Wedding Decor – The New Neutrals

When you think of neutrals your mind generally goes immediately to a series of creams and whites. But today, the new neutrals have a much more subtle variety to them, all of which lend themselves extremely well to wedding décor.

The thing about neutrals is, they are a universal. They go with most themes, venues and seasons. You’ll also likely find an array of items more easily in neutral colours, than say if you were tracking down a more specific shade. But just because something is a classic, doesn’t mean it cannot be reinvented.

So for the new neutrals think a little wider with subtle hints of greys, taupe’s, dusty rose and accents of metallics. It’s still very much based around the tennets of creams and whites, but now there’s more inflection and depth in those creams.

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.

 

Ceremony

Flowers will play a big role in the overall look of your ceremony be it in a church or another venue. But there are others ways to make a big impact with neutrals. Why not have white or cream blossom trees lining the aisle? Have a neutral aisle runner and don’t be afraid to use some draping in key places.

 

Table

Your wedding table centrepieces and overall décor will really set the tone of your reception and when it comes to making impact with the new neutrals, it’s all about subtle pops of colour. Think accents of pinks, greys, burlap and taupe with flashes of metallics. Be creative with it and use a range of pillar style candles in differing sizes on metallic stands, small lanterns, wooden slices, pink paper pom poms, gold cutlery or wine goblets. White table clothes with grey or taupe runners and sprinkling of glitter.

 

Room

Draping is one of your best allies when it comes to room décor. Draping interspersed with fairy lights in key locations, such as backdrops or on doorways will add a major wow factor. But think about placing other elements in the key colours, be it lanterns, vintage luggage or antique finds. Uplighters can work really well to set the tone as can hanging tea lights and Chinese lanterns or pom poms again in the key colour palettes.

 

Cake

Go for ‘naked cakes’ with a cascade of blush, cream and tope roses down the side. Or go for buttercream finished in an ombre effect with the same colour palette. Use little touches like blush or metallic macaroons or cakepops scattered with glitter for that extras bit of sparkle.

Wooden Wedding Decor

If you’re going for a rustic, vintage or enchanted forest feel for your wedding day décor, then wooden features and accents have got to be right up there on your list.

There’s so many ways to inject pops of wood into your décor, from using trees, to wooden slices, signage, logs and even pine cones.

Wood is a match made in heaven for burlap and lace so don’t be afraid to mix them up and of course they look stunning with lots of tea lights and lanterns too.

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.

 

Around the Room

Trees might seem like an obvious choice when it comes to wooden décor ideas, but it’s amazing how versatile and stunning they can be. From bare sticks, to blossom trees they can bring that woodland feel to your ceremony and/or reception in a flash. Also why not have mini wooden ladders dotted around the room or used as your escort car holders. Think of wooden palettes or old doors which could work well for photo backdrops too.  Stacks of wooden logs with leaves and tea lights are another easy to do winner.

 

On The Table

For the table it’s got to be stacks of wooden slices topped with mason jars, tea lights and lanterns. Mix in some lace and burlap and gypsophila for that perfect rustic look. Keeping with the rustic theme, why not fill small wooden crates or boxes with succulents and blooms or even fruits? For the winter season, use pine cones as place names or favours.

 

Signs

Of course one of the easiest ways to have some wooden accents in your wedding décor is with signage. From signs saying Mr & Mrs/Mr&Mr/Mrs&Mrs, to signs directing guests to the days activities, to signs with favourite quotes or signs for your table numbers or names, it’s a simple, yet beautiful way to get that wooden theme across. Plus if you’re handy with a saw you can make some signs yourself as a DIY project.

 

The Cake

Finally don’t forget the cake. Wooden accents are a great match for naked cakes, so think about having twigs or pine cones on your cake itself. Or why not present it on a wooden slice? And don’t forget the topper! Why not have one made of wood for that final flourish?

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.

 

Magenta and Lemon

Picking a colour or theme for your wedding day can be daunting at the start. You’ve got to work out something that will appeal to both parties and also something you can carry through from your ceremony to reception. Indeed you can even start with your save the dates and invitations.

Often, couples decide to go with classic colour combinations because they are reliable and they will look stunning no matter what the venue or season. And there is a lot to be said for sticking with something universally chic.

That said, if you’re willing to have a little fun and dip your toe into the colour wheel a little more, then consider a vivid combination like magenta and yellow.

Not for the faint of heart, this super vibrant colour palette is ideal for those who adore vivid colours and while it’s ideal for high summer, it’s also a combination you can call on to inject some brightness into a autumn or winter wedding too.

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.

 

Bouquet

With most brides going for a white or ivory dress, the contrast of a brightly coloured bouquet will look simply stunning. You don’t have to go with exclusively magenta and yellow blooms. Consider popping in some greenery and shades of both colours.

