The OurWeddingDay Blog

Deciding on a florist is one of the last things that you do in the wedding planning process, after you have chosen your venue, your caterer, your overall theme, your bridesmaids’ dresses, and of course, your color palette. Spring wedding flowers present you with a lot of opportunities to be creative and work with a wide range of color palettes. Here are a few steps to take to ensure that you love your spring wedding bouquet:

Before you decide on your florist, it is important to see a portfolio of his or her work. Also, you absolutely need to have personal recommendations from clients whose weddings they have done. In a recent Colorado wedding during spring, the bride hired a group of florists who were excellent designers, had amazing ability to create gorgeous arrangements, and who had a lot of artistic flair. However, these florists did not have experience with large-scale events (having done a few weddings, but not any with over 50 people); in the end, they did not calculate enough time to finish everything they had promised to deliver. The two main arrangements for the ceremony arrived after it was over, and the bridal party did not have their corsages and bouquets for the photographs (which were taken before the ceremony). Another bride who recently got married in California had a similar situation: Guests were arriving and there were absolutely no centerpieces on any of the tables. These things should be finished at least an hour before guests arrive, if not sooner. Make sure that whoever you hire as your florist understands the timing and technicality of working with a living organism, and has a few backup plans if anything goes wrong.

Consider spring wedding flowers by season, including tulips, daffodils, calla lilies, magnolias, easter lilies, gardenias, hydrangeas, gerbera daisies, and apple or cherry blossoms. You will save a lot of money if you are open to using spring wedding flowers that are readily available.

Consider your color palette. If you are getting married in a garden setting, for example, green and white, or yellow and green, are always lovely color combinations. You can always choose bright, more vibrant colors (but paired with something sleek) such as hot pink with black or lime green with black, with accents of white. For an earthier feel, consider using chocolate brown with blue, pink, or lavender.

Your containers can also be very creative and unusual. Consider using objects like pots, urns, watering cans, teapots, weaved baskets, or wicker baskets painted in colors from your palette.

Add greenery wherever you can. One benefits of a spring wedding, especially if it is outdoors, is that you already have a wealth of greenery that naturally adds to your setting. However, if you are getting married indoors, drape ivy or arbors over areas like mantels or doorways.

If you want add a bit of whimsy and fun, try adding some different patterns, such as polka dots, gingham, lace, or even stripes. Depending on the formality of your venue, patterns like this may not work, but if you are getting married outdoors, these types of accents can be adorable.

Read more:

• Choosing the Right Florist
• Economical Spring Wedding Flowers
• 3 Unique Spring Wedding Flower Ideas

When you think of wedding cake designs, you probably think of white or ivory frosting on the outside. This is the most classic and elegant approach. However, this means that you are limited to frostings that are white, such as butter cream, vanilla, or cream cheese frosting (which can give a bit of a yellow hue). However, if you are a chocolate lover, here are two ideas for whimsical and modern wedding cakes that demand chocolate frosting on the outside:

Chocolate Leaves & Petals: The chocolate leaves and petals wedding cake is covered in dark chocolate curls that resemble petals and leaves, with a moist hazelnut mocha cake beneath. This cake is especially great for autumn weddings, or for spring weddings, cover it with lavender, for a chocolate brown and lavender color combination.

Coffee Wedding Cake: For those who love coffee and chocolate, this cake is done in three layers (each with a different shade of mocha, progressively getting lighter from bottom to top). Underneath is a delicious coffee cake with dark chocolate frosting inside.

Remember, if your caterer or bakery does not offer these designs, it is always possible to bring them a photo of a particular cake. They may not offer to do it, but if they do (and it’s a hit), it could become one of their signature wedding cake designs.

Read more:

• Vegan & Gluten-Free Wedding Cakes
• Wedding Cake Prices: How Much is Too Much?
• Wedding Cake Cutting Songs

Once you’ve chosen your Gothic wedding theme, you’ll find many ways to sprinkle it throughout your big day—your wedding dress, wedding color scheme, décor, and last, but not least, your wedding cake. Deciding between one or more wedding cake designs is easy when you have a specific theme guiding you.

A dress shaped wedding cake is a trend that’s growing, and could work perfectly with your Gothic theme. Gothic gowns, specifically wedding gowns, are typically large ball gowns with a number of embellishments. Imagine your wedding cake as a replica of a Gothic gown, adorned with lace frosting, multi-tiers, and a chocolate corset.

Another cake shape that adheres to the Gothic style is a castle cake. Do some research (or pass this task on to your cake designer) on Gothic architecture and have your wedding cake replicate that style. Make sure your castle cake is adorned with stained glass windows to give it a nice burst of color.

