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Archive for the ‘Wedding Decorating’ Category

Wedding Ice Sculpture Ideas

20 Aug

Ice sculptures can add a touch of elegance and beauty to your Idaho wedding. Since most of us don’t happen across an ice sculpture on a regular basis, here are a few commonly asked questions and things to watch for.

  • How clear is the ice and how do you get it that way?

Typically, ice carvers will use large blocks that are frozen with water circulating during the process. Each block may take anywhere from 2 – 5 days to freeze. Ask your potential sculpture artist what form of freezing they use and ask how the clarity of their ice compares to the competition.

  • How long does an ice sculpture usually last?

Depending on the design of your ice sculpture, you can typically expect it to look good for approximately 5 to 7 hours, when in a controlled 70 degree environment. If your wedding will be an outdoor event, exposure to the elements will reduce the lasting time of your ice sculpture to less than 5 hours. Work with your designer to come up with a design that will stand up to the environment of your wedding.

  • How long does it take to carve an ice sculpture?

Depending on the design, some ice sculptures can be carved in 2-3 hours while more intricate and large scale designs can take up to 2-3 days. Different sculptures utilize different carving techniques. Ask your potential ice designer what techniques they use and ask to see examples.

If you’re going to make an investment of an ice sculpture at your wedding, consider where and how long your reception will be and what style of design will support your wedding best. Also consider incorporating the ice sculpture into a major centerpiece for your guests to appreciate – and maybe even include your ice sculpture into your drink service. Something interactive and fun will allow your guests to appreciate your investment and have fun at the same time!

 
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Posted in Idaho Wedding, Wedding Decorating

 

Choosing Your Wedding Colors

06 Aug

This summer you may be attending weddings of your friends and family – and you may be planning your own. If you’re trying to determine the colors for your wedding, here are a few tips that can help.

First of all – take pictures. If you’re at another wedding that you like – take a picture. If you’re shopping and see the perfect color of a dress that you love – take a picture. If you’re inspired by nature and love the flowers that come out during summer or spring, take pictures. If you’re planning your wedding more than a year out, make sure that you take pictures of the same time of year your wedding will be – even better if you can get pictures at the same venue.

Use your pictures to make an idea board – collage together your photos and magazine clippings, etc. to see what colors you are drawn to and what color combinations you like.  Chances are you’ll start to notice a trend in the colors you are drawn to.

If you find one particular photo that you are drawn to and want to develop your wedding colors around that inspiration – check out this great tool. You can upload one photo and it will automatically create a color palette from your photo. Click here to create your custom color palette.

Consider standard colors for weddings during the time of year for your wedding. For instance, summer weddings will typically use bright and bold colors (torquoise, fuschia, violet) while a spring wedding will tend to be more pastels. Typically, “traditional” wedding colors take their cues from nature – look at what colors the plants and flowers are displaying during the time of year for your wedding. Of course, this is only a guideline. Your wedding colors should be a reflection of yourself and your personality.

If you’ve settled on one color but aren’t sure how to use it – consider using a color wheel.

  • Complimentary colors – are those that are opposite each other on the color wheel. These colors will provide a “pop” – as when you pair together blue and orange.  This color scheme can tend to add a traditional feel to your wedding.
  • Analagous colors – are those colors that lie next to each other on the color wheel. Using analagous colors will help to give you a range of colors while still maintaining a similar “hue” or color feeling through your decor. This color scheme can add a personal and casual touch to your wedding.
  • Monochromatic colors – are those that are in the same “wedge” on the color wheel. Using monochromatic colors allows you to highlight the properties of the color you have chosen, all the way from a very vibrant deep saturated color to a grayish-black version of the color and very light pastel-white version of the color. This color scheme can help to lend a modern touch to your wedding.

Refer to the color chart below to help you determine your wedding colors.

Color wheel

 
 

Choosing Your Wedding Cake

09 Jul

Choosing your Wedding Cake

Now that you’ve found the man of your dreams, booked your reception, ordered your dress, and selected your flowers….how about designing your wedding cake? Your wedding cake will be the most important cake you ever pick out, so make it a fantastic one! Wedding cakes are no longer just 3 tiers of white cake with a bride and groom on the top. They are expressions of who you are as a couple, be it a traditional tiered cake, topsy turvy masterpiece, or sculpted work of art. Most importantly, it needs to taste just as good as it looks, so here are some tips to help you select the cake of your dreams………

Start thinking of what you would like your cake to look like well before you meet with the baker. Even if you don’t have an exact idea drawn out, it will help them design a cake for you if you have an idea of what you are envisioning.  Bring anything that might help inspire creativity along with you to the meeting. Color swatches, pictures from a magazine, a pattern off of your dress,or pieces of jewelry are always helpful.

Bring your sweet tooth along with you for this meeting! After you are done talking about design, it’s time to sample some cake. Most cake makers will have plenty of choices for you to enjoy. Ask what their most popular flavors are, and also feel free to ask for special requests. Most cake makers will allow you to make each tier a different flavor free of charge. This is a great thing because you can make sure all of your guests have a flavor option they will enjoy. This is one of the best parts of wedding planning, so enjoy some yummy cake!

