Invite Designer - Creative Wedding Planning & Ideas

Wedding trends for 2008 are reflecting the personalities of the bride and groom, instead of the traditional white dress and black tux.  As more and more people want their weddings to be something meaningful and personal to them, they’re stepping outside the box and creating their own wedding trends.

Wedding dress trends are seeing a shift from white and cream to yellow.  Yes, believe it or not, yellow is the hot new color for wedding dresses.  And by yellow, I mean anything from mellow buttercup to a bright canary yellow.  Other colors that are popular for wedding dresses are jewel tones and silver.  Many brides and wedding planners are pairing aqua or turquoise with silver, for a beautiful color combination.

The yellow theme is also springing on to the grooms and groomsmen via their ties, vests, and boutonnieres.  Bridesmaids, maids of honor, mothers of the bride and groom also are wearing yellow.

Additionally, decorations for the reception, as well as the cake, are getting splashes of yellow.  Speaking of dessert, the traditional wedding cake is…well…traditional.  More brides are opting for more modern desserts, such as tiers of cupcakes.  Other popular desserts, in lieu of the wedding cake, are sundae and/or candy buffets, paired with chocolate fountains.  This trend of dessert buffets and cupcakes is a welcome change to many guests who may not like the flavor of the wedding cake and/or frosting.  Also, as more people are watching what they eat, they can pick and choose amongst a buffet.  The choice of soft serve yogurt or sugar free ice cream at the sundae buffet is a relief for those who are on a restricted diet.  With such untraditional fare, they can have their cake and eat it, too!

Speaking of color, wedding trends are moving more in the direction of going green.  Of course, by that I mean that many couples are opting to have an environmentally friendly wedding.  Recycled paper can be used for invitations, programs, place card holders, thank you notes, etc.  Organic flowers and food are being used, although going this route may be more expensive.  “Recycling” a wedding dress from a beloved family member is also going green; plus, it’s a sentimental and very personal touch.

Winter has ended, and the high season of weddings has begun.  Spring and summer see the return of color, not only to the earth, but also to wedding gowns.  Look for more colorful wedding trends as the season develops.

All of us have experienced seeing a gorgeous dress displayed in a store window but when we tried it on, it looked anything but gorgeous.  The disappointment could have been due to the way the dress was cut or its color; it worked against our body type or coloring. Wedding dresses are no different and finding the one that will best suit you will take some forethought.  Here are some tips to help you find a wedding dress that will bring out your inner goddess.

If you’re on the thin side, you need to create some curves.  A mermaid style gown, sheath, or A-line dress will help do that.  Stay away from plunging necklines, as this will accentuate your lack of curves.  If you’re also short, stay away from the ballgown style, as this type of billowy gown could overwhelm your frame.

With an hourglass figure, you’re able to wear many different styles.  Strapless gowns look great on you as your bust doesn’t get overshadowed by your bare shoulders.  However, if you’re too self conscious about your bust, a slight scoop neck or high neckline can help minimize it.  Ballgowns with a full skirt also look good on an hourglass figure. 

Big, beautiful women can look fabulous in a wedding gown by choosing one that will accentuate their best features.  An A-line wedding gown helps slim the waist.  Choosing a neckline that draws attention to your bust also slims the waist.  Stay away from an empire waisted gown, as it’ll accentuate your waist rather than minimize it.  Also stay away from bias-cuts, shiny fabrics, horizontal stripes or detailing, puffy sleeves, and ruffles.  A simple gown with minimal intricate detailing is the best bet. 

If you have full hips, an off the shoulder or strapless gown will bring the attention to your upper body.  The ball gown and empire waist style wedding gowns have a fuller skirt that hides wider hips.  It’s best to stay away from a sheath and a form fitting gown - like the mermaid style, as they will draw attention to your hips.  The same can be said for gathered or pleated skirts, and any special design work that is just on the hip area.  Have the detailing on the bodice, which will draw attention away from your hips.  Stay away from bias-cuts or straight cuts and halter neck gowns.

If you’re thick waisted or short waisted, the empire gown is a good choice, especially if you have a smaller bust. In this style, your bust will look bigger, and no one will notice your waist.

A word about the A-line gown, also know as the princess gown:  this type is flattering to almost all body types.  When trying on wedding gowns, include some A-lines to see how they work with your body shape.

Wedding dress styles aren’t the only thing to consider when choosing your dress.  You also need to consider the color.  Fair skinned women should stay away from a stark white gown.  Ivory, cream, or a light blush is a good choice, as well as a silver or a white with bluish tints to it.  In fact, ivory, cream, and light blush suits about any skin tone. 

