wedding cake

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

Midsummer Nights Dream Wedding

Shakespeare’s a Midsummer Nights Dream exclaims ‘love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.’

A beautiful sentiment from one of the all-time great stage plays, but it turns out that’s it’s not just full of wonderful quotes. In fact, the play is an ideal inspiration for a summer wedding theme.

Think woodland, moss, ferns, fairies, magic and moonlight in this dreamy, sumptuous wedding theme that’s all about laid back indulgence and bringing the outdoors in.

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.

 

 

Lighting

Lighting is key to any wedding them, but is especially vital to pull off a Midsummer Night’s Dream. Think lots of fairly lights, moon and star lights, hanging tea lights, dreamy lanterns to really hammer home the magical atmosphere once the sun goes down. You want to feel as though you’re walking through an enchanted forest, so don’t be afraid to skim on the candles and fairylights.

 

On the table

Have lots of fun with your table décor and centrepieces, think drama, because it is a play after all! Go for lots of green trees and foliage. Think ferns, grapes and greenery. Use Shakespeare quotes as table names. Place piles of old books in the centre covered in moss. Use wooden accents, lanterns and lots of pretty tea lights.

 

Around the room

If you’ve got access to an outdoor area for your wedding reception then make the most of it by lighting up with mason jars and hanging tea lights. Leave blankets outside for when the sun goes down. But don’t forget to bring a sense of the outdoors in with blossom trees, fairly lights, draping, ferns and capture that enchanted magical woodland feeling.

 

Food

When it comes to food, it’s got to be naked cakes or wood effect cakes embellished with moss, greenery and grapes to match the theme to a tee. Have fun serving drinks from goblets and play on the idea of magic potions which both kids and adults would enjoy!

 

Images via Pinterest 

Celestial Wedding Theme

We all feel as though our love is written in the stars, especially on our wedding day, so why not bring some of that celestial vibe into your décor?

Think geode cakes, stars, fairylights, moons, star signs and everything to do with the night sky in this beautifully romantic on-trend theme.

Not only is it ideal for the romantics out there, but if you have a shared passion for astrology or star-gazing, then it’s the perfect way to bring your personality into the wedding day décor.

Here’s some ideas to get you 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.

 

Stars

It’s an obvious place to start, but decking your venue out with stars is going to look superb. Think of getting some paper stars or star lights to hang from the ceiling or over the dancefloor. Why not string them horizontally as a DIY photo or ceremony backdrop? 3D Stars that can stand on their own will look superb arranged on the tables as centrepieces interspersed with lanterns.

The Night Sky

Bring the night sky into your venue with lots and lots of fairylights and you’ve got it! Throw in a procession of tealights along hallways, hanging tea lights and lanterns to get that starry eyed feel. Don’t forget the moon too! Why not create a moon style backdrop for photos, invest in night sky coloured plates for table settings. And there a huge number of night sky and star related quotes that would be ideal for signage around the room.

 

Astrology and Astronomy

Why not name your tables after constellations or star signs? Use star charts for your table plan and or give each guest a custom horoscope or astrological themed item as their wedding favour or escort card. Bring your star signs or favourite constellations to life in your table centrepieces too.

 

Geode and Star Cakes

Geode cakes are a big trend right now and it’s not hard to see why, they are simply stunning. Chat to your cake maker about the sort of theme you are going for and the colours you’ll want to use. The main thing to keep in mind is that it should give off that textured geode feel. If that’s not your thing, then why not go for a high mirror shine on your cake to give it that unmistakable night sky look?

 

Images via Pinterest

 

Pink & Grey Wedding Theme

Pink and grey is a colour combination made in heaven. It’s a classic duo that has stood the test of time and works universally for all weddings, no matter what theme you are going for.

From blush pink shades to hotter pinks, to steel greys and lighter greys, there’s a whole host of variation to choose from within these two main colours.

The great thing about pink and grey, is that they are so versatile and can be brought into all aspects of the wedding, from the gents suits, to the bouquets, to the stationary to the room décor itself, the possibilities are endless. Plus because it’s a popular colour combination it should be relatively easy to find lots of fab décor to dress your room.

