Plan a Spring Wedding - 28 Ways to Tie in the Season

By  Cori Russell

The tulips are blooming, the temperatures are rising - what a perfect time for a wedding! Get started planning your spring themed wedding now with these inspiring ideas for spring weddings...

Spring Theme Weddings - Things to Consider

Daylight saving time - In 2008, daylight saving time begins on Sunday March 9th, after which the sun will set an hour later. Keep this date in mind if you envision a sunset outdoor ceremony.

Prom factor - May and June are prime prom months, so be sure to book your transportation and locations early.

Variable weather - spring weather can be unpredictable. An unseasonably warm and sunny Friday can give way to a miserably cold and rainy Saturday. Be prepared for both extremes.

All in the Details - Spring Wedding Ideas

Invitations & Stationery

* Add a spring motif - such as a tulip or butterfly - to your stationery suite

* Consider color - use paper or inks in a spring color palette - pastels, greens, etc.

* Get whimsical - find a fun, flirty font to evoke a festive spring feeling

* An added touch - insert a sprinkling of silk flowers into each envelope

Location

* Garden settings abound - take advantage of budding leaves and flowers with botanical gardens, mansions with lush grounds, or another venue with a pristine garden or courtyard.

* Take it indoors - if an outdoor setting isn't possible - find an indoor venue with panoramic picture windows affording lots of sunlight and a bright airy ambiance.

Décor Elements

* Color palette - 1) green and white - an elegant accompaniment to a garden setting. 2) yellow and green -another fresh, natural color pairing. 3) preppy - combine hot pink with green or mango (think polka dots and gingham). 4) chocolate brown - this trendy hue works well for spring - pair with pale blue or pink.

* Go wild with patterns - create a playful effect - think gingham, polka dots, eyelet lace, swiss dots and stripes.

* Add some greens - grasses and greenery are a natural for outdoor garden settings. Drape over arbors and incorporate in arrangements

Flowers

* Seasonal blooms - classics include tulips, daffodils, lilies (especially calla lilies and easter lilies), magnolias, gardenias, hydrangeas, gerbera daisies, apple or cherry blossoms. View our complete list of spring wedding flowers

* Creative containers - put your arrangements in simple, homespun containers like wicker baskets, watering cans, teapots, or urns.

* Potted plants - potted arrangements create a natural, organic look. Best of all -you can plant them for a timeless reminder of your wedding

Menu

* In Season - serve a main dish featuring ham or lamb

* Fresh produce - round out the meal with a bounty of fresh fruits and young vegetables like baby carrots, baby asparagus and new potatoes

* Elegant sides - serve mini quiches or update traditional deviled eggs by adding salmon or crabmeat

* Bar favorites - a spring menu seems to call for champagne. Mix up a batch of mimosas for a morning wedding, or create a festive champagne cocktail.

Wedding Cake

* Coconut Confection - coconut frosting and fillings make a quintessential spring treat

* Crazy for carrot - carrot cake with cream cheese icing is another springtime fave.

* Light and fluffy - go with angel food cake and fresh strawberries or strawberry cream

* Whimsical adornments - decorate with bright, fanciful details like ribbon, swiss dots or swirl patterns.

Attire

* Loosen up - feel free to relax the dress code a bit, especially if the wedding will take place outside

* Lighten up - lighter fabrics like lace or cotton create a perfect springtime look

* Wedding gown - Add some color with a sash or detailed embroidery

* Bridesmaids dresses - Pastels are a springtime classic. Keep yours fresh by choosing a color and allowing each of your maids to select a different hue. Or go in another direction with a bolder turquoise, fuschia or mango.

* Avoid satin shoes - they don't hold up well under springtime showers

* The guys - They'll look seasonably appropriate in tan suits, colored shirts and ties. For a formal evening affair, a basic tux always works.

Favors

* Keep love blooming - with packs of flower seeds

* Plant it - give miniature potted plants or herbs

Getaway

* Horse-drawn carriage - this Cinderella-like getaway make a fitting finale to an ethereal springtime wedding.


♥  For more great wedding advice please follow us on Merry Brides Twitters  and Merry Brides Tumbles for daily fun wedding tips.

