Fall Weddings

Photo Credit: weddingdresspicture.net

I love fall. The smell of the leaves, the beautiful colors and the crisp temperatures. If I had to do it all again, I would love to have a fall wedding. There are so many natural resources and so many cute fall favors!

Here are some tips to make your fall wedding beautiful!

• Check out schedules. Local area festivals are plentiful during the fall season. Craft shows, apple festivals, and of course football events are things to watch out for. Many brides choose Fridays or Sundays to cut down on costs or make sure their chosen venue has an opening. Sunday afternoons may be taken up with sports. Trust me, you don’t want men glued to their phones throughout your big day. (We had no way to know, but the Stanley Cup finals were the day we got married. We had one guest bring in a small radio and headphones – no, I’m not kidding)
• Venues. There are many outdoor venues that have trees that will be laden with fall leaves. That can be a money savor in terms of decorations for the ceremony. Keep in mind that fall weather is also unpredictable. Ask the venue if they have a back up indoor setting and how much notice they need to make that transition. It will leave you prepared for any unexpected changes and you will be less stressed out the day of your wedding.
• Speak to your florist about using in season flowers. Also using colors that are abundant in autumn make your photographs pop and will make decorations easy to coordinate.
• Food. Make use of the bounty available to you. Also, this time of year is a great time to have a candy bar open during the reception. Think of all the candy available at this time of year! And buying in bulk can make it that much easier on your budget. Who doesn’t love sweet treats? Our Sweet Shoppe Theme Candy Buffet Boxes are perfect and you can match the colors to your decor!
• Decor. I think that fall is one of those times where you can use nature in your decor and have a stunning effect! Pumpkins, gourds, pine cones and leaves are easy to get and are biodegradable! Going green is a big trend and this time of year lends itself to that trend.

I hope if you’re planning a fall wedding for this year or for next that we’ve given some great tips! Check out our selection of fall favors and let us know your favorite fall wedding finds!

Autumn Leaf Design Place Card Holders available at our site.

Autumn Magic Collection Leaf Candy Dishes - Favors by Serendipity

Bridesmaids

Photo credit: Kim Maguire Photography

After you get engaged, one of the first tasks is to decide on bridesmaids. It seems so simple, but as someone who doesn’t like to hurt anyone’s feelings this one was a little hard. There are only so many people you can have stand up with you. Narrowing it down can be a major task. Here are some tips to help you along the way:

• How many bridesmaids do you want/need? The going consensus is 1 bridesmaid for every 50 guests. If you have a large number of guests you may want to leave this by the wayside. Remember, it’s traditional to give your bridesmaids gifts. Also you’ll be providing flowers for each of these ladies. You have to look at your budget when considering whether to have 5 or 7.
• Personalities. There are all those personalities to look at. We all have that friend who is organized, by the book and unbending in her ideas. Is that the right fit for the maid (or matron) of honor, possibly? Think of the energy that each of these women have, are some high strung, some drama queens, some overwhelmed with goings on in their personal life? Taking a look at each person who is so close to  you that you are considering asking them to be a part of your special day might save you headaches further down the road.
• Reliability. This also depends on how much you are going to ask of your bridesmaids. If you have a friend who is habitually late, forgets important details or just floats through life her personality won’t change when you make her a bridesmaid. You’ll want to keep in mind how organized and punctual your potential bridesmaid is.
• How does she get along with your future husband. I know that doesn’t seem like it will make a difference, but it does. When I was choosing my maid of honor I ended up choosing someone who had been extremely supportive of my relationship with my future husband. Another friend had been closer to me before the engagement, but had seemed downright angry and distant after the ring went on my finger. You want someone who is going to share in  your joy and make your day the most blissful day ever.
• Finances. Not only yours are important. Take in to consideration if that bridesmaid will be able to not only buy shoes and a dress, but also take time off to go shopping, contribute to your shower and possibly have hair and make up done on the day of your wedding. It’s a touchy subject and you can always ask a close friend to prepare a reading, cut the cake or be a hostess at your wedding. It’s hard to think that not every one of your friends would be jumping for joy at being asked, but in these economic times it’s something we have to consider.
• Family versus friend. If it comes down to choosing between the cousin you grew up with or the sorority sister you pledged with, it’s probably a better idea to choose family. Friends come and go, but family is forever.

Photo courtesy of Cheap Chic Weddings.com

Do you have any tips  you think we’ve missed? Leave us a comment!