Here’s some visual inspiration for you. 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

Grey suits are a universally flattering choice for the groom and/or groomsmen. Pairing them with a pink tie is always a winner and if you’re not sure what to pick in terms of colours for the gents, then you can’t go wrong with this combo. Also it’s a colour that works well for bridesmaids, think blush pink gowns with grey florals or vice versa or try alternating colours in your gowns for an on trend contrast.  

 

 

Flowers

Again, there’s something so classically beautiful about pink and grey florals and they are colours that are generally speaking going to work with most dresses, suits and skin tones. You don’t have to stick with the lighter, blush tones of course. You can add in pops of hot pink and sharp steel grey too, or even succulents with shades of pink and grey to mix things up and give it a vibrant twist.

 

On The Table

Have fun with table cloths from steel grey to blush pink. Think oversized pom poms in a range of pinks alongside grey lanterns, pink ribbon, roses and don’t forget Mason jars sprayed in shades of the two colours. You could also extend the theme into your chairs, with sashes, or draping to add a show stopping finish.

 

 

The Cake

Marble and granite are two very on trend effects right now in terms of weddings and for this colour palette, it tends to work very well for cakes. Think pink layers, marble effect layers and playing around with textures from mirror shine, to buttercream to fondant icing, interspersed with touches of glitter here and there.

 

Images via Pinterest

Ultra Violet Pantone Colour of the Year

Ultra violet is the Pantone colour of the year for 2018 and it is truly stunning. Vivid, bright and eye-catching this is a colour you can really use to make your wedding pop. While it can be tempting to go all out, it does have the potential to overwhelm the look of your wedding, so when using it, use it carefully.

For example, think about using it for you bridesmaid dresses as a stunning counterpoint to your dress, but then don’t go for all out purple décor in your venue, instead add subtle pops here and there. Or use shades of ultra violet and purple instead of one big splash of colour.

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

Go for a few perfectly placed vivid ultra violet blooms interspersed with hits of blush and lots of greenery for a really on trend take that will look superb against the white or creams of the brides dress. Don’t forget things like Hydrangeas and of course Lavender. Be sure to match the buttonholes to the gent’s suits as say a light navy or blue might clash with the ultra violet. Experiment with succulents or even purple sprouting broccoli in your bouquets which look fantastic in purple shades with a hit of green.

 

 

Attire

Bridesmaids dresses in this vivid ultra violet shade provide a stunning contrast against the brides dress and will look incredible in the photos. If that seems a little OTT, then why not think about having the brides shoes in ultra violet for a pop of unexpected colour? Add a purple sash to your flower girls dresses. For the men, you could add some ultra violet ties, or even socks for another unexpected dash of colour.

 

Table and Room Décor

For a big hit of colour consider ultra violet table cloths. If that sounds a little too much then try napkins or glassware as a great focal point. Purple candles, florals and low level boxes filled with lavender or succulents will look stunning. Why not get DIY and paint some mason jars and fill with florals in shades of purple. Use purple coloured lighting in the room to set a stunning scene too and string purple pompoms or paper lanterns around the venue or over the dancefloor.

 

 

Food and Drink

Why not create some bespoke purple cocktails and lemonades for guests on arrival instead of traditional bubbles? Little touches like macaroons work so well in this colour palette too. When it comes to the main cake, the ever popular geode style cake trend was made for a hit of ultra violet! Think purple ombre buttercream finishes as well as tiers dressed with marbling and offset with vivid hits of full on purple.

 

Images via pinterest 

Edible Wedding Favours

Having a wedding favour for each guest is not only a lovely surprise for your family and friends, but it also allows you to channel your creative side. Try and pick an item that fits in with your overall theme if you can and something you know your guests will enjoy.

Sometimes it can be hard to pick something that’s going to appeal to both men and women and to all ages. So an edible favour is an obvious choice because it will delight everyone universally.

There’s a huge scope of options when it comes to this choice, you could go for something as simple as a single chocolate, up to elaborate items like homemade jams or mini cakes.

