Tailoring Wedding Stationery to Your Theme

December 24th, 2009

The invitations and other stationery which you choose for your wedding will help to set the tone. When you have a special theme or location, the invitations can be a great way to introduce your wedding to your guests. These are some tips on tailoring your wedding stationery to your theme.

Beach theme weddings are among the favorites of brides everywhere. Whether you will be heading off to a sunswept destination for your wedding, or simply putting on some great beach wedding jewelry and carrying a tropical bouquet in your backyard, there are some very special beach invitations available. Think about the type of beach wedding you intend to have – is is more classic with simple pearl jewelry and a tailored strapless dress on a New England beach with a lobster dinner on the sand, or it is going to be at a Caribbean resort, complete with steel drums and drinks in coconuts? For the first style, classic white invitations embellished with a red engraved lobster across the top would be ideal, or go with an invitation embellished with a bright hibiscus for the tropical wedding.

Winter Wonderland weddings are another hot theme, and one which translates easily into wedding invitations. Select crisp white stationery which is decorated with silver snowflakes. One of the prettiest versions of this would be to print the invitations on vellum laid over a snowflake patterned paper. Tie it together with a festive metallic silver ribbon or a red velvet bow for the perfect finishing touch. For your save the dates, what about using antique postcards depicting horse drawn sleighs in the snow? Simply lovely.

Having a vineyard wedding? Invite your guests with style! The most restrained option would be an invitation which features an engraved image of a bunch of grapes across the top (somehow a picture of a bottle of wine just does not feel bridal enough). Or get really creative, and design your wedding stationery to resemble vintage wine labels. This would be a wonderful way to really get your wedding theme across in a fun manner. Your guests will surely be in the spirit of things when they receive these special and unique invitations.

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Hawaiian Themed Weddings

May 1st, 2009

A great idea for a summer wedding is to capture the spirit and fun of the Hawaiian islands. If you are lucky enough to be able to have a destination wedding in Hawaii, that would be fabulous. But even couples who prefer to get married closer to home can throw a fantastic wedding reception with a luau theme.

The decorations are really the cornerstone of a Hawaiian themed wedding. Think about all of the natural beauty that can be found in a tropical wonderland, such as swaying palm trees, vibrant flowers, and beautiful seashells. This is the type of décor that you will want to create your own version of paradise. Larger items like potted palm trees can be rented to add that authentic island flavor to an indoor setting or a backyard, and don’t forget the tiki torches.

The bridal party will definitely want to set the tone for the party with relaxed attire perfect for a tropical island. The bride would look stunning in a flowing chiffon bridal gown with beach wedding jewelry. For the bridesmaids, think about strapless dresses in a bright floral print or a pretty fuchsia colored chiffon. As your bridesmaid gift, you can give them sets of beach inspired jewelry to wear to your wedding, such as monogrammed shell necklaces.

Help your guests get into the Hawaiian vibe by greeting them with beautiful floral leis to wear. You can also provide beach essentials like woven palm fans and cute flip flops. If you would like for your guests to wear festive attire like Hawaiian shirts and colorful dresses, you can make a note on the bottom of the invitation stating “Festive island dress requested”.

The right entertainment will go a long way towards creating your luau reception. Start with Hawaiian music, and mix in a few surf favorites to get the crowd dancing. Then dazzle your guests with live entertainment like hula dancers and those amazing fire dancers. If you want, you could even have a brief hula lesson to get the party going.Finish your wedding reception by thanking your guests with a favor that hints of Hawaii for the perfect ending to a fantastic wedding.

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Throwing a Tex-Mex Wedding

March 14th, 2009

There are a variety of elements that you will want to include in a Tex-Mex wedding. The first thing to think about is color. When most people think of Mexico, they think of exuberant colors, such as magenta, orange, and yellow. These colors would be a very festive palette for a wedding, and can be used for everything from the linens to the flowers to the bridesmaid dresses and jewelry.

If you would like a more formal color palette, then you can go with a red and black combination. A bouquet of rich red flowers makes a beautiful accent against a white wedding gown. Your bridesmaids will look lovely in deep red dresses with black sashes. For your bridesmaid gifts, consider giving them handcrafted jewelry in your wedding colors.

Look for a wedding venue with a great flair, such as a Spanish mission style church or reception site. During the ceremony, it would be nice to include the Mexican custom of the groom presenting thirteen coins to his bride. It is meant to signify that he will be able to support her during their marriage. Another tradition in Mexican weddings is one where the bride and groom have a rosary or white rope wrapped around them in a figure eight to symbolize their union.

