A checklist to help you keep it together while you’re planning life’s big get-together.
6+ Months
- Nail a style (i.e., big and casual? Small and fancy? Totally secret with a postelopement party?)
- Set your spending limits
- Make a guest list
- Collect addresses
- Pick the date and place
- Assemble your wedding party
- Send save-the-dates
- Hunt down gown, shoes, and accessories
- Plan the honeymoon
- Start a gift registry
4+ Months
- Bring in the pros: officiant, caterer, florist, photographer/videographer, entertainment, hairstylist/makeup artist
- Block out rooms for out-of-towners
- Order invites, thank-you notes, and other custom paper pieces
- Hire calligrapher
- Buy wedding bands
- Sort out the groom’s getup
- Decide on attendants’ attire
- Book wedding-night accommodations
2+ Months
- Write vows, toasts, and anything else you want scripted
- Start dance lessons
- Select gifts for wedding party, the perfect lingerie
- Start welcome gift bags for out-of-towners
- Order guest favors
1+ Months
- Prep documents if you’re changing your name
- Run through hair and makeup looks
- Have final dress fitting
- Take final guest count
- Finalize catering plan
- Find out where everyone’s staying
- Start wearing your wedding shoes around the house
1 Week to Go
- Confirm seating plan, sort out place cards
- Delegate absolutely everything you can (i.e., passing out boutonnieres, mailing announcements, pet sitting)
- Get your hands on your dress
- Pack for your honeymoon
- Gather all travel docs in one place
1 Day to Go
- Start day with deluxe mani/pedi
- Confirm wedding day transportation
- Sort out payments and set aside vendor tips
- Do a play-by-play of the wedding day
- Have rehearsal dinner or welcome reception
- Say your thanks and hand out gifts (you may not have time tomorrow)
The Big Day
- Have fun!
BEAUTIFUL BACKYARD WEDDING IN PASADENA
Good morning dearest readers! We have a quite lovely treat for you to start off the week. So lovely in fact that we’re inspired to start every week off with a perfectly styled summer wedding shot by the very talented Marisa Holms .The details and flowers were simply fabulous thanks to the bride’s wonderful taste and Century City Flower Market.
Take a look at their fabulous photos!
To Air condition or Not???
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s not. Many venues charge $1500 and up for air conditioning as an add-on. Consider the following when making your decision:
Does the venue allow you to make a “last minute” decision about the AC?
How many elderly guests will be in attendance?
Is your date near one of the cut-off months (July/August)?
September Weddings can hit ‘Indian Summer’ heat waves
Where would the budgeted amount be applied if not to Air?
You would be surprised at the way different venues hold onto daytime heat. Visit your venue of choice in the evening and experience it yourself. Take along a friend who won’t be swayed by your monetary concerns, and ask for their honest opinion.
Also check the weather for your wedding at
http://www.weather.com/index.html
I recently had a late June bride who got away without air conditioning because her Reception Venue had a large out-door area where everyone could escape the heat.
Annette
weddings@centurycityflowermarket.com
Summer Wedding Colors
Fresh summer wedding colors for festive bouquets and decorations.
It’s easier than you think to brainstorm your summer wedding color scheme. Summer is one of the most colorful seasons of the year. With flowers in full bloom and dreamy sunsets, the colors of summer are perfect for a wedding. But which ones?
Take a tip from mother nature and think bright or deep hues like the ones that bloom in summer. When you decide on your main color, pick an accent hue as well. These are the colors that you can use for bridesmaid’s dresses, invitations, ribbons, table clothes and even your floral arrangements. Need Summer Wedding color scheme suggestions? Try this list to get the ideas flowing:
Yellows & Golds: Think summer, and many people think of the sun. All tones of yellow and gold work well for summer weddings. Since they are also the color of joy and friendship, their meaning makes the choice even more special. For a cheerful, fresh look, pair the yellow hue with orange and white.
Plums & Purples: The color of royalty, purple is also a reminder of brilliantly arrayed summer gardens and fields. It can be elegant and timeless when paired with silver, cheerful and fun when paired with greens. Or, go with a lighter shade and pair lavender with gold for a bright, cheery scheme.
Magenta to this combination to really brighten up the occasion. If you choose this color combination and you have several bridesmaids, you might decide to have them wear different colored dresses in your color scheme. The same idea might be carried through in programs or dinner menus: one might be printed on green paper with a magenta ribbon, the next on grey paper with a green ribon, and so on.
Shades of Blue: The color of the ocean is also the shade of peace and relaxation. It adds a dreamy, tranquil element to your wedding, as well as a touch of glamour. Try something fun and use Navy Blue which has a nautical, clean feel. You won’t want to introduce too many other colors if using navy, though. Keep it to accents of white and green, as in foliage-green. These hues work well with classic, elegant weddings.
Teal: Not quite blue, not quite green, this is a popular summer wedding choice. Pair it with silver and white for a cool, refreshing color scheme. Pair it with melon pink for a fun tropical feel. Tip: Avoid Teal bridesmaids dresses, it’s a shade that rarely compliments skin of any tone.
