Mmm, tangerine. Pic: boards.weddingbee.com

I was thrilled with the news that the color Tangerine Tango was named  Pantone‘s 2012 wedding color of the year. I absolutely love bright and cheery colors, and tangerine is so cute. (Other personal faves in the orange family: pumpkin and melon.)

Colorful news travels fast, by the way: dear Martha already asked us for orange ideas on the wedding front. (Can’t wait to see what she’s whipping up.)

So get your tangerine on, 2012 brides! The best ways to tie tangerine into your wedding color scheme:

The bridesmaid’s dresses and your dress.

Add tangerine touches to your gown (a colorful sash is one of the most fun ways to do this). Have the color pick up with your bridesmaid’s dresses, either in solid-color tangerine or pumpkin, or with tangerine embellishments, such as retro embroidery or hair wear.

These pretty favor boxes are perfect for spring or autumn. (Click for info.)

The bridal and bridesmaids’ bouquets and the groom and groomsmen’s boutonnieres.

Ooh…there’s so much room to play with orange colors here. As melon and tangerine, the colors are all springtime and sunshine. Deep orange is a great pick for the fall. For winter 2012, try a reddish orange along with other deep colors in the red and yellow families.

For the types of flowers, go seasonal. We love the daisies at left for spring and autumn, or year-round in warm climates.

Try staying in the same color family for both the bride’s and the bridesmaids’ bouquets, but with different flowers. For instance, the bridesmaids can carry chrysanthemums, the bride, pretty blooming daisies. Grooms can wear a bloom matching the bride’s flowers.

The party favors.

Candy coated sunflower seeds make a pretty (and pretty delicious) favor. (Click for info.)

Tangerine colored  favors will fit in perfectly with your wedding color theme. Pick gourmet snacks or treats, candles or pretty miniature decorations in a matching or complementing shade of orange/tangerine.

Tying a tangerine bow around the favors is another way to highlight this pretty color.

The invitations.

Give guests a sneak preview of your wedding theme colors by adding a splash of tangerine to the invitations and Save the Date cards or magnets.

Make sure you place your orders early — now that it’s been named 2012′s “it” color, tangerine is going to go fast.

Pic: "Dance With Dad" by saikofish, Flickr.com

A note from Eileen: This week’s blog is features guest writer Melanie Henson. As an (if I do say so myself) rather accomplished dancer, I admit this post gave me a grin. Read on for the fun.

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When I got married, I brought to our union a good heart, mad writing career skills, a love of entertaining and a super-efficient “just get her done” housework mentality.

Oh yeah. And two left feet. Or maybe it was three. If that’s possible. (Double checking via an impromptu jig on the living room rug…oh yeah. It’s possible. Very very possible.)

Then somebody told me about wedding dance lessons. I thought that was the silliest thing ever. You get out on the reception floor, you make a fool of yourself, you sit down and sip water and try to lower your heartbeat to a nondangerous level, lather, rinse, repeat. Who needed dance lessons?

“We do,” my then fiance said diplomatically. With my super duper engaged to be married ears I heard what he was afraid to say aloud: “You do, honey. And badly.”

He was right. And since then, I’ve learned I’m — oops, we’re — not the only couple to opt for wedding dance lessons. Feel the need for a pointer or two so you don’t step on the feet of your dance partner and the partner of every other dancer in the vicinity? Call your local dance studio and ask for wedding rates to learn the following. Then get out there and boogie!

1. The Waltz for your first dance. Your first dance with your beloved is usually anything slow, rhythmic and with the traditional male/female hand positions (i.e., the man leading, the woman placing one hand on the man’s shoulder and so on).

But we recommend you learn a basic waltz for your first dance. A waltz is easy to do and looks so…princess-y. (There, I said it.) There’s nothing more romantic than a gorgeous waltz with the bride holding the skirt of her gown out. Gorgeous.

Two thumbs up for couples who learn to waltz.

2. “Fun” dances. You know you’re going to get silly out on the dance floor at some point. Make far less a fool of yourselves by learning the Electric Slide, the Macarena, congo line and the Chicken Dance.

