centerpieces

Blush Wedding Theme

Tones of blushing pinks are a match made in heaven for wedding day décor. From invites, to the attire, to the ceremony, to the reception, there is nothing that this stunning colour palate will not suit. It instantly evokes an atmosphere of beauty, etherealness and romance.

For some brides and couples it might seem like an obvious choice and indeed, some couples like to shy away from traditional colours, but just because something is considered a classic, doesn’t mean it can’t be contemporary or on trend.

Indeed, this year’s Pantone Colour of The Year is ‘Living Coral,’ a beautiful take on traditional pink or blush.

We take a look at ways to include blush in your wedding day décor.

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 Dress

If you really want to make a statement then why not consider going for a blush wedding dress? It has become a growing trend in recent years for brides to look beyond the traditional colours of white, creams and ivories for dresses and instead seek out gowns with a hint of blush. If that seems like a step too far, then why not dress your bridesmaids, or flower girls in blush and don’t forget to add some blush accents for the groom and/or groomsmen too.

 

Complimenting Colours

Blush by itself is a beautiful colour, but when you put it alongside some complimenting and contrasting colours, that’s when you hit décor gold! Think of pairing blush with golds, greys, greens and crisp white for a really incredible visual feast for the eyes. Also don’t be afraid to reinterpret the colour blush, with varying degrees of vividness. A pop of hot pink alongside ethereal blush will look stunning.

 

Flowers

A pop of blush in your wedding flowers can be both classic and contemporary. If you want to give it a modern twist then try and pair with lots of greenery for a fantastic contrast. Tall candelabras and elegant blush flowers will work amazingly well for a formal feel, as will rustic style wooden boxes filled with blush blooms and interspersed with candles for a more casual style.

 

Décor

Blush works wonderfully well in so many ways around the wedding venue. From accents of blush ribbons on menus, to paper pom poms, chair sashes or draping, to blush pink floral centrepieces, interspersed with pops of gold and lots of candles of differing sizes. To really add that touch of romance consider using uplighters with degrees of blush and or fairylights to set the ultimate tone for the night.

How To Style Long Wedding Tables

When it comes to wedding receptions, the traditional set up has often been for a long top table for the bridal party, with round tables through the rest of the reception set up.

But while the old classics are tried and tested go-to’s for a reason, that doesn’t mean you have to stick to it.

As the taste in venues has changed in recent times, with many couples going for more laid back, rustic venues, the demand for long tables has increased and it’s not hard to see why.

Whether going for a room full of long tables, one big long table or a mix or round and long, they are something you should consider for your wedding day décor, both for their convivial nature and for their eye catching impact.  

Here we look at options and ways to style them to the max. 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.

 

Chairs

There’s no hard and fast rules when it comes to matching chairs to long tables, but there’s no denying that a long table set up certainly evokes a more laid back, relaxed style for your reception. Think village hall chic, no set table plan, people sitting and chatting where they feel most comfortable and a really intimate feeling. With that, often the best chairs to match can be bistro style or Chiavari chairs. Keep it simple and leave them naked or if you want to add an extra layer of chic why not add some tasteful draping or even streamers?

 

Florals and Garlands

Long tables love long garlands. They are a match made in heaven. Whether you decide to go for long lush greens paired with crisp whites, or florals with pops of colour interspersed along the way, it’s all about that overhang at the end. A long contrasting coloured table runner is also a great addition, as are the odd tall focal points, such as blossom trees or candelabras to bring a really visual counterpoint to the finished look.

 

Finishing Touches

There’s no limit to the amount of finishing touches you can add to your long tables. If you want to keep to a budget paper pieces such as pop-poms interspersed with your garland can look really well, as can economical yet rustic chic wooden boxes and slices. Candles of differing sizes lined along the centre line will look absolutely show stopping, as will lanterns.

 

A Mix of Long/Round

The exact type of table set up will often be dictated by your venue, so when viewing options be sure to ask what is and is not possible in terms of the space.

The style of venue will often be a factor too. Barn or lofty style venues generally work best with long tables. It also depends on what look you’re after – formal or relaxed.

Bear in mind that often a contrast looks more eye catching than uniformity, so consider a mix of round and long.

 

 

What is A Wedding Theme?

 

Planning your wedding should be a fun and exciting endeavour. However sometimes couples aren’t sure where to start, it is after all a big occasion for most and there is plenty to organise before you walk down the aisle and say ‘I do.’

Often choosing a theme for your wedding is a great place to start.

But what is a theme? Why do you need one and indeed do you have to have one?

The answer is that a wedding theme is absolute not essential to your day, however having one can help to bring all the elements together into a more cohesive vision.

