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Wedding Table Decorations For A Destination Wedding – Ask The Expert Answer

August 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Pascaline:

I am soooo confused…  I don’t know what to do for our wedding tables decorations…in regard to colours.  We love the mix of black, white and yellow.  My bridesmaid dresses are yellow.  I was kinda thinking of black or charcoal tablecloth with a wood type bamboo brown table runner and vases with yellow flowers and we are having a destination wedding so seashells and starfish.  I want it to be boyish and girlish. We love punk-rock style but still want to put lottttts of candles. What do you think?

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Pascaline, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  Black, white and yellow is a great colour combination.  The key to a wow factor is to have dark and light juxtaposed in a way that makes you notice.  Black tablecloths with a brown wood runner is dark on dark—works well, but does not create a wow factor.  Think white tablecloths with black table runners and black napkins, and yellow flowers.  That would pop!  Or, black tablecloths, with white table runners and napkins, and yellow flowers.  That also would really pop.  That does not mean that your idea of wood-type bamboo brown table runners is a bad idea!  It would look great on either white or black tablecloths, but would give the overall look a more subdued statement.  So, it depends upon what you like.

As for lots of candles, well, I think lots (and I mean lots) of candles creates a whole atmosphere in itself.  I love the idea of lots of candles.  You could have groupings of pillar candles for your centrepieces in varying heights to create a true statement.   Candles grouped at the buffet table, cake table, and so forth can continue the theme.  Candles are inexpensive (compared to other centrepieces) and come in a variety of colours to accent your table linens.  Whether you choose to sprinkle tea lights everywhere, or go more substantial with pillar candles, you cannot go wrong with candles. 

Check out these wedding collections.  They are very beautiful, and you might find the ‘scattered pearls’ collection or the ‘seaside allure’ wedding collection just what you are looking for.

These ideas should help you get to your final decision.  If you have further question feel free to ask.  If you are reading this and have some ideas of your own, feel free to add your comments below.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

 

 

 

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Beach Weddings, Colour themed, Colours, Decorations, Reception, Themes

Will Red and Yellow Be Good Wedding Colours? – Ask The Expert Answer

August 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Charlene:

I was thinking about having red and yellow as my wedding colors, with an accent of orange. My wedding is in August, so I was thinking fall colors.  Will this color scheme work together? And what are the best shades of reds, yellows and oranges will work together without clashing?

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

dreamstime_1513126_1.jpgHi Charlene, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  Yes, red and yellow work really well together. Accents of orange are perfect with that combination.  Colours which are next to each other on the colour wheel (red, orange, yellow) are known as complementary colours.  This photo of a red and yellow colour scheme is accented with green and white, which is perfect for a winter wedding.  Accents of orange is more appropriate for an August wedding. 

When it comes to choosing your shades, the trick is to make sure they have the same undertone and saturation.  Basically this means that you want to have all your colour choices the same colour strength.  You don’t want to have pale yellow with bright red. The colours all need to be bold colours, or they need to be all soft colours. 

This photo blends pink and orange, which on first glance, most people would not put together.  But, notice both colours have the same strength of colour.  That is the trick to blending colours so they go together well.

Before you finalize your exact colour choices, consider what colour table linens you will have available to you.  This video I made on Wedding Colour Ideas explains how to put colours together.  Also, consider what wedding ceremony and wedding reception decorations you have available to you. 

Although wedding favours are a great way to thank your guests for attending, and to enhance your wedding theme, they can also add to the colour scheme of your wedding reception table. 

Put your whole wedding look together by choosing wedding invitations to reflect your colour scheme. 

Enjoy planning your wedding colours, and if you have further questions, feel free to ask.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

 

 

 

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed, Colours, Decorations, Red Wedding Themes, Themes, Wedding Favours

How Do I WOW My Guests On A Limited Budget? – Ask The Wedding Expert Answer

July 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Karen:

Hi, I’m getting married on  27febuary 2010 in a nice beach hotel in Mexico. Is going to be an outdoor wedding but not in the sand.  I’m looking for a wedding theme (unexpensive) but with a look of luxury.  I really love beach weddings but I don’t like the typical shells decor… what other options you recommend for decorating it?

It is going to be at night with a forward view of the beach.  I’ll love to have something that really wows people without expending a lot of money.  The hotel offers me white or beige table linens with golden chairs and that’s it.   Thanks.

reception table.jpgAnswer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Karen, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  I, personally, love destination weddings, but they DO have the side effect of limited choices in linens and decorations.

My first thought is to explore the option of a flower theme.  Flowers are much less expensive in Mexico (and other Carribean countries) than other places in North America, and they do give the feel of luxury.  Explore your flower options, and see what you can arrange.  With flowers that you can get there, you won’t have to bring so many things along with you to create the look that you want.

Ask your hotel what colour napkins they have available.  Also ask them if they have table runners.  If they have coloured napkins, you can use one napkin on the centre of each table as a table square to give yourself some colour. 

Basically you have white, beige and gold for your colour choices.  I’m not sure how "yellow" your gold chairs are, but let’s assume they are yellowy.  Both white and beige are neutral, so let’s concentate on the fact that you might have ‘yellow" in your decor.

As you can see from this photo, that white on white can look very spectacular with a nice pop of colour.  So if you have the choice of white linens, and white napkins, your ‘gold’ chairs with flowers in yellow, violet, purple, and pink could be very beautiful.

You could go with blue, yellow, and melon as another colour option.  This video I made on wedding colour ideas will help you with what other colours go well together.  

