How To Style Your Dream Wedding Like a Pro

The most important thing on your wedding day is that you are marrying your best friend. And the second most important? Some bloggers and wedding experts will insist that it is the people you will have with you, the food, the decor, or the atmosphere. We are here to tell you that the most important things on your special day are whatever you want them to be! For a couple that is eloping, the location may be the main detail, while a couple planning a large wedding may decide to focus most of their efforts and budget on making their guests comfortable.

Instead of trying to give you a step by step of how to plan the perfect wedding - because let's face it, there are an infinite number of ways to plan a wonderful wedding - we are here to help you with the supporting details no matter your theme or style. Having a vision of the mood or style of your wedding will help you to make decisions for everything from the decorations to the location for your ceremony and reception. 

It is easy to pin every little wedding detail that you adore on Pinterest and then become overwhelmed when trying to put them all together in your own wedding. Once you have a wedding board created, we would encourage you to look through and find a handful of images that really inspire you. Once you have those, you have a perfect starting point to build from.We will be starting with 4 different sets of inspiration photos and working from there.



From here, we will work towards identifying a color palette, specific style words to guide you through all future wedding-related decisions, and a few font and monogram ideas that would accent your event. 

Windswept Coastal

This set of images has us daydreaming of a breezy overcast day on a quiet stretch of beach along the sea. We pulled color inspiration from faded driftwood and the dusty blues of the ocean on a cloudy day. The script fonts chosen mimic the movement of the sea, while the block font is a perfectly simple accent.

We're picturing an intimate wedding ceremony held at the edge of the water with only a few family members and friends standing with you as you say your vows. Afterwards, you walk down the beach to the tables covered in dusty blue tablecloths layered with sheer flowing fabric and adorned with driftwood place cards, seashells, and tinted glass vases filled with wild flowers.

Image Credits: Table / Driftwood Place Cards / Waves on the Shore / Cakes

Fonts: Miama / Caviar Dreams / Sail

Lush Woodland

Our next example features lush greenery and an earthy, dreamy feel. Shades of green, tan, and copper have us swooning over the possibilities for decor and venues. The fonts we have chosen to pair with this look have a handwritten feel that keeps things relaxed and still timeless.

A moss covered forest floor with giant trees as the backdrop is what we are envisioning for the ceremony, and the reception would be perfect in those same woods or in a non-traditional venue like an older building with exposed brick walls. Use string to hang small pieces of fern leaves and paint-dipped feathers and an abundance of natural garland on the tables, doors, and hanging from the ceiling. This laid-back affair almost has a bohemian feel, but with more muted colors and soft lighting. We are in love.

Image Credits: Bride Swing / Greenery and Feathers / Lighting / Forest

Fonts: In Screaming Color / Night Still Comes / Windsong

Elegant All In White

This elegant style board focuses on a monochromatic color scheme of all white. Style words like dazzling and crisp fit nicely. Classically formal fonts bring a sophisticated feel to invitations, place cards, and signs throughout the day.

This all-white style board has us dreaming of a large white tent with white fabric draped majestically from the tall ceiling, and accented with sparkly chandeliers giving off a warm glow. We are imagining black tie attire with a glamorous cocktail hour and cigar station. Candlelight and flowers play a major role in the table decorations, and can be accented with mercury glass vases.

Image Credits: Bouquet / Chandelier / Place Setting / Dance Floor

Fonts: Burguess / Engravers / Exmouth

Glamorous Blush and Gold

In this example, the images very clearly point to a feminine, sparkly, and glamorous affair. We pulled specific colors that paired well together and can be found in the sample images to form a beautiful and cohesive color palette. Once you have these, you start to get a sense of the style; Words like glitzy, light, and romantic come to mind with the sparkle of shimmery gold alongside of the blush pinks and soft kraft color. Fun fonts and monograms keep things feeling light and feminine. 

