By Georgina Clatworthy 

With summer now in full bloom many of you brides-2-b who are getting married after the summer will be turning your attention to your wedding decorations & finishing touches.  For those of you who are getting married in the fall months this will now be your main priority within your wedding planning.

I am never quite sure when Fall begins, some have it as late September & others mid October.  Personally I let nature dictate when it begins by noting the color change in the leaves on the trees outside my house.  So for the purposes of this article we will say Fall runs from mid-September to mid-November.

If you are planning a Fall wedding then here are a few ideas to help inspire you:

Colors: at this time of year nature gives us a wealth of wonderful colors to work with, from dark browns to burnt orange, amber, red, gold & yellow there is a wonderful spectrum to choose from.  As each color compliments themselves you can choose to work with many colors in your wedding details.

Patterns & motifs: instantly we think about leaves as a motif for stationery & other elements.  Try skeleton leaves for something a little different or choose a specific tree leaf which is local to you, for instance, oak, beech or ash.

Other suggestions come from harvest time, so think about pumpkins, corn bundles & seasonal produce.  Fall is a bountiful time & you may be surprised by what is on offer.

In terms of patterns, checks & ginghams are popular choices & ones which seem to fit the season very well.

Wedding favors: you will find a wealth of Fall inspired wedding favors to choose from, perhaps more so than any other season.  From leaf shaped bottle stoppers & bookmarks to glass coasters & scented soaps.

If you prefer to make you own try some recipes of seasonal dishes such as cider punch, spiced apple sauce & pumpkin soup.  Give out little Hessian bags with seasonal flower bulbs or back your own leaf shaped cookies. 

Table centers: some of the best I have seen have been created in hollowed out pumpkins sometimes filled with flowers or carved with the couples initials (jack-o-lantern style) & lit from within with a votive candle.

Choose natural looking containers for your center pieces such as wooden boxes, hollowed out tree logs or terracotta plant pots.  Keep flowers seasonal also & in traditional autumnal colors.

Food & beverage: if you haven’t sorted this out already then consider some of the dishes mentioned above.  Serve up pumpkin soup, a second course consisting of roast pork with seasonal vegetables & spiced apple sauce & finish with a dessert made with seasonal fruits such as blackberries & apples.

Welcome your guests with a glass of cider punch when they arrive & serve up rich wines with a hint of blackberry throughout the meal.

Decorations: depending on your venue you could choose a harvest festival style decoration with bundles of corn, garlands of seasonal fruit & vegetables & standard copper beech trees.

As an alternative make your own bunting in fall colored gingham & patterned fabrics.  Arrange scented tea lights in amber colored glasses on tables & hang orange ‘pumpkin’ paper shades from the ceiling.  You could also collect freshly fallen leaves & make your own garlands, also using them as place cards by writing your guests names on them with gold marker pen.  Don’t collect leaves that are too dry as they will be too brittle to work with & look for leaves with an interesting array of colors.

 By Georgina Clatworthy 

2009 sees many couples having to compromise on their wedding budgets, largely due to the global recession.  However, having to cut back on cost has not meant having to cut back on style & this year sees the best weddings being the most glamorous.

Large weddings are out, mostly due to cost cutting, so smaller more intimate affairs are on trend.  This means that couples then have more cash to play with & are choosing glamorous details & finishing touches worthy of a millionaires wedding!

Wedding dresses this year are very much in the ballgown style with large skirts & an abundance of crystal accents.  This trend for crystal beading continues with bridal shoes & accessories with the return of crystal chokers, chandelier earrings & sparkling tiaras.

But whilst ballgowns may be the big news in wedding fashion, many designers have continued with last years hot look of mermaid & trumpet gowns, as well as some stunning modified A-line styles.  Crystal accents with a touch of vintage appeal abound & you could be hard pressed to find a dress that didn’t include them!

But whilst you may be thinking all this glamour will be costly, the industry has responded to the recession crisis & you will find many budget options available as the style hits the top across all price ranges. 

Crystal seems the keyword here, appearing not only on wedding attire, but in wedding favors, wedding cakes & bridal bouquets.  Colors are slightly more sedate with emerald green, latte, chocolate brown & shades of purple.  Metallic is also a hot color trend with schemes of purple & silver proving very popular.

All of this may sound a little over the top to most but this trend has the potential for producing some very stylish & elegant weddings.  Using each element in small doses is the key & adopting a less is more approach has become the buzz phrase of the year!

