Ever wonder how you could enhance the look of your wedding? Your linens are beautiful, the florist did a great job, but what makes the room complete? Fabulous lighting, of course!
I recently stumbled across "Luminous Designs" while searching for a lighting designer for a wedding we are currently working on. Seems that there is more to offer than just uplighting.
This company shows off their talents hanging chandeliers from tents, globes from ceiling, swallowing the whole room in a wash of reds, you name it, they do it.
Think of your wedding as a movie. What does every great movie have in common? Beautiful lighting. Lighting is a great way to showcase what your other vendors have already put together for you.
You can keep it simple, and have your initials splashed up on a wall, or designs of flowers or snowflakes, or you can really turn it up. For instance, say your colors are purple, orange and golds for a fall wedding, why not have your flowers be deep purples and plums with orange accents while drenching the entire room in a golden hue? There are so many ways to play with it.
Don't just think about the walls, there are ways to decorate the ceiling and the floor as well. If your ceiling is a white tent, why not turn it into a canopy of leaves using lights? Perhaps turn your floor into an icy blue color all night for your winter wedding.
Lighting doesn't always have to be big and bold. If you have a small wedding planned, pinches of lighting here and there can complete the total picture. Whether it's lighting the entrance and archways that guests walk through, or places bright bulbs outside the venue, there are many options.
I invite you to take a look at Luminous Designs' Website here: http://www.luminousld.com/
Happy Lighting!
While working on a wedding lined up for this May, I became incredibly inspired by the natural look this bride was going for.
Her wedding will be at a beach and she seems to lean towards glass, candles, hanging lights...very clean and natural. The reception area has a wood ceiling with wood beams and the floor is also wood. There is something very natural about the place.
I took a look around at wedding pictures that I've seen and found some gorgeous ways to incorporate wood in every way possible. Wood adds a natural, feel that you can dress up or keep simple. Like flowers, there are so many combinations that you should look at before dismissing the idea completely.
The picture on the left that I have posted are large branches that were placed at the entrance of a cocktail hour. Hanging from the branches are flowers, but you can do so much more than just this. These flowers are an off-white, but you can put bright bursts of your colors in the forms of flowers, candles, glass bottles, pretty much anything that hangs. Think of it as a Christmas tree..there are thousands of ornaments you can use!
I've also seen this type of a centerpiece on a smaller scale either placed on tables or around the ceremony area. You can see from the picture on the right that charms were hung from strings coming down from the branches. They also used flowers but the charms would easily have stood on their own.
You could also hang votive holders (long enough for the flame not to catch the wood on fire) from the branches to add a beautiful glow. This would be gorgeous for a piece on the table where your guestbook is. You could even carve your initials inside of a heart on a piece of wood by your wedding cake.
If you want to go all out with the wood theme, and not just stick to centerpieces, look for places where you could add a little here and there. For instance, at your cocktail hour, why not place bleached wood on the bar area or around pictures of you and your new spouse? Bring the wood to your altar with branches hanging above you and your love as you say your vows.
Whether you wedding is on the beach, in a church, or whereever it is, you can add little touches of wood or go full out. The choices are yours and the possibilities are endless!
Pretty much everywhere around the country is freezing now and covered with snow...and now is a very popular time for those destination weddings, where the only thing white on the ground is the sand.
Since these weddings are frequently outdoors, you will need a hairstyle that will work with the elements...especially the island breezes.
So you want to work with your hair, and not against it. This is not the time to go against your natural wave, but it is the time to embrace it. One of my favorite products to use in the summer is SurfSpray by Bumble and Bumble. This product will bring out the natural texture of your hair and is super easy to use. Spray it on dry hair, wet hair, whatever. It will give you that "I just came from the ocean and always look this sexy" look. You can buy it here: http://www.bumbleandbumble.com/product/spp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CAT72&PRODUCT_ID=221
Whether you leave your hair down, or put it up, let the islands inspire you. Don't hesitate to add flowers, shells, starfish, or whatever you find beautiful about the place you're getting married in.
One thing that is important to be careful of is to make sure your hairstyle doesn't conflict with the neckline of your dress. If you have beautiful details in the forms of straps, you don't want to hide it under surfer girl hair. You can pin is loosely or take it completely off your neck. If you have too much going on it just looks busy and not pretty. You also want to make sure that your hair, even if it's all down, stays off your face. The last thing you will need is your hair blowing in your face during your ceremony and making it impossible to get through your vows.
Word of caution with hair that is completely down: don't wear lip gloss. Should your hair go across your face, it will drag the color right off your lips and be a sticky mess. There's a chance you won't even notice that your coral lipgloss is on your cheek until you see the wedding photos that you're paying all of this money for. Trust me, that lipgloss across your face is not easy to photoshop out. Just say "no" to gloss outside.
Even if your wedding isn't a destination, you can always use these casual looks for your ceremony. Be creative and use your imagination...and of course, a hairstylist isn't a bad idea either.
"I'm at Table 3."
Sounds boring doesn't it? It doesn't have to.
Think you've thought about every detail and how to personalize your wedding down to the last thought? Well, what are you naming your tables?
That's right, name your tables. Who says your tables have to be numbered?
The picture I have chosen to accompany this post was borrowed from theknot.com and featured a wedding that took place in NY State. Clearly, this couple has a shared bond over classical music, hence the table name "Tchaikovsky".
This is one of the details of your wedding that actually gets to be more fun than stressful. You get to spend time with the person you love and talk about what you both enjoy and have in common.
The possibilities for table naming are endless. Personally, my wedding took place at a winery and we named the tables after wines that we love.
Where is your wedding taking place? Any place you are getting married at tells a story. Here are some examples you're welcome to steal or expand on.
Perhaps you're getting married at a library. Why not name the tables after well known love stories? Avoid Romeo and Juliet though and stick to ones with happy endings. Unless you and your partner are Shakespeare addicts, and then, by all means, go ahead! If stories aren't your thing, what about authors that made their mark just as your and your partner will? Maybe you're both Stephen King addicts and are incorporating that theme...why not title the tables after his famous works?
Getting married in a garden? Tables named after flowers or plants are a given...but what about pairing the table names with that particular flower? Of course, speak to your florist about what is in season to make this work. You can even take it one step further and add something for your guests to read about the flower that is at their table. Great ice breaker for big weddings where not everyone knows their table-mates.
But of course there are the brides that get married at a hall and can't find anything particular to name the tables after. If you can't think of anything about your venue special enough to showcase as a table number, then rely on your history as a couple. Perhaps you love old movies like Casablance and Gone with the Wind, or maybe you're both crazy about famous weddings...why not name your tables after these couples in a way to honor both them and your marriage?
There are so many ways to name your tables rather than using numbers. Best of all you can use this as an excuse to spend time with your better half coming up with ideas...no input from anyone else required.
What is your wedding theme? Need help figuring out how to name your tables? Please feel free to leave a comment and I'd be happy to help.
Ever wonder how you could enhance the look of your wedding? Your linens are beautiful, the florist did a great job, but what makes the room complete? Fabulous lighting, of course!
