Hot Weather - Cool Wedding

Face it...it is hot! Especially if you live in Texas or any number of the southern states. Is this really the time to have the wedding of your dreams?  You wanted to be a blushing bride...not a sweaty one.  However, with the heat in full force, you might find this is the perfect time for your nuptials. Afterall, air conditioning might as well be put to good use!  Here are some tips to make your wedding one of the coolest this season.

Have your ceremony and reception at the same venue

This keeps your guests (not to mention you) from having to go outside.  There are venues that have seperate rooms where this will work and there are venues that can make a quick transformation while your guests are having cocktails. These are a few of my local favorites.

City Club Fort Worth

Thistle Hill Fort Worth 

Renaissance Worthington

And what about those cocktails?

Why not have your guests keep cool with a frosty signature drink?  It adds an uniqueness to the event. Here are a couple from Martha Stewart Weddings that will keep your guests chilling while the bridal party is getting their pictures taken.

Blackberry Gin Fizz
With a burst of bright berry puree and just a tickle of effervescence, this warm-weather quencher -- a bold update on the old-fashioned gin fizz -- lets guests drink in the essence of summer. Learn how to make this drink

Grapefruit-and-Mint Mojito
Is there anything more refreshing than a minty mojito? Yep -- add ruby-red grapefruit to the mix for a sweet-and-sour twist. Learn to make this drink

Hot Weather Favors

There are always the traditional fans but here are a few other fun ideas. How about a glass frame coaster with a pretty summer color matte and of course an engagement picture from the garden.

What says summer more than seashells?  These inexpensive items double as place card holders and will add an interesting design detail to your summer themed tables.

Of course, when in Texas... what about these kitschy customized bar-b-que sauce.  You may not want to serve bar-b-que at your wedding (the sauce clashes with the gown) but they will make your guests smile at your summertime event.





Enjoy the color and fun of summer!

So, yes it is hot...but summertime offers some incredible color pallettes and you can even find some discounts because of the heat.  Also, most people have a more relaxed schedule during summer.  This makes traveling easier. So enjoy your summer wedding and stop worrying.  There are thousands of ways to keep your wedding cool!

Vintage Dresses and Rings Economical and Eco-Friendly

I have a lovely platinum ring that has been passed down from my great-grandma. The eldest daughter in the family receives it when she graduates. There was a time when I hoped I would never have a daughter becuase I love this ring. Alas, I am getting ready to pass it on and I do so with a smile as my little girl has grown into a fine young lady. These treasures are now in vogue and offer and eco-friendly alternative for the traditional wedding rings. They have have style and history.

Who wouldn't give this ring oohs and ahhs!

Maybe you don't have a family heirloom or vintage isn't your style. There are still eco-friendly options out there. Historically, diamonds have been mined in conditions where human rights are violated and the environment is ignored. Read more at http://www.brilliantearth.com/buy-conflict-free-diamonds/ . There are retailers who offer conflict free diamonds and there are always alternative stones. Just think about the compliments you would receive with the simple but elegant stone in the engagement ring below.

Can you say bling!

What about the Wedding Dress?

Ok, I recycled my wedding dress in 1987 before it was chic.  I would like to say it was for altruistic reasons ...the truth was we were in college and broke.  I dyed it black and wore it to Military Ball the next year. Nobody was the wiser. Secondhand and recycled or "vintage gowns" can make a wonderful eco-friendly dress alternative. Here is a wedding dress bought for less than $60 on e-bay.

 

Gross right? Out of style...horribly discolored

But now look at the wedding gown after clenaing, restoration and reworking. 

Voila! An econmical, simple and elegant wedding dress!

If not vintage...what are other eco-friendly options?  Green wedding dresses are those designed from sustainable, organic, or recycled fabrics and dyes. They do not contian petroleum products. Dresses can be reused as baptismal dresses or resold for others to enjoy. The days are gone when you were only allowed to be enviromentally concious if you were among the hippie set and wanted to wear a potato sack.  Green wedding gowns are high fashion and responsible. Look for these materials:

Silk

You can be a princess in your eco-friemdly gown!

This simply gorgeous fabric is biogradable and renewable. Look for silks that are not chemically treated.  Animal friendly silks are labled peace silk, Wild silk and Ahimsa silk. Even the vegan bride can wear these fabrics, but they may not have quite the luxurious feel of the more traditional silk.
Hemp

Maybe not as shiny as silk, but simple and  beautiful!!

Hemp is often combined with silk to give it some luster.  Hemp is a flexible fabric that flows.  It is natural and breathes. As you can see in the picture above, hemp has its place in the "green" wedding industry.
Cotton

I can't believe it is cotton!

Cotton is one of the crops most heavily sprayed with pestides.  However, it is more readily available in its organic form these days.  Think about a summer wedding...It is 100 degrees out...Wouldn't it be splendid to have this natural breathable fabric rather than polyester or stretchy tulle?

Next time Tablescapes and Trends

"Green" the New White Wedding

Your wedding announcement or invitation can set the tone for your environmentally friendly wedding. There are many options today for 100% recycled, partially recycled or completely tree free papers from wedding invitation suppliers. The most obvious products carry the recycled logo, but you can also look for Hemp, Bamboo and Chemical Free printing options.


