0 Neutral & All White Wedding Tips

While pastels, jewel tones, and colorful prints continue to be incredibly popular wedding colors, there is something incredibly refreshing about the rising neutral wedding trend. We love a crisp all-white wedding, or the subtler version with muted ivory and cream hues. And yes, the bride will still stand out!

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when creating your all-white wedding look:

1. Play with opposites. One reason many brides won’t opt for an all-white wedding is because they want to be the only one in white. But as long as the bridesmaids are on the opposite end of the dress spectrum, the bride is sure to be the focal point. If the bride is walking down the aisle in a full skirted lace ball gown, the bridesmaids would complement her perfectly in slim white chiffon. Alternatively, if the bride is in a light organza or tulle gown, the bridesmaids would look perfectly sweet in a short lace frock.

2. Layer on texture. Neutrals have a way of sounding a little, well, blah, but playing with textures in the cream and ivory family creates an incredibly luxurious vibe. We love metallic accents to dress up a formal wedding, sheer tulle table runners over a linen table cloth, and shades of gray over a textural paper for the stationery. And you can complement cream bridesmaid dresses with a robust bouquet of varying blooms and a satin or grosgrain ribbon.

3. Complement the theme. While we love a grand all-white wedding set in a gorgeous ballroom (or castle!) the idea can really work in any setting. Warm golden tones for a farm or country wedding work perfectly with the natural backdrop, while white seems like a perfect alternative to the quintessential light blue for a seaside soiree.

0 Inspiration Board #11: Green & Twine

I’m sharing beautiful rustic inspiration, perfect for all those outdoor weddings coming up this spring/summer! There’s something soft and lovely about these muted moss greens and neutral colors teamed with a soft ivory or off-white. Mixed with lots of rustic timber and natural twine it creates a really relaxed summery feel, that can be played up or down depending on how casual or formal you want to be. The great thing about this style is that you can DIY a lot of the elements, the whole point is to look handmade so it doesn't matter if things are a bit wonky or imperfect! With a little piece of burlap and some twine and you can create beautiful centerpieces, even a simple piece of string adds that final detail to your invitations.

0 Adding Sparkle To Your Wedding

I am obsessed with all things that sparkle and shimmer. And i'll let you in to a little secret...i have a weakness for sparkle weddings! With this being said, i decided to list some ways in which sparkle can be added to your wedding.

1. Stationary 

2. Table Linens

3. Table Numbers

4. Place Settings

 

5. Chair Signs

6. Candles & Candelabras

 

7. Vases

8. Dance floor

9. Drink Stirrers 

10. Cake Toppers

Try adding sparkle to your wedding by hanging glittered feathers, chair covers, a sparkle cake or even a sparkle wedding/bridesmaid gown(s)!

0 Kentucky Derby Inspired Wedding

Can't make it to Churchill Downs this year for the Kentucky Derby? Then bring a little thoroughbred tradition to your big day! Read on for the Kentucky Derby inspired wedding ideas that will leave guests feeling like they just won the Triple Crown.

                                    Photo by: Mike Larson Inc. on Panacea Event Floral Design 

Make your wedding best in show. Give your guests an equestrian-themed escort card that also doubles as a favor. Create custom horse ribbons with their seat assignments or display mini lucky horseshoes with table information tied on.

Serve a Southern-inspired signature cocktail. Traditionally, attendees at the Kentucky Derby sip on mint juleps (a mix of bourbon, mint, and simple syrup) in a pewter cup. If you're not into a sweet signature drink, give guests a taste of Kentucky with a bourbon bar. Serve up different bourbon brands with ginger, simple syrups, flavored water, and soda as mixers.

Don your best hat. Derby style is all about wearing a proper topper! Invite guests to wear their favorite hat or fascinator to your reception for a fun vibe. 

Incorporate vintage Derby details. Search flea markets or eBay for vintage horse racing tickets and betting cards and antique trophies to make a part of your wedding decor.

Earn your racing stripes in the photo booth. Provide Derby-themed props and let guests strike a pose. We recommend having jockey helmets, horse ribbons, trophies, and red roses available for photos.

Take a victory lap. Celebrate the end of your wedding in true Derby style by decorating your getaway car with a lush blanket of red roses. You just married your love -- that's a major win, right?

 

                                            Photo LisaMae Cakes & Unknown Via Loverly

0 Choosing Your Ceremony Style

An important part of wedding planning is choosing your ceremony style. When choosing your ceremony style, you need to keep a few things in mind: time of day, season, and venue. All of these have a impact on how you plan your wedding.