3. Dances that fit your theme. If you really want to make an impression, take the wedding party to dance lessons too and put on a little show during your reception! Examples: the Stroll and a basic hand jive for a 50s wedding theme; country line dancing, basic two-step and square dancing for a rural wedding; traditional dances for an ethnic wedding.

4. Contemporary dance moves. Get the 411 on hip hop, salsa and other cool grooves. Some dance studios will offer basic classes on how to get out on the dance floor and look cool without doing any official dance — this would be a  contemporary dance floor basics class.

Enjoy! Dance lessons are so much fun. (We promise.)

- by Melanie Henson

These easy basics are all the steps you’ll need — you take things from there for your own special touch.

A black (and ecru) tie affair: this invite design compares traditional with trendy (a cool pocket design). Click for more info.

1. What are the basic elements of a wedding invitation?

The basics are just that: basics. You will need your first and last name, your fiance’s first and last name, the date, time and location of the wedding, the time and location of the reception and RSVP information as well as a postage-paid envelope. Once you have these details, current wedding etiquette is very flexible.

Include your parents’ names if you wish, but it’s not an etiquette must-do; it’s entirely up to you. You can also list the groom’s parent’s names; the bride’s parents don’t always do the “giving away” in today’s weddings.

Add a favorite quote if you’d like; keep it simple. Make the greeting as formal or informal as you’d like (“.. and .. request the honor of your presence at” or “..and..would love you to join them as they celebrate their love at…”, for example).

2. We want our parents listed on the invitation, but they’re both divorced and remarried. How do we do this? How do I acknowledge everyone on the invitation?

You can certainly include stepparents on your invitation. “Mr. and Mrs. (your father and stepmother) and Mrs. (your non-remarried mother) request your presence at…” is not at all awkward and is very commonplace on today’s wedding invitations.

Your invitations should express some element of who the two of you are day-to-day, or some special aspect of your relationship you'd like to honor.

3. How should we choose a wedding invitation? We have no idea where to start.

What’s your vision for your wedding? Is it upbeat and casually celebratory? Black tie and Bach? Free-spirited, modern or vintage? There are two things to consider when choosing your wedding invitations: the formality of the event, and your and your groom’s personalities. Obviously, the more formal the event, the more traditional and formal the layout you’ll want for your invitations.

As with the basic elements question above, the style requirements of your invitation lean toward individuality and flexibility. We’ve seen very stylized invites that were an absolute dream. Invitations that match the time of year or the wedding theme are also adorable — ocean scenes for a beach wedding, for instance. So are images of your heritage, or memento images of how or when you and your fiance met. Consider all your options before buying. There’s a world of options out there!

4. How do we mention on the invitation that in lieu of gifts, we’d like guests to donate to a specific charity?

You don’t. Mentioning gifts — even on behalf of a charitable organization — still isn’t within wedding etiquette. Create a fun wedding site for you and hubs-to-be and mention the charity there. You can also spread the word by mouth and by e-mail. But leave this request off your wedding invitations.

Colorful you: once you have the basics of wedding invitation etiquette taken are of, you're free to get creative.

5. Can I use my professional title on the invitations?

Most commonly, the title this question refers to is “Dr.” You may use your title if you are a medical doctor but not an academic one, according to wedding etiquette. You can also list your parents’ titles along with their names.

6. How far in advance of the wedding should I send the invitations?

You should send paper invitations in the mail 6-8 weeks before the wedding. However, if you wish to give a heads-up to guests — for instance, if it will be a destination wedding and/or guests will need to make travel/stay arrangements — you can post the information up to 6 months in advance of the wedding on your wedding website.

Or consider Save the Date cards. These too can be sent well in advance of the wedding and are great for guests to have so they can make their preparations in plenty of time.

7. If I’m sending Save the Date cards, do I have to also send an invitation in the mail?

Yup. Save the date cards, magnets, etc. are a courtesy to your guests and spread the word perhaps a bit earlier than you formally need to. They can also serve as keepsakes. They don’t replace a paper invitation, however. Do send both; this can be quite economical if you do your homework. We hope we’ve pointed you in the right direction. Have fun with the choosing process, then mail your invites on time and the rest is, well, a piece of (wedding) cake.