What You Never Knew About Traditional Irish Weddings

By Gregg Hall


The distinctive traditions like Claddagh Rings, superstitions, a special toast, as well as kilts and bagpipes make it really easy to distinguish an Irish wedding from the wedding celebrations of other countries. Let's take a close look at some of these unique components in the Irish wedding.

One of the most unique of all is the Claddagh ring, a traditional Irish ring made to resemble a pair of hands holding a heart with a crown. According to tradition, these rings must be passed down from mother to daughter and since they are intended to be passed down through many generations it is considered improper to purchase one of these rings on your own. There is also a tradition that states how the ring is supposed to be worn. If someone is engaged, the ring is to be worn with the tips of the crown facing outward towards the fingertips. Someone who is not romantically involved would wear the ring in the outward position, meaning that the tips of the crown are pointing to the wrist.

Some of the other unique aspects of traditional Irish weddings are the strange superstitions that surround them. Although a rainy or overcast day is really unwanted at any wedding, it is even less desirable at an Irish celebration because according to tradition the sun must shine down on the bride so that the couple will be blessed with good luck. The Irish are very superstitious people; another sign of good luck for a new couple is the sound of a cuckoo or the sight of three magpies. When it comes to wishing the couple well and congratulating them it is bad luck for a female to be the first one to offer congratulations to the bride. This is why a relative or close friend of the Groom will always be sure that he is first.

No celebration in Ireland would be the same without the sound of Bagpipes and the presence of kilts. By tradition it is customary for the pipes to be played by family and friends of the couple as they walk into the church and also to the reception. In addition, these people who have brought their own bagpipes may also continue to play the pipes for dancing. It is a great opportunity for these individuals to dress in traditional kilts creating a truly distinctive occasion.

Superstitions a play a large role in a traditional Irish wedding and many of the traditional superstitions relate to objects or occurrences that are thought to bring the couple good luck. These events are festive celebrations that involve family, friends, lots of food and great music.

---

Recommended Products

Claddagh Rings

Bagpipe music

Claddagh Jewelry from Ireland Wedding and Family Rings, Pendants.

Irish Gifts & Merchandise - The Premier web site for Irish Gifts, Jewelry and other items.

---

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about Ireland and Irish Gifts Online at http://www.uniqueirishgifts.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hall


Additional Wedding Planning Advice

http://merrybrides.livejournal.com
http://funweddings.blogspot.com
http://windsor.weddingwindow.com
http://weddingsbyashlee.com
http://funweddings.blog.com

Window to your Wedding

With destination weddings on the rise, it is becoming more and more important for couples to have a means for informing their guests of their upcoming wedding plans as well as provide recommendations for out-of-town guests.

Wedding websites allow your guests one-stop shopping when it comes time for them to arrange their travel plans as well as other details. You can be as specific as you wish and link your website directly to the hotel reservation pages that you would like to recommend to your guests. You will find that having a website is not only a time-saver but a budget-saver as well. The multiple mailings that can sometimes become necessary to communicate with your guests can easily eat up a good portion of any wedding budget. Allowing your guests to RSVP online will also cut down on your wedding expenses. No need for RSVP cards! However, you can always order just enough for those guests who may not be web savvy.

Destination weddings have definitely become a way for couples to express their style in a less traditional way. If you choose to have your wedding in a destination location, try to make it a fun experience for you and your fiancé as well as for your guests. Destination Wedding Tips 1. Location, Location, Location. When selecting a location, choose one that appeals to your tastes and wedding style. Keep in mind, however, that because it won't be as easy as going down the street to the local church to attend your wedding, you'll have to assume that your guest list may be smaller. You'll need to get a good sense about the number of attendees you wish to have before selecting your event facility so you can be confident that it will be appropriate for the crowd.

2. Less is More. Destination weddings can be expensive not only for those getting married, but also for those attending. Try to be mindful of that when selecting your wedding site so those who are closest to you can afford to attend. Consider having your wedding during the off-season so costs will be lower. Traditionally, accommodation expenses are covered for the bridesmaids by the bride's family and for the groomsmen by the groom's family. All other guests should be responsible for their own expenses. Most hotels will work with you to offer group discounts.

