Dressing Up a Black Tie Affair

 

Put a fresh spin on your black and white color scheme with an adorable Tux and Gown themed wedding, engagement party, or shower. This look is a little bit retro and a little bit cute with a clean and simple color palette that adds a little class. For a formal wedding it is probably most suitable to pick and choose just a few of these elements to accent your event here and there. For casual weddings or bridal showers, you could extend the theme to every aspect of the decor to create a really fun look. This would be best for a couple who doesn't take themselves too seriously. 

Play up this theme with black and white accents in other areas. The Tux and Gown items can be paired with white guest towels or napkins printed in black with the words "Mr. and Mrs."  Miniature bow ties could be made easily out of fabric or paper for napkin rings. Use tulle or lace as accents as well. This will give the impression of a wedding dress or veil around candles, centerpeices, and chair covers. This is a look that is meant to be fun! Creative use of the tux or gown in unexpected places, such as salt and pepper shakers or on sugar cookies, is sure to bring a smile to your guests faces. Click here for more inspiration!

~Jenna

Fall Wedding Flowers Ideas

The fall wedding season is best known for its rich colors. Golden yellow, orange, and deep red are just some of the choices. Bold colored flowers such as Gerber daisies, roses and calla lilies are just some of the great fall flowers that you can choose from when planning your wedding.

If you are getting married this fall and want to get to know your flower choices, here is some help to get you started:

Gerber Daisies: Perfect for dramatic and contemporary bouquets, the Gerber Daisy is one of the most popular choices for autumn wedding flowers. With its wide variety of over a hundred colors to choose from, it will not be difficult to decorate your wedding with this wonderful bloom.

Hydrangea: Another popular flower for the fall is the hydrangea, which has full blooms. Available in an incredible range of shades, hydrangea can also be easily "tipped" with an aerosol by a florist to deepen or control the shade. Hydrangeas are also very economical.

Roses: The rose is not often thought of for fall but is a great flower for adding deep burgundy, red, orange and yellow to your bouquets or centerpieces.

Chrysanthemums: These flowers are available all year round but they actually grow during the season of fall. Chrysanthemums, which come in a variety of sizes and colors, can be used as fillers for floral arrangements on table centerpieces, wedding arches and for the bouquets.

Calla Lily: The Calla lily is not only the elegant flower choice but it also offers an incredible range of colors. If you are looking for burnt orange and beautiful reds, the calla lily is the flower for you.

Finally, autumn offers an opportunity to experiment with creative and woodsy bouquet choices. Don’t be afraid to add other elements of fall into you bouquets, such as leaves, wheat, pine cones and berries!

Carrie

Garden Party Themed Favors

Summer is the time of year everyone looks forward to and garden themed parties are popping up all over the place. There are endless possibilities for how you can put together a beautiful garden theme bridal shower with the help of mother nature.

Make the most out of the beautiful weather and host your event outdoors surrounded by colorful and fragrant flowers. Place folding hand fans at each plate setting for guests to enjoy a refreshing breeze. Decorate each table with potted flowers, floral design garden trowels, seed packets or any outdoor themed favor. Your guests will love celebrating in the refreshing outdoors and treasure each momento while tending their beautiful garden at home.

Renee'

Falling For a Lovebirds Theme - Inspiration to Reality

Since I am a hopeless romantic, a love bird wedding theme is one of my personal favorites.  Love doves have long been a symbol of romance, fidelity, and love.  Once a dove finds its mate, they've bonded forever and their love lasts a lifetime.  Perfectly fitting for wedding themes, don't you think?

Making a lovebird theme come to life at your wedding is easy to do.  With just a few nature inspired elements, you too can turn your inspiration into a reality.

1. Go simple with centerpieces - Stray for the normal floral arrangements and infuse these nature inspired wooden evergreen trees.  After your ceremony, encourage guests to take the centerpieces home as a keepsake from you special day.  Tip: Add visual interest by weighting cedar plants in glass votives with decorative rocks.

2. Set the tone of your love bird theme as soon as guests walk into your reception by assigning table numbers on these adorable love bird table numbers.

3.  So guests can easily see your table numbers, display them on tall table number holders.  Featuring a classic round silhouette.  The small compact design of these holders make them ideal for small spaces.

4. Frosted glass candle holders are one of the simplest ways to add warmth, ambience, and romance to your guest tables. The bonus leaf shape cutout design will cast around your reception hall also adding an element of nature.

5. Matching love bird tags, used here as place cards, will complement your love bird theme perfectly...and your adorable table numbers.  By keeping your design consistent through your stationery, your look ties together seamlessly without being overwhelming.

6. To hold those adorable place cards, lovebird card holders are a must.  So cute, your guests will love taking these home as favors, too!

7. & 8. To complement your nature infused table decor, wooden willow tree leaves and maple leaves will add dimension and a pop of color.  Tip: For the perfect finishing touch on your reception, tie natural grasses around your guest napkins for an easy and affordable napkin holder idea.

Happy Planning!

Allie

15 DIY Steps - 12 Months Before Your Wedding Day

It takes approximately a year to plan a wedding and there are 15 basic steps you should start with 12 months before your special day.

1. Announce your engagement
2. Set your wedding date    
3. Create a budget and keep a folder for receipts
4. Create your guest list
5. Start brainstorming ideas and themes
6. Reserve your Ceremony location
7. Book an Officiate
8. Make reservations for your Reception area
9. Book a Photographer and/or Videographer
10. Book a Caterer, Florist and Music (Band, DJ, etc.)
11. Look for a Wedding gown and Tux, schedule time for alterations and fittings
12. Register for gifts
13. Select and call the bridesmaids and groomsmen.
14. Agree on a date to order bridesmaids’ dresses and groomsmen’s tuxes
15. Choose a destination for your Honeymoon (Apply for Passports)

If you do not plan to hire a Wedding Planner, you can delegate certain tasks to a friend or family member who you both agree would be the best person to handle finding a photographer, florist, or who might know a really great caterer. Planning a wedding can get hectic so don't forget to take time out and have fun too.

Renee'