Category — wedding inspiration

Photo by Sara Petagna

I don’t believe ANYBODY’S wedding should be “cookie-cutter” or “run of the mill.”  Your wedding is YOUR day, and it should feel like the right fit for your personalities from start to finish.

You want your day filled with unique ideas because it is the ONLY way to make sure it represents YOU.  And if you’re like I was as a bride, you want to feel special on your big day.

The secret to having a wedding that leaves a lasting impression on your guests and really feels like “you” is weaving as much of your personality as possible into your wedding day.

Believe me, I’ve seen hundreds of weddings.  Including the details of what makes you special and the things you love not only makes you FEEL how special you are that day, it draws your guests in,
makes them feel connected to you, and without fail guarantees an unforgettable day for you and your guests.

And these things cost little or no money.

A few of my favorite ideas to make your wedding unique:

Naming Your Tables. Name your tables after a hobby or special interest.  For example, you might name each table after a place you and your fiance have visited together…or the types of wine you enjoy…or the players on your favorite football team.

Favors That Represent You. If you’re going to spend the money on favors, you might as well give them a personal twist.  If you’re into making beer or jam, giving guests a sample is a great, personal gift.  One bride gave Pez dispensers as gifts because she was a big collector.  Find a way to show your personality.

The Music You Love. Work your favorite artists and songs into your wedding reception.  If you’re a music lover, having music that really means something to you on your wedding day really takes it to the next level.  Your wedding ceremony, introduction music, and parent dances are perfect places to showcase your personality with music.

These ideas are the tip of the ice berg.  Use your creativity to bring your personality to your wedding.  You and your guests will enjoy a totally unique experience…without the expense.

For even MORE great, affordable ways to make your wedding totally unique, check out my budget wedding planning book.  And don’t forget to download my free special report to learn the bride’s secret weapon to getting discounts on all your wedding prices.

Jollybe Bakery

Wedding cakes can be GORGEOUS and so inspiring.  Simple and elegant; elaborate and impressive; colorful and bold.

Wedding cakes are like shoes…you can never have too many!  (Well, you can’t have too many wedding cakes pictures, anyway.)

Here are some interesting ideas for wedding cakes.

For a 50’s wedding…

Manassas Cakery

For a pink wedding…

Manassas Cakery

For a quirky wedding…

Manassas Cakery

For a nature themed green wedding…

Manassas Cakery

For a blue wedding…

Manassas Cakery

For a rose themed wedding…

Photo by Tracy Hunter

What do you think about these wedding cakes pictures?  Thumbs up or down?  Leave me a comment.

Photo by Milena Mihaylova

With the new year 2009 right around the corner, I’ve been thinking a lot about my dreams and goals for the coming year.

And a big part of that is helping YOU plan your dream wedding on your budget…getting the best deals and killer discounts…while you enjoy every minute of being a bride.

It’s my New Year’s Resolution to teach you…and as many brides as possible…how to plan the wedding of your dreams, whatever your budget.

With the economy in a downward spiral, it’s more important than EVER for you to learn how to save where it counts and STILL have your dream wedding.

Here’s my Dream Wedding Vision for you:

• I see you confidently asking for…and receiving…discounts on ALL your wedding products and services…negotiating deals most brides never dream is possible…

• You are completely COMMITTED to planning your dream wedding, and that vision guides you to the most unforgettable day of your life…

• I see you balancing your desire to make everyone else happy with your own wants…ending up with a fun, unique wedding day that really represents you AND shows your guests the time of their lives…

• I see you strong and empowered, confident in your decisions…

• You enjoy every minute of being a bride, so happy and excited to be planning your special day of celebrating your love…

• Everything goes smoothly on your wedding day because you made the choices that were right for you…and you wouldn’t change a thing…

• I see your wedding day as the beginning of a lifelong relationship with your new husband, where all that you’ve learned planning your wedding draws you closer together, enriching your future together…

THAT is my vision for you.  And I know you can make it real.

What is your Dream Wedding Vision?  Post your Dream Wedding Vision here to demonstrate your commitment to making it come true…and to inspire other brides like you to do the same.

JollyBe Bakery

I love looking at wedding cakes pictures, and I recently stumbled across some true beauties from JollyBe Bakery serving the greater New York area.  You’ve GOT to look at these gorgeous cake photographs.

Holy vanilla butter cream, Batman!  These aren’t just wedding cakes…these are works of ART.

Painted wedding cakes decorated in exquisite detail.  Sculpted decorations of flowers, fruits, and just about everything you can imagine.  Even stained glass wedding cakes inspired by Tiffany lamps.  The baker/artist Ruth Seidler will create anything you can dream up.

It’s enough to make your mouth water.  In fact, I’m drooling right now.

WARNING:  There is NO mention of price on the website.  That can only mean one thing…EXPENSIVE!

Of course, if gorgeous wedding cakes are your thing, who am I to advise you against it?

For me (heaving a resigned sigh) it’s enough to be inspired and possibly steal an idea for my own dream wedding cake.

Are you a gourmet cake person or going the discount route?  Leave me a comment.

Photo by Rene

The Guestbook.

One of the questions I ask brides when we meet to discuss the details of the Big Day is, “Will you have a guestbook for your guests to sign?”

The bride usually responds with a frown.  “I guess so.  I’m supposed to have one, right?”

