The new trend in winter wedding flowers is white. Traditionally, brides thought that winter weddings called for bold, rich colors; today, that attitude is changing. White wedding flowers can evoke thoughts of snow, purity, and untainted love. More and more, brides are choosing the stunning effects of white flowers to enhance their winter weddings.

You can achieve a look of elegance and beauty by using these ideas for white wedding flowers for a winter wedding, or design your own stunning arrangements based on the suggestions below.

˜ Standing at heights of 36″ or even 48″, larkspur centerpieces create an impressive appearance. As they flower best in the cool temperatures, larkspurs are the perfect white flowers for a winter wedding.

˜ White calla lilies are ideal for both elegant bouquets and chic centerpieces. Create an arm bouquet with long-stemmed calla lilies or a free-form all-white clutch bridal bouquet by combining white roses and white calla lilies.

˜ White roses are classic wedding roses- a perfect decoration for any winter wedding with white wedding flowers. Mix white roses with colored roses to complement the bridesmaid dresses, or maintain the purity of the day by combining white roses with other white flowers. For a look of unparalleled uniformity and sophistication, use white roses as the only flower of the day.

˜ For a more playful look, create a clutch bouquet from a tight ball bouquet of white hydrangeas. Add vibrant greens for an eye-catching splash of color.

˜ Chrysanthemums (and pompons, a more specific hybrid of chrysanthemum) are exotic and bold. They come in many different forms, each lovelier than the next. Because of their strong personality, mums should be used selectively and should preferably be coupled with a quieter bloom such as larkspur.

˜ Queen Anne’s lace is excellent filler for a winter wedding. Choose a particularly large or striking bloom as the focal point of the bouquet, and sprinkle Queen Anne’s lace throughout the display for a regal effect.

˜ Stock is a tall and full plant that enhances any arrangement. Make a stunning centerpiece arrangement by combining tall branches of stock blossoms with white calla lilies or hydrangeas.

˜ White alliums make excellent extra touches. Pin them to the side of each isle pew, attach to bands for corsages, or drizzle a few strands into your hair for a cascading floral hairstyle.

White wedding flowers offer you endless, outstanding possibilities for your hall, table arrangements and wedding party. Winter weddings with white flowers are both fashionable and timeless.

I just gave the bride a $135 gift at the shower. Am I supposed to give money as well at the wedding??
I am bringing a guest, and I believe it is approximately $50/head.
Plus, it is being held 6 hours away from where I live so I have to book 2 nights stay at a hotel which is extra $$$.

If you imagined a fall wedding with no choices for a bouquet beyond carrying a pot of bright yellow chrysanthemums down the aisle, you will be pleased to find the many varieties of elegant fall wedding flowers- that don’t come in flower pots. Flowers with warm autumn colors including shades of wine, cranberry, deep yellows and oranges are often available without special ordering. And even if you are looking to use pink, peach, apricots or lavenders, there are several varieties of fall wedding flowers to choose from.

Popular Varieties of Fall Wedding Flowers

Calla lilies have grown in popularity with their many color and size varieties including rusty oranges and dark reds. Calla lilies have a mini version that are a frequent accent flower to bouquets or can be pulled together in a modern and creative looking bouquet with its unique cone-like shape. The larger blossom variety of this flower tied with a coordinating satin or tulle ribbon can make an excellent single flower bouquet for your bridesmaids.

Bright, lipstick red roses are a traditional favorite but by selecting different tones of red such as deep red roses or black beauty roses, your fall wedding flowers carry the autumn theme a little truer to its palette. If you know you will be going down the red path, ask your florist to have some live rose samples in various shades of red ahead of time so that you can get an up close impression of the color options. The dark red fall wedding flowers can capture the warmth of autumn and offer the classic elegance of a rose.

Colorful Fall Wedding Flowers

Gerber daisies, lilies and hydrangeas are colorful, cost efficient fall wedding flowers. These blossoms come in a wide assortment of colors and bloom sizes. Gerber daisies have a fun and simple personality and have some of the boldest, natural colors to choose from. Lilies are often thought of as white, springy flowers but there are many elegant fall varieties in deep wines and yellows. Lilies also have blossoms in large and mini versions that can work for any bouquet. Hydrangeas are typically large, colorful blooms with dozens of petals on every blossom that can be great for the flower girl’s basket.

Sunflowers in bloom are the sure sign that summer is coming to an end. These warm, bright yellow and orange hued sunflowers have giant varieties great for decorative arrangements and smaller, elegant versions that are great focal pieces to your bouquet.

Autumn Whites

Fall wedding flowers don’t have to be full of bright or deep colors. All white bouquets with Bianca white roses, white Gerber daisies and ivory calla lilies are meant for a bride’s bouquet. Gardenia’s are often fragile and can be pricey but are very classic wedding flowers. And while typically thought of for spring, white delphiniums, peonies and sweet peas can be excellent choices as well.

When meeting with your florist you should try to have your color palette in mind so that you don’t let the type of flower you want and the colors available decide your entire wedding theme. If you are selecting fall wedding flowers, there are many varieties, styles and colors to choose from whether you want bright, classic or elegant arrangements.

If you are one of the many couples who became engaged between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, congratulations!  And while the uncertain economy will probably not stop you from tying the knot, it may affect your wedding budget and how much is spent on your wedding dress.  Here are some ideas on how to get that dream wedding dress for your big day without breaking the bank.

