Winter Wonderland Wedding Theme

By on December 31, 2011 in Daily Scoop, Wedding Design Ideas

winter wonderland wedding

The magic of the season doesn’t have to end after the holidays.

Winter is a beautiful and magical time of the year, especially for those in the northern states.  It’s time for cooler temps and fluttering snow flakes that fall, glisten, and sparkle in the sun.

These colder winter months set the stage for more formal indoor weddings.    From our Winter Red Rose Wedding theme we discussed, “ winter weddings are known for their glamour and more formal tone.” Guests will come out dressed for a ceremony and reception to remember.  Make your special day memorable; capture the magic of the season with a glamorous Winter Wonderland wedding theme.

Get a Winter Wonderland look with the right key elements, color palette, and special extras to provide just the perfect finishing touches.  DIY wedding projects, ordering items in bulk, inexpensive wedding extras, and a few tips will set you on your way to planning a fabulous wedding at an affordable cost.

winter wonderland elements, afloral.com

Winter Elements

Afloral.com’s Crystal and Feather wedding showcases what you’ll need for a Winter Wonderland look; translucent crystals or rhinestones, white feathers and branches, crushed acrylic ice, votive candles, with white and metallic accents.  Like a crisp winter’s day, you want to capture the beauty of a snow blanketed earth with a touch of sparkle and frost.  Crystals found in decorated jewels, brooches, decorative beads, or acrylic ice add a touch of sparkle.  Go glam with a chic faux diamond runner, a newer item from afloral.com’s accessory line.

Feathers and branches are a play on the magical season.  Branch centerpieces featured in Thursday’s DIY post give you a unique wedding look with stature that demands attention.  Branches are easy to work with, and available to order in bulk which translates into great savings for budget brides. A feathered spray is a versatile accent; easy to tuck in a bridal bouquet or to create a stunning winter chair back.  The second installment of the DIY winter chair back post showcased the glamorous Winter Wonderland chair back, 3 easy steps using Afloral.com tulle, a silk white rose, a feather spray, and a globed jewel.

winter chair back, afloral.com

Winter Palette

A winter wedding is more formal and glamorous.  Take a cue from what’s always in; classic looks never go out of style.  Go for a white wedding with a touch of color as an accent.  You can make more of a play with textures than going overboard with a variety of colors.  With a white wedding palette, play with different textiles like silk, tulle, satin, and even fur.  It will create an intriguing look that is subtle yet rich.

Metallics like silver and gold provide a charming and modern accent.  Sterling silver pots or white and gold charlotte votive holders will give you a touch of glam while setting the right ambiance with softly lit candles.

Your white wedding can also be accented by a touch of color.  A muted or frosted tone of soft pink, frosted blues or cooler tones will result in a romantic tone. Pair with romantic touches like pearls, roses and draped tulle for even more romance.  Deep blues or rich purples will add more drama. For a timeless, beautiful theme, take a few ideas from our Winter Red Rose Wedding theme like a DIY lush red rose hair piece or build your own red rose silk bridal bouquet.

In love with them all?  For help narrowing down your winter wedding palette with floral choices email Mindy[at]afloral.com for a custom inspiration board.  It’s the perfect starting point for planning your special day.

votive candles

Inexpensive Extras

Don’t rack up your wedding budget with all the little extras.  There are guaranteed to be things that you didn’t plan for running up your wedding budget.  Give yourself a little extra cushion by saving big bucks with the right inexpensive wedding accessories.

Items like votive candles and twinkle lights are essential in setting the right mood and ambiance for your wedding.  Remember  we saw those back in our DIY Wedding Lighting post.  They are also fabulously inexpensive wedding items you can pick up in bulk and dollar stores.

Pinpoint the right DIY wedding projects that take a little bit of your time but in return give you a ton of savings.  Little touches like DIY hair accessories, chair backs, and escort cards can cost under $10 a piece.  Planning ahead will help you get things done and save you from spending extra cash you haven’t budgeted for.

Table accessories like the crushed acrylic ice featured in the Crystal and Feather wedding theme are just as affordable and easy to purchase in bulk as candles.  They are great to scatter on the table as an accent or to fill glass vases.

Pulling it All Together

Today we got to take a look back at several of our recent posts.  From the Crystal and Feather wedding theme, that holds elements perfect to set the stage for a winter wonderland look, the Winter Red Rose wedding theme, for formal tips and accents of color, to a few DIY wedding project and idea posts.

