Big City Weddings

There are many wonderful places to have a wedding, but none can beat a major metropolis for excitement and drama. The options for venues are nearly endless, meaning that you can have virtually any style of wedding that your heart desires. Here are some ideas for planning fabulous big city weddings.

The first step is to decide on a venue. Most cities offer infinite possibilities. If your vision of a dream wedding includes a grand ballroom, a dramatic wedding gown, and custom bridal jewelry, look into the ballroom of a top notch hotel. They will often be lavishly decorated with gilt details, dazzling crystal chandeliers, and impressive entrances. Imagine yourself pulling up to the most gorgeous hotel in the city, resplendent in your designer bridal gown and stunning custom jewelry – if this makes your heart beat faster, then a grand ballroom wedding is perfect for you.

On the other hand, many people who live in cities like things which are more minimal and edgy. For these couples, a wedding in an urban loft can be ideal. Most lofts which are available for weddings and events are wide open spaces with huge windows. Talk about a blank canvas upon which to paint your dream wedding. Decorate the loft with rented lounge furniture, unusual centerpieces, and custom lighting. Loft spaces lend themselves to weddings with a predominantly younger crowd; the older generation might not get the appeal of a raw space.

Even nature lovers can find plenty to please them in a city wedding venue. Most major cities have breathtaking botanical gardens which can be used for weddings. You can have a totally romantic garden wedding right in the heart of a big city. For many couples this can be the perfect solution, as you will be able to be married surrounded by an abundance of flowers without the hassle of planning a wedding out in the countryside far from your place in the city. There could surely be no better way to celebrate both your love for each other and your native city.

Sophisticated Orange Wedding Bouquets

When planning wedding bouquets, naturally it all starts with the flowers. There are many flowers available in orange, and they will each create their own special mood. Do not think that the only orange flowers available will be autumnal mums or casual gerbera daisies; some of the most glamorous blossoms of all come in stunning shades of orange. To keep the effect really strong, consider creating bouquets entirely out orange flowers, perhaps with a few accents of a secondary color mixed in for more drama. Purple and lime green will create especially nice contrasts against the orange.

Nothing is more exotic and sophisticated than orchids. Gorgeous orange Vanda orchids look absolutely breathtaking wired into showy bouquets. These are the perfect flower for a bride with exquisite taste who wants something eyecatching and unique for her bouquet. If you love the idea of custom bridal jewelry (perhaps even bridal jewelry custom made with a touch of orange?), handcrafted letterpress invitations, and a couture bridal gown, you will adore marvelous Vanda orchids.

If you are looking for a really romantic orange flower for your wedding, think about ruffly parrot tulips. They make a gorgeous bouquet, one that is chic and upscale. At the same time, parrot tulips look like the type of flower that could be seen spilling out of a vase in an Old Masters painting. They are truly beautiful, and are a great bouquet option for any bride who like tulips, but wants to take them to the next level.

No discussion of wedding flowers would be complete without talking about lilies. One of the most popular wedding blossoms, big showy lilies add instant flair to a sophisticated bouquet. Especially dramatic are exotic Gloriosa lilies with their large petals. Ideal for Asian inspired bouquets and centerpieces, orange Gloriosa lilies have an unmatched glamor perfect for the bride who really wants something special for her wedding flowers.

Hit the Road With Your Wedding Gown

Planning a wedding far from your home? Then you will need to know how to select a wedding gown that travels well and what to do to make sure that it arrives at the wedding destination looking great. These are the top tips on how to hit the road with your wedding gown.

Lightweight gowns will be the easiest to carry around, and they also are among the nicest options for destination weddings at the beach. Lighter-than-air fabrics like chiffon and tulle will be much easier to gently fold in a carry on bag if you are flying than a heavy or stiff fabric like satin. Never ever check your wedding gown! It must always be carried aboard the plane, even if you have to stuff it into a tiny duffel bag. That is one reason why a filmy chiffon is preferable to a bulky satin wedding gown with a big crinoline and a long train. If you wish to make a lightweight gown more formal, simply layer on special custom bridal jewelry and an embellished veil.

