Posted on 3 Comments

Autumn Allure: A Comprehensive Guide to Picking the Perfect Fall Wedding Color Palette!

The wedding look you plan to have should center around the colors you choose for your wedding theme. You do not have to be an artist to create a beautiful wedding color palette, you can find inspiration everywhere and work with it to create the colors that will make your wedding venue what you always envisioned it to be.

If you are planning your wedding in fall, we have the perfect ideas to help you find your wedding colours. The three most important things to consider in order to find a winning combination are

  • Consider the venue where you are to be married
  • Please make the most of the season and exploit it to find a winning combination
  • Consider the style of your wedding and decide on the color combinations.

Let us take a closer look at each of these points.

1.Consider the venue where you are to be married

Your wedding location plays a huge role, as it influences the effect of your color palette. The same color combination works differently in different settings, as the nature of lighting, disbursement of color and other aesthetic elements in the venue contribute to the overall effect. There is no specific order in which you have to work; you can either choose the venue first and then decide on your palette, or first choose your wedding color palette and then look for a suitable location.

Either method has it’s own pros and cons. In the first case, you will have to limit your color choices to those that will work well in the natural ambiance of your chosen venue. If it is a venue with signature décor attached to it or strong colors that stand out, you may have to come up with a combination that will blend in or complement the existing colors on site.

In the second case, you will have certain colors in mind already. In this scenario, you will have to choose a venue where these colors look good. This can limit your options, as not all venues will equally yield to all color palettes. The alternative is to switch to darker or lighter shades of what is on your palette and make a few necessary changes, so it works well in the setting.

decoration

2.Make the most of the season and exploit it to come up with a winning combination

Fall is a wonderful time to get married. Not only is it romantic, the weather is just perfect being neither too cold, nor warm. In fact, fall weddings are almost as attractive as spring weddings, if not better. A certain beauty is associated with the natural colors of fall, and it offers enough inspiration to help you plan a spectacular day. Deep, dark hues and rich indulgent colors add a luxurious touch to the natural environment, and these colors can render beautiful combinations at your wedding as well.

The color combinations mainly focus on shades of red, orange and purple with a refreshing mix of greens, yellows, blues and peaches thrown in. These are some of the signature colors we immediately associate with autumn. Weave your wedding color palette around them, and you cannot go wrong.

autumn-63271_1280

3.Consider the style of your wedding when you decide the color combinations

We know that some colors work better for certain wedding styles than others. While certain color combinations are inherently elegant and classic, others are joyful and fun. You have to find this balance when planning your colors for a unique wedding style. Here is a quick guide to choosing colors that work well together for different wedding types of weddings.

  • Fresh and light colors like peach, pale yellow and glassy green look great in outdoor weddings. You can complement them with accent colors like pink or turquoise for a touch of drama. Other fall colors include maroon, gold, ochre, rust, brown and purple.
  • For indoor weddings in formal settings, consider working with metallics like gold, silver or copper to add sophistication to your classic wedding palette. These metals work best with dark solid colors like navy and red, but you can also try combining them with lighter shades.
  • White is a simple, but beautiful solution for almost any venue, and especially in those that have bright colors in the walls, décor or carpets. By using white in plenty, you can add pops of your favorite colors into the décor. These won’t clash with the existing ones as white will balance it out.
  • Dusty colors should be used with caution in autumn weddings. Either mix them in with bright complementary colors or with dark shades. They can otherwise look faded and dull.

Every bride wishes to have a wedding that is unique, and the colors that you incorporate into your wedding palette play a huge role in achieving it. Here are the steps you should follow to find your color palette and fine-tune it, so it is just perfect for your big celebration.

1.Set up a wedding inspiration board

This is the first step towards planning your wedding palette. Refer to our article on creating your wedding inspiration board to find out what you need to get started. Once you have your setup ready, start collecting and pinning pictures that you like, to it. Slowly, you will observe a pattern emerging, and this will help you move on to the next step.

2.Choose one or two favorite colors

color

Take a look around you. Your wardrobe, favorite décor items and your inspiration board will help you choose one or two main colors to focus on. To make this easier, from your inspiration board, first eliminate those that you are not sure about. Next, pull out your favorite combinations so you can zero in on the common colors that you seem to be attracted to. Choose your favorite one or two bold colors from this list. Alternately, you may already have a color, flower or décor item that you must have. Then go with this as the starting point for your wedding color palette. The next step is to find the complementary colors that will set the mood for your wedding.

