Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Something Blue...but Different!

Something borrowed, something new, something old, something...cerulean?

Brides are always looking for ways to put a fresh spin on old traditions for their weddings. Now, Anthropologie is here to show brides how to make that something blue, something spectacular!

Anthropologie has come out with a collection named "BHLDN"...aka Beholden. This collection stays true to their everyday look of very earthy, natural and soulful. Whether it's an airy dress for your wedding day, or a flowing gown for your bridesmaids, if you adore their style in their everyday stores, then this is the place to look to add that flair to your wedding.

One of their collections is simply called "Something Blue", and from the cerulean clutch pictured at left, to the blue butterfly broch they offer, the possibilities are endless. Something I love about this collection is also how timeless each of the pieces are. I love the idea of preserving the wedding gown for your future daughter, but what about saving these little trinkets as well? Something blue could easily become something borrowed or old as well.

Not into the whole "stashing it into the closet until someone else can use it in 20 years" thing? These pieces can be used everyday. The clutch pictured can be used in real life too, unlike cheesy white wedding shoes. So while some of the pieces might be slightly expensive, if you get to use them time and time again, it will be worth it.

Time to think outside of the box brides! When you're celebrating your anniversaries, have a piece of your wedding with you! When your friends get married and ask what you used for something blue, make sure you used something that you'll always remember. Every little detail of your wedding should have thought and purpose behind it. Let your something blue say something about you!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Don't Rain on my Parade...or Wedding Either!

Outdoor weddings can be absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, they depend on the one person who thinks she's more important than the bride: Mother Nature.

Brides have enough to worry about, and I know! I personally was looking at the forecast 2 weeks in advance of my ceremony which would be taking place outside. I even swore to myself that I would never have an outside wedding. Whoops.

Thankfully, the day of my wedding there were clear skies, and it was absolutely beautiful. But 24 hours prior to that, a tropical storm had just finished sweeping through the area. My wedding was in October, and yes, that is still hurricane season.

There are a few things to think about when planning an outdoor wedding. First off, look into the general climate of the area you're getting married at. You may think you know what the weather is in the place you've lived in for your entire life, and you may have heard that it never rains in Aruba, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Obviously you're not going to have an outdoor wedding when it's below freezing and there's a chance of a blizzard, but what about during the summer? If you live in a hot and humid area, those summer thunderstorms could strike right as the wedding march begins. Just google your climatology in the area you want to get married in. Look and see when it rains the most, what the average high temperatures are, everything! You can never be too prepared.

For my destination brides, hurricane season is June 1-November 1. Depending on the month, hurricanes strike different areas. Take a look at the general tracking of the storms and what your destination has been through during the past 20 years in the month you want for your wedding!

Even if you plan everything correctly, you should always have a backup plan. A stray 20 minute thunderstorm could change your entire wedding day. If you're planning an outdoor ceremony, cocktail hour and reception, or even just one of the three, you need to have alternate ideas. Work with a wedding coordinator (shameless plug: www.goldenweddingplanners.com) and tell them your ideas of your perfect outdoor bash. An experienced coordinator will make your dreams come true rain or shine. Golden Wedding Planners offers long range forecasts as well, to help you pick the best date for your big day.

Happy Planning!