Fun Ideas for Your Country Wedding

Country Wedding

Country Wedding

Do you want a wedding that exudes a rustic charm and fresh ambiance? Do you want to hold your big day in a venue reminiscent of your days in the rural area? Do you envision walking down the aisle in the middle of a hayfield and when you look up you see the enormous blue sky?

If you answer yes to any of the questions above, the perfect wedding theme for you would have to be a country wedding. Country weddings, which are some of the most popular themes among couples, are truly beautiful and nostalgic. And with so many fun and ideas for a country wedding that you can find below, planning can be a cinch.

Color Palette: Earthy Tones

When you think of a country wedding, think of earthy tones for the wedding motif color palette. Yellow, gold, tan, umber, brown, green, sage, russet, celadon, cinnamon, orange, and red are just some of the many options you can utilize for your country wedding. Do not limit yourself to one color, you can incorporate as many earthy tones in the decoration of your wedding as you like but choose one or two to be the dominant hues and to serve as the primary motif color.

If you really want to go out there for that ultimate rustic wedding, you can choose to tie the knot with your sweetheart in a cornfield, barn, cabin, farm, ranch, wheat field, plantation, or in any part of the rural region that has breathtaking scenery. Make sure you use a tent for this kind of location and that you book your guests accommodations on the nearby lodges and inns.

If you do not want to go far, having an outdoor location like a garden themed country wedding can also be a wonderful idea. If you want to hold it indoors, a country church can also be an option. With so many options for venues, you surely would not run out of ideas where to hold your precious country wedding.

Country Style Decoration and Centerpieces

The right decoration can give your wedding the right country ambiance. You can decorate your reception area with tea light candles floating on water-filled mason jars or votive candles placed in terra cotta pots.

As for the centerpiece, you can collect a bunch of cheery sunflowers and place them in galvanized pails. You can also make use of Shasta daisies or Gerber daisies and tuck them in tall clear vases filled with dried coffee beans. Potted plants also make terrific centerpieces that can double as wedding favors after the ceremony is over.

Accent decorative pieces for a country wedding include grapevine wreathes, lanterns, gourds, pumpkins, ears of dried corn, wheat stalks, burlap bags, honey jars, raffia ties, cinnamon sticks, dried peas, and coffee beans.

A Touch of Country

  • Tie the chairs with russet ribbons and insert some wheat sheaves or roses.
  • Instead of having the usual table and chair reception, you can do it in a picnic-style, much like how they eat in the countryside.
  • Fill galvanized washtubs with ice and drinks.
  • Serve homemade dishes like pot roast, corn bread, fruit pies, and pumpkin cake.

You love the casual and laidback nature of country weddings. You adore the fact that they are beautiful and exquisite at the same time. You and your partner would surely have a time of your life with this kind of wedding theme to celebrate your special day. Enjoy!

Decoration Tips for your Orange Wedding Theme

Orange Wedding Theme

Orange Wedding Theme

The moment you have been waiting for has finally arrived. Your love of your life has asked your hand in marriage and even before you can say yes, your mind takes you to a whirlwind of images where you see yourself wearing a gorgeous white gown, walking down the aisle.

Just like most brides, you want this moment to be as perfect as possible. Aside from that, you want your wedding to have a unique appeal that would make it stand out among the other weddings that people have seen before.

You consider all sorts of wedding motif colors—blue, pink, green, and lavender. You find it hard to choose among these colors, not because you do not like any of them, but because you do not want your wedding to look like a replicate of the weddings you have attended in the past. You very well know that these colors have been used over and over and over before.

If you are looking for a color that is not a staple for weddings but can surely add flair and beauty to the event, consider using the dynamic shade of orange. Many people are not aware that orange makes a fantastic wedding color. In fact, it is so versatile you can use it in almost any occasion, even during spring, which is mainly dominated by pastel shades.

If you want to know more about how you can decorate your wedding with this color, here are some decoration pointers to consider.

