Backyard Wedding Ideas

2012 Wedding Trends– it seems to be a year of going back to the basics, simplicity is key, less is more & all that jazz.
Backyard weddings are a beautiful setting for your wedding. It incorporates elegance, simplicity, and the vintage style we all love. Your backyard can serve as your ceremony and reception, and most of all– your home.

Who said your backyard can't be a wedding venue? Image Courtesy of StyleMePretty

Decor: Flowers, flowers, flowers. Utilize the florals in season (or in your backyard) and encompass them into everything–incorporate them into the hairstyles, decor, background decor, the food tables, etc.

Backyard Weddings: Simplicity & Elegance in your own backyard. Image Courtesy of the Etsy.com Blog

Menu:  Again, because the general tone of your backyard wedding will most likely be casual, your menu can be that as well. Take simple, casual dishes and add some flair. BBQ or smoked meats and grilled kabobs–or things like herb roasted vegetables, marinated and grilled chicken, fruit salsa, and strawberry shortcake. You can’t go wrong with these favorites!

Image Courtesy of ruffledblog.com

Favors:  Backyard weddings allow you to have a lot of versatility in your wedding favors you choose to set out at the end of the night. A favorite that can be encompassed as a wedding favor AND dessert is a milk and cookie bar. There are plenty of ways to have this at your wedding– just depends on your style & taste.

Cookies & Milk Wedding Favors: Adorable favor idea for a backyard wedding. Image courtesy of 4men1lady.com

The Oscars have arrived and bid us adieu, yet the 2012 Oscar trends remain. The world comes together to see the fashion, the glitz, the glamour. Here are three trends that have been inspired by the Golden Globes all around the globe for a bride’s dream gown.

Image Courtesy of newsfashiontrend.com

Grecian Goddess: Celebrities were spotted on this special night in one shouldered, metallic fabric floor length gowns. This embodied an air of elegance, couture, and sexiness all in one. The shimmery fabric and the one shoulder look is a popular one for all wedding seasons this year– it’s the perfectly balanced gown for a bride looking to stay in tune to the trends.

Peplum: This is a style similar to a tunic, with a greater amount of material on the top and a lengthened silhouette on the bottom. This is really a flattering style for any size bride and it’s similar style was seen on big name celebs like Tina Fey and Angelina Jolie.

Off the Shoulder: The off the shoulder dress is one that exudes pure elegance and luxury; this style has a varied style on the bottom; from a ball room bottom, A-line skirt, or mermaid type look. Regardless, it exposes the shoulders and all of their elegance while remaining modest and elegant.

What Oscar look are you sporting?

Depending on what type of bar you have at your wedding, your guests may have a bit too much fun dancing and drinking the night away!  Check out this hangover kit to send home with your guests. It was recently trending on the bridal communities as possibly encouraging guests to drink too much and leaving the wedding not in the best form. What do you think? Would you have something like this at your wedding, or do you feel it encourages guests to drink too much? I think it’s a cute idea! Kit includes a water bottle with a label of your wedding day, eye mask, Tylenol, and tums! I love the packaging too!

Love & Wedding Planning,

Hope A

Hangover Kit includes: Light Blocking Mask, Tylenol, Tums :: Photo Courtesy of The Knot

Spring is here, and that means one of the busiest times of wedding season!

Here’s a trending idea for your Spring or Summer 2012 wedding– Butterflies!

We aren’t talking real ones, that might make your guests a little bit squeamish

Check our these fantastic ideas for incorporating butterflies into your special day’s Spring or Summer theme.

1. Who said your bouquet had to be flowers? Use paper or fabric butterflies for a bouquet that looks like it could flutter away any minute.

2. Have your seamstress attack tiny fabric butterflies to the tulle of your flower girl’s dresses for an added detail that guests will think is downright adorable.

3. Wedding favor “out of the box” idea– Butterfly Lollipops. Purchase in your wedding colors for some fun flavors and a treat your guests can enjoy on the way home.

4. Your bridesmaids will love these fun ballet flats- easy to dance in and enjoy your special day. Adds a perfect final touch to your bridesmaid’s ensemble and is a shoe they can wear all spring or summer long!

Love & Wedding Planning,

Hope A.