Another fabric which might not initially come to mind as one that travels well is lace. An all over lace gown will show very few creases and holds its shape very well. Lace wedding dresses can run the range from traditional Alencon to filmy Chantilly, so there is really a style for almost any bride. If you like sparkle, choose a beaded lace. Just be careful when the gown is packed that the beads won’t snag the lace if the dress shifts in the bag en route to your destination.

Travelling by car is significantly easier than by air when your wedding site is within driving distance. The most important thing to remember is to pack your gown into the car last. You don’t want a big suitcase on top of it crushing the bodice! With a little advance planning, you will be able to get your bridal gown to your wedding site in tip top shape.

Design the Custom Bridal Gown of Your Dreams

The bridal gown is one of the centerpieces of any wedding, but what happens if you cannot find the perfect one? Perhaps you are hoping for a unique gown, or one that fits in with your wedding theme, or maybe you are just not a perfect size 6. There are are many good reasons why a bride might decide that she wants to have a dress made especially for her; here is what you need to know to design the wedding gown of your dreams.

When you are interested in designing your own bridal gown, the first step is to do your research. Look through magazines and on the internet to get a sense of what appeals to you. The chances are that you will not come across one gown that has all of the features that you like; if that were the case, you could just order that one and be done with it. At your first custom consultation, you should be prepared to show the seamstress ideas of what you would like. It is perfectly fine to say, “I like the top of this gown, the bottom of that one, and the color of a third gown”. A talented designer will be able to help you see how all of the various parts and pieces can serve as inspiration for one fabulous gown.

Many brides will have tried on a number of wedding dresses before realizing that they would be better off having a gown custom made. This is very useful, as it can give you a good sense of what is flattering to your body and what is not. Don’t worry if you are confused about all of the different options! The seamstress will be able to guide you. She will also be able to make suggestions on how to best highlight your favorite features of your figure and to camouflage any problem areas. Be open to her ideas; you might not come away with the exact bridal gown you initially envisioned, but you may well end up with something even more beautiful.

Once the basic shape and style of your gown has been determined, you will be able to make choices about the fabric, color, and any embellishments. This is a lot of fun! You will get the chance to explore various trims and notions until you find one that you simply love. The options will be wide open, ranging from traditional lace to glamorous crystal beadwork to delicate embroidery. Many brides will opt to have custom bridal jewelry and headpieces designed that play up the most special features in their one-of-a-kind gowns. Designing a custom bridal gown can be one of the best parts of planning your wedding.

Centerpieces for Halloween Weddings

If your wedding is taking place on Halloween, the big day is right around the corner! Along with the usual decorations, you will surely want to have spectacular centerpieces that fit with the theme of your wedding. From the classic to the unexpected, these are some great ideas for Halloween wedding centerpieces.

The most classic way to design a Halloween wedding is to really take the theme of the holiday and run with it. This might mean the bride in a non-traditional red or black dress with custom bridal jewelry, rather than the traditional white gown and demure accessories. If this sounds like your style, then personalized jack o’lanterns would be ideal for your centerpieces. This is no time for the basic face on a pumpkin, however; your wedding decorations call for something intricate and spectacular. Carve each pumpkin with a different spooky scene, such as a graveyard, complete with the initials of the newlyweds on one of the tombstones!

Another idea for jack o’lantern centerpieces is to use three smallish pumpkins and place them on a tiered stand, like the sort typically used for pies. Designs to consider would be the newlyweds’ monogram, Halloween motifs such as black cats and monsters, or even the faces of the bride and groom, if you have a talented enough pumpkin carver (rendering an accurate likeness is actually not as hard as it sounds). At the base of the three tiered stand, place clusters of fall flowers like mums and asters for more color.

Tall black candelabras with dark red taper candles would look magnificent on the dinner tables for a Halloween wedding. Dark red roses like Black Magic or flowers in a deep purple would be the perfect complement to the black candelabras. You can have the flowers dripping off of the candelabras or surrounding them in vases with a Gothic flair. Either way, the results will be impressive. You can be sure that your wedding will be one that no one will ever forget!

Should a Bride Hide Her Tattoos?

Every generation of brides faces unique questions as they prepare for their weddings. When our mothers got married, it was probably something like, “Can I get away with a bridal gown with bare shoulders for a church wedding?”. For a lot of today’s brides, the overwhelming dilemma is what to do about her tattoos; should she show them, hide them, or what? These are some of the considerations to help you decide.

