Sep 23, 2010
In honor of last night’s Harvest Moon along with the fact that today is the first day of Fall, we are inspired by the change of season and are sharing some of our favorite seasonal wedding details for anyone contemplating an autumn wedding!
xxxx
Courtesy of: Catherine Hall Studios (left) & Dave Getzschman Photography (right) Photos from Merrily Wed Weddings
xxxx
Décor: Fall is a gorgeous time of the year, so embrace the beauty of the season. By selecting rich autumn colors for your wedding color palette, you instantly create a cozy and warm aura. Some of the colors we love for this time of year are burgundy, plum, chocolate brown, deep red, burnt orange, moss green and a golden yellow. Metallic accents of gold, bronze, or copper add a touch of richness and finish many looks perfectly.
The colors below in this stunning 2010 Merrily Wed wedding captures Fall’s essence.
xxxxx
Courtesy of: Lisa Leigh Photography - Photos from a Merrily Wed Wedding
xxx
Centerpiece: You have many colorful options for your centerpiece from traditional florals to objects from nature’s autumn harvest. Selecting one or even combining the looks will work and don’t forget to add texture! Several gorgeous natural choices for centerpieces include gourds, pumpkins, squash, pears, apples, cranberries, wheat, acorns, etc.
If you want a more traditional centerpiece you can use fall-toned flowers. Flowers that are great for Fall weddings include: hydrangeas, calla lilies, dahlias, mums, roses and sunflowers. For non-floral accents – hypericum berries, fiddlehead ferns and wooly lamb’s ear leaves (one of our estates grows these all summer long – they are sooooo soft!!).
xxxx
Courtesy of: T&J Studios, Bibiana Heymann and Lisa Leigh Photography
xxxx
Don’t forget about WHAT your arrangement may go in – choose copper tins, antique urns or wooden vessels of almost any shape. Potted plants in terra cotta containers – plain or embellished are another idea. Birch wrapped containers and moss accents work well too or if you opt for a clear vase, wrap the interior with leaves or twine; or place nuts or berries around the base of the stems to give more texture to your centerpiece. Include these details around your pillars and you have a fluid Fall look.
xxxx
- Design Trend: Monochromatic color palettes are very hot this Fall. Select 2-3 different types of flowers to add a little texture and visual interest.
xxxx
Wedding Cake: Carry over elements from your centerpiece to your wedding cake. Succulent plants and twigs are very stylish choice and add a natural touch. They also mix will with floral blooms – not only for your wedding cake but for your tablescape too! Other non-floral accents including miniature pine-cones can be matched with baby roses in seasonal colors.
xxxx
Right Cake from a Merrily Wed Wedding - Photo Courtesy of: Catherine Hall Studios (Right)
xxxxx
We are setting a bountiful table with scrumptious details for not only your eyes but for your taste buds too! Our Fall Inspiration Part II will be posting soon…
Sep 3, 2010
xxx
To trend away from the elaborate and sometimes expensive guest favor, here are a few practical, tasteful, and certainly yummy, edible ideas. We couldn’t help but turn to a few of our favorite things – food & drink!
xxx
Cupcake in a Jar:
This new twist on the “dessert in a jar” favor is not only beautiful BUT delicious too. We couldn’t resist and don’t think your guests will either. The cupcake in a jar makes it easy for your guests to take for later without squishing it but they probably aren’t going to go too far before indulging… These mini-desserts are baked in a variety of flavors and colors – more reasons to eat more than one!
Feeling DIY? Look at the tutorial from Cakies to see how these scrumptious favors are made.
xxxxx
Courtesy of: Cakies
xxxx
Personalized Treats:
There are many different sweets that can be personalized like these fun and quirky flavors of Jones sodas. Choose from a range of vibrant colors that they are offered in, they can match any wedding color scheme. The retro bottle can be personalized with pictures of you with your honey and given to your guests to enjoy, not only at the reception, but to take home with them (if they last!).
xxxx
Courtesy of: Erin Browne
xxxx
Chocolate Treats:
Ahhh chocolate – we must mention the huge-crowd-pleaser chocolate! From personalizing your favorite chocolate bar with a custom wrapper and message (we can spend hours choosing the right label) to a complete chocolate dessert bar, the options are endless here as well as the price. Use labels, font color and ribbon to compliment your décor perfectly and you will have not only a tasty but gorgeous display for your guests like this candy bar from one of our MW weddings.
xxxx
Merrily Wed Wedding - Photo Courtesy of Ben Chrisman Photography
xxxx
Fresh Fruit:
Using fresh fruit as your favor is not only beautiful but it is also a sustainable option. Besides being healthy and a “green” favor, fruit can serve many purposes at your reception from a decor accent to actually doubling as your escort card by attaching your guest’s name to each piece of fruit. The fruit you choose will ideally be locally grown, in season as well as compliment your color palette. The granny smith apples below went perfectly with the spring green and cream color scheme at this MW wedding.
xxxx
Merrily Wed Wedding - Photo Courtesy of Ben Chrisman Photography
xxx
Keep in mind what tempts your own taste buds when considering the perfect edible favor for your wedding. You will choose something that when all is said and done, your guests will love and leave with their bellies full!
