Uncategorized

Autumn Wedding Colours

 

There’s something very special about autumn weddings. The colour of the foliage as it turns, the position of the sun in the sky, the light as it sets, pink clouds and twilight skies. All perfect for magic and romance.

Plus in terms of the weather, generally speaking it’s going to be crisp, rather than really cold and wet.

If you want to make the most of that special autumnal feeling, then there’s a very specific sort of colour palette you should think about tapping into for your wedding day decor.

From golds, to browns, to yellows, to accents of wood and event deep purples, it’s all about rich seasonal shades.

With all of that in mind, here’s some visual inspiration for you to get the ideas flowing. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly if you wish to chat about any aspect of your wedding planning and décor.

 

Flowers

When it comes to the bride’s bouquet, think about incorporating some pops of auburn and orange along with crisp whites and green foliage. A more rustic approach with ferns and bushy arrangements looks super too. But if you prefer something more tidy, then go for orange roses.  

 

Table

You can really have lots of fun with the table décor and centrepieces. Think of wooden accents and lanterns filled with lots of candles. Go for hanging tea lights from tall branches or mini trees with autumnal leaves. Speaking of leaves, these look great dotted around the table with some green moss too. Seasonal autumnal fruits and veg, such as plums or of course pumpkins and squash make for stand out centrepieces too.

 

 

Room

Try and think of bringing the autumnal forest into your reception and you’ve got it. Leaves, leaves and more leaves will look super along with wooden accents, or small logs, lanterns and pumpkins displayed around the room. You could even think of sourcing an autumnal style flower wall which would look stunning for the photos or could work as a top table backdrop.

Outdoors

Make the most of the outdoor space you have at your disposal. Look for trees that are turning in colour, climbers that have intense red leaves, bare trees and leaves on the ground. Get creative with your photographer in terms of throwing leaves or using nature to enhance the pictures.

 

Gorgeous Wedding Garlands

Flowers might seem like something you put midway down your list of wedding priorities, but in fact, your wedding flowers are a key part of your wedding day’s overall look and feel.

From the style of flowers to the colour, to how many you have, it all matters. And if you want to make a big impact with your flowers in a modern way, then consider going for a floral garland.

Whether it’s running along your tables, or over fireplaces or even suspended from the ceilings, floral garlands with greenery are the stunning wedding trend of the moment.

With all of that in mind, here’s some visual inspiration for you to get the ideas flowing. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly if you wish to chat about any aspect of your wedding planning and décor.

 

 

On The Table

A floral garland or a garland made primarily of greenery with a few flowers peeping through, will look particularly stunning on long tables. Allow them to be the feature and run along the middle of the tables and spill over the edges. Or why not have something a little more organic and intersperse it with tea lights and candelabras. Even consider moss style garlands with pops of wooden accents.

Around the Room

There are so many creative ways to use a garland. Think about having lush, full mini garlands handing from the backs of the couples chairs. Hang bushy green garlands over mirrors and fireplaces. Use them above and on entrances and for a really show stopping effect, don’t forget the staircases! They are made for a big dramatic garland full of blooms and will look simply amazing.

 

Suspending Garlands

Don’t forget to consider the space above! Suspending a garland above your tables will look stunning given the right sort of venue. It also works particularly well with long tables. Why not hang some tea lights from the suspended garland for a truly show stopping effect once the lights go down.

On the Cake

Whether you go for a garland of cascading roses around your tiers, or you go for some crisp green leaves wound around each layer, garlands and wedding cakes are the perfect match. It works particularly well with naked or simple cakes, without masses of buttercream of detailing.

 

Under The Sea Wedding

Whether you’re a sailing aficionado or you just never fell out of love with Ariel from the Little Mermaid, the water in all its guises and passions is a wonderful theme for your wedding day.

There’s so many different directions you can take this versatile trend. From the more traditional nautical look of navy and white, to boats and sea shells, to the more mythic incarnations of Poseidon and the fun of under the sea and the magic of mermaids. It’s a trend that works well in a variety of settings.

Here’s some visual inspiration for you, to get the ideas flowing. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly if you wish to chat about any aspect of your wedding planning and décor.