One of the biggest issues in the tattoo dilemma often involves the mother of the bride. Most moms are not interested in seeing body art on their daughters during the wedding ceremony. Sometimes this can present an opportunity for compromise. The bride agrees to cover her ink for the ceremony, but does not hide it for the reception. This can be a good solution, particularly if the wedding ceremony is going to be traditional.

If you decide to hide a tattoo for the ceremony, there are a few ways in which it can be done, depending on where it is. One possibility is to get special tattoo covering makeup. The effectiveness of this tactic will depend on the size and color of the tattoo. This can be an option for tattoos that are in hard to cover places such as hands or arms. Do be aware that makeup can tend to smear, especially after a night on the dance floor.

Tattoos on the back of the shoulder are very popular, and they can be concealed for the ceremony with a shrug worn over the bridal gown. A cool way to hide a tattoo on the wrist or neck is with custom bridal jewelry. An extra wide bracelet created from rows of crystals and pearls will add style to your bridal ensemble as well as hiding a wrist tattoo. If the body art you wish to cover is on the neck, then custom bridal jewelry in the form of a beautiful choker will do the trick.

The decision of whether or not to hide a tattoo for your wedding is an entirely personal one, although family and social pressure will often come into play, as well. Ultimately, each bride has to make the choice that will make her happy, while showing respect for her family and their customs.

Pink and Black Wedding Style

Pink and black make a striking pair. Pink is soft and ultra-feminine, where black is dark and sophisticated. When the two are put together, you get a high contrast and high style palette that will add instant flair to your wedding.

There are some great ways in which pink and black can be used for a wedding. One idea is to go with a retro 1950s theme. The color combination of pink and black was very popular in mid century fashion, and it can provide a really cool look for a wedding. Picture the bridesmaids in knee length pink satin strapless cocktail dresses with black tulle peeking out from the hem. Add a black sash at the waist with an oversized fabric flower for a lovely detail. Finish off their look with custom bridal jewelry made from pink Swarovski pearls and jet black crystals.

Pink and black can also have a wonderful modern Victoriana flavor. This would be wonderful for a formal or evening wedding. Use motifs like intricate swirls, scrollwork, and brocade designs. A pink background with thin black scrolls would be an elegant and chic design around which to base your wedding. You could start by using it for the wedding invitations, and branch out from there.

There are some marvelous things you could do for wedding flowers with these colors. Any flower you could ever desire is available in pink. For the bridal bouquets, trim the flower stems with braided pink and black satin ribbons. Or add drama to an evening wedding by combining glamorous black feathers with pink flowers for centerpieces and bouquets.

Your wedding cake is a perfect place to showcase your wedding colors and design scheme. A pink fondant cake can be decorated with black in a variety of gorgeous ways. One of the most elegant would be a modern damask pattern. For something more dainty, try tiny black Swiss dots on a pink cake. Trim each layer with a gum paste ribbon and “bow”. Have fun planning a marvelous wedding all done in shades of pink and black.

The Best New Dresses for the Mother of the Bride

The mother of the bride used to have to resign herself to wearing an unflattering matronly dress. Mother of the bride ensembles have come a long way, however, and it is now possible to find dresses that are stylish, figure flattering, and very pretty. These are the best new dresses for the mother of the bride and groom.

One of the biggest trends for mothers of the bride are two piece ensembles. These usually consist of a long dress worn with a short fitted jacket. This can be a great style, because you will have the appropriate amount of coverage for a formal ceremony, but you can remove the jacket to be comfortable during the reception. A jacket will also allow more mobility of the arms than a dress with fitted long sleeves.

Mother of the bride dresses are definitely more slender and figure flattering than they used to be. You no longer have to look like the Queen Mum just because your daughter is getting married! Many of the dresses feature nicely fitted strapless bodices (to be worn with a jacket) or wide v-necks with cap sleeves. For the more fashion forward moms, there are even one shouldered gowns that look like they are straight from the red carpet. Ruffles are another hot fashion trend that is being seen in some of the mother of the bride ensembles.

