Blue, Green and Purple -by Shari

I saw this colour combo on a wedding show at least six years ago.  It was always something that I wanted to try for our wedding, but once I chose a pink, brown and gold dress, I knew it'd be impossible.

Blue, Green and Purple by sherbear82

This collage just gives an idea of how visually stunning these colours are together.  However, I would never recommend using all of these components in one wedding (there are way too many different styles of flower arrangements, and all bridesmaids should wear the same colour of shoes).

Some tips on going with this colour palette:

-This combination works best with an outdoor wedding where your backdrop would be mostly greenery.  Otherwise, inside a tent would work well as there'd be no decor to visually compete.

-Make sure the blues and greens you use are all within the same family.  While making this collage, at one point I accidentally added a "hunter" green, and it looked awful next to the "leaf" green.  Purple is more forgiving.  Bring swatches or paint samples to every vendor meeting.

-While I'm a huge fan of brides wearing colours other than white, against this colour palette white will stand out beautifully; a dress in one of these colours would just blend into the background.

-Only accent the bride's outfit with purple.  Blue and green against white is too bright for my taste.

-Consider putting the bridesmaids and groomsmen in matching colour.  On this collage, the blue bridesmaids dresses and purple groomsmen vests go well together because the other elements tie it in, but in group shots standing away from the flowers, cake, etc., it might look very uncoordinated.

-Only use these colours as an accent to chairs; never use blue, green or purple as the actual chair cover.

-Be uniform in the way you accent with these colours.  For example, if you choose to accent chairs with bows, don't alternate between colours, just choose one.  Another example: if you choose to colour coordinate your signature drink, only use one of the colours for the drink.

-The exception to the above rule is table cloths.  I love the idea of alternating between green, blue, and purple table cloths!  Again, I think this can only work outside.

-Do not add any other colours into the mix.

Designing your Wedding -by Shari

While planning our wedding, my biggest concern was that all of our elements would not come together at the end.  We stayed pretty well within our colour palette of brown, pink and gold (based on my dress which was the first thing I chose), but what if the brown of the bridesmaid dress wasn't the same as Chris' tie?  What if the pink of my dress wasn't the same pink as on the cakes?

A way to help visualize how colours and components will work together is to create a collage of all your ideas.  At that point you can weed out anything that doesn't work, or that is too busy for your over-all picture.

Here is my first collage, comprised of details from our wedding day!

All photos by Mischa Bartkow.

Porter-Jackman by sherbear82

White Table Cloths at Wedding Receptions -by Shari

Unless you are lucky enough to have an unlimited budget, most people are somewhat cautious about money when it comes to wedding planning, and find ways to cut back and save.  For some people, this means going with the caterer's standard white table cloths.  Depending on the room, the time of day and year, and the formality of the event, this could be a refreshing, elegant and cheap option.  But for some receptions, it is worth paying the extra money to get a richer shade of material.

The main problem I have with white table cloths is that, unless they are swagged, the creases from being folded up show.  I doubt a caterer would be happy with ironing twenty large white table cloths minutes before your reception.  A darker shade is less-likely to show crease lines.

Also consider the colour of the pre-existing decor in your venue.  When we went to see our venue, Casa Loma, set up for a wedding, it looked like this:

I was appalled.  The white was much too stark a contrast against the rich brown wood of the library, and looked cheap and sloppy.  Knowing this might be some caterer's only option and that we'd have to pay extra for a different colour, we chose a caterer that had gold as an option.

Photo by Mischa Bartkow

In contrast, check out Mark and Lin's table settings:

Photo by Julie Broadbent Photography

Because this room at the Estates of Sunny Brook is already very brightly coloured, a darker table cloth would have worked against the idyllic atmosphere of the McLean house.

Danielle and Harold's reception venue had dark and light colours already, and their head table complimented this with a white swagged table cloth and darker pieces of fabric draped on top.  This is my favourite way to do a white table cloth for the head table, as the swagging prevents creases from showing, and the dark fabrics softens the look and ties in with the wood panelling of the walls.

Poorly coordinated table cloths are what guests will notice first when sitting down for dinner, before the centrepieces, favours, etc.  Don't let your white table cloths be the unwarranted focal point; coordinate with what your venue already visually has to offer, and they will mind the finer details first and foremost.