Because your decoration choices are limited by cost and the hassle of bringing it to Mexico, you might consider some sinamay mesh or tulle which is really a net fabric and quite light to transport.  You can use these fabrics to accent the head table or to add colour into your decor. 

Once you choose your colours, consider unique wedding favours to make a statement.  They can reflect your personality as a couple, and there are many great destination wedding themed wedding favours that don’t have the tradition sea shells.  I was at a destination wedding where all the guests were given small photo album wedding favours that allowed us to put our photos of the wedding and the trip.  It is a great keepsake that I keep on my fireplace mantel. 

Once you have decided on your colours and overall decor, it is important to find a wedding invitation to reflect your overall theme and look.  Whether you choose the destination wedding type invitations or go more subtle with a colour themed wedding invitation, you are sure to find something here.

I made this video on how to create a wow factor for your wedding which might give you some ideas. 

Good luck, and if you have further questions, feel free to email again.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

 

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Beach Wedding Favours, Beach Weddings, Colour themed, Colours, Decorations, Ideas, Invitations, Invitations, Themes, Wedding Favours

What Do I Base My Wedding Invitations On? – Ask The Expert Answer

July 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Emma:

Hi Please could you advise me. We are getting married next year in Italy.  Our wedding reception is in a restaurant on the beach front overlooking the sea. The centre piece have bowls with candles, sand and shells in them. Do I choose my invites going by colour? Italy? Or beach?

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Emma, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  It is difficult to answer your question without knowing how formal your wedding is.  If you are having a formal wedding, then your choices of wedding invitations is rather limited.  Formal invitations are always white or off white, have raised black printing, lined envelopes and so forth. 

If you are going more contemporary in style, but still going with an elegant or sophisticated look, then your invitations should reflect that.  Classy, understated wedding invitation designs in your wedding colours would work really well. 

If your wedding is more casual, then you can go with beach theme wedding invitations that have sea-shells or similar graphics.  As for an Italy theme, it would depend where you live.  If you live in Italy, then having an Italy theme doesn’t make sense, so I am assuming you live somewhere else in the world and are having a destination wedding.

If you are having a destination wedding, then your options change again.  Pretty well anything goes with destination weddings, allowing you to blend formal and casual in unique ways.  There are many great destination wedding invitations to check out if you follow this link and type in destination.

There are many invitations to choose from, but mostly you want the invitation to reflect the overall theme of your wedding—it’s formality, it’s style, and so forth.  You will be sure to find something to reflect that amongst these many choices.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert Answer

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Beach Weddings, Colour themed, Colours, Invitations, Themes

What Wedding Theme Goes With Lavender And Chocolate? – Ask The Expert Answer

July 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Lindsey:

Hi, Angela. We have a wedding set for October and the colours are lavender and chocolate. I would like to have a theme, but not sure what theme really
goes with our colours? Should we change them? I’m not letting go of the chocolate!!

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Lindsey, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  Lavender and chocolate is a beautiful colour combination, and I don’t think you should change it at all!  As for a wedding theme, have you considered a ‘colour theme’?  The simplest of all themes is a colour theme, and yours could be lavender and chocolate theme. 

These Lavender Candle wedding favours are very beautiful and would enhance your colour theme.  You could also use them in your decor by using them to decorate your reception tables, your guest book table and so forth.  Or, if you want to go with chocolate, these cocoa wedding favours are a classic choice, and you can have the packages printed with your own personalized message.  There are thousands of wedding favours to choose from, so browse through them to see what is available.  You are sure to find something that will add to your wedding theme. 

Don’t forget that aisle runners and many other wedding decorations come in a wide array of colours —including lavender and chocolate.  If you are looking for a theme, these wedding theme collections give you many choices, so check them out.  The Chocolate and Strawberry Cream Collection would work beautifully if you added pink to your lavender and chocolate colour scheme. 

I have made a video that talks about how to create a wedding theme.  It also may give you some ideas.  Don’t forget to include wedding invitations when planning your overall theme.  They too should reflect the theme of your wedding—and looking through them will give you some more choices. 

You have many options, so enjoy looking!

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed, Colours, Ideas, Invitations, Planning, Themes, Wedding Reception Themes

How Do I Make A Blue and White Colour Scheme Work For A Spring Wedding? – Ask The Expert Answer

July 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Carrie:

Hi.  This may be a long one (sorry).  I was originally planning my wedding for December this year so had the colour scheme of white and blue with small touches of silver (ie. jewelry), but now we have to postpone till march 2010.

The venue colours are quite old style, brown and yellow on the walls with gold ornate mirrors, wedgewood blue curtains and other small elements. The venue suited a winter wedding wonderfully but I’m not sure how to make a spring wedding match in with their warm and cosy decor.

My older bridesmaid will not wear a light colour, I have already brought silver jewelry. I thought about blue, orange and white with silver jewelry and maybe a few touches of yellow in the flowers but I thought this mighty be a bit autum’y.  Please help.

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Carrie, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  Your original plan of white, blue and silver is very lovely, and I see no need to change it!  I think if you just add a few other colours to the flowers it will add a touch of spring to the colour scheme. 

Option one is think ‘melon’ instead of orange, and you will have a perfect spring pop of colour.  Also, as you suggest, melon (complimentary to blue) goes very well with yellow.  You could even add some red to the melon and yellow to build depth into that colour combination (yellow-orange-red).  

Another option (my favourite) is to add greens and purples to the blue to create more depth in the colour scheme.  Talk to your florist for some floral suggestions to build on the blue.  Some white added to the blue, green and purple would be very beautiful.