Photo by www.GingerMidgett.com

Temperature and light are important things to consider when planning your wedding outside. You want to avoid starting your ceremony at the hottest or coldest times of day. Something else to consider when planning an outdoor wedding is when does the sunset? If the sun is too bright, everyone will be squinting and the lighting is more harsh in photographs. If it is dark outside, where ever the flash hits will be beautifully lit, where ever it doesn’t will be completely dark.

Your attire decisions will be also be impacted. For an outdoor wedding, you probably want to avoid a cathedral-length train for your gown. Your shoes should be grass-friendly as well. For your guests’ sakes, you might want to make the wedding a bit less formal so that they feel comfortable being outside.

Photo by: www.PhotobyJamie.com

If you are getting married in a place of worship, you need to find out what type of gown is acceptable. Most likely you will have to have your shoulders covered. You also won’t want to wear anything with too low of a neckline or back.

Many place of worship have specific times when you can have your wedding because they have services in the evening. If you want your wedding reception to last into the wee hours of the night, you may have to plan for a break between your ceremony and reception.

Ultimately, your wedding ceremony style should be a reflection of you and your personality. What type of wedding do you want to have. Formal and elegant? Casual and comfortable? All options are available, so take the time to decide what will make you the most comfortable.

0 Inspiration Board #10: Peacock Blue

The vibrant hues of a peacock feather inspire this inspiration board, from the deepest rich navy, brightest cobalt blue to the vibrant turquoise green. A color palette that is deep and masculine, but the introduction of pearlescent and metallic finishes add a touch of sophisticated luxury that would create an ultra-glamorous wedding. A colored sapphire engagement ring, touches of the most luxurious silks and satin's, elegant white on white florals, and the softest touch of the magnificently colored peacock feather to add a bit of feminine whimsy.

0 Honeymoon Hotspot: Milan

On an Italian honeymoon, Venice, Florence, and Rome are some obvious hot spots to jet off to. But who wants the obvious when it comes to a fabulous post-wedding getaway? Once thought of only as a major business and fashion capital, Milan is a vibrant and molto stylish city with is also surprisingly romantic with its charming streets, cozy cafe's, and Renaissance and Gothic architecture. Here are some highlights you shouldn't miss.

Where to stay: A discreet entrance on Via Gesa leads you into the elegant Four Seasons Hotel Milano (fourseasons.com). The property is a restored 15th century convent done up with swanky accommodations.If you're planning a destination wedding, this hotel is a dreamy location complete with a lavish downstairs ballroom and foyer that opens out to a sunken patio.

Four Seasons Hotel Milano

What to do: - A little known fact about Milan: it's bursting with art and culture. Check out the Pinacoteca di Brera museum, which houses masterpieces by Giovanni Bellini and Raphael; take in the impressive sights of the Duomo Catherdral, the focal point of the city; visit the regal rooms at the Palazzo Reale; and make a reservation to see Leonardo da Vinciâ's The Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie church.

Duomo Cathedral

- Explore the Navigli neighborhood, located in the Southern part of the city, which is full of hip restaurants and nightclubs, as well as historic homes lining the Naviglio Grande canal.

- Of course you'll want to do a bit of shopping and you'll have lots of options along the store-packed Corso Vittorio Emanuele, under the glass-domed Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, and among the top-designer boutiques that make up the fashion district known as the Golden Triangle

- Relax and keep up that newlywed glow with a luxurious facial using the Bulgari gem essence-infused skincare line at the spa in the sleek Bulgari Hotel Milan (bulgarihotels.com).

Bulgari Hotel Milan spa

Where to eat: Beautiful hidden courtyards dot the city, and many feature chic restaurants that boast open-air seating. Surrounded by a 19th century palazzo on Via Gesa, Il Salumaio di Montenapoleone (ilsalumaiodimontenapoleone.it) serves delicious traditional Milanese fare and offers a great wine selection. Conti Cafe (conticafe.it), on Via Montenapoleone, has a sexy lounge area that's perfect for an early-evening aperitivo or late-night dinner. Stop for gelato at Cioccolati Italiani (cioccolatitaliani.it), which is the best in town.

Where to go: Just an hour away is the picturesque Lake Como in the Lakes District. (discovercomo.com). Its grand villas, serene atmosphere, and spectacular scenery have made it a favorite retreat for the rich and famous.

Lake Como

Photo credits: Four Seasons Milano, DiscoverComo.com, The Italian Government Tourist Board, Bulgari Hotel Milan