Express your Gothic wedding style by the color palette you choose for your wedding cake. Black, white, and red are popular Gothic colors that would look fantastic on your wedding cake. Another option is to have cupcake wedding cakes instead of a traditional cake, and alternate the three Gothic colors with cupcakes. For example, if you have 100 wedding guests, then one third of the cupcakes could be black, one third red, and the rest white.

Read more:

• Gothic Vintage Wedding Dresses
• Unique, Non-Floral Wedding Cake Designs
• Wedding Cake Designs: 3 Things to Consider

Because it would take months to meet all of the various vendors you will be in contact with at a 2011 wedding expo, there is no doubt that they provide a huge advantage when it comes to the learning curve inherent in planning a wedding. Here are a few helpful hints when considering a bridal expo:

Choose a wedding show that is in the proximity of your geographical location. If you are getting married in the wine country of Northern California, an Orange County bridal fair is mainly going to showcase vendors within the Los Angeles and OC area.

There are typically two types of bridal fairs—mega fairs and boutique fairs. A mega fair is a huge event, typically held at a hotel or convention center. A boutique wedding expo is usually sponsored by a particular vendor or wedding location. The type of fair depends on the bride—if you do not like big crowds or feel overwhelmed when there are too many choices, consider going to a boutique bridal fair. You will still get a feel for different vendors. You just won’t feel quite as overwhelmed.

Bring a notebook and be inquisitive. Ask as many questions as come to mind, and write them down in a notebook as you think of them. Asking questions is the best way to use the wedding planning services you encounter at a bridal fair.

Read more:

• The Scoop on 2011 Wedding Expos
• Bridal Expos 101
• Bridal Expo Pitfalls: What to Avoid!

Before choosing an online wedding florist, it is important to figure out exactly what flowers you will need. You have to take into consideration your bridesmaids’ bouquets, your groomsmen's boutonnieres, and reception and ceremony flowers. Here is a flower checklist for the bridal party alone:

1. You will need boutonnieres for your best man, your groomsmen, the groom, the ring bearer, ushers (this is optional, though your groomsmen may also serve as ushers), the father of the bride, the father of the groom, and the grandfathers of the bride and groom.
2. You will need bouquets for the bride (and potentially an extra one for the bridal toss), the maid of honor, the bridesmaids, and the flower girl.
3. Other potential flowers include a headpiece for the bride (this is extremely popular for spring) and a halo for the flower girl.
4. You will need corsages for the mother of the bride, the mother of the groom, and the grandmothers of the bride and groom.

Choosing an online wedding florist will allow you to order online wedding flowers, but you must make absolutely sure that this vendor is reputable. The advantage of going to local wedding florists is that you can have him or her make you up a sample bouquet to get a visual to make sure you have chosen the right color and texture combinations. However, if flowers are not your first priority, an online florist may be the best way to go.

Read more:

• Hiring Your Florist
• DIY Wedding Bouquet Questions Answered
• Wedding Flowers Checklist

Now is the time to go cake tasting, and you haven’t had much time to think about wedding cake designs. Here are a few things to help prepare you for your first cake tasting visit:

Do you like the look of a square cake or a round cake? Wedding cake designs tend to depend on the overall style of your wedding, as square cakes go well with a more modern style (with the sharper edges), and round cakes tend to be softer, lending themselves well to classic, traditional, or vintage-style weddings. If your wedding is a bit whimsical, you can ask your baker or caterer if it is possible to alternate a round cake and a square cake.

Ask about cake accessories, such as wedding cake stands and wedding cake toppers. Typically, your cake vendor will supply a basic cake stand, but if you want something fancier or more distinct, you should go to a party rental store. An organized caterer can recommend a good rental place.

The more flavors you want, the more expensive it will be. A two-flavor cake is pretty typical, and many wedding experts recommend one basic, traditional flavor (such as vanilla cake with strawberry or buttercream filling), and one less common flavor, such as carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, or lemon-ginger spice cake. You may even want to consider coordinating your cake colors with your wedding colors; for example, if one of your colors is red, serve red velvet cake.

Read more:

• Unique Non-Floral Wedding Cake Designs
• 5 Advantages of Wedding Cupcakes
• Wedding Cake Cutting Songs

In order to find the right makeup artist that fits your unique wedding day needs, you have to have all of the proper questions in tow. Once you know what to ask you’ll be able to narrow down your search with ample time to plan your wedding day beauty.

The first, and probably the most important question is of course all about cost. The best way to inquire about bridal makeup prices is by simply asking how much they charge. Their answer could be simple or more involved depending on how many girls will require professional makeup on the day of your wedding.