Don’t forget! We have some great items for your bridesmaids. My favorite has to be this Bridesmaid Clutch with Survival Kit. It’s useful, sweet, thoughtful and can be used over and over! You can also personalize it! Who doesn’t love those small touches? Personalized purses/clutches are a big trend right now.

Bridesmaids Clutch

Another favorite is this handy Welcome to Our Wedding Tote. Functional and sentimental, it’s a great gift and so useful on the big day! Hairspray, makeup, extra hose and all the little extras we ladies all need to be beautiful fit right inside!

Welcome to our Wedding Tote

A rose by any other name…

Planning a wedding is hard work. Let’s face it, the perfect wedding just doesn’t happen overnight. Flowers play a major part in determining the tone and feel of your wedding. So choosing the right florist is a big deal. Once you find the right one, then the details start falling in to place.

We thought we’d help you out with some tips on how to choose the florist that’s right for you.

First off, do you want a florist who just does flowers? That may seem like an odd question, but many florists are multi-taskers. They do cakes, flowers, decorations and sometimes planning. Do you want one person to be in charge of so much? Do you want that person heading in all directions? Maybe not. It might work if the florist has an actual team and assigns duties to each team member. That’s a big thing to consider. One stop shopping can work for some, but you have to evaluate if the person you choose can handle it all.

When interviewing a potential florist you may want to ask if they handle all the flowers in house. How many times have you called someone for a repair only to find out that the person who shows up to do the job is merely a sub-contractor? Find out up front if you will be dealing with the person you interview or if they are going to shop out your wedding.

Budget is always a big concern when you’re planning your wedding. Find out about any hidden costs up front. Will there be delivery or set up charges? Will there be a separate charge for set up at your reception venue? Will the florist need an assistant? Is there an hourly charge or is the price you’re quoted all inclusive? Make a list of pertinent questions to ask each florist you interview.

Get opinions of other brides. If your florist is trustworthy and has provided not only beautiful bouquets, but excellent service then they should be able to tell you some weddings they’ve done in your area. With as prevalent as social media is, you could also take to Twitter or Facebook to get some honest opinions. Also ask to see their portfolio. Most florists will be willing to show you candid shots of their work, not stock photography from the internet.

The last thing to consider is how well the florist can help you find your vision for your wedding. Not just what the florist wants to sell you, but also how considerate they are at keeping the tone of the wedding and if they can help you realize your vision within your budget. It could all come down to whether you feel comfortable with the florist.

Do you have helpful tips for other brides from finding the perfect florist? We’d love to hear them! Leave us a comment, drop by on Facebook or send us a Tweet.

Photo Courtesy of Shelley’s Floral Enterprise

Flowers, Flowers Everywhere

Yesterday, while pulling the last hearty winter veggies from our garden, I realized that spring really is coming. Yep, here in Southern California, we do in fact experience a spring — the weather change is subtle, but it’s there, in abundant floral color. (Our roses are blooming riotously, too. Pretty!)

Springtime is all about flowers, and anything that grows when it receives some nice, warm sunshine and a good solid watering. Weddings, too, are beautiful, fresh, new and celebrate life.

Perhaps that’s why flowers have always been such a big part of weddings. Besides the obvious fact that they add color and often smell quite pretty, flowers are about taking what’s best in the world, and watching it bloom to its very best.

So as “official” spring approaches, let’s take a look at some gorgeous floral options for 2012:

Have a floral wedding choice you’d like to share? Send us an image (at least 300X300) and a brief description of how you used the item, as well as the brand name or website.

Favors for Your Outdoor or Garden Wedding

Ah, sweet springtime. Pick the best of the bunch for your outdoor wedding favors.

It’s spring…almost. And in honor of the season, everything’s coming up gorgeous at favorsbyserendipity.com.

We’re so pleased to be able to offer such a unique selection this spring, especially when it comes to outdoor and garden weddings. We feel this season’s selection of favors truly add that something special to your outdoor affair — and we know you will too.

Let’s take a sneak peek at what’s new for 2011. (Click on the pics for more info on each, or the image above of the bride and groom for a selection of our favorites.)

Lovebirds in the Window Ceramic Salt and Pepper Shakers: Give these to guests as favors or set them up on your wedding reception tables. Don’t you love them? The soft ivory white color will go with any decor, so your guests are sure to make use of this beautiful gift.

Butterfly Bookmark Favor: This is precious, and very elegant.  Stunning polished metal makes an impression. It’s all wrapped up in a pastel-colors box. Perfect for either wedding favors or gifts to the wedding party.