3. Assist your Guests. You may know the location that you will be flying off to for your dream wedding like the back of your hand, but most of your guests will not. Your wedding website can be a tool to help you educate your guests about the area, local attractions, accommodation ideas, the weather and directions. Making their job easier will only amount in a larger turnout at your wedding. Use your website to remind them of the things they may not consider such as a passport if required for your chosen location.

Recommended Wedding Website Link:

Wedding Window - Design your wedding site in minutes.


Additional Wedding Articles
http://merrybrides.blog.com
http://funweddings.blogspot.com
http://merrybrides.livejournal.com

© 2007 Wedding Window. All rights reserved.

Wedding Cake Toppers - Crown Your Wedding Cake In Style

By Elizabeth Reuth

When it comes to wedding cake decor, most couples choose to adorn their wedding cake with a cake topper of some kind. Wedding cake toppers come in many forms and can be as different as the couples who choose them. From elegant monograms to fun and humorous cake toppers, you’ll find something unique to crown your wedding cake in style and put a personal touch on your wedding cake.

Here are the main types of wedding cake toppers:

Floral Wedding Cake Toppers

As flowers are such a big part of weddings, it’s only natural that flowers would make their way atop wedding cakes too. Flowers as wedding cake toppers add natural beauty to wedding cakes and are perfect for any type of wedding that features flowers in other areas like the bride’s bouquet or table centerpieces. Floral cake toppers can be created by a small tight bunch of blooms on the top of the cake or a group of flowers cascading down the wedding cake.

You can use silk or real flowers as a wedding cake topper. If you use natural blooms, be sure to use varieties that will remain fresh without water for a few hours. You don’t want faded and wilting flowers on top of your wedding cake.

Humorous Wedding Cake Toppers

If you and your fiancé joke around a lot or want to lighten up the seriousness of your wedding, there are wedding cake toppers that will give a sense of whimsical comedy to your wedding reception. You can find lots of wedding cake toppers that will make you giggle. Humorous cake toppers are available that feature the bride and groom climbing up the wedding cake, the bride fishing for the groom and even a cake topper where the bride drags the groom by the pant leg. Though they’re certainly not for every couple, if you and your fiancé have a fun sense of humor and want to lighten up your wedding reception, a funny wedding cake topper will do the trick.

Monogram Wedding Cake Toppers

Monograms are popping up everywhere in weddings these days and the top of the wedding cake is no exception. Monogram Cake Toppers are a very elegant way to show pride in the names of the bride and groom. Wedding cake toppers featuring monograms are also a great way to put a personal mark on your wedding reception. Monogram cake toppers generally feature the initial of the groom’s last name (which is the bride’s new last name), but they can also be a combination of the bride and groom’s names.

You can use a monogram as your wedding cake topper in several different ways. The monogram can be created using spun sugar, flowers or you can purchase a monogram cake topper made from plastic or lightweight metal.

Traditional Wedding Cake Toppers


There’s something very charming about a wedding cake topped with the traditional bride and groom standing side by side. Traditional cake toppers give your wedding cake a very cute and retro look. If you’re thinking that you and your fiancé aren’t exactly the traditional bride and groom, that doesn’t mean that you can’t use a traditional wedding cake topper. These days, retailers offer different choices of brides and grooms in every color, shape and size. For couples who want to give their wedding cake a touch of classic appeal, a traditional wedding cake topper is just right.

With so many choices to top your wedding cake, you’ll surely find a wedding cake topper that will go perfectly with your cake. Think about your personal wedding style and determine which topper, floral, humorous, monogram or traditional, is best to crown your wedding cake.

