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!"

2012 Wedding Trends - Part 1

There are several trends coming to the forefront for 2012 wedding planning and decor. So if you don't find yourself comfortable in today's topic, check back for the next couple of posts and see which of the trends is most like you. The first trend we saw in design for next year is the return to nature and natural products. With the number of our One of a Kind brides opting for outdoor weddings this year, I think this trend is already in full force.

But if the thought of bad weather, back up plans or heat stroke makes you nauseous, then use natural elements to create the outdoors inside. The use of branches, mosses, river rock and many unique types of greenery and foliages give this style a very rich set of textures. Succulents such as hens and chicks as well as large leaves and grasses can give your wedding a very organic feel. This style of bride wants more style than a ball of colored roses to carry and is weaving natural elements into bouquets, boutonnieres and decor.

photo courtesy of Marah Grant Photography

Weddings we have designed in this style in 2011 have included pods, berries and even log and bark slabs on table tops in a wide variety of color combinations to achieve that natural look. From a fresh white, ivory and green to a bold orange, red and yellow combination the foliages, branches and elements from nature will incorporate your love of the outdoors into a comfortable air conditioned setting in the summer and a heated venue for a winter wedding. So if a love of nature is a love that you and your fiance share, then give your wedding that natural feel in decor, designs and personal touches that mean the most to you!

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!!

Luxurious Linens

When looking at the décor for your reception, a major decision will be what to do about linens. Linens are fabric treatments including tablecloths and table overlays, napkins, chair covers, wall and backdrop draping. Look at the overall feel you want for your reception. A fun-filled family reception might be best served with paper tablecloths and crayons for doodling. A more elegant affair would be best served with linen tablecloths and napkins. Chair treatments can make a huge difference in the overall look of your reception. Look at the attached pictures for before and after looks with fabric covers. Many reception venues and caterers include basic white linens and sometime colored napkins in the packages with food. When looking at specialty fabrics, overlays or chair covers, make sure to check pricing with local décor specialists to get the best value for your money. On-line “deals” on linens may sound great but when they come with permanent wrinkles or stains, you have more of a nightmare than a dream come true.

Another budget saver can be using specialty fabrics and tablecloths on cake table, head table and gift table. This can give your event an upscale look without breaking the bank. Wall and backdrop draping can also cover up undesirable parts of the reception hall and give you a clean look for pictures. Again hiring a wedding planner/décor specialist can help you coordinate the overall look and your reception can be a “one of a kind” event.
 


The package deal with no chair covers










Finding a Wedding Florist

When looking for flowers for your wedding, ask yourself some overall questions – What are my favorite flowers? Are there flowers I intensely dislike for some reason? Then look for pictures of bouquets that you just like the overall look and style of the arrangement of the flowers Are you drawn to soft, full, lush blooms? Are you excited by modern bold colors and line like modern art forms? Do you like different textures and flowers together or do you like monobotanical (all the same flower grouped together) bouquets? It used to be that you had to choose flowers that were “in season” – tulips in spring, roses in summer, chrysanthemums in fall and carnations in winter. But today with flowers being grown in all climates of the world and shipped overnight to use, choices are much more readily available.


Find a florist first of all that understands (or helps you develop) your individual style and secondly has the personality and design skills to make your wedding day beautiful. Your floral designer needs to be someone who you trust to create your personality in your flowers. Set up an appointment to get to know the florist and take along ideas and pictures that you have found, then listen for creative ideas that they have. Give a professional florist an overall look and color combination and then be open to their creativity and artistic style to make your bouquets and décor more than you could ever imagine.

There are no do-overs on your wedding day so make sure you find someone who will make your wedding day – your way. I have had clients ask me what my favorite style is and I tell them that it doesn’t matter what I like. My goal is to understand each bride and groom’s style and create your look. That is why every one of our weddings are truly a “one of a kind event”!

Color, Color Everywhere

When I ask most brides what colors they are using for their wedding , they usually respond with the color of their bridesmaids gowns, the color of their gown (either white or ivory), and occasionally one accent color. But the trend for 2011 is using a lot more color in wedding décor and by using multiple colors in accents and flowers you can make much more of a statement with your wedding style. Talk to your wedding stylist or planner about colors that will accent and enhance your overall style. Use your favorite color and then look at a color wheel and select colors that are across from your favorite color. These are called complimentary and split complimentary colors and they bring out the best in both colors. For example, do you know why the Christmas colors make us happy? Red and green are complimentary colors on the color wheel, so they bring out the best of each other. And pink is just red with white added to it so pink and green are magical wedding colors. For a fun and happy wedding, choose bright colors such as saturated pink, green, orange and purple.

