When it comes to summer wedding centerpieces the options are plentiful to say the least. The reason is that summer weddings can have so many varying themes and color schemes. So, whether you are buying your centerpieces are going the DIY route, know that there you will find something that is just unique and affordable. There are many new trends this year that really embrace both traditional and vintage weddings. Below is a list of some awesome centerpiece ideas for your wedding reception.
Balloons
Talk about affordable! Balloons are one of the most lease expensive centerpiece ideas there is. For a while they were considered the easy way out, but this year they have made a comeback in a big way. For something really unique, opt for a contemporary twist on balloons. For example, balloons covered in gold netting and anchored by a weight of your choice. It really gives a whimsical look at a price that can’t be beat. Also, feel free to change up the colors in any way you see fit.
Birdcages
Birdcages hit the scene a few years ago as centerpiece, but this year couples are really taking note of their versatile and eye-catching appeal. If you are into vintage weddings, search for vintage-style birdcages in a white or light finish. And if you love a country or rustic wedding, look for distressed (either old or reproductions) for the perfect centerpiece touch, you can place candles inside of them or simply have a lovely vine weaved in and out.
Coral
Are you having a beachside wedding? If so, coral centerpieces are just the thing for you. It is a bit different than the standard sand and shells and each table can have its own unique look, as corals come in so many different shapes, sizes and colors. The salmon color is stunning and can be worked into any summer wedding color scheme, as well as white and natural colored coral. You can order coral centerpieces online, or if you are a daredevil, try and find them yourself. Some couples that live near the ocean may have easy access to such a treat. Once you have found the coral pieces you like, feel free to embellish them as you see fit. But don’t forget, they are just as lovely on their own!
Of course you could always go the traditional route and pick out some nice summer flowers to decorate your tables, but how much fun would that be?!
I’m Michelle, the author of numerous wedding-related articles, including tips on where to buy everything from a plus sized wedding dress to where to hire the best photographer.
Image by Charlotte Brimstone
Ever since the day you slipped your precious foot into your Cinderella’s dress up glass slipper and trailed toilet roll as your veil, your dream wedding plans have escalated into a diamond sprinkled, rose scattered, crystal chandeliered, champagned massacre. The pretty possibilities and perfect potentials have turned you savage for impeccability. Unfortunately, I doubt your hubby-to-be’s parents will fork out for such an extravaganza. Let’s click back into reality and start at the beginning; a simply wonderful wedding venue.
1. Remember Why
Remember why you’re getting married. It is a ceremony devoting a life of love to one another and whether you get married in a crystal palace or a garbage bin, you will / should still love each other wherever you seal the deal.
2. Imagine Your Wedding
Picture yourself realistically walking down the aisle. Are you surrounded by fairy lights? Are musicians playing? Are you treading a red velvet runway? Are there chandeliers hovering above you? Think about what you would like to be there and where these ideas would be feasible. If you want your wedding outside then you may have to go to an expensive extent to get chandeliers above you somehow.
3. Yours or Mine?
If you and your beloved originate from different parts of the country, you may have to decide whether to have it close to yours or theirs. Consider the distance and travel expenses of your guests. You want as many to make it as possible, so think about a hotel close to your venue where guests could stay. Possibly reserve some taxi’s that evening for the merry guests to get home.
4. The Place
A church wedding is traditional but is it meaningful? My parents married on a beach in Miami with the hotel manager as the vicar and a waiter as the witness, with no family or friends. Think outside the box, where is meaningful to you? A forest where you walk the dogs every Sunday? A beach where you had your first kiss? The golf course you ‘teed off’? Do you want an inside or outside wedding? Have you considered a giant yurt? A marquee? A circus arena? A boat? A farm? The possibilities are endless and with enough motivation, nothing is impossible.
5.Inside or Outside?
Visit findaweddingvenue.co.uk to browse through the buildings that hold a licence in your chosen area. The venues range from hotels, houses, pavilions, palaces, plazas, centres, clubs, courts, castles, colleges, manors, inns and the list goes on extending from budget venues to ‘what budget?’ venues.