Meant to Bee Ceramic Honey Pot: These sweet ceramic creations can hold honey, jam or jelly and are perfect at your guests’ place settings as take-home favors.

Paisley Cupcake Wrappers: So many of our 2011 brides are loving the wedding cupcake trend that we just had to post these precious favorites. Yum! Pink paisley is ideal to accent an outdoor table, so this treat couples as decor.

Enjoy — and remember to send us pics of your wedding favors and how you used them to make your wedding extra-special.

Style Update: Spring Wedding Favors

Depending upon where you live (giving a shout out to the northeast — hello, my friends!), it may not seem like spring is coming…but it is.

Stylishly yours: daisy favor boxes.

And so is the annual influx of spring weddings.

And why not? Spring is gorgeous, and it’s about new beginnings. Can there really be a better time, both weather-wise and symbolically, to say “I do” with the person who will be walking life’s path with you?

Of course, you’ll want to stand out from the crowd. Make a big impact with these lovely spring favors that are truly you. Here are our favorite Spring 2011 wedding favor ideas.

Daisies. This adorable bloom is an emblem of springtime.

What a gorgeous idea. Guests can plant these at home.

Incorporate daisies into your wedding in a truly organic way with favors that contain seeds (see pic). We love this idea — not only will your guests be thrilled with the unique gift, but they’ll think of you and your spouse when the flowers bloom.

We adore these very special bouquet favor boxes, and so will your guests.

Also top favor boxes with spring daisies; there’s nothing like this sunny, sweet flower to accent any wedding gift.

Flowers native to your area. Naturally, daisies aren’t the only spring flower around. Find out what species grow in your area if you don’t already know, and find favors that match what you discover.

Spring colors — with flair. Bolder, “statement” colors are very on-trend for 2011. Look for vibrant versions of favorite spring colors, like hot pink, sunny yellow, mint green and sky blue with deep, rich navy to accent the hue.

Also incorporate spring colors into edible favors — especially buttery, delicious yellow or cream.

Please *do* eat the daisies: these brownie pops are a spring sunshine-yellow for visual as well as taste-bud appeal.

Organic choices. Go green for real with eco-friendly wedding favors. (We love the bamboo, by the way…check it out.) Match this choice with environmentally friendly materials for your wedding stationery, too.

Sunny home decor. Try a sun catcher or small spray of ornamental spring flowers that can be hung on the wall for gifts your guests will use and love.

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Proposals are usually at their peak in December — and that’s right around the corner. Use Save the Date magnets as soon as you set a date.

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The last leaves are falling, a chill is settling into the evenings and in many places, homes are battening down for the coming winter and for the season’s first fluffy white, postcard-perfect snows.

And you all know what THAT means. That’s right: It’s wedding proposal time! (Gotcha!) Across the U.S., more wedding proposals happen in December than in any other month.

If your beloved has been dropping a hint or two, be ready to grab up our Save the Date magnets. Shown at left in gorgeous Damask style, center right in Daisy and lower right in Tropical Flower, Save the Date magnets won’t get lost by friends and loved ones in a paper shuffle because they stick cleanly to refrigerators or other metal surfaces.

They’re orderable in multiples of 10 (minimum 10 magnets per order) for your convenience…and many styles can be complemented with matching wedding favors or bridesmaids’ gifts (look here for a Damask example, and be sure to check out our other Save the Date magnet styles).

Our brides-to-be love our Save the Date Magnets – they’re an inexpensive, beautiful and very practical way to remind wedding guests to mark their calendars for that very special day. As always, we’ve provided plenty of style options to showcase our brides- and grooms-to-be perfectly. So grab yours now! (Or, well…you might want to wait until he’s officially popped the question…)

Picturesque Beach Wedding

What can be more beautiful than a picturesque setting of the ocean with a beautiful sky as a backdrop as you walk down the aisle?   Few places are more romantic for a wedding than the beach.  Having your wedding on the beach is very relaxing and you can make it as casual as you like or as elegant as you want.

Doing your wedding at a hotel that has a beach front makes it comfortable for your guests to come in and enjoy the reception in one of the banquet halls.  Your theme is already set so your flowers and favors can be reflected in the design and makes it as stress free as possible.

Beach Theme Centerpiece

Flowers by Dellables

Beach Theme Centerpiece by Dellables

Do It Yourself Beach Theme Centerpiece

Using starfish, pearls, sandollars amidst orchids and other tropical fresh flowers can be incorporated in your chair decorations and on the aisle and arbor, as well as your wedding cake and centerpieces.