Here we look at some of the pros and cons of a wedding theme as well as some of the most popular and universal themes to consider. 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.

                                     

Pros

Simply put, choosing a wedding theme is a great way to bring all your ideas together under one umbrella. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate either. In fact your theme may just be a colour scheme such as green and white, pink and grey or a touch of vibrant rainbow!

However, if there is a passion you and your partner share, such as films, books, gardening, travel, etc, then these can be the perfect seeds to sow a wedding theme from. You could bring aspects of any of these into your invitations, your ceremony decor, your table plan, table names, etc. Having some kind of theme gives your wedding day a much more personal feel and scope to add little touches that will mean a huge amount.

 

Cons

Some couples might feel the idea of a wedding theme is a little over the top or that it might limit them in terms of what they can do with their décor. For example if you decide to go with a certain theme you might feel you cannot incorporate items from another one.

In addition certain themes may end up being hard to put together in terms of sourcing items and your budget.

Also some couples might want a more laid back feel for their big day without feeling the constraints of a theme. However, the thing to keep in mind is that when it comes to a wedding theme, is that there are no hard and fast rules. It can really be whatever you want it to be. The best wedding themes are the ones that reflect the couples personality and interests and if that is simply to have a laid back feel, then why not use that as your template and go with it?

 

Vintage

One of the most popular wedding themes for a number of years has got to be vintage. Harking back to bygone eras, it is a theme that gives a lot of room to play with, as there is no defined period of time you have to focus on. More often than not, it’s just more of a flavour rather than a concentrated feel of say the 20’s or 30’s, for example. Instead many couples cherry-pick influences from a whole range of decades with little pops of décor. Think about vintage books, china, typewriters, weighing scales, gramophones, suitcases, birdcages, lanterns, clocks, etc. The list is endless and is only limited by your imagination.

 

Elegant

Again this is a theme with a broad scope of appeal and one that works universally well with most venues. Elegance can sum up so many images in a couples minds that it’s very much open for interpretation. It can mean silver candelabras, tall floral arrangements, golds, crisp white linen and formal dining options. The important thing is to make the theme as personal as possible to your shared likes and personality.

Rustic

Again, this is a theme that can conjure up many images, but generally speaking it is a theme that reflects a more laid back approach to the wedding. It can mean having a more relaxed dining experience, such as food trucks or BBQ. A barn style venue, glamping etc. Again, the key here is to take what you want from the term rustic and make it work for you as a couple and your budget.

Green and White

Another theme that has universal appeal is green and white. Again, this is open ended and doesn’t lock you in to anything, as such. Instead it gives you a something to focus on and bring to your wedding reception and ceremony. Green and white can conjure up elaborate hanging floral installations, floral arches, flower walls, an enchanted forest etc, or it can also mean having a more simple approach to your décor instead of colourful floral arrangements. A good wedding planner will help you refine your theme ideas into something that works for your big day.

Tall Wedding Decor

 

It can be easy to forget about ways to make use of the vertical space around us in general, but when it comes to wedding décor, this space is often an untapped resource that can have a truly stunning overall impact.

If you’re scratching your head on ways to fill this space, or maximise it, then don’t panic, as there are literally dozens of fresh and modern ideas on ways to do this, that don’t have to be overly extravagant or break the bank either.

Using vertical space requires a little bit more thought and attention. Indeed you don’t need to go overboard filling space everywhere you see it, as blank space is a great contrast too. It’s getting a balance between the two that works the best.

Here’s some ideas to get the creative juices going. 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.

                                     

Urns/Bay Trees

Maximising the vertical space doesn’t have to be confined to your wedding reception, you can start at your ceremony too. Features like oversized urns or bay trees at the entrance to your church or ceremony entrance will make a really show stopping statement, as will tall pew ends lining your aisles.

 

Trees and Foliage

The mention of having trees and foliage at your wedding ceremony or reception might seem like an extravagant move, but in reality there are so many affordable options for ways to bring these elements into your wedding style. They are a great way to draw the eye upward and make the most of your vertical space. Be it blossom style trees, green trees, etc on tables, dotted around the room or as pew ends, they really are worth considering.

 

 

Hanging Décor

One of the most on trend ways to use the vertical space in your wedding reception is with hanging décor. It’s a style that is popular at the moment and it’s not hard to see why. Think about hanging elements like Chinese lanterns over your dancefloor, hanging tea lights over your tables or hanging floral or greenery installations over your top table for maximum impact.