Try and find something that’s going to fit in with your overall budget and will be appealing to everyone.

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.

 

Sweet Treats

It’s a safe bet that most people love a sweet treat. Weddings can be very long days for guests, if they’ve had to get up early, make a long journey etc, they may not have eaten properly for hours and would like nothing more than a treat to whet their appetite before the meal. Think about everything from a single macaroon, to an iced cookie, mini cake, donuts.

 

Savoury

Cheese is a great choice, especially if the couple are big cheese lovers but don’t want to go all out on a cheese wedding cake. Think about some mini varieties of your favourites parcelled up with crackers and even a personalised mini cheese knife. Or what about a single piece of sushi or bento box? Chutneys are also a good choice, as are some mini loaves or artisan styles of bread packaged in personalised paper bags. And the piece de resistance has to be Tayto crisps and bread which guest can keep for their midnight snack.

 

Personalised

Any kind of edible favour will be even more appreciate if you can personalise it. It will of course take a little extra time and effort but if you can afford do to it, it’s really worth it. You can put each guests name on the item, or perhaps find out their favourite flavour of whatever you are offering – be in a cake, macaroon, cookie, jam or drink.

 

DIY

If you’re a dab hand and making things at home, then this is the perfect time to flex those muscles for good. Think about making things like Jam or honey in personalised jars. What about whipping up some Sloe Gin, flavoured vodka, or homebrew? Or why not let the guests get in on the DIY action with some jars filled with hot chocolate or cookie mix?

 

Images via Pinterest 

 

Marble Wedding Theme

If you’re looking for an ultra-cool, right on-trend theme for your wedding day, then the marble effect is for you. Think minimalist, clean lines with subtle colour palettes and you’ve got it. Marbling is a great way to add texture and works incredibly well with greys, light pinks, crisp whites and greenery for a really modern touch to your wedding décor.
Of course you don’t have to stick to the rule book when it comes to this trend. Indeed, marbling doesn’t have to be confined to muted tones of grey. Remember those fun oil marbling effect paintings most of us did in school? Well keep that in mind when it comes to marbling embellishments and why not expand the colour palettes to include anything from pastels, to brights and bolds.
If you’d like to chat about this or any other aspect of your wedding day décor and planning, then please don’t hesitate to email me directly.

 

Stationary and Signage
Marbling works so well for invites and save the dates so have a look at the designs that are out there. A marbled menu on each place setting will also add visual texture to your tables. Also think about having some strategic signage throughout the day too. And they don’t have to be made out of marble, regular card printed with marbling effect will work just as well.

 

Finishing Touches
Think marbled table runners, dishes or napkins. Why not use some marbled ribbon wound around candles or lanterns, or why not just go for a few marbled accents such as balloons or aisle runners? Or instead of the traditional guest book, why not get a customised piece of marble for guests to sign? It can become a bespoke piece of art for your home afterwards.

 

Favours
Cakepops or cookies covered in swirls of chocolate will look stunning or why not get creative and make some homemade soap with marbling effect? Marble coasters with guest’s names can easily double as favours and escort cards and they don’t have to be made out of real marble either, regular card with a marble effect printed on it will look just as good. Or what about regular place cards sitting in marble stones?

 

Cakes
Your wedding cake is a great way to channel your theme and marbling is one of the hottest cake trends of recent times and it’s not hard to see why. From greys, to pinks and beyond, using marbling turns your wedding cake into a beautiful piece of art you almost won’t want to cut it will look so good.

 

 

Lavender Wedding Theme

Nothing shouts summer quite like the incredible scent and look of fresh lavender. Images of the south of France and sunny fields packed with the vibrant purple plant come to mind. It’s a beautiful theme to have for your wedding day and can work on so many levels, from incorporating the flowers themselves into the bouquets and buttonholes, but beyond that you can bring the lavender theme right through into your table décor, favours and even the food.

It’s also a quite economical theme to go for and once you settle on the lavender colour scheme, you’ll find there are so many ways to add in little accents to the day. The theme tends to work really well with country style, French or rustic style wedding themes, but you can also easily make lavender work for a more formal affair too.

