Friday, May 24, 2013

Retro Weddings - Remember the 50's, 60's, & 70's?

Retro decor encompasses anything from 20 to 50 years ago. Remember Flower Power, Peace Signs, and Love Beads from the 60's?  Elvis, Rock n Roll, and I Love Lucy from the 50's? There are so many fun things to do with a retro themed wedding. What about using old metal lunchboxes to hold flowers for the centerpieces? Include "retro" candy in your candy bar: wax sodas; candy buttons; and Mary Janes.  Bright, bright colors work perfectly for a 60's style wedding: lime green, orange orange, hot pink, bright purple, and lemon yellow. I've used elements on my retro table at Bridal Blossoms such as sisal, colored bubbles, ting ting, groupings of bottles, gerber daisies, and party balls to add more flash to the dazzling colored flowers.  Brightly patterned linens complete the look. Sitting on the tables is a black dial telephone from the 60's.  How cute would it be to use various area codes for your table numbers?  A "phonebook" could display your guest table assignments. I do have a few telephones to rent out to my Whimsical Welcomes brides who would like to use them for their wedding.  Just contact me for a consultation and we'll design a themed wedding together.
 

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Rustic Weddings

I have more and more brides coming to me to design a rustic wedding for their celebration in a barn, outside venue, or historic building.  I've done several weddings in mason jars and wanted to come up with some variations on the theme.  So I began to collect buckets and baskets and tins and rusty containers.  When I began to look, I found containers with sunflowers and chickens on them; buckets with unusual finishes, produce baskets, berry baskets, wheelbarrows, and glass shaped like old milk tins.  Even clay pots work for a rustic theme. I've cut down tree branches and turned them into flower containers and used tall branches in a variety of ways.   I've collected small railroad lanterns and horseshoes and ceramic chickens.  I've wrapped bottles in burlap and twine and grouped beer bottles with interesting labels. There are so many looks to choose from.  But what I found are containers that replicate items found on a farm, at a produce stand, or have some type of farm animal on it, are the ones that reflect a country feel.  Nothing should look brand new - hence the use of rusty containers, old tins, and textured finishes.  What you choose to put into your vessels will also emphasize a rustic theme.   I filled some of the containers for my rustic Bridal Blossoms table with fruits, vegetables, and even blooming plants.  Other were filled with more rustic looking flowers including sunflowers, daisies, and mums. I love the combination of roses and sunflowers - bright and bold.  You want to be able to "light up"  a barn with color.  Choosing appropriate linens and other textured elements for the table will  set the tone for your bucolic wedding.

The items used in these photos are available for sale or for rent for your rustic wedding.  Please contact Leslie at WhimsicalWelcomes@yahoo.com with questions.

A big "Thank You" to Ron DLutz for sharing his rustic themed bridal portrait. Ron has wonderful ideas as to how to portray a rustic feel for your wedding photos. Dlutzphoto.com 

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Romantic Style Weddings

When a bride wants a "romantic" look for her wedding, I suggest lots of candles and large, lush flowers. Hydrangea, roses, lisinthus, and peonies come to mind. Not the least expensive flowers - but boy are they gorgeous! Frangrant flowers such as stock, freesia, and gardenias add an "air" of romance as well. For my Romantic table at Bridal Blossoms we added some bling, crystals, silver, and lots of clear glass. All of these items are available for rent or purchase from Whimsical Welcomes Floral Design to my brides.  Many are one of a kind that I buy especially for my ladies. The matching vases and candleholders also come in a beautiful pink and are so reasonably priced. Email me at whimsicalwelcomes@yahoo to discuss your wedding flowers.



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Sunday, May 5, 2013

Vintage style weddings

Rule of thumb is that something vintage is anything designed or made more than fifty (50) years ago but less than one hundred years ago. Any object created over 100 years ago is considered an antique. A vintage feel to a wedding has become more and more popular lately. There are a lot of brides who work with white milk glass pieces to achieve that look. I wanted to branch out from that and design flower arrangements using some alternatives. I've scoured antique shops, thrift shops, consignment shops, and flea markets for some different ideas. What I've found are soft colored ceramics, Depression glass (which comes in a variety of colors including green, pink, and blue) and pressed glass (patterns pressed into glass in molds). A “Shabby Chic” look would also have a vintage feel. In home decorating you think of distressed furniture and French linens. But at a wedding I think more about a look with a feminine touch or with tea stained accents, mismatched patterned linen patterns, and lots of white and soft colors like beige, sky blue, and mauve in ceramics. Worn garden items and lots of roses are also favored Shabby Chic elements. Art Deco was a movement that began in Paris in 1925 and spread to America by the 1930's and was most popular in the 1950’s. It is a symmetrical look more than asymmetrical. This style is often characterized by rich colors, bold geometric shapes, and lavish ornamentation. A calla lily is a perfect example of an "Art Deco" flower. Typical vintage flowers would include: Queen Anne’s lace, hydrangea, daisies, freesia, dahlias, and African violets. I've used wide open Campanella roses and Queen Anne's lace in a bouquet example on my table. My typewriter is a perfect vehicle to use to "write" a welcome letter to your guests or to display a menu.   I have filled a tall glass vase with rounds of thread.  Vintage linens are peeking out of a vintage style flower bos.  And I've used one of my many wooden soda boxes to hold flwoers in old Coke boxes.  All of the items and linens in the photographs are available to rent to my Whimsical Welcomes' brides.  If you have any questions - please send me an email at WhimsicalWelcomes@yahoo.com.