Sweet, romantic color- pink. Use with sage and khaki and romance will bloom everywhere. Add to this color pattern other elements of romance: heart-shaped chocolates, strands of small white lights, harp and flute music, programs covered with a sheer top overlay, and lots of candles.
Once you’ve decided on your Summer Wedding colors, let them flow into everything for your wedding day. Weave them into your flowers, the decoration on your cake, even your wedding favors. You will be surprised how many wedding accessories and rentals are available in multiple colors. Here’s a tip: If you choose a fairly common accent color like ivory, white, pink or silver, you’ll be more likely to find matching accessories and rental pieces.
Stick to your color scheme, and when the sun sets on your special day, you can sit back, relax and enjoy the warm vibes that have been created with your summer wedding color palette.
Summer Wedding Flowers
You can’t go wrong with an abundance of flowers at a summer wedding. There are so many varieties in season, you may have a tough time narrowing your choices down! Fill the scene with bright and cheerful flowers such as roses, sunflowers, red and yellow calla lilies, dahlias, gerber daisies, cosmos, mums, and zinnias. Bright purple dendrobium orchids are much less expensive during the summer months, so you can feel like a queen without the budget of one.
An alternative idea is an airy summer look with mostly white and light colored flowers such as roses, stephanotis, white phlox, elegant white calla lilies, huge and fragrant casa blanca lilies, hydrangea, snowball mums, and daisies (also known as Shasta daisies).
for more flower ideas and themes visit our site:
http://weddingsbycenturycityflowermarket.com
Wedding Planning
He proposed! You’re ecstatic and can’t wait to start planning for the big day. But once you start looking and searching you realize the amount of information that’s out there, only puzzles you even more. What flowers to choose? What are my colors ? Should I have a theme?
Luckily we have over 20 years of experience, and will be glad to answer all the questions and suggest ideas that will work best for your wedding, you can call and schedule a free consultation 310-277-6737
Don’t forget to check our wedding website http://weddingsbycenturycityflowermarket.com/ you’ll find ideas for you wedding flowers, colors and themes. Check it out!
Etsy Wedding Invitations
Etsy is the prime place to shop for those who have an appreciation for all things handmade. Besides being an awesome platform for DIY sellers and buyers, some Etsy shops sell vintage items and craft supplies as well. Wedding Invitations is one of the numerous categories on Etsy, below are great designs from Etsy sellers.
A beautiful and unique pocket enclosure style invitation that will announce your special day with elegance is available f0r $6.75 from baumbirdy’s Shop
Great for beach weddings this invitation will surely make lasting impression on your guests . Price $6
This Tulip stem design from SandyPhotoArt’s Shop was inspired by Mehendi or Henna Tattoo Art which is a popular Eastern wedding tradition. Selective coloring of the design gives it a modern look. Price $30
Going for the vintage wedding? Stand out from the crowd with real hand lettered vintage inspired Save the Dates from DesignsByRobynLove’s Shop ! Price $3.25
Very clean and elegant invitation by amazing company Pink Lily Press Price$5.00
How To Choose Your Winter Wedding Bouquet
Remember, to choose a winter wedding bouquet, your bouquet should have winter accents. Winter accents are like pine cones, holly leaves, baby’s breath, berries and others.
Winter flowers are like freesias, lilies, poinsettias, hydrangeas or even roses. Combine winter flowers with winteraccents, you get a lovely bridal bouquet.
Colours play a role, too. Winter colours are like red, white, gold, silver and green. Sometimes blue isalso considered a winter colour. Match these colours with the colour of your wedding gown and your wedding would be perfect.
If you will be wearing a white gown, a wedding bouquet with a combination of red and white is simply lovely.
If you wear a cream or ivory wedding gown, a white with some gold wedding bouquet is suitable. The gold will add some glitter to your wedding gown, making you glow. Something every bridewants.
The shape of your wedding bouquet is actually depending on the style that you want to present. If you want the formal look, you go for a cascade bouquet.
If you want a casual look, you should go for the hand-tied bouquet. The hand-tied bouquet is gaining popularity nowadays because of its informal look.
If you love the casual style, why not make your own hand-tied wedding bouquet? Here are ideas for your bouquet :
Ideas For Your Winter Wedding Bouquet
See if you like any of the ideas below…
- Try something simple but elegant. Mix white calla lilies with red roses.
- For an all white bouquet, mix white tulips, narcissi, lilacs, seeded eucalyptus and some hydrangeas together.
- For a deep red bouquet, mix red amaryllis, red roses and china berries.
- For a blue bouquet, mix delphiniums, blue hydrangeas, muscari and euphorbias together and hand-tie with a blue satin ribbon.
If you like any of the above ideas, try to make your own winter wedding bouquet. It will be one of your sweetest memories.
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Century City Flower Market in Brides&Bloom
Today we’ve been busy creating various corsages and boutonnieres for the fall weddings, they are going to feature in the issue of Brides & Bloom magazine.
