Today I got a really interesting question on Yahoo Answers from someone looking for ideas for a camo themed wedding. Not surprisingly – she got some very negative answers about rednecks and tackiness. Does a camo themed wedding have to be tacky? No, if done right, it could be lovely – the problem is most people don’t know how to do it right! SO – if you are interesting in a camo theme – or any theme that uses a print pattern – you should read what I said to thie bride:
First let me say that I HAVE seen it done – and while it can look VERY redneckish if done wrong – I have also seen it done right and it looks very funky and quite beautiful! The key is to go easy on the amount of actual camo you use – use camo as an accent and have the main colors be colors in the camo. The reason using to much camo becomes tacky is because it, like any print – is way to busy to be used on a large scale.
For example, go with a beautiful chocolate brown and cargo green color combo. Have the bridesmaids in chocolate brown gowns with green sashes and carry simple cream colored roses. Also, an ivory or cream gown may be better then a a white gown for yourself as well. For a touch of camo – use hand-tied bouquets tied with a camo ribbon and then use camo ribbon for the guys boutineires as well. I would suggest avoiding the camo vest idea, unless you really like them. A more elegant look would be to have your fiance in a chocolate vest/tie and the groomsmen in the green color – with a touch of camo introduced through the flowers. I think you will find, looking at the pictures after, that is already a lot of print in a group of people.
For decorating – stick to solid colors in browns/greens/creams as much as possible but then add simple small touches of camo. For example: chocolate colored table clothes, green napkins, and cream colored dishes. For the centerpiece, a simple wrought iron lantern or a bouquet of cream colored roses would be pretty. Then, to bring in the theme – tie your favors with a camo print ribbon, create placecards that are cream colored with camo print borders, and add some camo print ribbon inthe centerpiece.
For invitations – here is a neat idea:
– you will need chocolate brown cardstock, cream colored cardstock and some camo print ribbon again. The invitation is made with the chocolate cardstock with the cream cardstock inside and the wording printed on the cream. When assembling, insert small pieces of ribbon between the two sheet at the top and bottom, then when you are done, the ribbon is used to tie the invitation shut.
Anyway – my key point would be to use the colors in the camo as your main colors – and use the actual print minimally as an accent. You will find that, because it is a print, it will stand out among the solids and a little bit put in with matching solids will have a very strong impact. The reason most camo weddings are tacky is because there is just TO MUCH of a good thing:)
Dress Shown Above:
#1 by Emily - March 3rd, 2007 at 13:26
Thank you SO MUCH!!! This really helped me see it in perspective. I love the army camo look and I just thought it would be so much fun to have a wedding it that fashion. The groom loves the idea, but never expected me to go with it…LOL.
#2 by kaye - April 10th, 2007 at 18:37
I am planning a army camo wedding, and i am not having much luck finding alot of the things i would like, do you have a specific website i would go to? Help
#3 by JoAnne - January 21st, 2008 at 17:41
Try my site. We are trying to meet this need…elegant, traditional wedding gowns with “A TOUCH of Camo”!! Brides are loving what we can make for you. All styles and all price ranges. I will help make it fit your budget! Gowns custom made and right here in the USA too. We can’t get army camo satin though..only Mossy Oak and Tru Timber come in satin, but we could put any camo pattern on your gown..just the look would not match. Let’s talk!
#4 by Maridee - February 17th, 2008 at 17:53
This is exactly what I have been thinking, thanks so much for putting it on paper, well, on computer anyway…hahaha…I have been searching everywhere for a camo dress that fits my style, and I love the one pictured here. Thanks so much!
#5 by Mirta from Wedding Style - March 6th, 2008 at 12:10
Not only we carry Camo wedding acesssories under Western Wedding in our website but my husband was an army men (and they always are!) and we live very cliso to a base. I love camo design!
#6 by Jessica - April 30th, 2008 at 20:02
I am having a camo wedding in September. My ring bearer is going to carry deer antlers with the rings on the horns
#7 by Chris - July 25th, 2008 at 18:15
I am going to be making 20 camo garters for my son and daughter-inlaws wedding, any idea where to find 1 inch smooth shiny satin camo printed ribbon in mossy oak or something similar????
#8 by JoAnne - July 29th, 2008 at 19:15
for getting your own satin mossy oak fabric….or true timber…. go to:
http://www.snydercreek.com They are the ONLY source I’ve found for the bridal satin camo fabric.
Try my site for gowns, MANY NEW STYLES ARE OUT NOW…. veils, gloves, pillows, basket, boleros, sashes to dress up other solid color dresses with a bit of camo addition. I absolutely LOVE the ring bearer carrying deer antler!! Would love to see a picture of that…very cute!
#9 by Jackie - July 30th, 2008 at 16:44
Hi
We have mossy oak and other camouflage accessories!
