Southern Plantation Wedding

As I have stated before, I love planning weddings for friends. I asked my boyfriend to come up with an idea that is different than all the others I have done and he thought a Louisiana wedding would be pretty neat. So I took his suggestions (with a few changes of course) and planned out an awesome plantation wedding.

So my ideas. I thought a dark emerald green and white would be nice for this because many plantations are surrounded by beautiful luscious trees. I wanted to play off of the surroundings of a southern plantation and many seem to be full of green and white. To also go with the environment, victorian plates with frilly flowers would go with the Victorian vintage look. Along with china, a cake with some frilly green or victorian designs would embrace this look.

So once you have the design of your wedding with these colors and prints, think about one thing that is important to all of the south...food! If you are going to have a southern wedding, embrace it. Serve sweet tea with grilled chicken breasts. The perfect side are some cooked greens (also going with your green design) and also some corn bread. And for dessert, the dish that screams Louisiana the most would be beignets! Serve beignets with coffee to give that sweet french Victorian feel. Nothing beats southern food and nothing beats a sweet southern design. Just think about what you think about when you think southern and go from there! I hope you enjoy my ideas. Happy planning!

Bring Back the 20's

All the 2011 wedding trends are great but one that will never go out of style, is a vintage wedding. With black and white vintage looks, it will always be a classic style. A 1920's flapper era is perfect for a classic chic wedding.

Another trend is having a man cave at the wedding. So having a space for the guys to go and you can put some carafes with whiskey and cigars in a space to give that vintage feel. Step it up by using feathers as accents. Add a few to your bouquets and ask your cake decorator to add a few to bring out the vintage style. The only thing that  might be more 1920's flapper than feathers would be pearls but go all out on that too! Hang chandeliers around your space and string them with pearls. I think the best color scheme for this is black and white, but you can add accents in wherever. A classic vintage wedding is always going to be in style. A 1920's flapper wedding is going to be what makes your vintage wedding stand out. Enjoy these ideas and happy planning!

Dress Trends

It is almost a fact that everyone who loves weddings loves wedding dresses. Well the 2011 spring and summer dress trends are absolutely stunning. From short, to girly, to billowy, this year has something for everyone.

Trend 1: Billowy skirts. Skirts with flowing layers of lace or tulle are very in this spring and summer. These skirts are not puffy ballgowns but light layers that make a dramatic shape.

Trend 2: Garden Glamor. Flowers are everywhere this year for weddings. From bridesmaid dresses to wedding dresses. This dainty touch gives it a little elegant but fun flair.

Trend 3: Sheers. For a slightly sexy touch, go for a sheer top. Pnina Tornai is famous for these. An elegant skirt with a sheer top ads just the right amount of sexy to the day.

Trend 4: Bling. Not totally blinged out dresses, but an embellished belt is huge this year. A simple gown with an embellished belt will give it the romantic look you are looking for.

Trend 5: Short. And the keep getting shorter! Short dresses really took off last season but are continuing to be just as popular this year. From a back angled hem with the front mid calf to knee length dresses, any short dress would be sure to give that girly hint.

Images from theknot.com

These are just a few of the top trends. But they all aspire to a main goal of elegant and classy vintage. S whatever your look is, you will be sure to find the perfect dress this year. Happy Planning!

Classic Vintage

As I've said a lot, I have a pretty specific style. So everything doesn't look too much the same, I plan weddings for friends, whether they are getting married or not. One friend asked me to plan her hypothetical one and this is what I came up with.

It is a very classic look that will never be out of style. It has a slight vintage that adds to the classic look. The color scheme is black, white, and light pink. For prints, I think thick stripes and damask make this look. I think using antique chandeliers anywhere in the decorations would look great. For my inspiration board, I used an image of a wedding that is in a tent. Where the tent pulls to the center, a large chandelier is hung making the look even classier. The bouquet is block bouquet of flowers and colors. They are all light pink Anemones. These are beautiful flowers and add to the vintage look.