Adorn Tables with Orange Centerpieces

  • Put lemons, oranges, and limes inside tall clear vases and top off this bright arrangement with a combination of orange shade flowers such as roses, gerbera, tulips, chrysanthemums, and daisies.
  • Use orange colored mason jars to hold yellow and white tulips and daisies. Wrap the mason jar with brown raffia. This is an economical and yet eye-catching idea for a centerpiece.
  • Collect a bunch of orange, yellow and red poppy flowers and place in a tall slender vase. This centerpiece idea can surely add visual interest to the tables in the reception.
  • Place orange-colored candles in a wide clear vase filled with water. Light up the candles for a gorgeous floating candle centerpiece.

Create a Stunning Backdrop

  • For the couple’s place in the reception venue, you can decorate an arch with orange roses, orange tulle and orange raffia. Include a couple of cymbidium orchids to complete the look.
  • You can also adorn the couple’s gazebo with a combination of orange, yellow, and white balloons, as well as orange tulips or daisies in between.

Embellish the Bouquet

  • Gather orange and yellow dahlias and green gladiolus for a stunning bouquet. Adorn the bouquet with an orange plaid ribbon.
  • Add accents such as orange rhinestones, orange Swarovski crystals, and petite orange pearls to your beautiful bouquet of golden yellow and peach roses. Little accents can make the bouquet even more dazzling.

Add more Life with Orange

  • Tie orange satin ribbons on the chairs of the guests.
  • Cover the tables with bright orange tablecloth or use an orange table runner on a cream tablecloth.
  • Use a bright orange aisle runner to add dramatic beauty to the reception.
  • Scatter orange petals on the walkway of the couple.
  • Include orange table napkins or menu cards on the tables.
  • Add a hint of orange on the wedding favors. The favors do not necessarily have to be orange but they can come in orange boxes or be adorned with orange ribbons.
  • Light up orange scented candles and place all over the reception area.

Orange is fun, fresh, bright, and cheery, which is why it can be the perfect color to add that distinct touch to your wonderful wedding. Have fun planning!

Inexpensive Ways to Decorate Your Outdoor Wedding

Outdoor weddings have become a trend for couples who are looking for a wedding that is beyond the traditional. The fact that an outdoor wedding ceremony is already surrounded with beautiful scenery makes it even more popular because this means fewer expenses for the decoration. With so many outdoor venues to choose, finding that perfect place to hold your big day is not too much of a difficult task.

Finding inexpensive ways to decorate your outdoor wedding should not be too hard either. Here is a practical guide that will help you come up with nice and wonderful decorations for your outdoor wedding without going beyond your budget.

Where, oh where?

The venue of the outdoor wedding is one of the factors that will determine what kind of decorations to have. Since outdoor locations vary, you have to make your choice first to make the decoration planning simpler and easier. Some of these ideas will help you get started:

Beach – White folding chairs, tropical flowers, tiki torches, driftwood decorations, centerpieces made of shells and sand

Backyard – Printed backdrops, tarpaulins, lattice fences, trellis of flowers, wire arch of flowers or balloons

Garden – Floral arrangements, garlands, tulle, lights, tea light candles

Park – Flowers arranged neatly on pills or columns, balloon sculptures, candles, Grecian columns

Table Centerpiece: Center of Attraction

Table centerpieces are some of the most important elements of wedding decoration. To save on this aspect, try making it a do-it-yourself project with the help of your bridesmaids or friends. Here are some table centerpiece ideas that are easy to make.

  • Put a candle inside a tall glass, wrap the glass with thin handmade paper and you will have one elegant piece of a candle table centerpiece.
  • Find some mason jars at home, put some flowers in it and tie the jar with a raffia ribbon.
  • Borrow some small potted plants from your dad’s garden and decorate the pots with satin ribbon.
  • Get a hold of a clear vase, fill it up with sand, and top it off with seashells, starfish and other great finds on the beach.