Other big trends in mother of the bride dresses include fluted skirts, short trains, and waists with special details. Sashes, ribbons, and brooches at the waistline are all in style right now. As for your accessories, look for pieces like custom bridal jewelry that can be made in crystals to coordinate with your dress. Many of the shops that specialize in custom making bridal jewelry for the bride and her bridesmaids will also make unique and special necklaces, earrings, and bracelets for the mother of the bride to make sure that she looks just as fabulous as the rest of the wedding party.

The perfect mother of the bride dress is out there. Flip through magazines and look online to get ideas of the styles that appeal to you before you start shopping. That way, you will have printed examples to help the bridal consultant steer you to a mother of the bride ensemble that you will actually love wearing.

Wedding Splurges You Won’t Regret

Everyone knows that weddings are expensive, and for most brides it is not possible to get everything that they would like to have. However, just as there are some things that it is worth trying to save money on, there are other times when a little splurge is definitely warranted. These are some of the wedding splurges that you won’t regret.

The number one splurge that you won’t regret is your wedding gown. Sure, there are some affordable options out there. And yes, you only wear the dress for one day. However, it happens to be one of the most special days of your life, and certainly the one occasion for which you want to look and feel your absolute best. The perfect wedding dress, the one of your dreams, will truly make you feel like a different person when you put it on. If you find a gown that makes your heart sing, buy it. You will never regret it.

Number two on the list would have to be investing in an outstanding wedding photographer. If you ask frugal brides for one thing that they should have spent more on, chances are it will be the photographer. Hiring a student or letting your uncle be in charge of recording your most precious memories is a decision that you will regret from the first moment that you see your wedding photos, and every time that you look at your wedding album for the rest of your life. It is definitely worth it to invest in a top notch photographer who will take the kind of artistic photos that you will enjoy forever.

Another splurge-worthy wedding item is the bridal jewelry.  In the long run, buying a cheap ring just doesn’t pay. On the other hand, you do not need to invest a fortune into your wedding necklace and earring set. You can have beautiful bridal jewelry custom made from freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals that will not hurt your budget. Custom bridal jewelry can look like a splurge, but actually be an area where you save.

Those are the universal splurges, and then there are those that will depend more on the individual preferences of the bride and groom. If you and your families absolutely love to dance, then a great band might be your best splurge. I once attended a big Irish wedding where the splurge was on two bars instead of one.  Really, your best wedding splurge will be on the one (or two!) things that will mean the most to you. If there is something that will make your day a true dream come true, then go ahead and indulge, just this once.

Serene Blue Wedding Accents

We all know that weddings can be almost as stressful as they are magical. Wouldn’t it be nice if your wedding could feel like a peaceful oasis? Color can have a profound influence on the way we feel, and it can be a wonderful tool to create the mood that you desire for your wedding. A great place to start creating your own blissful wedding is with these serene blue accents.

A gentle pale blue is incredibly easy to use in a wedding, and it combines seamlessly with other colors.  The wonderful thing about this color combination is that it can be used for almost any style of wedding. It can be stunning for a formal wedding when you use luxe patterns like a silver and blue damask motif. Or it can be very Zen and modern when combined with contemporary elements and accents. The choice is entirely yours.

The serene blue also combines wonderfully with lavender for a bit more depth. You won’t find many flowers that come in a true ice-blue shade, but there are some lovely feminine flowers that are bluish-lavender. Some of the prettiest blossoms include, classic hydrangeas, grape-like muscari, lovely delphinium, and ruffly sweetpeas. Create a bouquet combining the different bluish shades, or choose a single type of flower, and use a mixture of white and blue blooms.

Of course the bride will want to feel as serene as possible on her wedding day, so a touch of relaxing blue on the bridal gown would be a wonderful idea. A simple blue sash at the waist is a pretty way to introduce a colored accent into the bridal ensemble. And don’t forget about a special set of custom bridal jewelry incorporating your signature color. Pale blue crystals look divine when used in combination with radiant white pearls for an unforgettable set of bridal jewelry that was custom made just for you.

There are numerous other ways that a serene blue can be used in the wedding.  A sea of pale blue details will help to create a tranquil and blissful environment in which to celebrate your marriage surrounded by your nearest and dearest.