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Accessories for the Blushing bride

Accessories for the Blushing Bride can be the most important detail  next to the dress and can dictate the whole bridal look. Here are a few of our favorite tips and tricks for looking absolutely ravishing…

From veils to belts to fascinators, the sky is the limit to be as simple or blingy for your big day. If you thought finding your wedding dress was fun, you’re in for a real treat — it’s time to accessorize. Just remember the first rule in wedding jewelry: Don’t overdo it. It’s tempting to load up on baubles and bling, but you don’t want all those precious metals to outshine you on the big day. Follow these simple steps and you’ll look like royalty without looking like you’ve raided the queen’s closet.
Knowing what type of metal will work with your wedding dress’s shade of white is a good way to begin choosing your wedding jewelry.

White Gown: Gold embellishments may clash with this bright white hue. We suggest sticking to pearl and platinum.
Diamond-white Gown: This barely off-white color works with gold and silver (and rose gold, and pearl — you get the idea).
Ivory Gown: This candlelight shade is a soft, light white, and some versions even have yellow undertones. Adorn yourself with gold jewelry to highlight the creamy tint of the fabric.
Also, pairing your neckline style with the proper adornment can add character to your wedding gown, or even highlight a unique feature.

Sweetheart or Strapless: For something a little different, skip the necklace, and focus on some great chandelier earrings instead. Wear clear crystal for a sleek look, or punch it up with a hint of color. Try using a meaningful gem like your birthstone, or pick a color from the flowers in your bridal bouquet (but not from the embellishments on your gown — you don’t want to match too much). If you’re going for a flirty, fresh look, include two or three small fresh or silk flowers in your hair to add a soft, organic feel. Vintage elegance more your style? Pay homage to the past with a great Art Deco-style bracelet or some roaring ’20s-inspired feather barrettes.
V-neck: Whether you opt for a pendant or choker, this style begs for décolletage decoration. A thin chain with a simple pendant is an elegant way to accessorize, while pearls (single- or double-stranded) exude classic charm. If you’re going for the dare-to-be-decadent look, a crystal choker with matching earrings could be the perfect combo.

Halter or Reverse Halter: Whether you wear your hair in a sleek bun or loose ponytail, dressing up your tresses is a great way to accessorize a halter gown. Headbands are a great way to add panache to your wedding up do. But if headbands aren’t quite your style, try adding some sparkle to your hair with intricate crystal hairpins. If you’ve got a curly mane, five to seven hairpins is just right, while brides with thinner locks (or short hair) will get the same shine with two or three pins.
The most important thing about picking the perfect trinkets for your wedding gown is that they are a reflection of you.

Something old, something, blue, something borrowed, something new…
If deciding on your jewels is proving more difficult than finding the gown, there’s one jewelry duo that’s timeless: Pair diamond (or CZ) drop-earrings with a sophisticated necklace, such as a strand of pearls or a diamond pendant choker (or a tennis bracelet for halter gowns). If you’re comfortable in all your accessories, your wedding day ensemble is guaranteed to dazzle.

woodland weddings

Woodland Weddings

 

A reoccurring trend for this year has been Woodland weddings. Whether it’s a destination or just in your backyard, Fall is a perfect time of year for this trendy theme! Brides, you can bring the outdoors inside with simple touches like branch center pieces and combining natural colors like whites, olives, golds, silver and jewel tones.

Woodland Weddings
We are also loving how affordable mother nature can be! If you have a special tree, why not consider getting married under it? Or had a great memory in a park or forest preserve, why not check out that space as the venue for your ceremony? Weather is certainly something to consider so if you’d rather not chance it, then bring the beauty to your tables, chairs, décor or bouquet. Deep plum colors contrast very well with beige and brown, making your decorations pop. You can even think about making the food match the Woodland theme with a s’mores bar!

Go have fun with fall colors and if you’re a more rustic bride but don’t want the standard barnyard, then consider the Woodlands theme.

