If you feel like being bold and want to brighten up your palette, there’s an ultra cool new green you can try – Pantone’s Ultramarine Green.  It’s a great color to accent featured pieces. A chevron pattern in green on a cake can really bring some pop to the reception. Pair it with some of Kate Aspen’s favors like the “Love Songs” Stainless-Steel Measuring Spoons or even the “Blossom” Ceramic Salt & Pepper set to bring just a hint of a minty undertone to the decor.

This amazing green is even being used in some wedding invitaions and as you can see, it really makes a statement. Accent your wardrobe by wearing it in jewelry, or even use the color as a prop in photography. Try it in your make-up or let your bridesmaids have fun with the color. Ultramarine green is the perfect blend of mint and jade and is one of the most wearable colors this season.

Image credits: wedding cake, tear drop earrings, wedding stationary,  green macarons, bridal shoot, bride and bridesmaid

Happy planning!

As the hot days of August give way to the cool nights of fall, we think that Honey Gold from the Fashion Color report for Fall 2012 would be a great color to use for all kinds of weddings, whether you want to go sophisticated and classy, or rustic and whimsical. A great favor for a sophisticated look would be the “Golden Renaissance” Glass Tealight Holders. These would pair well with a beautiful bouquet of yellow flowers and look beautiful with the rest of your table décor.

For a more rustic feel, accent your Honey Gold wedding with our lovely bee themed favors! Whether you choose the “Meant to Bee” Honey-Scented Beehive Candle or some “Meant to Bee” Personalized Clover Honey, you can guarantee that these favors will “bee” a hit with your guests! We love the rustic touch you can create using burlap, which pairs perfectly with Honey Gold!

Happy planning!

Summer brings hot weather, cool drinks and wedding season! Summer cocktail parties can be a fun, creative way to throw an engagement party or shower. To make your event personalized, consider a mimosa bar and feature personalized glassware as favors. With numerous seasonal fruits to choose from, you can have a bevy of beverages that capture the taste of summer. Drinks that use fresh fruit and herbs are super popular and refreshing. Make a pitcher of fresh lime margaritas or a nice summer sangria…and celebrate summer!

Happy planning!

Grandmum’s wedding gown. What she now calls “that old thing” is, today, a trendsetter’s dream. For the coming year, two themes—vintage chic and woodland rustic—are emerging as frontrunners for brides. So what does that mean for you?

Happily, it means that you have two wonderful, trendy themes that can be as elaborate or as simple (read that as expensive or as affordable) as you care to make them. Good news for the budget-conscious bride, and, these days, who isn’t?

Picturesque venues abound for these two themes, both for indoor and outdoor celebrations!  A Victorian-style home or event facility is a lovely setting for a vintage-theme wedding, assuming your vintage is the early 1900’s up until the 1940’s. Vintage 1940’s has some intriguing possibilities—it was a time of war. A 40’s-era church or perhaps one of the Churchill rooms in the Imperial War Museum (they’re for hire!) would be just the place.

Woodland rustic settings include farms, vineyards, national and local parks, bed-and-breakfast facilities and even your own backyard.

A quick search for “vintage wedding gowns” online will yield plenty of options for you, and many bridal salons feature vintage-style gowns, as well as bridesmaid dresses. You might even want to find a hair dresser and make-up artist who can create vintage hairstyles and looks for you. Men look so handsome in a cutaway tuxedo (with tails!), and they’re perfect for a vintage wedding! For the 40’s, consider renting classic military uniforms for your groom and his attendants.

The rustic theme gives you a lot of leeway in gown choices. That said, if you’re goal is to create a homespun, natural atmosphere, look for a gown that reflects those characteristics. Carry a bouquet of indigenous flowers or wildflowers. Simply gorgeous!

Take time to explore your chosen vintage era online. You’ll find essential information on ceremony, wedding venue and tabletop decorations. The Victorian era epitomised opulence, interest in the new science of botany (plants and flowers!), sentimentality and love of family, among other things. Your decorations can be as simple as flowers in a Victorian-style vase and family photos in ornate frames.

The right venue for a woodland rustic-theme event will go a long way to provide the perfect ambiance. Your table centerpieces can be a simple as wildflowers in old jars. Again, the ‘Net provides an overwhelming number of ideas and resources.

A vintage wedding calls for Victorian-style wedding favours, like the “Key to My Heart” Bottle Opener, the “Love Dove” bottle opener or the “Love Songs” birdcage tea light holder. If your chosen vintage is the 40’s, you might choose “Good Wishes” Glass Photo Coasters or the “Heart” chrome bottle stopper. Because the woodland rustic theme is surging, you’ll find wonderful themed wedding favours, like mini lanterns, our “Meant to Bee” honey-scented candle, the “Blooming” flower bottle stopper or “Lovebirds in the Window” salt-and-pepper shakers.

I’m glad these themes are trending for 2012, because they result in some of the most enjoyable and visually beautiful weddings. But, as I always say, don’t hesitate to set your own trends!

Happy Planning!