Also visit my store on ebay
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZlinenandlaceclassicdesigns
we have them on there and are working to get them on our website!!
Best wishes!
#10 by sarah - September 27th, 2008 at 01:23
This camo dress is adorable and I love it. I was wondering if maybe you still have it or how im able to get it. thank you sarah
#11 by Hannah Zerbe - September 27th, 2008 at 19:21
I love this so much..I have yet to find anything to intertwine camo into my wedding
#12 by Dawn - November 14th, 2008 at 18:45
My son is getting married in Sept.2009. They are wanting to make their own invitations out of Mossy Oak Camo cardstock paper, but we are haveing no luck finding any. Any help would be appreciated. Thank You!
#13 by Milly - November 25th, 2008 at 15:32
Im doing a Camo wedding this jan. I think it will look great. if done right it can look awesome if done wrong well……… anyways lol i can not find any camo ribbon to tie up the back of my dress and trim my bridemaids dresses. Anyone know where i can find some?
#14 by amber - December 4th, 2008 at 15:46
Ok iam so confused!I would appreciate any information I can get! My fiance has decided he wants a “western camo” wedding! How in the world do I combine both in not be ridiculous?!? Mu email is horseshoe_cowgirl23@yahoo.com. Thanks!
#15 by Samantha - December 7th, 2008 at 04:00
Ok I am a country girl from the sticks, and I have always wanted to have a camo wedding. My fiance and I are getting married in June 2009. I love the dress above it is so pretty I hope I am able to find something like it. Thanks for all the great ideas.
#16 by Ginny Schumacher - January 6th, 2009 at 19:36
Hi, I just want to introduce myself and let you know that I would be more than glad to help anyone with a camo theme wedding. I do custom invitations and can certainly design something very tastefully even for a theme such as camo. You can visit my website: http://www.designsbyginny.com to see some of my work.
Hope to hear from you……Ginny
#17 by Misti - January 19th, 2009 at 20:07
I am having a wedding Easter weekend and was wondering what other peoples ideas were about having like, wildflowers incorperated in a camo wedding? I had pictured a wedding with alot of different colors since it was Easter, but my hubby to be really wants a camo wedding as he is an avid hunter and we are…well…country. I pictured the guys in camo ties, camo table runners, on the cake table ect…(like mossy oaks). The girls in yellow dresses carrying hand-tied bouqets, mason jars on the tables full of spring wildflowers(yellow, pink, lavender, orange)…does this sound too tacky? do other folks think this would work, or would it be too much?
#18 by Monica - January 20th, 2009 at 16:38
Does anyone have any ideas on where to get a wedding band in the camo design? I saw one on a show not to long ago, but I have no clue as to where to find one.
#19 by Jessica Reiman - January 20th, 2009 at 20:00
I need to know where the invitations that are in this story are from!! I would love to have ones that look similar to it!
#20 by Nikki - January 31st, 2009 at 00:10
Does anyone know where I can find mossy oak camo ribbon? I found some on the formal wear page but need some that is also wider. I am needing to create a sash for my dress so if u do not know about ribbon how bout ideas on something to make a sash??? My wedding is August 29th 2009 PLEASE HELP u can email me at msargent5@ivytech.edu THANKS
#21 by Tammy - February 8th, 2009 at 21:33
The ONLY place for camouflage wedding bands is http://www.CamoRing.com. These are custom coated one at a time to ensure great quality and print. Good luck with your wedding!
#22 by briana - March 3rd, 2009 at 16:00
yea…
my mom is looking for a mossy oak camouflage wedding dress for her wedding and this one is sooo cute…
i love it…
#23 by Carol - March 3rd, 2009 at 22:22
Another idea for the solid color would be orange. Some dresses have orange tie ups in the back and then you could do orange flowers for your bouque and the bridesmaids. We are doing our wedding like that and actually having it in our armory on the drill floor
#24 by Brenda - March 17th, 2009 at 03:06
I am having a camo wedding in Sept 2009. I have just about everything figured out except for my cake topper. I have no idea what to use I would love to have a topper that has to do with hunting, like a girl and guy with guns or something like that. any one have any ideas?
#25 by Misty - March 23rd, 2009 at 23:14
My niece is thinking of having a camo wedding. Is their any pictures or ideas out their for a wedding cake that would incorporate the deer hunting and camo theme, but not to much, and also maybe some ideas for a two or single layered grooms cake with the theme incorporated a little more.
#26 by April - April 25th, 2009 at 14:49
I am trying to plan my wedding which is happening in the summer of 2010. I want a blue camo dress, but i cant seem to find any information. Where would the best place be to find the fabric to have my grandmother make it or to find the dress already made??? please let me know. My email is chicaloco20@aol.com
#27 by CRISTI - May 6th, 2009 at 15:22
GO TO CAMORING.COM
#28 by JoAnne Schnepp - July 20th, 2009 at 20:13
anyone looking for pictures of cakes, flowers, decorating ideas, for the camo wedding theme, just get in touch, as my brides send me lots of pictures of how they’ve put their camo themed weddings together and I have lots in my files.
