It doesn’t take a fashion expert to know there are so many different shades of every color out there, that it’s difficult to match colors perfectly without clashing.  All you have to do is go shopping for a top to match that beautiful navy blue skirt you just bought to know what I’m talking about.

With all the wedding accessories you want to match, such as: napkins, flowers, bridesmaid dresses, cake decorations, wedding favors, etc., it can be difficult to find even similar shades of the same color.  When planning my daughters weddings, I found that purchasing a spool of ribbon, or 1/4 yard of fabric of the colors they chose, came in very helpful.  I would cut a small swatch of the fabric and take it with me wherever we went shopping.  I left samples of the colors with the bakery, florist and stationers in order to insure a color match.

You may even be able to visit the paint section of any department store and find paint sample cards with your color on it.  The cards are free and you can take several to hand out to your wedding vendors.

HELPFUL HINT:  When shopping for personalized napkins, be sure to ask how old their display is and if any of the colors have faded.  We made the mistake of matching the display napkins, which were the perfect shade of red, only to have them arrive a purplish shade.  Most vendors will replace such mistakes free of charge, but time may also be an issue if the wedding date is fast approaching.  Asking a few questions may help to prevent this problem altogether. 

Garden weddings can be beautiful, but many brides don’t want to take a chance on planning an outdoor wedding, only to have the weather throw them a curve.  If having a natural garden-type setting for your wedding ceremony and/or reception is appealing, you may want to consider moving the garden inside. 

Instead of decorating with cut and arranged flowers, use small potted plants for your table centerpieces and larger indoor potted plants for random room decorations.  Consider purchasing small trees with their rootball intact and later planting them in the yard of your new home.  You can really create a special garden scene with several topiary pieces.  These shaped, ornamental plants can add such an elegant look to your special day.

Decorating with plants and trees that are potted can be a little on the pricey side, however, if you consider that they can also be used in the landscaping of your yard, the cost is not quite so prohibitive. 

If you’re considering adding an ethnic touch to your wedding reception, consider incorporating one of the special ethnic wedding favors found in the Kate Aspen line. 

Among some of the nationalities incorporated in these truly unique favors are Asian, Indian, Italian, French, Spanish, Mexican, as well as Jewish favors.  You’ll also find your favorite all-American favors from ‘Park Place’ Park Benches to ‘Bourbon Street’ Streetlights.

Incorporating your wedding favors into your wedding reception theme is a great way to draw the total effect together.  And it becomes a great take home memory of your very special day!

Spring is nearly here and most spring weddings are well into, if not nearly completed, with their decoration plans.  Here’s an adorable idea that may just fit perfectly into your spring theme wedding.

Everyone knows about the use of wedding favors in decorating reception tables, cake tables and other areas of the reception hall, but few think about baby shower favors.  I purchased a pink and a blue ‘Nest Egg’ Scented Soap Eggs from the new Kate Aspen line and they are absolutely perfect for a spring theme wedding.  The nest is made of actual shredded raffia so it looks and feels like a real nest.  The eggs are perfectly shaped and so lightly scented as not to ruin the aroma of the food it surrounds.  It the scent worried you at all, you can keep them wrapped in the clear cello film it arrives in.

Place these tiny little nests among your floral centerpieces to give it a genuine spring flare.  After the wedding, take them to your new home and decorate any room (I use them in my birdhouse theme bathroom) where you may consider a pastel color scheme.

Choosing a color theme for your wedding can be a lot of fun.  Whether you want to work around one main color or a combination of two or more colors, you should keep several things in mind. 

 The first thing you’ll want to consider is the popularity of your color or colors.  Teal and rose look beautiful together, but it’s not as popular today as it was about 10 years ago.  You want to be able to find bridesmaid dresses, as well as other accessories in the colors you pick.  Check out the available colors for items such as napkins, flowers, candles, wedding favors, cake toppers, and invitations to name a few. 

You’ll want to take into consideration how colors will look on your bridesmaids.  You will, no doubt, be dressed in either white or ivory, however, the bridesmaids will want to look their best that day as well.  Colors like yellow or orange can tend to wash out lighter complexions, whereas blue or green may compliment certain color eyes. 

If you want two or more colors for your wedding, consider varying shades of the same color.  Brown can be a very elegant look for a wedding, especially when it is combined with a coffee bean or lighter mocha.  Totally different colors can work too, however stay away from opposite ends of the color wheel such as purple and yellow. green and red, and blue and orange.  Instead, choose color shades that are next to each other on the color wheel.

The old expression ‘Bloom where you’re planted” basically means that you don’t have to go to exotic places in order to do great things.  The same is true for your wedding reception.  You don’t need to be in Italy to have an Italian theme wedding;  you don’t need to be on a cruise ship in order to create a cruise-type atmosphere, and you don’t need to get married in the summer in order to have a beach theme reception.

Decorations can do it all for you.  Be sure to check with your reception hall before planning any ‘off the wall’ renovations, but most places will let you create a theme type atmosphere within reason.  Put a little Italian cafe feel into your reception by using red and white checked tablecloths with wine bottles dripping with multi-colored candle wax for centerpieces.  Instead of a band, hiring strolling violinists to play music during the meal.

Beach theme receptions are easily duplicated during colder weather by decorating with small pools, sand, inflatable palm trees, and beach balls.  Create a picnic lunch look at the reception tables and serve fun picnic-type foods.  You can even rent an indoor fire pit and have your guests make smores.  Hire a band to play Beach Boys music.  Don’t forget to have your wedding favors match your theme.

Using your imagination, you can take your wedding guests just about anyplace in the world!