Afloral.com has all the right resources to help you plan a glamorous Winter Wonderland wedding.  The holidays might be over, but you’re just about to start your magical journey through life together.  Make sure it’s memorable and fabulous, but still affordable.

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DIY Winter Wonderland Centerpiece

By on December 29, 2011 in How To

winter wonderland wedding table, afloral.com

Are you looking for the perfect DIY wedding centerpiece that is unique, gorgeous and easy to assemble?
Branches are a great centerpiece alternative to a floral arrangement.  They give you a unique wedding look with stature that demands attention.  Branches are easy to work with and available to order in bulk, which translates into great savings for you budget brides.

For any winter brides afloral.com has bleached mitsumata branches,4 feet tall and pure white.  Afloral.com has created some stunning winter wedding looks including today’s winter wonderland centerpiece and the black and white sphere centerpiece featured a few weeks back using these branches.

Our winter wonderland centerpiece is the ideal height for reception tables.  They will wow guests with their stature as they walk into your venue to see 4 feet tall branches adorning the tables.  The allusion of traveling through a wintery forest will be given by these tall branches decorated with the sparkle of crystal garland.  As guests are seated they’ll find the centerpiece an ideal height; tall enough not to block their view of each other around the table.

So are you ready to get started?  Here’s the complete how to guide for the Winter Wonderland Crystal Branch Centerpiece, using 3 products, a couple of tools and only 4 steps.  Followed by some great ideas to style your Winter Wonderland wedding tablescape.

crystal and branch centerpiece, afloral.com

Centerpiece How To

  1. Take 3 branches and form a tripod.  You need to bring them together at the right height so that they are balanced and will stand on their own.  Joining them a little higher than the middle will allow the bottom to support the top, remember these branches are 4 feet tall. See example.
  2. Once you have them joined at the right height take floral wire and wrap them together until they are secure.
  3. Take your crystal garland and wrap it up each of the branches.  Trim the garland as you go to be able to do each branch.  Ends of the garland can be secured with a dab of adhesive or double sided tape.
  4. Finish the whole look off by wrapping the crystal garland and a bit of the crystal spray around the point where the branches meet; hiding the floral wire that holds them together.

faux diamond runner with votive candles, afloral.com

Style This Look

The DIY Winter Wonderland Crystal Branch Centerpiece would be a fitting wedding project for any winter wedding.  The frost and ice of the winter season is captured in the sparkle of the crystal garland and white branches.  The whole look is reminiscent of magical winter day walking through a forest of bare trees with the sun catching the fresh snow glistening in the tree branches.  Any bride would love to scatter a bit of sparkle and glam throughout her wedding.

For a few inexpensive wedding accessories to complete the winter wonderland wedding theme think  crystals, crushed ice, frosted glass, votive candles, rhinestones and feathers.  Step up the look of your reception bridal table with this great faux diamond runner, only $13.99, paired with a few softly lit votive candles and your tablescape will sparkle.

Stop back this Saturday for a complete run down on how to get a Winter Wonderland Wedding, from centerpieces, bridal bouquets, bridal accessories and more wedding design ideas.  See you then!

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More DIY Winter Chair Back Ideas

By on December 15, 2011 in How To

winter afloral.com DIY chair backs

They’re back!  Here’s the second installment of afloral.com’s DIY winter chair back ideas.

So why are we so in love with wedding chair backs?  Well because they are a simple, easy wedding project that will give you a big, stylish look at a budget, affordable price.  Chair backs are a fabulous wedding accessory that can tie your whole look together.

Often brides can find themselves at the mercy of their venue space.  A venue can furnish tables and chairs, but then you are stuck with what they have to offer.  Chair rentals are another option but upgrades on chairs can leave you stuck with a lot of fees and a big price tag.

So what are you to do?  Like a Project Runway episode, you find yourself down to the last minute, not quite sure if your look is going to work.  Faced with drab chairs you must take to heart the words of Tim Gunn, “Make it work”.

Make it work with a quick and easy DIY wedding project.  DIY chair backs can change reception or ceremony chairs from drab  to fab with little cost and time.  Today we are going to feature two DIY wedding chair back ideas;  the dramatic black tulle and red rose chair back and the white winter wonderful with white tulle, silk rose, feathers and crystal jewels.

red rose chair back

Red Rose Chair Back

The red rose chair back is as simple as 1, 2, 3, with only 2 main products:

  1. Trim the silk red rose to about 3 inches on the stem
  2. Take 1 yard of black tulle (to save time cut the 25 yard bolt of black tulle into 1 yard measurements when doing multiple chairs) draw it around the top of the chair.  With the ends meeting in the center back of the chair tie a double knot.
  3. All that’s left to do is slid the trimmed rose stem into the center of the knot.  Secure with floral wire or a dab of adhesive.