Another combination would be blue, pink and lime-green.  This is a classic trio colour combination that would also look great. 

As for the venue colours, I think if you keep to your original colours, and then just fill them out a bit with greens/purples/whites, or some of the other combinations I suggest, you will have the spring look that you are looking for.  Brown is a neutral colour and goes with anything, and the yellow on the walls compliments the brown.  Blue and brown go very well together, so I don’t think you have anything to worry about in the decor.  It sounds pretty neutral overall.  Check out these wedding decorations to accent the colour scheme you have chosen.  There are thousands of wedding favours for you to choose from that can enhance your colour choices, and bring "spring" into your decorations. 

Good luck,and congratuations!

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

 

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed, Colours, Spring Weddings, Themes

What colour combines well with turquiose?

July 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Genevieve:

What colour combines well with turquiose? 

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Genevieve, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  This video I made on choosing your wedding colours will be helpful for picking colours. 

You can go with tonal colour, choosing multiple shades of turquoise for a lovely subdued effect.  To make a greater statement, you could choose blue and/or green.  A bolder statement would be to pair turquoise with orange or melon.  If you want a triadic colour scheme, turquoise-voilet-yellow is the combination to wow your guests. 

When decorating with your colours, you might want to consider creating table runners or chair bows from organza or mesh. 

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed, Colours, Decorations, Themes

How Do I Choose My Wedding Colours? – Ask The Expert Answer

July 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Dana:

Hi Angela, I am getting married on May 28, 2011 and I’ve started the actual planning process…I’m a little stuck on colors…some of my favorite colors are deep
purple, lavendar, cream, yellow, pink, red orange, choc, brown, navy blue.  Can you give me some ideas?..Thank you!

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Dana, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  The average wedding takes 250 hrs to plan, so it is good that you are starting early.  Very smart of you!  Just make sure you move forward on your "to do list" steadily, or you might find yourself scrambling at the last minute—something I see a lot in my work.  Make sure you have a nice wedding planning checklist to keep you moving forward. 

I made this video on How To Choose Your Wedding Colours that is part of a series of 20 videos of the questions brides ask the most.  This is one of them–How Do I Choose My Wedding Colours.  It gives you all the your choices. 

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

 

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed, Colours, Planning, Themes

Are Bronze and Yellow Good Wedding Colours? – Ask The Expert Answer

June 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Gloria:

Hi, i will be getting married in April 2010 and love the colors, Bronze and Yellow. i am thinking of incorporating black as well. Am tired of the usual white tables and white chairs and thought of having maybe bronze as the main color (table cloths) on the tables and yellow roses and black chargers or plates. My bridesmaids would then wear bronze dresses and the groom and groomsmen balck tuxes. Would this be a good color scheme?

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Gloria.  You have a great grasp of colour.  I think your choices are great!  I would recommend some use of neutral colour (white, black, brown) because it allows the eye to ‘rest’.  How about white napkins and white chairs, contrasting with the bronze table cloths.  The use of black chargers (plates) is a great touch.  The bronze dresses and black tuxedos work well together.  Bronze works much like brown—being more of a neutral colour.   It all sounds great!

Have you considered your wedding favours to finish off the tables?  This site has a HUGE selection and you are sure to find something that reflects your personality as a couple. 

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed, Colours, Planning, Reception, Wedding Favours

What Colour Goes With Teal? – Ask The Expert Answer

June 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Lacey:

What colors go along with Teal???

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Lacey,  This video on choosing wedding colours will help you see your many options.  Teal goes with other blues, purples and greens, as well as some orange colours.  Think melon and teal.  White (ivory, cream, etc.) and teal look beautiful together.  Another options is various shades of teal.  If you want bold colours, try mixing teal with yellow and purple.  The trick is to have the same undertone to your colour.  If the teal you chose has a grey undertone to it, you will want your other colours to also have a grey undertone to them.  If the teal is a bright teal, your other colors should have the same brightness.

Once you watch the video, google some colour wheels to see what other options you have.

If you have further questions, feel free to ask.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed, Colours, Decorations

Is It OK To Let The Bridesmaid’s Choose Their Own Styles? – Ask The Expert Answer

May 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Diletta:

Hi Angela.  I chose for my wedding a color theme: red and cream.  I told my bridesmaids that as long as their dress will be red and long I am happy.  Yes, I am not going to pick a style or material, I want them to feel comfortable with the outfit.  One of them already bought hers…and the wedding won’t be until next June (2010)!  Do you think I took the right decision?  Everybody told me yes, but I want the expert opinion!!! :)   Thank you,

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Diletta, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  The only concern I have is that not all reds are the same.  Some reds are quite bright, and some have a grey undertone, and not every person sees the same color or shade of color.  People are different, and how we see colour differs.  So, my question would be:  Do you want different shades of red for your bridesmaids?  If so, then yes, you have gone about it the right way.  If you want everyone to be the exact same colour, then you need to define the exact colour. 

Having everyone choose their own red colour and their own style is very "European"—the American style being more rigid in having everyone in the exact same dress. But you wanted my opinion.  Yes, I think you made the right decision in allowing everyone their individuality.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

 

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed, Colours, Red Wedding Themes, Themes, Wedding and Bridesmaid Dresses

What Colours Go With A Red Wedding Dress? – Ask The Expert Answer

May 15, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Brit:

My wedding gown is red.  What colors should I use for Maid of honor and Bridesmaids?