If you’re thinking about holding your wedding outside then, unless you’re the weather wizard, it’s often wise to plan some cover to protect you from unpredictable rain or wind. Yurts have a relaxing, chic aura about them and can be decorated to your personal taste. They give you full cover but may limit the number of guests you can invite.
Marquees can tessellate to hold as many guests as you’d like. They’re light, airy and usually come with a team to assemble and disassemble them. Discover all different ranges of tents available to hire for your needs with sites such as elitetents, thepearltentcompany and arabiantents.
6. Interior
You have found the perfect venue but there’s still all the interior decorating to go. From the chairs to the coasters you’ll need a colour theme. Whether it is elegant silvers and golds or funky pinks and purples, there are companies that can supply you with what you desire. Hitched is a great website to give you some ideas on wedding decorating. Sites such as essentialweddinghire and weddingdayhire have many goods available from bird cages to wedding trees. Google local wedding hire companies and see what is on offer near you.
7. Hidden Costs
I’m sure it won’t surprise you but some expenses creeps up on you then you’re forking out for more than you bargained for. You may have to pay to hire land so make sure you contact the owner or council and have a clear price for renting the land for your day. Hiring a venue may be more expensive at certain times of the year so consider when you’ll set the date. Venues may charge extra for the hiring of their staff or you may have to hire your own. These are just a few things that could catch you out so be wary.
To find an address for your wonderful wedding you’ll need patience and co-operation. It is the foundation of your day so make it meaningful. Best of luck and congratulations to the hubbys and wives to be!
Where is your ideal location to get married?
Charlotte Brimstone is an enthusiastic writer who enjoys the arts. Charlotte currently writes for White Pages and spends her spare time painting.
Perhaps you have dreamed of “the” social event to remember for your wedding day. Sadly, once the wedding planning was underway, you and your husband-to-be soon learned just how expensive weddings can be, especially if you started out looking at urban locations. Perhaps you are also disappointed with the blandness of cookie cutter banquet halls and hotel special event rooms. Don’t fret just yet, with a little imagination and a sense of adventure, you can have an amazing wedding day for significantly less money by looking outside the city limits for equally fantastic venues and services.
Small Town Charm and Hospitality Venue Options
Small towns and rural locations quite frequently cost less than the major event centers and popular urban wedding venues. Urban destinations usually cost more simply because city life in general is more expensive than small town America. In contrast, wedding venues outside densely populated cites don’t have to pay the high-priced cost of urban real estate, pricey advertising campaigns or the generally higher cost of goods in a city. These savings can then be passed along to you. By casting your net a little wider, you could net yourself some big savings with more affordable wedding services, not to mention a unique location.
An added bonus is that the cliché “small town hospitality” could certainly be a reality as you plan your dream wedding. A less hurried pace of small town and rural locations may translate to more personalized and hospitable service for you and your wedding party. It’s been my personal experience that Mom and Pop business owners in small towns just naturally seem warmer and more accommodating to their customers. Think about it, wedding venues in big cities can deal with hundreds of brides every year. It can be a challenge to make a bride feel super special while simultaneously managing numerous other wedding plans. A less populated area that only hosts a handful of special events may be a lot more willing to go the extra mile to make your day especially memorable.
photo courtesy of Teri Freitag
Unique Venue Options
Think about what kind of ambiance you would like to have for your wedding event, and begin your search there. I live outside of Austin, TX, so I’m familiar with unique venues and wedding services in the Highland Lakes region about an hour outside the city and will give you some of my local examples to help you brainstorm.
Do you want a lovely outdoor setting in nature? There are several ranches and nature preserves situated near lakes and rolling hills that burst with colorful wildflowers in the Spring. Is unique architecture or unusual backdrop appealing to you? Falkenstein Castle is a replica of an authentic European castle built in the Texas Hill Country and Longhorn Caverns has gorgeous, meandering cave chambers with amazing acoustics that can be rented for special events. Perhaps you are a wine lover, or want a more sophisticated venue and a local vineyard would be an appropriate setting for your ideal wedding. The Highland Lakes region is enjoying a wine-making boom, and numerous picturesque vineyards provide lovely wedding settings. The point is, going outside the conventional hotels and banquet halls in the city can deliver a truly remarkable wedding venue while also accomplishing your goal of staying within budget for your wedding.
