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Wedding Color Combinations

There are a few things to remember about your wedding color combinations.

Keep it simple
Choosing too many colors will make your wedding seem unorganized and leave your guests wondering what look you were striving for; limit your color choices to no more than three colors so your wedding will be streamlined and elegant.

Be decisive
Take as much time as you need to choose your wedding colors, but once you’ve made a decision-stick with it.

Use colors liberally
Whichever colors you choose, be sure to repeat them throughout your wedding-in your invitations, in your wedding party attire, in your floral and centerpiece decorations, your cake, your linens … everywhere!

1. Shades
   Orange is one of my favorite colors, especially for a wedding. It’s bright hue can liven up a room and is reminiscent of youth, sun and energy. But you probably don’t want orange as your only wedding color. What I’d do is start with a shade of orange, such as pumpkin or tangerine, then add peach, peach-orange or peach-yellow. The effect is bright, energetic and classy.
2. Blending Browns
   As with the example above, stand-alone brown might not be the go-to color choice for many brides, but when done properly it can be elegant and chic. Consider choosing dark espresso and pairing it with latte or cream (I am getting thirsty, here). Set off against a backdrop of sparkling lights, candles and a hint of gold this color combination is stylishly romantic and promises to give your guests something to remember.
3. Eclectic Eggplant
   Eggplant burst onto the wedding color combination scene a few years, but trend-setting brides make adjustments with each year. The key is to choose colors that have the same undertones. This helps ensure your colors don’t clash.
4. Orange and well … anything
   It is true. Orange really is *the* IT color for 2009. For spring or summer weddings pair bright orange with aqua or turquoise to create a tropical feel. Autumn brides can use deep orange paired with cream, light gold, plum or brown, while winter brides could choose deep navy, charcoal or purple.

The bottomline is basically this … it’s okay to step away from the pastels and into the brilliant jewel colors. Color is embraced. All we suggest is that you work with your wedding planner or someone with experience to create a color scheme that is elegant and carries through with all your wedding details.

A Few Online Resources:

Color Studio by Brides (image shown here)

Exclusively Weddings – Wedding Color Themes

The Knot – Wedding Color Combos from real weddings (this site can be overwhelming, but they do have some good photo examples of colors in use.)

Or search Google for “Wedding Color Themes” and you’ll get any number of articles. You’ll just have to weed through the less helpful to find the pearl of wisdom you’re looking for.

After the Reception – The “After Party!”

Couples engaged to be married often spend a year’s worth of planning for their special day, which often passes in a blink of a lovestruck eye. It’s no wonder more of them are extending the festivities to after parties. These post-nuptial shindigs are about ditching the formal wear, letting the hip DJ spin some loud grooves and perhaps scarfing down taco-truck grub with some of the couple’s closest friends.

Etiquette rules for these events are still in the works. Invitations aren’t necessary; couples can post party details on their blogs, Facebook, or even send an e-mail about the after-hours affair. Count on older wedding guests, such as parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents, bowing out of the evening after the wedding. It’s the younger folk who are ready to rock when the hotel ballroom closes up at 11 p.m.

Venues for the after-parties vary from hanging out at the hotel suite to moving the celebration to the hotel bar to even going to a private residence. Food is essential to the late-night gathering to appease partygoers stricken with the munchies post-reception. Other touches may include cigars and whiskey, mojito bars or theme decor.

If couples stick to tradition, most likely they’ll pay for the event. If the party shifts to a neighborhood bar, then guests may chip in for drinks and snacks. How elaborate or laid-back of an evening will determine the price.

Ask your wedding planner their suggestions or contact one of our StrictlyWedding.com partners.

Summer Wedding Fun – The Parasol

In the world of weddings, like everywhere else, things go in and out of style. Some things, like sticking to the old adage, “Something borrowed, something blue…” always stay the same, but other things, like dress styles, decor trends, and food choices change as often as do other fashions. 

A summer addition to weddings that can be trendy is the parasol. There are ornate decorated umbrellas with 8 foot handles used to line aisles, mini-parasols planted in trees with lights behind them, and, of course, they can also be used as favors. Or you know, you could use them for the things that umbrellas and parasols are usually used for, keeping the rain and sun off. Unlike so many favors and decorations, they can be useful, and actually used again.

Tips on Wedding Dress Alterations

It’s seldom that the wedding gown a bride has bought will fit her at the very first try. Every bride wants to look breathtakingly beautiful on her day. So it’s essential to take professional help to get that perfectly fitting wedding gown that looks as if it was made for her only! Whether the bridal dress needs only minor adjustment or a major one, in almost every case, wedding dress alterations will be required to some extent. So it is imperative to give as much importance to its alteration, as to its selection itself.