The job of decorating the getaway car usually falls to the Best Man who can then recruit any of the other wedding attendants.  While everyone is enjoying the reception, the groomsmen sneak out and decorate the couple’s car.  When it comes to decorating, a good rule of thumb to follow is ‘Less is More.’  An over-decorated car, in addition to looking extremely tacky, can also be hazardous to drive.   Be sure to leave the front windshield clean and be sure there is ample visibility for the driver. 

Any party store will sell paints that are safe to use on cars without ruining the car’s paint-job.  You’ll also be able to find car decorating kits that can include ‘Just Married’ signs, vinyl clings or flags that attach to the windows.  Shoe polish, masking tape or even floral tape are safe to use.  Shaving cream is a definite ‘no-no’ as it may leave marks on the car’s exterior.  Attach balloons, streamers or garlands securely so they won’t come off in traffic. 

Be sure to keep your decorating limited to the outside of the car.  I know a couple whose brother got inside the car and filled it with pine straw and chocolate kisses.  Needless to say, it ruined the interior, took hours to clean, and wasn’t nearly as funny as the brother thought it would be.  Fortunately, the groom had an old jacket in the trunk, or the chocolate, which melted in the hot car, would have ruined the bride’s dress.  Some couples may not want their car decorated at all, and if this is the case, you need to be sensitive to their wishes. 

Decorating the getaway car is a fun tradition, and with good judgment and a little consideration, you can send your best friend away on his honeymoon in style. 

Candles are the perfect way to decorate for almost any occasion, but especially a wedding.  These unique ice candles can be incorporated for any type of wedding, but can make an especially striking centerpiece for a winter-theme wedding.  Best of all, they’re extremely easy and economical to make.

You’ll need:
Candle mold, such as round or square pillar (quart-size milk cartons or coffee cans work well)
paraffin or wax
double boiler
liquid food coloring or crayon bits
small ice cubes

Directions:
Completely wash and dry the candle mold.  Lightly coat inside of mold with cooking oil.  If you’re using a milk carton, cut off the top before washing.  The easiest way to incorporate a wick in your ice candle is to purchase a similar color taper candle.  Cut from the bottom to fit the height of the candle mold and center inside the mold. 

Melt the paraffin or wax in a double boiler.  Add desired amount of food coloring or crayon pieces to wax.  HINT: The color of the wax will lighten slightly as the wax hardens.  Once all the wax is melted, fill the candle mold with ice cubes all the way to the top, keeping the taper candle centered.  Carefully pour melted wax into the mold, filling almost to the top.  Allow wax to harden completely. 

Carefully unmold candle over the sink to allow melted water to drain.  If a milk carton was used, you can unmold your candle by simply tearing away the carton carefully.  The result is a beautiful lacy candle that will cast delicate shadows when burning. 

Now use your imagination.  Make several sizes and surround your ice candles with pine logs or boughs, pine cones or holly.  Embellish with artificial snow spray, glittering snowflake ornaments or decals.   

Wedding Favor Reflections is pleased to announce the arrival of three adorable new favors.  Perfect for Christmas or winter theme weddings, these snowflake favors will definitely add a touch of sparkle to any reception.

Our ‘Snow Flurry’ Flocked Glass OrnamentPlace Card / Photo Holder is great for your reception table settings.  They can hold matching snowflake place cards (included) to announce seating assignments, or photos of the bride and groom.  Let your guests take one home afterwards as a wonderful memento of your special day.

The ‘Embossed Elegance’ Snowflake Favor Boxes can be arranged with sprays of pine tree branches in the center of each table to create a unique centerpiece.  Fill them with delicious ice mints or small bags of hot chocolate mix to complete the theme. 

The new Silver ‘Snowflake’ Bookmarks come with beautiful ice-blue tassels, and would look absolutely breathtaking decorating an indoor pine tree at your reception.  Invite your guests to take one home as they leave.  Or, leave them in their gift boxes and arrange the bookmarks at each place setting.

Letting your favors pull double duty as a centerpiece or reception decoration will help to greatly reduce the cost of decorating.  With a little imagination, these favors can turn your reception hall into a truly elegant winter wonderland.

Pew bows add an absolutely beautiful touch in any wedding celebration.  Their style is very versatile since they can be as simple or as elaborate as you prefer.  The result is the same ~ a festive welcome for all your wedding guests. 

Pew bows can be ordered through any florist, or they can be made by hand.  If you decide to have a florist create your bows, you’ll want to suggest they visit your church to see the pews they’ll be working with.  Most churches will allow the use of pew bows, but there may be some restrictions on attaching them, so be sure to check with your church. 

If you decide to make the pew bows yourself, there are several methods to choose from for attaching the bows.  The first, and the easiest, is a ready-made plastic bow clip that simply hangs over the side of the pew.  These can be purchased with a styrofoam disc included in the front of the clip to help make your assembling of the bow easier.  If the pew side is too thin, the bow may lean and fall off, so be sure to ’shim’ the bow clip so that the fit is snug.  You may also try making a clip out of heavy fabric-covered florist wire.  Some churches may only allow bows to be attached with masking tape or ribbon, so be sure to check this out before you start making your bows.

The placement of your pew bows is also an individual choice.  You may mark every pew, alternate rows, or just mark the first several rows on each side that are reserved for immediate family. 

Take some time to decide what kind of atmosphere you wish to project when guests enter the church, and then work that idea into your bows.  Make them solid white for an elegant formal look, or incorporate your wedding colors.  If you’re have a theme wedding, work that theme into the bows.  For example, imagine a winter theme wedding with the pews decorated with pale blue and white flowers and sparkling silver tinted ribbons.  With a little imagination, it’s fairly easy to create the ‘wedding of your dreams’.