Here is a sneak-peek of some fabulous designs you’re going to see on the pages. Enjoy!
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Wedding Trends: Bridal Headbands
It’s unique, beautiful, and reminiscent of the 1940s (flapper style), 50s (preppie style), and 60s (hippie style) depending on how you wear them |
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Inspired by the richness of silks, feathers, stones, pythons and leathers, materials are the starting point for Jennifer Behr. The collection is made by hand in her studio in Brooklyn where she works these materials into delicate headpieces. The leather and python pieces are produced with a network of small workshops in Brooklyn and Manhattan. This results in hair accessories carrying the soul of handwork, while remaining thoroughly modern in appearance. |
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All of the pieces in the collection are either one of a kind or limited edition.
They are handmade using vintage materials and embellishments created by two stylists from Los Angeles Jen and Jamie you can find more here: |
Wedding Ring Trends
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The elegant pave setting — with tiny, faceted, fully cut stones that surround the entire wedding band — is the perfect way to get added sparkle without looking too outlandish. |
The subtle and delicate look of vintage-inspired rings is in. The defining details: minimal scroll-like engraving, microset (tiny, half-point) diamonds, delicate milgrain work (raised beaded edges), and filigree. |
Two, three, or more bands “stacked” together make a terrific statement. The look is modern and flexible (wear it with your engagement ring or without) and the best part is that you can start with one and he’ll have anniversary gift possibilities for the next few years. |
Jennifer & David’s wedding at Graystone Mansion Beverly Hills
Ingredients:
Planned by Song Tann (Century City Flower Market wedding planner)
Unique bouquet by our creative director Gerry Toh, AIFD: Roses, Lisianthus, Calla Lilies, and Hydrangeas
Photo:Duke Photography Inc.
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2009 Decor Trends
2009 Wedding Theme: Wilderness Adventure
More couples are looking for very unique ideas for that memorable wedding, and some of the new themes for summer wedding include botanical garden setting, rainforests and wilderness-inspired décor. Capture the moment by recreating a cabin in the woods, decorating with a tropical rainforest theme or bringing the outdoors in’ with centerpieces and decorations plucked from nature.
2009 Wedding Theme: Stripes Galore
From the wedding cake to the invitations, stripes are the design of the year, replacing the once-popular polka dots and brocade-style prints of seasons past. Black and white stripes provide a structured and refined look for the event, while multicolored stripes can coordinate easily with any major theme color palette.
2009 Wedding Theme: Romance
2008 wedding themes called for a taste of the tropics with weddings centered around exotic locales such as Cancun and Hawaii. One of the year’s leading trends will be a taste of the Caribbean, and one that’s not only reserved for the destination wedding. Look for Caribbean-inspired décor and bright color combinations including orange, yellow, red and turquoise for a truly tropical affair.
2009 Wedding Theme: Think Pink
From pink Chinese lanterns to oversized pink bows on the wedding dress, this is the year to experiment with a super-romantic palette and warm up to all shades of pink, fuchsia and magenta. Pink will continue to be a top trend for bridesmaid dresses as well, so it can complement an otherwise neutral-themed palette to add a splash of color.
Stick to a Favorite Hue
On any budget a monochromatic color scheme can pull a room together, adding up to a result that depends less on individual elements than on the overall look. Few will notice, for instance, if the pink flowers are carnations and chrysanthemums instead of more expensive roses or peonies, as long as the other similarly hued details work well together. Using a beautiful pale pink tablecloth, napkins and flowers can look more powerful and substantial than having several colors.
Be Flexible on FlowersSage Green
Everyone knows about it, let’s just admit it’s happening…To Everyone!
Sage Green is the new black (or should I say the new pink/burgundy). Every bridesmaid from now until next fall will, without question, be wearing Sage Green to the Event. And if it’s not sage, it’s moss, and if it’s not moss, it’s forrest, and if it ends up not being any shade of deep Green at all, then someone somewhere missed the boat.
And this is a boat you do not want to miss!
So far I have signed 16 brides who have brought with them the most gorgeous pictures of bridesmaids dresses that I have seen thus far in my 20+ years of weddings. The gowns are perfect, understated, and a complex yet splendid addition to their floral color schemes. The best part of this subtle green addition, it complements almost every venue indoor or out, and when you pose for that very important ‘bridal party’ shot, it’s all black tux’s, dark green dresses and one incredibly beautiful Bride all in white. The effect is amazing.
So here’s to Sage Green, may you bless as many bridesmaids as possible this Spring and Summer.
Annette
Did you know that 78% of all wedding day vendors will show up late?
This is one of the easiest “sore” points to avoid. Assign one of your bridesmaids a simple task list with vendor names, contacts and phone numbers, and have her call 2 days before, the day before and the day of, to remind each vendor of their expected time of arrival. Then put it out of your head! You will have other things to focus on as your day approaches. And if your bridesmaid feels like she is being a pest, reassure her, that the vendor will actually probably appreciate the reminders, as they are most likely juggling several events of their own.
Annette