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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I am sooo… confused because i want a wedding that is dim and romantic for the fall but now i see spring ideas and i just can’t pick one i really need help :(:((
I have been thinking about pastel yellow dresses with bright azalea pink, pastel yellow and a little orange in the bouquets. It would be different and pretty for my spring wedding nest year. My bouquet could be azalea pink with a little of the same yellow. My fiance likes bright colors and he likes pinks more than blues for a wedding.
Hi my wedding is in september 13, 2008 my colors is pink, green and purpel. i also what to put cristels in but have no idea, can u help me or give me a idea
thanx cindy:((
Great ideas! Genie, also see “a citrus theme wedding” at TheKnot, some great pictures there. Love the groom’s bright yellow tie, the rose pomander, the super-bright programs.
And here’s a profile by knottie Mrscoastalbride with some seriously sweet calla/citrus centerpieces.
Finally, Martha has a couple of inspiring lemon-themed wedding cakes (one attached). Her photo here is a pretty sweet treatment with the patterned linens, hanging yellow flowers and crisp white pastry tray.
Lemon drop candy in a cute box or sheer bag would make yummy favors. You can use Martini glasses in the center with a yellow floting candle(If you don’t find lemon shaped ones.) You can also use small ice buckets in the center and fill them up with Lemons and Tangerines and add a couple of Martini glasses.
You could also put like 3 Martini glasses in the center and fill them with Lemond Drop candy/Gummy orange slices/Gummy Lemon slices
Freeze lemon and/or orange zest into ice cubes for the punch.
Hope any of this helps.
I am doing a “Lemon Drop Martini” wedding theme this spring. We are inspired by Martini Glasses and Lemons and Tangerines as our focus, using yellow and light orange as our color scheme. I am looking for more “lemon” ideas for decoration of the reception site. Any ideas where I can find candles in the shape of lemons?? Or neat table arrangment ideas?
Thanks so much
Wedding Genie….make you wedding wishes come true:?
I am getting married on April 5. My weddin gis on a big plantation, all the guys are wearing black and white pinstripe tuxes with black shirts, black vests and bubblegum pink ties. My dress is strapless, a-line, vintage lace accented with pearls and crystals with a black sash. all my girls are in black evening gowns, two carrying white calla lilies and 2 pink gerbera daisies. I want a super unique wedding favor. For the name cards on the tables we are doing river rocks with their names painted on one side and our name and date on the other. I want to make all the favors as I have made the save the date cards and am in the process of the invitations. We both love to cook, I bake the sweets and he makes the dinner, Im very artsy we both love outdoors. Anyone with some ideas would be great!
My wedding dress is champagne and my bridesmaids dresses are latte with a champagne sash. What colors should I use for my bouquet? Also what color for the tuxes?
Getting married in april ‘08. the store I bought my dress was having a 50% off sale (going out of the bridal business) so I bought the dress off the rack (size 8) rather than order one for $590 (just a 1/2″ alteration required - size 6). Can I just store it in the bag from the bridal store in my closet or do I need to do anything special to keep it clean before April?
Jill, I will be using cornflower, clover (shade of green) with white and a little silver (accessories, shoes, etc.). You can go to Davids Bridal site and view the colors which would go well with cornflower.
I was wondering where did you find clover colored things for your wedding i just love the color
My wedding will be in April ‘08 and my colors will be clover and cornflower with my fiance and I in white.
Hi I will be getting maried on April 19th 2008. My colors are Lilac and silver. I’m having a hard time with finding a theme and decorating the tables. Please giv eme some input.
Our wedding will be July 2008, I was thinking of yellow with blue accents,(a butter yellow). My dress is ivory. What do you think of these colours and do you think it will show up nicely if I do the dresses in yellow with my dress being ivory in the photos? thanks
I am getting Married Aug of 08. My colors are cornflower blue, sliver, white and having a problem choosing another color. Any ideas? I am having an outdoor wedding and reception. Any ideas on themes too?
:-? Are there any other colors to use with a dress with black accents other than white and hot pink?
Why not have her wear different jewelry? My girls are alll wearing the same dress… But I am having my MOH hold a boquet with more pink flowers (my groom and his best man are wearing fuschia vest and tie), where as everyone else will have more orange in theirs (the other groomsman have orange vest and tie). Just find little ways for her to stand out!
Girls are wearing apple green dresses…what do you think will go best for shoes gold or silver?? Also, how do I make my maid of honor stand out more…she is wearing the same dress as the four bridesmaids
What do you gals think about this colour scheme; purple,olive green and yellow (creamish)
hi every1,
there are so many shades of oranges ang greens to choose from, could some1 tell me what’s the perfect color combination as a motif? i’ll have a garden wedding, my first choice is green( don’t know what shade) and sunset orange. appreciate your feedback. thank you
JACEL ,
hI SO YOUR WEDDING IS IN JAN. OF 08 I THINK BLACK AND PLATNIUM SILVERISH BLUE AT DAVIDS BRIDAL LOOKS NICE TOGETHER!!! FOR A NEW YEARS WEDDING , WITH SILVER CANDLE CENTERPIECES AND MIRRORS LOTS OF CANDLE LIGHT !! I JUST GOT MARRIED IN NOV 06 MY COLORS WERE CHOC. AND LIGHT PINK AND LATTE!1MY TABLE WERE WITH LATTE TABLE LINENS AND CHAIR COVERS! CENTERPIECES WERE CANDLES IN A GLASS FROSTED GLOB ON A MIRROR WITH ICE CRYSTAL CUBES AROUND THEM AND DIAMOND SPRINKLES , AROUND BASE OF THE CANDLE WAS CHOC BOA IT SOUNDS CRAZY IT LOKKED GREAT!!! I THINK BLACK AND SILVER WIL LOOK CLASSY !!!:D:P:D