The Wedding of the Year!

The wedding of the year has come and gone. Not many pictures are out of the happy couple, the new Mr. and Mrs. Kanye West, but the one below is absolutely stunning with the two flower walls. You can see more here. What do you think?

Decor Tips: Bringing the Garden Indoors!

Although we have come to the season where garden weddings are in abundance, some brides and grooms are unable to find that perfect garden location in their city. That is not a problem! Here are some tips to bring the garden indoors for guests to enjoy the beauty and charm, without the heat and bugs.

Trees lining the aisle create the perfect picture setting as the bride walks down the aisle. 

Mix the table arrangements with overhead floral chandeliers. If you can't dine under the stars, why not dine under the next best thing! You can never have too much flowers.

Bring the garden look to every table with luscious arrangements in unique garden-themed vessels. Get creative, and provide place elements on the table that will make guests feel like they are dining Al Fresco.

Wedding structures created with natural elements, like willow, lush greens and gorgeous flowers like hydrangea and roses, create an intimate setting for the couple, in the middle of an garden clearing. Add candles or uplighting for an ethereal glow.

Garden gates are another decor feature I love!

Adding grass to the walls is not only unique, but it easily creates the illusion of being surrounded by the hills of the Emerald Isle.

Guest Post: For the Bride on a Budget!

Inspired by this photoset from The Tiny Closet. Natalie, the bride, is wearing a vintage reconstructed Max Mara dress

Calling all soon-to-be-betrothed beauties of the world!

Are you on a tight budget?

Does the trial-by-entourage process of choosing a wedding gown give you ulcers?

Is your wedding months away and you haven’t found “the one”?

Are you looking for a style change?

Is saying “I do” more important than a high price tag?

If you’ve answered “YES” to any of those questions then this post is for you! Read on for dresses and gowns under < $150!!

Wedding Color Inspiration - Richly Romantic Pink & Gold

A pink & gold color scheme is both romantic and opulent. Only a little bit of gold goes a long way. Such a rich color is perfectly balanced by the softness of the blush tones. Check out this Richly Romantic wedding board for more inspiration.

Decor Ideas - Flower-less Bouquets

Roses, tulips, peonies or anemones? Do not limit the design of your wedding bouquet to just flowers. A trend that has developed in the past few years are flower-less bouquets. Using buttons, jewelry, broaches, fabric, paper or other pretty items to create your bouquet has many pluses, other than looking gorgeous.

1.The bouquet allows for the personal experience of creating the bouquet that you will carry down the aisle. You know the choices behind each design choice and have more opportunity to add personal pieces.

2.The most obvious benefit, and maybe the best, is that it will last much longer than a day or two. Keep your bouquet and use it as a unique design piece in your home or save it for your daughter to carry years later.

3.Although there are so many options of flowers that exist, they are limited during seasons. Using alternative materials removes the limits placed upon you with flowers. Using paper or fabric, you can even replicate certain flowers that may not be in season during your wedding.

Here are some bouquets for inspiration:

Tania Inniss Feature - DJ vs Bands

At some point or another, every bride has to decide whether she wants a Band or a DJ for the wedding reception. A lucky few know off the bat which is best for their big day but for others the choice may not be so easy. Ideally, it would be great to have a band to entertain and interact with your guests plus a DJ for when you need to revamp the energy levels later on. But, for most people, that’s not exactly a viable financial option.

For the most part, the decision comes down to what kind of atmosphere you have in mind for your reception. Live bands have the ability to recreate that concert feel that encourages the guests to connect and interact with the musicians. Dj’s tend to have that nightlife club feel that always seems to result in a lack of shoes and hours of dancing.

Another big deciding factor is the genre of music you will want to hear most. If you’re a crowd that enjoys things like Motown, 80’s Hits, or Rock & Roll, chances are you’re going to want a band because they can play the songs the way they were meant to be heard; live, loud and full of energy.  On the other hand, if you’re more likely to have a crowd full of Top 40/Pop music lovers or fans of Diplo and David Guetta, then the more logical choice would be a DJ.

Admittedly, nowadays a live band can play pretty much any song you can find on the charts. However, it’s important to find out whether or not the specific band you choose is willing or able to learn any new material. For a DJ, with thousands of songs in his arsenal, it’s much easier to cater to the audience and change up the atmosphere at a drop of a dime. This is usually done through observing the crowd and seeing what they respond to most or by taking requests. But, for a band it’s near impossible to expect such improvisation. So, keep that in mind as well.

Remember, if you have a band, they are more than like going to have one or two breaks. In order to avoid an awkward time, find out if they have alternate music options to play during this time. This is usually ipod or a laptop but if you’re set on getting a band this could be a time to play a couple of selections from outside the bands repertoire. 

A couple extra helpful tips in getting the most out of your entertainment:

1)     Whenever possible, get a preview of your future band or DJ in action. Ask for a tape of a previous performance, sit in on a rehearsal, or at the very least talk to a couple of their references and see if they come highly recommended.

2)     Check with your venue to make sure your choice in entertainment is a viable option. Some sites have a maximum number of musicians you’re allowed to have (which might interfere with band plans) and other more historical or natural locations don’t allow large speaker systems. Keep these things in mind and ask your venue about it if you’re unsure.

3)     This might be a no-brainer but make sure that if you have a band they are able and willing to play the song you want for your first dance. I know for few couples the choice of a song is discussion that usually takes some time to finalize. Most professional bands are willing to work with you if you request songs in advance. But don’t push it off til the last second only to realize that the band can’t play it to your liking.

4)     Most importantly, don’t assume. Don’t assume they can play something. Don’t assume they will play something. Create a list of songs you would really love to hear and give it to them in advance. While you’re at it, give them a list of songs you most definitely do not want to hear and give that to them as well. Better safe than sorry.  

The Power of Color!

In a new article on BizBash, how the color(s) that you choose for the decor of your event has a bigger effect than we may think. All events are designed to create a lasting memory within the minds of the guests. The psychology of colors translates to guests within the lighting, flowers and decor. You can read more here!

Check below for a color dictionary:

Red: Passion, Love, Power, Excitement, Strength, Anger, Intensity
Orange: Fun, Warmth, Confidence, Flamboyance, Friendliness
Yellow: Hopefulness, Cheer, Optimism, Energy, Positivity
Green: Nature, Health, Renewal, Growth, Healing, Harmony
Blue: Peace, Trust, Dependability, Calm, Intelligence
Purple: Royalty, Luxury, Creativity, Spirituality, Wealth
White: Purity, Innocence, Empowerment, Goodness, Cleanliness
Black: Authority, Power, Mystery, Drama, Sophistication