Olive toned women look best in an ivory or champagne colored wedding gown, while darker complexions look best in a soft white or even a starker shade of white.  

If you’ve had your coloring profiled according to season, here are some tips.  If you’re a Spring, soft whites, creams, or peachy beiges look good on you.  For Summers, soft whites and pastels will be your best choice.  Autumns can wear whites with warm undertones, and Winters look good in bright whites and icy pastels.

Finding a wedding dress to compliment your figure and coloring is not impossible.  In fact, as more women become savvy shoppers, bridal gown designers are offering huge variety to their wedding gowns.  Know what looks best on you and be confident as you stroll into the bridal shops to find your perfect dress.

When choosing a wedding cake, it’s okay to think outside the box - the cake box, that is.  More brides and grooms are infusing their creativity into their choice of wedding cakes.   Luckily, smart bakeries are listening and meeting the demand.

When choosing your wedding cake, you’ll obviously have to choose a quality bakery.  First and foremost, make sure the bakery has a current Department of Health certificate.  At your appointment with a bakery, bring along drawings or pictures of the type of cake you want.  Also be prepared to tell the bakery how many guests are invited.  This will help them determine how many tiers your cake will have - if you want a tiered cake, that is.  You will also want to view their photo albums.  A quality bakery will have such photos because this helps potential customers determine if their style of decorating is what they’re looking for.  Also ask to taste samples of the types of cakes they make.  You want your cake to taste as good as it looks. 

Usually wedding cakes are ordered at least four months in advance.  Ask the bakery when the cakes will be baked?  Will they be freshly made or frozen?  Also ask about when the delivery set up will be, and how much that will cost.  Get everything in writing so if there is a discrepancy in charges, you’ll have proof.

As you’re thinking about what kind of wedding cake you want, consider how many tiers you’d like and what kind will they be?  Do you want round, square, oblong, or heartshaped tiers?  Do you want them stacked immediately on top of each other or elevated with fancy “columns” separating the tiers.  Do you want the tiers vertical or more horizontal, like a staircase?  The cake can have different kinds of shapes, from traditional squares or circles to those shaped like presents, hatboxes, or even pillows with tassles.

Your cake doesn’t have to be the traditional wedding cake.  It could be brulee, cheesecake, tiramisu, ice cream bombe, mousse, carrot, or spice cakes.  Believe it or not, fruitcake is served in traditional Irish weddings.  A popular trend in wedding “cakes” today are layering fruit or cupcakes on tiers.  The fruit tiers or fruit trees often have sponge cake layers in between.  Individualized cupcakes are set up on tiers as well, with cute wedding decorations on each frosted cupcake.  Both the fruit and the cupcake options are very easy to serve and set up.  Guests will also like the choice of flavors - be it fruit or cake and frosting. 

If you go the route of traditional wedding cake, the frosting doesn’t need costly decorations.  Flowers or slices of fresh fruit add color and simple elegance to a wedding cake.  Either option is a great choice for spring or summer weddings.  For autumn or winter weddings, vibrantly colored autumns leaves or pine cones dipped in frosting make beautiful decorations atop a cake.  If you’re sentimental, using an heirloom, such as grandmother’s fabric from her bridal veil, would be a beautiful and unique touch.  The frosting on your cake can be the color of your bridesmaids’ dresses or, if that’s too overwhelming, it can be the color of your wedding cake decorations or the trim of the frosting. 

Choosing a wedding cake will take some time and research on your part; however, it’s well worth it.  You want your cake to reflect your fiance’s and your personalities.  It’s okay to think outside the box, but it’s also a good idea to get the opinion of trusted friends and family.  You don’t want to get too creative as to cause confusion.  Your guests need to know that your cake is edible!

Looking for a honeymoon destination where it’s sunny in the winter, has beautiful natural surroundings, and is a place where you can relax or be as active as you want? Then consider the red rock beauty of the west - Sedona, Arizona. Please bear in mind it’s best to plan your honeymoon to Sedona when it’s not during the hot summer months, unless you and your new spouse like a dry and very high (over 100 degrees) heat.

There are many reasons people pick Sedona to visit. First and foremost, it’s gorgeous. The desert landscape, with its breathtaking red rocks, are juxtaposed with pine trees and winding creeks. You can enjoy the outdoors through jeep tours, hot air balloons, trolley tours, air tours, specialty tours; river rafting; golfing; many other outdoor activities; visiting the vortexes or going on a spiritual journey. If you love to ski, nearby Flagstaff awaits you.If you and your new spouse want to have a more leisurely day, there are lots of art galleries to peruse, chief of which is Tlaquepaque. Sedona also has great restaurants and unique shops. If you have sore muscles from hiking through the desert and mountains - or just want to unwind after all the stress of planning your wedding, there are plenty of spas to pamper both of you. The Mii Amo is a luxury spa that offers couples massage.

