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 this spring 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.
hey I am getting married March 24, 2012. I am wanting to do tangerine color just to be different. I need to know what other color to go with it? I dont want the pool blue color because so many ppl use that..our wedding is outside in a gazebo. Please help me deside. I was thinking of having my maid of honor in the different color and the rest in tangerine dresses.
Amanda,
I may have just the thing. A gorgeous shade of green, champagne, pewter, chocolate brown,even navy, would work well with this…
Always look to their skintones to find the complimenting shade.
Hello, I’m getting married on April 15, 2012 and I’m stuck between colors. Being that it will be springtime I have no clue which would suite my Napa Valley poolside wedding please help me decide the colors…. Purple, yellow,and a lime green or fushia, purple and some type of orange or could I coordinate all these colors?? What would you suggest?? I really love bright colors I’m just unsure which would fit into our spring wedding. Please help!!
Symone,
Something like this would work for your color scheme and the napa valley…
It takes a second for the slideshow to pop up but look at this GORGEOUS table…
( this is my fave, have girls in a subtle color like champagne so it wont’t be to much)
another love it…
And see this
Add little green berries to the florals or lime filler flower interspersed and you got all your colors…
Getting married April 7th 2012 can’t pick colors I like red he like purple so I was rhinking lavender and grey or red and grey but is that ok colors for a spring wedding..I’m just not big on bright colors
Joni,
Actually I would think about going with a red and purple color scheme. It is seriously stunning. It depends on the shades on if it is subtle or bold.
* take a look at this
* and this: heather & gian
* and this wedding from SMP
Joni,
This is subtle with the red and purple.
See this, this and this
Joni,
Wow!!
Take a look at this wedding. I love all the fresh greenery.
Just wanted to know what colors go with blue? I am having my wedding at the doubletree melbourne beach fl and the room is very pretty, but lots of blue. I was thinking about doing a pink and champagne for my colors before I found the venu, now not so sure….HELP!!
Nikki,
I think I have ust the right wedding for you….
* look how this celebrity wedding is done. have the bridesmaids in a beautiful shade of blue, then add soft pinks, champagnes, etc. Or you could have them in champagne with the softs pinks and a touch of blue hydrangea. stunning isnt it? This would be amazing in your venue.
That does look stunning…Thank You…I wasn’t too sure how it would look!!
I am getting married July 9th. My bridesmadis are wearing red and the tuxes are black but I was trying to figure out a way to make it summwey since red isnt normally for summer weddings. I thought about maybe adding some yellow or white daisys. Do you have any suggestions?
Kate,
Red is a perfect color for year round. Think of all the red roses that bloom in the summer. What about your venue? What does it look like and maybe I can help you with an accent color.
* search here by color for some fab ideas
Hi, i’m having a spring wedding May 28, 2012. I’ve chosen to use fuschia pink, white and grey/silver but i’m having a hard time picturing the colors together. Also i’m having hard time picking a theme.
Nikki,
* some pics
* mood board
* another beauty
Nikki,
* finally found it
Im getting married on June 4th 2011 in the evening…Im having trouble figuring out what colors and scheme to use. I want a black/white wedding but cant decide on what other colors to use to off set the black/white. I love lime green and yellow…..any help or suggestions!!!!! My bms are wearing black cocktail style dresses with the guess wearing black tuxs…
B.B.,
* black white green would look awesome
*I also included balck white yellow
I am getting married May 14, 2011. My colors are watermelon and green. The center pieces are tall cylinder vases with limes cut up(some are not) and bright pink flowers in the vases. I wanted to do silver pails for favors and plant a flower in each of them…then put a little picket stuck in there with their name and table number on it. Is this an ok idea? I am just having a hard time finding the right size pail. I am finding a lot of 2 inch ones but I feel they may be too small. I was trying to look for 3 inch ones but they are too hard to find. I found 5 inch but I think they will be too big because when they bring them back to the table, I dont want it to be too crowded. Please help! Do the silver pails go?
Kristin,
It might be easier to find flower pots. You can spray paint themany color youwant too. I do love your idea. Very cute.
* some 2.5 inch pails
* look thru these some are 2.75 inches
I do love the idea of your wedding! the pails are a brilliant idea. I am currently looking into wedding ideas. but you might try flower pots then paint them a color. :)
I am getting married sometime between May and July 2011. I was thinking about my colors being all the colors of the rainbow except lighter spring colors. Do you have any suggestions?
Drema,
One way for this to look beautiful is pair multi colored florals against a classic neutral like black, brown, grey/platinum, red, navy, etc. Could you tell me what your location looks like?
the pics are an example of what I am thinking except lighter shades.
I’m planning a Spring wedding for April 2012. It’s going to be outside. Not sure of an exact location but somewhere with a gazebo and pond behind it. The colors I’m looking into are pool blue, tangerine, not sure what color pink, like yellow, and green. How should I coordinate these colors? I was thinking short bridesmaid dresses but not sure of the color. Thought about doing them tangerine with the tuxes black with pool blue vest and tie! Any other ideas? I want all the colors to be involved b/c I want it bringt? What about the the flowers? Any ideas?
Nikki,
It recommend securing the venue and then looking into a color scheme. Reason being, you will need to look at the setting to see what flowers are in bloom etc. Your color scheme should compliment. it sounds like a wildflower theme would be ideal. Tangerine and yellow can be very difficult for some skintones. If it were me,I would put the girls in the blue and guys in black with pool blue then add the multi flowers. With the pool blue tangerine, pink, yellow bouquets with accents of green would look nice. And more pulled together.
Nikki,
* here is a sample wedding, so beautiful!
Thank you for your help. The pictures on the website are really pretty and I like the idea of the blue dresses with the tangerine and pink.