 

Draping

Probably one of the most economical, yet show stopping ways to style your wedding’s vertical space is with simple, beautiful draping. It can be arranged and styled from ceilings and over dancefloors, the top table, or over your cake etc, to make a stunning focal point in the room. Add in some fairy lights for that dreamy, romantic feel.

 

 

How To Do A Vintage Wedding Theme

 

The vintage wedding theme is still one of the most popular choices for couples these days. Its popularity remains strong, thanks to its adaptability, budget friendly ways and because it is still one of the most beautiful wedding themes to bring to life.

There are so many ways to channel a vintage theme. So many decades to focus on, that it can appeal to different personalities and couples. You can have just a few small vintage touches or you can go all out with larger statements of retro.  That’s the beauty of this theme.

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box when it comes to interpreting the vintage theme. Raid attics, raid skips, to go auctions and embrace upcycling in a big way.

Here’s some ideas to get the creative juices going. 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.

 

 

Attire

One of the most stunning ways to set a vintage tone for your wedding day is with your attire. Brides are embracing retro and vintage styles of dresses, going for pretty detailing and classic cuts over more modern shapes. Don’t be afraid to bring it through to your bridesmaids too and let’s not forget the men! Retro and vintage suits are another big trend at the moment, so define the era you’re trying to emulate and stick with it. If you really want to make a splash, why not ask your guests to embrace the attire of your chosen era too, for extra fun.

 

Transport

One of the easiest ways to channel the vintage theme is with your wedding transport. Yes we’re talking about vintage cars. And you don’t necessarily have to go for the traditional types of cars either, such as a Rolls Royce. Why not have a little fun with VW Camper vans, mini coopers and even vintage motorbikes with side cars or push bikes?

 

On The Table

You can really go wild in terms of on the table vintage inspiration. Anything from stacks of old books, vintage birdcages filled with flowers, retro weighing scales topped with florals or candles, vintage cameras and old photos, retro style tins, pocket watches, old unusual bottles filled with candles, vintage sewing machines. The list is endless. Remember to dress them up with key florals and items made from burlap and lace are the ideal partners to reinforce that vintage look.

 

Around The Room

When it comes to placing vintage pieces around your wedding venue or ceremony, you can make a big impact for a small investment. Think about having stacks of retro suitcases, why not even use one for your guests to put their wedding cards? Vintage items like typewriters and gramophones make stunning focal points and again can cost next to nothing. You can make an even bigger impact with upcycled chests of drawers which you could use as your dessert or cake area too. And if you really want to go big and have the budget, why not seek out larger vintage pieces like a retro telephone box! It would look stunning in situ and can double as an ideal photobooth for your guests too.

 

 

 

 

Spring Fling – Wedding Colours

Spring is all about the return of colour. In nature, the buds return to the trees, we start to get daffodils and tulips peeing through, cherry blossoms, the grass gets that touch greener and it’s all about a sense of freshness.

It’s a beautiful time of the year to tie the knot. And if you’re planning a spring wedding and you want to tie in with the seasonal colours and themes, then think colour and fresh greenery.

Often, spring evokes those ice cream dream pastel colours of blush pink, baby blue, canary yellow and mint green. All of which will look absolutely stunning and are easy to work with.

However, don’t discount going bolder with colour, either all round through your decor and flowers, or just with a few pops to offset the pastels. And of course a refreshing touch of crisp white and vivid greenery is always a classic look too.

Here’s some ideas to get your thinking. 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.

                                                           

Ceremony

Whether you’re saying ‘I do’ indoors or outdoors, flowers are key to channelling spring. Don’t be afraid to add some bright colours to your bridal bouquets, but equally don’t fear going for the more traditional blush pinks or soft peaches either. If you want to make a really stunning statement of spring, why not have a floral wall as your ceremony backdrop? Add colourful confetti for your church departure and why not consider having blossom trees line your aisle in the ultimate tribute to the spring?

 

On the Table

A heady mix of burlap, wooden slices, vases and pops of spring colour will look stunning for your table décor. If your budget is tight, why not go for a mix of paper pom poms in a range of colours, against some beautiful baby’s breath? Add in lanterns and candles for the perfect mix to bring your table to life

 

 

Around the Room

While flowers play a key role, lighting will also be a big factor in how your room looks and feels. Intersperse fairy lights with up-lighters and candles for the right mix of spring garden. Chinese style lanterns hung from the ceiling or over the dancefloor in a variety of pastels will look amazing during the day and even more romantic as the sun goes down. Don’t forget to dress focal points like staircases, fireplaces and consider having a flower wall for guests to take selfies at during the evening.

