The Power of Color

I’ve had the pleasure of planning a large number of weddings now and a question I always like to ask my clients is “What are your wedding colors?” Some brides know immediately, after all they’ve dreamed of this big day for a very long time.  Others aren’t quite sure.  Let me say this, there are no rules.  Your wedding is the perfect opportunity to paint a picture for your family and friends as you move into marriage and you become a married couple.  I’ve listed some suggestions to help guide you through this process.

Don’t be afraid of rich colors like burgundy, royal blue or even plum, bring it in everywhere.

Stay away from Stark White as it doesn’t give you any dimension.  Try using soft ivories and off whites.  It will soften your look and will look better on film or in pictures.  It will also give you the base to layer in your favorite colors.

There are three types of color families you should become familiar with:

-Full Color, which are primary and secondary colors with strong vivid hues.  They include red, blue, margenta pink, purple, green and yellow.

-Medium shades of colors, which aren’t so intense, are pink, lavender, peach and light yellow.

-Soft hues include lighter tones of ivory, white and luscious yellow.

When you mix these different color families, you obtain contrast and a three dimensional look, especially in your flowers. Having a conversation with your florist is so important when it comes to your color scheme. Your florist will be able to bring that pop of color you’re looking for out in your centerpieces or using softer tone flowers make your centerpieces soft and romantic.

What ever color choices you make, it should reflect you and your soon to be bride or groom.  If you’re outgoing and full of energy, bursting at the seams, lots of color would certainly be in order.  Are you more traditional and subtle, then softer tones will bring the feel of romance and love to your color selections.

Happy Planning!

Mary Homer – Fairy Tale Weddings and Events

http://www.fairytaleweddingsandeventsbymary.com

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The Endless Circle of Love

You received an engagement ring from your fiance’ but have you wondered what it means?  Engagement rings and wedding bands represent many things in many cultures.  The most common meaning is Love, Commitment, Fidelity, Honour and Eternity.  After all it is an endless metal band around your finger.

They say the wedding ring dates back to Egyptian hieroglyphics on the walls of Egyptian tombs, which were translated by archaeologists.  2000 years ago, Asian puzzle rings were commonly used as wedding bands. It’s said that sheiks and sultans required each of their wives to wear one as a pledge of fidelity while he was away.

Ancient Egyptians and Romans believed that the ring finger of the left hand follows the vein of love, which is connected to the heart.  Isn’t it amazing that a single band of metal can symbolize eternal love having no beginning nor an end.

We all know your engagement ring will typically be found on your left ring finger (next to your pinky).  But how will you wear them once you’re married?  Traditionally, your wedding band will be placed on your ring finger first and then your engagement ring.  The symbolism of this being your wedding band is the closest to your heart and a never ending circle of love.

While engagement rings and diamonds are beautiful and amazingly stunning, especially paired with a matching wedding band, the love that you have for one another is never ending and a ring is a symbol of that love.

Happy Planning!

Mary Homer –  Fairy Tale Weddings & Events

http://www.fairytaleweddingsandeventsbymary.com

Unexpected Wedding Expenses

It’s no secret that having a wedding can be expensive.  You have your dress, the venue, the florist, the dj or a band and your wedding planner.  But what about those unexpected cost?  Here’s the break down on the national average costs for a wedding:

Food service	$4,745
Event location	$3,621
Full-service wedding planner	$3,232
Bar service	$2,442
Event rentals	$1,719
Photographer	$1,663
Live band	$1,637
Wedding dress	$1,212
Wedding bands	$1,182
Videographer	$1,017

The Knot reports the average couple will spend $29,858 for their wedding.  And the expense of a wedding can certainly be much higher than noted above, depending on where you may live. Although the above figures may or may not be reflective of the area you reside in, the venue and food/alcohol will certainly be the most expensive part of your budget.  If you’re looking to have top shelf alcohol or you want the “best of the best” food, it will cost you.  So it’s very important to determine who and how you are going to pay for your wedding.  Will you pay for it yourself or will you have contributions from your family?  Next, set yourself a budget.  This should help you to stay on track.  If you can manage the expense of a wedding planner, you’ll fin that he or she will be worth it.  Most planners will find creative ways to stretch your budget so you don’t deplete immediately and has experience and relationships with local vendors.

So establish your budget.  Then prioritize what’s most important to you.  Spending a little extra on your photographer for fabulous photos may be more important to you then overly dramatic centerpieces. Most vendors will work within your budget so have an open conversation about what you’d like and what your budget allows for.

The next thing is to determine how many guests you’re inviting.  A few extra guests will cause unexpected costs to your bottom line. So have an honest conversation about who should truly be invite.  Do you really need to invite your 3rd and 4th cousins and don’t forget “plus ones”, as they add up and will ultimately affect your bottom line.

Happy Planning!

Mary Homer – Fairy Tale Weddings & Events

http://www.fairytaleweddingsandeventsbymary.com

contributions by CNBC and The Knot

 

What Do I Do With My Dress!?

What to do with your Dress!

Twenty-Three Balloons

Did you have a summer wedding? Do you have no idea what to do with your wedding dress now that the wedding is over? We can help! Here are a few ideas of what you can do with your wedding dress after the big day is done!

1. Store It–Properly!
To guarantee that your dress can stand the test of time, store your dress the correct way. Make sure that you find an archival garment box and use archival tissue paper. You can find our favorite at The Container Store.
*For extra care store your dress with cedar planks to guarantee moths or other bugs do not get to you gown*

2. Frame It/Shadow Box:
Shadow boxes are an amazing way to showcase your dress and even your special items from the big day. You can purchase shadow boxes or even large frames from your local arts and…

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Wedding Favors DIY Ideas

Great wedding favor options!