This DIY wedding chair back is the perfect accent to a dramatic, red rose winter wedding theme.  Adding a touch of warmth and romance with the classic beauty of the rose and a bit of drama with the choice of black tulle.

The bridal table at your reception will be sure to catch attention with these chair backs.  Go all out and do all your reception chairs with several 25 yard bolts of black tulle at only $1.99 each and silk sophia rose stems at $4.49 a piece.

white feather, crystal chair back

Winter Wonderland Chair Back

The second DIY wedding chair back, winter wonderland, follows the same instructions as the red rose chair back.  With the following materials:

  1. Trim the silk rose stem and feather pick.
  2. Take 1 yard of tulle, draw at around the top of the chair and tie double knotted at the center back.
  3. Insert the feather pick first so that it sits behind the white rose.  Next insert the white rose and finish by hanging the crystal globe jewel.

The stunning winter wonderland look is achieved through key elements.  The draping tulle, lush silk rose, soft feathers, sparkle of the crystal jewel and the pure white palette.  The perfect, fitting wedding accessory to afloral.com’s complete crystal and feather wedding theme.

These chair backs would turn anyone’s head at your reception, but don’t rule out your ceremony.   Use chair back down the aisle chairs for a touch of style and a fitting decor accent.

Style You Can Afford

There you go.  The latest installment of afloral.com’s DIY wedding chair back ideas for our winter brides.  The perfect DIY wedding project for any level DIYer and budget bride looking to add a little affordable style to her special day. Stop back Saturday for a complete run down on afloral.com’s red rose winter wedding theme.  See you then!

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DIY Wedding Centerpiece Black & White Sphere

By on December 1, 2011 in Daily Scoop, How To

black & white sphere wedding

Today’s DIY wedding project is going to give you a unique, high-end look at an affordable, budget wedding price.

Afloral.com’s black and white sphere centerpiece is a wedding showstopper.  Picture as guests arrive at your reception greeted by these dramatic, stylish centerpieces.

Mitsumata branches are adorned with timeless black and white hues in the pre-made silk kissing balls with a little glamor found in the pearl ornament spray strung from the branches.

The mitsumata branches are 4 feet tall, their stature in this arrangement is simply gorgeous.  Guests will feel as though they walked into an enchanted forest, right in your own fairytale wedding.  Pair this DIY wedding centerpiece with softy lit votive candles, twinkle lights and draped tulle or tulle tied chair backs to complete your glamorous wedding look.

Let’s Make This Centerpiece:

black & white sphere centerpiece

 

To make this DIY wedding centerpiece you need to start with:

Next I’m going to outline the 4 easy steps it takes to create this gorgeous black and white sphere wedidng centerpiece, with a a few tips discussed in between steps.

To start with you need a tall, glass vase.  I suggest something over 12″ tall, while the branches aren’t heavy you need the right support to help balance their height.  Glass verses a plastic vase will be more stable.

  1. Place the 3-4 mitsumata branches in the center of the vase, holding them in the center with one hand.
  2. With your other hand pour in the deco. rocks, filling the vase an inch or so from the top.
  3. Once the rocks are in gently move the branches into the arrangement you desire.  Obviously they need to be balanced to keep the arrangement from falling over but they still will allow for a little play with their placement.
  4. Decorate the branches with pre-made silk kissing balls (2-3 white rose pomander, 2-3 fluffy in black) and decorative pearl ornament stands to complete the arrangement.  Slide each kissing ball onto the branch, catching them where you’d like them placed.  Use an adhesive or double sided tape to secure in place, repeat with the pearl strands.

You really can get this high-end, big look in 4 easy steps!  Don’t over think the arrangement of the decorative elements, the silk kissing balls and pearl strands.  Hang each item at a different point and height to keep your eye moving throughout the centerpiece.  Creating a beautiful and interesting wedding centerpiece to capture everyone’s attention.

Mix it Up

Are you in love with this centerpiece but not quite sure how to fit it into your wedding theme and color scheme?  Mix it up.  For a dramatic, gothic look opt for red rose silk kissing balls paired with the fluffy in black and pearl strands.  For a winter wonderland theme use silver deco. rocks, white and blue kissing balls and crystal decorative strands. Shop afloral.com silk floral kissing balls and DIY wedding supplies to customize you’re wedding look.

