2013 Trends: Color



The first place brides start when planning their wedding is often with color. There is no need to plan your big day based on what is currently popular, but choosing a trendy color will increase the number of different  products that are available in that shade. Two years ago, “mint” was thought of as an ice cream flavor, not a fashion statement. Now, Pinterest is claiming that mint green is the single most searched wedding color on their site, so manufacturers and stylists are making sure that they have plenty of options available for brides in this trendy tint.

Pantone 2013 Wedding Colors



Alfred Angelo

 Pantone is showing that jewel tones are also going strong:  Emerald Green, Monaco Blue, and a bright Poppy Red. Don’t forget, these colors aren’t just for flowers and linens any more. Cakes are more colorful, invitations are intense, and even bridal dresses are brilliant!

If you aren’t comfortable with bold color statements, add a touch here and there to emphasize your theme. Have your white bouquet wrapped with a colored ribbon, or add a couple of colorful flowers to the bridesmaids’ flowers. Pick napkins and a chair sash in matching colors.



Board from Sherika De Livera, Dubai, via Pinterest

A trend dominating both the fashion and wedding scenes is black and white. My personal favorite! You can do so many things with this combination. Black and white is easy to make elegant with a damask or chevron pattern, or make it more playful with polka dots. One of the best things about using black and white is that many venues offer white and/or black linens. Using the linens that are on-site will save you the cost of ordering-in all of your linens.

To keep guests from feeling like you’re trying to send them to the Twilight Zone, pair  with another color to make it pop. A very on-trend option: metallic! Think black and white with touches of gold: gold table runners, gold candles and embellishments on the centerpieces, gold picture frames for décor, so glamorous!

These are the top color trends for 2013, but – as always – you should choose what you like best!



Log-In to Your Wedding

Engagement announcements, save-the-dates, invitations, RSVPs…the amount of communication required for a wedding can seem overwhelming. Of course, not every couple sends out formal announcements, or even a save-the-date these days, but there is another way to ensure that all of your guests receive all of your information. And best of all, it doesn't have to cost you anything!

Many websites offer free hosting for wedding pages, and incredibly user-friendly formats and templates. I used mywedding.com to host my personal wedding page, and even made one for the couple whose wedding I was in recently. This site, as with most, will let you choose from a variety of themes and colors, surely one to fit your own event. WeddingWire.com has designs from a number of companies including Wedding Paper Divas, Vera Wang, Magnet Street, David’s Bridal, and even Bed Bath & Beyond. The best thing I found with this website is that you can also order invitations that coordinate with the theme you choose.  The Knot also offers free websites and is always a favorite for their planning tools and resources.

How do I get my website out to my guests?
I recommend creating a website after the engagement as soon as you start seriously planning. If you send out save-the-dates this would be a great time to include a blurb as simple as “Please visit our website at  www.website.com/brideandgroom for  more information.” If your first mailing is your invitation, it’s not too late to include the site. You can put it on a separate card, or on the very bottom of your invitation, though this can take a little away from the feeling of formality.

What to include on my website?
The information you can post is only limited by your imagination. Most websites allow you to publish photos and even encourage sharing the story of your engagement. (I was proposed to in a parking lot, so it’s safe to say I left that off my page.) This is a great time to show off those engagement pictures that you had taken. You can have a tab for accommodations if you are planning on having any out-of-town guests, and even create an easy link to the websites of the hotels. Save another tab for the addresses and directions to the wedding day events; this is another that can have a link to MapQuest or Google Maps. Something you will want to decide is if you plan on having pre-stamped RSVP envelopes in your invitations. Most wedding websites allow an option to collect RSVPs online. It’s as easy for your guests as logging in and clicking a box, you can even include meal choices, and it will save you the expense of printing the RSVPs, adding extra postage, and trying to keep track of those little buggers in the mail. One extra great advantage of a website is that it’s a place for you to publish where you are registered. Please do not write this on your invitations! Invites are meant to request the pleasure of your GUESTS, not to solicit swag. A tab on your website, with a link to any stores that offer online access to your gift registry, is much more appropriate. Other fun ideas are including pictures of your wedding party with a short ditty about their relation to you, and information about anything fun happening in the area over the weekend for out-of-town guests (i.e. Friday night Tin Caps game).