More Ideas on Inexpensive Outdoor Wedding Décor

  • Use tulle to hang around the edges of gazebos, podiums, aisles, trellises and so on. Tulle is an expensive material that can add a touch of class to your wedding.
  • Do not tie all the chairs with a bow tie, have it on every other chair only or only on the chairs located near the aisle.
  • Opt for balloons to decorate a wedding trellis or arch. If you really want to use flowers, choose those that are grown in your area and are in season.
  • Rent a tent. It may add to the cost of the wedding but it pays to be sure that your guests will be kept safe from sudden burst of rains or extreme heat. If possible, find a venue that provides free tent covering.
  • Gather some friends to trim the lawn in your backyard. To save the extra cost of hiring someone to manicure the lawn, turn the chore into one afternoon of fun and enjoyment by making it a time to do the chore together and have some bonding moment.
  • Use candles for lighting. Instead of equipping the venue with light bulbs that cost a lot, use candles that would even add a dramatic effect to the event.

Outdoors weddings are always fun. Not only do people get to enjoy the wonderful warmth of the sun and the cool breeze, the beauty of nature also makes the event beautiful and stunning. To ensure that you make the most out of your outdoor wedding celebration, keep all of these tips in mind.

Source: This article was submitted by Wendy L. Bishop.

Beach Wedding Accessories for the Exotic Couple

Black or White Just Married Sandals

Black or White Just Married Sandals

If you would take a survey on the most popular wedding themes, beach wedding would probably top the list. This is because many couples love the vast expanse of beautiful ocean that can serve as the backdrop, the romantic ambiance of the beach scene, and the fact that beach weddings are beautiful and inexpensive at the same time.

Since there are now many couples who get married on beach wedding settings, some exotic couples want to take it a step higher in order to have a unique kind of matrimonial ceremony at the beach. One way to achieve this is to wear one-of-a-kind beach wedding accessories that would complete their look for their big day. Here are some fantastic ideas on wedding accessories that any couple would surely love.

Lei or Flower Garland

A tropical flower garland is one of the first things that will come into your mind upon the mention of the words, beach wedding accessories. Whether you are getting married in a beach in Hawaii or in any other part of the world, a lei of beautiful tropical flowers around the necks of the bride and groom can surely be a memorable embellishment for the event.

Seashell Jewelry

It is very common to find seashells in any beach, which is why this element is always present in many beach weddings. Incorporate seashells into your wedding attire by donning accessories made from terrific beach finds. You and your spouse-to-be can wear seashell necklace, seashell bracelet, or a seashell anklet. Since there are many colors and styles to choose from, it is a good bet that you would end up with a unique looking accessory that would certainly wow your guests.

Beaded Accessories

Aside from seashells, beads are also a staple when it comes to beach or summer accessories. Beaded necklaces, beaded bracelets, and beaded earrings can add a touch of creativity and exotic appeal to your and your partner’s beach wedding attire.

Flower Headdress

For the bride, instead of wearing the traditional veil, you can choose to have a flower headdress made of tropical flowers such as sunflower or hibiscus. Just remember that if you are going to wear the headdress, you should skip the flower garland (or the other way around, depending on your preference) because wearing both would be overdoing it.

Barefoot Bridal Sandals

Barefoot bridal sandals are becoming a hot fashion statement for brides who want to walk down the aisle with bare feet. Barefoot bridal sandals can be made of beads, rhinestones, or leather straps that accents the top of the feet without a covering for the sole.

Shell tiara or headband

In lieu of the flower headdress, a bride can also wear a seashell tiara or headband as a hair accessory. This is suitable for simple hairstyles like a classic bun, ponytail, or hair let hanging down on the shoulders.

Beach weddings have that unique romantic feel and creative look that many exotic couples love. Complete the special occasion by wearing one-of-a-kind beach wedding accessories that you can use even after the wedding day.

Best Fall Wedding Color Choices

dreamstime_3506140When you think of a fall wedding, you have to think of fallen leaves, autumn flowers, season of harvest, and forests that come in a mix of fiery red, dark brown, burnt orange and buttery gold. In short, you have to think of nature so it will be easier for you to compose a color palette that is evocative of the season’s natural and rich hues.

Since autumn is a season of change, you have a wide variety of colors to choose from. In fact, you do not have to limit yourself to a single color scheme, you can opt for a couple of shades to use for your fall wedding. Some of the most popular fall wedding colors include rich red, burgundy, rust orange, sage green, gold, copper, pumpkin, bronze, off white, marigold, taupe, crimson yellow, purple, mauve, lavender, mocha, and taupe.

