Wedding Flowers For Every Season

You are probably familiar with birthstones, the tradition that people born in each month have a special gemstone. But did you know that there is also a flower associated with every month of the year? When you are planning a wedding, it is a wonderful idea to incorporate meaningful flowers into your bouquet. It would be lovely to include either the flower for your birth month or the special blossom for the month in which you will be wed. This is a guide to some of the best wedding flowers by month.

The flower for January is the carnation. This is a humble flower, but one that can easily be elevated to modern chic by the way in which it is arranged. Mound loads of carnations in tight clusters to create nifty pomanders and centerpieces in footed urns.  March ushers in the first breath of spring, and along with it the most quintessential spring flower: the daffodil. This cheerful yellow (or yellow and white) bloom is the perfect way to chase away the gloom of winter. Mini daffodils work especially well in bouquets.

One of the most beloved of all wedding flowers is the birth flower of May, which is lily-of-the-valley. The tiny white or lilac colored blossoms make for lovely bouquets. June is known as the month for brides, and so it can be no accident that two of brides’ favorite things are also associated with the month of June. Classic roses and pearl bridal jewelry are both the symbols of June birth, and are cherished by women being wed in every month of the year.

Autumn born brides can enjoy flowers in rich fall tones. The aster is the September flower, and it is available in a great shade of red. The casual daisy-like aster also comes in pretty shades of purple and white. The flower for October is the marigold. Infrequently seen at weddings, the hardy marigold could nonetheless make a nice addition. The orange shades of the signature flower can be enhanced by pairing it with bridal jewelry created from opal colored Swarovski crystals (opal being the October birthstone).

And finally, there is the Narcissus, which is December’s flower. A beautiful bulb that is often forced in pots over the winter months, tiny pots with a single Narcissus would be fantastic as table decorations that could double as favors for your guests to take home.

Selecting the Perfect Jewelry for Everyone in Your Wedding

In many cultures, the ceremonial wedding jewelry that a bride wears is passed down as a family heirloom through generations of brides. Even if your family does not have any special wedding jewelry customs, you will still want to find just the right pieces for your bridesmaids, your mothers, and even yourself! This is how to select the perfect jewelry for everyone in your wedding.

First of all, let’s begin with the bride, who is after all, the star of the wedding day. The bride’s jewelry needs to do a variety of things. It should complement her face and hairstyle, it must match the bridal gown, and it should tie in with the general theme or style of the wedding. Most bridal jewelry is created from pearls or crystals, which are fantastic because of their beauty and versatility. Many brides like the combination because the pearls are such a classic bridal look, but the crystals can add a touch of glamor and modern elegance.

When shopping for bridal jewelry sets, you will definitely want to pick one that features at least a necklace with a coordinating earrings. Even if you do not wear a bracelet every day, it can be nice to have a special one for your wedding, which is certainly not just like any other day. The pieces can be delicate, such as airy tin cup necklaces and bracelets, which are great for an outdoor or beach wedding. Or you can go for a designer inspired look, and layer strands of pearls over a streamlined gown, just like Coco Chanel would have done.

Bridesmaid jewelry is very popular for gifts. This is the first choice for most brides when they are looking for that little something to show their appreciation for their attendants. And yet, picking out jewelry for another person can be a bit more daunting than trying to choose something for yourself. A great place to start is by looking for bridesmaid jewelry sets that can be custom ordered to your specifications. Having pieces handcrafted with sparkling Swarovksi crystals in your wedding colors is a fabulous idea.

Sometimes overlooked are the mothers of the bride and groom. It is a very thoughtful gesture for the bride and groom to give a special piece of wedding jewelry to their moms before the wedding. Look for pieces that have a style and sophistication suitable for a more mature woman. Most mothers of the bride and groom will already have the staples of a jewelry wardrobe, so more exotic choices, like black pearls, will be much appreciated. The jewelry that you select for your wedding will make a wonderful reminder of your special day every time that it is worn.

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.

Fabulous Non-Floral Centerpieces

Flowers are a beautiful part of any wedding. But when it comes to creative divine centerpieces for your reception, they are by no means the only option. These are some ideas on how to design fabulous non-floral centerpieces.

Natural materials work beautifully to create centerpieces for many different styles of weddings. You would be amazed what can be done with branches, twigs, rocks, and moss. For an evening reception, tall centerpieces created from white birch branches look dramatic with tiny candlelit lanterns suspended from them. This is a gorgeous effect for a Winter Wonderland theme wedding with the addition of hanging teardrop crystals to capture the light just like crystal bridal jewelry. A more casual effect can be created by using tiny lanterns in a variety of colors.

Candles also work wonderfully as centerpieces for beach weddings. A hurricane lantern with one large candle in it is the perfect base. Add your own personal touches to give the centerpieces style and interest. You can create a tablescape by pouring sand around the lantern and scattering seashells in it for a natural look. Driftwood place cards would be a great tie in to this type of centerpiece. A more upscale beach design would feature the hurricane lantern with faux red coral accents. Silver starfish ornaments could be tied to the napkins and double as the wedding favors.