To chat about this or any aspect of your wedding planning, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

 

Table Décor
From a simple bunch of lavender in a mason jar, to rustic style wooden crates or window style boxes filled with the vibrant purple flower, there are so many ways to use lavender in your centrepieces. Burlap and gypsophila are natural friends of lavender so don’t be afraid to pair these up for great effect. For something different why not get creative and make some DIY centrepieces using old jars and bottles filled with lavender, or use some twine to wrap springs of lavender around a candle for a stunning yet simple effect. Alternatively fill some mason or antique style jars with lavender and place candles in the centre.

 

Favours
You can really go to town with lavender favours for guests and if you’re a DIY lover then there’s lots of ways you can get your craft on. One simple way to have a lavender favour is to offer your guests some cutely presented mini pots of lavender or seeds which they can plant. Lavender soap tied in burlap is a beautiful idea as is vials of lavender oil for sleeping or a jar of lavender bath salts.

 

Buttonholes and Bouquets
Lavender is the sort of flower that you can easily pair with lots of other blooms such as white roses, or indeed it works incredibly well on its own. The delicious scent and the beautiful colour works perfectly against a wedding dress and really well with a grey or navy suit for the gents.

 

Food
Lavender can really inject the wow factor if you decide to use it in some of your food. Think about having some lavender cordial or lemonade for your guests when they arrive the reception. Purple macaroons and cocktails will go down a treat with everyone and of course let’s not forget the cake! Think purple icing in various shades, or even an ombre effect, as well as purple cake pops with sprinkles of candied lavender on top.

 

 

Wedding Cake Alternatives

For the likes of many of our parent’s generations, wedding cake was almost always a fruit cake. Over the years things have moved on with more variety being introduced, culminating with the popularity of the chocolate biscuit cake in the late 90s and noughties. Today, we’ve seen a massive shift in what can be considered a wedding cake. It’s not just the variety of the fillings which are now featuring everything from red velvet to chocolate fudge! Instead, couples are now thinking bigger and wider than ever before and going for unusual options that aren’t even in the strictest sense of the word ‘cakes’. Everything from doughnut towers, to macaroons, to even savoury options like cheese and how could we forget the meteoric rise of the tasty cakepop?

The wonderful thing about your wedding day though, is that it is YOUR day and you don’t have to be bound by convention. If you want to have a tower of profiteroles as your wedding cake, then do it! The only limit is your imagination. As an award-winning wedding planner, I’ve helped lots of couples plan the day of their dreams and I’ve seen some truly stunning wedding cake alternatives. Here’s just a few ideas to whet your appetite. In the meantime, if you’d like to discuss your wedding day plans then please get in touch.

 

Variations on the Cake
There’s so many ways to pay homage to a traditional cake, but in a very modern and unique way. Cakepops have undoubtedly become one of the most popular choices in the last few years, however cupcakes are another tried and tested alternative. Don’t forget the likes of mini cakes, muffins, fairy cakes and even whoopie pies!

 

Sweet Tables
If you and your husband or wife to be have a major sweet tooth, then why limit yourself to just one wedding cake? Many couples are now shunning the idea in favour of a sweet table packed with a variety of mini cakes and desserts to feast on!

 

Sweet But Not Cake
So you may still love something sweet, but you’re not keen on a whole cake. Thankfully there are so many wonderfully creative ideas to choose from. Think about doughnuts, cronuts, macaroons, pancakes, rice krispie cakes and even profiteroles. The sky is the limit here.

 

Savoury
Not every couple has a sweet tooth and if you and your husband or wife to be aren’t keen on cakes or desserts, then there’s no reason why you can’t go for something savoury instead! Indeed, the ‘cheese-cake’ has become quite popular in recent times. Think of beautiful cheese towers decorated with flowers or fruits, full of tiers of your favourites, or indeed why not go for a huge wheel of you most loved cheese, such as brie. Also why not think about having savoury pie towers or if you are a sushi fiend then why not go for a pretty sushi tower?