2011 Spring Color Trends

The 2011 spring fashion report is in and Pantone LLC, the global authority on color, has pulled out all the stops to unveil their detailed fashion forecast.  Featuring the top 10 colors for women's fashion, Pantone cites some of today's top designers along with sketches, headshots, and commentary from other fashion insiders.

"The colors designers have chosen for the spring season present an interesting marriage of unexpected warm and cool tones," said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.  The top 10 colors selected for the season include Honeysuckle, Coral Rose, Beeswax, Regatta, Lavender, Blue Curacao, Peapod, Silver Peony, Russet, and Silver Cloud (see below).  For 17 years, Pantone has surveyed the designers of New York Fashion Week and beyond to bring the season's most color trends.  To read more, check out Pantones detailed forecast here.

What does this mean for weddings?  The colors that Pantone has selected for the spring season pair together an interesting mix of vibrant hues and cooler, neutral tones.  I feel that this marriage of colors will undoubtedly carry through to weddings.  Look for colors that pair contrasting, complementary hues together, as well as, palettes that include warmer softer hues paired with vibrant contrasting colors.  By combining complementary colors (colors that are opposites on the color wheel), brides will be creating a striking wedding palette that demands attention.  Flirtatious Honeysuckle is a feel-good hue that brings a sense of playfulness.  Pair with silver cloud for a mix of warm tones and cool neutrals for the perfect post-winter pick-me-up.  Spicy Coral Rose and honey-yellow Beeswax evoke a sophisticated feel.  Combine either one of these colors with Regatta for a striking, vibrant color contrast or Lavender for a unique color combination.

Happy Planning!

Fig and Platinum New Year

Eggplant (or rich purple) is proving to be one of 2011's up and coming wedding colors among brides. Rich, dramatic, and gorgeous....can I please just say, I love this color!!  With the right New Year around the corner, I couldn't help but think how perfect this dramatic shade would be for a New Years Eve wedding.  The drama of this deep purplish shade would look stunning paired with a sparkling, contrasting hue like silver and white.  For this inspiration board, I pulled my color palette from the fig fruit.  Deep purple on the outside and pink on the inside, pair with sparkling accents and you will have yourself a fabulous wedding color combo.

Happy Planning!

Image Credits: 1st Row: Blackberry and fruit centerpiece via Martha Stewart Weddings, Eggplant chair sashes from theknot.com, diamond band and scattered diamonds via White Flash Diamonds.  2nd Row: Figs via Thayer Photo, Chandelier wedding invitations from Wedding Paper Divas, Peonies from The Laurel Hedge, Hanging chandelier from Sheri Crystal Designs. 3rd Row: Love sparklers via weddingbee.com. 4th Row: Blackberry cocktails via Matt Armendariz Photography, Bride and groom toasting from Melissa Mize Photography, Plum ring bearer pillow, pink dress via Etsy. 5th Row: Sparklers via Adrienne Page

How to Dress Up Your Holiday Drinks

If you’re like me and you are always trying to think of new and fun way to spice up your holiday parties, think drinks. Here are some great tips for dressing up your holiday drinks at your next get together.

Accessorize: By adding a candy cane to a cup of hot chocolate or some cranberries to a glass of champagne you have added a truly festive feel to your beverages. Colored sugar is another great decoration for your glasses. Add red sugar to the rim of a green apple martini to give your drink a little pizzazz.

Personalized Cups: What better way is there to say Happy Holiday but by saying it right on the cup. Order personalized cups with a holiday message for your friends and family. This is fun way to spread the holiday cheer and your eggnog will never look better.

Ice Cubes: My favorite way to dress up your holiday drink would be with ice cubes. Try freezing some mint or cranberries inside the ice to add color to your drinks. Another fun idea is to freeze colored water in holiday candy molds. You can pick up some Christmas tree candy molds at your local craft store and fill them with green water. Once they freeze you will have Christmas tree ice to add to your holiday drinks.

These are just a few easy ways to add holiday cheer and impress your guests!

Carrie

Creating A Classic Christmas



The Holiday season is a time to reflect on the events of the year and reminisce about holiday seasons past. It is a time for comfort foods and traditions, a time when the faintest scent of baking cookies and the twinkling of lights can send you back to the magical time of childhood. This year take advantage of the stage the season has set for you and give your guests a truly classic Christmas.

