Artistic, Color Rich Inspired Wedding Theme

By on March 10, 2012 in Daily Scoop, Wedding Design Ideas

O'Keefe watercolor, art installation greenweddingshoes.com

 

I was an art major in college, my favorite medium has to be watercolors, one of my favorite artists is Georgia O’Keefee.  Watercolors create such a soft, yet color powerful image individually unique to the organic forms the paint, water and brushes make.  O’Keeffe is notably known for her large feminine images of flowers. If you take a closer look you’ll see a strong, independent woman who pioneered the way for women artists, all the while creating beautiful images.

I’m going to take a few of my favs along with some great inspiration photos from Afloral.com and the online wedding world.  We’ll pair the beauty, serenity of watercolors and the organic floral forms with a boost of style that you can get with a little artistic creativity when your willing “to paint outside the box”.

From your wedding flowers for your bridal flower bouquets to creative DIY wedding project ideas, here’s your guide for an Artistic, Color Rich Wedding Theme.

spectrum hues wedding cake

Rich, Saturated Color

The watercolor medium, or how it works, is going to influence our color rich wedding palette.  The saturation of your color choice, when working with watercolors, is determined by the amount of water you add to the paint.  The combinations made by adding and subtracting can give you an array of different hues with one color, from a soft pink to a vivid fuschia.

This cake from mysweetandsaucy.com is a beautiful example of the spectrum of color saturation you can get from one color.  Simplicity and color choice make this cake beautiful for any romantic or rustic wedding.

 

pink hue wedding flower bouquet

Feminine Florals

What I explained in our color category is going to transition into our wedding flower color choice.  Pick one or two wedding flower colors, mix with scale of saturated hues.  Take an example from pink on pink Daisy and Rose hand bouquet from Afloral.com, although the roses and gerbera daisies are close to the same hue there is still enough interest in the details of texture and style.  Both are traditional wedding flower choices, rose forever romantic and the daisy a bit more girlie and fun, combined they are a unique play on the ordinary.

A queue to take from O’Keeffe is to make your wedding floral choices a main focal point.  Celebrate their beauty, color and style them to fit, if not make, your wedding theme.  O’Keeffe is known for her larger than life renditions, taking a closer look at ordinary everyday beauty.  You don’t have to go overboard and splurge on big ticket wedding flower arrangements.  This is a great category to use a few DIY wedding project ideas and create your own floral arrangements using silk wedding flowers, possibly saving hundreds, if not more, on your wedding budget.

watercolor wedding invite

Wedding Trends

Watercolor detailed wedding invitations are a popular trend on wedding stationary sites.  weddingpaperdivas.com features a color rich, organic floral form invite, available to customize with your monogram.  The invite captures the delicacy of artistic watercolors, beauty of floral forms, while staying rich with saturated color.  A fitting introduction to an Artistic, Color Rich Wedding.

While it would take quite a bit of skill and time to pull off your own DIY watercolor invites, you could go an easier route and make your own DIY wedding escort table tent cards.  Use several large sheets of watercolor paper, I prefer cold press (note the type of paper makes a huge difference, watercolor paper is thick pressed to work with saturated paints).  Using one or two colors, vary the saturation of each color, you can also let colors blend together.  Once your done creating your own organic watercolor forms on paper let your creation dry.  After the paper has dried, you can cut the large piece into smaller desired sizes to fold table tent cards. Hand write the name of each guest over the watercolor designed paper for a custom handmade touch.

art installation wedding project

Inspired by Art

We’ve kept it feminine, beautiful and soft, but it’s time to step up our game.  Doing so with this unique one of a kind DIY wedding project pulling from our art inspiration.  Once I saw this on greenweddingshoes.com I immediately added it to my favorite list.  At first glance this DIY rolled paper art installation captures and demands your attention.  The bride created an original, organic flowing design by varying colors of rollled paper combining them into this one of a kind, unique installation which sat at the head of the bridal table.

Wow, about sums it up.  While I can’t imagine or begin to describe the amount of time and talent this installation took from the bride, it does go to show how far an original, creative idea can go.  Making the attempt to “paint outside the box” with a few DIY wedding projects will result in a thoughtful and personalized custom wedding.  A look that will pay off.

 Inspired?

