Posts Tagged ‘Unique’
July 21st, 2010 | 
Author: Wedding Reception Planning:
Celebrate your wedding in your own unique style!
Every bride dreams of having a special wedding celebration, it’s the definition of special that may vary from bride to bride. When I got married I knew that I wanted the atmosphere and décor to be a reflection of my own personal style. The big challenge for me was; what was my personal wedding style? Sure, I knew my colors, chocolate brown and scarlet red, two sensuous shades that have always spoken to me. And I was also confident that I wanted our wedding to be a really fun and fabulous night for everyone in general. Now, I know that you are probably thinking, “Who doesn’t want their wedding to be fun?” but what I mean more specifically by a fun and fabulous night is that I wanted our guests to experience that awesome, magical kind of fun that you can’t plan on just any old night out. It was important to me that instead of memories of me cutting a cake, tossing a bouquet and otherwise basking in the spotlight, our guests left with memories of dancing to their favorite music, enjoying delicious and unusual delicacies and reconnecting with old friends and family. I had little other wedding planning ideas past these, but these I was sure of.
I was a very fortunate bride-to- be in that I have experience in event planning, not tremendous experience, but enough to feel that I was starting this process with an advantage. And unique to many other brides, without panic. So I carefully and thoughtfully began, step by step, to formulate the decisions that would define the atmosphere and décor of our wedding in a way that would help it to stand out among the typical cookie cutter wedding reception that we have all come to tire of. I would love to share some of my tips, techniques and advice that allowed me to plan and execute the wedding of my dreams and even enjoy doing so!
#1 Tear Sheets
Congrats! You are engaged! Now run immediately to your favorite newsstand and buy every bridal magazine! WAIT! There are so many more resources out there than every bridal magazine. I suggest buying two bridal mags to get a read on what the trends are in the wedding industry. Are brides going for traditional gowns? What are your contemporaries doing for favors? Find the look of invitation that most catches your fancy. Scour the two magazines you choose for whatever peeks your interest and then tear, tear, tear! Move on then to the interior decorating magazine you picked up with your latest issues of “Modern Engaged Bride-to-be”. And then pour through an issue of “Real Simple” or “Fine Cooking”. These are magazines dedicated to the finer aspects of living and celebrating life and they offer great insight into chic and distinctive ways of hosting a spectacular event. Lastly go through your favorite home catalogues, mine is Crate & Barrel. Tear out the pictures and advice that speak to you and along with the pages that you favored from the bridal mags and lifestyle publications begin a wedding production binder. Spend some time with these images and ideas, envision how you could incorporate them into your ceremony and reception and give yourself a little time to think on it! Before you realize it, your style will begin to rise to the surface.
#2 Book your locations
While you are mulling the images and ideas over and over in your mind, begin making appointments with ceremony and reception locations. While you factor in cost, layout, capacity and availability, keep in mind the mold-ability of the location and how you could incorporate your pages from your production book. Is there a great built in fireplace that you could fill with candles? Is the décor shabby-chic just like your favorite catalogue? Are the draperies inspired by your favorite destination? Make mental notes of the design influences in the space you are checking out, you may be able to play off of those features in a way that makes HUGE impact! Once you find your locations, the remaining decision fall into place much more easily.
#3 Invitations & Dress
Not many wedding planners would likely group together two such major event aspects like stationary and wardrobe, but for style purposes – they work well together. Keep in mind that both areas will complement the style of your wedding but are typically considered separate areas of the event. Well, they are and they’re not. For one, the invitation and dress set the tone of the event. By choosing the best wedding stationary and wedding gown, you can bring together all of the aspects of your wedding style that you have selected. If your décor is a sleek and modern white wedding staged outside under a tent of glowing Chinese lanterns, your perfect invitation, menu and escort card could be printed on delicate rice paper featuring the Chinese ideogram for love. Your ideal dress may be a gauzy and simple boat necked gown cinched sharply and intentionally at the waist with a silk obi. This complete look, preceded by the invite and completed by the décor, harmonizing food and drink and capped off with arrangements of cherry blossoms and votives, will be breathtaking! Pulling off your wedding style is as simple as minding your details and keeping in mind that every decision is an opportunity to make a statement.