Voncierge

And you thought wedding stationary was tough because of all the options? Here’s another hard decision – what do you want to give as wedding favors? From edibles to decorations, there’s so much variety in DIY projects you can do! To narrow it a bit down for you, we wanted to focus on DIY wedding favors that can be eaten (who doesn’t love food?) or used up in another way by the guest, here you go!

Chocolates are usually a big hit! This particular design would be a perfect for an Easter or summer wedding with beautiful, bright colors. Replace the decoration on top of the box, and the type of chocolates or candies inside to switch up the mood.

Give your guests hot chocolate powder and marshmallows. It’s perfect for a winter wedding! What’s better than curling up in front of the fireplace with hot chocolate after a long day? You can always…

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5 Tips To Being A Fabulous Maid of Honor

Your best friend or sister is getting married and you were asked to be the Maid of Honor. You may be asking yourself what does that mean? That means you’re someone very special to the bride and she’s honored you with this special position. But what do you do?  Here’s my five top tips on being a Fabulous Maid of Honor:

1) Offer to do “it”, again and again and again.  Whether your bride is looking for a custom cake or topper, a florist for those special ordered flowers or looking for that perfect favor for her guests, help her from the start and run with it.  You don’t want the bride worrying about anything.  You need to be one step ahead of her and get things done.

2) Don’t be afraid to delegate the numerous things that will go on.  Have grandma, her godmother or a favorite family member help with the details of her bridal shower.  And don’t be afraid to let others share in the expense of these gatherings and items.  You certainly aren’t independently wealthy and everyone should contribute a little something toward the big day, whether it’s grandma, her godmother or favorite family members.

3) Say nice things about the groom or partner.  She is currently on cloud nine and is so happy. Tell her what a great choice she’s made and let her smile.  After all, you’re the Maid of Honor and your opinion counts.

4) ….and if you don’t care for the groom…..don’t share it. Hopefully before things have gotten so far as you being the Maid of Honor, you’ve shared your concerns.  The bride knows your concerns and doesn’t need to hear it over and over again.  Be supportive, have a listening ear and know when to just let it go.

5) Don’t forget to have some “me” time.  Pamper yourself prior to the wedding and unwind.  This is a job for all practical purposes and  you may not have alot of time for yourself. So make time to go to the salon, have a mani/pedicure or a massage and relax.  On the big day you’ll be busy, but be sure to enjoy yourself….after all you’re the Maid of Honor for a reason.

Happy planning!

Mary Homer-Fairy Tale Weddings & Events

http://www.fairytaleweddingsandeventsbymary.com

 

A Message For A Wedding Day

Found this to be very inspiration!

Exiled Community

This past Saturday I had the honor of officiating the wedding of my sister-in-law, Marci, to my new brother-in-law, Darryl. It was a great day! The couple picked out a scripture from Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs- depending which Bible you’re looking at) and the four points that I shared with them about cultivating a marriage that will last a lifetime.

1. Ground Your Marriage in Trust: 

“My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.” Song of Solomon 2:14

The man is calling out to his bride-to-be and sees her as a gentle dove hiding in the clefts of the rocks. This is a remote place that is difficult to get to. A dove would have to feel safe to come out…

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To Tent or Not To Tent….That is the Question!

We have recently done several on site, tent weddings. The Kennedy compound in Hyannisport, Massachusetts was the recent location this past weekend for such a beautiful wedding at the Kennedy compound.  So the question comes to mind as we set up these beautiful sites, is it more or less cost effective to tent your wedding location or simply choose to have your celebration at an established venue?

When thinking about a location wedding, where you need to bring in a beautiful white pitched tent, you should remember you will also need to bring in everything else.  That includes tables, chairs, linens, a bar, flatware, glassware, china, lighting (chandeliers always look spectacular in a tent!) and we certainly can’t forget restroom accommodations for your guests to list a few.  You are essentially starting from the ground up, which is not always a bad thing.  A tent wedding gives you more flexibility to make the space your own.  You’re able to bring in crafted furniture to make it feel rustic or a chandelier or two to give your space that elegant touch you’re looking for.  If you need a lounge area for your cocktail hour, bring in sleek furniture that fits your decor style.  And if your style is down home country, bring in some bales of hay, placing them strategically through out your space along with other country decor.  This is your space, so let it reflect your style. A wedding planner or wedding designer will be very helpful with developing a theme for you,  locating rentals, locations for your celebration and certainly decor ideas to develop your ideas into a celebration to remember.

So is a tent wedding more expensive than a typical wedding at an established venue?  The answer is, it depends? It depends on your budget. It depends on your location.  It depends on your style and how you want to embrace your decor and surroundings with it.  So don’t be afraid to check out the potential of a tent wedding.  The creativity to bring a wedding like this to life can be fabulous!  Enlist great vendors, be organized and expect things to change, because they will. 

On a final note, hire a wedding coordinator for at least the day of your celebration.  There will be so many moving parts to setting up your location with all the details, you’ll need someone to be your eyes, ears and the “go to person” on your big day.  After all, you don’t want to worry about the details while you’re dressing or walking down the aisle.  A wedding coordinator is priceless, especially with these type of celebrations.

Happy Planning!

Mary Homer, Fairy Tale Weddings & Events

http://www.fairytaleweddingsandeventsbymary.com