Pinterest Pins of the Week

Pinterest Pins of the Week

Pinterest Pins of the Week

Door Signage: We’ve seen monogrammed wreaths and all kind of fun DIY floral bunches for adorning your front door, but we absolutely fell in love with this whimsical sign. The oversized “ I DO” could easily be changed up to fit any theme. For a more traditional affair, the large monogram or couple’s initials might be a nice touch. Or for the more party-oriented Bride and Groom, even little sayings like “ Let’s party “ or “Oh happy day” would be just as welcoming and fun. This sign reminds us to have fun with your décor and also to not overlook the simple touches of decorating your home for the biggest day of your life! Don’t forget about adorning your entrance for at-home bridal showers and other special soirees leading up to the big day!

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Pinterest Pins of the WeekVia Shelly Jones

Personalized Whiskey: This might just be one of the hottest trends we are seeing right now and we are thrilled that it involves the Groom! Asking your guys to be in your wedding has never been easier ( or manlier!) Personalized bottles ( like this one with it’s label found on Etsy) is the perfect way to inflect your personal tastes and give your guys something to truly enjoy or keep for years to come. Adding their own names is a great way to make it even more special and show that you really took the time to acknowledge their part in your wedding. The great news is that these options are just able endless. From personalized whiskeys and tequilas to Fireball- whatever your taste, there’s a way to make it special for your Groomsmen.

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Pinterest Pins of the WeekFound on Etsy

Confetti Push Pop: Okay so we all remember those super orange, really sugary sherbet push pops with Fred Flinstone on them that we had almost every day in the summer as kids? Well lose the ice cream and enter colorful confetti that pops out as you shower the bride and groom after their traditional exit from the ceremony. The engineering of the cylinder is perfect and can be decorated with fun labels and tassels to accompany the wedding décor. Almost too cute, but spot on for kids and adults alike!

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Pinterest Pins of the WeekVia Zulily

Rustic Charm

As we predicted in our earlier post about 2012 wedding trends, rustic-themed weddings continue to be a popular choice among brides. Add a little rustic charm to your upcoming summer wedding with these simple ideas:

Mason Jars: Whether you use them for drinks, décor, or favors, mason jars are a cute and inexpensive way to create a laid-back vibe at your wedding. Load various sized jars with flowers or candles and lay them out across tables or hang them from tree branches for an outdoor gala. Or, fill them with homemade jams or dry baking ingredients for a super cute favor. When all else fails, fill ‘em up with beverages and top them with fun straws for a simple, yet rustic, touch.

Vitalic Photography

Hand-Painted Signs: Grab some reclaimed wood and repurpose it in as an adorable wedding sign. Label various food stations, create signs for directional purposes, or simply paint sweet sayings atop boards for decorative uses.

Kraft Paper: Brown kraft paper adds a note of relaxed charm to any gathering. Use it to print invitations, menus, and programs; craft it into paper cones to hold snacks or rose petals for throwing; or, wrap small bands of it around bottles and vases to add a countrified touch to décor.

Tree Trunks: Rely on nature to add a rustic flare to your event by utilizing tree trunks. Larger stumps make great, casual seating options for outdoor receptions and cocktail hours, while thin trunk slices are a perfect way to display food and desserts, hold table numbers, or—when carved with your initials—act as a cute centerpiece.

JK Photography

Wildflowers: Add some color while maintaining a homey feel by using wildflowers and grasses. Wildflowers can be fashioned into a chic arrangement for bouquets or assembled in small glass bottles, jars, or tin cans for simple and sweet centerpieces.

Hay Bales: Nothing says rustic charm like incorporating hay bales into your affair. Use bales of hay as seating during a laid-back outdoor ceremony, as a place to stack presents or favors, or simply as a way to mark off designated areas at your reception (i.e. the dance floor or buffet line). To glam them up a bit, consider draping them with vintage lace, pretty fabrics, or old quilts.

Clothespins: Clothespins are an inexpensive and practical accessory that can be used in a wide variety of ways. Use them to hang photos of you and your spouse along a ribbon at the reception, affix place cards to string outside of the reception, or clip table numbers or food labels along serving tables.

Chalkboards: Not only do chalkboards add a laid back whimsy to your event, they’re incredibly easy to make yourself. Buy a gallon of chalkboard paint at a local hardware store and start creating signs of different sizes to use as table numbers, props for photos, directional signs, or place cards.

