Black and White Wedding Themes for the Fall

I do love the fall and all of the beautiful colors of fall, but not all brides want to use oranges, reds and greens for their wedding colors. Black and white fall weddings are becoming more common, even traditional. The black and white trend leans heavily toward old Hollywood and retro wedding themes which is a hot trend for 2010.

The best thing about a black and white wedding theme is the color. It is easy to match napkin colors, linens and accessories to this theme. It is also easy to add a punch of color to a black and white theme as well. Red roses as a wedding bouquet with a black and white theme are stunning. Adding a touch of red or a metallic to this theme will only add to the elegance but don't over do it, this is a black and white theme after all.

Of course the bride in white and the bridesmaids in black. There are also lovely wedding dresses that are available with black accents, that are throwbacks to the stunning dress that Audrey Hepburn wore in the movie Sabrina. This again points back to the old Hollywood style.

For decorations, use white mums and white pumpkins to decorate the tables and reception hall. Tie a black silk ribbon around a white pumpkin and you have created a simple but beautiful centerpiece.

To me a black and white wedding is classic and the most elegant. The black and white theme makes me think of top hats and ladies wearing gloves. Candles as far as the eye can see and as much glamour as you can possible stand.

Carrie

5 Quick & Easy Fall Wedding Centerpieces

The cool weather may be right around the corner but don't sweat it!  Creating a beautiful fall wedding table setting is a breeze with these 5 quick and easy fall wedding centerpiece ideas.  Even if you're already putting the finishing touches on your fall wedding, these stunning focal points are a must-see.

1)  Wheat Chic...

 

For an understated elegance, wheat bundles tie into a fall theme flawlessly.  Simple to put together, all you need to pull this look off are bunches of wheat, large rubber bands, scissors, and wide decorative ribbon.  To construct your centerpieces, add individual wheat strands one at a time so they start to gather at an angle.  Secure your bunch in the middle with your rubber band.  Trim the ends with scissors so your bundles stand upright on the table.  Tie with decorative ribbon and voila!  Images courtesy of theknot.com and flickr.com

2)  Rustic Fruit...

Fruit, nuts, and berries can be found nearly everywhere during the fall season.  Making our number 2 pick a great way to save your cash while still creating a beautiful focal point at your wedding.  Fill a wooden box with fall fruits including rustic apples, pears, cherries, and/or figs.  You can add leaves and other foliage to create depth and visual interest or go simple with a display of only assorted colored apples.  Images courtesy of googleimages.com and mattbites.com

3)  Berries and Nuts...

Our number 3 pick takes quick and easy to a new level.  Vases filled with nuts or berries are one of the easiest centerpieces to put together and yet they still look stunning.  Place a single flower or candle in the center for pops of color and lighting.  Images courtesy of celebrations.com and potterybarn.com

4)  Pumpkins and Gourds...

What better way to celebrate the fall season than with pumpkins and gourds?  There is something about them that immediately evokes feelings of the fall season.  Use mini pumpkins as table scatter around one of our other centerpiece ideas or make your pumpkins the main focal point for the whole table.  Get crafty by using a gourd or pumpkin as a vase for holding flowers or simply stack mini pumpkins on a high decorative stand.  Add branches and berries for decoration.  Set small votive candles, leaves, and mini pumpkins around your main focal point to add filler and interest.  Images courtesy of bhg.com and yahoo.americangreetings.com

5)  Rustic Mason Jars...

Fall is commonly known by gardeners as a canning season.  Make use of grandma's canning jars with our number 5 pick...rustic mason jars.  Perfect for adding a subdued fall touch to your wedding.  Gather as many colored or clear mason jars as you can find.  Different heights will add interest so don't be afraid of mini jam jars.  Add flowers to taller jars and candles to smaller ones.

For a unique twist, turn your old canning jars into a picture perfect setting.  All you need is a 4x6 photo cut to size, vegetable oil, and dried herbs (optional).  Cut your photo and place in your jar.  Fill to the top with vegetable oil.  Add your dried herbs on the opposite side of your photo.  Seal the lid tightly and you're done!  You will instantly have a picture perfect centerpiece that has a vintage and aged appeal.  Images and tutorial courtesy of augandeverythingafter.blogspot.com and ali harper of etsy.com

Happy Planning!