#4 Food, Drink, Tunes & Favors
The final details to incorporate into your fabulous event are the guest’s favorite! Perhaps you have chosen a location at a beach club. Your stationary could feature a save the date “flip flop”, a lobster embossed engraved invitation and escort cards of painted seashells. Your dress is a simple silk bias cut sheath, with a gorgeous cowl neck accented with a designer flat thong. Imagine your guests enticed by the scents of lobster hors devours wafting though the air and the whimsical sounds of a steel drum band. You could have your signature “beachcomber” cocktail passed on trays with mini umbrellas in them! This is the making of a memorable event! As your loved ones depart they can take with them his and hers flip flops in the colors of your wedding, wrapped in a beach towel monogrammed with your wedding date and a message of thanks! The trick to adding the best details to any event is to ignore the pressure to make a decision and think of a natural choice. Sure, the websites and magazine might suggest favors for a wedding being hosted at a country club, but those favors wouldn’t incorporate the feel of your event. Use your imagination. If you decide that you would rather have centerpieces of hurricane vases filled with shells and candles rather than flowers than you can make it happen! Shells and candles are easily obtainable at craft stores such as Michaels. Another cute centerpiece idea for a beach wedding is a aluminum sand pail with shovels filled to the brim with garden roses according to your colors. What an impression you would make!
I hope my approach to wedding planning has given you a decent jumping off point. There are a few more areas to tackle, like wedding party plans and transportation… Look for my next article dedicated to bridesmaids, groomsmen and carting them around. There I broach the subjects of shopping for flattering dresses in bulk and censoring the Best Man’s toast!
Good luck, enjoy and follow your heart. It will lead you right to your style!
By: Ellen Preimesberger
http://www.TheWeddingColony.com
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Today’s weddings are all about options that reflect your personalities and style. Here is a list of top picks for non-traditional or unexpected wedding ideas to incorporate into every aspect of your big day.
Ceremony Ideas
1) Location –
If you don’t host your ceremony in a house of worship or in the same location as your reception, you can get creative with your ceremony location and exchange vows at sunrise on the beach or at sunset from the rooftop of the tallest building in your metropolitan area. Get more ideas for unique ceremony sites.
2) Refreshments –
Use the season or your location as an opportunity to greet guests with a refreshing drink. Lemonade and sweet tea will quench your guests’ thirst while gathering in the blazing sun, or serve hot apple cider to warm your guests during chiller months.
3) Grand Entrance –
Make your entrance especially grand by being escorted by your pet dog or by arriving on a white horse.
4) Vows and Readings –
Not a new concept, but speaking from the heart by writing your own wedding vows or incorporating personalized poems and weddings readings into your ceremony will surely grab the attention of your guests.
Flowers & Decor Ideas
5) Color Scheme –
Try pairing a few uncommon colors together or featuring varying shades of the same color throughout your space.
6) The Food Pyramid –
Fill cylindrical glass vases with fruits and vegetables reflecting your colors. Oranges, lemons, and limes have been done so try a unique, more contemporary look with mangos or coconuts or tie it to the season with texture-rich earthy vegetables like husked corn, acorn squash, or artichokes.
7) Au Natural –
Consult Mother Nature for inspiration, and bring the outdoors in. Natural objects like stones, leaves, pinecones, even twigs can add an organic aesthetic to your reception décor. Place in rustic containers or scatter amongst pillar candles for added ambiance.
Lighten Up –
Floating candles in a shallow bowl adds lighting and elegance to your tabletops. Or arrange multi-level candles on a mosaic of mirrors or tiles and surround them with seashells or flower petals. Placing coffee beans or red hot candies at the bottom of a vase or bowl to hold the candles steady also adds an aromatic effect.