3.Choose complementary colors

Once you know the bold colors that you will use in your wedding palette, the next step is to find the complementing colors that will create the mood you want for your wedding. Refer to the color wheel for help. Two basic rules to find the best complementary colors are

  • Choose from colors that are neighbors to your chosen main colors. These will help create an elegant combination, that is best suited for formal and classic styles
  • Choose from colors that are directly opposite to the main colors your choose. These brighten up the main color in your palette, and should be your go-to choice for casual and fun styles.

You can experiment with light and dark shades of your chosen colors to find a combination that you love. Also add neutrals to balance it out appropriately. Consider adding a single metallic shade into your palette, if you want more sophistication or bling. Since each choice can drastically alter the ambiance, make sure to choose between gold, silver, copper or colored metallics with due care.

3.Decide where which color will be incorporated

This is a very detailed process. You will have to determine how your décor settings will be, the colors the bouquets should contain, how your table settings will feature your chosen colors and how your wedding party will reflect your color selection. Remember that you do not have to put in too much of the bold color for an impact. Sometimes, you can achieve more effect by adding pops of it as an accent color in your décor. Here are some factors to consider in this regard.

Bridesmaids dresses: If your bold color is an unusual shade, like berry or peach, that won’t flatter the skin tone of your bridesmaids, consider using the mix ‘n’ match trend when choosing their dresses. Read more about it here and here. Otherwise choose their dresses in the neutral colors in your palette and weave in the bold colors through accessories and flowers.

Wedding party: It is necessary to bring the looks of the bridesmaids and the groomsmen together and there are several ways to go about it. Make sure that the main colors of your palette are included in the right mix, without simply adding it in bulk. You could choose ties with a pattern that includes the main colors, but with taste. Or the boutonniere could have flowers in the main colors, while the rest of the outfit is simple.

Bouquets: If the main colors in your palette aren’t easily available in flowers, choose a neutral colored bouquet instead, and bring the color in through accessories like the ribbon. This is better than choosing the closest match, which can offset the intended effect entirely.

Decor: Be careful with how much color you add and where. Too many bold colors can tire the eyes, and your guests may feel the arrangement is too cluttered. So, balance out your décor with plenty of neutrals, and use your bold colors in small and properly balanced quantities. Add complementary colors when it is a huge display, so they are more effective.

dessert-365387_1280

Food: Keep the food colors simple, and rely on colorful stationery instead. While colorful desserts and few bright dishes may be appealing, too much of it may look unappetizing and artificial. Instead, add the color into the setting using colorful stationery for food labels and in centerpieces and napkins, to make it interesting.

Cake: Colorful cakes may look interesting. Nevertheless, not everyone finds it very palatable. The better option is to choose a design that has the right balance of the colors added through accessories like ribbons, flowers and other cake toppers. Autumn wedding cakes look best when decorated with berries, deep flowers and silky ribbons and soft glitter.

composition-76368_1280

4.Tweak the details till you are satisfied

Be calm and composed, and approach the process of getting your colors right, one step at a time. It can become overwhelming, but dividing it into separate projects and handling only one aspect at a time is tricky. While inspiration boards are helpful, don’t depend on it for everything. Add your own touches to what you find, and work with what you have. You always have scope for enhancements, so add improvements and changes, so you have something new.

A very important thing to remember is that there is nothing called perfection. It is your satisfaction that matters. When you like what you see, stop and mentally note that you have done this right. This will allow you to relax and enjoy what you have, instead of wishing for something better. Get the opinions of your friends and family, or enlist their help with getting certain aspects right. Nevertheless, don’t lose track of the big picture. Recognize when it is time to stop obsessing with your color palette and focus on the other important things about your wedding.

wedding-decoration-182934_1280

Now that you are armed with all that you need to know about planning your color palette for your fall wedding, you are all set to begin. We suggest that you take a look at this color guide on Magnetstreet for some winning color combinations that work beautifully in autumn. They have done a wonderful job of sorting out each palette according to the mood the combination creates. So, whether you want a tangy vibe or a poetic wedding combination, you have the starting point to build your palette.  You can also visit Wedding Paper Divas here for some more color combinations that scream autumn!

To find bridesmaids’ dresses and choose invitations, décor or cakes in any of these color palettes, visit us online at Best for Bride. Use our wedding services to make your dream wedding colours come to life.