With this style board, we would lean towards a classy reception hall, decorated in light and airy fabrics with some stunning sequin or glittery accents. The attire for the evening would most likely be formal, with a formal dinner followed by dancing. When in doubt, go with sparkle!

Image Credits: Place Setting / Invitation Suite / Wedding Ring / Glitter

Fonts: Cantoni / Adobe Caslon Pro / Sweet Pea

Now that you've seen our examples, we'd love to hear what you come up with! There is no wrong way to use these style boards, but you can see how easy it is to imagine all of the rest of the details once you have pulled together the basic feel you want for your special day! Make sure to bring yours with you when meeting with your wedding vendors to keep you on track, and to help them to understand your vision.

7 Wedding Ring Bearer Pillow Alternatives

Gone are the days of one size fits all wedding ceremonies.  Brides and grooms want choices and that doesn't stop at the ring bearer.  From ring boxes to ring dishes to custom banners, put a twist on the traditional ring bearer pillow with these fun ceremony alternatives.

Ring boxes are becoming increasingly more popular as an alternative to traditional ring bearer pillows.  In about every style imaginable, you are bound to find one to fit with your wedding theme.

Personalized Ring Bearer Pillow Box

 

I Do Personalized Wood Wedding Ring Box

 

A Promise Made Vintage Ring Box Book

Woodland Personalized Acrylic Wedding Ring Box

Ring dishes are another great option for your ring bearer. Why we love them?  They add a vintage, old-fashioned appeal to your wedding ceremony.

 

One Love Heart Shape Ring Bowl 

 

With this Ring Wedding Ring Bearer Box

Don't want to burden your little guy with the responsibility of holding the rings? Have him carry a cute personalized banner instead.

 

Here Comes Your Girl Personalized Wedding Banner

Love what you see, check out the full collection of ring bearer pillow alternatives

2015 Wedding Trends and Ideas

Researching wedding trends for 2015 has got us beyond, BEYOND excited.  There is no doubt that 2015 is going to be a year full of gorgeous and jaw dropping weddings.  Elegance and understated sophistication will reign supreme.  Expect to see lush florals, gilded decor, and personalized touches from the bride and groom throughout the year.  One thing is for sure, brides and grooms are pulling out all the stops to ensure their guests are having a great time and that their personalities are shining through on their big day.

1) Loose, Organic Florals

 

Velvet and Twine

This unstructured approach to wedding flowers is taking the wedding industry by storm and can be seen in everything from bouquets to table decor.  The idea is to create a just picked from the garden look full of texture, foliage, berries, and romantic stems like garden roses, peonies, ranunculus, and hydrangeas.

2) Crafted Drink Stations

 

The Melideos

 

Oh Its Perfect

Crafted drink stations are all about bringing a signature drink to your wedding. N/A options like decked out water stations and lemonade and iced tea bars are always a popular choice.  Bubbly bars and craft beer stations are also gaining popularity.  These stations have the added benefit of saving you money on your bar budget.  By sticking to just a few select items instead of providing a fully stocked bar, you will save on the unnecessary extras.

3) Unexpected Menu Options and Food Trucks

 

Justin and Mary

Couples are venturing away from candy buffets or dessert bars and instead offering guests a unique twist on appetizers and menu items.  On site food trucks will be seen throughout 2015 and unique food stations such as cheese buffets, bruschetta bars, taco stations, and fruit bars will take the spotlight.

4) Framed Seating Charts

 

Style Me Pretty

Whether written on a vintage mirror or displayed within an ornate picture frame, one thing is for sure, romantic seating displays are a must have in 2015.

5) Long Sleeved Wedding Dresses

 

Mira Zwillinger via SMP

6) Watercolors

 

Grey Likes Weddings

 

Hey Wedding Lady

7) Calligraphy

 

Elizabeth Anne Designs

From painted signs and seating charts to invitations and place cards, hand written calligraphy lends a romantic, personalized and inviting touch to the small details.