I hope our Artistic, Color Rich Wedding Theme inspired you in your wedding planning.  Remember to take the simplicity and beauty of color along with some personalized touches to customize your wedding day.  Guests will appreciate the thoughtful, personalized details and you’ll save big on your wedding budget by going with a few DIY wedding projects.  Don’t forget you can now search our blog by COLOR!  Another great feature to help you plan your special day.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

· Comments { 1 }

Romantic Silk Rose Floral Guide

By on February 9, 2012 in Daily Scoop, How To

Afloral.com Red Rose Wedding Theme

“Which is loveliest in a rose?  It’s coy beauty when it’s budding, or it’s splendor when it blow?” George Barlow

Many poets and writers have alluded to the beauty of the rose.  A symbol of love, passion and beauty.

Approaching Valentine’s Day, the international day of love, countless men will be visiting their local florist to purchase bouquets of roses for their special someones.

Roses aren’t just popular one day of the year.  They are a favorite wedding floral choice.  Roses are a timeless symbol of love and beauty that lend themselves to a classic, elegant wedding look.

Silk rose flowers can get you this beautiful, classic look at an affordable price.  Silk floral stems range from $1.49 to $3.49 a piece, ideal prices for any DIY wedding projects.  An added bonus you can order them weeks or months in advance completing any projects with plenty of time before your wedding day.

Today we’re going to go through a few different types of silk rose flowers so you’ll be able to get the right look using the right type of rose stems for your wedding needs.  Welcome to the silk rose floral guide.

Afloral.com Red Rose Boutonniere

Rose Buds

Rose buds are a petite, rich accent to any floral arrangement.  Available in a variety of colors from traditional red, pink, yellow to blue, purple or gray.  They come on long individual stems with greenery.  Tuck the rose bud stems amongst arrangements with greenery and baby’s breath or accents like feather or rhinestone sprays.

Take the same hue of rose bud and make your own boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen.  For around $2- $5 a piece, get great savings making your own with a rose bud, greenery, floral tape and a lapel pin.

 

Afloral.com Red Rose Bridal Bouquet

Open Rose

A large, open rose  can be a beautiful focal point to your wedding floral arrangement.  Lush and bold in bridal bouquets and accessories and attention catching in reception centerpieces.  The intricate layers of an open rose are historically a symbol of elegance and beauty.

Both the American Beauty and Suzette Garden silk floral stems are large, lush open roses that will get you that classic look.  Pair larger blooms like these with other medium to large blooms so that the arrangement is balanced.  The afloral.com red rose wedding theme features a 26″ red rose, the same size bloom of the large American Beauty or Suzette Garden stems.  Arrange several silk floral stems in a tall or short inexpensive vase like the mint julep cups and viola you have a simple, beautiful and affordable wedding centerpiece.

Afloral.com White Rose Centerpiece

Garden Fresh

If you’re on the fence about using silk flowers for your wedding, the garden fresh line can sway your vote.  Garden Fresh and Sophia silk floral stems offer a “fresh from the garden” look  with soft, plastic coated wire stems complete with thorns.  The realistic stems and petals can be placed in a vase of water to complete the look or used in a submersible arrangement.

Both are available in large, open blooms with lush silk rose petals.  The afloral.com white rose wedding theme showcases the beauty and versatility of the silk rose stems.  Classic, simple arrangement of 6 sophia rose stems are placed in a clear vase with water and floating white rose petals for a stunning centerpiece idea.  The Princess Mary rose bud stem is trimmed and submersed in a small clear vase for an accent arrangement.  Each element checks in at under $5 a piece, demonstrating how affordable silk flowers and staple and inexpensive pieces like dollar store vases can create a gorgeous yet budget friendly wedding arrangement.

For additional savings look at silk rose sprays offering multiple floral blooms to be used in DIY arrangements.  And as always ordering silk wedding flowers in bulk will save you both time and money.

Happy early Valentine’s Day!  With all the money you’ll be saving ordering silk wedding flowers let your man to be take you out for a romantic dinner……enjoy!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

· Comments { 1 }

Wedding Ceremony Ideas

By on January 14, 2012 in Daily Scoop, Wedding Design Ideas

wedding ceremony, wedding-planning-101.com

 

Are you ready to walk down the aisle with style?

So often we talk about how to plan your wedding reception, from centerpiece ideas, chair backs to favors and food.  But aren’t we getting ahead of ourselves?

Before you can enjoy a fabulous evening of family, friends and festivities celebrating your new union in marriage, you need to get through the wedding ceremony.  The ceremony is your day’s main attraction, what everyone came to see.  Here’s how you can make it look good.