What should I avoid?
Please be careful posting your website on any form of social media. If you post the site on Facebook, for instance, some well-intentioned “friend” may think that serves as an invitation for them to attend. Some host sites do allow you to create a password that you can send out to your guests with the web address. Know your audience. For example, if you are sending an invitation to Great Aunt Margaret, who you know is less than “computer literate,” include any necessary information in the invite itself, don’t expect her to figure out how to turn that computer on. Now, I know many grandparents who now have Facebook profiles, but just be aware of any guests who would prefer the distribution of information the good old-fashioned way.

 

As with all of my recommendations for your Big Day, have FUN and go ahead and personalize, personalize, personalize!

 

Jori Nye
Event Designer
One of a Kind Events

2012 Wedding Trends - Part 2

The secound big trend we saw for 2012 was the use of dramatic color and design in weddings. Have you ever been called a "drama queen"? Then your wedding is a great time to let that drama come out! I don't mean turning into a bridezilla and making it to that crazy TV show! I mean you are wearing a gown that is larger than any other piece of clothing that you will ever wear - this is the time to add dramatic flourishes to the rest of the wedding plans. We are seeing a huge use of the color red in weddings in the next couple of years. Red has long been considered the color of love and passion and makes a very dramatic statement in wedding design. It can be used as the primary color or as an accent color with black, white, plum, pink or with other vibrant colors such as orange, yellow and turquoise.  Red does catch the eye so if you love it, use it in bold groupings of color such as the entry piece shown here.

When choosing red flowers as with other colors, consider the shape and texure of different flowers and how you are going to use each of the individual varieties. Will they be in bouquets, on the men's lapels, or in fantastic decor for your reception? There are many different shades of red so don't be afraid to mix deep rich black magic roses with anthurium and ginger from the tropics and add in textures with hypericum berries, dianthus and anemones.

Drama doesn't have to be achieved by just color choices. When planning your decor for your wedding and reception, think about making a couple of dramatic statements. Many of my brides and grooms opt for what we call the "WOW" factor. This means that when your guests walk into your reception, they gasp and say "WOW". Even if you are on a limited budget, consider creating a couple of areas that will make the guests' eyes pop when they walk in. Many times this can be achieved by placing a grouping design at the entrance to your reception area. This also makes a great place for guests to have family pictures taken or stop and sign notes to the bride and groom or pick up their escort cards.

Sometimes adding larger designs in a couple of places in the room make much more of an impact than dividing your budget with medium sized centerpieces on all the guest tables. Think of what you want the guests look at and do during your celebration. Is it a time for them to sit and watch the bridal party - then consider a beautiful backdrop and setting with a sweetheart table for you and your groom or for the entire bridal party. Do you want your guests to roam around the room and have pictures taken, visit the candy or ice cream sundae bar, or gather to talk with friends and family they haven't seen for a while? Then set up small vignettes to draw them to these activities and away from just sitting at their tables. Remember this is the first party that you and your new husband have thrown and you want your guests to enjoy themselves.
So if you want to create an unforgettable experience for your wedding guests - don't forget to include some dramatic touches to your decor and events with color, design and activities that will make them say "WOW, this is the best wedding I have ever been to!"

San Francisco Inspiration

What an inspiring week at AIFD (American Institute of Floral Designers) Annual Symposium. Once a year in July our membership from all over the world gets together somewhere in the United States to share ideas, industry trends and of course FANTASTIC floral art. Since my induction into this prestigious organization in New York City in 2004, it is an inspirational highlight of my summer each year. This year we met in sunny San Francisco where the temperatures were in the cool 70's and the city gave us an incredibly diverse culture to explore. From little Italy to Chinatown, Nob Hill to Fisherman's Wharf and the historic cable cars to Union Square with its upscale shopping, San Francisco has something for everyone.