Vintage is still in...way in. Gown: Oscar de la Renta, Spring 2012 collection. Image: marthastewartweddings.com

Another year is beginning (can you believe it?) and we’re excited for our 2012 brides and grooms! 2012 promises to be an exciting year in weddings, with lots of original, highly personalized choices for couples.

As you know, we’re big on “unique” around here. So we’re lovin’ the predictions of designers, fashion moguls and our brides already. Here’s what we’re seeing for the year to come:

• MORE vintage. Vintage was in its infancy in 2010 and 2011. This year, the old-fashioned-meets-modern trend comes into full bloom, fashion designers are saying. And their 2012 collections prove it. At right: SO cool; Oscar de la Renta welcomes spring with vintage flair.

• LESS cookie-cutter copying. This year, brides are encouraged to show any side they want: playful, sophisticated, indie, futuristic, whatever strikes a girl’s fancy. (Yay!) Tie the knot at Great Flags, Disney or even Starbucks; wear shiny silver instead of traditional white; dance to reggae at your reception. The day is yours.

• LESS free-for-all spending. This trend isn’t as new as you may think; though we still see many wedding sites erroneously reporting greater than $28.5 k for the average U.S. wedding, theweddingreport.com says otherwise, with 2010 averages having fallen to a somewhat more sensible $24 k (see this breakdown from Wiki for details). Smart brides will stay smart this year and think of ever more cost-cutting ways to have the wedding of their dreams.

• MORE highly unique bouquet and “cake” choices. 2012 brides will be walking down the aisle holding oversize lollipops, bunches of feathers or favorite trinkets this year instead of floral arrangements, fashion experts predict. As for the wedding cake? It’s still all good — but more couples will venture into tasty new territory with wedding cupcakes, fudge bites, a reception dessert bar or dessert-type wedding favors such as muffin mixes.

Kate Middleton's modern-princess sophisticated gown will inspire 2012 brides. Image: fashionista.com

• MORE princess-style touches. Although the new duchess of Cambridge herself, Kate (Catherine) Middleton, went sophisticated and almost understated (well…for a princess) with her gorgeous gown, traditional “princess’ additions like wide ball gown skirts, lots of crinoline, organza and tiaras are on deck for 2012 — and it was all inspired by the 2012 Royal Wedding. Sparkly, showy crystal is big too, for centerpieces, jewelry, gifts and wedding favors, wedding experts say.

• LESS front and more back…upper back, that is. Necklines are coming in closer toward the center and sometimes rising higher this coming year, while upper back hems are plunging to daring new depths. This sophisticated trend is a la Hollywood 1940s and very glamourous for 2012 brides.

• MORE ruching. Can we all stand up and give a hand to whomever brought ruching back? The slightly gathered look is usually placed at waist-level to give even the most modestly curved bride an hourglass figure, while hiding what many of us don’t want our wedding guests to see. Flattering ruching, we love you! In 2012, you’ll see the style for both brides and bridesmaids.

So. Excited for the new year yet? We can’t wait to see what you’ve chosen for your 2012 wedding. Thanks for e-mailing us, and here’s to a gorgeous wedding for you this year!

Enjoy…winter is a gorgeous season and such a wonderful, wonderland-esque time for a wedding.

Oooo. Is it delicious in here or is it just this wedding and shower favor?  This all natural cupcake mix (drool) comes in your choice of vanilla or chocolate and is one sweet way to show friends you care. The ingredients are the finest, just like your guests deserve (Nielsen-Massey vanilla and Barry-Callebaut cocoa, mmm). Comes with personalization for your event, a pretty ribbon and enough mix for 6 cupcakes.

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Look how gorgeous these boxes are. Have you ever? And since we’re already on the subject of sweet treats: these ribbon and winter berry-embellished favor boxes are filled with with white almonds or white sugar coated chocolate hearts.  Pick a green box, textured white box or textured ivory box with silver, ivory or green berries on top. PLEASE NOTE: These have a 2-3 week lead time, so order early.

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These chrome bottle stoppers are really something special. They’re topped a pretty silver colored snowflake and are quality made with a black rubber gasket. The display box is gorgeous, too. Discounts available on quantity orders. This is one of our absolute favorites.