 

 

Colour palette

From navy and white stripes to warm coral, Ombré blues and turquoise, aqua marine and white, the colour palettes relating to the sea are vast. Don’t be afraid to inject come pop of brights in alongside the blue hues for a really modern take. Think hot pinks and even golds to get things popping.

 

 

On the table

There’s so much you can do in terms of table décor. Think about seashell table number or coral style centrepieces. Go for different shades of blue table runners or cloths with sparkles to represent the sea. Bring rope into the equation by wrapping mason jars and tea lights and intersperse seashells and candles. Why not have table numbers inside bottles as a sort of message in a bottle? And hanging tealights over the tables will work really well for that under the sea vibe.

 

 

Around the Room

Think anchors and water rings for that traditional nautical feel. Use wooden oars as signage. Raid antique auctions and attics for a ship steeling wheel for the ultimate piece of water decor. Or seek out a Poseidon style tridents, fill oversize lanterns with your favourite shell or coral accents. Blue uplighters will give the feeling of being under the sea, as will jellyfish style paper lanterns.

 

Cakes

Think she shells, mussel shells, star fish and an array of colours. If you’re not keen on the shell style embellishments, then keep it simple with an Ombré style cake with a clean tone of colours from white into ocean blues. Or go for a white cake with navy and white striped ribbon around the tiers.

 

Images via pinterest

Transparent Wedding Trend

It’s set to be one of this year’s hottest trends, say hello to the transparent wedding trend!

Yes that means it’s all about Perspex features with an overriding sense of brightness prevailing through the venue and ceremony decor.

Think everything from ghost chairs to Glasshouses, or light bright spaces with full windows, this year the move is very much toward transparent spaces and décor in weddings.

Stunning to look at the transparent trend is not hard to pull off, but can require a little bit of thought and effort. And whether you just want a few features here and there or you want to go all out with it, we’ve got lots of on trend ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

In the meantime, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly if you wish to chat about any aspect of your wedding planning and décor.

 

The Venue

If you’re not into getting lots of Perspex pieces made up for your wedding day, but you still want to channel that brightness that’s indicative of the trend, then start with the venue. Look for glasshouses, or venues with glass roof elements; marquees or tents with transparent roofs or sides. Bright spaces with floor to ceiling windows or venues that have sunny corners with bay windows. And of course, you could have your ceremony outdoors too, followed by a bright space for the reception.

 

On the Table

You’ve got to have ghost chairs if you really want to carry off that transparent look. It’s amazing how these stunning chairs look in a venue. You can of course add sashes, but often that can detract from the effect. On the table itself, keep it simple with tall glass vases filled with crisp white and green florals. Why not look at getting menus made out of Perspex with white writing or table names or numbers made out of the same material?

 

Around the Room,

Signage works so well with this trend, so from your table plans to escort cards, to running orders, signs of welcome or just your favourite quotes, think Perspex! Why not make up a Perspex wall or large rectangle and leave markers for guest to leave you a message! A stunning feature on the day but it would be a great keepsake. Or why not a Perspex box made up for guests to leave their cards or post message of congrats.

 

Lighting

Lighting believe it or not is key with this trend too, as when the sun goes down you’ve got to maximise the impact with lighting. Fairy lights and curtain lights on those large windows and bright spaces are perfect as are hanging tea lights and candles.

 

Images via Pinterest

 

 

 

Complete Guide To Wedding Welcome Bags

Wedding Welcome bags are the latest trend for weddings to come out of the USA. Depending on your point of view, you might look at these bags as something to get on board with, or you may sigh at the thoughts of having to add yet another thing to your wedding ‘to-do’ list.

The idea behind them is that they are a way to welcome and greet your guests who may have travelled a long distance to get to your wedding, but they are also staring to become something that is being extended to all guests.

If you are unsure as to whether or not you want to commit to doing these bags, then we’ve broken it down for you below.

In the meantime, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly if you wish to chat about any aspect of your wedding planning and décor.

 

What Are Wedding Welcome Bags?