If you are a city dweller, it may initially seem daunting to go outside your city or town to search for wedding venues. However, if you tackle the task with the mindset of your wedding research being a great excuse for some fun-filled day trips, your wedding planning could be quiet the fun-filled adventure! The money savings and unique venue you discover will simply be icing on your delicious wedding cake.
Formerly an innkeeper at Lake Buchanan, Tracey fell in love with the Highland Lakes area and continues to blog and promote the area to visitors. She helped a few happy guests-turned-brides pick out potential wedding venues for their special days and is happy to report they were thrilled with the results.
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A lot of planning goes into your wedding, and despite the fact that you want every moment of the event emblazoned in your memory you’ll find that the day passes in a whirlwind of activity. Add about a gallon of champagne to that equation and by the next day you could feel like you missed a lot. Luckily you had the foresight to place disposable cameras on every table at the reception, so you can get a pretty good idea of what happened while you were otherwise occupied. And you set up a wedding photographer and/or videographer to capture every moment on film. Even so, you probably have certain portions of the day that you want to make sure you get some stellar shots of. For this reason, creating a shot list is an important part of the planning process. If you don’t tell your photographer exactly which shots you want, you can’t blame him after the fact for failing to get appropriate coverage. So here are a few tips to help you create the perfect shot list.
Flowers are used a lot more than people realise in weddings, we don’t just use them for the bouquets but for the center pieces on tables and room decoration too. As we all know there are thousands of different flower you can choose from, but seasons change and so do the flowers that grow within it. Asking your local florist is your first port of call as you need to find out exactly what flowers are present and grown within the season that you are getting married. There’s no point in asking for a flower that grows in the summer for a winter wedding.
Because of the vast amount that you can choose from it may seem a little daunting and a lot of people stick to what they know with flowers such as roses, lilies, hydrangea and tulips. You can start your journey towards flower heaven by answering the question, what colour? It may seem such an obvious thing to say but it is one step to helping you as they do not all come in the same colours, choosing a colour will reduce the number of flowers you can choose from and will be far less daunting to look/sort through. Some ladies like to go for blue flowers as it is “something blue” but should only be chosen if it fits in with the overall look.
Once you have a main flower in mind you need to start thinking about whether you would like extra flowers or foliage to with it. Flowers can be wonderful by their own if they are large but sometimes they need to be broken up with flowers of different colours or with green leaves. You could mix and match all three if you wanted, although be wary of having too many on one bundle as being too busy can cause it to look random or rushed. A neat little idea these days is to add things such as buttons or beads into the design, it makes the pieces look more modern and gives them a cute and homely feel.
At the end of the day it is your wedding and you can have as many or as little flowers as you like, you can even have fake flowers rather than real ones if it suits your budget better or you prefer them. If you are still stuck for inspiration or haven’t the first clue about flowers then have a look at the flower gallery on Hitched for wonderfully unique ideas and designs for wedding flowers that will hopefully help you on your way to flower success.
Weddings are such beautiful occasions and allow you the chance to step into a dream. So, we’ve decided to identify the top dress and clothing trends for that special day for 2013. These are the show stoppers that will ensure your dress is on trend and grabs the attention when you walk down the aisle.
Lace
Lace is big this year and is a classic and timeless addition that looks traditional and extremely attractive. Lace can be added in one way or another to all styles of dress and you can even wear it from the top to the bottom, it’s your choice. It’s also great for accessories such as veils and shoes.
Single Shoulder
The single shoulder wedding dress is really in right now and really creates a modern look for the dress. The design is also one that offers a certain classical appeal to the whole outfit and a great way to add the modern and also the traditional if done right. It also offers some balance to those who don’t want a bare shoulder look, but still want something akin to it.
Colour
Colour is also in this year and though it is non-traditional it can really add to the appeal and uniqueness of the dress. Red is a very common colour on the cat walks, but baby blue and black also had plenty of showings. Mint is also a cool, retro trend that was seen a lot lately and allows you the chance to go a little outside the boundaries for a dress this year.