Also make sure to ask them if they can come to you, or if you need to go to them. It may be more convenient for you to go to them depending on your wedding day schedule and location. Most bridal makeup artists offer on site makeup, but make sure you don’t assume anything.

If you need a hairstylist, ask if they offer that service as well. You may get lucky and land the best bridal makeup artist and hairstylist in one fell swoop. The fewer stops you’ll need to make on the day of your wedding the better.

Before you make your final decision ask if they have an online portfolio. This will give you a thorough idea of what kind of experience they have and what your options will be.

Read more:

• 10 Wedding Day Beauty Tips
• Hiring Your Makeup Artist
• Makeup Trials with Your Wedding Makeup Artist

Though most people remember the bridesmaids’ dresses more clearly, your groomsmen attire plays an important part in your wedding aesthetics. If you are doing your best to stay on a budget, and if you want to minimize the cost for your groomsmen, here are a few things to think about:

Rent from a business that gives discounts for group rentals. This is probably the single best way to save money on a groomsmen tux or suit. If you have a large wedding party, and are also planning to rent the attire for the ring bearer and the father of the bride and groom, you are even more likely to get a better deal. Do your research beforehand by calling tuxedo and suit rental shops to see what they offer. Remember, you are the one bringing them the business; point it out if another place offers you a better discount, and give them a reason to try to make you a customer.

Note: You may be limited if some of your groomsmen live out of state, because you will want to rent from a business that is nationwide. If all of your groomsmen are local, you can be more flexible in choosing your rental venue.

If your groomsmen are open to this and are confident of their size, you can consider renting your groomsmen attire online; many sites offer substantial discounts.

Read more:

• Groomsmen Style Guide
• 4 Tips for Choosing Groomsmen Tuxedos
• Modern Tuxes for the Men in Your Wedding Party

2011 wedding expos are a one-stop shop for the bride that wants to get a large helping of all things wedding related, before making any decisions about her big day. Bridal expos allow you to see all of your wedding related options at once, without having to drive to every wedding vendor, hair salon, or florist in order to find the one that fits your needs.

If you’re not sold on the idea just yet, then read through the following bridal expo exhibits and see if you’re not hopping online to purchase a ticket to the next expo in your area!

Bridal expos typically consist of the following exhibits:

• Banquet facilities: hotels, resorts, country clubs, convention centers, winery, and golf clubs.
• Accessories: guest wedding favors, wedding party favors, as well as companies that provide that extra something special, for example a media wall (like they have on red carpets), a candy buffet etc.
• Beauty, Health & Makeup: Hair salons, skin care lines such as Mary Kay, and Nutrition companies.
• Bridal Gowns: Various bridal boutiques and shops will have their latest styles on display through catalogs, and sometimes live models.
• Wedding Consultants and Planners
• Entertainers & Disc Jockys: Entertainment Lighting Professionals, DJ companies.
• Event Designers
• Favors: Jarred candies, Candies Apples, etc.
• Florists
• Gift Registry
• Honeymoon & Travel
• Invitations & Stationary
• Jewelry
• Limousine Companies
• Musicians & Vocalists
• Rental Supplies
• Wedding Photographers
• Tuxedo shops

Read more:

• Should You Go to a Wedding Trade Show?
• Bridal Expos 101
• Top 10 2011 Wedding Dress Trends

One of the best things about spring weddings is that you have a wealth of spring wedding flowers to choose from. In the past five years, the price of wedding flowers has risen so much that many brides have chosen to cut costs by compromising on the flowers. This is a bad move because if the flowers are mediocre, then your wedding will have lost that integral final touch. However, because so many flowers are in season (which makes them infinitely cheaper), you can get a lot more bang for your buck.

When choosing spring wedding bouquets, consider a combination of these flowers: alliums, bells of Ireland, cherry blossoms, hydrangea, lilac, violet, wisteria, snapdragon, ranunculus, narcissus, lilies (stargazer lilies and Casablanca lilies), hyacinth, daffodil, anemone, boronia, magnolias, pansies, some types of tulips, peonies, sweetpeas, delphinium, or iris.

Another thing to take into consideration when planning for spring wedding decorations is whether or not you are having your reception outdoors. If you are having a garden theme at an estate with an expansive lawn, then consider trying to book the venue for a month when the roses are blooming. Ask the owner or the person in charge of renting the venue if you are not sure. You will spend less on spring wedding flowers if your natural backdrop is already blooming with flowers.

Read more:

• A Guide to Spring Wedding Flowers
• Spring Wedding Color Schemes
• Planning a Spring Wedding