Tropical Orchids

Tropical flowers can add an exotic flair to your wedding floral decor. None are so outrageously colorful as the orchid.

Orchids come in a vast array of colors and combinations of colors. Are tyour wedding colors lime green and plum? yellow and orange? pink and yellow? green and red? All of these and thousands of others are available in natural fresh orchids. Should you decide to use artificial flowers there really is no limit to the color combinations available.

Orchids are far sturdier than their delicate appearance would lead one to believe. That sturdiness is of great value when arranging and carrying these lovely blossoms on your big day.

Elegant Dinner Reception

An emerging trend in wedding reception planning is the elegant dinner party as opposed to the more traditional reception which featured dancing (and often massive alcohol consumption).

This new focus on elegance has several benefits, not the least of which is the bridal couple can afford higher quality food and can spend more time visiting with guests when the dancing/drinking portion of the reception is omitted.

An assortment of delicious appetizers and signature cocktails served during the cocktail hour prior to dinner sets the mood and keeps guests circulating. Following the cocktail hour, guests are invited into the dining room where they will be ushered to gorgeously decorated tables.

For a fun twist on the classic buffet, food stations will be distributed around the room - again, to keep guests mingling and visiting. Guests will have their choice of several types of entrees and accompaniments.

The finale of the evening will feature several dessert selections including a fabulous wedding cake.

Asian-inspired Nuptuals

No matter the language, love is international. Incorporating one's heritage or a cultural theme into a wedding celebration can personalize the festivities and lend a unique quality.

Our bridal couple is planning outdoor exchange of vows in a romantic Japanese style Friendship garden. This particular garden features a beautiful koi pond and waterfall which will provide wonderful opportunities for photography.

While neither the bride or groom is of occidental decent, the lovely location inspires an Asian flair. The lovely bride and her teenaged daughters will wear simple silk dresses made of gorgeous kimono fabric. The groom will look distinguished in his dark suit and kimono silk necktie.

To expand on this theme invitations are illustrated with the Japanese symbol for "love" on heavy cream card stock. The reception will feature a buffet of Asian-inspired delicacies as well as American favorites. Tables will be covered in Japanese print florals and decorated with simple tea light lanterns. Guests will take with them delicate origami cranes symbolizing good luck.

Remembrance

Recently, a bridal couple came to me with a touching question; how to incorporate some sort of tribute to the groom's late mother without hurting the feelings of his step-mother?
After much discussion, it was decided that the wedding day would be on the anniversary of his mother's birthday. This will be shared with the guests by adding a brief note in the wedding bulletin. To further pay tribute, a single rose, similar to the corsages for the bride's mother and the groom's step-mother, will occupy a special place on the church altar. This too, will be noted in the bulletin.

Weddings tend to bring out the sentimentality in people; this can be a lovely thing. Sensitivity to special circumstances in a hallmark of a gracious host or hostess.

"We're Registered At..."

Once upon a time, it was considered just plain tacky to mention gifts or registries in invitations. Just like modesty and good taste, this seems to be going by the wayside. One recent bridal couple this planner had the task of organizing actually wanted to include a note to guests that read "We have everything we want or need, just give us money or gas cards." - REALLY!?

The correct, and polite, way to let guests know where one is registered is still by word or mouth through a third party. With the prevalence of wedding web pages it is perfectly acceptable to include links to online registries.

In order to avoid the appearance of "tackiness" please refrain from including gift requests with invitations and holding "dollar-dances" at the reception. The exceptions being if you prefer a donation to a favorite charity or request no that no gifts be given.

Think Color!

Instead of the traditional, basic black for your groom and his men, consider color and pattern. The silk bow tie, pocket square and cuff links pictured above (from American Armadillo) bring color and whimsey to this special occasion.

The grooms men will sport button-down shirts in butter yellow and khaki trousers with navy blazers to complete the look.

Our bridal couple is using sprigs of fresh lavender tied with yellow ribbon for boutonnieres and in addition to a mix of other flowers in the corsages, bouquets and arrangements. The color scheme will be brought together with butter yellow table linens and napkins.

This soft color pallet lends itself to the bridesmaids' gowns as well. The maids wearing lavender and the maid of honor wearing butter yellow cocktail dresses by Calvin Klein.

When considering your bridal party attire, think color!

Mother of the Bride (or Groom)

AS any parent of the the bride or groom will tell you, the wedding of a child is a bittersweet occasion - even if the parents really like the intended spouse.

Very often, it is the mothers of the bride and groom who set the style tone for the guests. Long or short? A variation of the wedding colors or a neutral? Some important things to remember: This is NOT your day. This day is about the bridal couple. On this day, personal differences are set aside and personal preferences are deferred to the bride and groom.

Assuming your child is the lovely person you raised her or him to be, you will have the decision of what to wear. May we suggest a sleek, elegant dress with matching jacket such as this lovely outfit by Le Suit? The blazer offers enough coverage for even the most conservative of church ceremonies. The sleeveless sheath dress underneath flatters all figures and is a charming alternative. These style elements combined with the look of dupioni silk and a saturated color such as the Lapis shown here, make a fresh fashion statement.

At the end of the day, it's not as much about who wore what is it is about the fact that your precious child has had a lovely and heartfelt ceremony and a truly joyous celebration.

Surprise Wedding!

Recently, this planner met with a couple who said "We don't want to go through all the drama of wedding planning." and "We want a nice, simple wedding.' My suggestion was a Surprise Wedding.

