Archive for the ‘Trends’ Category

Sweet & Sophisticated Spring Wedding Inspiration

April 5th

This time of year always seems to turn up the sweetest of color palettes! The fresh colors of spring and soft Easter hues provide great inspiration for brides!  So if you’re looking for a sophisticated color palette that’s bold in an understated way definitely consider pastels.  The color combinations are endless and simple sophistication is sure to make an impression!

Pastel Spring Wedding Inspiration Color Palette

Photo Credits: Dresses (The Fab Bride);  Shoes (Shoeper Woman);  Dessert Bar (Canadiana Chic);  Invitation (Dear LC);  Table (Martha Stewart Weddings);  Ribbons (Martha Stewart Weddings)

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Tip: Order your thank you cards in advance!

April 2nd

Wedding Thank You Notes

A very popular trend right now are thank you cards featuring a photo of the bride and groom from the wedding and the honeymoon. But waiting for those photos can take a long time, and you know what that means? Your thank you list is piling up (which as etiquette says is a big no, no) and you’ll soon be spending your first few weeks as husband and wife tackling a seemingly endless pile of thank you notes!

Spend your first few weeks as husband and wife being husband and wife by ordering your thank you cards in advance!

Here are a few more thank you note tips:

  • Stay on top of your thank you cards by getting them out as gifts come in!
  • Use them to write a quick note to your wedding professionals (and slip their tip in there while you’re at it!)
  • Include a thank you with your bridal party gifts and present them to your friends and family during the rehearsal dinner!

Still a big photo card fan? Save your favorite honeymoon or wedding photo for a holiday greeting card to remind everyone of that special day you spent together!

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Spring Wedding Color Trends for 2012

March 20th

pantone wedding colors 2012

Happy spring everyone! Even though winter wasn’t too bad here in Worcester this year, we’re all still itching for a taste of spring and with 70s forecasted for this entire week, we’re definitely getting it!

With spring, comes weddings, and Pantone has served up a truly beautiful collection of shades perfect for spring! From bold tones like Tangerine Tango and Cabaret to softer shades like Bellflower and Margarita there’s a little something there for every bride.  Try mixing unexpected shades together (like Tangerine Tango and Sweet Lilac) to really make a statement.

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Lucky in Love: Green Wedding Inspiration

March 15th

If you’re lucky enough to be Irish, you’re lucky enough!  Ain’t that the truth! Here in New England St. Patrick’s Day is a pretty big deal.  Some of the nation’s biggest and best celebrations happen right here in Massachusetts (shout out to Holyoke!).  So if you’ve got an Irish heart and you’re looking for a few ways to incorporate your heritage into your wedding day take a peek at the goodies I’ve rounded up for you today.

Sláinte!

Green Wedding Inspiration

Photo Credits: Earrings (Etsy); Bouquet (Floral Artistry); Cake (via The Knot); Candy Buffet (Candy Warehouse); Dresses (Bridal Snob); Claddagh Ring (Royal Claddagh); Tie (Scraggy Neck Design);  Moss Ring Bearer Pillow (Martha Stewart Weddings); Herb Escort Cards (Intimate Wedding)

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To Veil or not to Veil

February 16th

to veil or not to veil

© Melissa HadleyPhotography

One of my very best friends, Jack, is a traditionalist – especially when it comes to weddings.  Any time a bride mentions that they’re thinking of not wearing a veil on their wedding day, she protests: how many other times in your life will you have the chance to wear a veil?  She’s right.  This is probably your only chance to wear a veil. So should you veil or not?

Well, for one thing, it might make you feel more “bride-y”.  Traditionalist or not, it’s likely that the vision of a bride in your head, includes a veil.  So it may seem only natural that the finishing touch on your bridal look include a veil.  But it doesn’t have to be a 25 footer à la Princess Diana.  And you don’t even have to wear it the only day!  Many brides choose to wear a veil for the more traditional part of their day (the ceremony) and then remove it for the reception so they can really let loose! Veils today comes in a number of shapes and sizes so you can easily find a look that works for you.

Still not your thing? No problem! Luckily, brides today have a number of different headpieces available to don on their wedding day.  Vintage-inspired headpieces and bird cage veils are really making a comeback.  Fresh flowers, feathers, and headbands also look gorgeous on a bride.  Etsy as well as your local bridal shop (and a number of other resources) all have great options to choose from.  If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out my Pinterest!

Regardless of your veil (or non-veil) choice, you’ll want to try your headpiece on with your dress to make sure it compliments your look.  You’ll also want to have your hair stylist do a trial as well – for two reasons: one, you want to make sure it’s comfortable and two, if you’re planning to remove your veil for the reception you’ll want to make sure you can easily take it off without undoing your do!  You’ve still got a lot of pictures to take!

LC

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Hey Valentine!

February 9th

Valentine’s day just around the corner! Are you planning a February wedding?  Just because you’re having a wedding in February (or even on Valentine’s Day itself!) doesn’t mean you’re only option is a red-and-white-heart theme! Playing around with different shades of red or pink together or using an unexpected accent color can really add a unique look to your wedding. For example, a shade of pale mint or aqua looks stunning with red! Here’s some inspiration for you!