Aug 24, 2010
The Champagne Cocktail is definitely the “IT” Signature Drink of this summer! At Merrily Wed, we would like to pay homage to champagne (by this we mean Champagne, Prosecco, Sparking Wine & Cava depending on which part of the world it came from) and all of the champagne cocktails we have cheered with this wedding season.
xxxx
Champagne mixed with anything from fruit to flowers to even more alcohol is filling the servers’ trays at many of our past lakeside receptions. This perfect cocktail canvas allows you to mix some interesting flavors as well as add colors from within your wedding palette by using dendrobium orchids, sprigs of lavender, cranberries, blueberries, peach puree’, Chambord, Midori and Crème de Menthe to name a few.
xxxx
For the finishing touch, don’t forget to rename your Champagne Cocktail to match your wedding destination or personality. Our personal favorite of the year was “The Claire Royal.”
Merrily Wed Wedding - Photo Courtesy of Kendall Price Photography
xxxxx
In addition to the classic Kir Royal, the brunch Mimosa and the perennial Italian favorite, the Bellini – which by the way just celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2008 – check out these romantically named Champagne Cocktails:
xxxx
Ritzy Raspberry Revelry
• 2/3 ounce raspberry infused vodka (or Stoli Raspberry as a short cut)
• Fill with champagne
• Garnish with a red rose…very romantic!
Merrily Wed Wedding - Photo Courtesy of Kendall Price Photography
xxxxx
Arise My Love
• 1 teaspoon of Crème de Menthe
• Fill with champagne or sparkling wine
xxxxx
This guy must have wanted to awake their love with a glass of bubbly and insure they had good breath?!
xx
xx
Midnight Kiss Cocktail
• Rim the edge of a wine glass with sugar
• 3/4 oz. well-chilled vodka
• Fill with champagne or sparkling wine
• Top with Blue Curacao….
xxxx
Sounds like a winner for a “Blue Tahoe” Drink…
Kendall Price Photography
xxxx
Chanel No. 6
• 1 ounce vodka
• 1 ounce Chambord
• 1 ounce chilled pineapple juice
• Fill with well-chilled champagne
• Garnish with fresh raspberry
xxxx
Remember, champagne is a celebration in a bottle, so be sure to raise your glass next time you indulge!
xxxxx
Aug 17, 2010
Color is an important aspect of the world we live in. The ones that you love and you choose to surround yourself with says something about your personality, your outlook and some can even affect you physically. Your color choices from the paint on your walls, to the clothes you are wearing today and to the linen and flowers at your wedding all give a glimpse into the inner you! Everyone has a favorite color; some might even have more than one. Find out what your favorite color means, and how the colors you choose for your wedding can influence the overall feel of your wedding day.
xxxx
Photo courtesy of Laura Taylor
xxxxx
Red:
Red is the most intense color of the color wheel. Red stimulates energy as well as increases enthusiasm. Red symbolizes love, passion, courage and rage. Red also emits a sense of protection from anxiety and fears. If red is your favorite color you are passionate, maintain a busy lifestyle, desire strength and may be a risk taker.
Pink:
Pink is fun and exciting, some shades of pink can have almost the same energy as red. Red is passionate without being an overly aggressive hue. Pink is the color of happiness. Pink stimulates energy, encourages action and confidence. If pink is your favorite color you tend to be calm, sensitive and sympathetic. You are also compassionate towards others and dislike controversy.
Orange:
Orange, a close relative of red, radiates warmth and energy. Orange stimulates appetite, socialization, as well as activity. If your favorite color is orange you are friendly, confident and full of energy. You balance your life with business and pleasure and enjoy both!
Yellow:
Yellow shines with optimism, enlightenment and happiness. Yellow is mentally stimulating and encourages communication. Yellow will increase optimism, energy, as well as spark creative thoughts. If yellow is your favorite color you are creative, intelligent and happiness comes naturally to you.
Green:
Green occupies more space in the color wheel than any other color and is the second most popular favorite color. Green is a large contributor to the colors of nature. The color green is seen as tranquil and refreshing, with a balance of cool and warm hues. Most shades of green are known to be physically and mentally relaxing. If green is your favorite color you enjoy the nature that surrounds you and love spending time in the outdoors. You also enjoy calming your loved ones, as well as helping the less fortunate.
