Using bold, striking graphics in an eye-catching color combination is a chic way to work a modern theme for your wedding. Black and white is undeniably classic, but once you add pops of bold, bright color and geometric design elements, it becomes decidedly modern.
L to R: Wedding Paper Divas Bold Geometry invitation, Dress, Desserts from Amy Atlas, Yellow Shoes, Wedding Cake, Table Setting, Striped Bow Tie, Favor Boxes
If you’re looking for a smart and stylish way to tie your wedding colors or theme into your ceremony, look no further than our gorgeous selection of programs. We offer over 100 exclusive ways to share the day’s events with your guests—and we’re adding new designs all the time! These striking new styles are full of fresh watercolors, fun photo features and sweet nature-inspired accents. Which one do you like best?
Today’s Real Wedding features the wedding of Laura and Benjamin, which took place at Hillbrook Club in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. The bright periwinkle blue used throughout the wedding, paired with touches of lilac in the flowers worked beautifully in the lush green venue. The bride even created sweet and simple props that made for some charming photographs! Here are some photos of the event, courtesy of Annemarie Bollman from All Things Annemarie.
The bloggers at our wedding favors partner Beau-coup recently posted this wonderful carnival themed inspiration board. This tugs at our heart strings and takes us back to childhood fun. For more party inspiration and wedding ideas, check out the Beau-coup blog.
There’s nothing like a classic gumball machine to bring out your inner child. So whether you’re throwing a black tie event, a carnival wedding, or both(!), these mini classic gumball machine favors will knock your guests’ socks off! The fanciful candy wedding favors come pre-filled with delicious Double Bubble gumballs—dispense with just a twist of the knob.
Images from: Marchesa, Kate Spade, The Bride’s Cafe, My Polaroid Blog, Beau-coup, 101 Cookbooks, Erin Quon, Cheree Berry, Color Band Productions, J. Crew, Ruffled, Ed McGowan, Victor Sizemore
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About Beau-coup Favors
Beau-coup is a recognized leader in the wedding favor and bridal gifts industry. Our offerings include wedding decorations and supplies, as well as baby shower favors, birthday party favors and other party favors. Style editors and event planners look to Beau-coup for trendsetting favors and unique wedding planning ideas, both in our wedding blog and articles section. We have also been featured in a variety of leading publications including Fortune, The Wall Street Journal and InStyle Magazine.
If you love all things colorful, cute and delicious, this Eye Candy feature is going to make your Tuesday. When I spotted this darling confection on 100 Layer Cake, the DIY Diva in me jumped for joy! Between the homemade bunting, vintage striped straws and charming lettering—what could be sweeter?
Although some wedding etiquette questions can be tricky, we’re true pros when it comes to wedding stationery questions. Take this inquiry, for instance:
Dear Divas,
I might be a stationery newbie, but I’m totally perplexed by what goes on enclosure cards. What is the proper etiquette there?
Thanks,
Cathy M.
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Dear Cathy,
Don’t worry—our etiquette experts are more than happy to help! Here’s a breakdown of basic wedding enclosure card etiquette:
Response Cards
Always send response cards inside the invitation envelope with stamps affixed to self-addressed return envelopes. This helps to ensure that you’ll have an accurate count of the number of guests expected to attend. Response cards can also include the guests’ meal preferences.
Reception Cards
Send wedding reception cards if your reception information won’t fit on the invitation itself. Wedding reception cards also come in handy if you plan to invite more guests to the ceremony than the reception. In this case, insert the reception cards only into the invitations of the guests invited to the reception.
Maps and Directions Cards
These items should also be printed and included if some guests aren’t as familiar with the area in which you’re holding your ceremony. If you choose to print them, however, they should be included in every invitation suite and not just distributed to a few guests.
We hope this helps make your enclosure card shopping a little easier. Check out our selection of wedding stationery suites to find gorgeous invitations with all of the matching components you’ll need, and don’t hesitate to ask if you have any more questions!
Do you have a question for our wedding experts? Send your etiquette, wedding planning or style dilemma to blog@weddingpaperdivas.com and we’ll post an answer for you.
Wedding Paper Divas is bursting with staff grooms- and brides-to-be who are currently planning their weddings. We’re happy to share their stories with you as a part of this fun feature! Here’s Nancy’s story:
Jim and I met via a dating site that set us up as a match. Jim decided to send me a “Wink,” and after emailing and talking we decided to meet. After our first meeting we pretty much haven’t been apart since. Within a week of our first meeting, another dating site match us up too! Destiny? We think so.
