Real Wedding: Kelli + Jason 10.8.11

(Imagine this being said by the guy who does all the movie trailer voice-overs)

On a beautiful autumn afternoon... 

In and around the Independence Seaport Museum...

At the Philadelphia waterfront known as Penn's Landing...

2 families blended as Kelli and Jason said "I Do". 

My first meeting with Kelli and Jason actually took place on a park bench at Rittenhouse Square. I later found out that Kelli purposely had us sit where she and Jason met for the first time. They are an adorable couple. Although Kelli is a doctor, she doesn't carry herself with a sense of superiority. She is very earthy and bohemian. Jason is also a casual, laid back guy. The most important aspects of this wedding were food and fun.  

I was hired to help with the design and day of wedding coordination. Kelli and Jason found the venue and most of the professionals on her own. Based on Kelli's style and personality, I recommended Necoh at Royal Design Flowers & Events. It turned out that Kelli and Necoh share an affinity for Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters, like Chococat. Necoh surprised Kelli on her wedding day with a bonus bouquet. 

The ceremony was set to take place on the museum's outdoor rotunda which overlooks the river. To take advantage of the circular structure, we created an intimate seating area with the wedding party and minister in the center. 

Kelli wanted to use a lot of fall colors for her wedding: chocolate, green apple, wine, burnt orange, and ivory. The bridesmaids wore chocolate brown dresses. We dressed the outdoor cocktail tables and food stations in apple green. The reception tables were set with chocolate brown table linens and apple green napkins. We used ivory chairs to keep the space from appearing too dark. Necoh created centerpieces which incorporated flowers in orange and wine, plus an essential feature in the wedding decor, green apples. (The apples represented Jason. His nieces and nephews call him "Uncle Apple".) She also carried this concept over to the cake. 

The DJ made sure there was fun. Brulee Catering (the exclusive caterer for Independence Seaport Museum)  made sure there were plenty of tasty morsels for Kelli and Jason's family and friends. I even heard one of the guests say "There's still more food coming?" 

During one of our meetings with the catering sales staff, Kelli and Jason mentioned that they wanted to get funnel cake before they left Penn's Landing. Unfortunately, they didn't find any. On the wedding day, we made sure they found the truck. 

The mother/daughter photography team of Joyce & Jess at Casual Candids Photography did an amazing job capturing the details and fun of this wedding. 

From jumping the broom...

... to boys being boys

(I love that picture.)

We wish Kelli and Jason a long and FABULOUS marriage. 

To see more photos from this wedding, visit the gallery on our website. 

Muchos Smooches!

Golden Weddings

Why wait until your 50th wedding anniversary to celebrate in golden style?

Gold looks regal when accenting an all-white palette. In the photos below, golden candelabras, chairs, chargers, and glassware add just enough color and sparkle to the room.

Gold picture frames can be used to display your table numbers or names to match your color scheme. 

Remember that your favor display is a part of the decor too. These favors are "tied" in to the color scheme with beautiful gold bows.

Photos from The Knot & Weddingbee

Purple & Gold

This is a regal color combination. You will probably find this used in a formal wedding reception in a grand ballroom or in an Indian wedding with lots of rich fabrics. 

Photo Source

Photo Source

Photo Source

Orange and Red

Photos from The Knot, C Designs & Illustrations,
Special Event Decorators, Budget Dream Weddings, Flicker

Photo from The Knot

I adore the rich elegance of this ceremony photo. 

Orange and Purple

Photo from The Knot

You can do this color combination subtly or... 

Photo from My Wedding Favors

... over-the-top dramatic!

Orange and Blue

This color combination (above) will give a cool beachy feeling to your event.

The darker blue gives this combo more of an autumnal vibe.

All photos from The Knot

Orange

When I think of October, I think ORANGE

Check out these orange combinations from TheKnot.com

We'll explore a few of these color palettes in more detail throughout the month. Stay tuned...

Zen Principles for Your Special Event

Round-shaped vases suggest never-ending love.

(Photo Source)

Mirrors boost positive energies.

(Photo Source)

An upward spray of flowers encourages guests to "reach for the stars" and live life to its fullest.

(Photo Source)

Blue evokes serenity.

If you add loosely arranged blooms to glass vases in shades of blue or violet,

then you will ensure an easy-going celebration.

(Photo Source)

Hot Color: Turquoise

Turquoise is THE color for 2010.

Use it for your wedding. Use it for your wardrobe. Use it for your makeup.

Hot colors to pair with turquoise:

Red

Photo from Budget Savvy Bride

Orange

Photo from BudgetFab

Yellow

Photo from Helen Carter Weddings

Hot Color Combo: Eggplant & Marigold

Photos from Jim Hjelm Occassions, Dessy, The Knot, Zappos, Wedding Paper Divas

Hot Color: Coral

What would you pair with this beautiful coral tablecover to fab it up a bit?



Lime green: This is a very summery color combination that would look splendid in an outdoor setting.



Soft gray: These colors look very modern and sophisticated.

Chocolate (or cocoa) brown: This is an elegant option for a woodsy setting.

Orange: This is a spicy combination that will work wonders in an Indian, Middle Eastern, or Spanish restaurant.

Inspired by an article in Brides magazine. Photos from www.mmspecialevents.com

How to Choose your Wedding Colors

Photo: Pantone

If you are overwhelmed by all of the fabulous color options available, then give yourself a moment to consider these tips:

1. What is your favorite color?

Keep the Crayola 64 selections in mind.

2. What do your ceremony and reception venues look like?

Consider the dominant colors in the venue before choosing your color scheme. If the carpet is cranberry red and the walls are gold, then purple and lime green might not work very well.

3. Do you have a specific flower in mind?

If so, play off of the natural colors this flower comes in.

4. What is the season?

Spring: Pastels

Summer: Brights

Fall: Warm colors, jewel tones

Winter: Icy blues and metallics

5. Consider to mood you are going for.

Gold + Chocolate = Warm & Intimate

Lt. Pink + Black or Turquoise + Gray = Modern or Trendy

Green and/or Purple = make the space appear Large & Airy

6. Balance - One of your 2 shades should dominate the decor. The other should be used as an accent.

7. Tone - You don't need to use the brightest shade of both colors.

For more color cues, check out these websites:

- brides.com

- colormatters.com

- dessy.com/pantone

- colorstrology.com

(inspired by Bridesmag.com Color School)

2010 Trend #9: Black Accents

According to The Knot, black accents are back to give your reception a chic, timeless, cocktail-party-fun vibe. Pair it with a bright color to keep the room from looking too dark.

Photos from: Perfect Wedding Guide, Fearon May, The Knot, Juliska

2010 Trend #7: The Color Purple

No... not the movie.

Purple is a rich and regal color. You can mix multiple shades of purple in your wedding design. Or select one shade of purple and accent it with a complimentary hue like apple green, banana yellow, or a fiery orange.

Photo Sources: (1) TV Guide, Collage (clockwise from left) (2) Wish Special Events (3) Events by Intrigue (4) Starwood Hotels (5) Eli Ross (6) Photocard Cafe (7) Special Flower Delivery

Damask

Photo from Etsy

In case you can't tell, I happen to like damask. It is a classy trend that adds more dimension to event decor than solid colors.

Here are several ways to incorporate the damask pattern:

Square Labels 78 cents each @ Wedding Things

Favor Boxes $19.49 for 25 @ Bliss Weddings Market

Damask Runner (photo from PriceScope.com)