Consider an elegant scheme of latte, cream & chocolate.  Add brushed silver or gold in the form of charger plates, center piece containers & in your wedding favors & wedding cake. Scatter some table crystals across the table & hang chandeliers from the ceiling. 

As guest lists get smaller then the various elements of the wedding become more glamorous.  Menu’s feature sumptuous dishes, reception venues are more luxurious & the finer details more beautiful.  It could even be said that the credit crisis has been good for the wedding industry, making couples spend more on the little details with smaller retailers rather than spending big dollars with larger vendors.

So go on & plan yourself a luxury wedding with all the glamorous details & trimmings.  It is your special day & you deserve to have a wedding that looks a million dollars even if it didn’t cost it!

 By Georgina Clatworthy

Throughout your wedding planning you will probably be told about how important paying attention to detail is & how it is the finishing touches that will make your wedding unique.  But much of the time you are not told exactly what these details or finishing touches are!

Colors & themes:  you will probably have begun thinking about your wedding colors without any prompting; it seems natural to most of us to use a combination of colors for almost everything we do.  Be it weddings or simply getting dressed in the morning!  What is important now is that every little detail & every finishing touch matches or coordinates with those colors.

Details actually lend themselves to providing accent colors, which are often very bold & which many would shy away from using in any great quantity.  Consider a scheme of pale pink & cream – a timeless wedding classic!  Adding details in chocolate brown or antique gold would bring this scheme to life & add interest.

With themes you need to coordinate your details with not only color in mind but theme as well.  Table centers arranged in Grecian urns would look odd in a Medieval wedding theme.  Likewise an Art Deco wedding theme would look strange presented in a color scheme of aqua blue & chocolate brown!  With wedding themes it pays to do some research & collect together a scrapbook of images showing various details which you could use.

Motifs, patterns & monograms: these will all be things you will consider primarily for your wedding stationery & then continue in smaller details at your wedding.  For instance, wedding monograms are popular on stationery, labels or tags on wedding favors & decoration on the wedding cake.

Patterns can not only be incorporated into your wedding stationery, but also into your table linens, napkins, wedding cake & wedding favors.

Motifs are another important element used in weddings.  Consider how bells & doves have become synonymous with weddings although these days many brides will choose something less traditional.  If you choose a motif for your wedding invitations continue it on your wedding programs, menus & other stationery items.  Also include it on your wedding favors either in printed labels, stickers or tags.

Flowers: Even if you don’t intend on using them for your table centers you will still have some floral elements such as your bouquet & bridesmaid posies.  Ensure your flowers coordinate with your wedding style & colors, for instance if your wedding has an Asian theme choose exotic flowers like orchids & other blooms like lilies, chrysanthemum’s & dahlias.  If your wedding is traditional in style then choose traditional flowers like roses, lilies & baby’s breath.

Wedding favors:  coordinate your choice of favor with your wedding style or theme & if there is a color choice coordinate that as well.  Do the same with your packaging, choosing color coordinated packaging &/or decorations such as ribbons, tags & stick on embellishments.

To finish here is a handy list of all the finishing touches & little details you need to consider:

• Colors
• Theme
• Motifs/monograms
• Patterns
• Flowers
• Table centers
• Wedding cake & topper
• Wedding stationery
• Wedding favors
• Your accessories
• Your attendants accessories
• Your table linens, crockery, cutlery & glassware
• Decorations for the venue
• Guestbook

 By Georgina Clatworthy 

Weddings don’t have to be grand formal affairs with function rooms & posh wedding favors.  Planning your wedding with nature in mind can result in a wedding that is fun, relaxed & full of adorable details that are unique & personable.

Here are a few tips to help you put together a beautiful wedding, inspired by nature.

The venue: It has to be outdoors.  Think about parks, woodlands or gardens.  You can erect a marquee if you feel the need for shelter perhaps from the sun & as somewhere to retreat in the cooler evening temperatures.

The reception: Treat you guests to gourmet picnic baskets & provide them with picnic blankets to sit on.  Serve up dishes made with seasonal produce, which could also be organic & locally grown. 

Decorate the venue with garlands of fresh flowers & foliage.  For a fragrant air incorporate fresh herbs as well.  Use candles for decorative lighting & paper lanterns hung in colorful clusters.

Details: If you do provide tables & chairs go for rustic looking wooden ones & make table centers of fresh herbs & seasonal flowers in small metal pails, enamel jugs or jars. 

Choose a simple wedding cake design & decorate it with sprigs of fresh herbs & wild flowers.