The wedding ceremony venue is important in determining your décor.  You want your wedding theme to be carried through each part of your wedding from the ceremony and into the following reception.  For wedding ceremonies taking place in a church most likely décor will be a bit more traditional, with pew and altar floral arrangements, aisle runners, bouquets and boutonnieres for the bridal party. If your ceremony is taking place outdoors or indoors banquet venue you might have a little more room to wiggle in some different stylish touches in your aisle decorations, floral arrangements and accessories for the bridal party.

Let’s take a look at what you’ll need to add some style to your wedding ceremony from the traditional ceremony décor to a few fun ideas that will mix it up.  Armed with a couple DIY wedding projects and tips you can get a great look without a huge dent into your wedding budget.  Music to any bride and groom’s ears.

pomander chair back, theknot.com

The Prelude

Set the stage for the main attraction, let’s talk aisle décor.  Silk flowers make gorgeous and affordable accents for ceremony chairs or aisle pew markers.  Consider using any of our fall or winter DIY chair backs to fit your wedding theme.  Pomander or kissing silk floral balls also make an easy and beautiful accent with out any prep work or time.  They are available in a variety of colors from tangerine orange to traditional red roses;  save by ordering them in bulk they run around $7-$10 a piece.

Thursday’s how to post featured two different DIY wedding aisle runner ideas, maybe not the first DIY wedding project you might think of.  But making your own aisle runner will add some style and personal touches also saving you possibly $50-$60 or more.   Finish the backdrop of your ceremony decor with floral arrangement around your altar.

bridesmaids, austinweddingblog.com

Act I

Who’s up to start the ceremony before the bride takes her fairytale walk down the aisle?  The bridal party.  Make them look good with the right accessories and special touches.  A traditional look for bridesmaids will be matching dresses and small clutch bouquets.  Make sure to have arrangements set for fittings well in advance of your wedding date so there are no last minute surprises.  Pre-made silk flower bouquets are the perfect accessory for bride’s maids and hassle free.  Ordering in bulk will save you even more money.  Give them a finished look by adding satin ribbon or Velcro bouquet wraps.

If you want to break from tradition and mix up your bride’s maid’s look try something fun like the picture shown, brightly colored leggings in various colors will catch everyone’s eye.  The same guidelines pertain to the groom’s men’s look, remember back to Jillenne’s wedding we loved the men’s blue chuck taylors that matched the blue wedding theme.  Way to add a fun quirk that will make guest smile and show off some personal style.

flower girl sash, marthastewart.com

 

Other members of the bridal party to think of are your flower girls and ring bearers.  These little participants can’t be left out when it comes to planning their wedding look.   While the flower girl will have her hands busy with a basket of petals she still needs her own flower to match the bride’s maids.  Pick a larger silk floral bloom and make this cute DIY flower girl sash to add to her look.  Another great DIY wedding project from marthastewart.com an announcement banner to walk down the aisle announcing the start of the wedding party.

 

white orchid bridal bouquet, afloral.com

Act II

In act II all eyes are on you.  Next to your dress guests will be eyeing your bridal bouquet.  Take the time to design the perfect arrangement that will add a pop of color and style to your look.  Build a bouquet will give  you choose ideas for the type of silk flowers and accents like ribbon or stem wraps, don’t forget little touches like jeweled or feather sprays and bouquet brooches.  Once you’ve got your bouquet flowers set carry the look over into your groom’s look.  Refer back to our easy DIY boutonniere post to make your own groom and groom’s men’s boutonnieres.  A little time on this project will save you tons of cash with the cost coming out at around $2-$5 a piece.

 

wedding car tags, theknot.com

Prologue

It’s time to transition from the wedding ceremony to the reception.  Carry over your wedding look and festive mood as guests move from one location to the next.  Whether your reception is a room away or guests have to hop in their cars to get across town send them on their way with a favor from the ceremony.  That’s right break with tradition, who says they can’t get a wedding favor until the reception?  This would work great if your transitioning from an outdoor venue.  In the hot months have available parasols or oriental fans, in the cooler months little wraps for the women to drape around their shoulders.

If your reception venue does require guest to travel provide these great car tags for them to attach to their cars.  This will help keep the wedding party together and lead the way to the reception.