Teal:
Teal has the calming effect of both green and blue. Teal represents sophistication, generosity and creativity. Teal encourages communication as well as creativity. If your favorite color is teal you tend to be sensitive, intellectual, imaginative and charming. You also tend to be self-reliant and independent.
Blue:
The color blue is the most common favorite color in the world. Blue is seen as trustworthy, dependable and committed. It invokes rest and can cause the body to produce chemicals that are calming. Not all blues are serene, bright blues can become dramatic and cause exhilaration. Blue is the least gender specific color, it appeals equally to both genders. If your favorite color is blue, friends find you to be very trustworthy and patient. You are also conservative and love to have stability in your life.
Navy:
Navy symbolizes wisdom, self-mastery and spiritual realization. Navy, being a shade of blue, increases communication within yourself. Navy develops intuition, increases solitude and lets you focus on personal issues. If navy is your favorite color you are spiritual, intuitive and intelligent. You are also self-reliant and tend to take on responsibility.
Purple:
Purple balances red’s stimulation and blue’s calming effect. With a sense of royalty, purple is a color often well liked by very creative personalities. Purple is uplifting, calms nerves, as well as encourages creativity. If purple is your favorite color, you desire respect, power and often tend to be sentimental.
White:
White projects purity, neutrality and cleanliness. The color white encourages clarity and enables fresh beginnings. White also encourages clearing clutter and purifying thoughts and actions. If white is your favorite color, you prefer a peaceful surrounding and like to be surrounded by truth and innocence.
Grey:
Grey is the color of knowledge, wisdom and intellect. Grey is also known as the color of compromise because it is a mixture of powerful black and pure white. Grey can sometimes be unsettling because of this compromise, but can also create expectations. If grey is your favorite color you constantly look for peace and composure. You have good business abilities and tend to work hard, sometimes without reward.
Black:
Black is authoritative, powerful, formal and evokes strong emotions. The color black can create a sense of potential and possibility. If black is your favorite color you are classy and others perceive you as a powerful individual. You are very in tune with your emotions and can be spontaneous.
Brown:
Brown symbolizes stability, reliability and approachability. Brown is the color of earth and is affiliated with being natural and organic. Brown creates a feeling of wholesomeness, stability and orderliness. If your favorite color is brown you are dependable, patient and reliable. You also tend to not like impulse, because you are organized and everything is well planned.
Champagne:
Champagne represents the basics, the essentials. Champagne incorporates the warmth of brown with the crispness of white. Champagne creates a feeling that is calm, relaxing and creates a feeling of simplicity. If your favorite color is champagne, you are conservative, dependable and friendly. You also tend to be a perfectionist and like everything to be precise.
xxxxx
As you can see, colors may mean a lot more than you might have thought. A single description may not fit you perfectly and it may be a combination of colors that suite you best. Consider these meanings when selecting the colors for your wedding to evoke the feeling that you desire on your wedding day. Most importantly, just have fun with it, go with your favorites and your wedding will be a true reflection of yourself!
xxxx
Aug 6, 2010
All the hype this week about Chelsea Clinton’s wedding last weekend and her simply sophisticated and elegant wedding dress had us thinking about all the other types of dresses there are. We found some very imaginative ones!
Chelsea’s dress was a quintessential strapless Vera Wang dress. The raw-edged laser cut silk organza skirt and train was breathtakingly beautiful as she walked down the aisle hand-in-hand with her father, former President Bill Clinton. The bodice, diagonally draped silk tulle, was finished perfectly by showcasing Chelsea’s waist with a silver jeweled embroidery. Her bouquet was monochramatic ivory – a very hot Fall trend we will be discussing soon.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx____________
The next few wedding dresses will appeal to the inner princess in some of us and are absolutely gorgeous. The Disney Fairytale Wedding line is designed by Kirstie Kelly and influenced by the Disney Princesses. Each dress embodies the Disney character’s personality, but still withholds the couture design of Kirstie Kelly. Whether you want to look like Cinderella or Princess Jasmine, they have a dress for you. These dresses truly are for a bride looking for a modern day fairytale.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
The next dress is made with 2,009 peacock feathers (seriously wouldn’t want a recount here!) and took eight craftsmen two months to complete. The floral bodice of this dress compliments the similarly hued peacock feathers comprising the train of the dress. This 1.5 million hand sewn dress is sure to make a bold statement, and will definitely have guests talking long after your special day.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
This monarch butterfly dress is a colorful design by Seattle designer, Luly Yang. The non-traditional wedding dress includes vibrant oranges and reds with gorgeous beading topped off with delicate black feathers. (Black feathers is another style watch trend we will cover soon!) Whether you love butterflies or just love this dress, you are sure to have a very special day ‘in the clouds’ wearing this uniquely stunning gown.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Whether your style is a classic white gown or a princess style dress or a dress with lots of color, all of these wedding gowns are original, fascinating and memorable in their own way just like the gals who will wear them!