The other color combination on the color wheel that works beautifully for weddings is the analogous color scheme. Analogous means similar or related so analogous colors are beside each other on the color wheel. Examples are red, orange and yellow or blue, purple and green. Analogous colors are more soothing and calming and can give you a very coordinated look. So again choose your favorite color and then accent with the colors on both sides of it on the color wheel.

The last combination is to use tints and tones of the same color which means colors that add white or black to the base color for the most elegant of color schemes. Examples of this are different shades of red from pink to red to dark burgundy or lavender to purple to deep violet. One of the favorite current combinations of this color combination is varying shades of ivory to champagne and latte and chocolate brown. Choose gowns and tuxes in this shade family and then add lush flowers in shades of ivory and you will have a truly traditional and elegant look for an incredible wedding.

Some ideas for adding touches of color in your wedding palette – choose bridesmaids gowns that are flattering to all your attendants and then add your favorite color in a sash, jewelry or shoes. Add a fun pair of bright blue shoes under your wedding gown. Add color in flowers or table linens to bring a splash of excitement to your reception. Don’t be afraid to have fun with color at your reception to give your guests a surprise and boost of fun for the party.

Color Me Beautiful

If I had to describe one trend in weddings it would be color. Yet many brides are afraid of color. Here is a way to make sure you don't "overdo it". Choose a main color - probably one of your favorite colors. Some brides choose a color that they think their bridesmaids will look good in for their main color. But your bridesmaids don't have to be in your main color. For example, you may want your bridesmaids to be in very classic black tea length dresses. But your favorite color is pink. Go with different shades of of pink in all the decor, flowers and accents.

My biggest hint to making a fabulous looking wedding? Don't be afraid of accent colors. They can make a ho-hum wedding take on a WOW factor! One saavy bride I had a consultation with this week chose wisteria and plum (shades of purple and lavender) for her bridesmaids gowns. She was wondering if it was okay to go with a soft blush pink, green and creamy yellow for her flowers. Absolutely!! What great accent colors! That way in pictures her bouquets won't fade into the dresses and the green, blush and cream will make the lavender and purple tones in the dresses shine even more.

The other hint I have for you today is use color intensity to impress your guests. Using the same colors, you can keep the shades softer and more formal at the ceremony by using lighter shades of the color and mixing in white or ivory. Then at the reception, step it up a notch - add another hot accent color and use brighter shades of the color for the PARTY! Your guests will think they know the color scheme for the wedding when they enter the church but when they get to the reception, there will be no doubt - we are here to CELEBRATE!

If you are still unsure of colors and accent colors, get with a professional planner, decorator or florist to bounce ideas off of us. We have been in the color combining business for a long time and can tell you what works and what doesn't. More about color in future posts but for now - be creative and have fun!!

Spring flowers are here!

Spring is officially here today!! And what could say spring more than beautiful tulips, freesia and hyacinths. After a long hard winter it is one of my favorite things to see the first buds of my daffodil and hyacinth plants peeking up through the dirt in my flower beds. But, I have good news for you this morning - tulips and freesia , once thought to be only spring time flowers are now available for your wedding throughout the year! With the advancements in growing, harvesting and shipping, you can now have these beautiful flowers whenever you get married. I designed a gorgeous all white tulip wedding for a bride who married in September!!

As you are looking at blooms for your big day also remember fragrance. Freesia give a soft wonderful frangrance and come in a variety of colors - white, bright pink, lavendar, and yellow to name a few. Other very fragrant flowers include lilies, hyacinth, stock, roses and carnations. Mix a few of these sweet smelling fresh flowers with non fragrant ones and you will have a wedding that uses all the senses - sight, smell, touch, sound, and taste. Think through all of these five senses as you plan your entire day so your guests will be wowed by the experience.

I would love to talk to you and see what your favorite flowers and colors are and see how we could incorporate them into your wedding flowers.