Considering the part of the season (early fall, mid-fall or late fall) can also make the process of color selection easier for you. With the wide array of vibrant tones, gentle hues and even exciting metallic colors, you can quickly find the color scheme that will suit you and complement the season at the same time.

Vibrant Colors of Early Fall
If you are going to tie the knot anytime from September to early October, red is the major choice but other hues such as pumpkin, marigold, burgundy and cream can look radiant as well. These colors best reflect the vibrant and colorful harvest and the bright warmth of the season. For the accent, any of the colors mentioned can be used as long as it complements the base color of the wedding. For example, apple red can be a pleasant accent color for cream.

Subdued Shades in Mid-Fall
During the middle of the season (mid to late October to early November), it is best to incorporate into your wedding earthy, subdued, neutral and muted shades and tones. Some of your options include peach, sage green, cream, light yellow, and lavender. Metallics such as gold, bronze or copper can be used as accents to these pale shades to give a stunning contrast. But if you want to stick with the muted hues even for the accents, it would still look beautiful.

Rich and Versatile Choices for Late Fall
Couples marrying by the end of fall have it easier since this part of the season is versatile. During this time, you can use deep colors like chocolate brown and eggplant purple, coupled with a metallic accent like bronze or gold. You can also opt to go for a nearly monochromatic scheme of neutral shades such as pale gold, mocha, and cream. It is also a viable option to make use of a bit of red, green or silver as a sneak preview for the upcoming winter season.

A fall wedding is a fantastic way to celebrate the abundance of the season and at the same time the fruitfulness of the love that you and your spouse-to-be have for each other. Be sure to pick the right colors to suit this celebration well.

Fall Theme Wedding Ideas & Trends

bronzeMany couples choose a fall theme wedding because of the cool air, magnificent colors and outstanding autumn atmosphere. Both elegant and memorable, autumn theme weddings can feature a variety of unique ideas.

Incorporate the deep hues of brown, red, orange, bronze, gold and beige into every aspect of your fall wedding. A romantic, sophisticated or rustic mood can be created using this warm fall colors. You also have the options of selecting gown in a variety of colors with either long or short sleeves.

Autumn flowers add to the mood of your fall wedding. Include favorites such as dahlias, spider mums, chrysanthemums, sunflowers, heather, wheat and sprigs of berries in your bouquets and on the tables. Decorate with colorful garland and include vanilla scented candles or potpourri at each table.

Decorating in bronze add to the elegance of your fall theme wedding. Both bronze and copper are ideal metallic accents for fall weddings, inspiring thoughts of copper kettles, fireplace décor and frolicking in fall leaves. Fill small bronze colored buckets with potpourri as favors for your guests. Fill copper kettles with dried fall flowers as centerpieces for your tables. Scatter silk fall leaves around your guest book table for an authentic autumn feel.

A Halloween fall theme wedding is another exciting idea. You can use a simple Halloween theme by using mini jack-o-lanterns on the tables and pumpkin scented tea lights. Decorate your wedding cake with orange, yellow and brown. If you prefer a full-fledged Halloween theme, invite all your guests to come in costume. This is a great way to include the kids in your wedding day. Bob for apples and give out trick or treat bags filled with gourmet jellybeans and prestige chocolates as wedding favors.

A traditional harvest theme is also a great way to celebrate your fall nuptials. Instead of having the wedding in a garden, park or backyard, rent a barn. Decorate with fall flowers, pumpkins, hay and black-eyed Susan. Get a square dance caller and give out cowboy hats to all your guests. Combine a western theme with your fall favors for a fun-loving wedding day nobody will forget.

A fall theme wedding uses a variety of unique ideas, colors and accents. Thanks to Mother Nature, you have all the beauty you need for your wedding day by simply using the awesome autumn atmosphere.

Purple Mixes The Hotness Of Red With The Coolness Of Blue

purpleThroughout history, purple has been considered a color of royalty, befitting special occasions and events including purple theme weddings . Kings and Queens often donned purple whenever they reviewed or accepted subjects.

