If The Bow Fits, Flaunt It!

When I was a little girl, my sisters and I always had a bow in our hair.  We were told to wear play clothes to shoot a commercial and the director told us to remove our bows because children didn't play in bows.  Well, Mr. Director, we did!  

How fitting to incorporate a piece of your childhood into your wedding day look or decor?  Besides my obvious nostalgia, bows have become a favorite wedding accessory because of their classic femininity and playfulness.  Try adding a bow or ribbon to details on your big day to highlight your girly-girl side.

BHLDN Tiered Tulip Gown, Dear Golden Vintage Shoes, Bridesmaids Dresses, Headband, Etsy Garter, Chloe Bow Clutch

Jen

The Final Four....... Weeks

This weekend sports fans across the country will be gathering to watch the top four men's and women's college basketball teams duke it out during the Final Four Tournament.  At Four Leaf Events, however, we are excited about a different "final four."  Today marks four weeks until the royal wedding of the century and we cannot believe it's almost here!

www.princeofwales.gov.uk

The wedding planning process can seem like forever until you hit the final weeks and you wonder where the time has gone.  It is important to keep on schedule and on task so that the last month will be easy sailing.  Here are a few of the most important things that you, along with Kate, can expect to tackle during the final month:

Visit Your Hair Dresser- If you are updating your do before the wedding be sure to give your frocks enough time for the color to settle and the cut to become more natural.

Manage RSVP's- Most invite responses will not start coming in until just before (or after!) the catering deadline, so you can expect a rush of mail in these final weeks.

Create A Seating Chart- Unfortunately, assigning seats can be a long, frustrating process, and cannot be completed until you have received all RSVP's and contacted those who have not yet responded.

Get Your Marriage License- If you would like for your wedding to be legal, then this step is a must and cannot be filed more than a month before your nuptials. 

Schedule A Final Dress Fitting- Excessive exercise and stress can really take a toll, thus it is important to make sure your dress is perfectly fitted to the current version of you so that nothing is falling off or falling out on the big day!

Love And Trust Your Wedding Planner- With all of the pesky little details surrounding the final four weeks, there is nothing that can put your mind at ease more than a professional taking on the stressful tasks.  Treat yourself like a royal by hiring a wedding planner! 

Jen

p.s. Check back after Will & Kate's wedding for pictures from Four Leaf Events' very own Royal Wedding Party!  

Top Dress Trends For Your Bridal Party

InStyle.com recently ran a feature on their top trends for formal dresses.  The list was made up of 13 categories of which we have chosen our favorite examples to share with you.  If you are looking for dress styles that will keep your bridal party (and yourself!) looking classy and current, then take notes...

Kate Beckinsale                                          Eva Mendes                                           Ashley Olsen

The one-shoulder dress is timeless, sophisticated, and looks great on all bust sizes.  The large yet subtle pattern on the printed strapless dress adds a flare that will stand the test of time.  A column gown is sleek, yet best for tall or slender figures.

Vanessa Hudgens                                    Olivia Wilde                                        Anne Hathaway

Rosettes add romance and whimsy, especially when used on soft palette gowns. This ethereal gown in particular is extremely feminine and classy for a bridesmaid or even a bride. Embellished necklines fancy up your bridal party for instant red carpet appeal.

 

Anne Hathaway                                  Taylor Momsen                                       Malin Akerman

Having each of your girls wear a different gown in coordinating primary colors adds a very "Sex-And-The-City" glam to your bridal party. We love this option for a smaller bridal party. More than four girls at the alter in a rainbow of colors will cause too much distraction and theme chaos! 

 

Freida Pinto                                           JoAnna Garcia                                       Carrie Underwood

If you have chosen a mini dress for your bridesmaids, be sure the neckline isn't too revealing to keep their look sophisticated.  If you're going with a floral gown, try a larger, non-repetitive pattern to steer away from the casual "sundress" look.  Metallic bead dresses are a fun reception dress option for you to wear as a reception dress and wow your guests with your wardrobe change!

 

Eva Mendes                                     Olga Kuylenko                                     Cameron Diaz

Retro styles have definitely made a comeback, just be sure your dress selection isn't too costumey. Mermaid dresses are bursting with drama and feminine flair making them perfect for an evening wedding.  Choosing the right color pink for your gals to wear can make or break their entire look.  Too bubblegum, too Pepto, bright... we think that Cameron's selection was right on the money!

Jen 

Blooming With Color

Spring is finally here and color is on the brain... wedding color schemes to be more precise.  Choosing the right colors for your wedding is sometimes one of the bravest decisions you will make as a bride.  You will have to decide what colors will work well with each other, with the venue, on your bridesmaids, for the season and still not take the attention away from you and your groom.  So how DO you decide?