9) Consult your Inner Child –
For the kid at heart, fill decorative bowls with your favorite candies – such as jellybeans and M&M’s – in your wedding colors.
Find even more inspiring ideas for unique wedding decorations in this complete guide to wedding flowers.
Entertainment Ideas
10) Ceremony Music –
If “Here Comes the Bride” doesn’t suit your style or personality, choose a song that does. There is no written rule that states you can’t make your grand entrance to a rendition of your favorite Beastie Boys’ song.
11) Non-traditional Instruments –
If you desire live music over a DJ, consider tying your musician selection to the theme or location of your event. A beachside bash naturally lends itself to the sound of steel drums, while a trumpet quartet will sound impressive in an elaborate cathedral.
12) Themed Music –
Take it one step further and zone in on the music that is indigenous to your wedding location. Guests attending a Mardi Gras-themed event in New Orleans will bask in a cocktail hour of Dixieland jazz.
13) DJ and a Band –
Can’t decide which you would rather have? Have both to ensure that all types of music are represented throughout your day to please both your 85-year-old grandmother and your 21-year-old cousin.
Photography Ideas
14) Photojournalism
More and more brides are leaning toward hiring a photographer who specialized in a photojournalistic style. These photographers shy away from posed shots and aim to capture all of the candid moments that you’ll always want to remember or may have never seen.
15) Creative Shots
Hire your photographer to follow you throughout your entire day (leading up to the “Do Not Disturb” sign, of course). While it may make you feel anxious to have someone photograph you as you get ready, these shots will help you to remember the joy and anticipation of every part of your big day.
Cake Ideas
16) Minimal Adornments –
Some brides believe in the “less is more” adage. A simple cake minimally ornamented can make a bold statement.
17) Square Tiers –
Looking for a subtle way to break away from the ordinary? Square tiers make a modern presentation. Whoever said “it’s hip to be square” must have been in the cake business.
18) Cake-free –
If cake isn’t your favorite dessert, then don’t feel the need to serve it to your guests. Apple crisp, peach cobbler, pumpkin pie, cupcakes, or even glazed doughnuts are a hit at the dessert table.
19) Sugar-free –
The end-of-meal offering doesn’t have to be made of flour and frosting. Think savory instead, and visit your local cheese shop to have them construct wheels of cheese in tiers and stacked to look like traditional wedding cake.
Attire Ideas
20) Wardrobe Change –
Today’s brides are opting to wear not one dress, but two! Wear an elegant gown while you exchange vows, then slip into something a little more comfortable to round out the evening.
21) Anything but White –
A white wedding dress symbolizes innocence and purity, but if that’s not your style, feel free to bring out your colorful personality by adding a splash of color to your attire. You can be as subtle as a colored sash and jewels or as bold as a fuchsia-colored dress.
22) Something Borrowed –
Anything retro screams chic these days. So why not consider donning your mother’s vintage gown as a tribute to a family legacy. A few alterations can make it your own.
Stationery Ideas –
23) Ethnicity –
If your heritage is important for you to represent on your big day, do some research and find a stationer who offers multi-cultural invitations and announcements.
24) Creative Touch –
For more intimate, casual gatherings, request the honor of your guests’ presence in an innovative and entertaining way. Here’s an idea – have your invite printed on a balloon so guests have to blow them up to receive the message.
25) Programs –
Do something a little different with your programs by including personal photos or by printing them on something that serves a dual purpose – like a fan.
26) Storybook –
Get the most bang for your program buck by including stories of how the two of you met, who introduced you, and your relationship to everyone in the bridal party. Think of all the time you’ll save by not having to explain all of this to your husband’s childhood neighbor during the reception!
Transportation Ideas
27) Grand Entrance –
If the size of your bridal party doesn’t warrant a stretch limousine, consider arriving on horseback, on the back of your husband’s motorcycle, or in the passenger’s seat of your dad’s antique car.