Consider all these places for paper on your wedding day:



•engagement announcements
•save the date cards
•shower invitations
•shower thank you notes
•wedding invitaitons
•ceremony programs
•place cards
•menu cards
•wedding announcements
•thank you notes

Many brides today are communicating electronically to cut down on paper and waste. You may be interested in creating your own unique personal wedding website at The Knot. www.theknot.com You can keep guests updated, post pictures and even add music. You can also send invitations for casual showers and luncheons using www.evite.com



Next time eco-friendly rings and dresses

Selecting Wedding Color Palette

" Not to sink under being man and wife,
But get some color and music out of life?"

Robert Frost
[American poet, 1874-1963]


As you start your new life together will it be bold in splashes of red, or this year's trendy turquoise? Will it be earth tones for peace and tranquility or will it sophisticated metallics that sets your wedding reception mood?

Selecting your color palette is not necessarily about picking your favorite color and it is also not necessary to select just one color. The beauty of color is that it is fun to play with just like when you were a child and had your big box of 64 Crayolas. Your wedding palette needs to blend, not match.

Here is are a couple of really fun sites to help you see how your color palette might work.

http://labs.ideeinc.com/multicolr/#

http://colorschemedesigner.com

Some of this spring's newest color trends are as follows:

Turquoise
Jewell toned and vibrant or tropical and breezy...your choice.




Deep Red
Warm and Sensual...the color of love.





Violet
In its deepest hues it hints at roaylty and it looks great on almost everybody!











Beige
Not just for the mother of the groom. Beige can be anything but boring.




Yellow
Bright and cheery... perfect for an outside wedding in the spring...


Next time Planning Your Green Wedding

Wedding Style Often Begins with the Dress

Fashionita -Sleek -Hip
Is it a chic Vera Wang dress that makes your heart skip a beat? Clean lines and sophisticated elegance may be just the ticket for your wedding day decor. Forget rounds of 10 and think about a SOHO Lounge or a Miami Nightclub. Have a white dance floor and don't forget the importance of just the right lighting to create the vibe your wedding style requires.




Princess Bride - Frilly - Whimsical
If a ball gown that swirls as you glide across the dance floor or a train that goes on forever is the ideal dress for you, you may lean towards a romantic style. Lots of flowers and candles will adorn your ceremony and reception areas. A horse drawn carriage will take you away at the end of the evening. Likely you have been dreaming of your wedding day since you were a little girl.





Hollywood Glamor - Grace Kelly - Audrey Hepburn
Is your style lots of sparkle and glitz, but all in the very best of taste? Consider a signature cocktail, have guests walk the red carpet and enjoy a photo booth. Make a grand entrance with a choreographed dance and decorate with crystals, orchids and lots of metallics.



Bohemian Bride - Outdoorsy - Flirty

Are you a free spirit? Maybe you love the outdoors? Maybe you just long to keep things simple? Your wedding might be outdoors or on a beach. Mother nature may be the only obstacle (albeit a very real one) you have to deal with to have your dream wedding. Your most unique accessory might be your choice in footwear...sandals, converse, cowboy boots or just your bare tootsies. Nature will supply a majority of your decor and you might be considering ways to make your white wedding more green. (i.e. eco-friendly)





Are You a Combination Bride?
Not to worry!!! Embrace your inner fashionita, hippie, princess. You'll find a wedding style that suits you and expresses the uniqueness of you as a couple and the happiness that begins by celebrating with your loved ones on your wedding day.


Next time - Selecting wedding color palette.

Now You Have the Bling...

You have said yes and the ring is on your finger...now what????

Take some time!
Take time to be excited as a couple and bask in the glow of the moment (and the shiny engagement ring). It is important that you and your fiance' share some couple's time. Talk about the future and the upcoming nuptials...but don't get bogged down in the tiny wedding planning details yet.

Tell people!
Protocol dictates that parents be told first and then the rest is up to the couple. Whether you decide to throw an engagement party, or be more subtle and see who notices your engagement ring on your newly manicured finger (that's the sneaky approach), let people know so they can share in the excitement and offer congratulations for this important step in your relationship.

Beware of wedding advice overload!
That being said...once the news is out, you are going to receive lots of advice! Some will be good, some will be bad and some will be downright crazy. The combination can result in a couple becoming overwhelmed. Take advice with good grace and realize it comes from those who care about you. Then, really start to focus on what you want as a couple. Consider your style, your timeline and the vision you have for the day.

Reality Check!
This is the time to consider how much you know about weddings, how much time you have to plan your wedding and what your resources are. Most brides find they do not have the time to plan their wedding day on their own. They also discover friends and family do not exactly understand what they want. After researching options, you may find a professional wedding planner offers not only an extra set of hands and an objective point of view, but can also save you money with their vendor connections.

Next - Discovering Wedding Your Style

Events by Dayna Launches New Blog

Effective 1/13/10 Events by Dayna has launched a new blog! http://EventsbyDayna.blogspot.com will be your source for the inside scoop on wedding planning in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Need help planning your wedding or event? Check out www.EventsbyDayna.com or contact us at Dayna@EventsbyDayna.com