 

On the table

Play around with different colour table cloths. Go for the full on bright of a magenta table cloth and accent it with yellow, or try something like a yellow and white chevron table runner and magenta napkins. Got for vivid and bold floral centrepieces and inject some citrus colour with lemons interspersed. Play around with shades of pink and yellow to so you have a spectrum of colours on display

 

Around the room

The mantra of this colour scheme is go bold or go home, so don’t be afraid to embrace it. Think of having some giant balloons, pom poms suspended on string. Have some backdrops made of ribbon or hang up some magenta and lemon Chinese lanterns. One of the most dramatic things you can do is get some draping in the shades of magenta and yellow as this will really give the venue an atmospheric feel. Accent with cushions, throws and soft furnishings to complete the look.

Cake

Finally don’t forget the cake. Again you can just go for pops of colour here on your cake, such as a white or naked cake with magenta and lemon style flowers or details. Or go full on with Ombré buttercream going from magenta to yellow or vice versa. Or why not have a sweet table set up in the colours of magenta and yellow of guests to help themselves.

 

Images via Pinterest

Fruit and Veg Wedding Centrepieces

When it comes to your wedding table centrepieces, flowers tend to be the first thing that comes to mind. And while they might not always be the main focus, generally speaking there are flowers in there somewhere. Well if you’d like to have something different feature in your theme, then shy not think about fruits and veg.

Yes, I said fruit and veg!

The beauty of these is that, firstly they are generally more budget friendly and they can fit with a whole host of themes. From elegant, to rustic, to vintage and even modern. Plus you can pick items that are matching the season and you can of course pair with flowers for a really eye-catching look.

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.

 

 

Fruit with flowers

If you want to keep things elegant, then pairing fruit with flowers is a great choice. Look for fruits that can sit perfectly within the flowers you’ve chosen and compliment them to a tee. Having a few pieces of fruit peeping out of your floral centrepieces will be a real surprise for your guests. Or why not have cut pieces of citrus in glass vases pointing outwards, with blooms on the top? If you’re having ling tables then a mixed fruit and floral garland will look stunning.

Tropical

It’s got to be pineapples, pineapples and more pineapples for a truly tropical feel. But don’t forget to throw in some other exotic fruits, like mangoes, passion fruits and papayas? And why not have fun by having some opened fruit in the centrepieces for guests to nibble on too? It’s a great ice breaker and lots of fun.

Rustic

While fruit can be elegant it can also be rustic too, especially when paired with wooden accents. Simple fruits like oranges or lemons in wooden crates or boxes will look stunning for a rustic theme. Sit your chosen fruits in elegant bowls or have silver jugs overflowing with grapes for a really lush looks reminiscent of the Tudor days, that’s still got a rustic edge. Have fun with colours and go for vibrant shades in the summer and look for darker purples and greens in the winter months.

Veg  

When you think of veg centrepieces, you generally imagine it would fit with a more rustic or shabby chic style of wedding theme, but that’s not always the case. Purple cabbage or artichoke can look quite elegant as can asparagus. But that said, having veg as your centrepieces is about having some earthy fun, so why fight it? Think seasonally too if you can for example pumpkins and squash in autumn will look fabulous.

 

images via Pinterest

Vintage Wedding Theme

The wonderful thing about a vintage wedding theme, is that it can apply to practically any time period in history. It’s not specific to one era, so you can really have fun and hone in on one time period that you like, or pull from many to make it your own.

Often, a vintage wedding theme means spending some time rummaging in attics or going to auctions where you can pick up some amazing finds for next to nothing. Think gramophones, china, old weighing scales, typewriters and even antique suitcases.

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.

 

Attire

Start as you mean to go on and bring a touch of the vintage to your wedding attire. Think 1950s style tea length dresses, or carefully embellished 1920s inspired gowns with Gatsby style head pieces. Why not go back further and channel your inner Jane Austin with an Empire line gown. You could also ask your guests to embrace your theme and wear something with a nod to the vintage to it as well.

 

Transport

Most of us choose to have a snazzy car for our wedding day, but why not seek out a genuine vintage car to bring you to the ceremony and reception? Think beyond just the luxury Rolls Royce and consider vintage VW camper vans, Cadillac’s, vintage cars that go back to the 1920s/30s or why not get a vintage style bus for your guests?

 

On the Table

There’s so many ways to bring a touch of vintage into your wedding table centrepieces very simply with vintage style jugs, lanterns, china and teapots. You don’t have to go for those more obvious choices either. Why not use old books, vintage style cans and jars, even an old typewriter or weighing scales would look stunning too.

 

Around the Room

Pieces like gramophones make ideal props for dotting around your wedding venue. Why not dress them up with florals? Stack vintage style suitcases around the room. Why not put that vintage dresser to use and have it as your cake or dessert table? Or if you really want to make a splash why not have flat shoes or flip flops for the guests to pop on at dancing time and let them leave their heels in the dresser? If you’re having something for guests to put their wedding cards in, why not use a vintage birdcage or retro postbox?

 

Images via pinterest

Trees As Wedding Centrepieces

There’s something magical about having trees as part of your wedding décor. They bring with them an undeniable romance of an enchanted forest and a lovely feel of bringing the outdoors in.

Tree style centrepieces are a hot trend at the moment and immediately add height to your wedding venue. They give an instant wow fact and look simply stunning when dressed with hanging tea lights or fairylights for when the sun goes down.