Well he asked me to marry him, I said “YES!!”
It’s been really exciting to think about the perfect wedding for us, but lately the reality has set in that we still have a few things to figure out.
Where would be the perfect place? What is the perfect theme? And the most importantly, “WHEN”?
First on our agenda is to host a fun get-together with his children and my children. Between us, we have three grandbabies, three sons, two daughters, two sons-in-law and three daughters-in-law. An instant crowd!
I’m looking for an outdoor area that will accommodate all of us so we can have a good time eating, playing and getting to know each other. With three grandbabies under two years old, I don’t want anyone feeling pressured or uneasy. Everyone should just have fun!
Once our children all meet, then we will proceed to work on the rest of our wedding story. Stay tuned…
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Meet Nancy
Nancy and Jim are both bike enthusiasts, but of a different kind. Jim rides a motorcycle and Nancy rides a bicycle. Now they enjoy doing both!
When they aren’t out riding, they are enjoying their family (which has double since they decided to wed). Between them they have three boys and their wives, two daughters and their husbands and three beautiful grandbabies.
Flowers can cost a pretty penny when you’re planning a wedding, but don’t worry—we’ve got the inside scoop on how to create some chic floral looks all your own. We’ve featured a DIY bouquet before, but today we have something for the fellas: DIY boutineers made from fresh flowers and other craft materials.
Here’s how it’s done (it’s easier than you think!):
Floral Boutineer Supplies
Step One: Prep Your Flowers
Select a single bloom and frame it with leaves, baby’s breath or other filler. When it looks lovely, wrap the floral tape around the stem to hold it all together and cover the base of the stems.
Step Two: Create Backing and Add Pin
Use cardstock to create a backing for the boutineer, then affix the cardstock to the pin on one side and the stem of the flower or leaves on the other. Obviously the organic material will start to wilt when you do this, so it has to be done right before the ceremony to prevent drooping foliage.
Step Three: Wear and Enjoy!
Pin them onto the groomsmen’s lapels for a lovely, easy, DIY look.
Fabric Boutineer Supplies
Step One: Cut and Layer Strips of Fabric
Cut the material into evenly sized strips, then start to layer them in a star or asterisk shape and hot glue each layer together.
Step Two: Add Decorative Touches and a Pin
Add a decorative item like a fabric flower or other little detail to the center of the asterisk shape, then glue a pin to the back.
Step Three: Wear and Enjoy!
These boutineers are particularly great if you’re looking for something to make ahead of time, of if you want it to be a keepsake. They’ll last much longer than fresh flowers!
If you try this craft idea yourself, or if you have any DIY ideas to share, send your photos to blog@weddingpaperdivas.com and we’ll post them for all of our fans and followers.
As common as it is to have perfectly matching bridesmaids, same dresses and same shoes, some brides are adventurous enough to try a more eclectic approach. The nice thing about having mismatched bridesmaids is that there is a lot of room for adding personality and uniqueness, while still maintaing an overall cohesive look. It will also make for some very colorful and artistic photos!
For a consistent feel, make sure you keep at least one factor similar across all the dresses. You could opt for the same color family and have each bridesmaid in a different shade of that color. Or you could have the same style dress but in all different hues. Another idea would be to have the same color dress in varying prints and patterns. Finally, for a completely unique mix, have your bridesmaids choose all different colors and cuts, but when combined they all reflect a similar style. To maintain that visual cohesiveness, experiment with colors and patterns, but keep hemlines all the same length. Once each bridesmaid is holding the same bouquet in your complimentary wedding colors, everything will instantly look tied together, yet still look very interesting.
What do you think of this trend? Would you consider mismatched dresses for your bridesmaids?
Week after week, we field an endless array of questions about wedding planning and etiquette—and today we spent some time talking about guest lists and significant others.
According to etiquette authority Emily Post, spouses, fiancées/fiancés, and live-in partners must be invited, while an invitation to a boyfriend or girlfriend is up to the bride and groom’s discretion. Do you agree?
Should guests only be allowed a plus one if they are married, engaged or living with their significant other? What about bridesmaids and groomsmen—should wedding party members be the exception to the rule? Rant or rave about it!
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