Food and music are at the center of any Tex-Mex party. A mariachi band will get everyone into the right spirit. There are many crowd-pleasing dishes that you can serve for your reception. One great idea is to have a taco or fajita bar where guests can build their own meal with all of the fixings.  Have a variety of fillings, such as spiced beef, pulled pork, and shredded chicken, along with the traditional Tex-Mex side dishes like Spanish rice, black beans, and refried beans.

If you are having a lot of young guests (or just many who are young-at-heart), a pinata would be a fun way to top off the reception. You could even have the wedding favors fall out of the pinata, which would be a memorable touch. Your Tex-Mex wedding is sure to be a fun and exciting wedding that you and your guests will never forget.

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Zen Wedding Style

December 21st, 2008

Zen style is simple and clean and peaceful. It is relaxing, and can also be quite modern and chic. It is a great idea for a wedding theme, as you and your guests will feel quite at ease in the oasis that you create. For a few ideas on how to have a Zen wedding, read on…

Think about your wedding location. A space like an open loft in a city with great hardwood floors and lots of natural light would be one excellent option. Another possibility is an outdoor setting. An Asian inspired garden would be ideal, as would a setting near running water, which will make a soothing background sound.

A peaceful color palette is a great place to being when creating your Zen design. Soft colors from nature like taupe, celadon, and pale blue work beautifully in combination with an accent color like espresso. Your color scheme will be serene and modern at the same time. Patterns that use some of the colors together in a stripe would make a very pleasing addition to the overall wedding décor.

Your color palette can be carried throughout the wedding. You will certainly want to use it for your bridesmaid dresses. Tea length chiffon dresses in celadon or pale blue would be lovely. To add a little punch, choose ones that also use the espresso accent color, either in a sash, or as a wide border at the hemline. For the bridesmaid jewelry sets, think simple and clean lines, such as elegant sterling silver pieces. Bridesmaid jewelry sets that use elements with a natural and organic form, like keshi pearls, would also be wonderful for your Zen wedding.

For your wedding décor, imagine a fabulous Asian inspired spa setting. Think about ways to incorporate natural elements, such as smooth rocks, bamboo, seagrass, and even water. A great touch for a Zen theme wedding would be to have a water element, such as a simple modern fountain, or another source of running water. If your venue does not have such a feature, see about renting or even custom designing a piece like a copper wall fountain to add the tranquil sound of water to your reception.

For the ultimate in Zen wedding design, consider hiring a feng shui expert to design the floorplan of your reception. You will be ensured that the vibe at your wedding is as serene as possible. In addition, you will ensure good flow throughout the room, as well as the best luck to get your marriage off to a happy and harmonious start. If a wedding theme can do all that, then who wouldn’t want to have their big day be as Zen as possible?

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Decorate Your Wedding With Polka Dots

October 21st, 2008

Looking for a fun and cheerful design scheme for your wedding? How about decorating with polka dots? This fun pattern can be used in many different ways to give your wedding an upbeat and lighthearted feeling.

There is no doubt about it: polka dots are just plain fun. Whether they are done in one color, two colors, or a whole rainbow, polka dots are always cheerful and never too serious. They would be great for an informal summer wedding.

You can use your polka dots in ways that are subtle or bold. Start with the wedding invitations. The most subtle idea would be to line the envelopes with a polka dot paper. If you want to use the theme more boldly, them you choose a paper with a pale polka dot pattern and have the words printed over it. This may be too casual for some weddings; as an alternative, you could do it for the rehearsal dinner or bridal shower invitations.

The bridal party can incorporate the polka dot scheme into their attire, as well. If the bride wants to wear polka dots without making too bold of a statement, she can wear a wedding gown that is embroidered or printed with polka dots in a white-on-white design. This works particularly well when the base fabric is something like a translucent and summery organdy.

For brides who prefer a solid color for her bridesmaids’ dresses, the polka dots could come in the form of a sash at the waist, or a ribbon sewn onto the hem of the dresses. You will want to choose bridesmaid jewelry that enhances the “dotty” look. A great idea would be to custom order bridesmaid jewelry in your wedding colors. Have strands made with large Swarovski pearls in alternating colors for a great pop of color on your attendants.

Weddings should be about fun and celebration. The theme that you choose can have a big impact on the mood of your event. If you want to create a wedding that is cheerful and unique, then consider going dotty for polka dots!

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