Pinterest: Pins of the Week

Balloon Spelling Bee: We’re always on the lookout for fun wedding photo ideas, and this pin caught our eye.  We’ve seen couples holding chalkboards with text, pre-made signs, and brightly colored balloons, but these shiny gold XOXO balloons are beyond delightful!  Seeing these letter balloons had our brains thinking of all the other fun combinations you could do.  “Love,” “kiss,” “I do”…the possibilities are endless.  We could even see a couple holding the letters of their new monogram!

Susan Sancomb Photography

Kate Middleton Updo.  In a little over a year, Kate Middleton has become an international celebrity and a major fashion icon.  She has had an influence on a 2012 wedding trends.  So it’s no surprise that just hours after she attended a London Olympic gala concert, images of her were all over Pinterest.  Women everywhere were pinning images of her dress, makeup, and jewelry.  But it was this fabulous updo that had us clicking faster than you can say “princess.”  We love that its elegant, but not over the top, young but not overly trendy.  Well done, Kate Middleton, well done.

Mixed Summer Floral.  The weather is heating up which has us itching for the new season of florals.  This summer bouquet is bright and playful, adding the perfect amount of fun to a summer wedding.  This bouquet would also be great for the budget conscious bride, as it would allow her to mix and match with what she or her florist has on hand.  Bring on the summer florals!

Jennica Jo Photography

2012 Wedding Trends

2011 was the year of the photo booth, candy bar, and rustic décor in the world of weddings, so what will 2012 hold? We have predictions on the hottest trends that will be cropping up in the new year…

 

Royal Influence: As millions watched everywoman Kate Middleton marry her Prince Charming, all eyes were on the wedding details. Expect to see royal influences in 2012, particularly when it comes to gowns. Lace accents, cowl necks, and cap sleeves will be all the rage as brides channel their inner princess.

 

 

Food Trucks: 2011 saw the emergence of unique and eclectic food stations at wedding. In 2012, wedding guests should expect to find food trucks parked outside wedding receptions and after-parties. As food trucks are gaining popularity across the nation, brides are taking notice and booking them to provide guests with fun and original fare.

Mix & Match: As couples continue to seek ways to put their own unique mark on the wedding day, dresses and décor will become more eclectic and less uniform. Instead of matching bridesmaid dresses, many brides are opting to showcase their attendants in individual gowns and shoes that are cohesive without being identical. This trend will influence centerpieces, as well, with tabletops boasting several smaller assorted items lumped together, instead of towering centerpieces that look the same.

Photo Backdrops: Say goodbye to photo booths and hello to funky photo shoots. Wedding photographers are recognizing the desire to capture fun and quirky posed portraits of wedding guests, in lieu of strictly candids, so they’re showing up equipped with backdrops and props. Guests can pose individually or alongside friends in a variety of hilarious and posh getups that make for awesome photos that create a great wedding memento.

Nontraditional Wedding Gowns: If New York Bridal Fashion week is any indication, 2012 will be the year of the not-so-white wedding gown. Brides are moving away from traditional ideals of wedding gowns and colors by selecting dresses in various hues or with a punch of color. Blush is growing in popularity as the color of choice, while many women are opting for patterned gowns or dresses with an accented pop of color.

Two Dresses: One wedding dress simply isn’t enough anymore. For years, celebrity starlets have strutted their stuff on their wedding day in multiple gowns and blushing brides are beginning to follow suit. Don’t be surprised to see a lavish gown for the wedding ceremony be traded in for a more comfortable design for the reception.

Smaller Guest Lists: With an emphasis on intimacy and informality, many couples are slashing their guest lists and opting for smaller affairs. Giant, over-the-top events might become a thing of the past as couples choose to say ‘I do’ amidst a close circle of family and friends.

Nature Calls: Rustic and vintage themes will continue to prevail throughout 2012, with brides drawing inspiration from nature. Expect to see muted palettes, heavy on creams, greens, and browns, and an array of natural elements permeating the wedding décor.