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Brit, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  You have a number of choices for your MOH and bridesmaids.  You can go with lighter shades of red, or into the pinks.  Any of the yellow or green family of colours would work well with red.  Brown and black go well with red also—-although black is a pretty strong colour for a wedding, but it doesn’t seem you are afraid of colour!!  So, those are the usual colours that go with red, although purple works well with red it is not a combination that is often seen. 

Those are the basic choices.  Good luck and if you have further questions, feel free to ask.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed, Wedding and Bridesmaid Dresses

What Colours Go With Brown For My Wedding? – Ask The Expert Answer

April 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Alicia:

Hello Angela, we are getting married in June in Las Vegas. I want to use brown in my wedding but i’m having a hard time picking other colors to coordinate with brown. I do not want to use blues or pinks. I feel like I might have to change my color and start over.

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Alicia, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  Brown is a neutral colour, so almost any colour will go with it.  In fact, you don’t NEED any other colours with brown.  Brown and white are as classically elegant as black and white. 

Some colours that go really well with brown are:  green, yellow, and melon.  Brown and ivory or cream are a classic combination—and of course, you can go with brown and white.   This video on wedding colours might be helpful to you. 

I was at a wedding last summer where the bridesmaids had brown tea length dresses.  Their flowers were a single stem white calla lily.  It was very beautiful. 

Hopefully this will give you some ideas.  These wedding favours will also give you some ideas—you can search by colour or type in the search box.  If you have further questions, feel free to email again. 

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Calla Lily, Colour themed, Colours

What Colours Go With An Outdoor Wedding? – Ask The Expert Answer

April 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Ellen:

I am planning an outdoors ceremony with the reception inside a lodge.  This is a second-time wedding for me, and my dress is vintage, a dusky blush
almost peachy pink with an ivory overlay.  I want to go for a relaxed casual theme. 

I have collected dozens of marvelous vases to use in clusters or scattered lines of fresh flowers down long tables for centerpieces.  The vases are all mixed – clear glass, cut crystal, white milk glass, copper, silver, brass, some vintage-look ivory ceramic or porcelain with gold rims.  They’re all different heights and shapes, some are lovely bowls for floating blooms in. 

I cannot decide on colors for the flowers and table linens.  The lodge is very rustic with log beams and a stone fireplace.  It is a summer afternoon wedding in July, so I’d thought bright colors would be nice, but my dress is soft-colored. 

Does my dress and bouquet have to match the rest of the wedding?  I am having my daughter as my matron of honor.  Does her dress and flowers need to blend with mine? 

Can I have bright flowers with all those different vases?  I’m planning on shepherd hooks with hanging mason jars down the aisles of the ceremony.  I’m at such a loss on choosing colors that won’t look tacky with all the vases.  Any help would be so appreciated!

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Ellen, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  Thanks for such detailed descriptions, as it makes it easier for me to respond!  Let’s talk about the vases first.  They sound lovely, and you really should just ignore the colour of them, since you have different kinds.  It is the flowers in the vases that will make the statement, not the vases, so you should be OK with the vases. 

You instinct for bright colours is correct.  Lodges tend to be wood, giving a "dark" look (compared to painted walls).  So bright colours is the perfect choice.  It is fine that your dress is not of the same colour.  You are the bride and you WANT to stand out.  Beside, from a technical point of view, your dress is neutral, so don’t worry about it matching anything.  It doesn’t have to, and shouldn’t. 

Your flowers will not look tacky as long as you keep the flowers consistent.  It’s OK to have the vases different, but the flowers should be the same in all the vases. 

Once you choose a wedding colour (I suspect you have a good idea of what you want), that colour should be in flowers, and in the MOH dress.  The MOH could have a pale version of the prominent flower colour so it is more in keeping with the paleness of your dress.  But that is not necessary–she could have a bold colour too.

What table linen colours are available to you at the lodge?  Take some pictures of the vases and mason jars, and go see your florist.  They will suggest the right kind of flowers in keeping with the vases that you have.  Pictures of the lodge would also help them know the backdrop the flowers will be completing with for attention of the eye.  This is their expertise, so go see them.  Ask for a written quote for your wedding flower needs. 

Good luck and if you have further questions, feel free to email again.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

 

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed, Colours, Outdoor Weddings, Planning, Reception

What Wedding Colours Go With Red and Yellow Walls? – Ask The Expert Answer

April 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Charmaine:

Hi, I have booked my wedding reception at a hotel which has yellow and red walls, it’s called a colosseum room. I have not chosen my bridesmaid dresses yet.  I was thinking about lilac or a light colour for the bridemaid dresses.  Will these colours go with the room or have you any suggestions.

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Charmaine, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  Red and yellow walls!  I am assuming they would call it red and gold. Those are bold colours.  I assume that it is a large room?  The real question is what is the lighting like?  Most hotel rooms allow you to adjust lighting in such a way that allow the walls to disappear.  If the yellow is prominent on the walls, with dim lighting it can almost look neutral.  The ceiling lighting usually highlights the tables and how they are decorated, so your colours would be prominent.  The wall sconces (if there are any) can be dimly lit. 

I suggest you call the site, and ask to see the room set for a function with the lighting appropriately dimmed.  Then you will know exactly how it will look and can make your decision.  Lilac sounds like a lovely colour, and you might find these wedding colour choices interesting and helpful.

Good luck and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed, Planning, Reception

Do Wedding Colours of Gold and Lilac Go Together? – Ask The Expert Answer

March 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Arnel:

I picked out a light gold wedding dress and I really can’t find what would gol with it. Would a lavender or lilac color go with gold?