8) Gold Decorations

 

Wedding Chicks

Silver is no longer the go to accent color for brides.  Golden, gilded, glittery, and rose gold wedding decorations have taken over and help add warmth to a wedding color palette pairing flawlessly with rustic wood elements and earth tones.

9) Unity Ceremony Alternatives

 

My Wedding Reception Ideas

Forget the typical unity candle ceremony, couples want a more personalized option for their unity ceremony from sand shadow boxes and love letters to wine blending ceremonies.  See 11 Wedding Unity Ceremony Ideas

10) Wreaths, Garland, and Greenery

 

Green Wedding Shoes

 

Brides

2015 will be full of organic details, greenery, and foliage.  Wreaths and garland will be seen on everything from chairbacks and table runners to archways and get away cars.

11) Family Style Seating

 

Supply Paper Co.

Some of the funnest wedding receptions are the ones served family style.  Pass the potatoes please!

12) Taper Candles

 

Style Me Pretty

13) Guest Lounge Areas

 

One Wed

Give your guests an escape from the dance floor with a cozy lounge area where they can sit back and relax for a beat.

14)  Hanging Decorations 

 

Bridal Guide

 

Style Me Pretty

Chandeliers, flowers, lanterns, string lights, and even the table centerpieces themselves are being raised to new heights with this hot trend.

Top 20 First Dance Wedding Songs

The wedding song you choose for your first wedding dance should tell a story about you and your FH.  Whether about the things you both enjoy, your relationship, or your personalities, your first dance as husband and wife is your time to shine in front of your friends and family members.

To find out what the top wedding songs are for this year, we asked our Facebook brides which song they picked to use for their first dance as husband and wife.  From contemporary wedding songs to country favorites, we go some really great feedback from our brides-to-be.

Managing Your Guest List - Common Questions and Answers

It would be perfectly lovely to have the funds and space to invite everyone to your wedding from that coworker that you barely know three cubicles over to distantly related cousins and their plus ones. For most of us, however, there are budget restrictions, people we don't particularly care for but feel we ought to include, space restrictions at the chosen venue, and too many other possible limitations to list. It isn't fun to cut people from your dream wedding list, but sometimes it must be done. Here are a few answers to the most commonly asked guest list questions.

Q: My wedding will be very small. What do I tell people that will not be invited?

A: This is very simple. You tell them exactly that - your guest list is small - limited by funds and space available, so you are only able to invite close family and friends. Don't get too caught up in social obligation or feelings of guilt. It is perfectly understandable to want only those you are most intimately connected with to witness such an emotional event in your life. Your not-so-close friends and distant family will understand this. They may even feel awkward attending if they do not know your group of guests well.

Q: Can I invite guests to the reception, but not the ceremony?

Stay On Time On the Big Day...Planning Your Wedding Reception Timeline

So you've set the date, bought the dress, ordered the flowers, booked the DJ and planned your little heart out. Your wedding date is almost here and the last minute details need taken care of. Your wedding reception is a time to relax and bask in the joy of your new marriage with friends and family. A carefree time right? Well it should be and will if you plan and layout your wedding reception timeline in advance. This should be an hour by hour breakdown of the events for the evening, taking into account things like the toasts, dancing, dinner, and cake cutting. Make these plans before hand and put someone else in charge of keeping to the schedule on the big day. Give your schedule to your wedding planner, DJ or Emcee for the night to keep things on time. This way you can relax and enjoy yourself!

The average length of a wedding reception is between 3 and 5 hours long. Here is a sample layout for a 4 to 5 hour long reception, start to finish!

Oh and by the way, don't stress if you don't stay on your schedule to the minute. Remember, ultimately a reception is a party and certain aspects of the evening may run longer or shorter than planned. Don't worry, your schedule can always be adjusted. Be flexible and have fun!