Submitted by:

Aimee Wyatt, Amaru Confections
Owner/Chef
(208) 991-CAKE

 
 

Indoor Wedding Venue

02 Jul

Indoor Wedding Venue Ideas

You have dreamed of your wedding day since you were a little girl, and now your engaged and trying to put together your dream wedding. There are so many decisions to make and one of those tough decisions is whether or not to hold the wedding at an indoor or outdoor wedding venue. This decision affects many other decisions during your planning process. The venue can help you decide the wedding date, your wedding theme, to include decorations, wedding party attire, guest favors and more.

There are pro’s and con’s to choosing both options, and really it comes down to risk tolerance and personal preference. Holding your wedding at an indoor venue ensures that you and your guests are comfortable. You have air conditioning, even flooring, and comfortable seating for all of your guests. You’re protected from inclement weather and you have easy access to rooms dedicated to the bridal party for freshening up. High heels won’t dig into the dirt or the sand, and guests won’t sweat or get rained on. Plus, there are no bugs or critters to worry about. Allergies wouldn’t be a problem, and neither would sunscreen or bug repellant. Lighting would be continuous and even so your wedding photographer won’t have to keep adjusting his lens based on available light, and he won’t have to race the clock so that he doesn’t lose precious sunlight. This is a safe bet and if you don’t want the stress of risking everything there is to battle with the elements then having your wedding at an indoor venue.

If you love the look of an outdoor wedding, but don’t want the stress of possible rain, you can create the outdoor look inside as well. Lighting is a great way of creating ambiance at a wedding and indoor venues allow you to maximize its effect, creating the perfect mood and allowing you to have the exact lighting you desire. Indoor weddings also mean better climate control. The advantages of having your wedding indoors is the year-round aspect. Whether your wedding is during the winter, spring, summer, or fall, there is no issue with weather. There are so many options for an indoor wedding, from historic buildings, stunning hotel banquet rooms, luxurious reception halls to indoor greenhouses, just to name a few. The opportunity of having an “off-season” wedding in an indoor venue is also a plus, as hosting a wedding when venues are not busy may save you some money by the discounts that these venues can offer during their quiet season. Golf clubs, for example, welcome events with open arms and sometimes reduce their rental rates and offer special wedding packages to bring in some business during their off-season.

Submitted by: Dawn Rising — Delicate Designs — www.delicatedesigns-coord.com

 
 

Outdoor Wedding Venue Decoration & Amenities Tips

25 Jun

Outdoor wedding decorating tips

When planning decorations and amenities for your guests at your Idaho outdoor wedding, consider the following tips:

  • Amenities: When selecting your venue, be sure the location has access to adequate bathroom facilities, parking space, electrical hook-ups for lighting, music and other items.  You may need to consider rental of: a generator or restroom trailers. Note: Bug spray is also something to think of providing.
  • Food and alcohol: If considering a caterer or do it yourself, need to be sure there is plenty of space for a kitchen set up or caterers vehicles for delivery and set up, recommend a buffet-like style keeping with the natural ambiance of the outdoors. Need to see if there are permits needed if providing your own beer and wine or if the outdoor wedding venue prefers a vendor they work with.
  • Décor often makes the wedding: It is wise to use the natural décor of the area—the trees, shrubs and flowers. String lights or patio lanterns are very inexpensive and always add charm and elegance without over powering the surrounding natural beauty.  An arbor, gazebo, water feature or well-placed floral arrangements and candles will add class, sophistication and subtle charm.

Submitted by:

Diane Estey  —  Delicate Designs –  www.delicatedesigns-coord.com

 

 
 

Idaho Outdoor Wedding Tips

04 Jun
Idaho Outdoor Weddings

Idaho Outdoor Weddings

Are you an Idaho bride planning your wedding  for this year or next? Moving your wedding celebration outdoors is definitely a trend that is continuing through 2010. When moving your wedding outdoors, there are still a number of ways you can go.

Outdoor – Upscale:

Enhance the beauty that mother nature provides in your location by utilizing rentals. Rent chairs and tables, tents and a dance floor. Add decorations that tie in with the outdoor beauty such as lights, crystal and other decorative elements traditionally used indoors. Make sure that you rent tents to provide areas of shade and protection from any light breezes or possible rain. Hire a wedding decorator or coordinator or talk with rental companies to find unique ideas that will help to elevate the natural beauty of the location you choose.

Outdoor – Casual:

Go simple. One of the advantages of living in Idaho is we have such a wide variety of possibilities for outdoor wedding locations. Consider a casual “summer dress” style wedding. Have your bridesmaids choose their own dresses off the rack but matching your colors. Consider asking your guests to dress casual for a wedding in the park. If your family and friends are the outdoors type anyway – you might want to even have games lined up such as croquet, horseshoes, frisbee, etc. – and consider renting a bounce house or other entertainment for kids. You could even do a shoes optional theme and hand out custom designed flip flops or flower anklets. Be creative and use mother nature as your inspiration!