Wedding welcome bags are a new trend that started over in the United States, but have begun to make their way over to this side of the Atlantic. The original intention for these bags was to be a way to greet guests who had travelled a long distance with goodies that they may need for their visit. Things like information on the wedding venue and local area, maps of the immediate vicinity, or some samples of what the area is known for producing. In addition, the bags generally contain some snacks and drinks to keep people going, plus some toiletries for guests who may have forgotten such essentials.

 

Why Have Them?

While we don’t tend to travel the same huge distances to go to weddings here in Ireland, they are still something to consider. Indeed many of us have relatives who can fly in from far flung places such as Australia, and if you’re having a destination wedding in another country, but beyond that it’s a nice way to make your guests feel welcome and is a very personal touch that will make a huge difference to them. While these bags started out as something to welcome those who had travelled long distances, it is also nice to provide every guest with one, no matter what the distance. Everyone who has come has made an effort to be there, so offering them a personalised welcome bag is a lovely gesture.

 

What Can I Put in Them?

Anything! Generally speaking the content are some kind of fun snacks, toiletries, drinks, information on the local area, information on the venue and the wedding proceedings, even a hangover kit could be useful! The sky’s the limit here.

 

What Sort of Bag Do I Need?

If you’ve got the budget, then why not design a canvas tote? The beauty of it, is that it will be something most guests will use again in their daily lives. If you don’t have the budget, then why not think of paper bags and get creative with a DIY stamp? It doesn’t even have to be a bag, why not a box or basket?

 

Are There Any Downsides?

The only downsides to these bags is the cost and the time. Producing a welcome bag for each guest will cost money and generally speaking you’ll be filling these bags yourself, which can take time, so keep this in mind.

 

Images via Pinterest 

Wedding Trends 2018

2018 is here ladies and gents and that means it a brand new year of fantastic wedding trends lays ahead of us. The Pantone colour of the year is one that tends to help set the scene for many trends and this year it’s Ultra Violet. According to Pantone, it’s ‘dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade, PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future.’ It’s a deep, rich, lush shade that can be woven into many aspects of your wedding day décor.

There’s plenty of other trends to think about too. Transparent elements are set to be big, as are smaller bridal parties, textured linens and marble dancefloors. Let’s not forget in the UK there’s a royal wedding to look forward to, so there will be lots of key trends picked up after that too.

If you’d like to chat about this or any other aspect of your wedding day plans, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly.

 

Smaller Bridal Parties

There a definite move away from having huge numbers of bridesmaids and groomsmen this year and instead expect to see smaller bridal parties with even just one bridesmaid and one best man.

 

Potted Plant Aisle Runner

Florals are high on the agenda for this year and even making an appearance as aisle runners.

 

Wedding Wreaths

Not just for festive periods, wedding wreaths are becoming more popular and can look truly stunning in your pictures.

 

Dark Moody Florals

Taking nods from the Pantone 2018 Colour of the Year – Ultra Violet, expect to see lots of dark, moody florals packed with character and romance. They will be offset with dark greens and flecks of golds.

 

 

Textured Linens

Crisp white linens are given a makeover with more emphasis on textures and designs, such as chic laser cuts overlaid on plain linens.

 

 

Transparent

Thinks glasshouse settings or venues with large windows, ghost chairs, perspex table plans and as much natural light as possible.

 

Marble Dance Floors

A new take on the dancefloor trend, this time it’s all about the super-hot marble effect for your guests to dance the night away on.

 

Dramatic Floral Prints

Expect to see these bold beautiful prints everywhere! From the invitations to the table cloths, to the dancefloors.

 

Images via Pinterest

 

Antique Gold and Dusky Blue Wedding Theme

Muted tones are often a popular choice for wedding day décor – creams, blush, light greys and pops of greens are the perennial colours that always work. But if you fancy going a little more adventurous with your wedding day décor, then consider trying the very chic and on trend colour palette of antique gold and dusky blue.

It can be a really dramatic colour choice and bring instant atmosphere to your wedding day décor. Even subtle touches can be simply stunning. Think blue table runners with gold plates. Light blue glassware with gold candles, blue wedding cakes dusted with gold and so on. The only limit is your imagination when it comes to this truly chic colour palette.

If you’d like to chat about this, or any other aspect of your wedding day décor or planning, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly.

