I was inspired by this week’s inspiration board when I saw a shoe with these same colors. Mint green and chocolate makes a refreshing combo that can be dressed up or down depending on how casual or formal you want to make your event. May this help inspire your own wedding theme!

Green and brown wedding cake and boutonniere from the Knot; Flora taffeta knot dress from Ann Taylor; 4 stone autumn ring by Fossil; Martha Stewart wedding favors; Brides.com captivating centerpieces; Wedding Paper Divas Edged Monogram Wedding Invitations; Franco organic assorted mint chocolate from Macy’s.

I love checking out other wedding blogs, so was intrigued when I read Simply Stated: Nearly Wed recently. The blogger’s entry was a debate about save the date cards and whether they were necessary or overdone in weddings today.

According to the Wedding Report, a 2008 industry trend calls for couples to personalize their complete wedding suite, which includes Save the Date Announcements. And, while most are used specifically for destination weddings or weekend weddings, I personally think that they are a beautiful and fun way to introduce your wedding to guests early.

I’ve received several types of save the date cards in the past, from magnets to photo cards, and have always enjoyed getting them. In addition, if you have a lot of out of town guests like I did, or your wedding date is near a major holiday, and you may want to ensure that the majority of your guests will come by sending out one of these cards as a nice courtesy. Here are a few fresh save the date designs from Wedding Paper Divas that I love.

Blooming Branches

Berry Buds Ecru Save the Date Cards: Chocolate

Fern Save the Date Cards

I didn’t plan what I was going to wear for the rehearsal dinner prior to my wedding day, and I was TOO tired to think about it when our day got close. In the end, I disliked what I was wearing. I was cold and uncomfortable not the way I was hoping it would be the night before my wedding day. So here’s another tip for all of you brides out there: Make sure to pack everything a month or so before your wedding day. And check out these designer styles for a bit of inspiration.

For the rehearsal dinner from left: J Crew Metallic Rose Laura Shift dress, Ann Taylor Cobblestone Print Dress, Banana Republic Silk Cap-Sleeve Lady dress, and Victoria’s Secret Sleeveless Silk Charmeuse dress. Monogram Flourish Rehearsal Dinner Invitations in Dark Gray.

Diamonds aren’t the only wedding accessories that come in a rainbow of colors! I love that more and more brides are wearing brightly colored shoes under their dresses. It adds so much charm and whimsy to a ceremony without overpowering the rest of a couple’s wedding style. Plus, it’s a great way to blend chic modern style with conservative or traditional tastes without ruffling any feathers!

One of our very own Divas recently wore these sumptuous red shoes under her dress (photos courtesy of KI Photography), and a good friend of hers wore purple heels for a similarly luxurious touch (photos by James Nguyen). She loves the trend so much she even found these gorgeous green shoes from Brooklyn Bride, and an Elizabeth Ann Designs post featuring a rainbow of colored shoes on bridesmaids dressed in black (we absolutely love this one!). Elizabeth Ann even has a groom get into the spirit with some colored high top Converse shoes!

After proposing to his longtime girlfriend earlier this month, a friend of a friend found himself in a dilemma. The newly engaged couple wants a summer wedding, but they don’t want to wait an entire year for their ceremony. Their solution? Plan a classic, chic and stylish ceremony in only eight weeks.

If you find yourself swept up by similar whirlwind wedding planning, here are a few tips for pulling off your dream wedding when you are short on time, low on funds or both!

1. Find a venue. Casual settings are your best bet for an available space, so ask friends if they know of any great houses you could rent or lovely little gardens that could serve as your ceremony site.

2. Register for gifts. Limit yourself to two stores, and then have a blast. Registering for gifts is a fun part of the wedding planning process that you don’t want to miss!

3. Order your invitations. Wedding Paper Divas offers some beautiful invitations, and our quick order processing will prove invaluable considering that you should send out invites six weeks before your nuptials.

4. Rally the troops. Wedding planning is more fun when shared, and if you are trying to pull off a wedding in just a few weeks you will need all the help you can get. Make sure your maid of honor and best man are up to the challenge, then don’t be afraid to delegate tasks to your friends and family. Being a part of the planning will make your wedding more memorable for everyone!

5. Think DIY. Make your own bouquet, like this gorgeous one from Creature Comforts, and shop in local stores like J.Crew, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. They often have great bridal collections that you can browse through online during your lunch break or in between other wedding planning duties. These chic wedding ideas all come from stores you are likely to find nearby, and they all fit with the bride-to-be’s plan for a classic ceremony:

These wedding tips will help speed you along toward your wedding day. But, no matter what happens during your journey down the aisle, remember to have fun and cherish each moment of your wedding planning together!

Right now, Brides.com has an amazing collection of wedding dresses featured in a way that makes it easy to decide what type of bride you are. Simply choose from among “Modern,” “Romantic” or “Glamorous” to see a stunning selection of dresses to match your style. You can even research hairstyles, jewelry and flowers to match your style as well.

If you are looking for elegant wedding stationery to match your signature look, try pairing these designs from Wedding Paper Divas with the style you choose:

Modern:

Romantic:

Glamorous:

A good friend of mine is serving in the wedding party for some upcoming nuptials, and instead of traditional tuxedos he and his fellow groomsmen are pushing for kilts. This is a common enough choice for couples who want to express their heritage by incorporating Celtic elements into their weddings, and there are several ways to use traditional elements like family tartans as inspiration for an amazingly chic ceremony.

In this particular case, however, I think the kilts represent more the groomsmen’s desire to don the free flowing, traditional attire than a profound interest from the bride and groom. But, whether you are planning a destination wedding at a castle in Scotland, reviving your roots in a Celtic ceremony or simply appeasing some fashion forward groomsmen, draw some inspiration from these contemporary takes on a chic Celtic theme:

Not just on clothing anymore, paisleys have hit the wedding scene in a big way! Making their debut on cards and cakes and everything in between, I think there’s something sweet and modern about those swirly shapes. Here are some ways to make your wedding pretty, posh and paisley filled.

Photo and cake from Carrie’s Cakes

Photo from Brides.com

Right now Style Me Pretty has some gorgeous color palettes up as a part of the site’s Color Palette Contest. From romantic coral and sage combinations to deep emeralds, delicate knits and striking stripes, these color collections are sure to inspire you to come up with some amazing combos. Start by finding something that you find visually stunning. It can be anything from a lamp to a fabric swatch, your grandmother’s old Chanel suit or your favorite Impressionist painting. Then use the item to isolate the different colors and tones that really make it come alive for you. Build out these motifs and, soon enough, you will have an inspiring color palette all your own!

If you like the coral and sage combination Style Me Pretty featured today, you might just love these charming designs from Wedding Paper Divas to match!

Brandi posted on the sweet and scrumptious cupcake trend sweeping weddings across the nation. I :heart: cupcakes and think that they are super sweet, but understand that this may not always work for couples looking for more formal options. It probably would also be a problem for couples whose parents are just like mine and say things like, “What would people think if you didn’t have a cake?”

Considering this, I thought I would share my most recent find from the current issue of Brides magazine - America’s most beautiful wedding cakes. This issue features some of the most beautiful and ornate wedding cakes I have ever seen. Most of these cakes look like a million bucks (and probably cost a few thousand)!

Check out some of my favorite wedding cake inspirations: