Fresh Ideas for a Stylish Spring Wedding
A spring wedding brings a splash of excitement to what can be a long, slow trek toward summer.
And the season gives rise to all kinds of enthusiasms. Even the blackest thumbs among us starting paging through gourmet food magazines and seed catalogs, and dreaming of lemons and strawberries, rhubarb pies and asparagus.
So it's a sure thing your wedding guests will show up in a partying mood. Which means that all you need to do is plan the ceremony — and event — of your dreams, and the rest will follow. With that in mind, here's some tips on what's fresh for Spring 2008 and beyond.
Chic Colors, Piquant Patterns
Spring wedding colors break down into several camps. First, there's the "I just like it!" girly colors. You know, timeless choices like butter yellow, pink, lavender, pastel green. Pink brides take note: spring's probably the easiest time to get away with your favorite color.Then there are the trendy colors. Chocolate brown is still strong, and makes a showing at plenty of spring weddings. But more common than a phalanx of chocolatey bridesmaids is taupe or mocha, which has that trendy zing but lightens things up. Popular complements? The usual suspects: hot or pale pink, orange, peach or coral, baby blues and minty greens.
City brides wanting an ultra-urban look need only turn to the newest colors of the season. Start with steel gray — often paired with a crisp white and a sophisticated honey-wheat, accented with amethyst.
As for patterns, this is where things get interesting. Florals with a telltale geometric spin are everywhere. Be a little tongue-in-chic and consider drawing on spring patterns and textures like gingham, Swiss dots, eyelet or for a cool Asian touch, cherry blossoms.
The Freshest Foods
Approach your cake and menu with a light touch. If ever there was a time for coconut frosting or fillings, this is it. Or fresh strawberries or lemon cream. Choose bright, lighthearted colors for your cake, and go all out on whimsical details like Swiss dots and fondant ribbons.
Sautéed fresh asparagus will brighten up plates. Think miniature quiche with fresh spinach and green onions, and tiny cream tarts as a decadent background to the season's fresh fruit. Champagne makes a great home base for beverages, but bring a splash of color to your drinks by serving Bellinis, Mimosas, or a masterpiece of your own, spruced up with fresh berries or mint. Anything tiny fits the tone perfectly (cupcake trees and petites fours are great favorites).
Botanical Beauties
Timeless choices for this season of renewal are delicate blooms like sweet peas, lilies of the valley, ranunculus, or lisianthus. Hyacinth, irises and daffodils have a vibrant Easter feel. A bouquet of cream tulips, or roses and subdued pastels or white, couldn't be more classic. As always, brides with a contemporary bent and a cream, pink or green palette are drawn to orchids — perfect for a stylish spring.
Vernal Couture
Don't head to the bridal store yet! Your options for spring weddings are more varied than the ads might lead you to believe.Of course, you can stick with tradition. But if you're looking for alternatives, spring is a fine time to look into the gowns sold with destination weddings in mind, some of the new cotton gowns coming down the line, or if you're feeling really daring, totally delicious 50s and 60s-inspired gowns with bouffant skirts that scream for a birdcage veil.
As for the guys, the rage for all things brown means your beloved and his buddies are sure to find formalwear in anything from chocolate brown to the lightest of mochas. (Match the ties to your bridesmaids' sashes.) And if your wedding's near the water, or it just suits your fancy, a white linen suit might be just the thing.
Need great looks for the girls? Experiment with fabric (like lush dupioni silk dresses with contrasting sashes) or patterns (bridesmaids in tea-length gowns with a subtle, oversized floral pattern — fabulous!) Be fresh off the pages of the fashion mags, and adorn their gowns with puffy, organza roses at the waist or neckline. And of course, pick some sexy, strappy shoes to show off those spring legs!
Accessorize the Look
Organza neck scarves or pashminas couldn't be more romantic, and they're perfect for spring breezes. Also chic: paper or sandalwood fans, pastel parasols, delicate floral headpieces and hairpins.
Juice Up the Joint
A tried-and-true place to start with decorations: bare branch arrangements (ultra-large for the floor, or smaller for tabletops) gussied up with springtime flowers. Silk would be practical; real, a memorable extravagance. Evocative choices for blooms include magnolias, cherry blossoms or plum blossoms. Leave plain, or gild the lily with gossamer fabric wraps or chandelier-style crystals.And go heavy on the petals — bring them to your cake tables, candy buffet tables, guest tables. A blizzard of petals, not snowflakes, reminds your guests they've made it through the dark months.
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Florists continue to innovate, bringing all kinds of non-floral pizzazz into table arrangements. Cool ideas we've seen for spring include fresh bunches of asparagus, tips painted in gold, woven in with more traditional blooms. And we love the rustic height of pussy willows. Some favorite centerpieces tuck in birds' nests.
Another simple way to pull everything together? Ribbon! Casual arrangements of Gerber daisies and mason jars look smashing when you wrap the jars in bright ones. Let ribbons flutter romantically from shepherd's hooks, programs, the ringbearer's pillow, the bridesmaids' sashes, even a maypole. A twist on ribbon: a mini "tie the knot" theme.
Other popular adornments and spring themes include butterflies, dragonflies, wildflowers ... and more recently, frogs in the form of sleek silver placecards and whimsical bouquet picks.
You Might Also Like
• Daisy Theme Weddings• A Pink & Green Wedding
• A Pale Pink & Champagne Springtime Wedding
• A Garden Theme Wedding
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Pages: « 4 3 [2] 1 » Show All
For Kelly,
I just saw a couple of Olive Green bridesmaids dresses at David’s Bridal. One shorter bubble hem- very cute!
Help! Also doing olive green, with chocolate brown, ivory, and a mango accent. Anyone know where I can get olive green BM dresses? Thanks.
My wedding is october 2007. My colors are going to be pink and silver. Is this a good combination and is it in for the fall of 2007??? Help please. And also i want a lot of lily flowers at my wedding my center piece and bouquets, would that look pretty??
My wedding is scheduled for Febuary 16, 2008 and my colors are fuchsia and Chartruse (a bright green color) it seems to be hot right now but i cant really find anything in those colors can anyone help? oh destination…………BELIZE!
what are the colors for 2008 wedding?my wedding will be on january but im still confused of what will be my color.
Trying to find a lime green sash for my Granddaughter’s prom dress. Can anyone help?
I am having funky bright colors in shades of electric blue, hot pink, tangerine, and lime green in my December wedding. I have been looking everywhere for a TRUE lime green bridesmaid dress, and haven’t had much luck…everything is sage/pear/apple. Can anyone point me in the direction of an affordable lime green dress?
Lisbeth,
Thanks for the JCrew info…It has been so hard to find a navy dress! Good luck with the planning!
Jenn~
My colors are tiffany blue, navy and platinum silver….
My colours are light yellow and burnt orange. What do you think? I am getting married in September.
My wedding is July 2007. The colors I have chosen are lavender and lime green. I am finding all kinds of stuff for the reception in this colors, including tableware, napkins, tablecloths. My bridesmaids are wearing lime green cocktail dresses, and the groomsmen are wearing lavendar shirts with black slacks. My wedding is an outside wedding and will be very casual. I want it to be a special and fun day for me and my soon-to-be husband.
Hi, Our wedding is in August 07. I like ivory, gold and orange, he likes wine. What do you think? We need to choose really soon because our colour scheme is central to everything!!
:(( :(( :(( :(( :(( :(( :(( :(( :((
I’m in need of serious help. I’m getting married in dec 2007 and have not chosen a satify color(s) not even a theme. I was considering lavender, green and yellow. Tell me what you think.
My wedding is in August ‘07 and its taking place in my home country, Nigeria. Ceremony and Festivities will be indoor. My colours are pastel green and lavender with a touch of gold. I love all shades of green and was going to use a colour theme in several shades of green instead but decided to include one of my my partner’s favourite colours as well, i.e, lavender. I can’t seem to find ideal BM dresses, I want my maids to wear green dresses in any bright and pretty shade (lime,clover,mint,light olive).Any ideas where i can get this in the UK?
my wedding is in july 2007. I am doing my colors in cornflower blue (BM dresses), silver and/or clover. the flowers would be cream colored roses and lillies of the valley. does this sound like it will come together nicely?:-?
Sinead!!!
Where did you find olive BM dresses?? I have been looking everywhere. I am doing olive green, light and hot pink.
Hey there fellow brides to be! I am getting married In July 2007, (which is seeming to take forever!) as of right now, I have a scheme that I love! I have chosen hot pink, bright green, tangerine orange, and turquoise… I am struggling to tie everything in though.. Suprise! I am thinking bridesmaids in black dresses with a tangerine sash, and maid of honor in a black dress with a hot pink sash.. I was going to do his guys the same, only with colored ties instead of sashes. I will also wear a colored sash on my dress… But I am not sure which color.. Any suggestions, or opinions?
Jennifer-
I am getting married in September and I chose navy dresses too! They are cocktail length with a silk sash- I think navy is a clean and crisp color and I love the way it looks with hydrangea flowers which I just had to have. You can check them out at http://www.jcrew.com in their wedding section. I am having a hard time with accent colors though…. I was using shades of purple and blue but you gave me some ideas- thanks!!
Im having an August wedding
My dress is ivory. BM Dresses are olive green. Any one got ideas for flower colours that would be lovely to compliment.
i like your accent colors! i do think that a brown may look better than navy.