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  Your colour choices sound beautiful, and I think they will go very well together. 

Gold can have a yellow undertone, or a brown undertone.  A gold with a yellowish undertone would work beautifully with lavender or lilac.   I took a quick look for gold wedding favours and lavender wedding favours and found some beautiful ones.  Check them out.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed, Decorations, Themes

What Colour Goes With Blue For My Wedding? – Ask The Expert Answer

March 15, 2009 By Leave a Comment

complementary colour scheme.jpgQuestion from Saina:

My fiance color is blue for our wedding day.  So I am lost of what color goes with blue to compliment the bridal line and flower girls.  So desperate of color options please.

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Saina, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  You have a lot of choices with the colour blue.  Blue and silver are a classic and beautiful combination.  You can choose various shades of blue for your wedding colours.  Another option is to use blue and orange as they make a great complementary colour scheme.

You can also go with blue and purple, or blue and green.  The key is to keep the intensity of the colours you use similar.  Think of a soft blue and a soft pink together.  There are many options with the colour blue.  Check out the document "Wedding Colour Choices Made Easy" to help you decide on your wedding colours. 

Good luck and if you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed, Planning, Reception

How Do I Use My Wedding Colours In My Decor? – Ask The Expert Answer

March 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Ronishia:

I have a lot of favorite colors and I want to incorporate them in my wedding decorations, my dress, and my reception.  How would I do that?   My colors are green, blue, purple, accented with gold or silver.  Are these good colors for a wedding?

Answer from Wedding Expert Angela:

Hi Roshina, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  Your colours sound lovely and with gold or silver would make a lovely colour statement.  Silver is the traditional wedding colour, so you if you want to go traditional, go with silver.  If you want something a little different, go with the gold.  Personally, I would go with silver because I think it is a better contrast with the green, blue and purple, and will lighten the palette of colours you have chosen.

You can get a wedding gown in any of your chosen colours—green, blue or purple.  If you wanted a white wedding dress, some designs have an inserted panel of colour in the train of the dress to bring in one of your colours.  Check out these wedding dresses for some ideas.

The most common ways to bring your colours into your decor are through tablecloths, table runners or squares, napkins, table skirting, mesh or tulle draping along the tables, chair covers, flowers, wedding favours, and table centrepieces.  You can also add drama to the decor in your reception room through an arbor, trellis, fountain, or ice sculpture to name the most common elements. 

Speak with your reception site before planning your decorations to see what they have available to you.  They know what works best in their space, and have contacts with all the local rental agencies to get you what you want.  Look at bridal magazines for more ideas on how to incorporate colour into your design.

Good luck, and feel free to email again if you have any questions.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

 

 

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed, Reception

How Do I Use My Wedding Colours To Decorate A Room? – Ask The Expert Answer

March 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Shea:

Hey Angela! I have a pretty good idea of the colors I want for my reception I’m just having a tough time figuring out how and where to use each of them.  The colors are brown, cranberry red, and a deep orange. Thanks!

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  The colours you have chosen will look very beautiful.  The colours you are using should be showcased in some way on every table.  You have a number of table options: 

1.  white tablecloths and coloured napkins

2.  white tablecloths and coloured table runners/squares

3.  wedding favours in your colour(s)

4.  flowers or a centrepiece that showcase your colours. If you are using flowers, you might want ribbon in your wedding colours to accent the arrangement.

By using tulle or sinamay mesh in your colours, you can create draping on the head table, cake table, and table where the guest book will be put.  The guest book table gives you another opportunity to highlight your colours again through flowers, or some type of focal point.  Another way to use tulle or mesh is to "disguise" any unsightly objects in your reception room—like the sound system, podium, etc.

If you have an archway, or portable fountain, or an ice sculpture, or any other objects in your reception room, tulle/mesh with a light garland not only lets you accent your colours, but adds some sparkle to the decor. 

When using any of these suggestions, you have the choice of combining the colours each time, using a different colour each time, or doing a combination of the two.  For example, you might choose to have brown napkins at one table, red napkins at another table and orange napkins at another table.  If you go this route, you will want to bring the other two colours into the table through the runners/squares (say one runner in each colour), or through a strong statement of ribbon on your flower arrangement (not to mention the flower colours themselves). 

I personally like the use of ribbon as it lets you combine your colours, and ribbon is inexpensive.  You can create little bows to scatter on a table, or use larger ribbon and create bows to accent a floral arrangement, or use on a table instead of draping. 

Most reception sites have table skirting, so using skirting in a predominant colour can also keep your colours front and centre.   Remember, the colours you are using do not need to "match" exactly, but they should be a shade of that colour with the same undertone so it looks put together. 

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

Angela

 

 

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Autumn Theme, Colour themed, Decorations, Decorations, Ideas, Reception, Reception Centerpiece Ideas, Red Wedding Themes, Wedding Reception Themes

What Colour Would Be Nice For A Bridemaid Dress? – Ask The Expert Answer

March 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Tamara:

Dear Angela, My wedding is coming up on July 4th 2009, and I’m having problems getting a colour scheme.  I really like the idea of having mostly white decorations, with possibly some bright centerpieces, (red,pink and peach).  What colour would you suggest for bridesmaids dresses?

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Tamara and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  The .pdf I wrote called Wedding Colour Choices Made Easy might help you decide how to incorporate colours into your decor.  If you want to stay mostly white, I would recommend you use white with different textures.  That is how to create visual interest in a monochromatic look. 