If you want to explore the surrounding areas, there’s plenty to do. Visiting Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well makes you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time. The same can be said for the Petrified Forest, which is known as the “Painted Desert” because of its colorful petrified wood and badlands with fossils 225 million years old. You can take a park tour, camp overnight, or drive through the 28 miles of park on your own. Don’t forget Arizona’s amazing wonder - the Grand Canyon. It’s a two to three hour drive from Sedona. Jerome and Prescott are also worth a stop. Jerome is known as “America’s Most Vertical City” and the “Largest Ghost Town in America.” Prescott is filled with Victorian homes and has over 500 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its historical “Whiskey Row” was an infamous red light district until the 1950s.

A romantic place to stay for your Sedona honeymoon is the Boots & Saddles Bed and Breakfast. It bills itself as a “Romantic Sedona Bed & Breakfast” and has been awarded the Travelers’ 2006 and 2008 Choice Award by Trip Advisor. The location is ideal; it’s off the beaten path, yet convenient enough to take in the usual tourist spots. Beauty surrounds you at Boots and Saddles: the rooms are all tastefully decorated in Southwestern themes, and you need only look outside to see Thunder Mountain and Chimney Rock.

From their website: “Kick off your boots and soak in your private Spa under the stars or your in-room jetted tub for two in front of the flickering fire. And while you enjoy your luxurious room decorated in a Southwestern Style we will make you feel at home. You will enjoy sumptuous gourmet breakfasts, afternoon snacks, and home baked chocolate-chip cookies.”

Your hosts, Irith and Sam, will even help you plan your activities around the Sedona area. Irith’s interior designer touch is noticed throughout Boots and Saddles, while Sam, who is a great chef, makes sure you’ll have a delightful breakfast every morning. They will also give you plenty of privacy, so you can enjoy your romantic honeymoon.

Sedona is a delightful place to visit, whether you’re looking for plenty of outdoor activities, leisurely activities, rest and relaxation, or all of the above! It’s also located near several other beautiful areas that you’ll no doubt want to visit while you’re in the area!

Photo from Visit Sedona.

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Just getting engaged is such an exciting time.  You’re more than a couple; you’re on your way to making it “official.”  You walk on air for a few days, dreaming about the future…then…gulp!  You realize you have a wedding to plan for!  If you’re like most people, you haven’t a clue as to planning a wedding.  Luckily, there are many resources to help you glide to that special day with relative ease.

First things first.  You have to decide on the type of wedding ceremony you and your fiance want.  Do you want a large or small ceremony?  Deciding on how many people to invite will determine the setting.  You can’t invite over a hundred guests to a small wedding chapel.  Another question to ask yourself is do you want a traditional or more casual wedding?  This helps in figuring out what kind of gown, decorations, music, invitations, and food your wedding and reception will require.  Also the time of year can factor in to your setting.  If you’ve always dreamed of an outdoor ceremony, then you need to choose a wedding date during the summer months. 

When you’ve decided on the type of wedding you and your fiance want, you need to make a checklist of the vendors you’ll need to hire.  That checklist will include caterer, musicians, photographer and videographer, florist, baker, and reception hall.  If you’ve decided upon a more traditional wedding, you’ll be looking for a reception hall that is large enough for the caterers to serve a whole meal.  You’ll also choose a live band over a DJ who will play recorded music.  Your flowers will more likely be traditional and generously displayed throughout the wedding and the reception areas.  Your wedding gown and your groom’s tuxedo will be more traditional, and your wedding parties’ clothing will fit in with that theme.  Be prepared to pay more for a traditional wedding.

If you want to keep costs down as much as possible, planning well ahead of time helps.  You’ll have more time to shop around for the best prices.  Have your friends and family keep an eye out for bargains.  You can think outside the box and shop at other places besides a bridal boutique.  Take some time to brainstorm with your family and friends.  Some of the most creative and money saving ideas are thought up when you have time.  Why not have a “wedding creation” party with friends and family, where you think up cost cutting wedding ideas.  Make sure to keep detailed notes of the ideas you like.

In addition to bridal magazines, checking online is a great resource for creating your own beginner’s guide to planning your wedding.  There are many websites that have checklists and planning tips for weddings.  If you still feel overwhelmed, consider hiring a wedding planner.  While a planner may seem costly at first, many brides say they’re worth it because planning a wedding is akin to having a part time job.  A wedding planner will alleviate a lot of stress, which may be worth the cost alone.  Additionally, a planner may save you money in the long run because she knows which local vendors give the best deals.