Let's figure it out: Centerpieces

This is the first installment of "Let's figure it out" is all about wedding centerpieces. This has kind of been at the bottom of my priority list for a few reasons:

1. My reception location provides generic centerpieces (mirror with votive candles or a small white vase with fresh flowers of my choice).
2. Do people really care and remember centerpieces? I've been to a lot of weddings the past 2 years and I can remember one of the centerpieces
3. They can't be that time consuming to create, right?

I recently had a craft night with my bridesmaids and the topic of centerpieces came up. I knew I wanted to use cut wine bottles (recycled from my friend Kate's wedding) and have the table number/name somewhere on the centerpiece. We started playing around with one of the cut bottles and an empty bottle we had to see what looked best, and it was a LOT more difficult that I thought. There is a fine line between too minimal and way too much, and just adding small things like ribbon and lights made drastic changes to the look of the whole thing.

I am a wannabe DIY diva, so I have lots of ideas and I tend to like everything I see on pinterest but my execution of my ideas rarely go as planned. One of my bridesmaids has taught me the mantra of "Less is more." because it is really easy to get carried away with the lights, flowers and glitter.

My advice to to start with the largest part of your centerpiece, for me that would be the wine bottles, and consider the following:

1. Does it go with your theme and/or color scheme?
2. Does it hinder conversation at the table? (My personal pet peeve)
3. Does it look lazy? (ie: Sprinkling confetti on each table)
4. How much would it be for all of the tables?
5. Can it be duplicated?

Then build out from the largest part. A good centerpiece compliments the reception location, doesn't take up a large portion of the table, sparks instead of hinders conversation and is symmetrical. While creating my centerpieces, we experimented with varying heights, lights, ribbon, tulle and LED candles. When we finally thought we had something, I went to take a picture for my fiance and I realized that it we created something with a beautiful front, and a unappealing back.

The last thing to consider with centerpieces is who will be putting them up for you. Some people are able to put up their own based on when they have access to their reception site, but others are not that lucky. Pick out people you trust and take pictures of your completed centerpieces and leave instructions if there are extra steps (ie pulling out the battery tabs in the LED tea lights). I cannot brag about my reception site (Alpine Banquets, in Darien IL) enough, they actually will set up the centerpieces for you so that way no one needs to stress about the set up of the banquet hall.

And as always remember to give yourself plenty of time and plenty of supplies when crafting. I made bags for my bridesmaids when I asked them, and I am embarrassed by how many times I had to go back to Michael's to get more supplies.

I am always trying to make my wedding planning more fun, so I held a girls/craft night for my bridesmaids where we made shirts, worked on save the dates and played around with centerpiece set ups. We had a ton of fun and got a ton done. No one said you have to do this all alone.

--the southside bride

Tiffany Blue Wedding

I have always loved Tiffany blue, not because of the brand, but simply for the perfect blend of blue and green. When we started planning, I went in really wanting this color without realizing what a challenge it would be to actually find the color. For those of you who don't know, Tiffany blue is actually a copyrighted color which is part of the reason why its so difficult to find. Since I am a bit stubborn I've done a lot of research on the color and I hope this information will help!

Actual color code:

Tiffany blue: 60DFE5

Bridesmaid dresses:

Another Bride posted on Weddingbee a list of designers who have the Tiffany color (or something close) and I added a few more.

Aria Dress –color AquaWatters and Watters –color TiffanyJim Hjelm — color TurquoiseLazaro –color AquaKathlin Argiro –color Tiffany BlueMackenzie Michaels –color TiffanyJordan Fashions –color AquaForever Bridals– color AquaSaeyoung Vu Couture –color Tiffany
La Femme- Aqua/Aquamarine
Bill levkoff- Glacier


David's bridal has a pool which they will claim is close, and in store the color swatch does look close, but I've seen how pool looks in pictures and it's really is much more blue that expected. 

I personally recommend asking to see the color swatches before even trying on dresses that way you and the girls don't fall in love with a dress that you can't have. Also once you have the bridesmaid dresses you officially have your shade of Tiffany to base the colors for the rest of the wedding decorations.
 
Decorations

It's easy to get wrapped up in buying things online and then realizing once they come in that it's more of a mint green instead of a Tiffany blue. Do some leg work. Both Michaels and Jo Ann fabrics have large amounts of fabric and ribbons that are Tiffany. Wyla inc. fabrics has a Tiffany in various satin, tulle, etc
and is available in both stores. 

Invitations and Paper

If you are getting your invites professionally done then confirming the color with your designer is all you need. Again, having a color swatch from the dresses for them to work with will make everyone's lives easier.
But if you are DIY bride like me, sometimes it's difficult to find a Tiffany cardstock without breaking the bank. If you have the time, Summer time clearance at places like michael's and archivers are your best chances to get that Tiffany blue pallet. If you missed that window, just keep watching for coupons to bring those prices down. And when printing be sure to print a few testers to get your printer settings correct.

As I find more, I'll post more on the lovely world of Tiffany.

--The southside bride

Wedding Photo Pose checklist

Thanks to sites like pinterest it's now incredibly easy to find and share ideas for wedding pictures. But sometimes that can be a bit overwhelming and what if you forget to do one in the moment? Here's some easy tips to make sure you get the perfect smiles you want.
1. If you're still looking for a photographer, pick out 10~15 poses and bring then with you when you interview them. You'd be surprised at how picky some photographers are when it comes to things like using your own props, sparklers our different camera effects. If they seem hesitant, move on. They consider your wedding to be an expansion of their work, so their own judgments on color, angles and poses can outweigh your wants.
2. If you have a photographer already, print out a medium sized checklist of poses you want. Remember a photographer will take hundreds of pictures, so a list of 20+ really isn't crazy. Plus with a larger list, if a few are skipped do to time or the photographers bias then at least you have a good chunk of pictures you like in the mix.
3. Try for a good mix. Some people are strictly traditional or only candid but most of us are somewhere in between. Even if you are leaning one way over the other, be sure to have just a few shots of the other side of the spectrum. This way when you're showing off your pictures everyone looking at them will be pleased and you will have a more complete collection of moments from the wedding.
4. Do something fun. Be it sexy, just for the two of you shots or silly faces with the moms. There is something about staged entertainment that will leave you laughing for years to come.
5. Let the bridal party pick a few poses. These people are the ones who have probably seen the best and worst of you and your other half. Shots showing off your relationship with them will surely be part of the favorites

Smile big
-the southside bride