Any one of your colours would work really well with white.  In fact, you could use both red and pink (next to each other on the colour wheel) in your decor, as they work really well together.  If you kept the colour tones the same (all bright or soft) you could even use peach with red and pink.  I would suggest red and pink, with touches of peach thrown in here and there in the flowers. 

There are some great bridemaid dresses here, including a wonderful After Six  bridesmaid dress here that comes in over 50 colours.  Any one of the colours you suggest would work nicely for a bridemaid dress, but I would see what colouring your bridemaids have to find a colour that suits their skin tone.. 

Remember that you can also accent your decor with wedding favours that can either fit into your "splashes of colour" or you can find neutral ones that will keep the soothing tone of your overall colour scheme.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.  

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert 

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Candle Favors, Colour themed, Decorations, Wedding and Bridesmaid Dresses

What Colours Go With Mauve For My Wedding? -Ask The Expert Answer

February 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Zita:

Dear Angela, I am a Ghanaian girl and my wedding is just around the corner. I would like the know what other two colours  that I can combine with a mauve colour to get a nice wedding colours. Please help me! 

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Zita, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  You have a number of choices with mauve: 1) you can go with different shades of mauve—from dark to light;  2) you can go with purple and pink in the same colour tones; 3) you can go with yellow in the same colour tones; 4) you can go with light blue and burnt orange if you wanted bolder colours; or 5) you can go with neutral colours like whites, beige/browns, and grey/blacks. 

You might enjoy looking through Wedding Colour Choices Made Easy which is available here.   It will help you choose colours for your wedding.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed, Decorations, Planning

Wedding Colour Choices Made Easy!

February 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Wedding-Colour-Choices sm.jpg

This 10 page document, written by our Bridal Expert, Angela Fiebelkorn, explains the basic principles of using a colour wheel to figure out what colours go together. 

 Explore Tonal Colour Schemes, Complementary Colour Schemes, Harmonious Colour Schemes, and Triadic Colour Schemes, as well as the use of neutrals and texture in design.  Filled with pictures to explain each concept as they are presented, this handy document is a great primer to design and decor planning.  Using these principles will give you the knowledge and confidence to make choosing your wedding colours an easy task.

 Remember, we are always available on the blog to answer your personal wedding planning questions. 

 If you would like to receive this .pdf file, sign up for our SmartBrideTM Newsletter.  When you sign up, we give three bonus wedding planning tools which includes: 

  • Wedding Colour Choices Made Easy (a .pdf document),
  • The Hidden Meaning of Wedding Flowers  (a 3 part video series) and
  • The Secret of Dressing Your Body Type (another .pdf document). 

Remember, the newsletter is free, and you can cancel at any time. 

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed, Decorations, Decorations, Planning, Reception, Red Wedding Themes

What Colour Goes With Sky Blue For My Wedding? – Ask The Expert Answer

January 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Chelsea:

My fiancee and I haven’t exactly pinned down when we want the wedding yet, we’ve just worked out that we’d like a spring wedding outside in the ‘backyard’ of our farm.  After a semi long debate about colors we came up with one and I would really like 2 just so that its not over bearing.  Can I get some advice on what decent colors go with Sky Blue? He’s pretty well against any green and I still can’t figure out anything.

My other issue is towards my girls dresses. I have one plus sized (and fairly top heavy) brides maid, one very slender (and not so well endowed) brides maid and one very dark skinned maid of honour.  How can I coordinate all there different shapes and sizes with a single dress style? I don’t like each girl with there own style or what not of dress with my colors. I’m a little wierd like that I suppose… Help?

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Chelsea, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  Sky blue is a beautiful colour and a nice choice.   You can go ‘tonal‘ in your colour scheme with various shades of sky blue.  You can choose "harmonious colours" like dark blue and turquoise in the same colour tones.  You can pick a "complementary colour" like orange.  You can also put neutrals with sky blue, like white, cream, ivory, or beige.  Have you considered silver?  Silver and blue is a classic combination.  The important thing is to have the same colour strength or tone.  If you have a soft sky blue, your  accent colours should be soft also.  If you have a bold sky blue, the accent colour should be the same tone or boldness.   This article on choosing your wedding colours will be helpful.

When choosing what colours to put together, I often recommend looking at the wedding favours and the wedding decorations and wedding supplies that are available.  Sometimes you will find something you really love in colours that will inspire your colour scheme, and the good thing will be that you will have your wedding favours or decorations in which to bring those colours more fully into your wedding decor. 

Regarding your bridesmaid dress sizes, you have a lot of choices.   Most bridesmaid dresses that you order online come in everything from size 4 to size 28W.   This article on how to choose the right style for your body type will help you define the best choice.   The one style that suits every body type is a classic A-line dress. 

If you have any other questions, feel free to comment in the box below and I will respond.  Good luck and enjoy the process.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

 

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed, Wedding and Bridesmaid Dresses

Which Wedding Colours Are Better–White and Gold, or White and Silver? – Ask The Expert Answer

December 31, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Question from Ejikeme:

I am planning my wedding for Easter 2010, so 2009 will be the "plan year".  I will be holding the wedding in Nigeria.  My fiancee likes the colours gold and white OR white and silver.  Respecting your expertise, what colors will be more georgous?

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Ejikeme, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  You are smart to be planning your wedding so far in advance.  It makes the entire process much more enjoyable. 