Guests will receive an invitation that simply reads "please join us for a special evening" inviting them to a local upscale restaurant.

Upon arrival, they will be shown to a beautifully decorated private dining room where they will be greeted by the bridal couple. Our groom plans to wear a gorgeous suit by Armani and our lovely bride plans to wear a fabulous cocktail dress by Stenay.

Waiters will circulate, serving champagne and appetizers while music plays softly in the background. As cocktail hour winds down, the guests will be asked to take their seats; at that time, the bride, groom and officiant will meet at the front of the room and announce the true purpose behind the evening's festivities. Vows and rings will then be exchanged in a short and touching ceremony.

After which, the wedding feast will be served, with guests choosing their own meals from a preselected menu. For dessert, the wedding cake will be brought into the dining room on a wheeled cart.

No pre-wedding drama, no fuss, no muss - just a happy couple and happy guests and, happily ever after.

Vintage Gowns

For your consideration, may we suggest a vintage wedding gown? Whether it belonged to your mother, grandmother or was a fabulous find in a funky thrift store, a vintage gown can set the tone for your entire wedding.

When considering vintage, look for fabric damage and discolorations. Many of these can be repaired or removed or camouflaged with some clever beading or embroidery. If the gown belonged to a family member, it is a lovely idea to embroider her name and wedding date, along with your own on the inside hemline - thus preserving the gown's history for a future bride.

Many brides in the 1950's carried Bibles or prayer books, rather than elaborate bouquets, this is another way to add a retro vibe to your celebration.

Bridesmaids dresses with a vintage vibe can be found at many sources; consider cocktail or tea length dresses to continue the theme; such as a lovely, satin, strapless gown from David's Bridal. http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Satin-Strapless-Rhinestone-Belted-Tea-Length-Dress-8355_Bridal-Party-Bridesmaids-Short-Bridesmaid-Dresses

If mother's or grandmother's gown is entirely inappropriate for what you have in mind, consider incorporating her veil or some of the lace or trimmings from it in your own creation. The end result will be a wedding gown that reflects your tastes as well as your family history.

FALL in love

FALL is a wonderful time for a wedding! Particularly an outdoor wedding such as the one being planned for this special couple. In the foothills of Kentucky, peak autumn color is typically the first weeks of October; it is at that time this pair will exchange vows beneath the canopy of oaks in their own back yard.

Simplicity and casual elegance best describe this special occasion. The best ceremonies and receptions reflect the tastes of both the bride and the groom. This bridal couple is very laid back and family-oriented. This will be reflected in their wedding. Guests will receive invitations of cream stock printed in chocolate brown and decorated with an oak leaf. Guests will be greeted by a dear friend of the couple and shown to the ceremony site. Wooden chairs will be arranged to create an aisle. Because they have been planning since early spring, their backyard will be a riot of blooming mums, late sunflowers, gillardia, daisies, stock, snapdragons, and daylillies. An iron arch entwined with garlands of autumn leaves will serve as an altar at which they will exchange their personally written vows.

The bride plans to wear a simple champagne cocktail dress by Zola Evenings that features a bit of delicate beading in the shape of leaves. The groom will wear a Ralph Lauren suit in espresso with a champagne shirt and necktie both by Jerry Garcia. Their only attendants will be the teen aged daughters of the bride, who will both wear modest, age-appropriate dresses in cinnamon and olive, both by Jenny Yoo.

The bride's small bouquet will feature High and Orange Magic bi color roses, stock, snapdragons, mums, sunflowers and oak leaves. The groom's boutonniere will be a single specialty rose while the bridesmaids' bouquets will be a mix of all flowers with the exception of the roses.

Banquet tables will be covered in olive or cinnamon linens with oak leaves and acorns artfully strewn about rustic lanterns, which will be lit as dusk approaches. Patio heaters and iron fire bowls will dispel any chill in the air.

This intimate wedding ceremony will be followed by a dinner reception. Roast pork, complete with sour kraut and all of the trimmings will feed the approximately 30 to 50 guests. Rather than a wedding cake, this bridal couple is opting for homemade pies in apple, pumpkin and pecan. Hard cider will be offered as an adult beverage choice with soft drinks for the youngsters.

After dinner, guests may dance to the music provided by a jazz trio or participate in lawn bowling or simply socialize and enjoy the autumn evening.

Consider Color

A pristine white wedding gown has been a traditional symbol of bridal purity since Victorian times. Ivory, champagne and even blush pink have become more mainstream in recent years. Consider incorporating your favorite colors into your wedding in an unexpected way, like this gown from Tara Lynn Wedding Gowns or a more delicately embroidered gown from Jacqueline Bridal . The bold and colorful embroidery and applique provides an opportunity for self-expression which makes your wedding more personal and representative of you.

This planner has the honor or coordinating a wedding for a couple who love the outdoors. The bride's favorite color is golden yellow and the groom's is sky blue, those, combined with the bride's favorite flowers, Joseph's Coat roses create a pallet of festive color. All of these colors and more are included in the delicate embroidery of the bride's gown, which is accented by a golden sash.

Attendants (the groom's sisters) will wear gowns in a similar cut in softer shades that echo the colors of the wildflower decor. Groomsmen will wear polka dot bow ties in coordinating colors.

Lavish use of floral accents continues this colorful celebration and brings the outdoors in. Table decor for the reception dinner includes centerpieces featuring life-like butterflies from www.thinkgeek.com surrounded by rings of fresh florals on sky blue and golden tablecloths.

Consider your favorite colors and incorporate them into your big day in ways that please you.