Pulling it all Together within your Budget

From all your ceremony needs into your reception festivities the right DIY wedding projects paired with a few tips and a plan can help you stay within your wedding budget.  Silk flowers are the perfect fit for projects with a bonus they are affordable and yet still beautiful.  Browse through all of afloral.com’s resources like our weekly DIY wedding project posts, wedding design ideas, build a bouquet center and you tube videos to customize your whole wedding look.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

· Comments { 0 }

DIY Wedding Aisle Runners

By on January 12, 2012 in Daily Scoop

bride walking down aisle, pinkfogphotography.com

On your wedding day you will stand at one end of an aisle, preparing to make the most important walk of your life.  A walk to the end of that aisle into the arms of the man you love, the man you will spend the rest of your life with.

We want that walk to be special, memorable and look gorgeous; something for everyone to remember.  When planning your wedding décor don’t forget to think about your ceremony and wedding aisle look. The foundation of most ceremony aisles are aisle runners, they’ll set the stage as you take your important wedding walk.  Traditional aisle runners are found in white or ivory but let’s kick it up a notch and get you a fabulous, custom aisle runner without having to pay big bucks.

Today’s feature DIY wedding project post is how to make a custom wedding aisle runner.  Get the look of a stylish, high end aisle runner with a budget price thanks to a little crafting and planning.  We’ll take a look at a traditional route using a simple, fabric aisle runner and another fresh, alternative to mix up your wedding ceremony look.

All products used in both of our DIY wedding aisle runner, aisle runner, adhesive rhinestones, silk flower petals, are available at afloral.com completed projects will run under $40 each. Ordering real rose petals or custom monogrammed aisle runners can run around $60-$100 or more!  These DIY wedding projects offer affordable wedding design options that will save you valuable budget money.

 

monogrammed aisle runner, esty.com

Traditional Monogrammed Aisle Runner

Afloral.com has fabric aisle runners in white or ivory from 50 feet to 100 feet in length.  Step up the look of these runners with a simple, easy DIY wedding project.  Using a stencil and adhesive rhinestones you can make a custom Monogrammed Aisle Runner that will sparkle and shine on your special day.  Guests will appreciate the special touches you’ve taken in customizing even your aisle runner.

Here’s how:

  • Measure the width (commonly 36″) of your purchased aisle runner and the desired height you’d like the monogram at.
  • Make a stencil. Two options, either purchase a large stencil at local craft store or make your own on the computer.  Print out the letters of your monogram and then arrange.
  • Either lay the stencil over the runner or underneath it.  Following the outline given start adhering the rhinestones.  To make sure they will stay in place you may use additional adhesive glue.

There is no limit to what you can do making your own stencil or pattern to follow.  Use a little creativity in styling your monogram, you can even use your wedding date.  Not interested in rhinestone this idea also works well with hand painted monograms, use craft or fabric paint.  Finally, carry this look throughout your wedding day on napkins, favors, even your centerpieces as seen on last week’s glass vase post—monogrammed glass centerpieces.

rose petal aisle runner, marthastewart.com

Rose Petal Aisle

Not looking for a traditional aisle to walk down?  This next look might be for you.  Set the stage for a memorable walk down the aisle on a bed of silk rose petals as your path.  Silk rose petals come in a variety of colors from traditional red to bright greens and blues; they are a favorite to budget brides available to order in bulk.

Create a rose petal aisle for an outdoor wedding or add something special to your indoor wedding.  They are versatile and easy to use.  Thepetalgarden.com offers a great conversion chart, towards the bottom of the linked page, to help you figure out the quantity of petal’s you’ll need to cover your aisle.  Afloral.com offers bulk containers of 300 petals, to cover a 50′ to 100′ aisle with moderate to dense coverage you’ll need about 4-6 containers.  Get a fabulous silk rose petal aisle for around $36-$54, you can’t beat those savings!

To create your own silk rose petal aisle mark off the area you’ll need to cover with petals using masking or painters tape, which can later be removed.  Fill your area with one shade of petals or mix it up as seen in the example using 2-3 different colors.  If you’re feeling really creative make a pattern, swirled designs or a monogram like we talked about above.   Finish off the whole look with floral arrangements at the altar and on aisle chairs or pews accenting you’re color choices in the rose petals.  Large vases with floating candles or votives lit will also help to set the mood.

Get a custom wedding ceremony look for less.  Modern weddings are about smart planning and affordable options.  Today I hope we’ve brought you a little of both.  Stop back Saturday for more talk about how to plan your wedding ceremony, from the traditional staples to some fun accessory ideas.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

· Comments { 2 }

Dollar Store DIY Wedding Project Ideas

By on January 7, 2012 in Wedding Design Ideas

Dollar store, dollarstorevendor.com

I scream, you scream…. We all scream for the Dollar Store!

