What’s Old is New: The All-White Wedding
But now that we're here, something novel is happening. To wit, brides are reclaiming white. It's almost like this: now we know we can push the boundaries with impunity, it's suddenly attractive to pull back.
The phenomenon started with a big rise in all-white bridal bouquets, and a resurgence in what used to be sniffed at as "plain white wedding cake."
But now we're seeing more and more weddings flanked by white from start to finish, bringing to mind new beginnings, crisp flapping sails on a lake and fresh starched laundry in the breeze.
The Tao of White
How do we love white? Let us count the ways! On a summer afternoon, against the deep greens of park grounds, and framed by a deep blue sky.White also lets you pile on textures and layers. What might look fussy or overdone with too many hues looks elegant, even architectural, in whites and ivories. So go ahead, lay on the details: fabrics, piping, scrolls and overlays.
Best of all? When you pore over your wedding album years later, you'll never think, "yeah, that was 2008." You'll see a timeless-looking celebration, not a period style.
White-on-White Playbook
Indoor evening events call for their own special treatments, benefiting from a monochromatic rainbow of ivory, cream, latte and the palest hints of blue, pink or peach.But blinding white reigns supreme on a bright summer day. Picture this: an outdoor setting that beckons with airy tents and grassy carpets. Bright white brings an elegant center to even to the most freeflowing of outdoor events ... even a clambake!
Wedding Wear: Keeping it Light
The bride and groom will be resplendent in formal wear (black tuxes with white vests and ties are great for the groom, or white linen suits in summer), but what about the girls?
For that lighter-than-air effect, try dressing your 'maids in off-whites, pale pastels or even white. Distinguish their gowns with a simpler design, a different silhouette (for example, try a two-piece tea length dress with a fuller skirt), a contrasting sash or a distinctive fabric, like dupioni silk.
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
| See All White Wedding Favors ... | |||||||||||
Beguiling Blooms
Classic florals for the all-white bouquet? Avalanche or Bianca roses, classic callas, flirty peonies and stephanotis. Lilies of the Valley are timeless, while hydrangeas bring a touch of old-world charm. Tulips look modern, with their screaming bright whites.
Other great choices: white orchids or gerber daisies, dahlias or spider mums, lisianthus or Casablanca lilies.
Mix textures and types for a contemporary look, or hark back to the past: wrap a nosegay of roses in a shiny satin ribbon wrap studded with pearl pins. For the tables, full-sized calla lilies tucked in trumpet vases look absolutely elegant.
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
| See All Beach Wedding Favors ... | |||||||||||
A Few More Ways to Set the Stage
• Drape the grounds' most decorative shrubs and topiaries in white tulle or organza.• Use floating lengths of organza to fashion pew markers and arch decor.
• Scatter heaps of white rose petals down a grassy aisle, with a few tinted petals thrown in for depth (such as pink or chartreuse).
• Scatter white parasols on the lawn for a festive look, or hand to your bridesmaids.
• Group votives at the base of your centerpieces, to bring flicker and life to tables inside a tent.
You Might Also Like ...
The Calla Lily WeddingA Fête to Remember: Your Paris-Theme Wedding
A Pale Pink & Champagne Springtime Wedding
Tags: white wedding 
February 16th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Totally agree, Stacy, and you know what else makes me go “hmmm” is that ‘friend’ who shows up at a wedding in a white sundress or whatever. Even when the dress doesn’t look anything like the bride’s it still competes in the photos, and sometimes (in the photos) it’s even hard to tell who’s the bride.
February 16th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
I wouldnt mind having an all white wedding but I think that its the brides time to shine so she should be the one dressed in white.
January 9th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
I wanted to share this awesome decoration idea that knottie musickbride found, involving tying long white satin ribbons from tree branches and tying or pinning flower heads down the length: gerbers or orchids, for example.
And, I just had to include this gorgeous white cake from PinkCakeBox. If you live anywhere in the NY/NJ area you have to give PinkCakeBox a good hard look. Pastry designer Anne Heap (who worked with Ron Ben-Israel) is a true one of a kind and her constant new designs ALWAYS make me smile.