No open flames! What about ambience?

Many ceremony and reception venues have begun terminating the use of open flame candles during events as they cause increased fire risk to the surrounds. Most venues that allow candles have some restrictions, such as they must be placed on a glass plate, must be in a candle holder so main flame is not exposed, and the like. But if you are like so many Brides where candles are off limits, you're left wondering how to create that warm candle like glow.

Well, if we can't use candles were left to some type of light, whether it's plugged in or operated by battery. Small operated tea light candles have exploded on to the scene and look great through soft colored glass, fabric or paint. These candles are much more expensive than traditional tea light candles, but really can look great. To enhance the glow they do provide, make sure to use reflective surfaces, like mirrors and shiny metal.

Another great battery operated option is the colored submersible light. You place these battery operated lights at the bottom of a vase full of water and they will cast a wonderful glow. They are designed to with stand the water and come in a variety of colors. They are a little more money, but use a few of them throughout the room for maximum impact.

In other cases, you just need more light. So on to plug in lights we go. The most common plug in light to use is a spot light. This light works really well when trying to set off a single element in the room (such as a tree, sculpture, a canopy, etc) They are relatively inexpensive for the pop they provide and you can use colored flood or spot lights to enhance the mood.

The other most common use light in weddings is the white twinkle light and rope lights. These are just like the ones you put on your Christmas tree only the cord is white instead of green. But you can use either. These lights work well hung in tulle, along a staircase, table or hanging from the ceiling. They come in various lengths and are widely available. Just make sure you spring the couple of extra dollars for the end to end lights. This way if one bulb goes out, half the strand won't go out.

Tell us if your ceremony and reception venue allow open flames and if not, what you are planning to do.

Mom! What are you wearing!?

As a Bride, you work hard to create and orchestrate the wedding of your dreams. You diligently select items in your color scheme. You spend hours toiling over bridesmaid gown styles. You work long hours putting together favors and spend forever reading wedding magazines for just the right elements to create your perfect look. When your Mom, or maybe his, tells you she's wearing a red floral print dress to the wedding.

Wait a minute. Hold the phones. She's wearing what? Normally, you might be thinking, "what's wrong with this dress? It sounds nice." Well, maybe...if the wedding colors weren't chocolate and sage with pink accents. Ahhhh. See what I mean.

Now, I will tell you that the selection of Mother of Bride/Groom dresses out there is not great and in my opinion overpriced. The trouble is that formal dresses tend to be designed for a younger generation or for your grandmother. (Don't take offense. My grandmother is 86 and needs something with length, sleeves and a jacket.) But Mom wants something flattering, comfortable and stylish. She doesn't want spaghetti straps, large slits and knee length. I suggest sticking to the department stores around the New Years and Easter holiday for the best selection and pricing.

Anyway, back to my original point. You've taken some much time and energy to create the right look don't forget about Mom(s). You have to remember to think about what your wedding pictures will look like when everyone is together. So, who do you think will stand out in this picture?

You don't want Mom(s) to perfectly match the bridesmaids and you don't want to have to pick out the gown either. So what should you do? I suggest that you give the Mom(s) parameters by selecting a similar color, but in a different shade or hue. For example, in the described scenario of chocolate, sage and accent of pink I would suggest a dress in an olive, cocoa, or rich khaki color. And to make sure your version of olive is there's give them a paint swatch for guidance. You'll be much happier if you do.

Share your Mother dress dilemmas with us.




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Don't Sweat the Small Stuff!!

Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, with thousands of details and decisions. Think of your wedding as a well orchestrated play that you have to get right for opening night. The only catch...you only get one shot at it.

As the bride you will be bombarded with advice, suggestions, options, and decisions. You'll have family members and close friends be most helpful and most impossible. It's no wonder that some weddings can create the "Bridezillas" we hear about, but at a minimum they can cause the stress level in your life to skyrocket. Unless,....you don't let it.

So, I am hear to say,"Don't Sweat the small stuff."

First of all, no one (other than you, your Mom and/or your wedding planner) will know about every detail of your event, and therefore, won't notice if one of those details is wrong. Secondly, people have really bad memories and in less than 3 months will forget most of the details of your event. Such as, your wedding colors, how many bridesmaid you had, what they bought you as a gift, and more. Crazy, right!? But it's true. Generally, people will remember if the food was good or bad, some major catastrophe (like a fight, fainting, or horrible weather) and if they had an overall good time.

So, pick what's really important to you and work on those details, and be flexible on the others. Have trust in the people around you helping you. Make sure to take time off from your planning and keep organized. You should enjoy this time in your life...not be so stressed out that you don't.
If you are struggling with all the details or have a story to share with us, we'd love to hear from you.




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Tabletop Decor

Setting the table has never been more important than at your wedding. With the majority of your event being celebrated at the reception, you really want show off your style. Decorating the table doesn't have to be costly. In fact, the most stunning and memorable tablescapes are the ones with the most creativity.

When creating a tablescape design you need to keep in mind your overall wedding color scheme rules. (A light color, a dark color, a medium color and an accent). Then the rest is about layering the colors.

There are several elements you can use when setting the table.

• Linens - There is a wide selection of fabrics available in a wide range of colors. You can opt for a tablecloth, an overlay or a napkin.
• Dishes - Dishes can come in a variety of shapes, sizes, patterns and colors. They can be costly, but can also make or break the appearance of the meal. However, keep in mind if you are having a plated dinner, then dishes won't be on the table until the meal is served. So a better option may be a charge or placemat.
  
• Chargers & Placemats - These elements can really set off a plain white or ivory plate and works well if you have selected a colored linen or overlay. The charger or placemat will layer in another color from your color palette, while adding another shape and texture it the overall table.
  