In more recent times, purple is the color chosen by countries to confer honor on their Heads of State or other dignitaries. Purple still plays a major role in most backgrounds when two Heads of State meet for meetings or to sign treaties.

Purple mixes the hotness of red with the coolness of blue. The result is a customer that can be all things to all people and can merge well into any color scheme. Even colors normally difficult to match, like pink or certain greens, mix well with purple. Purple also brings out the best in other colors, making them seem more regal or vibrant.

A purple theme wedding allows you to set the stage for elegance and class and can add a rich flavor to any decoration scheme. It also allows you to inject a sense of quiet style if you use it sparingly, such as in flower arrangements, table settings or as trim around other colors.

The butterfly favor / place cards in deep orchid purple, sets a mood that is both light and serious, airy yet exuding sincerity. Personalized ribbons for bows on favor boxes allow you to add either a purple ribbon or purple script to your favors, giving your favor boxes a touch of class and reminding the guests of your special day. Decorative initial monogram stickers in purple allow you to personalize glasses or stationary.

Decorations also can be injected with various shades of purple, from light mauve to dark grape. Tablecloths in purple set a quiet yet elegant mood for receptions and shades of purple tulle tied with paper roses are perfect for aisle decorations and the backs of reception chairs.

White is the perfect backdrop color for a purple wedding theme, as the various hues of purple seem to come to life and leap off the white! Purple exudes a royal, fun and sincere elegance that can set a mood for an entire day. Cocktail regular napkins done in purple enhance any setting and provide a sense of royalty to food and drinks.

Purple is one of the few colors that enhance virtually everything it touches. Clothes, decorations, favors, collections, place cards, you name it, purple adds to the splendor of the event and dresses up even the most routine article. Purple theme weddings create a sense of royalty, elegance, and splendor as well as honor the special day without seeming pretentious. Purple enhances virtually everything and is right at home in any setting.

Add A Bold Dash Of Colour With Red Roses To A Black & White Theme

silhouettesbloomSince the 40s, black and white wedding themes have been creating unforgettably elegant events for couples. Celebrate your special day with classic black and white themes to show off your sophisticated sense of Hollywood style.

The striking combination of black and white for your wedding can be offset by using touches of red. Simple red roses and accents won’t overpower your black and white wedding themes but add a bold dash of color. Metallic accessories are a perfect way to offset your black and white theme.

During the 40s, black and white wedding themes gained popularity along with jazz clubs and Hollywood starlets. The retro look is popular again featuring new levels of texture and depth such as satin, silver, gold and velvet.

The bride can choose a straight, classic white gown with bridesmaids in black with a touch of red. The groom and ushers wear black tuxedos with red cummerbunds to match the ladies. A Hollywood-inspired groom may even choose to wear a handsome top hat.

Flowers for black and white wedding themes are outstanding and unique. Consider combinations of black roses and black “Queen of the Night” tulips with white orchids, white roses and white tulips. The bride can include pretty white flowers in her bridal bouquet such as calla lily, gardenia and narcissus. Add a few red roses to the floral arrangements to match the rest of the wedding.

Often couples choose a ball room or large restaurant with a dance floor for elegant black and white wedding themes. Uncluttered decorations, white tablecloths and black napkins finish off the sophisticated look. For a dramatic Hollywood 40s flair, add diamond jewelry and ice sculptures.

Funky black and white wedding themes include patterned tablecloths or dotted black and white accessories. By using a refreshing combination of pattern, texture and starkness, you can create your own eclectic black and white wedding theme. Another exciting black and white wedding is a “goth” theme for modern couples. The bride and bridal party often wear black. Victorian accents create a truly Gothic feel.

Instead of a 40s black and white theme, you can go for the 50s and have a jukebox, milkshakes and cheeseburgers to include the kids. Use checkerboard black and white patterns with accents of red throughout your reception. Have silver utensils to create a 50s luncheonette atmosphere.

Asian weddings, which are popular for people from all backgrounds, traditionally use black, white, red and silver. Serve Oriental food on white tablecloths with brushed silver utensils. Have wedding favors for your guests in Asian takeout boxes wrapped with black and white ribbons.

Black and white wedding themes are anything but boring. Their timeless appeal will make your wedding elegantly memorable.

