Unique Design Tips For Your Winter Wedding

Image via ruffledblog.com

Hey Ya’ll,

In a sea of summer brides, ladies who dare to say ‘I Do’ in the winter months are a truly unique bunch!

To see this winter wedding shoot, visit greenweddingshoes.com

After blogging about how cold-weather-brides get to have a little more fun when it comes to accessorizing on their wedding day, I thought about all of the seasonal design elements winter weddings often have that make them so magical. Below, you’ll find a collection of my favorite ideas for everything from flowers to lighting to cake and more.

Overall, I love the idea of using what’s in-season to decorate and bring the outside in but without all of the cold!

If you keep it simple you can easily use pine cones, candles, red holly, or even a simple green garland to add a chic nod to the holidays at your winter wedding.

What’s your favorite thing about winter weddings? Let me know in the comment section below.
-Brian

My Favorite Fall Wedding Ideas from Pinterest

Hey Ya’ll,

It’s hard to believe that it’s almost October and fall is already officially here! Are you planning a fall or early winter wedding? Some people think that getting married during these seasons can be limiting in terms of flowers, venue and even food choices, depending on your geographic location. However, I think autumn weddings can be fantastic because there are fewer of them and there’s a lot of room for creative touches. If you’re planning a wedding to take place during the not-so-warm-months, check out my tips below for a little Pinspiration!

1. Accessorize! One of the coolest parts of getting married in the fall or winter is just that, it’s cooler! By wearing a wrap, a cardigan, a sweater, a jacket, a fur stole or even a cape, fall and winter brides can further establish their personal wedding day style and color palette. You can wear these accessories for just your photos, just the ceremony, just the reception or all three.

You can find these fabulous pins and more on my ‘Here Comes the Bride’ Pinterest board, HERE.

2. Use what’s in season! This can help you to settle on a color palette more easily, create a menu and select your flowers. For bouquets and centerpieces, OneWed has some fantastic fall floral inspiration, HERE. Don’t forget, sticking to seasonal selections doesn’t need to conflict with your decor or chosen color palette, you can always alter things to make them work. Take, for example, pumpkins. While they may come in orange and white in nature, you can add tacks, or paint, or ribbon or washi tape to make them work for your decor.

3. Choose Venues with an Indoor/Outdoor Feel. Fall and winter are some of the most naturally beautiful and picturesque seasons of the year depending on where you’re located. Use this to your advantage when selecting your venue.

One thing you will need to keep in mind, however, is the weather and how that relates to the comfort of your guests. If it’s too cold to be outdoors, maybe you do some photos outside, then move inside for the ceremony and reception. Or, if it’s not too cold in the early evening, aim to have your ceremony outdoors (maybe provide blankets or wraps for cold guests to barrow!) and then move inside. If you must stay indoors, look for a venue with great views, since you chose to get married during these beautiful seasons and it has likely inspired all of your design choices.

Bonus Tip: I love the idea of throwing beautiful red, yellow and orange and gold leaves, as opposed to confetti or petals, for an autumn wedding. And since there’s so many on the ground this time of year (most places!) its an easy/free item to use for decor at your wedding. You could attach tiny pouches of leaves on the guests chairs, or put them in baskets at the end of each isle for the ushers to pass around for each guest to grab a hand-full before the bride and groom walk down the isle.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve seen done at a fall or winter wedding? Would you ever wear a jacket or sweater with your wedding dress? Let me know in the comment section below.
-Brian

5 Accessories to Help You Look Chic During the Holidays

Hey Ya’ll,

Today, I’m sharing five different accessories you can snag online to help spruce up your holiday wardrobe—especially if you’re looking to make a big entrance at a party!

All of these wonderful recommendations come from my friend, Celebrity Stylist Keylee Sanders of Style Studio. Keylee has appeared on E!, The Style Network, Lifetime TV, REELZ Channel, TV Guide, and QVC—she also happens to be a former Miss Teen USA!

So, if you need some help in the accessories department, check out her chic holiday picks below!

Magnetic Bangle Bracelet in Clear/Gold from Target

This super-affordable bracelet pumps up any holiday dress. For an even bigger effect, double up and have an instant statement piece!  For the ladies who can handle over-the-top style, layer this with other large and small solid gold bangles!

Delano Gold Skinny Baguette Ring by Alexis Bittar

If your significant other isn’t exactly the best Santa…why not treat yourself?  To some the holidays mean mistletoe and ham, to me it means time for gold accessories! This ring by Bittar is the perfect reward for a girl who has been nice all year long.

Overture Clutch by Judith Lieber

Every girl needs something pretty to keep her smartphone and lipstick in while making the rounds at the holiday parties.  This clutch with go with everything from a cocktail dress to jeans and leather jacket adding a touch of style, sparkle, and holiday cheer everywhere you go!

Charter Club Gloves, Touch Point Leather Gloves (Red)

Fashion is not always for fun… let’s face it, sometimes it just too cold to be cute, or is it? Charter Club has infused new technology with classic style. These gloves let you stay connected, warm and fabulous! *Bonus, they’re on sale!*

Wired Headphone Earmuffs by Neiman Marcus

Warmth and entertainment have never been closer.  For those Fashionistas’ who can’t make their morning commute without their pep music, Neiman has yet again saved the day.  Now you can stay warm while warming up for your day!

