I love that Valentine's Day this year falls on a weekend, giving us all more quality time to spend with our sweeties. Let's get this weekend off to a Valentine's Day state of mind with a Valentine's Inspired Wedding Inspiration Board!
Though I'm not usually a gal to migrate towards pink. In fact it's personally probably my most hated color choice, but I do think pink for valentine's day is a softer, more romantic color to bring in the holiday than red which just seems vampy to me. Pair it with lots of crystal, gorgeous handwritten calligraphy, satin ribbon accents and lots of candles and you have the recipe for a perfectly romantic evening.
What are your plans this Valentine's Day? Not sure what my husband has planned for me, but he's never been one to disappoint or not surprise me in some crazy unique way. I guess we'll have to wait and see...
Sure, it's standard for couples to hire photographers to cover weddings. Always have and probably always will. Then, back not to long ago engagement photo shoots were all the rage and a trend that's here to stay. Now it's pretty standard for couples to book an engagement session in addition to their wedding.
I absolutely LOVE this new trend I'm starting to see all of my photographer friends do... proposal photo shoots!
Grooms to be, if you're about to ask your girl to share her life with you this coming Valentine's Day, definitely consider this option. Lots of photographers are now offering packages where they will document you popping the question. They document the before, during and after. The results are a lovely memory of one of the most special moments of a couple's life.
A special thanks to Alecia Lauren and Sharon Bushman for sharing these fantastic images of their client's most special moment.
When planning my own wedding with my husband, we were probably most excited about picking the music. Everything from the procession music to our grand entrance song, and most importantly our first dance song.
The first dance is such an important part of your wedding. For us, it was important to us to not pick a quote unquote "traditional" song. We have a very eclectic taste in music and we wanted to showcase this at our wedding. The only thing not working in our favor is we listen more to the music and not necessarily the lyrics of any song.
After much discussion, the two of us were so excited to choose "Head Over Heels" by the ever so fabulous 80's band Tears for Fears. We loved the into of the song and thought it would make a perfect entrance, with us then launching straight into the first dance. My friends and family on the other hand had different options of this.
Apparently being we never really listened to the lyrics and there is some sketchy stuff said towards the end of the song that could be interpreted a number of different ways. Here's the lyrics:
I wanted to be with you alone and talk about the weather But traditions I can trace against the child in your face Won't escape my attention You keep your distance with a system of touch and gentle persuasion I'm lost in admiration, could I need you this much Oh, you're wasting my time, you're just, just, just wasting time
Something happens and I'm head over heels I never find out till I'm head over heels Something happens and I'm head over heels Ah, don't take my heart, don't break my heart Don't, don't, don't throw it away (Throw it away...Throw it away...)
I made a fire and watching it burn (yeah) Thought of your future With one foot in the past now just how long will it last No, no, no, have you no ambitions, oh (What's the matter with...) My mother and my brothers used to breathing clean air (Nothing ever changes when you're acting your age) And dreaming I'm a doctor (Nothing gets done when you feel like a baby) It's hard to be man when there's a gun in your hand. (Nothing ever changes when you're acting your age) Oh, I feel so…
Something happens and I'm head over heels I never find out till I'm head over heels Something happens and I'm head over heels Ah, don't take my heart, don't break my heart Don't, don't, don't throw it away
And this is my four leaf clover I'm on the line, one open mind, this is my four leaf clover
(La la la la la, la la la la la, la la la la la la) (La la la la la, la la la la la, la la la la la la) (La la la la la, la la la la la, la la la la la la) (La la la la la, la la la la la, la la la la la la) (La la la la la, la la la la la) In my mind's eye (la la la la la la) One little boy, one little man (La la la la la, la la la la la) Funny how...TIME FLIES!!!
My mother in particular didn't take to well to the line "it's hard to be a man with a gun in your hand". I kinda saw her point. Also, he's pleading the girl not to break his heart. Not exactly the most romantic song, huh?
So we quickly went back to the drawing board and decided on the Ronettes "Be My Baby", of Dirty Dancing fame. We took dancing lessons and learned to Samba, which definitely made for a memorable first dance for both me and my husband and our guests. We received so many compliments on our song choice throughout the evening from our guests.
Don't make the same (almost) mistake my husband and I almost made and do yourself a favor by not picking one of the below songs. These songs are known for people thinking they are "in the moment" love songs, but google the lyrics and you'll be surprised.
Last week it was the talk of the wedding planning industry that Pantone announced that turquoise would be the color of 2010. I LOVE turquoise, especially turquoise and silver southwestern inspired jewelry.
What better color palette for an outdoor, southwestern wedding than using a range of neutral tones accented by turquoise and silver?
Turquoise is a very strong color, so for your turquoise inspired wedding make it an accent color on a neutral palette as opposed to the main focus for a very luxurious and elegant take on the trend.
Eva Mendez at the 2009 Golden Globes proved that southwestern, turquoise jewelry looks gorgeous paired with white formal wear. Get your bridesmaids involved and allow them to pick up their favorite southwestern turquoise and silver jewelry to personalize their own look and stay with your theme. Also, as an added flare to your bouquets, have your florist wrap the bouquets with beaded turquoise bracelets.
To incorporate the silver elements of your color palette, have your bridesmaids wear a soft, gray/silver color (they'll love you since they can wear it again!), and use antique silver vases for your centerpieces.
What better way to celebrate the day of your wedding with your family and friends than to have your wedding around the holidays? When I think holidays and winter weddings, I think a snowy yet warm color scheme with lots of red, white, black and crystal. Round off the evening with some warm beverages for your guests and you have a day to remember!
While everyone gets ready go head out to Halloween parties this weekend, I'm sure there are lots of brides out there tying the knot this weekend as well. How fun would it be to plan a Halloween masquarade inspired wedding? Orange, blacks, golds and yellows would make for a beautiful fall wedding palette. A candy bar for the guests of this event would be essential!
I'm the owner of Invite Couture, a custom design event stationery studio based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I love running, cooking, entertaining, music (I'm an ex-punk rock electric cellist, seriously) and hanging out with my husband and my fat cat Mercedes.