WRONG.

I mean, have one if you want one.  But not just because you’re “supposed” to.

Can I be completely honest for a second?

Most couples have guestbooks.  Boring, old guestbooks.  And guess what their guests do?  They sign them.

So far, so good.  Then, the couple takes the guestbook home after the wedding, stuffs it in the back of the hall closet and never looks at it again.

Come on.  Why would you want to look at a book of NAMES?

Why have a boring old guestbook for your wedding, when there are so many unique guestbook ideas to choose from?

Sign Something That’s NOT A Guestbook - Turn to Do-It-Yourself-Weddings for some easy wedding guestbook alternatives.  Popular alternatives include: have your guests sign a ceramic dish, a silver engraved dish, a photo mat around a photograph of you.  You can even ask guests to sign an apron, t-shirt, tapesty or wedding quilt.

Photo by Ben Ostrowsky

Words of Wisdom or Wedding Wishes - Ask your guests to leave their wedding wishes or words of wisdom on individual cards and place them into a vase, basket, or box of your choice.  Place them into a guest scrapbook later on or pull them out and read them on your anniversary.  (Caution: notes tend to get progressively naughty as the drinks start flowing, so don’t read them aloud in mixed company.)

Sign Your Wedding Puzzle - Have a puzzle made of an image of you and your FI, then have your guests sign the back of a puzzle piece.

Christmas Ornaments - Perfect for a winter wonderland wedding.  Have guests sign ornaments and then hang them on your tree each year.

Run across any cool guestbook alternatives?  Leave me a comment.

Photo by anthrovik

Looking ahead to 2009 for some idea wedding inspiration, it’s time to place our bets on Wedding Trends for 2009.  I’ve been surfing around looking for the latest predictions, and here’s what I found…

The Color Gray - Did you notice the luscious chocolate brown gracing the weddings of 2008?  (I sure did and loved it!)  According to this photographer’s blog, GRAY is the new “brown” for 2009.  Sounds boring and minimalistic…until you take a peep at all these “gray-ful” wedding possibilities.   Imagine mixing it with lavender, pewter, icy blues, and soft pinks.

Black is Back - I saw black bridesmaids dresses at wedding after wedding in 2008, and I see the trend continuing into the future.  It’s perfect for recessionistas or frugalistas (pick your label) opting for the most bang for your wedding budget in 2009: simple, elegant, inexpensive and practical. If your bridesmaids can actually wear their dress again, they’ll love you for it.  Believe me.

Still Going Green - Even with gas prices falling (for now) the trend toward the eco-friendly, green wedding is here to stay.  Eco-conscious brides will have a ceremony and reception in one place to conserve on fuel for transportation, use local flowers and ingredients from area farms for meals.

Retro Fashions - Nostalgic wedding dresses inspired by the 1920’s and 30’s are making an appearance, along with the crinoline and rockabilly sass of the 40’s and 50’s.  Check out these vintage wedding dresses for a preview…back to the future style.

Urban Photography - No more “safe” wedding poses against a predictable scenic backdrop beside a river or in a park.  It’s all about being urban, baby!  Not wedding photos in the ghetto, but stylish shots on the street, on the asphalt, taking advantage of city architecture.  Read about the Rise of Urban Wedding Photography here.

What do YOU predict as the latest trend?  Leave me a comment.

I just LOVE flowers.  There are so many different things you can do with them.

Trouble is, I need to see something before I know what I like.  I just don’t have these fabulous flower ideas tumbling around inside my head.

The solution: pictures that create idea wedding inspiration!

I’ve assembled a few of my favorites for you to check out.

Centerpiece Ideas: Different Vessels - This article sounds way more boring than it actually is.  It describes cool, unique ways to use different “vessels” (vases, baskets, jars, etc.) for your wedding centerpieces.  One of our recent brides selected vases of different themed designs for each table.  The design differences were subtle enough that each centerpiece matched, yet different enough to delight the guests.

Easy Breezy Flowers - Simple flower ideas for wedding centerpieces from www.CountryLiving.com.  I happen to know a couple of the designers for this magazine personally, and while they can make anything look easy, these actually take the cake.

Bridal Bouquets: Defining Your Style - StyleMePretty.com reminds me why I love them all over again!  This blog post has several photos that will help you identify your style…something you’ve gotta know before you talk to a florist.  Otherwise, they’ll drive you CRAZY with questions!  Just show them the pictures that inspire you.

Where did you find your flower ideas inspiration?  Leave me a comment.

Wedding photographs in bridal magazines and wedding websites are creative sources of inspiration for your wedding colors.

I tend to get STUCK in monochromatic color schemes when I’m looking for inspiration.  And the color swatches at Home Depot just don’t cut it.

But what if your wedding colors could be inspired by anything that moves you?   A flower.  A tree.  An autumn sunset.

At ColourLovers.com you can create a palette inspired by anything.   Just insert the url link of any photo on the web…seconds later you’ve got a palette of colors inspired by that image.

I entered this image below of a chicory flower:

Photo by Louise Docker

And created this color palette:

This photograph:

Photo by Louise Docker

Inspired this color palette:

Pretty cool, huh?

Now you can create wedding color ideas galore from any photograph that inspires you.

How did you choose your wedding colors?  Leave me a comment.