Your party decorations will be essential in creating the mood for your party. Bring everyone back to a simpler time by using as much natural or homemade decor as possible. Make planning for the party a family adventure by venturing into the woods for pine cones and evergreen branches. These will look beautiful on a colorful table cloth surrounding adorable cabin centerpieces made from lincoln logs. Add chalkboard place mats and decorate with non-toxic chalk in a holiday theme with your guest's name to keep with this fun and innocent theme. Because this is the time of year where childishness is actually a good thing, get crafty with paper snowflakes and colorful paper chains. In the days leading up to the party you can cozy up on the couch and watch some holiday movies while stringing popcorn and cranberry garland. This natural garland will look fabulous on your tree, mantle, or draped strategically around the room.

As your guests arrive and throughout the evening, have classic Christmas music playing quietly in the back ground to keep everyone in the spirit. Play up this "Christmas Magic" theme by encouraging everyone to bring a gift for a white elephant exchange that is inspired by their most treasured childhood Christmas gifts. Later everyone can play vintage games like Twister, Password, and Pictionary. Choose games that keep the conversation flowing and encourage everyone to participate. When our family does this the laughter is contagious and we come away feeling like we bonded a little bit more with the family members that we don't get to see as often as we would like.

Consider the traditions from your own childhood and ask your guests what traditions mean the most to them. Use these as inspiration to make one more memorable holiday for old and young!

Happy Holidays!

 

Photo Credit:Popcorn garland from A Very Country Christmas, Cabin Centerpiece courtesy of Real Simple.com , Chalkboard Placemat from Live Simply Live Pure.com, Pine Chair Sashes from Pink Frosting.com, Paper Snowflakes from Good Housekeeping.com, Night Before Christmas Paper Chains from Ormolu

Winter Wedding Bouquet Alternatives

I hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving filled with good food and good company.  If you're an Xmas fanatic like me, than the minute the sun broke the horizon on Friday morning, you too were awake setting up your Christmas decorations.  Every year I try and outdo myself with new and inventive ways to decorate around the house.  This year I glued pinecones to ornament hooks and spray painted them gold to add to my rustic decor.  While setting up my poinsettia centerpieces, I couldn't help but think they would make adorable winter wedding bouquet alternatives.  Don't you think?  But of course why would I stop at just poinsettias...what would be the fun in that?  Just for you, I put together my top picks for winter wedding bouquet alternatives.  Enjoy!

1) Feather Fabulous

Simply chic.  What else is there to say?  Made completely of feathers with bejeweled accents, have one made in snowy white for that ice princess feel.  These lovelies are complementary of the ladies from Emplume.

2) Pinecone Rustic

For the rustic bride, pinecone bouquets are perfection.  Start in advance and this bouquet alternative can turn into a fun and easy DIY project.  Add wintry flair and sparkle by spray painting silver, gold, or glitter onto your bouquet.  To learn how to create your own, check out this tutorial from oncewed.com used to create the bouquet above.

3) The Hand Muff Bouquet

Fabulous.  Winter hand muffs keep you and your bridesmaids warm and stylish.  And they will look amazing in photos.  This idea is one of my favorites because it truly captures the winter season in a unique way.  Better yet, they double as great bridesmaids gifts too.  Pair with warm and cozy slippers for the perfect gift set.  The children's hand muffs above are courtesy of Etsy and can be found here and here.

4) Bling Bling

Why limit all your sparkle to just your wedding dress when you can have an entire bouquet made from glittering rhinestones.  Glistening just like the snowfall.  Make entirely of gems and jewels, this bouquet will sparkle all the way down the aisle.  I especially love the rhinestone bouquet idea because it will last forever.  Truly an heirloom quality piece that can be passed down.  Heirloom jeweled bouquet courtesy of Noaki of Etsy.

5) The Pomander Snowball

Mimic the snowball fights from your childhood with our number 5 bouquet idea...the pomander snowball bouquet.  This idea takes the traditional flower bouquet and mixes gives it a unique twist.  Have each of your bridesmaids and flower girl carry these snowballs down the aisle to capture the feeling of winter.  Pair with a traditional rose brides bouquet for the perfect complement.  Pomander snowball bouquets courtesy of Etsy and The Knot.

Happy Planning!