• Glasses - Colored glass can be a stunning addition to the table. Again, they are usually available in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors.
  
• Centerpieces - Consider the centerpiece to be an accessory to the overall table top design. It can be a single color of the wedding palette or a combination. Centerpiece can be low to the table or very tall. Centerpieces may be floral, art, candles, fruit, etc and will range in price. Mixing heights and shapes can really add a designer look to any event.
  
• Accessories - Accessories for the table include silverware, napkin rings, menu cards, condiment dishes, etc. Most tabletop designers consider these elements as the table jewelry. Any one of these elements may be added or none of them.
  

Now that you know your options, how do you select the right ones? Well, there is no wrong way. Adding all these options may be costly if you are renting them from the banquet hall or rental company. Costs will also go up based on the number of guests attending the event. But, don't despair, there are ways to have a grand table on a budget.

1. Go for color and drama. Select a bold color linen and centerpiece. (Don't forget to mix and match heights)
   
2. Create your own menu cards and add a single silk bloom to the center of the plate.
   
3. Have the napkin folded in a unique way. Most banquet halls can fold the napkin in several ways and will do so at no additional cost to you.
   

Hopefully, you will be able to create the perfect table for your event. Tell us what you plan on doing and the great finds you discover.




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The Bridal Bubble

I was on the phone the other day with my best friend and we got to reminiscing about our weddings. It began with a reference to sitting at the head table, when you first arrive at the reception, only to realize as you look out into the room everyone is staring back at you.

What's weird about it, is that people really don't approach you unless you tell them it's okay. You'll have people sneak away to return home and not say goodbye, because you were busy and we didn't want to interrupt.

We laughed on the phone about this. I have come to call it...the bridal bubble. It a great phenomena that only occurs to a bride on her wedding day. You can't see it, only feel it. Like it's some invisible forcefield protecting you. Now, if you're a person who doesn't like all the attention then the bubble can be a stressful place. And for all of you who enjoy being the center of attention...live it up, it's a limit time offer.

Think of this bubble like a gift from a fairy godmother who has transformed you into a royal princess. You control the whim of everyone around you with the flick of a wrist or a wave of your hand. Anything thing you need or desire, miraculously appears before you or someone has quickly gone to retrieve it.

It's amazing and wonderful. Being waited on..hand-and-foot, for every moment of the best day of your life. I only wish, from time to time, I could wave my hand and be a princess again.

If you have experienced the bridal bubble phenomena, please share it with us.




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When Size Really Does Matter

I will be the first to admit that I am sensitive about my weight and my height, and I am sure that there are many other brides who are the same. However, these factors do come into play when selecting a wedding gown and your bouquet. I am not going to go into all the deals of how the affect selecting a wedding gown because I touched on these factors in the entry "What ever happened to sleeves?"

Size also plays in as a factor when selecting a bouquet. If you are tall and thin then your bouquet should be longer and narrower, regardless of the design. I wouldn't suggest a pomander or anything under 10"L.

If you are like me, shorter and larger, then anything under 6" in diameter will look like a child's bouquet. Consider sizes that are 8-12" in diameter or width and approximately 10" Long for hand tied bouquets and not more than 16" long for cascading bouquets.

The big emphasis here is proportion. You want your bouquet to proportionate to your body and therefore an accent to your wedding day look. A good wedding floral professional will take your shape, height and weight into consideration. Is they don't make sure to give them as much detail as possible. (This is no time to be shy.) If you are not sure what style will work best for you, ask to hold up some bouquets in various shapes and sizes to make the determination, or ask the floral professional to measure out the bouquet sizes on your body.

Keep in mind, if you are purchasing fresh flowers, you only have one shot to get right. If you purchase silk flowers, adjustments can be made to make your bouquet perfect.

So remember, size really does matter...when it comes to your bouquet. If you have a bouquet size story, we want to hear from you.





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To Match or Not Match....Color Dilemma

Ladies, I understand the need, desire, and hope to color match every aspect of your wedding and for the most part, this is a good idea when trying to create a cohesive look. Yet, there are times when perfectly matching colors is not a good idea.

For example, your wedding flowers. Your wedding flowers should be in the same color family, only a lighter shade or a darker shade. Otherwise, if they match perfectly, they will completely disappear into your bridesmaid dresses and will not be seen in the wedding pictures. Why pay for flowers you can't see?

Like I always tell my clients, "Try to envision what your wedding pictures will look like when everyone in the bridal party is standing together".

Another place to be careful is on your reception tables or any other place where you will be layering the same color on top of one another. Instead, go with your accent color or your base color. So, if you have chosen a sage tablecloth, then make sure your plates are not sage. (White/Ivory with a sage pattern would be better) Then WOW them with the napkin in your accent color, ice blue.

As a general rule of thumb, when you are selecting a color palette, you want to choose 4 colors: a light, a dark, a medium, and an accent. Make sure you use your accent sparingly...but throughout your event.

I want to strongly encourage you not to get hung up on matching the color exactly. You will add unnecessary stress to your wedding planning and for no good reason. Colors will take on a different look, depending on the lighting, their texture, the company, when they were dyed, how long ago, have the been sitting in the sun, etc. With that number of variances, you can't possible control all of them at the same time.

As long as your colors are in the same family, just varying in shades, everything will look stunning and coordinate beautifully.

If you would like more help creating a color scheme for you wedding, check out this article: Schemes, Themes and Wedding Dreams.

Share your wedding color stories with us or if you are stuck trying to put all the colors together drop me a line at sales@bloomedtolast.com and I will be happy to provide you with coordinates/options.




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