Inspirations: Engagement Photos
Engagement shoots are THE best time to let loose and allow your personality to shine through. To plan for yours, think about what you and your fiancé love and make it happen! Whether it’s riding vintage bicycles, playing board games or drinking wine with friends…engagement portraits don’t have to be staged and cheesy. Allow your photographer to capture you as YOU and the photographs will come out perfect.
 Image: Duston Todd |
Trend Alert: Dyed to Match
Yep, sounds like a thing of the eighties but it is actually a really great option for getting the perfectly hued, oh-so-fabulous shoe that you’ve been dreaming of. From bright yellows, to gorgeous teals and greens, the options are endless. Plus, companies like Zappos offer really great designs that don’t have that “dyed to match” look. Love!
 Image: Jessamyn Harris |
Trend Alert: Handwritten Invitations
Handwritten Invitations. In the past, all wedding invitations were handwritten on lovely, plush cotton paper. Although that isn’t really practical these days, it is nice to write out invitations for all of the “other” events…bridal luncheons, rehearsal dinners, post-wedding brunches. Your guests will be pleasantly surprised by the personal touch.
 Image: Bluebird Studios |
Inspiration: It's All Around
Inspiration doesn’t have to come from wedding magazines. It can be found in one incredible photograph, in one beautiful garden, in one stunning dessert at your favorite restaurant. Colors, textures and ideas should come from the details that you love most in your own world…use them as a launching pad to inspire your entire wedding style.
 Image: Max Wanger |
Look for Less: Colorful Pom Poms
For a brilliant, inexpensive pop of color, check out these fabulous pom poms by Etsy’s PomLove. They come in perfectly coordinated color set that will add a touch of charm to any reception décor. Simply perfect!
 Image: PomLove |
Décor Idea: Eclectic Cake Toppers
Think outside the box when it comes to cake toppers. These little gems are such a fun way to express your personality and creativity. From vintage cars to wire birds, there are so many fun options. They can go on top or beside the cake to add a bit of charm!
 Image: Centric Photography |
Trend Alert: Capelets, Wraps and Boleros
A little cover-up is the perfect way to add some fashion to your look, while covering up just a bit for your ceremony. The beauty of a wrap is that you can slip it off for the reception so that your arms are free to dance the night away.
 Image: DollFace Studio |
Décor Idea: Prints & Patterns
A great way to add a bit of personality to your style is by introducing a print or pattern to your color palette. Black and white damask is both bold and incredibly chic and it can be used in a wide variety of ways…from table runners to photo backdrops, the sky is the limit!
 Event design: James Abel Image: Angelica Glass |
Trend Alert: Gracefully Mismatched
“Gracefully Mismatched” is the un-theme for 2009. Bringing in vases and décor elements that complement each other but don’t match is a way to achieve that easy elegance that everyone wants. Asking your bridesmaids to wear their own dresses in slightly different hues, having a variety of small cakes or pies, using vintage china that you sourced on ebay…all brilliant ways to mismatch gracefully.
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Décor Idea: Peonies
Love peonies but hate the price tag? Have your florist create a bouquet of peonies just for you, with your maids and your other floral accoutrements utilizing a complimentary stem. That way, you kind of get to have your cake and eat it too!
 Image: Nashan Photographers |
Inspirations: Your Closet
The best place to look when trying to decide your color palette? Your closet! Figuring out what colors you are naturally drawn to is key in finding a hue that really suits your style and personality. Even if your wardrobe is black and gray, go for it. Just pick a lovely, complimentary color like yellow or pink to brighten things up!
 Image: instyle.com |
Inspirations: Home Design
One of the best places to look for inspiration for your own affair is in Home Design magazines and blogs. Elle Décor is the epitome of style and in part, inspired the chocolate and dusty rose color palette from my own wedding. Other favorites include Design*Sponge, Domino and sfgirlbybay.
 Image: Elle Décor |
Décor Idea: Birch
Use birch to bring texture and rustic style to an otherwise traditional look. Whether it’s birch vases that hold perfect white flowers or a handmade birch cake stand, the white-washed wood will bring an unexpected approachability to your wedding style.
 Image: Union Photography |
Fashion Report: Fall 2009 Wedding Gowns
We are loving the new Fall 2009 wedding gown styles with their modern but timeless silhouettes and totally feminine aesthetic. Favorite designers for the season are the heavy hitters like Vera and Oscar, as well as the forever chic (and slightly more affordable) Jenny Yoo and J.Crew.
 Image: bridalguide.com |
Trend Alert: The Letterpress Look
Although letterpress may be what your heart is telling you, your head is telling you that it might not be in the budget. Lucky for us, stores like Wiley Valentine, are designing invitations that have that same letterpress “look” without that letterpress price tag. Using thick, luxurious papers and designs most notably seen using letterpress, it’s a win/win for your heart and your head!