 

Centrepieces

Antique style gold candlesticks with navy blue candles are seemingly simple, but can look incredibly chic. Modest centrepieces such as glass lanterns dipped with gold frosting work really well against navy blue table cloths and runners. Or why not mix the antique gold candle sticks with blue and green wildflowers? Or go for antique style gold birdcages filled with a mix of blue candles and antique style gold frames would work really well for table numbers too.

 

 

Table Décor, Glassware & Cutlery

Mix and match dusky blue and glittery gold table runners on your tables, the contrasting colours will look stunning. Play around with gold plates, blue glassware and cutlery, or just go for dark blue napkins for that pop of intense colour. Think about having intense blue notes on the table, contrasting with gold Chiavari chairs or uses sashes to create the same effect.

 

 

Around The Room

Why not set up a dramatic gold glitter table cloth for your dusky blue escort cards? Or have an antique gold style mirror with the seating plan written in navy chalk? Navy and gold high pod tables for your drinks reception would be stunning, as would some blue uplighters to give the room some real atmosphere. Think about navy and gold backdrops using streamers, ribbon and draping.

 

Food & Drinks

Antique gold and rich dusky blue make for a truly eye-catching wedding cake colour combo. But think even beyond cakes and go for navy macaroons dusted with gold and why not offer guests a signature arrival drink, such as a blueberry cordial or cocktail with gold straws? Or dust the top of the glasses with edible gold glitter.

 

1950s Americana Style Wedding

If you’re looking to try and spice up your wedding décor with something a little different, then why not consider a sprinkling of 50s retro American style kitsch? If you and your husband or wife to be love the era and icons like Elvis, and Marilyn Monroe, have a penchant for rock ‘n’ roll and love the quirky fashion from the time, then it’s the perfect theme for your wedding day.

It’s all about having a little fun and you can really go as full on or a subtle as you like. Think about tea length dresses for the bride, polka dots for the bridesmaids and even a little Pink ladies and T Birds vibe a la Grease. Channel the trend in your food with modern takes on diner inspired American classics like sliders, posh dogs, Coca-Cola, milkshakes and popcorn.
Why not hire a retro style Chevrolet as your wedding transport, have a retro photobooth with 50s style props and have a juke box in your venue too playing the hits from the ear?

If you’d like to chat about this, or any other aspect of your wedding day décor or planning, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly.

 

The Fashion
Set the tone for the day with the fashion and have a tea length dress for the bride. Think lots of lace and short veils and why not mix it up and have converse shoes instead of heels? For the bridesmaids why not have bright polka dots or have some Grease style pink ladies chic elements to the hair and makeup.

Table Décor
Music is a huge part of the Americana era, it was all about rock ‘n’ roll, so why not have records as your table names and as you centrepieces? Think about including nods to the big icons of the era, such as Elvis and Marilyn Monroe. Have mismatched retro china and glassware reminiscent of the era. Lace was big, so think about having lace table runners to for added elegance.

 

Creative Touches
What about arriving in a pink Cadillac as your wedding car? Nothing screams 50s kitsch like a caddy car or truck, no matter what the colour. Also why not have pieces like jukeboxes, vintage luggage, old fashioned food crates filled with florals and retro style photobooths with lots of 50s props for guests to have fun with.

 

Food and Drinks
You can really have fun with your food with this theme. Think retro Americana in the form of old fashioned Coca-Cola glass bottles, milkshakes, 50s style champagne towers, straws, ice cream cones, hot dogs, sliders and popcorn to name but a few.

 

 

Marquee Weddings

A marquee style wedding is undeniably beautiful. There’s something about being out almost under the stars that just adds romance to a wedding day. So it’s not surprising, that it’s a trend that is always popular with couples. There are plenty of options to consider when planning a marquee wedding.

You could go with a traditional wedding venue that has a marquee for their weddings, or if you have access to a private piece of land or indeed you want to hire a piece of land this is another option to consider.

If you’re going with the former, then the pros are that you’ll benefit from the hotels existing facilities, however if you want ultimate control then hiring in your own option on private land is worth considering too.

If you’d like to chat about this, or any other aspect of your wedding day décor or planning, then please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.