There is huge scope for all budgets too. You could go for actual tree style centrepieces, or you could also achieve a similar effect with large branches in very tall vases.

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.

 

Blossom Trees

Blossom trees are the typical, dreamy partner to wedding décor. Full of blooms that are typically pink or shades of white, these trees look absolutely stunning as centrepieces. Often they need very little dressing up, as they give such a wow factor impression on their own.

 

 

Branches

If you want to channel that autumnal forest feel or indeed go for a minimalistic look, then barer branches are ideal and quite economical too. You can indeed source very tall branches and place them in even taller vases to get that tree feel. Branches tend to need a little dressing up and you can also find stunning white winter style trees that have plenty of adornments already included. Also consider adding hanging tea lights and fairylights for when the sun goes down.

 

Tropical

Palm tree branches and leaves, sitting in large tall vases interspersed with exotic style crisp white orchids look amazing. Mix in some tropical fruit at the base or get creative and make the trunks out of pineapples for that truly exotic feel!

 

Greenery/Fruit

If the idea of blossom tree is a little too fluffy for you, then consider going for all greenery. The classic combination of greenery and the crisp white wedding table cloths is a universally good look. Again you can find full, bushy tree styles, but you can also channel the same sort of look with branches of greenery and very tall vases. Why not have some fun with fruit trees too?

 

Images via Pinterest

 

Equestrian Wedding Theme

It is said that Ireland is the land of the horse and they aren’t wrong. Whether you and your partner have horses, ride horses, compete, ride for fun or are just horse lovers from afar, why not bring that joined passion into your wedding day?
There’s lots of really personal and beautiful ways to include horses, equestrian themes and accents into your wedding day décor.

If you’re both horse riders, then it’s the ideal way to bring a shared passion into proceedings, plus it will be a chance to put all those rosettes and trophies to good use too!

If neither of you are horse riders or owners, but still adore these stunning animals, then don’t worry, there’s still lots of ways to bring their spirit to the day too.

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.

Make An Entrance
If you’re a horse owner, then you’ve got to give arriving on horseback some serious consideration. Whether it’s the bride/groom arriving to the ceremony or the newly married couple arriving to their venue, this is guaranteed to be one special way to make an entrance. If you’re not a horse owner, but can ride, then be sure to look into venues that offer horse riding as an activity and check out their options in terms of hiring a horse for the wedding. If you cannot ride but still love horses, then why not arrive by horse drawn carriage?

 

Location
Channel the rustic charm of the stables by seeking out a barn style venue for your big day. Think lofty spaces, with high ceilings, lots of wood details and access to outdoor space. If you really want to channel the horse theme and know someone with an indoor arena, think about using that as your venue!

 

On the table
There’s lots of ways to have fun with your table décor, so why not stat with the most obvious – horseshoes for your favours/place cards! You could also use rosettes. Why not name the tables after your favourite horses, be it Black Beauty or Red Rum! Use trophies for your flowers instead of vases and use them as you centrepieces, interspersed with rosettes. Stirrups can be used to hold tea lights on the table or indeed look stunning as hanging tea lights.

Around the Room
If you or your partner have amassed lots of rosettes over a lifetime of competing on horseback, then why not put them to good use as your table plan or escort cards? Why not have a game of horse shoes set up in the outdoor space of your venue for guests to play. Use your old saddles as décor around the room, put flowers in your old leather boots and have some hay bales placed around the venue.

 

Images via pinterest 

Summer Weddings

It’s no mystery why summer weddings are on average more sought after than their winter counterparts.  While of course, winter weddings have lots of special qualities of their own, there’s no denying that a summer wedding brings with it lots of advantages to leverage the beauty of the outdoors.

That said, in Ireland you can never predict what the summer weather will do… it may rain in the middle of June and be sunny and bright in October. However, going for a summer wedding date gives you a greater chance of being able to have part of your reception or even your vows outdoors!

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.

 

Outdoor I Do

Planning an outdoor wedding ceremony in Ireland might seem risky, but I’ve planned dozens of successful outdoor weddings. It’s all about being prepared, having a backup plan and a good wedding co-ordinator to help bring it all together. Summer time allows you the opportunity to plan more fully for an outdoor wedding.

 

Lawn Games

Get the guests outside and having fun with some giant lawn games! From giant Jenga, to Connect Four, to more traditional games like chess or croquet, it’s a great way for guests to break the ice, relax and get ready to have some major fun!

 

Embrace Your Location

Summer weddings tend to offer up more varied wedding locations. Such as near the beach, glamping in a yurt, a festival style wedding, on a clifftop and so on. Leverage the opportunities the good weather will hopefully bring and embrace some stunning outdoor locations for your ceremony, reception and photos.

 

Outdoor Eats

Be it a main meal that’s a buffet or BBQ, or your midnight snacks, eating al fresco is always a special thing to be able to have at your wedding and people love to eat outdoors. Think about having ice cream vans, or food rucks for your pre dinner reception or why not get the marshmallows out for a midnight fire pit? Don’t forget to have lots of blankets on hand for after the sun goes down

 

Images via pinterest