This would make a great honeymoon destination!! But over the next few posts, I want to share with you some of the outstanding design and trends for the coming year that we experiecned at AIFD Symposium! Stay tuned!!

Honeymoon Heaven

I hope you and your loved ones had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!! After spending time with my loving husband on a romantic vacation to sunny and warm St. Lucia and then coming back and spending time with family and friends, I feel very blessed.  I have been married for almost 4 years now and Greg and I plan on having a honeymoon every year so today's topic is: honeymoons!!  When planning your honeymoon, the first thing I suggest is to not over plan it with activites. The weeks and days leading up to your wedding will be filled with activites and stress and you need some time on your honeymoon to just enjoy each other and relax. Maybe warm tropical beaches is not your idea of paradise but let me share with you my thougths and you can translate them to your destination, wherever that might be.

I am a huge fan of  "all inclusive resorts". You have just planned the biggest event of your life and hosted a party for many of your friends and family. Now it is time to let someone take care of you! The top of my list is the Sandals resort experience. Their all inclusive packages include all the food AND drink for your stay (note that most cruise ships include food but not drinks and your bar bill when you get set to get off the ship can be mind-blowing!) I loved that fact that none of the restaurants had prices on the menus. You could order anything you wanted because it was already all paid for. The tips are also included with the Sandals packages so when you are done eating there is no reason to wait for the waiter or waitress, you just get up and leave! There are also many activities poolside and beachside to participate in during the day or in the evening so you can be as active - partying and meeting people as you want to be. Or you can choose to lay by the pool and occasionally swim over to the bar in the pool to quench your thirst and relax the day away! The staff at Sandals is incredible and there to serve you. They truly understand and are the epitome of customer service!

Another hint for a great honeymoon - use a great honeymoom specialist/travel agent. It is easy to look at a travel brochure or look on line and get excited about the incredible pictures. But to book a honeymoon takes more knowledge than pictures. A good honeymoon specialist has been to the various properties and can tell you where the best rooms are at that resort. Which ones have a "view" of the ocean through the trees and over the highway and which rooms are actually on the beach. She can share which resorts best fit what you are looking for in a honeymoon. Let me share with you my honeymoon booking story - When we had been married a year, I decided to take Greg on a second honeymoon and wanted to take him to a tropical island to get warm and away from the Indiana winter. I got in touch with a local honeymoon specialist and told her my plans. Kim asked " What do you like to do - scuba, deep sea fishing, or what?" I told her that I don't swim so the watersports were not my thing but my husband and I love to golf. She immediately said, "Then you need to go to the Grande in St. Lucia because it has a golf course included in the resort property." There is no way we would have known that without Kim's help but with her expertise we arrived and were taken care of in style by our own butler who made our dinner reservations, brought us drinks and food (at all hours of the day and night!) and took incredible care of us. It was a vacation to remember and we will be taking many more in the future thanks to Kim's knowledge and expertise.

Many couples think that travel agents are expensive and they can find better deals on line but travel agents can many times find you better deals on flights, accomodations and excursions than you can find, and without you having to spend hours looking. You also will know what you are getting for your money and will not be disappointed showing up to a place that doesn't "look like the picture". Another tip is that you don't need to have all the money up front to book a honeymoon. For a nominal deposit you can reserve your trip and then pay it over time up until a couple of month before the wedding. So book early for the best deals!!!

So here is my bonus to my readers today. If you are looking for a fantastic Sandals honeymoon specifically chosen for the two of you and what you like to do, I am sharing my incredible honeymoon specialist with you. You can contact her at: kim4honeymoons@aol.com and tell her Linda sent you. She is loads of fun and you will have a new friend for life.  Have a fun, relaxing time and drink a Margarita for me!!!

P.S. Send me pictures and tell my about your honeymoon experiences!!!