This look is great because it can be outside in a field, under a tent, or in a gorgeous, vintage hotel or church. If in a hotel or another elaborate venue, try to keep decor to a minimum. Use these beautiful pink flowers along with pink peonies that come in the same color to place on tables and set around the venue. Use either solid black linens or damask print to pull the look together. Candles also can add to the classy look. Place small display trees on a few side tables, like ones for food or gifts. On the trees hang small candles and string pearls throughout the branches. These little things can pull a very classic look together. This is one of my favorites and designed after a friend. I hope you can take something from it to make it for you too! Happy Planning!

Sweet and Chic

My style is generally pretty neutral and vintage, but every once in a while, I love modern and even a little loud. One color pallet that I am in love with is yellow and gray. It is so sweet and delicate but definitely modern. I put together this "sweet and chic" inspirtation board. Using the idea of lemons as the sweet and just modern classy as the chic. Serve lemonade and give lemon drop candies as favors. Use lemons as place card holders and give lemon cookies and cakes as a dessert buffet.
Using succulents & billy balls, which are the little yellow balls, give it a sweet and modern look.

I think it also looks great and ties thing together when sticking to some shapes. This inspiration board uses circles with the billy balls, the lemons, the lemon drops, and cake. This adds to the modern look and pulls it all together. I hope you love this as much as I do! Happy Planning!

Yacht Club

I have had a passion for boating since I was little. I love being on the water and just how everything makes me feel. The smells, the colors, and the food are so special. I think it is a great idea to take these aspects of boating and make it into a wedding! If a couple loves boating or just simply being on the water, make a nautical wedding!

I hate typical, and in fact I don't know anyone who likes it. So I'm not talking about the typical navy and white beach look. Mix it up a little and go with red and aqua and rather than beachy, give it a fun but classy yacht club look. Yacht clubs are all about fun and great parties. So take these ideas and put it into your day. Be creative and make your own nautical flags of these colors. Use painted buoys as decoration and use big round string lights to make it look as if you are at a marina. Make a logo for the couple and the day that is maybe a sailboat, a lighthouse or something else you love and use it on save the dates, invites, thank yous, and on everything during the big day. Since I don't believe in being too themey, try just use little aspects like the logo or buoys to tie it all together but no need to be wearing sailor suits and hats! Using little aspects to tie it together and as always some neutrals, it won't be too overwhelming.

For food, think about what you would eat at a yacht club party or just out on your boat. If you are ok with casual, make it a big barbecue with grilled chicken breasts, roasted veggies, and big summer salads. Or even more casual, just have some gourmet burgers. Just choose your favorite foods since it is your big day! Check out my ideas on my inspiration board and feel free to try out some of these ideas. Happy planning!

Safari

A wedding of course is about the happy couple, what they enjoy, and who they are. But we all know it is a little about style too. A great style trend this year has been a safari look. W with safari jackets, pants and boots. It is everywhere. And zebra and cheetah are everywhere as well. If you love this look, why not throw it into your wedding too!

It can be done so easily. Put together your own centerpieces with antique suitcases and cameras (Leave little notes on the cameras and they can be used for guests to take pictures of your day too!) Mix those in with some light colored flowers of your favorite kind and color and have great centerpieces. Have fun with your favorite prints and neutral colors and it will look great. If you have a favorite style whether it be safari, classic, contemporary, or bright, don't let it stop you from giving your most memorable day that same look. Happy planning!

Anthropologie

OK, so if you are like me and probably 90% of girls in the world, you love Anthropologie. I think everything in the store is so sweet and pretty. Well taking that sweet and pretty, why not make a wedding out of it? If you can't decide on one color and like things a little vintage and eclectic, Antropologie!

This is just a little inspiration board I made to showcase some of Anthro's beauty. It can be hard to use this many colors, but when done you can get an entire wedding looking like these! The key is to keep it minimal. When using lots of colors be sure to use lots of neutrals too. Maybe use neutral linens and attire but liven things up with decor. Also make sure to only pick a few colors. I love the pastels look. This could be a light pink, a light blue or teal, light sage green, light yellow and tans. Picking just a few and using them a lot will help it not looked too cluttered. Also, pick something to carry throughout to keep it looking put together. In the inspiration board, there are some birds. Having maybe a love bird look throughout and using the same birds on invitations, table numbers and just on other pieces of decor will put it all together. Birds are just an idea, but use anything you like or that is just fitting for you and your fiance.
This mismatched look is one of my favorites! And to make it better, DIY is a big new trends for spring and summer 2011. Just make it your own and don't be afraid to be colorful. Happy planning!