It’s Back
Detailing is very important on a dress and back of the dress is getting a lot of notice of late. If you have an attractive back then playing this up on the dress can be a very nice way to showcase your best features. Low cut back designs are attractive and can also add an element of sex appeal to the dress if that’s the sort of thing you would like to go for.
High Necks
The strapless dress has been one of the main talking points in recent years; however it has been pushed to the back by the high neck in current designs. This popular style can be stunning if worn well and is often very attractive when teamed up with lace, cut out areas and also sheer material to create panels.
These five different styles look wonderful and really add a sense of the unique to the dresses of spring and summer 2013.
Cormac Reynolds is a fashionista and lover of clothes and styles.
Your wedding day is often one of the most important and exciting life events you will get to experience. After months or even years of planning, it is the day that you celebrate your love with your partner and commit to spend the rest of your life with them. Weddings are extremely personal events and because of this, many of us will want to make sure that our weddings reflect our personalities, tastes and relationships with significant others. However, with over 200,000 marriages conducted in England and Wales every year, it can be a challenge to come up with ways of making your wedding unique to you and different to the weddings already out there. Virtually every bride and groom wants to ensure their big day is perfect and one that will be remembered by friends and family in years to come; but how can you make your wedding different from other couples?
Add your own personal touch:
Personalisation is the key when looking for ways of making your wedding stand out. The beauty of planning your own event is that you have a huge range of options when it comes to adding your personal touch. Some good ideas include choosing your own wedding march, which can either be played on a church organ or on a CD player. A favourite love song, the song that was playing when you and your partner first met or even the song that didn’t quite make the cut for the first dance are all fantastic options. The important thing to remember is that you don’t have to abide by tradition for your wedding and once you have that mentality, the wedding world can truly be your oyster.
Consider making your decorations:
This is a good way of making your wedding unique and also saving money at the same time. Whether you are creative yourself or need to rope in more crafty friends, making your own decorations and accessories is a great way of making sure no one’s wedding is the same as yours. It often only takes a good supply of candles, craft paper and imagination to create beautiful centre pieces, table décor and wedding reception decorations. Have a look online for inspiration as there are a huge range of cheap, easy and stunning ideas out there.
Think about your venue options:
Many people think that church weddings are the only option available when it comes to the big day; however there are a number of other venues worth considering when planning your wedding. Hotels are often a popular choice and may also offer civil ceremonies within the venue, meaning guests need not move between the ceremony and reception. Another good idea is to look at what private clubs in London and elsewhere are available. These are exclusive, beautifully decorated and often come with a dedicated wedding planner and accommodation for guests. Private clubs are a great way of making your day that much more exclusive and unique.
Author – Adam has been writing articles for many years now with great success in many different industry sectors.
Attending a wedding can turn into an expensive affair. On the other hand, you naturally want to present your friends with something special. Obviously, then choosing the right present for newlyweds is always a balancing act. Thankfully, the general consensus on what constitutes a great gift has considerably shifted over the years. So step away from the toaster and forget that full dinner service. Classic wedding gift options are well and good, but today’s increasingly space-squeezed newlyweds are just as likely to be casting off chattels as looking to acquire them. Gift experiences, on the other hand, take up residence in the memory not the living room, and can be carefully selected to perfectly suit the happy couple.
If a physical gift is on the cards – and let’s face it, anything is better than a few bucks they can shove into their basic bank account – you can still do better than home wares and novelty gadgets. For an idea of what else NOT to get, do take a look at Kathy Kristof’s overview of Best and Worst Wedding Gifts. Instead, seek out quirky, brilliantly bespoke items to suit any need and, importantly, your own budget. Here’s our guide, ordered by cost to help you get the perfect wedding gift.
Personalized IOU
If you’re very short on funds, don’t despair, perhaps you’re skilled in a trade, crafty with crafts, or simply want to pledge your time and support. IOUs should be reserved for the things money simply can’t buy like babysitting cover for well-deserved nights out; a patchwork quilt made of fabric with sentimental meaning; a journal which collates important recipes from family and friends.