Accessorize your wedding party

Today I want to talk about my NEW favorite store!! Charmng Charlie opened just before Christmas at Jefferson Point in Fort Wayne, IN. With all of the holiday and wedding activities, today was the first time I had a chance to go check it out and WOW!! I walked in and told the sales associate "I have died and gone to heaven!" There were jewelry, purses, belts, scarves, and gifts as far as the eye could see. The selection is HUGE and set up by color so if you are looking for purple (which is what I went for today, as you can see in the picture!) you see it together, animal print inspired in another section, brown, copper, green, blue, red, etc. You get the idea.  Just phenomenal displays. And wait - here is the best part - the prices are very reasonable!!!

So what does my wonderful shopping day have to do with your wedding? Today's weddings are all about accenting with your personality and style and what better way to personalize your bridesmaid's gowns than with a truly unique necklace and earrings. No longer do you just have to choose a simple silver, gold or pearl accent to the gowns. Add a splash of color, a bold beadwork or a funky headband. Get matching jewelry for all the girls to wear or personalize each attendant with her own unique style in accessories. There are so many here to choose from that would be great to mix and match with different girls. Or if silver and sparkle is more your elegant taste - they have a special occasion section that rivals any bridal salon at GREAT prices!! One word of warning, however - they get new shipments in every day and what you see there today may not be there next week. So if you see something you fall in love with like I did - buy it now. A lot of women have been disappointed during the holiday season when they found something they wanted and then came back the next week to get it and it was gone!

And don't forget the bridesmaids, mom's and helpers gifts - what woman wouldn't love a great new purse (check out the unique style in ALL different colors displayed here) filled with fun accessories - from key chains to sunglasses, note pad to jeweled pens, Charming Charlie has the best selection I have seen anywhere. They even have a kid's section where you can find unique gifts for your flower girls.

I was so impressed with this store that I have special gift for you!!! Any bride who books her 2011 or 2012 wedding with One of a Kind Events during January or February of this year will receive a Charming Charlie gift card from me to start your shopping! So check out this amazing store and then if you have a wedding coming in the next 2 years, give me a call, email or text to schedule a free consultation and talk about your wedding style and dreams. You could be shopping on me!!!

Wedding Theme and Style

A theme or style will give your wedding continuity and give your guests a more memorable experience. When choosing an overall theme and style for your wedding and reception, make a list of personality traits and interests of both you and your groom. Are you fun loving and adventurous or do you like spending quiet evenings at home cooking and watching movies? Do you enjoy travel or certain sports? Is your passion spending time with close family members or going out on the town partying and dancing? The first party you host as husband and wife needs to reflect who you are as individuals and as a couple. You want your guests to walk into your reception and say “Oh, this just looks like ______ and ______!”

Be creative with how you incorporate your interests into your event. Your “save the date” cards and/or invitations can set the style and tone of the event. Do you enjoy or have you always wanted to get away to a tropical island but didn’t want or couldn’t afford a destination wedding? Bring the tropics to your guests with a destination style wedding using palm tree and tropical motifs on printed products and orchids and tropical flowers and greenery in flowers. Bright colors can also give a tropical feel. Or if you are a sit around the fireplace couple, choose a more intimate, personal venue and give it warmth with lots of candles and more muted, comfortable colors. If you like to travel, consider using a map motif on invitations and favors and let guests know that you are “taking the next step in your journey together” and you would love to” take them along for the ride”. Instead of table numbers, give tables names of places you have been together and set up a station where guests can give you ideas of their favorite destinations and suggest places that you might like to visit as husband and wife.

Look for subtle ways to incorporate your theme and don’t hit them over the head with it. Too much of a good thing can start looking “cheesy”. A romantic atmosphere in red, black and white can be achieved without putting a red heart on everything! Again a professional wedding stylist can help suggest creative ideas and pull together a cohesive, personal vibe that has your guests going “WOW!” from the time they open your invitation to looking at the pictures and remembering “an awesome event that had the bride and groom written all over it!”