Budget Friendly Honeymoon Destinations for 2011

A dream honeymoon doesn't always have to mean big $$$.  For many brides and grooms planning their dream wedding on a budget, the honeymoon can often get left behind.  I hate to think of any bride and groom sacrificing their dream honeymoon simply because of money.  To make sure you get the honeymoon of your dreams without emptying your wallet, I have put together this year's top budget friendly honeymoon destination spots from tropical sandy beaches to mountainous terrains.

#1) Mexico's Caribbean Coast  - Still one of the most popular destination spots among newlyweds, Mexico is a honeymooners dream.  Whether you love the beach, want to explore the culture, or simply get some R&R, Cancun and the Riviera Maya is the place for you.  Home to beautiful ruins and beaches, Mexico's Caribbean Coast offers attractive all-inclusive packages to meet any honeymooner's budget.

#2) Bermuda - Bermuda is home to pink sandy beaches, turquoise water, and warm hospitality.  Whether cruising or flying direct, expect more deals to a country recently voted 'Best Island in the Caribbean and Atlantic' by Conde Nast Traveler readers.

#3) Central California - For those who love a good glass of vino, go ahead and trade pricey Napa Valley for the California's Central Coast.  In recent years, this region has blossomed with family-run wineries and charming B&Bs at affordable prices.  So go on, sit back, sip, and savor in your savings.

Looking for something unique?  If you and your fiance are the kind of people who enjoy a more offbeat, adventurous type atmosphere, than these last honeymoon spots are a must see.

#4) Montana - Look no further for something off-the-beaten path than the beautiful wonders of Montana.  If you love breathtaking mountains, landscapes that paint a picture, and wildlife, Montana is the perfect destination.  Montana boasts an adventure around every corner featuring dude ranches, 16 ski areas and 2 national parks. Home to Yellowstone Country, head on over to see one of the greatest natural wonders during your stay.

#5) New England States - New England is the region in the northeastern corner of the US that includes Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.  Perfect for couples who love lazy drives and beautiful landscape, New England is known for their covered bridges, antiques, and colonial architecture.  Whether you're looking for adventure or relaxation, New England has it all.  Visit New Hampshire's White Mountains for hiking, zip lining, and more or take a drive cross state lines during the fall to see the all beauty that New England has to offer.

To get started on great deals and honeymoon packages, check out Travel Leaders current Travel Specials.

Happy Planning!

Sources: Riviera Maya, Bermuda, California Central Coast, Montana, New England States, Travel Leaders

How Much for How Many? Helpful Tips for Planning Your Wedding Reception

Planning your wedding reception can be a difficult task. How many guests will you have? How much food and drinks should be served? How many napkins should you order? So many questions to be answered as you plan this oh so important aspect of your wedding. Here you'll find some helpful tips and guidelines on quantities for napkins, drinks, appetizers, cake and more. Hopefully these recommendations will help your planning run a little smoother!

Napkins Whether personalized or plain, linen or 3 ply, wedding napkins are an important part of your wedding reception. It is recommended that there be 2-3 cocktail napkins per guest for the bar area. Cocktail sized napkins are also appropriate for the cake table. Here it is acceptable to have 1 napkin per guest since most will only eat one piece of cake. So a total of  3-4 cocktail napkins are needed. If you aren't using cloth napkins at your meal tables, plan for 1.5 dinner or luncheon napkins per person. So if you have 100 guests, plan for 150 dinner napkins.

Drinks A good rule of thumb to plan for drinks and alcohol at your reception is to plan for 1 drink per person per hour. This may take some calculations and it is also important to take into account if your guests are a heavy drinking crowd or not for this will affect the quantities of the following drink estimations. Here are a few average drink amounts per guest during a wedding reception.

Beer: 3-4 per person

Champagne: 2 glasses per person (mostly for the toasts)

Wine: 3/4 of a bottle per person (1 bottle of wine or champagne holds around 6-7 glasses)

Lemonade/Pop: (non-alcoholic drinks) 3-4 servings (a 2 liter bottle holds 7-9 drink servings)  

When ordering your alcohol for your reception it is good to order more than you think you will use, some recommendations suggest ordering 1/3 more than you think. Before ordering, check with your distributer, some will allow you to return unopened bottles after your event.