Get even more creative wedding ideas at Elegala.com – Elegant Galas Made Simple
Body Your wedding flowers offer ample opportunity to stretch your creative muscles and add a bit of originality to your wedding day, so don’t be afraid to design a floral scheme that bucks tradition. This list of favorite ideas for bridal bouquets, centerpieces, colors and other decorations is a great place to start designing a memorable decor scheme, and these may even inspire your own creations.
Play with Shape
Arrangements with a just-picked, unstructured look are replacing the tightly-bound bouquet and centerpiece shapes of previous seasons. Ensure a modern, not messy, look by choosing the right flowers. Hearty blooms like lilies, orchids, and amaranthus work well in looser arrangements because of the sleek shape of the individual blooms. Also consider incorporating nonfloral elements like feathers, berries, and crystals to add interest and depth and interest.
Get Into Navy
Sophisticated and classic navy is one of the hottest colors on the 2009 wedding palette, and many brides are daring to think beyond basic baby blue by incorporating the darker shade into their floral schemes. Naturally navy flowers may be hard to come by, but there are some options that are a close match: deep blue violets, thistles, and hydrangea are available in various shades of blue and indigo, while roses are a versatile bloom that can be dyed any color – including navy blue. Pair these bold navy blooms with white or ivory for a classic look, or yellow for a bright burst of color.
Think Beyond the Vase
Options abound beyond the basic floral vase for holding your flowers. Consider instead mixing and matching clusters of unique containers like wood buckets, mason jars, cans, pitchers, antique urns and uniquely shaped vases to add interest and reflect your wedding theme. Some ideas: Fill watering cans with wild flowers for a garden fete, or use apothecary jars filled with sand and sea glass to complement to a waterfront wedding.
Lighten Up
Candles, always a popular choice for centerpieces, are becoming even more popular as a budget and eco-friendly enhancement to traditional floral centerpieces. Ample candlelight lends the day a romantic, organic feel, while the natural resource saves electricity and drapes the setting with an intimate glow. Another way to enhance your arrangements with lighting and really make your centerpieces pop is through a technique called pinspotting. This advanced light design shines tiny beams of light from the ceiling to illuminate the center of each arrangement.
Get Stoned
Say good-bye to light pastels and muted shades, and seek inspiration from the baubles on your ears and wrist. Rich gemstone colors like amethyst, turquoise, and amber are hot on this year’s wedding color palette. Accent these rich colors with soft sandy tones or grays instead of chocolate brown (so last year!)
Go Green
Going green is easy when it comes to wedding flowers. Consult Mother Nature for inspiration and bring the outdoors in. Natural objects like stones, leaves, pinecones, even twigs can add an organic aesthetic to your reception décor. Place in rustic containers or scatter amongst pillar candles for added ambiance.
Make it Personal
Further seeking to personalize their weddings, brides are using their wedding flowers to call out specific interests by incorporating unique items into bouquets and centerpieces and creating a conversation piece for guests. For instance, book worms can use intricately piled leather-bound books in place of floral centerpieces, and wine lovers can use wine bottles and decanters as centerpiece holders.
Get even more unique wedding ideas for flowers in this complete wedding flowers resource.
Small gifts offered to guests attending your marriage known as wedding favors not only share your thought and ideas among guests but also are innovated idea of giving thanks to your guests. Wedding favors give you and your spouse immense satisfaction to give something back to your guests as a token of appreciation.
The carefully innovated ideas can be reproduced at your wedding to avoid wasteful favors. Wedding favors should be decorated at each table. The idea of putting a printed guest name and table number on place cards and wrapping with your favor will really surprise the guests. Some of the following wedding favors are suitable for summer theme wedding.
• Fresh fruit or lemonade should be served to the guest especially during summer to keep them cool.