 

Hiring in a Marquee Top Considerations

  • The Cost

Often people assume that hiring in a marquee, works out cheaper than a traditional hotel setting. This isn’t always the case, so make sure to do your research first.

 

  • The Site

Finding the right site is crucial. If you are lucky enough to have access to a piece of land perhaps a family home’s garden etc., then make sure the area is flat with good access. If you are looking to hire a piece of land, again, make sure to do your research in terms of access, facilities and suitability.

 

 

The Planning

  • If you’re hiring in a marquee in your home or you are hiring a piece of land with no facilities, there is a lot to consider, from toilet facilities, to electricity, water, proper flooring, catering, crockery, a catering tent, heating, access, a bar and staff. While many catering companies can look after many of these aspects, often it’s good to hire a wedding planner such as myself who can take care of all these very important, but detailed elements of the day.

 

  • Have a Contingency Plan

While, your professionally set up marquee should be able to withstand the elements, it’s worth considering having an indoor back up plan, especially if you’re having a winter wedding.

 

  • Free Reign

While as you can see there are some drawbacks to hiring in your own marquee, the beauty of it, is the ultimate control you’ll have over the look of the day. If you want a glamping style tent, a tepee, or a grand fairy-tale marquee, with this option, the only limit is your imagination.

 

If Your Venus Has a Marquee

This can be by far the most straight forward option, as you really will benefit from the best of both worlds, with the hotels facilities, plus the special marquee feel. When it comes to décor, try and maximise the ethereal beauty of the marquee –

 

Lanterns and Pom Poms

Chinese lanterns and paper pom poms strung from the ceiling look fabulous, but don’t forget traditional style lanterns and hanging tea lights too.

 

Bunting

Bunting and tents or marquees go together like bread and butter, so have fun with this look. It’s also a very easy to source and an inexpensive piece of décor.

 

 

Lighting

Think about using bistro or string lights, gobo lights, uplighters and coloured lights to set the tone and atmosphere.

 

Chairs

Chairs can really make a difference on the overall look of your marquee. Think about pretty Chiavari or Hannah Jane chairs.

 

 

 

Unusual Wedding Flowers

Flowers are an integral part of any wedding day. They can bring the whole day to life injecting colour and tone in an instant. But while flowers and weddings go hand in hand, that doesn’t mean you have to stick to the script. If you want to get away from the more traditional and embrace unusual wedding flowers ,then now is the perfect time to do it as there is an entire industry of floral creativity waiting to be discovered.

Have fun with flowers and don’t be afraid to make a statement. Think floral walls, hanging florals, floral instillations, floral chandeliers, and much more. Of course fresh flowers are always going to be a pricey investment for your big day, but thankfully there are a whole host of false blooms out there that look so convincing it would be almost impossible to tell the difference.

If you’d like to chat about this or any other aspect of your wedding day décor, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly.

 

Hanging florals

Make a statement with stunning hanging florals. Think of floral installations suspending from the ceiling over your tables. Upturned parasols filled with flowers can look like something off a movie set. For atmosphere why not have handing tea lights interspersed with flowers or have lanterns strung from the ceiling filled with blooms. And for the DIY lover, then using hula hoops covered with flowers or floral wreaths can work really well too.

 

 

Floral Chandeliers

Who said chandeliers have to be crystal? Add a host of beautiful flowers to chandeliers in your wedding venue and turn something beautiful into something extraordinary.

 

 

 

Floral Walls

Channel the loved celebrity style trend with an impressive floral wall. You could use these during your ceremony, or at the reception where it can become a real focal point and even an impromptu DIY photobooth for your guests. Don’t be afraid to experiment with a burst of colour, but of course the classic colours of crisp white and lush greens will work with any theme.

 

Staircases, Fireplaces & Garlands

If you’ve got staircases and fireplaces in your venue, then make sure to make the most of them and accent them with some flowers. Whether it be decadent, show stopping garlands or simple wildflowers, it really does have a massive visual impact.

Trees

Bring a real senses of the outdoors in with some perfectly placed trees in your venue or ceremony. Think about using them as pew ends, or dotted around the venue to really add some stunning scenery to your day.