For brides who love the latest in hip modern design, you can go even farther with your non-floral centerpieces. Imagine the spectacular effects that could be created using interesting elements like colorful l.e.d. lights and plexiglass boxes. The lights can be placed in the base of the clear boxes to cast a glow onto another material in the box, or they can be used on their own in the plexiglass for the ultimate in minimalist chic. Experiment with varying heights, colors, and materials to get the perfect one-of-a-kind centerpieces.

Cutting Reception Costs

The wedding reception generally eats up at least half of your total wedding budget. Being the most costly part of your wedding also means that it is the reception that gives you the most opportunities to cut costs. These are some great tips that will help you save money without sacrificing on style.

1. Decorate with food. You are going to be serving food anyway; why not let it do double duty and help to beautify your tables as well? If you choose family style service over individually served plates, you will actually save in a few areas. You may be able to reduce the number of servers needed, and it can also be less expensive to serve large platters of passed favorites, rather than single plates of more expensive dishes. The best part is that if you choose pretty decorative platters, they will take up a lot of space on the tables, reducing the need for a lot of costly flowers.

2. Speaking of flowers, they don’t have to cost a fortune. One thing that you might not have considered is that by selecting vases with smaller openings, it will take fewer blooms to make them appear full and lush. Isn’t it funny to think that such a small change could make such a big difference? Another cost cutting measure is to use masses of inexpensive flowers over a just a few stems of very pricey ones. You will get a lot more impact for your budget, and the look is very chic and modern.

3. Speaking of the newlyweds’ grand entrance, don’t feel like you have to follow the hot trend of changing into a second bridal gown and party jewelry. The band or d.j. can make a big fuss over your entrance to the reception, and it really isn’t necessary to do anything more to make a big splash. If you want to make a subtle change to signal the transition from ceremony to reception, an easy thing to do is to choose a hairstyle that is designed to be worn up for the ceremony and down for the party. Switch out your studs for more festive bridal jewelry like chandelier earrings, and you will be ready to dance the night away.

4. Make your placecards do double duty as favors. The most popular favors are edible, and they can be very inexpensive. For instance, place one beautiful ripe pear at each guest’s seat. Tie a paper “leaf” to the stem with the name of the guest written in calligraphy. It will look pretty at the table, let each guest know where to sit, and serve as a favor all at the same time.

Allocating Your Wedding Budget

The first thing to know is the basic formula, in terms of what percentage of your wedding budget should be allotted to each category of expenditure. The second thing to know is that these guidelines are really only that – guidelines – and that the actual divisions of your resources will be based as much on your priorities as on a chart. The trick is to find a way to divide up your available funds so that you are not left without the money to pay for something in one of the categories that interests you less.

In general, the reception is going to take up the biggest chunk of your wedding budget, normally about half. Within that 50%, though, it is entirely up to you how you want to break it down. For instance, if your top priority is having a venue with breathtaking views or a well-known name, you may spend more of that 50% allocation on the venue, and compromise by having a less expensive menu. Or if having top notch food is your main concern, you might spend more on the caterer, and less on the decorations and flowers.

All of the wedding budgets advise allotting around 10% of your funds to go for attire and beauty. The wedding attire includes everything from the wedding gown to the bridal jewelry, the hair, the makeup, and so forth. Feel free to save in one area so that you can splurge in another. For instance, you can find beautiful crystal bridal jewelry online and put the savings towards a more elaborate gown or a great pair of designer wedding shoes.

The reality is that most couples end up going over their budget, so allow yourself a little extra cushion. If you make a list of your priorities in the beginning, it will be easier to shift your money around to stay within your wedding budget when all is said and done.

Regal Purple Weddings

Purple has always been the color of royalty. What better way to create a regal atmosphere for your wedding than by using purple accents? It is a rich and powerful color that can add a lot to the look of your ceremony and reception.

To really play up the regal feeling of purple, you can use it in combination with metallic gold accents. For example, picture a tablescape featuring rich purple dupioni linens with tall floral displays in various shades of light and dark purple. To really punch it up, layer in gold charger plates and white china with gold borders. You can even use wine glasses with a thin gold edge. This will create a very dramatic and royal looking wedding table, and the metallic gold will also help to keep the purple from being overwhelming.

Speaking of flowers, the bride will certainly want to carry a bouquet of purple flowers, and there are many gorgeous ones from which to choose. Roses come in quite a few beautiful shades of purple, from a silvery lavender to a deep rich true purple. Lisyanthus is another flower that you can get in a wonderful purple color. Tulips can be found in a purple so deep that it is almost black, for a very sophisticated bouquet. Consider mixing in other shades of purple, like magenta orchids to add dimension to your bouquet.