Stop back Saturday for the black and white wedding theme post, classic beauty and glamor, featuring this DIY wedding centerpiece.

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Elegant White Wedding Theme

By on November 19, 2011 in Daily Scoop, Wedding Design Ideas

afloral.com Elegant White Rose Wedding

Elegant is defined as effective, simple, tasteful and refined grace.

An elegant wedding is tasteful and sophisticated.  It is a formal occasion for the bridal party and guests.  While they are dressed in their best they will be greeted by beautiful, tailored wedding decor.

Elegant decor is not overdone, it is simple and effective with eye catching centerpieces, refined table settings and just the right accessories to accentuate and balance the whole look.

You must be thinking that this kind of look can’t come without a high price tag.  I’d like to prove you wrong.  Get the most for your money with afloral.com silk wedding flowers, inexpensive accessories and a few DIY wedding projects.  With the right wedding ideas and tips you can get a beautiful, elegant wedding at an inexpensive wedding cost.

A white wedding is the ideal palette that will keep decor simple yet beautiful and timeless.  Pair with the classic look of a white rose for the perfect elegant wedding.

The Bride’s Accessories

white rose bridal bouquet

 

All eyes are on the bride throughout her wedding day.  Make a stunning statement with elegant bridal details like this satin wrapped bridal bouquet and open white rose hairpiece.

Both bridal accessories are simple yet effective in relaying a sense of timeless, elegant beauty.  The white rose hand tied bouquet is soft and elegant, white satin ribbon accents the white sophia roses with a bouquet jewel.  Opt to use  grandma’s brooch for a special accessory with meaning.

 

white rose bridal hairpiece

 

The open rose hairpiece is a beautiful accessory, soft, lush petals resting in the bride’s updo.  The size of the single rose is a showstopper without overpowering the bride’s own beauty.  Create this DIY wedding hairpiece with a 26″ sophia rose, hair clip and floral wire for $5.  A custom wedding accessory at an affordable price for any budget bride.

After you’ve created a stylish, elegant bridal look don’t forget to include the groom.  Last week’s DIY boutonniere post is easy, affordable and a great way to add style to your groom’s look.

white rose centerpiece

The Main Stage

Setting the stage for an elegant wedding the reception tables are a main focal point.  Centerpieces and table settings need to be exquisite and sophisticated.  Afloral.com shows us how to get this high end look at a budget pleasing, affordable cost.

Afloral.com’s white rose wedding theme achieves a beautiful and classic look.  White rose centerpieces are not overdone 6-8 white sophia silk rose stems, ranging from $3-$5 a stem, are trimmed and arranged in a glass cylinder vase. Their stature and beauty catch your eye while leaving room for a few stylish, sophisticated details.

Crystal crushed ice fills the bottom of this white rose centerpieces adding a touch of glitz and glamour.  The perfect accent for an elegant or white, winter wedding.  Another accent to talk about is the faux diamond runner, gorgeous.  Awe guests with this glamorous table accessory and make your special day sparkle.  Round out the whole look with a wedding essential, votive candles to set a romantic atmosphere.

white rose chair back

Reception Details

Make sure your table settings are set to impress.  Keeping with the elegant, refined look use real plates and silverware.  Simple white china or vintage plates with a bit of trim.  A charger plate will set the stage for your delicious meal, accent it with a folded linen napkin holding the evening’s menu for guests.

Last but not least.  When you’re at the mercy of what your venue  has to offer a great way to dress up the space are DIY chair backs or covers.  Featured on Thursday’s how to post, the DIY white rose chair back is easy to assemble and affordable at under $6 a chair.

 

Bringing it All Together

You don’t have to rack up the dollar signs to achieve an elegant wedding look.  Using afloral.com silk wedding flowers, inexpensive accessories and DIY wedding projects you can keep your wedding budget realistic.

Make a stunning entrance to your wedding with afloral.com’s affordable and elegant bridal accessories.  Set the stage for your special day with simple, sophisticated white rose centerpieces featuring afloral.com’s silk sophia white roses and complete the whole look with inexpensive accessories like crystal ice, faux diamond runner and white rose chair backs.

Your elegant wedding day will hold guests in awe and provide a memorable occasion that will leave people talking; while you’re secretly smiling because you achieved this show stopping look at an affordable and inexpensive cost.

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