Both colour schemes you mention would be beautiful.  Here are some things to consider.  It is a long-held tradition that royal wedding gowns were silver in colour.  About 100 years ago, that changed to white weddings, but silver is still the accent colour from that tradition.  Usually you will find silver in the jewellery, handbags, and shoes.  So the combination of silver and white is very traditional.

Gold, of course, is the colour of wealth, and signifies prosperity.  Gold and white are beautiful together.  I suggest you consider some practical issues.  For example, it is much easier to find gold/yellow table napkins than silver ones, so that is consideration when planning the decorations for your reception tables.  With gold/yellow you have more choices for wedding decorations, although some silver decorations are available.  When it comes to choosing your flowers, shades of white and yellow/gold are much easier to find that silver flowers! You could decorate your bridal bouquet with silver and crystal accents, but they will be subtle and harder to see than if you used yellows/golds. 

I see no reason why you cannot use white, silver and gold.  White and silver are neutral in colour, and with the yellowy-gold colour it would make an elegant statement in your decor.   You could also choose white, silver, and a soft pink colour.  In fact, with white and silver being neutral, you could combine it with any colour you like.  This article will give you some ideas on how to choose your wedding colours. 

Choosing your wedding colours is a very personal statement, and your first choices are excellent.  If you want more colours in your decor, you can put them in quite easily.  If you have any other questions, please feel free to email again.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed

What Colours Go With A Turquoise Sash For My Wedding? – Ask The Expert Answer

December 30, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Question from Mirian:

What colour is better to combine with a turquoise green satin sash?

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Mirian.  This article on choosing your wedding colours will help you see the various ways you can combine colours.  Turquoise is really a combination of blue and green.  The complementary colour of blue-green is red-orange.  The harmonious colours of blue-green are blue and green.  If you wanted to go tonal or monochromatic in your colour scheme, you could use various shades of turquoise.  If you wanted a bolder statement, the triadic colours are yellow-green, and blue-violet.  Triadic colours are colours that are an equal distance apart on a colour wheel.  For a bolder triadic statement, you could go with yellow and/or purple. 

The main thing is to keep the colour tones similar.  You don’t want a dark red-orange with the lighter turquoise.  They need to be the same intensity of colour to be balanced.  Always remember that your neutral colours of white, black, and brown (and all their shades) will go well with turquoise.  Enjoy choosing your colours and make them a personal statement of your unique style.

If you have further questions, please feel free to email.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed

What Colours Go With Brown For My Wedding Colours? – Ask The Expert Answer

December 28, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Question from Marysia:

Hi, I am completely stumped as to wedding colors / theme. We are getting married on October 24/2009.  My fiancee would like a dark blue and I’m not stuck on any particular color – but I do know the location we are getting married the chair covers that we are required to get are a deep mahogany brown.  Will this brown go with a deep and lets say a white also?  I know red would go with it – but are there any other ones ?

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Marysia and congratulations on your upcoming marriage.  How nice to get an email from someone who is thinking practically about colours—the deep mahogany brown is a perfect jumping off point for your wedding colours.  Unfortunately, you still have a lot of colours to choose from for your wedding colours.

Brown, black and white are all neutral colours, so any other colour you choose will go with it.  One way to go is to choose a colour in the same deep tone as the mahogany brown.  Another option is to keep the mahogany brown as your neutral background colour, and choose one or two colours to go with it. 

Ivory and brown work beautifully together, and I was at a wedding this summer that had the bridesmaids in beautiful brown cocktail dresses.  It was lovely with the cream/ivory accents.  I suggest you google images for a colour wheel and look at your options.  With brown as a neutral, any colour will go.  You can go tonal (one colour in various shades), complementary (colours across the colour wheel from each other), harmonious (colours next to each other on the colour wheel), or triadic (equal distance apart from each other on the colour wheel). 

Since it is a fall wedding, you might choose to go with fall colours and create an autumn theme.  Think nature.  Think brown in nature.  What colours do you like in the fall palette?  Look in bridal magazines, colour magazine advertisements, or even paintings to see what colours you like, and how they go together.  Your wedding is a celebration of love that allows you to really express yourself, and show off your personal style.  Go with your instincts, and if you have further questions, feel free to email me again.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Autumn Theme, Colour themed

What Colours Go With Burgundy and Ivory For My Wedding? – Ask The Expert Answer

December 27, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Question from Christine:

I’m planning a summer wedding and had chosen Burgundy and Ivory as my main colours.  I would like to know what other colours goes well with these two
colours?

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Christine, and congratulations on  your upcoming wedding.  Burgundy and ivory are great colours.  To accent this, choose a nice kaki or moss green colour.  Keep the colours the same strength (tone) to have them work together.  Ivory is a great neutral with green and burgundy being complementary colours (across the colour wheel from each other).  

Your other options are tonal (monochromatic) with a variety of shades of burgundy with your neutral ivory.  Another option is harmonious colours (next to burgundy on the colour wheel) which would be into the reds or purples, depending upon the undertone of your burgundy.  If you are feeling bold, you might choose triadic colours like blue-green, and yellow-orange with your burgundy.  No matter which colours you choose, make sure they have the same colour tone—you don’t want to mix a pastel with a bold colour.   There are many choices when choosing your wedding colours, and almost all of them can be made to work if used in the right way with your neutrals. 