Have a winter wedding favor favorite? Let us know all about it. And don’t forget to Like us on Facebook so you get the inside scoop on all our great deals. (We’re glad to return the favor on all quality, approved sites.)

Yeah, I know. I go crazy over the change of seasons. Humor me. And have a look at these gorgeous winter favors (click each pic for info).

So elegant, so very winter. This gift box is destined to become a keepsake.

This is one favor that easily doubles as reception table decor…it’s just so pretty! The box is a snowflake design (sigh) with rhinestones (yes, rhinestones! Double sigh) and comes in two pieces. The top lifts off to reveal a special thank-you for your guest. Fill with candy for tabletop favors; something even sweeter (how about  jewelry?) for your maid of honor and posse.

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Read all about it: this bookmark has flair.

The bookworm in me zeroed in on this great gift right away. It’s amazingly economical for a high quality (silver metal, 2″ X 2″) item, and visually, the hearts combined with the snowflake make a sweet combination. It comes elegantly boxed.

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Yes, we'd be gauche enough to ask for seconds. Sue us.

Oh hey…foodie wedding gifts. You and I have been down this road before and it NEVER gets old (and only gets yummier). So have a peek at this gorgeous seasonal holly design brownie pop. I can vouch for these; so yummy, so adorable.

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Can’t get enough? Watch this space for more fabulous winter wedding favor ideas. We’ll be back later in the week with three more faves. In the meantime, feel free to Like us on Facebook for updates…ciao!

(big “swack” noise) Preston, we love you.

Preston, you are too cool for school. Image: prestonbailey.com

We know we’re not the only ones, of course. But it’s been a while since we’ve highlighted a great page, blog or designer and we thought Preston would be the perfect choice for brides seeking a great, gorgeous, unique wedding experience.

Take for instance Mr. Bailey’s latest inspiration on his weddings site: gold. Ooh! Gold is sumptuous, appeals to the eye and can be incorporated in virtually every aspect of your wedding. Great choice, beautiful pics (see below).

The gold dress is particularly unique. Yes, colors have been used by brides for several years now in a trend away from just-basic-white (though we love that look too). But gold makes such a bold statement. As Preston’s blog states, it’s regal; what every bride wants to be, at least for one day.

So without further ado, here are some of our favorite suggestions from Preston to his brides, and don’t forget to check out his blog, prestonbailey.com, for more ideas.

The bride wore gold: Greylikesweddings.com was Preston’s inspiration for the gown, above. We’re feeling inspired, too. Love the train…actually, love the whole gown, bodice to hem.

They’re shiny. They’re sparkly. They’re candy. We’re hard-pressed to find something not to like. From nutsonline.com

Oh, and guess who else Mr. Bailey loves today? Us! That’s right, he highlighted our gold wedding chair favor boxes. Click the pic above for info on how to buy. Thanks, Preston. We’re feeling the love and givin’ it right back!

As if anyone could turn down a pastries buffet...dream on! (And meanwhile...mangia!) Click for info.

You know what? Let’s change that to: any cake at all.

On the other hand, I have no false illusions that other people feel the way I do about this traditional treat. The biggest complaints I hear from guests and from the wedding couple are that the cake was dry, or bland, or too crumbly…or too…something.

No doubt about it: people are particular about their wedding cake. So to you, the choosy and discriminating (and the majority!), I offer these three fun alternatives to wedding cake. Bon appetit!

1. Wrapped or boxed candies. These are traditional wedding favors; you take the idea and kick it up a notch by serving yummy dark chocolate bark, white chocolate, wedding theme lolipops, candy coated sunflower seeds (mmm) or another delicious, gourmet choice.

2. A pastries or cookie buffet. Three words: Oh. My. Goodness. I was at a wedding recently that had a cookie buffet (it was the inspiration for this post, actually) and the choices were awesome to look at…and sooooooooo good! Who doesn’t love cookies? As the heading to this suggestion implies, expand the idea to a pastries buffet if you want more options and serve scones, delightful cinnamon rolls, chocolate straws, brownies, etc.