Posted on 3 Comments

How to make your wedding truly unforgettable

fun wedding

There is no doubt that your wedding day will be one of the most unforgettable days of your life. However it needn’t be the same for the hundred or so guests who will be attending it. After all, weddings are regular fare and there has to be something unique that sets your wedding apart to make it memorable. This is what we will look at today. Read on to find out how you can make your wedding one of a kind, and one that will be remembered fondly by everyone for a very long time.

fun wedding

Pay attention to the details

When choosing your wedding invitations, reception venue and even flowers, pay specific attention to details. Customize it to reflect the tone of your wedding and let all the specifics at your wedding be a true representation of your personality. Although you may be tempted to copy what you’ve seen at another wedding, make sure to add your own personal touches to it and make it your own. This will give the impression that you’ve put in time and effort to make sure everything is perfect.

Spend extra on the factors that matter

You needn’t get every detail right, but make sure that you spare extra attention to those factors that matter most to you. A single spectacular element at a wedding is all it takes to make it memorable—this could be the surprising décor, the excellent performance or the band, delicious food or even a unique looking bride. Make sure that you have at least one, if not more of these factors at your wedding, so your guests will take note of it.

Be hospitable and appreciate your guests

It certainly is your big day and you have a lot on your mind, but the people who take the time to be part of it expect you to acknowledge their presence. Ensure that you set aside some time to greet each guest personally and thank them for attending. Everyone remembers a good host, and just a few minutes with each guest is all it takes to convey the message that you appreciate them. Also spend some time to select customized and unique wedding favors that your guests will cherish and remember your wedding every time they see it.

Keep the entertainment classic and enjoyable

The easiest way to have your wedding remembered is to provide excellent entertainment. Two types of parties are remembered by wedding guests—those that are super-duper fun, and those that are terribly boring. With a little effort you can avoid the latter, but with a little more effort you can have a party that is superb. Make sure you find a talented band or DJ for the reception and that you choose tunes that will keep everyone on their toes. Also see to it that all your guests are seated with the right company that they will enjoy. Add a few surprises, including a dramatic entry or exit, and it will be difficult to forget your wedding.

For all this and more, visit Best for Bride as your one-stop destination for everything bridal. Whether it is a stunning wedding dress or the perfect accessories, don’t forget to choose from our bridal shop at Best for Bride.

Posted on 4 Comments

Wedding inspiration boards—a tool that every bride should consider

We love every little thing that makes wedding planning easier, and wedding inspiration boards are right on the top of the list.

With so much going on in wedding dresses, accessories, bridesmaids dresses, color palettes, food, photographs, flowers and décor, it is easy to become overwhelmed and lose focus of what you want at your wedding. This is where wedding inspiration boards come to the rescue; they allow you to create a list of inspiring palettes and themes, compare them and find ones that you like, organize your thoughts and ideas and create a reference for implementing your plans.

Image Credit: Brittanymyers13 ,via DeviantArt, [CC BY 3.0]
Image Credit: Brittanymyers13 ,via DeviantArt, [CC BY 3.0]

Why you need wedding inspiration boards

Here are some of the main reasons why you should consider having wedding inspiration boards

  • It allows to collect your thoughts, and get an actual look at how the ideas in your mind will look

  • Inspiration boards allow you to compile tons of information, and organize it for ease of access. This allows you to compare different ideas and find the ones you like best.

  • It is easier to scan through so much information, and not miss any potential idea, when everything is available in a single location.

  • It helps you obtain a picture description of a theme, and gives you a clear idea of how it will look when it is finally done

  • Wedding inspiration boards are easy to create. In fact, even the most basic computer user can easily put one together and make their wedding planning much more fun.

  • It can be used to share your ideas to your partner or planner easily, as pictures say a lot more than words do.

An advantage of a wedding inspiration board is that it helps with staying focused and overcoming the confusion caused by all that information out there on the internet. You know how it is! You start searching for something, when you see an interesting link and click on it. Few more clicks and several hours later, you will have forgotten what you were originally looking at, though you would have bookmarked several new ideas.

With planning boards, you can pull down inspiring ideas and pictures even as you browse. So, it allows you to capture everything. You can later sort through the information, and find what you want.

What to include in wedding inspiration boards

Wedding planning involves hundreds of big and small details. So, it is only logical to assume that you will have an inspiration board for each of these aspects.