Recommended Companies offering a wide assortment of Cake Toppers

Specialty Wedding Cake Toppers

Whimsical Cake Toppers

Personalized Cake Toppers

Figurine Cake Toppers

Additional Wedding Planning Reading
www.merrybrides.livejournal.com
www.funweddings.blogspot.com
www.merrybrides.blog.com

A wedding expert, Elizabeth Reuth offers a wedding planning guide online for brides and grooms and is the author of the popular wedding vow book Perfect Wedding Vows in Minutes

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Reuth

Make a Splash with a Mermaid Fairytale Wedding

By Jeanette Shinn

For a variation on the typical beach themed wedding combine it with a fairytale wedding theme to create a mermaid fairytale wedding. Such a celebration can be an unforgettably beautiful wedding experience that you and your guests will talk about for many years. The mermaid fairytale wedding lends itself wonderfully to an elegant wedding celebration of love and romance.

Start with Your Wedding Dress

Yes, building your mermaid fairytale wedding theme begins with your wedding dress. Most wedding dresses whose designs are inspired by mermaid fairytales are elegant sheaths that flair somewhere around the knees into a gorgeous train. By choosing such a wedding dress you begin to lay the foundation for a tasteful salute to the mermaid theme in your wedding.

Look at Your Feet

You, after all, have to play the role of the mermaid. So, at least for the reception you want something that will add beauty and a touch of the sea to your feet. The best way I know to do that is with a pair of barefoot sandals that will adorn your feet with puka shells, pearls, or any number of other crystals. As a matter of fact, you can get entire ensembles that will lend to your overall look as a beauty from the sea with everything from hand wraps, to necklaces, to hair jewelry and beyond.

Consider the Overall Decor

Unless you have a huge budget you are probably not going to be able to pull off a mermaid themed wedding in a high school gymnasium (why would you want to?). Instead, look for a location that you can quickly and easily adapt to your theme. Of course, a beach wedding is a natural but if that's not an option an indoor wedding that maintains the theme is achievable.

Begin with fish tanks. Hold your wedding reception in a restaurant with large fish tanks, or rent part of a local aquatic park. Or simply rent several fish tanks (fish included) to be set up in a hotel ballroom or tasteful church multipurpose room and let as much of your lighting be filtered by the water as possible. Done well a mermaid fairytale wedding is just as incredible as your dreams.

Have Fun with the Music

Be creative with the music you choose to set the tone for your mermaid fairytale wedding. There are multitudes of ways you can go. Is this a royal mermaid fantasy? Then you will probably want more regal, courtly sounding music. Are you thinking more along the lines of a beach love story between a man and the mermaid who rescues him (or the other way round)? Then perhaps music more suited to a Hollywood beach romance blockbuster would be better.

Of course, you could always pay homage to the classic Disney movie, "The Little Mermaid" by using the song, "Under the Sea" to kick off the dance. If you dare, make your entrance in your mermaid fairytale wedding to the song that Ariel sings when she first gets her voice back after Ursula is defeated to symbolically represent all that you have overcome to get to your fairytale wedding day.

Whatever you choose, the point is that you choose your music deliberately to fit your specific vision of the theme. Just about the only thing that won't work is using the old standard wedding songs the way they've always been used - not because they're bad, but because without a lot of alteration they won't present the mermaid fantasy image that you are trying to portray.

Finally, Consider the Details

Use sandcastles as a centerpiece on your head table and sandcastle votive table decor to provide ambiance. Likewise, a hand blown glass mermaid couple cake top on your seascape themed wedding cake. Furthermore, choose a beach wedding favor such as sea shell gel candles or a crab wine bottle holder on your reception tables to compliment the decor and to send your guests home with something that will remind them of your mermaid fairytale wedding for many years to come.

---

Fun Products For a Beach Theme Wedding

• Beach Collection Engraved Cake Serving Set
  


• Beach Collection Flower Girl Basket - Click Here
  
• Beach Collection Ring Pillow - Click Here
  


• Personalized Candy Pillow Packs - Beach Umbrella - Click Here
  


• Seaside Beach Candles in Coral Design Gift Box - Click Here
  


• "Beach Memories" Miniature Adirondack Chair Place Card Holder - Click Here
  



---

Sponsors

Fun Weddings Merry Brides Create Your Own Wedding Website-Free Trial Offer! Henry & June Lingerie

Jeanette Shinn is a wedding professional with over a dozen years experience making dreams come alive. Discover more great fairytale wedding ideas and beach wedding ideas at her website http://www.ExcitingWeddingFavors.com.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeanette_Shinn