I’ll be honest, I cringe at the thought of buying flowers on the internet to make your own bouquets as a way to save money. It makes me sweat just thinking about it: flowers arriving the day before the wedding, still needing to be cleaned and prepped, with the potential of being dead, half-dead, the wrong color, the wrong flower all together or just plain not showing up. Like I said, it makes me nervous.
So, as a happy compromise here are a few tips to save money on florals without going the DIY route :
- Use bigger blooms. Flowers like hydrangeas, shown above have large blooms, so you can use less of them and still have a dramatic and full effect. Other big-bloom choices: peonies, gerber daisies and lilies!
- Re-use florals: At last weekends wedding we re-used the aisle decorations (bundles of wild flowers) by adding them into the centerpieces at the reception, using them as decoration on the cocktail tables by tying them in with the sashes, and using the altar pieces to decorate the escort card table and bar. We had the appearance of twice the flowers for 1/2 the cost by utilizing the ceremony flowers at the reception.
- Ditch the bridesmaids bouquets and have them carry a cute clutch. It can also double as a great bridesmaids gift! Swap out a $120 bouquet for a $50 clutch and you can save a chunk of cash. Yes, I know…grandma may not approve (where are their flowers?!) but it’s your wedding, so break the rules if you want to!
(picture via etsy)
I love coming across fun and unique ways to set a wedding apart, and if it lends entertainment for your guests as well, even better!
Check out these Wedding Trees from Melangerie on Etsy. The colorful tree will entertain your guests by showing them who’s a family member, childhood friend, co-worker, etc., and they are coordinated to your wedding colors! This would look awesome framed and set at your escort card table, or you can even have these printed into custom place mats. Perfect for a fun and funky wedding reception, and I know I would personally sit and look at these all night!
What are you doing to make your wedding unique?
(click to enlarge)
I love fun and new color palettes—-ones you don’t see every day—and this one definitely fits the bill! I love the bright pop of the marigold accents in this board and the subtle coolness of the pewter.
Some other fun color pairs to consider:
marigold+fuschia
slate+powder blue
goldenrod+taupe
Sources: Bouquet via The Knot, Invites via Brides.com, Mori Lee Maids dress in Slate, Table number by Sarah J Photography, Invites photo by KT Merry Photography, getaway car by Bobbi Rics, peep toe shoes by Paris Hilton at Shoes.com
Thursday, February 5, 2009
(click to enlarge)
If you live in the midwest, you’re probably looking at a lot of white right now…I know I am! And while I’m sick of looking at all the cold, white snow, I can’t help but appreciate the elegance of a white-on-white color palette!
This color combo is clean, fresh, classy and elegant! I especially love the feather bouquet (center left) by Emplume out of Detroit. The company creates couture bouquets that are totally unique and I think this one in particular would be a standout at a white winter wedding! So don’t be afraid of color white!
Visit next week when we’ll be featuring a whole weeks worth of color palettes!
Photo Credits
Top: Richard Parker Photography, Matthew Tennison Photography, Engaged Studio
Center: Nicole Ladonne Photography (bouquet by Emplume), Rob Garland Photographers, Andrea Polita Photography
Bottom: Craig Ambrosio, Alternate Angles, Susan Jackson Photography
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
I love to hear about all things wedding, so when I hear someone has recently tied the knot I need all the details! A few weeks ago when I met with Amanda Beeman, the new events amabassador at The Veranda at the Whitcomb, she mentioned her “polka dot wedding dress” and I was intrigued—I had to see it! So she was nice enough to send over some shots of her dress and all of the fun details she put together to tie in her polka dot theme. It’s way too cute not to share with you all! Above is the gorgeous Michelle Roth gown that inspired it all!
The beautiful tented reception was held at Lakes Golf & Country Club in Ohio. I absolutely adore white on white cakes and I think this one was perfect to make this gorgeous cake stand out amongst all of the vibrant colors Amanda chose!
Top left are the adorable polka dot centerpieces (in an assortment of colors) set at each table, the bridesmaids bouquet handles, complete with coordinating pearl pins, and the gorgeous bridesmaids dresses. I think my favorite part of this wedding was
*All photos courtesy of Nicole Dixon!
Kelly was an incredibly fun bride to work with! She’s a spunky gal, so it was a no-brainer that we could pull off something a little different with her wedding! Kelly chose a deep fall color palette for her September 27th wedding, using dark reds, oranges, yellows and greens! She gave me free range on selecting centerpieces, and we came up with the lovely design above, courtesy of Crystal Springs!
However, when it came to her bouquet, Kelly fell in love with a bright pink and kept coming back to it despite the change in color palette, so we decided to roll with it! Instead of trying to force the wedding into one color scheme, we used a bright pink color palette with green accents for the beach ceremony, and carried the fall colors throughout the reception.
It turned out amazing, and I’m glad we did it—don’t let anyone put you in a box when it comes to your wedding design. Go with your instincts and have fun!
*photos by Kelly Powers Photography
I love etsy, but I don’t visit nearly enough (or buy enough!). But, I was looking through this morning and saw these darling “love birds” made from rescued wood by Dolan Geiman in Chicago. Absolutely adorable! If you’re not hooked on etsy yet, now is the time to start the habit! I think this would make a really eclectic valentine’s gift (not that my husband would even know what Etsy is!). A girl can dream–but for now I’ll just continue window shopping!
When Claire was given her grandmother’s broach last minute, she found the perfect place for the “something old” on her bouquet handle.
Then later, in lieu of the orchids we had planned on putting in her hair to replace her veil, we opted to make use of the broach again and pin it into her hair for a little extra bling at the reception! Such a great use of “something old” that lasted all day!
There are two things I love in this scenario! First, I love incorporating sentimental things into weddings. Second, I love finding spur of the moment ways to be creative!
*photos by LVL Photography
Monday, November 24, 2008
(photo by Amy Carroll)
If you’re looking for a beautiful gift for your bridesmaids—not to mention a lovely accessory for pictures—consider getting your girls a pashmina wrap (also called a stole). This can also offer a great option to ‘maids who may not be comfortable remaining sleeveless all night, or who could use an extra layer in cool weather. Buy them in a shade to match your motif, and you’ve got a winning combo of beauty+usability! Check out The Pashmina Store to pick your perfect shade!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
(photo by Jessica Claire)
When you’re flipping through the endless bridal magazines out there, it’s easy to get sucked into all of the glossy pics and think your wedding has to be a mirror image. To make your wedding beatutiful and unique, keep a few things in mind when looking for ideas for your big day.
Use Elements
When you find a picture you like, decide what element makes it so appealing. If it’s a beautiful bouquet you’re gazing at, what makes that bouquet stand out? Is it the structure of the arrangement? The use of a single bloom? The combination of colors? The unique handle wrapping? Even if that bouquet isn’t your exact color scheme, look for the elements that make it attractive to you, and apply those to your own design. You don’t want your wedding to look like someone else’s photo spread—instead, choose elements that you can make your own!
Be Flexible
You don’t have to carbon copy a design concept to make it your own. Take a picture of that stunning Martha Stewart bouquet into your florist—but be prepared for sticker shock if you’re on a tight budget! If you can’t swing $400 on that bouquet of your dreams, ask your florist to substitute some blooms. Does that silk and orchid covered chuppa make your head spin with bridal delight? If it’s not within your budget to have one professionally made, seek out a friend or family member who could construct one, and substitute more reasonable fabric and floral accents.
Using inspiration will give you lots of elements to pull into your own design concept, while imitation will make you feel restricted and cookie cutter—so go out and be inspired! (and send us pictures—we’d love to see the results!)