Y21433_300px-225x300

Most brides prefer to have inspiration boards for the following—wedding color palette, invitation card ideas, wedding theme, wedding dress, accessories, bridesmaids dresses, cake, venue and reception décor, table settings, photograph ideas, hair and makeup, groomsmen dress, bouquets and floral arrangements, party favors, centerpieces and table settings and rehearsal dinner planning.

From the most basic inspiration board, to more advanced options

Although the computerized versions are more popular, there are brides who still prefer paper and print. Remember the episode in the popular sitcom “Friends”, where Monica pulls out her neatly compiled wedding inspiration folder, that she had been working on forever? Take a cue from this episode. Whether you are engaged, are already planning a wedding, are in a relationship, or simply expect to be married someday, don’t hesitate to snag an idea that you would love at your wedding. Although you don’t have to be super-organized and perfect about creating a wedding portfolio, like Monica was, it doesn’t hurt to at least set such pictures aside for future reference.

As a bride who’s planning a wedding, you can create your inspiration board on a wall in your room. It can be a pinup board on which you stick ideas, pictures and notes. Glance at it every now and then, and you may find some ideas stick with you.

The simplest computer version you can create, is a folder on your desktop. Why not name it “My ideas” or “Wedding.” Within it, add sub-folders for each aspect—for color palettes, wedding dress and accessories, cakes, party favors, invitation card templates and designs, bridesmaids dresses, etc. Once this is done, save pictures you find into the respective folder and scan through your collection, whenever you want. Remember to continuously eliminate the pictures you no longer require, or you can quickly lose track of where you started and what you were looking for.

Online inspiration boards: Pinterest

Pinterest Shiny Icon
Image Credit: Jessekoeckhoven (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

The more popular and practical option is to create an online inspiration board. The first tool for this is Pinterest, where you can gather hundreds of ideas from anywhere you want to create your colorful scrapbook of images. There are several existing wedding inspiration boards on Pinterest, from where you can pin pictures you like. Most websites also allow you to add the pictures you find in their blogs and galleries to the mood boards you created.

If you do not already have a Pinterest account, you can register for one in a matter of minutes. Once you have this set up, all you have to do is create as many boards as you want, and give each of them a relevant name. You can, for example, have one called Wedding Dresses, another called Wedding stationery, etc. Now, you are all set to begin pinning.

The good thing about Pinterest is that it allows you to share pictures. You can either share an entire Pinterest board or chosen pictures with a vendor or friend. This makes communication easy and efficient. Your bridesmaids can add pictures they like to your board, so you can all see the various options that appeal to everyone, before making a definite choice.

As you set out doing this, you will slowly see a pattern emerge, and this can guide you towards identifying a theme that works best for you. Pinterest can thus, help a bride who isn’t sure of what she wants for her wedding. By simply pinning all the pictures that you like on the internet, you can quickly identify your preferences and build a theme based on this.

Since Pinterest is available as a mobile app too, you can keep adding to your mood boards, wherever you are browsing from. It is a practical solution, with which you can avoid the hassle of printing pictures.

Apart from Pinterest, there are other sites, specifically directed towards weddings. Let us now take a look at them.

Websites that allow you to build you own Wedding inspiration board

1.Stylemepretty

One of the most popular sites is Stylemepretty. SMP allows you to set up your board, by choosing from various templates they provide.

wedding inspiration board SMP

You can then choose a layout that you like, name your board and begin dragging and dropping pictures onto it.

A good thing about this board builder is that you aren’t limited to pictures on the site. The board also allows you to credit the picture owners, and also share boards with your friends and obtain opinions on your choices.

2.Wedding Wire

Another great option is the Wedding Wire inspiration board builder. Visit this page to get started with your board. The website also allows you to drag and drop your pictures from your desktop or browse through those available in their gallery. You can resize, rotate and rearrange them to create a complete vision of a particular aspect. Create multiple boards for each of your planning criteria, and share it with your friends, wedding planner or bridegroom, who can then provide opinions on it.

3.Dessy Bridesmaids planning app tool

Bridesmaids are a huge part of your wedding, and there are many details you have to plan around them. One of the biggest challenges is choosing bridesmaids dresses. You cannot see all the possible colors that a particular dress is available in, and this can limit your idea of how a particular color looks in a certain design. The Dessy Group has an application that allows you to keep all your bridesmaids tasks, including the dress selection, on track.  You can use this to create a single platform, through which you can communicate everything related to their dress selection, alterations, fittings and more, with your bridesmaids. This tool is very valuable, especially if your bridesmaids dresses are from the Dessy Collection.