 Image: Wiley Valentine |
Look for Less: Elegant DIY Centerpieces
Bringing DIY projects into your wedding style CAN be chic and totally sophisticated. Check out these beyond elegant centerpieces that the bride crafted using supplies from stores like Michaels and flowers from a nearby wholesale mart. To do something similar, start by finding the perfect container. Stick with monochromatic flowers, bundling them tight and simply, adding accents like moss and greenery to finish the look.
 Image: April Smith Photography |
Inspirations: Create Your Own Wedding Style
There is nothing like creating an Inspiration Board to help inspire your wedding style. If you want to make a tangible version of an inspiration board, pull together photos, scraps of fabric and magazine tear outs that will help you bring your ideas into a cohesive look and style. If you are more computer savvy, use a program like Adobe Illustrator to pull images together in a clean, unfussy board that reflects your own sense of style.
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Décor Idea: Brightly Colored Vases
For a great pop of color at your reception, go for brightly colored vases. Something that screams style and sophistication. You can actually find these types of vases at IKEA, Target and of course, Ebay making them a totally affordable way to add a big look, for very little money.
 Image: Event Design by Alison Events, Photography by Meg Smith |
Fashion Report: Old-School Glamour
We are LOVING the hairpieces that K. Autumn and Twigs & Honey have inspired. Using feathers, delicate crystals and gorgeous silk flowers, these headpieces are a fabulous way to add a touch of old-school glamour to your look.
 Image: K Autumn |
Trend Alert: Personalized Food
It seems that lately, brides are ditching traditional food in lieu of grub that suits their own personalities and tastes. Think fajita bars and margaritas, family-style Italian dinners…even gourmet pizzas! Whatever you love, remember that food is a great way to allow your guests to really see your personality and get to know you even better.
 Image: Holland Photo Arts |
Look for Less: DIY Flowers
Designing your own flower arrangements is one of the best ways to save a hefty penny. With that said, it often sounds completely daunting. Here are a few quick tips…order your flowers to arrive 2 days ahead and store them in a cool place for the night. The day before your wedding, gather your girlfriends to help, and get to work placing bunches of small, monochromatic flowers into simple, solid color vases (clear or white if you are going for an elegant look). Don’t worry about making them perfect…the imperfections are part of the charm.
 Image: Artfool |
Inspirations: Beyond Wedding Magazines
When designing your wedding décor, look far beyond wedding magazines for inspiration and ideas. Home magazines and websites, clothing stores, parks and gardens, paintings and books can all provide that one “something” that will inspire your entire wedding style. Just let your imagination go and the rest will follow!
 Image: Apartment Therapy |
Décor Idea: Hanging Votives
To add a bit of romance to your décor, hang votive tea lights in groups of 5 or 6 around your reception space. If you’re lucky enough to have your reception outdoors, hanging candles from tree limbs will transform your décor for very little money.
 Image: April Smith Photography |
Fashion Report: Winter Chic
Winter is the perfect time to bring textures and layers to your wedding fashion. Think about adding a beautiful knit wrap to your gown to warm you up and add a touch of chic. Your pictures will be all the more fabulous!
 Image: James Christianson Photographer |
Trend Alert: Multiple Cakes
We love the new trend to have a trio of slightly smaller wedding cakes, each with the same aesthetic though slightly different prints. Our favorite designer of these mini-cakes is Jim Smeal out of Charleston, SC. His trios are perfection!
 Image: Marni Rothschild Pictures |
Look for Less: Colored Linens
If you’re debating between renting linens or upping your flower budget to add style to your space, go with the linens. A simple, colored linen can totally transform a space for a lot less money than bringing in additional flowers. Once you’ve chosen a linen color, think in layers, adding small floral centerpieces, ribbon details on your napkins, a framed table number and simple, lovely china. Beautiful.
 Image: Jonathan Canlas Photography |
Inspiration: Whimsical Headbands
Loving these perfect headbands by ban.do. Although a bit whimsical, any bride that wears one of these is sure to make a statement.
 Image:shopbando.com |
Décor Idea: Rustic Chic
These days, Rustic Chic is all the rage. Layering simple canvas table clothes with rich white florals, accenting décor with rustic metal and wooden touches. Charming, but personal details. Whether you are getting married in a sleek loft or an old farm house, there are so many affordable ways to bring a rustic chic vibe to your affair.
Fashion Report: Vintage Throwback
Brides are loving a splash of vintage charm to accent their wedding style. From birdcage veils to bright red lips. From a gorgeous fur bolero to a sleek Hollywood glam gown, the chicest of brides are adding a touch of the past to their wedding look.
Trend Alert: Zebra Print
Weddings are no longer prim and proper. Style your day after your own heart, adding touches of zebra print to a classic, black and white palette.
 Image: Docuvitae |
Look for Less: Color
To really get a high impact look without breaking the bank, think color. Serious color. Thread the same variety of hues into your florals, your bridesmaids gowns and your linens. Just make sure that you balance the bold hues with a more neutral tone, as well. Think monochromatic flowers in simple white or clear vases. Coordinating ribbon accents on your napkins. Favor packaging in the same lovely hue.