When having your wedding outdoors in Idaho you have many choices and sources of inspiration. Take advantage and think outside the box to help make your wedding day unique and a perfect reflection of you!

 

Old is New

14 May
What's old is new again

What's old is new again

One popular trend brides are leaning towards is revitalizing styles from the 20s and 50s. Gowns are trending towards shorter and more color than the traditional white or ivory. Check out old TV shows or movies from those eras for inspiration for your wedding. Look at renting more traditional or older style venues for your wedding location to fit with a retro theme. You can probably find a great bargain on a “non-traditional” wedding venue rental.

Not only are the look and feel of weddings taking inspiration from the old – but brides are using heirloom items in their decor. Take a look at vintage items to spice up your decor – incorporate photographs of parents and grandparents into your decor. Utilize vintage napkin holders and chandeliers into your decor. Visit antique stores and second hand stores for a variety of old looking picture frames.

Look for other ways to include generational items into your theme as well. Perhaps (with a little altering) you can wear your grandmother’s wedding dress or your mother’s necklace. Your wedding is, after all, a celebration of the creation of your new family. Incorporating traditions and pieces from your family and your new husband’s family into your wedding day can increase the memories and traditions you are building.

 
 

Wedding Eye Candy for Dessert

07 May
Eye Candy Wedding Dessert ideas

Alternate Wedding Dessert Ideas - Utilize Eye Candy!

If you’ve been to a Wedding lately you may have noticed that instead of a cake, there was a whole table dedicated to several desserts and a variety of candy. These displays are a growing trend and have several different names; candy buffets, dessert displays, dessert tables and candy bars. A dessert display is a table filled with trays of desserts and ornate glass jars full of candy that coordinates with the colors of your event or Wedding.

The options for making these displays unique to your Wedding are endless. Not everyone loves cake, so why not try a dessert display full of cookies or pies? You can make your display unique by adding custom candy tags, a table linen that matches your Wedding colors, or your favorite childhood candy. A dessert display also doubles as a favor for your guests to take home. Providing candy scoops and treat bags that can be customized to match your Wedding are a perfect way to get your guests involved and they are a fun, do-it-yourself favor.

Dessert displays are gaining momentum in the Wedding scene and it looks like they are a trend that is here to stay. Presenting your treats in this whimsical way will make your guests feel like a kid in a candy store and it is sure to be the hit of your party. Try a dessert display for your next Wedding or event, it will make a lasting impression and leave everyone talking…when their mouths aren’t full!

Submitted by:

Ashley Carlson
Eye Candy Event Design

208.869.8333
www.EyeCandyEventDesign.com

Eye Candy

 
 

Modern and DIY Wedding Planning

23 Apr

Do It Yourself Weddings and Favors can be fun and budget savers

Modern Choices:

A contemporary, modern wedding is still big in 2011.  Brides can opt for non-traditional dress choices, such as: beautiful hues instead of usual white or ivory; shoulder instead of strapless; and short cocktail dresses instead of a long gown.  The modern trend can also continue through the décor of your wedding as well, couples can steer away from the customary 10-person round table and opting to mix table shapes and sizes. Couples can also incorporate bright and bold colors, cool lounge setting and after parties; choosing cupcakes instead of a wedding cake and having the bridesmaids choose different styles of dresses in the same color or souvenir photo booth picture strips instead of traditional wedding favor trinkets.

DIY weddings:

“Do it yourself” is a big trend continuing into 2011.  Personalized touches and little details are very important; couples can incorporate their favorite interests, hobbies, places and even sports. It’s a great idea for a couple to plan every detail of their entire wedding. Then on the wedding day assign a trustworthy relative, friend or wedding coordinator, to help with the details so the bride and groom can relax and enjoy their big day.

Contributed by:
Dawn Rising   – Delicate Designs – www.delicatedesigns-coord.com

 

Hot Wedding Trends for 2011

16 Apr

Planning a Vintage or Retro-inspired Idaho Wedding

Congratulations you’re engaged! You have your wedding date picked and now you are ready to begin planning the most important day of your life. But have you asked the question: What are the hottest wedding trends for 2011?  Here are a few I thought might be helpful.

Vintage Modern:

Vintage and retro-inspired with a modern twist.  What’s old is new.

  • Vintage wedding dresses with cap sleeves
  • Beautiful textures
  • Ornate details
  • Natural settings, including outdoor and backyard weddings
  • Vintage photography
  • Nontraditional veils, vintage or heirloom combs.

Eco-friendly weddings:

Environmentally friendly weddings. Second-hand and vintage wedding dresses, LED lighting, recycled paper invitations and programs, and food from local Idaho farms and Idaho providers. Charity donations are a popular option instead of traditional wedding favors, and couples can ask for donations to their favorite charity instead of wedding gifts.

Contributed by:
Dawn Rising   – Delicate Designs – www.delicatedesigns-coord.com