 

The Cake

When it comes to the cake, you can really have a lot of fun with a spring colour palette. But if you want to try something more unique, why not go for a naked style cake but with a different colour for each tier, for an almost pastel rainbow effect? Add flowers to your tiers and play around with buttercream and fondant finishes for that really stunning effect. And why not have fun adding additions like cake pops, donuts or mini cakes too in a variety of spring colours.

Bring The Outdoors In For Your Wedding

Having an outdoor wedding ceremony and reception is not something that’s always possible in Ireland. Of course, it is possible to do an outdoor ‘I do’ and have a portion of the drinks reception outside, but having all aspects of the wedding from start to finish outdoors is an unlikely scenario, especially if you’re having a winter wedding.

But that shouldn’t mean you still cannot imbue your day with a sense of the outdoors. In fact, now more than ever there are readily available props and items of décor that can turn your wedding into a secret garden in a flash.

From green trees, to blossom trees, to hanging floral installations, to bay trees, garlands and backdrops, there are a myriad of ways to make your guests feel as though they are sitting in a garden paradise indoors.

Here’s some ideas to get your thinking. 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.

Ceremony
When it comes to bringing a sense of the outdoors into your ceremony, there’s plenty of ways to channel the look. Why not go for tall tree style pew ends? Crisp white blossom trees or trees with a greenery feel will look stunning and add a sense of magic garden to proceedings. If the venue doesn’t allow for this, then think lower down with leaves lining the aisle intermixed with lanterns.

On the Table
If you want to make a big impression why not go for mini trees as your table centrepieces? Be they white or pink style blossom trees, or greenery, it will have an immediate visual impact on your room. If you want to take things down a notch, then why not consider garlands packed with leafy greens? These work especially well for long tables. Consider bare sticks in long vases interspersed with lower set florals. Of if you want to think differently why not have hanging greenery above your tables?

Around the Room
Dot trees around the room in different locations to create a sense of being inside a woodland or lush green garden. Intersperse them with fairly lights, or hanging tea lights for a really magical feel when the sun goes down. Hang greenery from chandeliers or lights. Make use of potted plants and if you’re budget won’t allow fresh flowers, then there are some stunning synthetic versions that will work equally well. Floral backdrops will look stunning in conjunction with these elements and can become a selfie wall for guests too.

 

The Cake
Why not have a floral or greenery style backdrop stationed behind your cake or dessert table? It will add a real focal point to the room and of course it can then be moved to another location after the cake has been cut. For the cake itself, think naked icing with greenery and wooden accents to really reinforce the outdoorsy feel.

Velvet Crush Wedding Theme

This year velvet is making a big impression on weddings. A beautiful fabric, full of rich texture and visual impact, there are dozens of ways to bring a touch of velvet into your wedding décor.

From pops of velvet in the bridal party’s attire, to delicate details on bouquets and to adding well placed elements in the reception itself, expect to see velvet popping up everywhere.

It’s a versatile fabric that can be used in plenty of ways, although it is probably best to stick with accents rather than having velvet overload. There’s a range of colours to choose from, but if you want to keep it classic think of rich tones of purples, sage, red and blush pink.

Ideal for weddings with a more vintage vibe or elegant theme to it, don’t be afraid to have fun and contrast the beautiful texture with sharper finishes such as cool metal or wood.

Here’s some ideas to get your thinking. 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.

 

Flowers

One of the best ways to include a touch of velvet into your big day is with your bouquet. Think velvet style ribbon detailing on the brides bouquet or indeed the bridesmaid flowers too. Go for a colour that compliments your chosen florals and ensure the ribbon becomes a feature in itself to enhance the elegance of the bouquet.

 

Clothing           

Expect to see lots of pretty velvet accents appearing in the bridal parties clothing this year. From velvet shoes to velvet bow ties or even grooms jackets, this is a trend that crosses all gender lines for the couple. If you want to go all out, why not have your bridesmaids in velvet dresses? Invest in a velvet bolero for the bride, or if you want to add detailing to your dress why not have a visually impactful velvet bow around the waist of the dress?

 

On the Table

There’s plenty of ways to add velvet accents to your wedding tables. Think about velvet style table runners, or velvet ribbons around the menus or place cards. Velvet sashes on chairs will make for a stunning counterpoint with draping for example. Play around with textures when it comes to velvet and have a mix of finishes on the table. Cool metal or wood work well as contrasting textures for velvet.

 

Around the Room  

There so many ways to have fun with velvet around your venue. From adding velvet ribbons to garlands, to going big with velvet style backdrop for photos or even some upcycled velvet couches for guests to chill out on and for use for some great wedding photos, don’t be afraid to get creative.

 

 

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.