Drinking to a milestone
Offer a bottle of wine or a Champagne with a personalised label , with the caveat that it must be laid down and reserved to celebrate a milestone in the couple’s married life – their first child, buying a home, or merely reaching their first anniversary. A touching way to show that you’re investing in their shared future without the cost of a high end drop.
Pampering
After the stress of planning a wedding, and perhaps even the stress of a honeymoon, a day at a spa or a joint massage might be just the tonic. There are thousands of therapies available, from hot stone massage to facials by way of acupuncture, meditation and the full Turkish hammam experience. Consider the couple’s attitudes, likes and dislikes and select accordingly, or simply give a gift card for a set amount to be spent at a pamper palace of your choosing. There are numerous UK Spa directories and booking facilities available online.
Charity donation
Some couples would rather you gave to others than gave to them. Honour and respect their wishes with a charity donation, which can be every bit as personal as a present provided you tailor it to them. What causes are they passionate about? Are they animal lovers? OXFAM and many other charities offer quirky ways to donate, allowing you to announce to music lovers , for example, that they’ve just funded a community choir in a poor rural village. The amount of your donation will be discreet and this makes an idea gift for those with a limited budget.
Food hamper
Hampers are great because there really is one to suit everyone – and, if there’s not, you can always make up your own. If the couple are striking out on their own with a bare larder, a selection of dry goods, condiments and kitchen basics will prove invaluable. For bon viveurs, perhaps a luxury cheese and wine package. If you’d rather ration the deliveries over a period of time, sweet-toothed couples would relish annual subscription to a chocolate club. Hampers can be surprisingly affordable, especially when you make them yourself.
Shared Activity
If something rather more active is on the cards, book the pair in for a day out they’ll never forget. Keen cooks would relish the chance to cook with a celebrity chef, foodies would love eating an exclusive bespoke meal at a top restaurant, and the adventurous would literally jump at the prospect of a tandem bungee jump, a day’s white-water rafting or rally cart driving. Ensure your choice will be well-received before finalising any grand plans!
Practical Skills Course
A gift that keeps on giving. Signing the duo up for a series of classes in an area of interest to them will build skills, confidence and allow them to spend some quality time together. If they’re doing up a new home, DIY skills will be invaluable, and if learning to cook has always been relegated to the ‘must do’ list, then cookery lessons are the perfect gift. For travel enthusiasts, learning a foreign language can open up a whole new world.
Annual membership to a cultural institute
How often do you choose to visit one exhibition or attraction over another for purely financial reasons, merely because one is free to enter and the other carries a hefty admission fee? Buying a joint annual membership to a gallery, museum or sporting attraction ensures an entire year of leisure with little or no outlay.
Sometimes an extravagant gift is the last thing you need. To help spread the cost of some of the more costly suggestions on this list, why not get a group of friends or relatives together to each contribute.
Reporting from London, William Masters has established himself as a respected journalist for topics of international economics and personal finance. William recommends using banking facilities by Eccount Money. Eccount is a leader in the field of companies specialising in helping people with debt.
When that big day finally arrives it’s pretty safe to assume that nerves will turn to excitement and negative thoughts will be replaced by joy however, if you’re a bride-to-be how can you approach your wedding and know that you’re ready as you’ll ever be?
My own particular wedding was a wondrous affair and the sight of all our friends and family in one place was such a unique and emotionally charged experience that it really has never been repeated.
To be fair, there were one or two things that went slightly array, such as: a deluge of rain and stepping in a deep puddle but, on the whole, everything was exactly as I’d have hoped for.
Even though I only slept for 2 hours the night before my actual wedding day I was on such a high that I barely noticed the hours flying by and if I had just one piece of advice to give it would be to enjoy every second and just roll with whatever happens.
Below are five more top tips that I feel will equip any novice bride-to-be and, from flower girls to weather men, just remember that you can’t control everything so just smile and make the most of your very special day to remember.
The night before
Where possible, it’s a good idea to be in familiar surroundings so you can get a good night’s sleep however, if you’re lucky enough to be staying in a hotel then try to make yourself as comfortable as possible. A long bath or a spa session should really help you relax and having a manicure and pedicure will no doubt save you time on the big day and leave you feeling rested and ready for anything.