• During summer beach marriages are most popular. The decoration of table and providing a beautiful beach chair will impress the guests. If mini glass lantern are provided in the lawn, it will boost the look and will provide a romantic feeling during peak summer evening.
• You should select the seasonal colors such as purple, yellow, bright pink and blue. Pastel colors cal also add a flavor to the summer wedding.
• Leather Photo Frame: An excellent and unique favor to the guests should be provided at the guest table. A photo of your engagement, if provided will really impress the guests.
• Coffee cup mini candle: These are the small candles in designer cups, when lit give the aroma of coffee and these cups are available in the market with a thank you tag. You may also give special orders to design the label or tag as per your wish. These are unique and useful.
• Ice cream scoop wedding favors: These ice cream scoop-wedding favors are available in the markets. These are sometimes specially designed as per your need and are made available to you. Most common are silver-plated.
• Seashell candle wedding flavors: These are the most unique and most perfect for beach marriages. This will remind your guest the depth of sea and aroma of sea.
• Heart shaped cup wedding favors: These cups looks nice and are able to tempt your guest in romantic moods. These cups are provided in beautiful packing and printed tags can also be provided as per your choice.
• Heart shaped key ring: These are the beautiful key chains and reminds your guests your hearts all the time they use these key chains. These chains if personalized with engraved features supplied by you will really look unique.
• Long stem rose candle: These are the long stem roses candles packed in cylindrical boxes, if decorated at the table will enhance the look and beauty of the table and surrounding. These are available in the market and come in various colors.
• Sandalwood fan for wedding favors: These are suitable for summer wedding parties. These wedding favors are hand made and release the beautiful fragrance of sandalwood when waved. These are ideal for outdoor summer marriages and the ladies guests will like these wedding favors.
• Bottle Opener: Bottle openers are required as and when there is a need to drink. Bottle openers available in beautiful designs and sometimes silver plated are good wedding favors to offer to the guests.
• Porcelain Vase: These vases are available in elegant and beautiful styles. You can decorate these vases with the flowers of your choice. You can also personalize these vases with beautiful tags. These are still the best wedding favors.
With so many weddings to attend over a lifetime, when it’s your turn to get married the desire to create unique experience for you and your guests can be strong –you want people to remember your special day, and to take home a wedding favor that is unique and special.
More and more brides recognize that wedding favors can be special and beautiful AND enjoyed by guests in their own homes (as opposed to being either disposable or something which will gather dust on some upper shelf…).
Here are seven ideas you may not have thought of:
Beautiful pens engraved with your wedding date or a special message, such as ‘Love is Forever.’ This allows for a unique and special as well as useful present that people will appreciate in the years to come, and won’t get lost or forgotten.
Potted flowers and plants: Give the gift of fresh greenery and flowers. Not only will your wedding be extra beautiful because of all the foliage, each guest will have something beautiful and practical to take home and decorate with, and remember your day fondly. Simple cream vases with flowers in them. Rather than having something that matches your wedding colors, you may consider having a neutral, classic vase or container that will complement every guest’s home, so they can enjoy the flowers you send with them as well as their own selections in years to come. Beautiful paper: Many stationery stores will carry a lovely selection of unique and beautiful paper gift sets. Rather than having your own names engraved on them (because then no one would be able to use them!), a beautifully boxed sheaf of pretty paper speaks for itself and will be remembered as a special and unique wedding favor. Hurricane vases with a candle: You may have seen this before but it’s such a classy and beautiful gift that it warrants being on this list. One chunky candle that matches your wedding colors in a glass vase makes a simple and elegant favour for your guests. Later they can replace the candle, add river rocks, or decorate with it as they see fit, because the vase is simple and will match anyone’s décor. A ringholder, tray or little jewellery case, if simple and classic, can be a nice addition to anyone’s bedroom dresser, and is something people would not usually buy for themselves. A book, perhaps one about love or a historical book about your city. A quality book is something people will keep and enjoy for years to come and is definitely a unique and special favor they will remember you for.