Wedding flowers by Scarlet Petal Florist Chicago, IL

Flowers or Veil?

So many of you have come to me with a dilemma - veil or no veil? These days brides are so unique. There really isn't a standard anymore leaving many brides questioning what's right and what's not. I say go with what seems right, not what other people are telling you. We've seen just about everything and I must say that in the end, each and every one of our brides were just stunning on their wedding day.

An alternative to wearing a veil is wearing fresh or faux flowers in your hair. Beware, some flowers are not cut out for a long hot summer day on top of your head. If you're considering a fresh bloom for your special day, go with one of the following best bets:

 
Daisy Poms on left, Cymbidium Orchids on right

 

Babies Breath

Alternatively, you can try some of these faux accents all found on Etsy.com:

    

Anthropologie's gone bridal!

If I were to get married all over again, I would DEFINITELY shop for my bridesmaid's dresses and accessories at BHLDN (beholden), Anthropologie's new wedding brand. Maybe they felt the heat from competitors like J. Crew... Whatever the reason is, they take the cake in my eyes! Speaking of cake, in May the site will add cake plates, wedding decor, place cards, and other accessories to complete your wedding decor.

Here are a few images I stole off their website for a sneak peek. Take a look and tell me what you think!

Color inspiration at your fingertips!

Color seems to be on everyone's mind when it comes to planning a wedding. It's best to have it defined early in the process since it touches so many aspects like invitations, bridesmaids' dresses, and flower decor. 

A few days ago I posted a color test from TheKnot.com - it was short and sweet, but I was SUPER excited when I stumbled upon this site out of the UK. It's called Colour Lovers. It's your one-stop-shop for everything color stemming from home, fashion, print, wedding, and craft trends. Here you can create your own color palette, wedding pattern, or even browse the latest magazines for what's "hot" in the industry. They even have others posting their wedding inspiration boards and discussion rooms where brides can share ideas from across the globe.

Here's a few cool ideas I've pulled to inspire you. Have fun!

 

Pantone Spring Color Report 2010

Did anyone catch the made-for-tv movie Coco Chanel this week on Lifetime? I was so inspired by her story and now understand how big of an impact she had on the fashion industry. She was the one who boldly snubbed the publicly accepted corsets and uncomfortable formal attire women wore in the early 20’s. Instead, she reached for jersey fabrics and graceful sheers to design feminine, yet wearable clothing. As a business owner, I admire her for her tenacious and daring approach to design. In fact, she inspires me even more to think outside of the box!

Coco Chanel, nymag.com

Vintage Chanel Dress, modac.org

Which reminds me, New York Fashion week just wrapped and the Pantone Fashion Color Report has been announced for Spring of 2010. There’s a “bright” future ahead, with bold colors like turquoise, tomato puree, and aurora yellow. The thought of putting these primary colors together excite me! I pulled together a few images of flowers to help illustrate the palette. I can see these being pulled off at any loft space, outdoor or modern venue.

In the report, some of the world’s top designers like Adrienne Vittadini, Reem Acra, and David Rodriquez highlight “Must Haves for Spring.” And you can view the entire collection here to begin dreaming up your own perfect color palette.

Lastly, Vera Wang just announced her top 10 colors for bridesmaid dresses. I even spotted a tomato puree amongst the bunch!

Remember, there are no rules to break. Go with what your eye is drawn to and ask us about what flowers are available to complete your masterpiece. Enjoy!!

View our past posts regarding color:

http://scarletpetal.typepad.com/weblog/2009/03/color-of-2009-yellow.html

http://scarletpetal.typepad.com/weblog/2007/08/color-trends-fo.html

MTV Video Music Awards

Did anyone catch the VMA’s on MTV? No, I’m not going to give my opinion on Kanye West and Taylor Swift. I’ll leave that up to the over opinionated bloggers out there. However, most fashion trends stem from award shows such as these and shape the roots of event décor worldwide.

 I know I recently blogged about feathers, but Lady Gaga took it to the Nth degree! She must have had over 5 outfit changes throughout the course of the evening, each taking their own shape. I especially loved her last outfit with her feather hat. It reminded me of a feather boa that I recently saw on Lux Photo Studios website in New York.

Gold is back and Jennifer Lopez wore it well. I wish I looked that good after having two babies!  I came across a fabulous Monique Lhuiller gown that was both gold and feathers! Check out this fabulous find:

There was also a ton of embellishments worn by award winners Taylor Swift, Nellie Furtado, Madonna, Pink, and Shakira .  I loved all the glitz and glamour, and think it can be incorporated into your design elements for your  wedding day. We’ve been having a great time playing around with strung crystals from curtains, Manzanita trees, and even embellishing the handles of bouquets. Here are a few jeweled-inspired images from our past weddings. Enjoy!

 

 

Fabulous Shoes!

Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize!  Think beyond the basics when selecting the perfect shoes for your wedding day and go with color! Carrie Bradshaw said it best, “The fact is, sometimes it's really hard to walk in a woman's shoes. That's why we need really special ones now and then to make the walk a little more fun.” I couldn’t agree more! Colored shoes speak wonders in photographs. They not only reflect your personal style, but also serve as an expression of your mood (being one of the happiest days of your life). Take a look at some of the fabulous shots below and become inspired!

 

 

 

{Photos by jessicalyn402, style me pretty, jose villa}

Bridesmaid Dresses

Girls, it’s been a long time since I’ve planned a wedding from beginning to end, but one of my best friends is finally getting married and has asked me to help her with the process.

This weekend she is on the hunt for bridesmaid dresses and had tons of questions to throw my way. I found myself going on and on about how things have changed drastically since I was married (some time ago…) and realized how quickly the norm has changed when it comes to style.

I wanted to share some of the advice I gave to her about selecting her perfect dresses.  I have also pulled some inspiring photographs for you to have fun with while doing your own shopping. 

1.       Does your bridesmaid dress have to match the color of the reception room? No! The room color should only come into play when decorating the interiors with flowers and décor.

2.       Do your bridesmaids all have to wear the same color? No! Trendsetters today are screaming more color! Let’s take Sex in the City’s wedding of the year, all of the ladies were dressed in colors that define who they are and their personality.  Why not have your friends dress for who they are, not what your wedding palette dictates?

3.       If your bridesmaids all wear different colors, do they have to be the same style? No. Within most bridal parties, not all women are shaped the same. Be considerate to your friends and have them be comfortable on your special day.

4.       I’m having a hard time deciding between colored gowns or black gowns. How do I choose between the two? It helps to determine what kind of wedding you’re trying to create.  If you are having a black tie wedding, then I think black dresses are appropriate. You can always add color here in the shoes! If you are having anything in between, then go with colored dresses.  Color adds life to any memorable photo.

We’d love to see your results, so post your photos and show us how you set the new trend! Feel free to post your own questions as well.

Happy Hunting!

  

Photo credits include: vivianandjohn.blogspot.com; holidaygolightly.com; wedding-sites123.com; preownedweddingdresses.com; chrispluslynn.blogspot.com; instyleweddings.com