Tips For The “Gone Green” Bride And Groom

green weddingsGoing Green is something that thousands of people are doing; and perhaps can be a great idea to incorporate into your very special day. When you are experiencing and celebrating the love of your lifetime, doesn’t it seem the perfect opportunity to also share your love with the earth and your environment?

With just a few tips and tricks, you can make your wedding a Green wedding without scrimping or lessening the elegance of the day. Here are some ideas to get you going in planning a green wedding.

  1. Most brides start looking for their wedding dress right away. To go green with your wedding, opt for a dress made from certified organic cotton, hemp or flax silk. Polyester fabrics used in many store bought wedding gowns are petroleum based, and generic cotton uses almost 6 lbs of pesticide per acre when grown. With that taken into consideration, any alternative is more eco-friendly.
  2. Choose vintage jewelry in order to steer clear of jewelers that use irresponsible mining practices or give profits to support local warfare where jewels are mined.
  3. Use less paper and save much needed trees. Invitations made from recycled paper can be found more and more these days. There is also the option of simply using e-cards for invitations instead of paper. There’s no bigger way to cut down on the use of paper than to send e-cards. When considering place cards, think outside of the box and use a recycled or recyclable material instead of paper.
  1. Buying locally grown flowers promotes local resources, and gives you the opportunity to ask about pesticides used in the growing process. Finding flowers that are grown organically is very eco-friendly; but if budget constraints don’t allow for that, then an alternate option could be to use potted plants as décor instead of cut flowers. Potted plants can then be given to guests to take home and plant in their own gardens.
  2. Go organic in your reception menu. Ask your caterer about organically grown fruits and vegetables, as well as organic meats.
  3. Throw rice! The idea that rice is harmful to birds is a myth, period. Rice is much more eco-friendly than confetti, and it actually keeps with tradition.
  4. Get married close to home in order to cut down on car travel, and on emissions floating up into our ozone. Consider getting married at a local park, beach, or neighborhood church that you can take alternate transportation to.

Additionally, some reception sites are dedicated to green causes and can benefit from your patronage. Holding your ceremony or reception at such a location is one way to help; but you could also ask for donations to be made to such venues in lieu of wedding gifts and make an impact on your local environment.

Your wedding day is a special day for you and your soon-to-be spouse. Going green with your wedding is just a way to make it even more meaningful.

Choosing your Wedding Theme Colors

Remember that Goth girl in high school? How about that kid who always wore tie-died shirts or brightly colored socks. Color, especially in weddings, can set a mood and can help you make your day extra special.

The Goth girl is remembered because she always wore black or sported bright lipstick or colored hair. The kid who dressed in bright colors will likely be remembered for his choices because they were bold and stood out. Color not only augments, it creates an impression in people’s mind that helps them get in (or out) of a mood.

So how can you ensure that the colors you choose for your wedding collection, favors or other articles set the mood you are looking to achieve? The answer to that is to use the advice that politicians use when planning public events: Use basic or soft colors as your main themes and darker or bolder colors to augment the primary colors. This is why you often would see a red power tie and a blue suit in the 1980′s or more recently, a blue tie with a grey suit and white shirt.

Politicians figures out a long time ago that certain colors give off a certain aura. They use colors to set a mood or appear in a certain light. In the two instances mentioned above, red ties exuded power and authority, while blue ties impressed focus groups as quietly confident and determined.

The same logic applies to your wedding theme colors. You should choose bolder colors to highlight clothes or to make lines or shades appear streamlined. Additionally, your choices of colors should be tailored to your wedding party’s physical appearance. Certain colors make people look pale or grim while other colors obscure fair skin or make darker skin look murky.

Choosing some colors can also help you set he overall theme. The Autumn Splendor Collection, for instance incorporates yellow, brown, orange and green while the Winter Wonder Collection embraces white and dazzling crystal to evoke a sense of a winter wonderland. Match your color theme to your overall wedding theme and you cannot go wrong.

What wedding theme colors you choose can set the entire mood for your day. Sticking to basics is the key. In addition, making sure to use colors in their appropriate roles can make you and your wedding party dazzle all in attendance.