Dessy Bridesmaids Dress collection

Things to remember when setting up and using inspiration boards

While these inspiration or mood boards are a great way to get your wedding planning on track, there are a few things you should remember when choosing this route. Let us look at what they are.

ipad-820272_1280

#The Inspiration board is just what it is called—Inspiration!

Remember that you needn’t necessarily have everything you see on your wedding inspiration board. The intent of creating such boards is only to help you build your ideas and carve your unique wedding plans. Do not see this as a shopping list, or be disappointed if some of the ideas you see here cannot be done at your wedding. Instead of despairing, keep looking around. There are many more ideas to explore and it is likely you will find an equally appealing one. Else, work with your vendors to find realistic and available solutions that recreate the same effect of what you see online.

# Remember that elimination is part of the picture

Those pictures can be so dreamy and perfect, you may not want to let go of it. However, the idea of having an inspiration board is to zero-in on what will make it to your wedding. So, you have to eliminate anything that doesn’t serve a purpose. They may be eye-candy, but that doesn’t mean they stay there, unless they are useful. So, be ruthless with eliminating anything that won’t be required or you will end up with more clutter than helpful information.

# You don’t have to get everything in

You can get the idea with as few as 6-9 images. So, don’t clutter up your boards with too many images, and get confused. Start with many, but narrow down choices to those that work, as you progress with your wedding plans. Be selective with options, once you know your preferences. Also, once you have made a choice, stick to it and avoid procrastinating over other attractive options you come across later. Otherwise, looking at pictures can go on forever, and can get you nowhere.

#Use verbal descriptions

Rather than simply saving an image, you should also use text to highlight what attracted you to an image. Otherwise, you may forget why you picked an image, when you look at it after a while. The text will remind you of what aspect specifically appealed to you.

#Have realistic expectations

Not all the pictures you see are from actual weddings. It can be from smaller events or even styled for a shoot. Keep that in mind when you make your wedding plans. Like we said earlier, this should be treated as an idea, and not as an end-all. It is more interesting, when you personalize a given picture with your own ideas, and make it unique. So, let that be your aim.

There are many ready-made wedding inspiration boards on sites like Stylemepretty, Wedding Wire and Martha Stewart. You can use these as a starting point and build on it. Similarly, there are plenty of boards on Pinterest, to draw inspiration from.

Nevertheless, remember that you and your vendors can create fantastic and novel ideas to personalize your wedding without too much inspiration, and this is what everyone at your wedding will actually look forward to. Your inspiration boards should only assist you in finding the various ideas that you can work with to create the final plan.

Now, that you know why a wedding inspiration board is a must-have, why don’t you set one up right away! Don’t forget to keep visiting Best for Bride, for all the ideas you need to plan your wedding right.

Posted on 4 Comments

Hire a Food Truck to Cater Your Wedding

If you are looking for a unique way to cater a wedding whether it’s big or small, consider local food trucks. Now you might be thinking why on Earth would someone want to have a food truck cater a wedding, but truth be told, there are all kinds of options when it comes to what selections you can have for both dinner and dessert.

The best thing about food trucks is that they can show up anywhere and begin their usual routine; if you are going for something really unique for your wedding, especially if it is outdoors in the summer, this might be an option for you. It’s not only a way to provide something different for your guests that usually expect either a buffet or plated dinner, but is a great way to support a local company from the town you have grown up in, or one that you are visiting.

A food truck can be considered for any part of the meal, including small appetizers to go with pre-dinner drinks, desserts to compliment the cake cutting or even a midnight snack after everyone has burned off dinner while dancing up a storm. Since food trucks usually focus on only one or a few menu items, it’s generally pretty easy to figure out what kind of company you’ll be looking for.

Due to their very mobile nature, its easy to research and read reviews on your cities favorite food trucks. These are also a fantastic idea for destination weddings because even though the city may not be familiar to you, social media sites will help you easily track down some information on the food truck and what they have to offer. Some food trucks have a wealth of staff that will cater to you and create unique spreads of food; others are run by just one or two people and your guests will have to line up to choose what they want. But who would complain when they can have a unique dining experience offered by someone with a passion for food?