If you have any other questions, feel free to email again.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed

How Do I Decorate My Wedding Reception Using a Rainbow of Colours? – Ask The Expert Answer

December 25, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Question from Natalie:

Hi. My name is Natalie. I’m getting married August 1, 2009. We ended up choosing a multi-color scheme. We’re having red, orange, yellow, blue, green, pink, purple & turquoise. I want the colors everywhere without it looking like a cheesy kids party.  I’ve read that it’s best to keep your colors going throughout the reception & all, but I’m worried that with so many colors it will look cheesy.  Would mainly white with splashes of the colors look ok?  It’s hard to find pictures of weddings with this many colors.  I have 5 bridesmaids, 2 jr bridesmaids & the flower girl all in different color dresses. Thanks!

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Natalie and congratuations on your upcoming wedding.  How wonderful that you are so bold as to choose a multitude of colours!  You are correct, you need to keep the colours going throughout your decor.  The trick here is to keep the colour grouping consistent.  If you have these colours together in your decor, it will look fine.  If you split them apart into certain colours here, and different colours there, it will lose the look you are going for.  So plan to have your decor reflect all the colours together. 

The least expensive way to do this is through the use of ribbon.  If white roses on the tables are decorated with ribbons in  your colours, it will look well put together.  If you have red, orange and yellow flowers on one table, and blue, green and purple on another table, it will lose the cohesive look.  Using neutral colours like white, black, or brown (in the same bright or soft tones as your colour palette) will unify the look.  Treat your full colour palette as one accent colour group with a neutral colour choice.  This will avoid the "cheesy kids party" you are trying to avoid.  The use of white, for example, with the multicolours being a single accent group is how to pull this look off in an elegant way. 

Although I suggested ribbon to unify the decor, there are other alternatives.  You can have strips of cloth in your multicolours accent a tablecloth similar to a table runner.  Because of the bold statement of your colour palette, less is more, so be strategic in how you use the accent colours.  You don’t want them overpowering the neutral colour you choose—keep all those colours as your accent.  By doing this, you will maintain the right balance between your neutral and your accent colours. 

Wedding favours come in a variety of colours, and you can choose to use all the colours in your wedding colour palette for your wedding favours. 

If you have any other questions, please feel free to email again.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

 

 

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed

Does Pink Go With Orange and Red? – Ask The Expert Answer

December 24, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Question from Kelly:

Hi Angela, I have decided to use a bright red/orange for the matron of honours’ wedding ribbon and flower and am undecided on whether the dress in a light pink of some kind would clash or could be good fun.  We’re in our early 30′s and like to have fun so it reflects what we wanted which was a celebration rather than serious and more romantic style.  However, what I obviously need to avoid is it looking tacky rather than stylish!

Can you suggest a pink that would go with red/orange or another combination colour? Thanks for your advice.

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Kelly, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  The important thing when adding pink to the red/orange is to keep the colour palette in the same tones.  So, if you are using bright orange/red, your pink needs to be in the same bright tone.  This gives the colours a cohesive look and they would work well together.  If you used a pale pink, for example, the accent colours would overpower the light pink, and it would not look right. 

If you choose to go with another colour, yellow would work well with red, orange, and pink—not that I want to add more colour, but you do have other options.  This article on choosing your wedding colours will give you a guidelines to follow when choosing your wedding colours.  There are many ways to incorporate wedding favours and wedding decorations into your overall colour scheme, but the important thing is to keep the colour tones the same strength. 

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

 

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed, Decorations, Ideas

How Do We Put Our Spanish Heritage Into Our Wedding Theme? – Ask The Expert Answer

December 21, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Question from Victoria:

We need help. My fiance is Latino and I am Spanish. We want to carry our heritage out in our wedding theme. We want it to be pretty, elegant yet festive and colorful. What colors would you suggest for us? I really have a thing for the colors pink and chocolate, but not sure if that is enough splash for a Spanish wedding. And what about flowers and decor, any suggestions would be greatly be appreciated.  Thank you.

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Victoria, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  Choosing colours for your wedding is a very personal thing, and there is no one true way—it is a personal expression. 

Pink and chocolate are great colours, and when you are choosing them they should have the same colour tone.  If you are using a dark chocolate colour, use an equally vibrant pink.  If you are using a soft pink, you should have a soft brown colour. 

Most nationalities use the colours of their flag to make a colour statement (ie. red and yellow is identified with Spain, sometimes with blue, sometimes with green).  Some cultures tend to use other specific colours, and this preference is often regional, so may differ depending on the spanish community you belong to.  I suggest you take a look at spanish architecture and paintings by spanish artists to identify the colour combinations you like the best.  This is your wedding, and the colours you choose should be because you like them, and want them. 

In the article shown above, you might choose traidic colours like red, yellow and blue, which include the typical spanish colours.  This would be a bold statement and since you have chosen chocolate and pink, I don’t think you would be happy using those colours.  Brown is a neutral colour, and pink is a great accent colour with the white that accompanies weddings.  Although you can choose whatever you like, my suggestion is to go with your first choice of chocolate and pink.  Additional touches of white in that colour scheme would be very beautiful and elegant.

If you look at the wedding decorations or the wedding favours that are available, you will get ideas on how to incorporate your colours into your wedding decor.  Study magazines, and surf the internet for other ideas.  Without knowing your taste, it is difficult to suggest anything more specific. 

Instead of making your wedding a big spanish statement, let the wedding be a statement about you and your fiance.  You can incorporate the latin influence in key things like the wedding cake table, or the guest book table at the reception, to acknowledge your heritage.  Talk to your eldest relatives for family traditions that are no longer kept, and you might get some great personal ideas for making your wedding day uniquely yours.

Once you have your colours chosen, flowers and decor automatically follow those colours, so take your time, and choose what you love.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to email again.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed
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