Appetizers If you are having cocktails and hor d'oeurves served before your reception meal it is suggested that this time be 1 hour or 1 1/2 hours long at the most. For this time is is suggested to serve 3 hor d'oeurves per person per hour. Or roughly 5 per person for the entire time. If you are planning an Hor d'oeurves and cocktail only reception with no dinner to follow, it is recommended to serve 12 pieces per guest with a variety of hot and cold appetizers.

Wedding Cake or desserts are certainly one of the highlights to your reception. If you are serving desserts other than cake, it is suggested to plan for 1-2 servings per guest. Regarding your wedding cake, all you need to do is tell your baker how many guests will be attending and they can recommend to you what size cake you will need. It is good to estimate more servings than guests invited for you may have some last minute guests or some may want seconds!

The above tips and estimations are only recommendations. Your caterer or event hall will also be able to help you with quantities and accurate guidelines as well. Another great rule of thumb for your reception is that it is always better to have too much than not enough! Nobody likes a hungry reception guest!

Image Credits: Reception tables from Meeting House Grand Ballroom

Keep the Celebration Rockin' with a Reception After Party!

Your wedding day is cause for a huge celebration. The best way to celebrate means something a little different to each couple, but more and more couples are forgoing the grand exit to enjoy a wedding reception after party. Theses informal gatherings can consist of anything from just a few guests hitting the bars to a planned party on the reception site or the bar or restaurant of the hotel your guests are staying in. For those who love the idea of partying until the wee hours of the morning, here are a few tips on how to pull it off.




Photography by Katie Day Photo via labellebride.com



A lot of couples question who to invite to a wedding reception after-party. If the event will be at all organized, it is important that you invite everyone on the guest list. In this case you can simply add it to your invitations or in your wedding programs. A simple "join us after the reception" will suffice. One couple even had business card sized invites printed up for the ushers to hand out as they sat guests. This is a cute way to let guests know about the after party if you planned it after the formal invitations were sent out. If your after party consists of the bridal party heading out to the bars in a party bus or limo, it is still a good idea to let guests know where they can meet up with you by word of mouth. The more the merrier, after all!

Another common question is how to fund an after party. On a tight budget, a couple and all who want to keep the party going can hit the bars. It is usually understood in these situations that any food or beverage desired is paid for by the guests. However, if you are hosting an after party in the hotel or on your reception site an open bar is never inappropriate. This may be a good compromise for the couple who can't decide whether or not to serve alcohol at their reception. A dry reception keeps the evening family-friendly while still providing adults a chance to enjoy their beer and cocktails at the after party. I especially love the idea of hosting a casual bonfire at the beach or a campsite for rural wedding or having a night out on the town in a bigger city.

There are a few more things you may want to consider. Does your honeymoon flight leave early the next morning? If so, you may want to keep your celebration short. You will also want to have a wardrobe change for your after party, especially if you are leaving the reception site. What girl doesn't love a reason to buy a new outfit? Lastly, make sure that all guests will have a safe way to return home. Collect keys if you must. You can get a party bus, call for cabs, or even ask a few non-drinking guests if they mind being a DD. With all your bases covered, you will have a night that is wonderfully memorable for all the right reasons!

Have Fun!

E-Vite vs. Invite....The Do's & Don'ts of Techsavvy Wedding Planning

The time's they are a changin' and with the Facebook age comes the ever growing question.....to e-vite or not to e-vite?

As old as weddings themselves, wedding etiquette has played a role in the wedding planning process.  Who pays for what, who gets invited, what comes first?  These are all questions that have answers and rules to live by.  As we continue through the 21st century and as Twitter updates and FB posts become more and more popular, these rules are changing and are no longer set in stone.  But where does a person draw the line?  To help techy brides and guests with their wedding experience, we have put together this collection of do's and don'ts.

Happy Planning!