Color Wheel Chart

1. Pale Bule & Black – a new classic
2. Red & Gold – dramatic, with an Asian kick
3. Yellow& Gold – sunny and fun
4. Green & White – the Palm Beach palette
5. Coral & Cream – warm, updated nudes
6. Black & White – art-deco essentials
7. Turquoise & Navy – an oceanic mix
8. Khaki & Lemon – chic but, man-friendly
9. Moss & Apricot – the soft side of preppy
10. French Blue & White – brisk and beachy

Everyone loves to be loved.

- Mark Spitz

Wedding Floral Pomanders

The pricey floral pomanders worked hard for their money:  They hung from the altar during the ceremony, then were moved to the reception tables to be used as centerpieces.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Bridesmaids Luncheon

Let’s face it: Weddings go by in such a blur that after the dishes have cleared and the flowers begin to wilt, many brides realize they never really had a chance to spend some quality time with their nearest and dearest. That’s what makes bridesmaids’ luncheons so great: They afford the perfect opportunity to get together and enjoy some time with your closest girlfriends one last time before the main event. They’re entirely optional, but this fun and typically hassle-free soiree is definitely worth your while. So what does it entail? 

Think of the bridesmaids’ luncheon or tea like a reverse bridal shower in which you’re now the hostess. The etiquette surrounding the bridesmaids’ luncheon is pretty flexible, so feel free to adapt to suit your needs. The “luncheon” can be dinner, brunch, an afternoon of pampering at the nearby spa, or a group activity of some kind.

Obviously all of the bridesmaids and junior bridesmaids will be in attendance, along with your mom and your fiancé’s mom. Other attendees may include your close female relatives – sisters, cousins, aunts – as well as any flower girls. Regardless, it’s usually best to try to keep it intimate. This may be one of the few times during the whirlwind wedding weekend when you can relax and enjoy some close, quiet time with the special women in your life. Think of it as a bittersweet, fond farewell.

Unlike showers, bridesmaids’ luncheons aren’t typically centered around planned games and activities. The one constant is that you thank your bridesmaids, either formally in a prepared speech or toast, or one-on-one throughout the event. The luncheon is also a great time to present your bridesmaids’ gifts, along with any gifts to the moms and grandmothers in attendance.

If you make it plain you like people, it’s hard for them to resist liking you back.

- Lois McMaster Bujold

Wedding Budget

The numbers are in, and they aren’t pretty.  With the average wedding cost between $10,000 and $28,000, it’s no wonder tackling the budget is one of the most overwhelming tasks on your to-do list.  Here is help to put it all in perspective and build a plan of attack.

Step 1: Talk to all contributing parties

As the cost of weddings increase, so does the number of people paying for them (good news for the bride’s parents, who no longer need to take out a second mortgage to fund their daughter’s nuptials). You’ll need to sit down with everyone who is going to contribute to the wedding-day piggy bank and discuss how to logically divide the tab and arrive at a total number. 

Step 2: Allocate totals for each service accordingly

Now that you’ve arrived at a reasonable total budget, you’ll need to determine where that money is going to go.  Come up with a list of items, vendors, and details you’ll need, and how much you’ll allocate to each.  Then you can customize each amount based on your style and priorities. For instance, if a fabulous wedding gown is particularly important to you, you may splurge in that area, and make up for it by cutting back on your floral arrangements.

What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul.

- Yiddish proverb

Tux Grooms Cake

For the groom who loves Mickey