Have some of a great table centerpiece made of spent red shotgun shells glued all around fat candles with leaves around them! Also, have some leads on caketops. Actually Cabala’s has a really nice one that is not too expensive! JoAnne
#29 by lindsay - August 4th, 2009 at 01:03
i would like to see some pictures of camo themed weddings, and where i can get mossy oak ribbon and paper.
#30 by JoAnne Schnepp - August 5th, 2009 at 03:26
Just email me at jgschnepp@cableone.net, so I can email back pictures. Satin ribbon does not yet exist, however I am due to be carrying it soon. There is a company making it…or having it made right now…will be the mossy oak new break up pattern. Otherwise you can buy the fabric in satin and make your own ribbon if you need it sooner. that is what we do in order to put the edging on our veils!
If you want the satin camo fabric for decorating, go to http://www.snydercreek.com They are the only ones selling the fabric at retail I believe. We’ve been buying from them for a long time now. Great service! JoAnne
#31 by Kellie Wiswell - August 12th, 2009 at 10:52
G’morning!
I’m in the very beginning stages of planning my wedding. I had the thought of wrapping the bouquets in camo ribbon but have not found it in local stores and wasn’t sure I would actually be able to find any. I’m excited that it really does exist! Where would I be able to find it??? :0″
Thanks for the help! :0)
~Kellie~
#32 by Mary - August 16th, 2009 at 23:46
Here is a link to a place that sell camo ribbon at a reasonable price.
http://www.theribbonretreat.com/AddCartWizard/Ribbon/Default.aspx?ProductId=884
I am looking for a blue camo silky fabric to make a garter. Does anyone have any suggestions where to look?
Thanks.
#33 by kelly - September 2nd, 2009 at 18:17
i am having a camo wedding but unlike alot of them mine will actually be redneck.. that is me and who i am && also that is how my fiance wanted it && i comletely fell in love w/ the idea.. i dont ever think that camo is tacky! its beautiful && it will be something completely differnt in our little town..
#34 by Penny - October 20th, 2009 at 13:21
I am doing a camo and calla lily wedding for my nephew in December. Using the dress here that you have shown, but I am making it myself, I found the pattern at http://www.simplicity.com it is a New Look pattern, number 6454. I will be using the top of dress B and the bottom of dress D to make the look here. The link to it is here: http://www.simplicity.com/p-2326-misses-special-occasion-dresses.aspx Also, we have a myspace page with our ideas and such that we have found on the net, if you would like to take a look it is: http://www.myspace.com/camolilies
#35 by Penny - October 20th, 2009 at 13:22
opps, sorry, that link is http://www.myspace.com/camolily
#36 by tiffany lawson - December 3rd, 2009 at 12:34
hey, me and my bf were trying to fiqure out what we could do our wedding out of and we both like camo and i really thought that camo would be the perfect wedding thing to do and i just want to find all the camo things like cake cutter and ribbons and bows and camo cards to send out and i really would like to find the perfect wedding dress…..
#37 by tiffany lawson - December 3rd, 2009 at 12:38
i was also wondering if theres anyway i could buy that camo dress because i know that some things you order off the internet you have to have a debit card or credit card and i dont have one of those and would like to know how would i go by ordering or getting me one…
#38 by Kari - December 3rd, 2009 at 12:44
Tiffany – I would suggest going to http://www.laceandpromises.com – this is a US based company and Joanne, the owner, is very easy to work with. She will be able to arrange payment through paypal (takes money out of your bank account), through money order, western union, etc.
#39 by JoAnne - December 4th, 2009 at 00:27
Tiffany, I’ll be happy to work with you on how to pay…and YES…this style gown can still be ordered, both as it looks here and in a version with a camo train in back and a corset back included. Both are around $450.
And for those of you looking for the mossy oak satin ribbon, that is now available with us or at Snyder Creek…www.snydercreek.com Comes in 3 different widths too.
#40 by Megan - January 20th, 2010 at 12:19
I am getting married this September 2010, and I am having camo in the wedding, and I need help with ideas, money saving, the budget is low, but if you can help that would be wonderful.
#41 by JoAnne - January 25th, 2010 at 18:33
Megan,
I am happy to help. could you email me at jgschnepp@cableone.com so I can send pictures of what other brides have shared with me? Another great thing I do is to go to Google and click on Images up on the left side of the screen, and then put in a search term like, example camo wedding reception Google then does searches using only pictures…and most of them can be copied and saved if you see an idea for something you would like to duplicate.
Looking forward to hearing from you.