The Perfect Palette

The Perfect Palette Blog is one of my favorite resources for finding, well, the perfect palette!  This blog allows you to search by color to find other colors that go together in blissful harmony.  You will also find inspiration boards with gorgeous pictures from real weddings that feature all of the colors in your scheme.  Can't decide on a color to get you started?  Browse their palette library to search gobs of inspiration boards that are bound to get you on track.

The Perfect Palette

Another great resource is BBJ Linen, or any linen company for that matter, and their virtual design center .  Matching your shades to what is available in linen rentals will help you to pick a shade that is easier to match with other details in your wedding.  Oftentimes you can get sample swatches of your linen colors to have with you when you are picking out paper products, bridesmaid dresses, flowers, jewelry, etc.  No mismatching or clashing colors at your wedding!

BBJ Linen Gallery

Of course, Four Leaf Events loves assisting in color selection and overall design of your big day.  CONTACT US to see what we can create for you!  

Jen

Lucky Wedding Details

Today we celebrate St. Patrick's Day, and, as I am sure many of you can guess, my favorite part about today are the four leaf clovers (I'm sporting an excessive 3 today)!  I love the shape of the four leaf clover as a symbol of faith, hope, love, and luck, of which it takes all four to succeed in life.  So why not tie this symbol of good tidings into the day you join in a new life with your groom?  


These details do not have to be "Irish-y" or "St. Patrick's Day-ish" and can be incorporated into your event without it being an overwhelming theme.  A four leaf clover charm can be added to a bouquet, a bracelet or necklace, a garter, or even a bustle.  Cuff-links are a classic way to use four leaf clovers and a special touch if the groom has Irish roots!  Or you could spread the luck to your guests by adding a crafty fabric or real four leaf clover at their place-setting.   

necklace, theknot.com bouquet, etsy.com garter, antique cufflinks

Here's to being lucky in love!

Jen

Top 3 Everlasting Bouquets

With spring around the corner, wedding season will be in full bloom and so will the bouquets. But this season, consider a more quirky, unique bouquet that we like to call "everlasting bouquets," because they last beyond the wedding. Made of nonperishable materials, these are the ultimate keepsakes to remember your special day. Not to mention, they are BEAUTIFUL! Here are my top three favorite kinds of everlasting bouquets.

Shells

These would be perfect for a destination wedding, or perhaps for a bride who just wants to bring an element of the beach to her. Whatever the case, shells are a fantastic touch.

Water Lily Bridal Bouquet, Martha Stewart Shell Bouquet

Feathers

Feathers are an incredibly chic and sassy alternative to flowers. And to keep the bouquet within the everlasting guidelines, try using silk flowers to compliment the feathers rather than fresh flowers.

Feather Bouquets by Emplume, via Modern Wedding

And if you feel that a full feather bouquet is too much for you, use feathers to simply accent your bouquet.

Kelly Lane Photography via Exhale! Events and Design

Brooches

And last, but certainly not least, my favorite kind of everlasting bouquet: the brooch bouquet. It is beautiful, can be tailored to suit a bride specifically, can be sentimental, and did I already say beautiful? Finally, I've found a fantastic use for my great-great-grandmother's old brooches!

Alice Hu Photography via Ruffled

Vintage Brooch Bouquet, How to Vintage Brooch Bouquet

And how about this gorgeous creation? Incorporating fabric flowers, feathers AND garnet brooches! It is, in my opinion, the ultimate, exquisite everlasting bouquet.

Handmade Feather Bouquet with Red Garnet

Flowers are classic. There is no doubt about that. But everlasting bouquets are fun! This is your day, so be creative and do what you want to do! The possibilities are endless.

Jaimee

Fresh Picked Fabric Boutonnieres

While I love the look of the Fred-Astaire-classic floral boutonniere, the modern groom seems to be searching for something less traditional and I am all for it!  Coordinating pocket squares is a rich and simple way to dress up the men in your bridal party without pinning on the garden.  If you love the look of a flower on the lapel, then check out my top pick of fabric boutonnieres featured on Martha Stewart Weddings' Best Boutonnieres Gallery:

Martha Stewart Weddings

If you love these looks and you weren't born with the crafting gene, then our creative services can help!  Contact Four Leaf Events to find out how we can stitch, pin, glue, cut, and sew your visions into fruition.


Looking for something more quirky for your groom?  Then skootch on over to April Foster's blog on unique custom boutonnieres.  (We both so happened to have our brains on the same topic today!)

Jen