Tradition! Tradition! -by Shari

First of all, let me say that I highly recommend to planning brides and grooms that they take no traditions for granted.  There are no "have to's" when it comes to wedding planning.  Many wedding traditions only stretch back a century, not to the beginning of time.  The way weddings are done is constantly changing and evolving, some traditions more slowly than others, so pick and choose which ones you like and which ones you don't!  The ones that worked for us might not work for someone else, and vice versa.

Here are my own opinions and what we did for our wedding.

Traditions we opted out of (and why)

Walking with father down the aisle -I can see how this is a very lovely gesture and a very important moment for some daughters and their fathers.  For Chris and I, it felt like it could be a false gesture, as we'd been together for over six years and living together for four.  We also didn't like the idea of the wedding starting out with my "grand entrance"; we wanted to begin the day as equals.  We found other ways to honour our parents throughout the day.

Photo by Mischa Bartkow

The "grand entrance" of the head table

-As a frequent watcher of "Say Yes to the Dress", "Rich Bride, Poor Bride", etc., my least favourite moment is always the bride and groom running into the reception, the bride pumping her bouquet into the air.  I'm not the bouquet-pumping type, and while I knew we could simply walk into the room, I couldn't get that image out of my head.

Throwing the bouquet

-Again, I absolutely see how this can be a fun event and a time for all girls to rally together.  I personally felt uncomfortable at the thought of doing it because I didn't feel like wedding was a "goal" we were all working towards.  It's an exciting time and a great honour, but not a necessity of life.  However, for some brides it's just a fun and lighthearted thing to do, which is great.  We also did not do the garter toss for the same reasons, although with my short dress retrieving the garter wouldn't have been too exciting. Good thing we decided not to, because I forgot to wear one anyway.

The official parent dance

-There aren't very many private moments to be had on a wedding day.  The bride and groom are always the centre of attention.  We wanted to dance with our parents when we felt like it, and when it would be a little more casual and relaxed.

Traditions We Used

Wearing White

-The tradition of the bride wearing white is a fairly new one and was more of a fashion trend than a symbolic statement (I won't get into that here; you can wikipedia it if you wish).  It was a tradition that I found very confusing.  In general, fashion experts tend to advise against wearing white (especially on one's lower half) because it never has a slimming effect and can also wash people out, and yet this was the preferred choice for brides?  I think all colours of dresses should be considered equally, based on a bride's colouring and preferences!  Having had already chosen the pink "sparkle baby" dress to wear, I went back to Fashion Crimes to pick up the gold coat I had been eying to wear over over my dress at the ceremony.  The gold coat was gone, but I unexpectedly fell in love with the white version.  The fact that I was following a tradition was a coincidence.

Veils and Bouquets -They're just pretty, aren't they?  Not a necessity, but it didn't matter to me how the tradition started or evolved.  When else would I get to wear a veil or carry flowers all day?  (I mean, since I grew out of my Anne of Green Gables phase.) Traditional Vows -We may have briefly considered writing our own vows, but we felt more comfortable saying the traditional ones.
	Photo by Mischa Bartkow

Cake Cutting

-How awkward was this?  In retrospect, I wish we hadn't done it.  It took up valuable time that we could have used for dancing.  We also didn't know what do to when we were finished: just walk away?  Smash cake into each other's faces?  Feed each other?  We just walked away awkwardly as some people applauded, and others continued to drink.  We look as awkward as we felt in the pictures too (pictures will not be posted here for that reason).

First dance

-We had our friends sing "In the Still of the Night" while we danced around the conservatory.  We then did our ridiculous choreographed dance to "Paradise by the Dashboard Lights", which we had fought over for weeks in our tiny living room.  Choreographed dances are fun, but after a day of work and an evening of wedding planning, the last thing you want to start doing at midnight is listening to Meatloaf.  (We had submitted to the show "Rock the Reception" to have our first dance choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon, but were rejected because we're Canadian.)