Friday Favorites: Wildflower Linen Giveaway!!!!

Image Credit: Gene Higa

Hey Ya’ll,

Today’s Friday Favorite is one of my biggest sources of design inspiration as an event planner and one of the leading designers and producers of specialty table linens and chair covers for event rentals in the world: Wildflower Linen.

Founder Youngsong Martin, formerly a nationally known fashion designer and marketer of high-style women’s apparel, launched Wildflower Linen in 2001. I personally had the pleasure of working with her for the first time while hosting the show “Shedding for the Wedding”.

Image from “Shedding for the Wedding” via Pam Scott Photography – http://www.pamelascott.net

Her full-service rental company has since redefined the special-event linen industry in terms of style, glamor and customer care, while becoming a prestigious provider to clients nationwide and abroad, for functions of all sizes, budgets and occasions.

Image Credit: Gene Higa http://www.genehiga.com

As an event planner and designer, I often log onto the Wildflower Linen website to see what is new for the season, or what they have to offer and find inspiration there.

Image Credit: Bauman Photography – http://www.baumanphotographers.com

Linen is a great place to make a statement when designing an event because tables often take up a large portion of a venue and this allows you to incorporate color, patterns and really create a unique space.

Wildflower Linen’s gorgeous line of rental table linens and chair covers has not only dressed the tables of high-end events like the ones that I have helped produce over the years, they’ve also been featured on the big screen in Hollywood blockbusters like “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part”, as the exclusive linens of Edward and Bella’s wedding!

Image Credit: Line 8 Photography – http://www.line8.net

Now, I don’t know if any of you consider yourselves “Twi-hards”, but even if you’ve never seen the popular vampire flicks, you have to admit that’s pretty cool!

Wildflower Linen also recently launched their new line of accessories, some of which were inspired by “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn” series. The new line features specialty items like table runners, decorative pillow cushions, napkin rings and candle collections including the “Kristy Rice for Wildflower Linen” Collection. And today, they are giving away a chic table runner to one of my lucky readers!!! See below for an example of their table runners, and to find out how to enter…

To enter for a chance to WIN a Wildflower Linen designer table runner (90″L x 18″W):

1. ‘LIKE’ Wildflower Linen on Facebook HERE.

2. Leave a comment below this post, letting me know why your table needs sprucing up with one of Wildflower’s lovely runners.

One lucky winner will be randomly selected from the comment section below by next Friday, July 27, 2012 at 9AM PST. Be sure to check back then to see if you’re our lucky winner!!!

Image Credit: Gene Higa – http://www.genehiga.com

In the meantime, I highly recommend Wildflower Linens to anyone looking to add the utmost in style and elegance to a function’s tabletops, place settings, and chairs–and now, even your home!
-Brian

Find them on the web at: www.wildflowerlinens.com & www.wildflowerlinens.com/blog
Follow them at: www.facebook.com/wildflowerlinen & www.twitter.com/wildflowerlinen
***Giveaway limited to U.S. residents only.***

March Wedding Series: It’s All About the Accessories!

Hey Ya’ll,

I’ve only got one rule when it comes to wedding day accessories: Keep it simple! Trust me, you don’t want to spend all your precious time and money picking out the perfect dress only to have it cluttered and covered up by a bunch of accessories!

First, what kind of shoes will you be wearing on your wedding day? There are millions of shoe options for brides these days from plain white slingbacks to pumps in every color of the rainbow. Heck, I’ve even seen cowboy boots, flip-flops and Converse sneakers! My advice? Think about your shoes in terms of a) your personality, b) what type of wedding you’re throwing and where it’s taking place and c) what types of activities you’ll be doing on your wedding day. If you take these things into consideration, you should be able to find the right shoe for your big day.

Whatever you wear, you’ll want to take your shoes into consideration when adding accessories to your look. Meaning, if your shoes are going to be visible (short dress) or they were selected to “make a statement”, you’ll want to go with minimal accessories. Conversely, if your shoes blend in with your dress, you have the option of adding a few more accessories.

Trend Alert: Customize your wedding shoes by adding some personality to the soles! This makes for a cute photo-op and can even be used as a creative way to incorporate your “something blue”.

Next, you’ll need to decide what you’re doing with your hair and whether you’ll wear a veil or not. If you do wear a veil, long or short, try to keep the rest of your accessories minimal. Meaning, you could add a necklace, bracelet, earrings or belt—but not all of them! Click HERE, for some elegant wedding day hair inspiration.

Finally, in terms of actual jewelry, you can never go wrong with pearls on your wedding day.
However, if your dress and veil are simple, try adding some sparkle with a beautiful pair of earrings or a bracelet.

I leave you with this gem: “When in doubt, go without!” Meaning, if you’re at all worried that something is going to be “too much”, most likely, it will be. Remember, you want all eyes on you, not your accessories. Keep it simple.
-Brian