedding design is to select a color motif to carry throughout in everything from the invitations to the flowers to the bridesmaid dresses and jewelry. Unique floral displays can play a part in this concept, because they allow you to layer your flowers in eyecatching ways. For example, let’s say that you have decided that your color palette will be shades of blue: hyacinth colored crystal bridesmaid jewelry, blue hydrangea bouquets, and so forth. A great way to incorporate more blue flowers is to hang hyacinth blossoms in long strands behind the altar or along a wall. This is a dramatic vertical feature that can really help to define a space and would layer wonderfully with the main floral displays.

When you are seeking fresh ideas on how to decorate your wedding with flowers, take a look at submerged centerpieces. This is a great trend which is easy to design with a florist or to do yourself. Take a striking flower such as orchids and arrange a few stems of them within a tall clear vessel and fill with water until the flowers are submerged. This is often done with a square vase for a modern flair, and it looks absolutely wonderful.

The Prettiest Pink Wedding Centerpieces

There are so many wonderful options for pink centerpieces out there that the first step is to narrow it down to the style that is best for your wedding. For instance, if your bridesmaid dresses are pink and green striped A-line dresses which will be accented with pearl jewelry, take a look at the preppy centerpiece suggestions. If your style is more contemporary, such as charcoal gray bridesmaid dresses with simple crystal bridesmaid jewelry, then you will enjoy the modern pink centerpieces. For those brides who love the customs and heritage of weddings, the traditional centerpieces will be your cup of tea.

Preppy pink wedding centerpieces are cheerful and perky, with fairly traditional flower choices. They will always be lush and beautiful, but need not be fussy or formal. A perfect example would be big fat garden peonies in silver mint julep cups. Set one at each place setting and fill the center of the table with a candle in a hurricane lantern. This is a great look for an outdoor wedding.

Brides who want something more contemporary and chic will love the look of submerged flower centerpieces. Take a branch of pink berries and submerge in a tall clear cylinder filled with water. These centerpieces are simple yet striking. You can also layer in other vessels of submerged flowers, like bouquets of pink tulips and exotic pink orchids. The resulting centerpiece design will be clean and modern, yet breathtakingly beautiful.

Traditional brides will find countless pleasing ideas for pink centerpieces. One of the most classic is a lovely mixed bouquet of flowers in a range of pinks set into a simple round clear vase. Include roses, lisyanthius, sweetpeas, and tulips for an utterly romantic effect. If you should happen to be a May bride, delicate pink lily-of-the-valley would make darling table decorations. They are fairly small, so they are best used either as an accent to more substantial pink blossoms like roses, or as centerpieces which feature clusters of vases to give the tiny flowers more presence. Pink is such a lovely color that it is the ideal accent for almost any style of wedding.

Incredible Green Wedding Flowers

Green is a wonderfully fresh color to use for a wedding. You might not think that it would be easy to find beautiful flowers in a green hue, but there are actually quite a few gorgeous green options for wedding bouquets and centerpieces. This is a guide to help you select the most incredible green flowers for your wedding.

One of the favorite green wedding flowers would have to be the hydrangea. The tightly clustered full blossoms of this summer classic make the hydrangea a very versatile choice for almost any style of wedding. For a preppy wedding, pair green hydrangea with pink ones, or mix the green blooms with other pink flowers like peonies. Don’t forget to wrap it all up with a pink and green grosgrain striped ribbon and custom sets of pink and green bridesmaid jewelry for your attendants!

For an extremely elegant effect, green orchids are ideal. Cymbidium orchids are available in a fabulous lime green, either all one color or with a contrasting spotted lip. Lady slipper orchids come in a lovely soft green shade, and glamorous dendrobium orchids can be found in a bright green. The green orchids work marvelously in submerged flower centerpieces, as well as for the wedding bouquets.

Irish brides can honor their heritage by including Bells of Ireland in their wedding bouquets or reception arrangements. These tall flowers with multiple blooms per stem work best in combination with another flower. Their fresh green shade makes Bells of Ireland a natural choice to add character to an otherwise white wedding bouquet. To enhance the green and white theme of the bouquets, think about adding a scattering of green crystals to white pearl bridal and bridesmaid jewelry. This would be a fantastic look with navy blue bridesmaid dresses. Whether you choose all-green bouquets or prefer to use green as an accent color, one thing is certain: green is a fresh and exciting color to include in your wedding flowers.

Resources for Budget Brides

Planning a wedding on a budget can be a big challenge, but it is well worth the effort. To keep you on track and under budget, you will need some guidance along the way. These are some of the best resources for budget brides.

Start by picking up a wedding etiquette and planning book that is geared towards low-cost weddings. One of the most popular ones is “Bridal Bargains, 9^th edition: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget”. Another useful tool is a wedding budget spreadsheet or expense tracker. There are basic free ones available online, or you can design something more detailed that is tailored to your wedding. Because it is not good enough to know how to save money; you need to keep a tally of your spending as well to stay in budget.

The internet is a fantastic resource for brides. You can find articles with tips on saving money on everything from your wedding centerpieces to your bridal gown to the food and music. It is also a great place to do price comparisons and to find excellent prices on many of your wedding details. For instance, you may well find that bridesmaid jewelry can be purchased online for a much lower cost than at the bridal shop where you got your dresses. People who research their purchases beforehand will tend to get the most value for their money.

A wedding planner can be another helpful resource for a bride on a budget. This may surprise you to hear, as most people assume that planners are hired only for lavish weddings. However, there are planners that specialize in helping to create elegance on a budget, and one of those coordinators can be an excellent tool in helping you find the best prices without sacrificing style.  They may not be necessary for every couple, but in some cases, having a wedding planner can make all the difference.

Red Winter Wedding Flowers

Red is one of the most fabulous colors for winter wedding flowers. It is rich, passionate, and seasonal. These are some of the most beautiful red centerpiece and bouquet ideas for winter weddings.

Red roses are the ultimate expression of love and passion. They are certainly an enduring favorite for late winter weddings around Valentine’s Day, but they are equally beautiful for any winter affair. One of the most striking way to use red roses for wedding bouquets is to create the bouquets entirely from the same variety of roses tightly packed into a classic round nosegay. If your wedding style is dramatic, opt for deep dark red roses, or choose a vibrant true red for a Christmas wedding.

Seasonal accents can be used to make special red rose winter bouquets and centerpieces. For a wedding in December, a clear footed urn can be filled with different sizes of round Christmas ornaments before being topped with an arrangement of red roses, red hypericum berries, and evergreen. Keep the look sophisticated by filling the vase with red balls mixed with frosted silver or moss green balls, which are an unexpected departure from a traditional holiday green color.

A showy tropical blossom that is popular in the winter is amaryllis, which are forced from bulbs. You can make striking bouquets by accenting the amaryllis with large red crystals and glass beads woven into the flowers. Imagine how pretty that would look if your attendants were wearing red crystal bridesmaid jewelry. Speaking of bridesmaids, be careful not to create a look for them that is completely monochromatic. If they are wearing red dresses accented with handmade red crystal bridesmaid jewelry, make their bouquets from variegated white and red amaryllis, or from red amaryllis mixed with white lilies or roses.

There is no end to the gorgeous red flowers a bride can choose for her winter wedding. From tulips to calla lilies to ranunculus, there is a red flower that will be ideal for your bouquet and centerpiece designs.