Even if she is wearing a traditional white gown, the bride can still put a little purple into her wedding day look as well. One of the prettiest ways to do this is with purple bridal jewelry sets. You can have sets of bridal jewelry created for the bride and her attendants that feature Swarovski crystals in the rich color of amethysts. The purple crystals look beautiful used in combination with clear crystals or white pearls.

When you have chosen a great color like purple for your wedding design, you will soon find that it is easy to incorporate it into all of the little details that give a wedding its character.  The rich purple accents will tie your wedding together and give it that fabulous royal ambiance.

Art Deco Inspired Weddings

Art Deco style would be perfect for an evening wedding. The flavor that is associated with Art Deco is swanky, sophisticated, and icy. The design was cool and linear, and often featured elements like repeated lines and mirrored surfaces. If you are looking for a sample of the pinnacle of Deco design, you will find it in the Chrysler Building in New York City.

A good place to start planning your wedding is with the color palette. For an Art Deco feeling, the perfect color is a pale icy blue. Pair it with shades of silver and chrome for a classic Deco look. You can also add in a dark espresso brown for more depth.

The bride’s ensemble should also fit the Art Deco theme. Forget about big, poufy princess gowns. The look should be slinky, elegant, and very refined. A fabric like silk charmeuse is the perfect example of Deco fashion. It has both the slim lines and the sheen that was characteristic of the era.

The bride will want to find the perfect accessories to complete her look. You do not have to wear estate jewelry, just seek out pieces that have the right flair. Crystal bridal jewelry is perfect because of its clean and icy look. You could even have pieces handcrafted with pale blue crystals, which would look fantastic with a white bridal gown. (And it also covers your “something blue”.)

For couples who want a very stylish and sophisticated wedding, the Art Deco look is ideal. It is not a style that you will see at every wedding, which is also nice. The sophisticated and elegant flair of Art Deco design will help you to create an unforgettable wedding.

Wedding Planning for Capricorns

Every astrological sign has its own unique characteristics. For brides, this means that their sign can influence how they plan their weddings. A Capricorn bride will be a great wedding planner, as she is practical and always thinks things through.

Status is often very important to a Capricorn bride. This means that you will want your wedding to be very elegant and expensive looking. Labels can be very important to Capricorns. The Capricorn bride will be happiest wearing a wedding gown from a well-known designer (and she will be sure to let the name slip out frequently!).

If an expensive gown is your priority, you can balance your budget a little bit by shopping for sets of fabulous Swarovski crystal bridal jewelry instead of diamonds. You can find stunning handcrafted bridal jewelry sets that will give you the high end look that you crave without spending a fortune.

Because status and recognition is so important to a Capricorn bride, she will want the details of her wedding to be luxurious. Capricorns will want to serve the finest brand of Champagne, order their invitations from a top-notch engraver, and give out favors that impress the guests.

One of Capricorn’s greatest strength is her well-considered approach to any task. This is not going to be the bride that forgets to hire a band or who impulsively fires the caterer at the last minute and is left without any food for her reception. Everything that the Capricorn bride does will be meticulously planned to the last detail, so her wedding is sure to go off without a hitch.

Capricorn’s greatest weakness (besides getting too caught up in status symbols) is that she works so hard that she forgets to have fun.  If you schedule in some time to relax and just enjoy your engagement, you will arrive at your wedding day feeling happy and refreshed, and because you are such a great planner, everything will still look perfect on the big day.

Is That Bride Drunk?!

Weddings are a time of great joy and celebration. Everyone wants to relax, have a good time, and enjoy the party. Some brides, however, get swept up into the spirit of things too far. Nobody likes to see a drunk bride!

Too many brides these day see their wedding as just a very big party, one that is all about them. They forget that a wedding is not only a festive occasion, but a solemn one as well. You are pledging to spend the rest of your life with another person – that is a big deal! When the bride (or the groom) do not treat the event like the momentous milestone that it is, something is lost.

At the reception, it is always best for the bride to maintain some sense of decorum. What might be fine at a nightclub is not necessarily going to fly at your wedding with all of your family in attendance. There is nothing quite like the sight of an inebriated bride tossing back shots to shatter the graceful illusion she spent months trying to create with the perfectly selected wedding gown and exquisite bridal jewelry handcrafted with the finest Swarovski crystal.

A good rule of thumb is to think about how many drinks you would likely consume at a party or other festive event, and limit yourself to at least one less than that. So if three or four drinks usually makes you pretty silly, plan on two drinks or glasses of wine, tops. (Yes, champagne does count in the tally!) If your bridesmaids keep trying to bring you cocktails, ask them for a glass of water with lemon instead, which will keep you hydrated instead of drying you out like alcohol.

When people reflect back on your wedding day, you want them to remark about how lovely and gracious the bride was, not about how drunk she got. Your wedding is not a day to cut completely loose; it is better to keep your celebration within the bounds of good taste. Besides, if you are looking for a chance to go wild and kick up your heels, you can always do it on the honeymoon, where nobody knows you!