Winter Wedding Tips

Photo courtesy of Mary Dougherty Photography

Winter weddings are fast approaching! Have you thought about how you’ll look on the  big day? I bet you have! I thought I’d give some tips to our upcoming Winter brides.

• Want the shimmer of snow without the melting in your hair? Sprinkle some sparkly eyeshadow in your hair! It will add a glint to your hair and look like freshly fallen snow in the light.
• Find a stunning wrap. Keeping warm is important, but many brides won’t cover up for fear of hiding their spectacular gown. Find something fabulous like a faux fur wrap or a shining pashmina!
• Make sure you keep up a moisturizing regimen before the big day. Many venues will be dry and hot, which could show in your face if not properly moisturized.
• Keep hand cream near by. So many photographs are taken of the rings, your bouquet and you and your groom holding hands. The winter weather is quick to dry and damage your skin.
• Don’t be afraid of color. You may want to try a bolder style on the  big day. The winter white canvas will make bold colors pop!

Stay tuned for more bridal tips! And don’t forget to check out our great selection of Winter Wedding Favors!

"Snow Flurry" Flocked Glass Ornament Place Card/Photo Holder

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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

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…)

Fresh Ideas for Your Fall Wedding

We’re sure you agree: everybody loves gorgeous, colorful Autumn. That’s why many of your friends – and perhaps you and your groom-to-be – are planning a Fall wedding.

Given this, just how do you stand out from the crowd? Over the years, our readership has shown itself to be one creative bunch…so here’s to Fall brides and what they can do with their own creativity and a few great ideas. Here are a few we absolutely adore (and, psst—that are some of the most popular wedding favor ideas this season).

Favors That Double as Decorations

LOVE this idea. Pictured below is an example of an elegant, trendy Fall wedding favor that doubles as part of the reception place settings. It’s the “Turning Leaves” bookmark and it’s oh so elegant for Autumn…and for your special day.

Stylist: Sasha Souza; Photo By Damion Hamilton

Have the Turning Leaves Bookmark  hold the menu if you’re having a more formal affair, or attach it to your wedding programs. Or put one at the upper left of each place setting at the reception.

Other great ideas for favors that add Autumn atmosphere are candles in colorful holders, leaf-shaped place card holders or indulgent treats like spiced cider or gourmet cookie mixes. Yum!

Unique Centerpieces

Flowers are traditional, but why not add elegance (and a little bit of “you”) to your reception by choosing unique centerpieces? With a Fall wedding, you’re in luck; choose from Autumn’s bounty for a natural and very on-trend look to your reception tables.

Group Autumn fruits, such as apples, with a little Fall greenery. (See the example below, which is a real treat. Photo credit: Jennifer Wahlquist). Berries are Autumnal too, as are unshelled nuts tossed around the centerpiece for a natural yet very elegant feel.

Candles work well here too. Tip: If you’ll be placing lighted candles as part of your centerpiece, make sure they’re set well away from your guests’ plates (and reaching hands and elbows), while making sure the area just around the candle is clear of any hanging flammable greenery or other decorations.

So what are you waiting for? Get started on your own beautiful wedding creations. And don’t forget to let us know what you’re planning for Fall wedding favors. We’re always glad to hear from you!

A Wedding Planner? Questions Answered

Many wonder if they need to have a Planner when they think they can just do everything themselves.  I can tell you after coordinating many weddings (and I’ve retired from that now)  you will be so glad you hired one.

Having a planner gives you peace of mind and helps keep you calm on a very happy but stressful day.  The following questions are often asked by those who are still vacillating, I hope the answers will help with your decision:

1) What will a planner do for me?

a)  Hold your hand through the whole process.  This is very comforting when last minute changes take place and quick decisions have to be made.

b)  He/she will negotiate the contracts with your vendors so all you have to do is tell your Planner what you like and, most importantly, what you don’t like, and he/she will make sure you get what you want.

c)  Help design the wedding to suit your style and personality.

2)  Should I hire my planner before booking the venue?

Whenever possible you should hire your planner as soon as you get engaged so they are there to help give you the vision you have for your special day.

3)  If my venue offers a coordinator do I still need a wedding planner?

A planner that you hire is always on your side.  If you use the coordinator of the venue, their job is to make sure you buy lots of food, beverages, etc.  However,  your planner can help you with your overall budget and will keep it in mind and also what’s most important to you.

4)  If I find vendors that I especially like on my own, say for example, a wedding favor company, is it okay to tell my Planner that I want this particular vendor?

This is your special day, and of course you can let your Planner know of any specific wishes you have, venues or vendors you especially want to use.  The Planner is there to carry out your wishes, and is happy to do so.

5)  Can I hire a Planner just for the wedding day?

Yes, you can hire a planner for the day diy wedding planningand he/she will execute all the plans you have made.  Of course,  this means you have to be extremely organized, have every detail planned and written down so they are able to do their job efficiently.  You’ll need to make lots of lists, have a vendor list with phone numbers and what you expect.  Getting cell phone numbers of the vendors is a very good idea in case they are stuck in traffic, etc. and the Planner needs to contact them.  Make sure you set aside time to go over all the details with the Planner if they are only going to be there the day of your wedding.

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