Here are some tips about bridal alterations which you may find useful:

1. Where to go: It is advisable to take the precious wedding gown to somebody who has years of experience in restyling and alteration of bridal gowns. Usually professional bridal alteration shops are the best option since they have the expertise and the experience.
2. Alternation work: There are mainly three types of alterations done – hemming, bodice alterations and shortening of sleeves. Normally alterations of wedding dresses are based on three fittings. Shoes, head dress and the other accessories should be bought well much in advance before going for the wedding dress alterations.
3. Cost: The cost of altering it depends upon the style of the dress and the complexity of work. It is advisable for the bride to get an estimate of the total cost of alteration. Rush services generally cost double.
4. Deadline: The wedding dress should be given for alterations at least 6 or 8 weeks before the wedding since it’s a complex and time consuming work. The deadline has to be there to complete the job.

You can always rely upon newly married friends to give you recommendations to help you choose the best bridal alternations shop. Word of mouth really helps. Alteration of a wedding dress is a work of art, which requires a great deal of detailing and precision. Do your homework!

All About Wedding Insurance

You can make every effort to ensure that all of your planning details come together for the wedding day of your dreams, but there are many factors outside your control that can profoundly affect or even postpone your special day.

The illness of the bride or groom (or a close family member), an unforeseen weather pattern, or a deposit lost to a vendor who goes out of business can all make adjusting or postponing your wedding unavoidable. Wedding insurance can safeguard the investment you’ve made in the perfect wedding and give you the confidence (plus peace of mind) that your planning and beautiful day are covered. The remarkably affordable policies (starting at less than $195) are specially tailored to meet the needs of couples planning a wedding and are appropriate for both small and large events.

What Is Wedding Insurance?
Wedding insurance are policies specifically designed to protect you from financial loss in the event your wedding must be cancelled or postponed due to circumstances beyond your control or if one of the major elements of your wedding (e.g., photographs, wedding attire, and/or gifts) is lost or damaged. Most policies respond in the event of a cancellation or postponement resulting from causes ranging from such common concerns as adverse weather and illness, to events that are rarely considered, such as unemployment, military deployment or acts of terrorism. In addition to providing coverage for cancellation and postponement, many wedding insurance policies include coverage to protect your wedding photography, wedding dress and attendant clothing, jewelry, and gifts from damage or loss. Finally, most wedding insurance programs also provide the ability to purchase liability and property damage coverage that protects the wedding couple against claims for damage to the premises and/or property rented for the wedding reception, as well as host liquor liability.

Cost And Acquisition.
The cost of wedding insurance generally starts at a one-time premium of less than $195, with a number of the coverage options previously mentioned included. Of course, higher limits and additional coverage options are available with only moderate increases in the premium.

One Last Thing.
Wedding insurance does not cover you for “change of heart.” So, if either the bride or groom decides not to go through with the wedding, the people footing the bill will pay out of pocket.

A few situations where wedding insurance helped:

• The couples’ wedding that was postponed to a future date because the groom was rushed to the hospital with appendicitis.
• The bride who arrived to pick up her dress at the bridal salon only to find a “Bankruptcy” sign plastered across the window.
• The couple whose garden wedding was canceled when a September hurricane blew in.
• The couple whose caterer went to a tropical island with the deposit money and never returned.
• The couple whose wedding gifts were stolen from the reception hall while the wedding ceremony was taking place.
• The wedding that was rescheduled due to a fire rendering the appointed ceremony location unavailable.

Not being an insurance agency, StrictlyWeddings.com cannot advise you about whether or not to purchase insurance for your wedding, but as in all things wedding-related, we wanted to share this information and let you make the decision best for you. As you prepare for your wedding, you’ve no doubt made non-refundable deposits and signed contracts with service providers for such things as the reception location, the flowers, the catering and so on. These contracts protect your vendors, so it is important that you learn how you can protect yourself.

Photos courtesy of StrictlyWeddings.com partner, Scott Hagar.

What can you do instead of a guest book?

Something new and different is a “Wish Tree.” Right when your guests walk in to your wedding or reception, can be displayed an actual tree (could be a real Ficus – for indoors – or something to plant at their home or a silk tree) where guest can write a special “wish” and roll it up and tie it onto the tree or it can be a small card that’s hung on the tree. The bride and groom keep the wishes and place the tree wherever they would like to always have a special reminder of the wedding day.

Warren Barron in Dallas, Texas brings you Monique Lhuiller

One of today’s most popular wedding dress designers is Monique Lhuiller. At the age of 15, Monique left home to attend the Chateau Mont-Choisi boarding school in Lausanne, Switzerland. It was there that she decided to pursue her dreams of becoming a designer. She attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. In 1996, Monique launched her first bridal collection and in 2001 was awarded the Glamorous Bridal Designer Award, the 2002 Avant Garde Bridal Designer Award and the 2003 Designer of the Year Award from Wedding Dresses Magazine.