Set a budget.  Look at all the expenses for your wedding and decide if there are some adjustments you are willing to make in certain expenses (such as food or reception hall) so that more money can be allocated for your wedding dress.

Style of wedding ceremony.  Depending on the type of wedding ceremony you choose to have (traditional, informal, indoors, outdoors) you may want a wedding dress that reflects the style of the ceremony.  If that ceremony is short, simple and informal, you won’t need to spend a lot of money on a couture, high-fashion wedding dress.  Of course, the wedding should reflect your personal style, so choose your wedding dress and ceremony to match your style and whatever makes you feel comfortable.

Be a smart shopper.  Do your research online and off-line to find the best deals in wedding attire and accessories.  Researching online to find discount and affordable wedding dresses will give you an idea of what types of wedding dresses are available and price ranges.  You can then take that information and look for a local bridal store that can offer comparable prices for wedding dresses as well as various deals and discounts on additional wedding products and services.  Purchasing your wedding dress locally from a reputable bridal store at a good price would be the best option.  You are able to try on the dress and be fitted at the store and if there were problems, you could handle them in person at the shop.  If you are not able to find a bridal store to purchase your wedding dress locally, then you may want to consider ordering it from one of the many  online discount and wholesale bridal stores.  But remember to give yourself enough lead time when ordering your wedding dress online in the event you need to have  it altered.

Remember that details add to the cost of your wedding dress.  Exquisite craftsmanship in a wedding dress adds to its value and price.  Things such as hand embellishments, the bustier, luxurious lining, rich fabric, detailed finishing and machine stitch work all add to the beauty and cost of a wedding dress.

Consider going vintage.  If vintage is your style, you may find your dream wedding dress in a second-hand store at an affordable price.  Or better yet, you may find it in a relative’s attic who would be more than willing to let you have the wedding dress for you to wear on your big day.

Rent it.  Many “green” brides are starting to consider the idea of “reusing” their wedding dress by renting it instead of purchasing a gown.  When you consider what you are really spending your money on (a once-in-a-lifetime dream dress) that will only be used once and then be placed somewhere in a box never to be taken out again, renting your dream wedding dress becomes more affordable.

The most important thing to remember when looking for your wedding dress is don’t compromise your style for your budget.   The key is to find a gown that fits both your budget and style preference.  With a little work and planning, you can have the wedding dress of your dreams without breaking the bank.

Live music contributes a certain quality of atmosphere to any event and a wedding is the perfect event to be enhanced by it. While DJ’s may seem cost effective, there is a great deal a DJ cannot provide in terms of mood that a live wedding band can. With this in mind, let’s explore several important tips for choosing wedding bands and working with musicians that will help to aid your collaboration with your chosen wedding band so that you can work together to create a unique and inviting atmosphere for your wedding ceremony or reception. 

Let’s discuss some essential tips for choosing wedding bands. First and most importantly, you will want to have your ceremony and reception sites booked before hiring your musicians. This is essential, because most sites have at least some specific guidelines detailing aspects such as sound, band size and so on. Some sites, such as churches and synagogues, will have a list of preferred wedding musicians that they would like you to work with. After you have secured your locations and determined their rules and specifications, you will want to book your band as early as possible. However, before you can do this, there are some important suggestions you should follow in order to make your search as easy as possible. These include:



To find musicians who will fit both your taste and budget, interview at least three different musicians or go through a music management company. 

Try to attend the interviews as a couple, as both the bride and groom will have input. 

Bring a pen and notepad with you to all of your interviews to quickly write down any information or questions you may have throughout the interview. 

Most importantly, consider these aspects both before and after interviewing wedding musicians in order to make an objective and informed decision: 



Budget: Do not “cut corners”. Quality should be of the utmost importance to you. However, that doesn’t mean you should go beyond your budget, either. Try to find a happy medium between your budget and the atmosphere you want. 

Theme / Mood and Atmosphere: Consider the theme of your wedding as well as the mood and atmosphere you want to achieve. 

Musical Taste: Keep your own musical tastes in mind; ultimately, it’s your wedding. 

Location: As previously mentioned, the location of your ceremony and reception may have certain rules or restrictions. In addition, certain décor lends itself more easily to live music. For example, hardwood floors and minimalist decorations create wonderful acoustics, where carpeting and tile ceilings can absorb sound so more amplification may be required. 

Guests: Live music is an excellent choice for your reception, as it entertains guests during particular events such as while you are being photographed. Your guests will take their cue from you; if you are enjoying the music, so will they. 

Hiring a Professional Wedding Band with Experienced Musicians helps you to plan a day full of festive, romantic music for your occasion. These musicians are faithful to schedules, always prepared, and most importantly able to help you choose the most fitting music for your event based on circumstances such as location and theme. Be ready to trust their judgment.

Securing Your Wedding Music: A deposit of one-third or one-half of the total cost should be paid in advance. Many times, the balance will be asked for two weeks in advance. Also keep in mind that patrons of the arts (in this event, you) are obliged to provide food and drink for your hired musicians. Musicians work exceptionally hard and need food, drink, and rest occasionally. 

Using a Wedding Coordinator may help take the guesswork out of planning your own wedding. Hiring one is highly recommended.







 

 Your day is one that both yourself and your guests will remember always. Following these tips will assure you peace of mind on your special day, and your guests will revel in your happiness!