What to wear
Aside from your gorgeous wedding dress, you might want to invest in some super sexy underwear to make you feel just that extra bit special. This will also be a treat on your wedding night too and, if you’re planning on dancing ‘till dawn, make sure you’ve got a change of clothes so you can keep your flowing white silks in pristine condition. This is your day so dress like a princess but make sure you keep fresh with a change of clothing for the evening.
What to avoid
There are plenty of things to actively avoid on your actual wedding day, including that sleazy old uncle from your dad’s side of the family. Try not to get too drunk before the speeches to avoid blubbing into a microphone and try not to smoke because there’s nothing cheaper than a bride and cigarette especially with a photographer lurking around every corner.
How to act
This is your special day however, don’t forget that lots of people have come to see you and want to feel special too. Visit all tables and try to meet and greet all family and friends just so you make sure they feel appreciated for making the effort to attend. You’re going to be a princess so don’t swear, keep smiling and be gracious no matter what goes wrong.
When to leave
Always a tricky subject but I feel that a bride that leaves before things get too messy has got class written all over her. If you have a slightly formal leaving ceremony this also gives your well-wishers a chance to say goodbye rather than if you just sneak off. As a rule of thumb I’d say do as Cinderella does and leave around midnight because then you’ll still be fresh and happy and have no ill effects the day after the night before.
Biog: Christine has just attended her first wedding of the year and was please to say that the bride was classy and gorgeous throughout.
Although many women dream of wearing a huge meringue wedding dress with a tiara and a feminine ‘updo’, there’s no reason why you have to follow the traditional fashion and beauty route for your wedding. The day is all about you and your partner, making it even more important to express your own individual taste and style.
The dress is one of the most important aspects of your whole wedding outfit.
Colour
Although the dress colour is traditionally white, many brides choose to step away from this and instead choose a bright colour such as deep red or luxurious purple. For a touch of gothic glamour, why not choose a Moulin-rouge style red satin gown with elbow-length gloves and lashings of lace?
If you don’t want a traditional dress but aren’t quite brave enough to choose an all-over bright colour, try choosing a dress with subtle hints of colour or patterns. For example, by shopping carefully, you may be able to find simple white gowns with decorative panels of coloured lace. Black can be a great choice for a monochrome style that really makes an impact.
Shape
The shape can make or break a great dress. For striking impact, the traditional style is a full-skirted strapless gown boosted with layers of lace or netting. However, for an alternative shape that remains fun and feminine, try looking for fishtail gowns which offer a vintage twist on a traditional style. These remain fitted to the knee and flare out with a slight train. This can be a stunning way to flatter the figure.
Accessories
Accessories are important for adding the finishing touches to your outfit on the big day. If you wear prescription glasses, why not make an impact with a feminine pair of retro cat-eye frames? By 
choosing an acetate pair in solid white, you can add a cool vintage twist to your outfit. Although you may not want to wear sunglasses in the photos, a pair of dark shades can be perfect for adding a 1920s theme to your wedding. Some brides choose this theme with the men in pinstripe suits and dark shades for a fun gangster twist that everyone can get involved in.
Many brides choose a pretty tiara to complement their wedding outfit. However, there are a wide range of options open if you’d like to step away from the traditional theme. For a vintage twist, try adding a chiffon band or wide feather 
headband for a 1920s flapper style. Choosing a bright colour can liven up your outfit. Alternatively, try adding a floral headpiece which can follow the colour scheme of your dress and flowers.
Make Up
For the big day, many brides decide to be brave with their eye makeup, rather than sticking to the traditional route of natural and glowing. Ask your make up artist for a deep smokey shadow for a smouldering style to add some sassiness to your wedding beauty look. It’s a great idea to choose shades to highlight your natural eye colour. For example, choose deep browns to make blue eyes sparkle and light lilacs and blue tones to flatter deep brown eyes.
The key thing to remember when planning your wedding is that the day will be all about you and your partner, giving you a chance to show off your own individual style. Although some pieces may be harder to source when scouring traditional bridal stores, you can easily add an alternative twist to your look with a few key accessories.
Victoria is a fashion and beauty blogger for DirectSight, a leading retailer of ray ban glasses.
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