Allie

Customize Your Special Day in a Truly Unique Way

There are many times in our lives when we are most definitely not the center of attention. That means that when it comes to weddings, birthday parties, anniversaries, and other big life events we get to relish in the fact that it really is our day! What better way to make your day truly reflect your personality, than to personalize bags, napkins, cups, coasters, or favor boxes with not just a name or monogram but your own custom artwork!
Not everyone has access  to a graphic designer, but most people are more creative then they give themselves credit for. One of the cutest custom designs I have seen was just a doodle someone had done. It was drawn on a napkin and saved from the couple's first date. The image was scanned and duplicated on cocktail napkins for the wedding. There are many other easy ways to create a custom look. It is becoming popular for couples to recreate the monogram or design from their invitations to have printed on napkins or coasters for the reception. Also, the couple could sign their own names on paper and scan it to create a fun, modern looking image. Another cute idea for birthdays would be the child's name hand written by the child and scanned. If the party is for an older teen or an over the hill adult, the name could be taken from an old kindergarten paper. This would be such an adorable way to mark the passage of time! Of course, if you do have some artistic ability or know your way around graphic design software, the possibilities are pretty much endless. If that isn't an option for you, you may have luck searching the internet for royalty free line art. True, it won't be your own personal art, but it will most likely be different from what anyone in your social circle has seen or done at their wedding or party.
Custom party supplies are also great for family reunions, company picnics, or promotional events for businesses. Custom logos on cupcake boxes, cake boxes, and caramel apple boxes are a great way for a small bakery to create a more professional look for their packaging. A doodle of a family tree printed on cups or napkins would be an adorable addition to any family gathering.
Whatever the event or reason, we know you will love seeing your creation professionally printed and distributed in a useful, practical way. Most likely your guests will not only use the items you have had printed, but they will also want to take them home as a keepsake!

We can't wait to see what you come up with!

~Jenna

Free Wedding Planning PDF Checklist

Stay on top of your wedding planning to-do's with our easy-to-follow wedding checklist.

Congratulations. You're engaged! You are now officially a part of our wedding planning family. If you have decided to embark in the journey of planning your own wedding, then you have probably already realized the importance of staying organized. Unfortunately, not all brides can afford to hire a wedding planner master like David Tutera to turn their wedding dreams into reality. Instead, us DIY brides are left to conquer our wedding vision on our own. Whether you're just looking for a little guidance or....you're a DIY bride that lives and breaths the phrase, "If you want it done right, do it yourself.", the key to staying stress free is to stay organized.

Our free wedding checklist features a countdown to your big day listing the most important duties to tackle before you tie the knot.  Page 2 offers a quick reference to your most important contacts with room to enter names, phone numbers, and notes.  To download, simply click the link below.

Free Wedding Planning Checklist

Click Here to download PDF file

System Requirements: You will need Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader, version 7.0.5 or later.  If you don't have either, Adobe Reader is available for free at adobe.com.  Feel free to print the checklist and fill out at your leisure.  If you have purchased Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader software, you will be able to save this checklist to your computer for easy access to your to-do's and contacts.  If you use our checklist for commercial reasons, please provide a credit back to our site.

Happy Planning!

Allie

Personalized Football Theme Gifts

Ringbear Gift Idea

Fall is right around the corner and everyone is gearing up for the 2010 football season. Whether you plan on tailgating in the parking lot, in your own home with your friends and family, or just want to show off your team spirit with a few personalized items, get the season started off right with some of these neat ideas. 

Groomsman's Gift Idea

If you’re heading to the big game, pack your personalized cooler with stadium brats, hotdogs and hamburgers along with all the toppings and your favorite beer. Have a basket filled with plenty of buns and personalized stadium cups to hold your favorite drink. And don’t forget to bring your football to toss around with all your friends while you wait for the first kick off. 

For the die-hard Football Fans

Which ever team you and your friends root for, you can’t go wrong with NFL Beer Mugs or shot glasses. Have them individually personalized for your best man and groomsman to enjoy each season in rememberance of your wedding day.

Renee’