Valentine's Day Aqua and Red Wedding

Photo Credits: Straws (Etsy); Cake (Call Me Cupcake); Hair Pins (Etsy); Shoes (The Knot); Flowers/Table (Maharani Weddings); Favor Box (Wedding By Color); Tent (Wedding Bee)

LC

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Countdown to the Big Day: 3-6 months in advance

January 26th

Things to do 3-6 months before your wedding

  • Order your invitations! This is not a plug…seriously. No one will attend your wedding if you don’t invite them.  This is also the first opportunity you have to set the tone for your wedding and give your guests a sneak peek at the festivities to come! If you’re hiring a calligrapher, be sure to let your stationer know that you’d like your envelopes in advance if possible.  The Dear LC Wedding Collection offers a contemporary twist on the traditional by combining upscale elegance and sophistication with bold, geometric designs and striking color.

 

  • Address your invitations. If you’re working with a calligrapher be sure to provide them with your guest list and envelopes well in advance of your send date. Calligraphy is an art and it takes time. Looking for a calligrapher? Check out Megan Chapin Calligraphy.  Not only does she do simply stunning work (featured above), she’s also just a great person!

 

  • Is your passport up-to-date? If your honeymoon will be taking you out of the country, you won’t be getting there without a valid passport.  There are also some countries that will not allow you to visit if your passport is within a few months of expiration. Some things to keep in mind!

 

  • Choose gifts for your wedding attendants. Being in a wedding can be a lot of responsibility, not to mention time and money. A thoughtful gift that lets your friends and family know how much you appreciate them taking this journey with you is always appreciated. These gifts don’t have to break the bank. They should be a small token to remember the day and your journey together as friends and family.

 

  • Reception music. You started making a list of “must-play” songs months ago but now you need to finalize the ceremony music as well as the all important first dance song, father/daughter dance, mother/son dance, etc.

 

  • Readings. Start to choose the poems, scripture readings, etc. for the ceremony. There are tons of resources out there that will help you narrow down your options.  Your ceremony coordinator will probably provide you with a list of popular readings but you might find something else that fits more closely with your style. Starting to do this three to six months in advance will give you time to search without anxiety! Don’t forget to give some thought to who you’d like to give the readings and ask them to be a part of your big day!

 

  • Meet with the florist. Florists can usually tackle more than one wedding in a day so you can wait to meet with them until a little later in the process. But if there’s a florist you know you definitely want to work with, make sure to get on their calendar early! Be sure to bring photos or magazines with ideas or bouquets you like so the florist has an idea of where to get started.
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Countdown to the Big Day: 9-12 Months in Advance

January 13th

Things to do 9-12 months before your wedding

  • The gown! This is probably already top on your list but if it’s not, now’s the time to bump it to the top. Why? Not only does it take time to find “the one” you also need to leave time to schedule your fittings. Since you’re already in a bridal shop, you might as well take a peek at bridesmaids dresses while you’re there!

 

  • Sign contracts with your wedding professionals and work out all the details! By now you probably have a good idea of the vendors you want to work with so finalize all the details and sign on the dotted line!

 

  • Start your gift registries! Most people like options, so if you can, register at a few different places. This is great for people who don’t like to shop online (what?) and may not live near one of the stores you’ve registered with.

 

  • Book the honeymoon! I really suggest working with a travel agent here, even if you know where you want to go. There are a lot of “discount” travel sites out there but the peace of mind you get with a real live person can’t be beat. Also your travel agent can give you inside tips the on your destination since they’ve most likely been there and even stayed at your hotel.
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Countdown to the Big Day: 12-24 Months in Advance

January 12th

Things to do 12-24 months before you wedding

  • You’re engaged! Congratulations! Now – let all of your friends and family know so they can share in the excitement! Send save the dates and throw an engagement party!

 

  • Pick a date! Will your ceremony and reception be at separate locations? Be sure to meet with your officiant as well as your reception venue’s representative to secure your Big Day!

 

  • Determine the style of your wedding – Formal? Casual? Traditional? Destination? Theme? Start flipping through bridal magazines as well as your favorite fashion and lifestyle mags for inspiration and ideas. You may be surprised where your style comes from!

 

  • Choose your attendants. It’s one “of the first thoughts on everyone’s mind – “who’s in the wedding?” Choose your bridesmaids and groomsmen early to eliminate the gossip and the guessing games.

 

  • Start compiling the guest list. Make an excel spreadsheet. This will come in handy later as you begin to record RSVPs and gifts.

 

  • Determine your budget.  This one is kind of a downer…but it’s got to be done!

 

  • Do you need a wedding planner? Depending on the type of wedding you’re having (or if you’re just super busy) a wedding coordinator may be helpful to you. This may be your one and only chance to have a personal assistant!

 

  • Start to research and book other wedding professionals you may need: florist, photographer, DJ, etc. There are a lot of components to a wedding – you want to make sure your top picks are available on your Big Day!

 

  • Research honeymoon destinations! Ahhhh….the ultimate in relaxation!
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Countdown to the Big Day: A Timeline

January 10th

clock

A recently engaged friend posted the following facebook status update when she began planning her wedding: Let the anxiety attacks begin.

Seriously? Why should planning for the “happiest day of your life” be such a source of stress? Because everyone you’ve ever met (and occasionally some strangers) are about to put their two cents in on your “big day”.  It’s true and we all do it.  I’m guilty.  You probably are too.  But when it comes down to it this is YOUR day (I’m using the plural form of you here…you know, you and the hubs-to-be! He gets a say here too believe it or not!) and I feel strongly that the day and all of the days leading up to it should be fun and as stress free as possible! Do you really want to start your life together on the tail of the most stressful time in your life? Probably not.

Now, I can’t keep other peoples’ mouths shut for them (I have a big enough job trying to keep my own shut) but I’m hoping that I can help to relieve a little bit of that stress. Over the next few days I’ll be posting lists of to-do items as well as some guidelines for when they should be completed. Hopefully this will keep you on track and stress free!

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