Real Weddings and Traditions

Haley and Amil

Haley and Amil were married in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, but decided to honour their roots by performing a sand ceremony at their wedding.  Sand from Morrison's Beach in PEI (where Haley grew up) and from Beer-sheva, Israel (where Amil's family is from) were combined in a vase hand blown by a friend of theirs.  What a special way to bring family and friends together.
	Photo by Abbie Neary

Mark and Lin

	Mark and Lin, with their photographers, decided to set up a "photo booth" where guests could go throughout the reception, play with some props, and take some silly photos of themselves.  What a great wedding souvenir.  As you can see, the Jackman family didn't enjoy it at all.
Photo by Julie Broadbent Photography

Lin's father, who walked her down the aisle, has mobility issues, so Lin honoured her mother by dancing with her as Mark danced with his mother.  It was a really lovely moment, and a great twist on the traditional parent dance.
	Photo by Julie Broadbent Photography

If you included any traditions at your wedding, or started new ones, or did an old one with a twist, please let me know and I will feature you!

Colour Accents on Wedding Dresses by Shari

For anyone who was at my wedding or who has seen pictures of it, you know that I love colour on wedding dresses.  In a sea of white-clad brides, it's a way to distinguish yourself and make your outfit unique.  Here are some tips on how to add colour tastefully.

I go back and forth on this David's Bridal gown.  On the website you can choose from over 40 different colours, but I chose black because I find it the most interesting and unique.  It is reminiscent of a little girl's sailor dress, which I like!  It goes brilliantly with the beach in the background.  What makes me unsure is that I don't know if this dress will stand the rest of time; will the bride still love her choice looking at photos ten years down the road?  It's difficult to tell what will end up looking dated in photographs; however typically it's the trendiest trends look dated, and this certainly isn't the trendiest of trends.

If the trim on the David's Bridal dress is too whimsical or daring for you, a black sash is another elegant way to add colour and interest to a white dress.  This dress on the left is from Alix & Kelly, and the one on the right is a Vera Wang.  Both have the same feel of flowing organza, but are more traditional than the dress above.

Aside from bows and trim, another way to include black in your outfit is to ornate the dress with black stones.  I love this Enzoani dress.  I am normally not a fan of bustled skirts, but the long draping of the material prevents it from looking like a cupcake.  The black stones at the top are also a great way to balance the look, not to mention how the high sweep of the hair balances the downwards lines of the fabric.

While black and other neutrals are classic options, more and more people are opting for vibrant colour accents in their wedding gowns, often taking a cue from their wedding day colours, or allowing the dress to help determine the colour palette of the day.  This can be problematic, as brighter colours could appear childish or costume-like.

While I love red as an accent colour at a wedding, I rarely see a red-accented dress that I like.  This Alfred Angelo gown (left) is reminiscent of my grade 7 Mrs. Claus Christmas pageant costume.  The shade of red is straight off a primary colour wheel.

I prefer the embroidery on this Sincerity Bridal dress, as it is a darker red and more of a statement, but this combined with the halter straps and sash is way over the top.

While on the topic of red-accented dresses, I cannot let this next one pass:

Another very special Alfred Angelo gown, I guess.  I don't even know where to begin.  I generally dislike triangular embroidery at the bottom of dresses, but really, I'd take that over a boob-flap any day.  It looks like she may pull a Janet Jackson at the end of this song, I mean wedding.  Honestly, I realize everyone has different tastes, but there are so many other ways to make a statement with colour.

While I love the "periwinkle" colour of the bow on this Eden gown, the bow sits a little too low and a little too centre for my tastes.  I'd like to see it slightly more to the bride's left, and have the bow sit slightly higher, just above the dropped waist.

Many affordable manufacturers allow you to choose a custom accent colours for many styles of dresses, as I mentioned above (David's Bridal and Alfred Angelo both do this).  While this is a great feature, if a bride is matching colour accents on her dress with the colour palette of the decor, it is a necessity that swatches of all fabrics be ordered ahead of time in order to make sure the shades are exactly the same, or at least complimentary.  This is essential when accenting your dress with a distinctive colour, such as green, blue, or red, since it will be very easy for guests to notice differences in tones.  You don't want your wedding dress to be the only thing that doesn't match the napkins, the bridesmaids dresses, etc.

While I plan on doing a separate entry on colour coordinating later on, also consider how the coloured sash, bow, trim, or embroidery will look against a bouquet of flowers.  Somehow I think the periwinkle bow shown above would look even stranger peaking out below a carried bouquet.

For more on accenting with coloured sashes, see my previous entry.