3. Cupcakes. We covered cupcakes in an earlier post but they definitely deserve another mention…this trend is HOT and holding its own as we come into 2012. Excellent choice; a guests’ favorite.

Enjoy, my lovelies! By the way, it’s almost winter (can you believe it?) so watch this space for upcoming advice and ideas for your winter wedding.

If you’re having children as part of your wedding party, remember: they get all the perks the rest of the wedding party does (except the champagne). They’re taking part in one of the most special days of your life and helping to make it awesome. So remember to say “thank you” with a gift for the littlest parts of the party.

Ooo...sophisticated yet very user-friendly awesomeness. Click for info on how to buy.

Obviously, kids aren’t exactly going to jump for joy if you present them with presents similar to those you’re giving the rest of your bridesmaids and groomsmen. Don’t worry — you still have plenty of options.

Toys are an obvious choice; how about that cool video game your nephew has been wanting? Another idea is something that has grown-up elements but is appropriate for the child’s age (since he or she is doing a very grown-up duty for you): for instance, a girl’s day at the spa for your little sister, complete with a hot pink pedicure and lots of giggling.

Or…how about a silver piggy bank? For the ring bearer, we absolutely love the bank shown at right. It has a grownup feel and a young person’s functionality — the best of both worlds for a ring bearer gift. You can have it personalized, too.

We’ll update you with other children’s gifts as they catch our attention. We’re expecting new bridesmaid, maid of honor, best man and groomsmen’s gifts to pop up for 2012.

Got questions? Contact us! We love to hear from you.

Gorgeous wedding shoe choices like these inspire us. Photo: ©2011 Jenyfra Nelson

So you went to a wedding this weekend and jeepers creepers but the bride’s wedding day shoes were HAWT. Yes. In all capital letters.

You caught a peek of them as the bride was walking down the aisle. In fact, unless you’re imagining things, she even did a little kick just to show them off. (Oh, come on, that was so completely not an accidental stumble.)

You loved, loved, loved the bride’s shoes. And now you’re lusting unbecomingly after them — or at least a pair that will be equally unique, fun, fantastic…and you. Where are the best places to look for wedding shoes? Here’s where we’ve had success with absolutely fabulous wedding shoe finds your future guests will drool over:

Independent online craftspeople/companies. Indie sites like Etsy and Artfire may give you just what you’re looking for: shoes made just for you, at a reasonable price and with that personal touch. (Check it out, mama got bling on her slings.) This option may be for you if you have a fairly standard shoe size and width and can generally order shoes without trying them on.

Watch out, though: not all indie craftspeople wear sewn-in dreds, thong sandles and work just for the love of it. Some of the artists at Etsy are expensive.  And others may be just plain unreliable. When shopping Etsy for your wedding shoes, look for three things: 1. a longstanding membership at the site; 2. great reviews and 3. a “deliver by” date guarantee.

Ebay. Online auction markets can, even with their amazing overcommercialization, still yield some great finds for a fraction of the store price. Compare Buy it Now offers to sales prices of local distributors, though; there may be no difference at all (and in many cases, with Ebay you’re also paying for the shipping). Take your time, start well ahead of your wedding date and be patient for that great find.

You do have to do your homework when it comes to Ebay, and entering an auction could still be your best bet for finding a brand-new uber cheap pair (just be prepared with a backup in case you don’t win the one you have your eye on).

Even better? A used pair that still looks good as new, from a private seller. Do get it in writing that the shoes are in “like new” or “excellent” condition before buying.

Consignment or thrift shops. Yes, we are serious, thank you very much. Make friends with your local consignment buyer/seller, slip her your phone number and ask her to text you if and when a great pair of shoes comes in.

As with the private Ebay seller option above, many newlyweds are simply looking to unload a pair of shoes they’ll never wear again, while making a few needed dollars. Don’t overlook this awesome resource. You never know.

Local department stores. White shoes in all shapes and styles can be had, usually in the spring and summer, at department stores, and because they’re not marketed as “wedding” shoes, not only can you find unique looks, you may get a better price. Summer strappy, tall white or off-white sandals or kickin’ retro Victorian white boots are possibilities for under-the-gown if you check out your local department stores.

Happy shoe shopping, my lovelies!