With StrictlyWeddings.com partner, Warren Barron, you will find many of her exquisite designer gowns. Stop by or call to schedule an appointment. (Visit our Events calendar for the latest designer trunk shows in the Dallas area).

Treating Common Stains for Wedding Gown Preservation

You may not get around to thinking about preserving your wedding dress until you get back from your honeymoon, but that’s OK. You will get the best results if you will perform some basic pre-stain treatments on your dress before you let your dress sit too long.

Here are some of the common stains that can occur during your wedding and how you can pre-treat them.

Drink stains: Wine, coffee, tea, or carbonated sodas are common. Some of these stains may not be visible at first. If you know of a stain or can see it, first don’t use soap to try and remove it. Instead it is best to use a white vinegar and water mixture (1/3 white vinegar 2/3 water). Spray the mixture on the stained area, allow it to sit for a minute or two and then rub off with a soft cloth. Repeat it needed.

Chocolate: Since chocolate fountains have become so popular this stain is also common. It is best to soak the area in cold water. Use a soft bristled tooth brush to brush the area. Use a small amount of dishwashing soap and repeat. You’re not trying to remove the stain completely just to minimize the damage. You do not have to rinse. Remember you are just pre-treating these stains, it’s the wedding gown preservation company that will finish the job and remove the stains completely.

Dirt stains: Don’t even worry about dirt stains. Dirt, even asphalt stains, can easily be removed by a professional wedding dress preservation company.

When you get back from your honeymoon (unless you did it earlier) check out various wedding gown preservation companies. Compare services offered. Compare prices. Choose a company that will do a complete job, but at a reasonable cost. It should cost you between $149 – $189. Whatever you do, get your dress cleaned and preserved as soon as possible.

Photographs of the 2010 Carolina Herrera Bridal Collection. Call for an appointment to view their exquisite bridal gown collection.

Father of the bride toast

The “Father of the bride” wedding toast is an important part of the wedding festivities. The day a man walks his daughter down the aisle is a huge day in his life. He is in essence placing his daughter into the care of another man to care for her, protect her and make her happy. After walking her down the aisle he still has a couple duties; the father daughter dance and the father of the bride wedding toast.

Typically the best man gives his speech followed by the maid of honor. Then it goes to the father of the bride to make the final comments of the night before the rest of the festivities begin. This can be a simple “raise your glasses” or a story about watching his little girl grow so quickly and meet the man of her dreams.

Here are some tips for the father of the bride (we know he may not see this post, but one can always print it out and put by his morning coffee):

1. Speak to the guests. Thank all the guests for coming to share this special day with you and your family. Make them feel welcome and part of your family (for those who aren’t already).
2.  Address your daughter and new son-in-law. Be courteous to your son-in-law whether you like him or not. You can make a comment about how he better take care of her, but let it be light-hearted and in good spirits. Then have a moment with your daughter where you wish her the best, say you are so happy for or just express your utmost love for her.
3. Tell a story. Give the guests a little sample of how wonderful your daughter is. Tell a quick story about her, when she was little or just about her growing up through the years. It will be touching for everyone who knows her well and give some insight to those just getting to know her. Plus, it’s always sweet when a dad gets sappy.
4. Speak from your heart, always the best recipe for father of the bride wedding toasts. Just let your heart speak and you’ll be fine. The only restriction with this is; don’t let anything negative slip out. If you don’t like the groom, just avoid the topic of him altogether. 

Above all, keep things joyful and positive. Good luck and silently toast yourself for a job well done!

Photograph courtesy of Andrea Polito Photography.

Match Your Colouring to Your Bridal Flowers

Blonde brides look good with blue, purple and pink wedding flowers. Red, orange and bronze flowers look best for brunettes; while redheads look stunning with plenty of foliage, green flowers and small touches of colour. For darker skinned brides, the more vivid colours work well, and white flowers look perfect.

Selecting a simple colour palette will create impact and style. Brides wearing white or ivory should match the colour with ribbons or accents of white or ivory in the wedding bouquet flowers. Corsages and buttonholes should stay within the palette of colours. White or ivory corsages for mothers look right against any outfit.

Size matters with Wedding Bouquets

When choosing flowers for the bride and bridesmaids, think of the appropriate size wedding bouquet or posy. A petite bride could carry a delicate posy of small flowers whilst a taller bride might have a regal calla lily bouquet trailing ivy. The same goes for bridesmaids of all ages. Smaller girls carry smaller flowers.

We wanted to share these wonderful bouquets from Jordan Payne Events one of our StrictlyWeddings.com partners in Dallas, for we think they Rock! The beautiful photos were taken by Gary Donihoo-f8studio.