Okay, I will try and tone down my enthusiasm but I do have to admit I get just as excited, if not more, than my kids to go to the Dollar Store.

Choices in seasonal, party, craft, household items and more at an inexpensive cost results in endless possibilities for party and wedding planning.  Some items are no- brainers to pick up at your local Dollar Store, like glass vases featured on our DIY Thursday post.  Others you have to get a little creative and think outside the box for DIY party or wedding projects.

For those more creative, crafty project ideas the Dollar Store has a helpful resource, a website: dollarstorecrafts.com. A site filled with DIY ideas for products you can pick up at most Dollar Store locations.  On a side note, a great tip to remember order items online in bulk to ship to stores and pick up at your convenience.

Dollarstorecrafts.com is one of my favorite online stops for fun, creative project ideas.  But I have to warn you it’s addicting before you know it you’ve spent an hour searching the site.  My other current online fix, Pinterest.com an online personal bulletin board.  If you haven’t heard of it take a look at afloral.com’s pinterest profile, then request your own invite.

Now back to our dollar store discussion.  I’m going to go over a few DIY wedding project ideas using dollar store products.  First some of the basics, items you’d most likely pick up and then a couple fun ideas off their website.  Both will offer you great savings with easily accessible and inexpensive items.

glass vase project, marthastewart.com

Get the Basics

Glass vases are the perfect example of items you should pick up at the Dollar Store.  Why spend $5-$10 a vase when you can get them for a fraction of the cost?  Most dollar stores offer a variety of styles, shapes and heights of vases.  They are the foundation to any great DIY centerpiece, featured in many afloral.com DIY wedding project ideas.  See Thursday’s How To post for a complete run down of centerpiece ideas using glass Dollar Store vases.

 

DIY candy bar, dollarstorecrafts.com

 

Items for a DIY dessert or candy bar can be picked up in your Dollar Store household aisle; plates, bowls, trays, jars and vases.  Don’t worry if they don’t all match take a high gloss spray paint in color or a metallic and you’ll have a custom set.  The example shown uses craft paper and ribbon to create a more uniformed look using plates, jars and bowls.

 

 

DIY cake stand, strawberry-chic.blogspot.com

 

Make your own cake stand display for wedding treats like assorted cakes, pies, cupcakes or cookies.  Remember our non-traditional cake post, any of those options would look great on a cake stand.  Here’s a  tutorial with step by step pics; make the to stand alone or tiered.

 

 

wine glass lamps, decorate.tipjunkie.com

 

Wineglasses have all sorts of uses outside of the holding beverage; here are two of my favorites.  Set the mood with custom mini table lamps.  Make your own lamp shade using velum craft paper, drop a tea light candle into the wineglass and viola.  Or take a literal flip, turning a glass upside down to showcase a trimmed floral bloom, with a votive candle set on the base.

Have Some Fun

Show off a little personal style or quirky fun with a few DIY wedding projects.  Guests will appreciate your craftiness.  This is where you get to think outside the box, think of some uncommon uses for your everyday common Dollar Store products.

cupcake liners shades, dollarstorecrafts.com

 

Twinkle lights are an inexpensive wedding item that adds a touch of romance and DIY lighting.  Step up the look of your lights with an accessory that will cost you pennies.  Mini cupcake liners.  That’s right use this common baking item as mini light shades.  Pick one pattern or mix and match.

 

wine glass tags, dollarstorecrafts.com

 

Make your own glass ID tags, use them as part of the theme décor at a bridal shower or as small favors at the reception.  To make get a template and cut the shape out of assorted colors of foam or felt, available in the craft aisle.  Add a little sparkle with adhesive rhinestones or beads.

 

 

 

faux chalkboard, dollarstorecrafts.com

 

DIY Chalkboard projects are a popular new trend.  But don’t have the time or money to buy expensive chalk board paint?  Fake it.  Use black scrapbook paper or poster board to slide behind a frame.  This would be cute in a small frame as shown, larger frames to designate guest book sign ins or even as little tags on favors.

 

 

It’s easy to see way I’m so in love with the Dollar Store, inexpensive party items, creative DIY projects which results in affordable, stylish wedding décor.  Get planning your perfect wedding day today, using the right resources for products and project ideas like afloral.com and dollarstorecrafts.com.  With the right DIY projects, inexpensive materials and a little personal style you’ll have a fabulous wedding look.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

· Comments { 0 }