Your guests will not only enjoy sharing your special day in a beautiful setting, but may view it as a vacation and the fun begins as soon as they arrive.  Whether it’s an exotic beach your guest will travel to, or, if you’re fortunate to live in an area close to the ocean, and it’s a local wedding, either way your guests will feel like they’ve “been away” for the day.

Decor on the Beach

Your favors can tie in beautifully with your theme so your guests will have a wonderful rememberance of your wedding.

Sand Castle Favor

Informal Wedding Decorating Ideas

Summer is the perfect time for an informal wedding outdoors .  Another  popular trend is to have your wedding in a barn.  To keep the wedding elegant yet informal,  I have some beautiful pictures to help you see this can be achieved.

1)  First choose your colors.  What color makes you feel good?  Orange or yellow?  Pinks and lavender?  Red and white?  All these colors would work beautifully for a summer wedding.

2)   The flowers are also expressing your informal look.  You can achieve this by the style of container they are placed in and, in some cases, by the flowers themselves, such as Sunflowers, Daisies, and for a little more formality, Roses and Hydrangeas.  Clay pots filled with Hydrangeas make a wonderful summer centerpiece.  I’ve even spray painted the clay pots when I wanted to use them in white…you can make them any color you like to coordinate with your theme.

3)  Lots of twigs, branches and moss can add ambiance.  I’m also a big fan of the LED candles that are available now so you don’t have to worry about them blowing out if you’re outdoors.

Barn Wedding by Jennifer Whalquist

Flower Decorations

Country Centerpiece Idea

Garden Wedding Centerpiece

Buffet Tablescape

Your wedding favors should also express your informal country look.  Succulents are very popular in flower arrangements this time of year, and these succulent style candles are the perfect favor to tie in with your theme.

Candle in Clay Pot

Flower Inspirations For Your Wedding

Flowers are synonymous with weddings.  This is one time we can be a little extravagant.  They give your reception that  ahhh moment we all dream about.  There are many ways to decorate a wedding, but most will  agree flowers are the principal way.

Florists are no longer limited to what is growing seasonally in your region, but can buy flowers from all over the world. Of course, the cost will be higher for flowers that are not seasonal, but this is your chance to be luxurious if you see an arrangement you love with your favorite flowers.

A number of years ago I visited a very high end hotel in Las Vegas and was blown away by the flower arrangements there.  Very simple, yet a new, totally fresh approach and I could envision a bride and her “worker bees” able to capture this look if she was having a DIY wedding.  Recently, I found the floral designer who came up with the look, Jeff Lautham and thought you would want to see his incredible work.  Whether you call Jeff,  try this yourself, or give the pictures to your florist for inspiration, this will be a feast for your eyes.

1- Using lots of risers/pedestals  Jeff fills a room with pink hydrangeas, which are a perfect flower for lots of volume.  Notice he keeps it monochromatic for impact as well.

Image courtesy of Jeff Lautham

2- If you are using long banquet tables at your reception, this is a beautiful centerpiece idea.  You can use flower petals in abundance (as seen here) or you  can even use flowering plants if you’re flower arrangement challenged.  Lots of votives give the table a very romantic look.  Nowadays the battery operated votives are a life saver for reception halls that don’t allow open flames.  Again, notice the big splash of monochromatic color.

Image Courtesy of: Jeff Leatham

3- I think this is brilliant!  You can always have a round rose bowl with submerged flowers or an arrangement coming out from the top, but this is so interesting, isn’t it?  For safety sake, I would use a wax like product they use to hold candles in a candle holder, or that can be purchased in a home improvement center made for protecting items from falling off shelves in an earthquake (tell them what you need to do, they will figure it out) to temporarily secure the top bowl to the bottom.

Image Courtesy of Jeff Leatham

4- I guess what I love about Jeff’s work is that he thinks outside the box.  Making a “bouquet” of any kind of flower, keeping it monotone, and “leaning” it in a very tall container is his signature look.  It’s what first caught my eye at the hotel I mentioned at the beginning of this post.  Check out your local party rental store, or search online to see where you can rent containers like this.  Again, hydrangeas are an easy flower to work with and  because the heads are so large, you don’t need as many flowers,  Calla Lily’s work wonderfully as well, and they come in all colors.

Image: Jeff Leatham

Image: Jeff Leatham