Basic Design Planning

Themes. That word alone makes me want to cringe a little. No one wants a themed wedding. When I think of themes I think of high school dances. Themes like "winter wonderland" or "80's" or even worse "under the sea". Clearly you don't want any of that for your wedding. So how do you make a put together look without having a theme?

Well I would like to suggest to you my ways of doing this. To have a put together look, I suggest first picking a "style". This is different than a theme because it doesn't have to have some crazy plan. It can be a country chic style, or a vintage French style, or even something as broad as a vintage summer day style. Then, pick a color scheme that fits under this style. Using a vintage summer day as an example, a great color scheme would be pastels like light sage green, sky blue, and baby pink and yellow. That may seem like a lot of colors but you can make that work. To make this a style rather than a theme, you don't need picnic baskets and things that make you think of summer, but just make sure everything goes with that style. Maybe have a candy buffet as favors using all of these colors in different sized vintage vases. You can use all different pastel colors and even some vintage candy like cotton candy. To not let things look too cluttered with all the colors, try to use a neutral color like white or khaki for linens and chairs. You can then incorporate this style and color scheme by using vintage vases on the tables and fill with the pastel colored flowers.

For the bridal party, a great way to add the color is to get different colored dresses for your bridesmaids. Pick out vintage style dresses in each of your colors but keep flowers in a block color scheme like white and they will look very put together.Then for the guys, a summer day does not say formal and stuffy, so give them either tan suits or even tan slacks with white dress shirts and just give them different colored boutonnieres. The groom could wear white.

Then just continue to think what you think of when you think vintage summer day. Find a venue that is perfect for you and your style. It could maybe be a beech, a park, or even your back yard. Then keep thinking of things that fit that would work for more details. For you that could maybe be lemonade with vintage glasses or fruit cobblers instead of cake. Just keep everything falling under your style and add colors while keeping plenty of neutrals. It won't be overwhelming and you can have a very classy big day. Happy planning!

From onestylishbride.com

From weddingbee.com

From The Knot

From edytaszyszlo.com

Backyard weddings

One of the new trends for weddings happens to be my favorite. Backyard weddings are becoming ever popular and they can be so easy. They may not always be the cheapest option but they are certainly more personal and creative.

I do have a few things to keep in mind though when planning a backyard wedding. First, is tents. It is always a good idea to have a tent even if you know it won't rain or be too sunny. Most rental companies need to know about two weeks in advance your total order, so you can watch the weather forecast until then. If you know people will be under the tent, make sure you have enough coverage for 20 square feet a person.

You also need to think about other rentals. Chairs, tables, and linens are the big ones. If you decide you want to save some money and get chairs that will be used for the ceremony and the reception, make sure you hire help! I know so often you think it is worth it to save a couple bucks by just having a friend or dad move the chairs, but it is not worth them missing your special day! I would advise to hire a day of planner or people from the rental service to help with it. The best way is to finish the ceremony, move to a different area for a "cocktail hour" (or whatever kind of hour you wish) while the chairs are moved to the tables. You then can start the reception! Linens are also very important to rent when doing a backyard wedding. You can often get all these things from one rental service. Make sure you get them for each table size.

One last thing to remember is catering. It's your day, pick what you want to eat. Not what you think your guests would like best. And look for one that includes dishes. You don't want to worry about renting that as well.

Ok, so as you can tell, sometimes it is not the cheapest to do a backyard wedding. But think of how personal it is. If you have the space, and you love it, why not? To give the big day a rustic but classy look, think of a solid "style". This should be done for any wedding, but rather than a theme think of some colors and a style. For instance, have a country chic look. You can keep things country but make it chic with a light pink and tan color scheme. Use big bouquets of pink peonies and white hydrangeas in some mismatched antique vases or mason jars and keep linens a simple tan. You can keep a rustic and DIY look but getting some friends to help bake some cookies and use them as favors. Another great way to bring in a chic look to keep it classy is by getting some mismatched glass chandeliers from thrift stores. Hang them from trees or in the tent to give everything a chic country look. This way you aren't too "themey" but you have a nice pulled together look.

Here are some pictures for a great backyard day! Happy planning!