Instead of a guest book ask your guest to write their messages on small pieces of paper & peg them to a tree or line to create a wishing tree. 

Use natural elements for place cards such as apples, pears or citrus fruits.  Simply write the guests names on small strips of paper & pin them onto the fruit.  For decorative accents choose butterflies, birds & cute bugs!

For colors choose green as your main color & accent it with white, natural tones of brown or cream.  For a more vibrant scheme incorporate citrus yellow, with lemons as a decorative accent throughout.  Or use several shades of green & choose a single flower as a signature, such as a dog daisy, for a pretty scheme with a country feel.

You can incorporate patterns as well such as gingham, polka dots or checks.  Using these patterns in accents such as ribbons adds a vintage touch to the whole scheme & a homely feel.

Wedding favors: Stick with the natural theme & give seeds or flower bulbs, coordinating them with the flowers you have used for your wedding.  Give out recipes for favorite foods from your families, such as cakes, pies & savories. 

Give little pots of fresh herbs or special herb mixes that you have put together yourself & presented in a small tin or linen bag.

If your budget will run to it then tree seedlings are a popular new trend for favors.  They make a gift that will last forever (hopefully!) & they are good for the environment!

Flowers: Choose seasonal blooms which are locally grown.  You could even grown your own flowers at home planting them early enough so they will be in full bloom by your wedding date.

Wildflowers are a great alternative to garden flowers & make stunning but understated displays.  Daisies, chrysanthemums, stocks & hydrangeas are all popular choices & don’t cost the earth either.

Choose pretty hand tied bouquets for yourself & your bridesmaids, simple arrangements for your table centers & a floral ring for your flower girl – give her a basket of wild flower petals to strew in front of you as you glide down the aisle!

 By Georgina Clatworthy

Now that summer is here my thoughts are turning to wonderful summer wedding themes.  Here I have looked at a tropical theme which provides a colorful & eyecatching color palette.

Whether your wedding is on a distant tropical shore (you lucky things!) or closer to home, this theme will work anywhere & really gives a sense of anything goes!  Here is my take on creating a tropical wedding scheme that everyone will love.

Colors: Go for vibrant fuchsia pink, bright red, orange, lime green & aqua blue for a fiesta style scheme.  This opens up many possibilities for your decorations, accessories & flowers – something your florist will love you for!

If you want something a little more subtle then choose a combination of two colors teamed with white.  For instance, try combining fuchsia pink, aqua blue & white; or lime green, aqua blue & white.  

Locations: As mentioned this scheme can really work anywhere.  Beaches perhaps offer the best venue, but gardens, marquees & open spaces can work equally as well. 

This theme doesn’t have to be confined to a summer wedding either.  Beat the winter blues by using for a winter wedding; just find a location with a large room so you have a space that is light & airy – opulent ballrooms would be a step too far with this scheme!

Food & Drink: If you are outside then a B-B-Q is perfect with some tropical inspired dishes. 

Serve up a refreshing lemon sorbet for dessert – the perfect foil for spicy Jamaican food!

Serve up Pina Colada’s during cocktail hour or some white rum punch complete with added tropical fruits.  For the non-alcoholic drinkers put together a refreshing fruit punch instead.

Decorations: Look for some colorful paper garlands, funky garden candles for outdoors & colorful glass candle holders.  Make your centerpieces from carved fruits & provide your guests with some colorful confetti in the form of orange & pink rose petals.

If you are having an outdoors buffet then let your guests help themselves with some colorful picnic tableware & glasses.  Afterwards they can relax on a fun hammock or take some shade under a colorful parasol.

Place Cards & Wedding Favors: Make pretty name cards from cocktail umbrella’s by adding a name tag wrapped around the stick.  Or print your own name & table number cards at home, add in some colorful tropical motifs such as hibiscus flowers, pineapples & pink flamingos.  Why not make your table numbers places instead by using postcards from your favorite tropical paradises.

For your wedding favors your could give out fun shaped cookies, candies in palm tree shaped boxes or create beautiful favor boxes by adding a gorgeous tropical flower head to the top.

Finishing Touches: Have your wedding cake made with tropical fruit flavors either in sponge or in a cheesecake variety.  Choose a different flavor for each tier & make sure they are colored accordingly, for instance one orange, one lemon, one lime; fill in the space between each tier with corresponding fresh fruits.

Have your guests entertained with a steel band.  They will create the laid-back feel of the Caribbean & get your guests in the party mood.

 By Georgina Clatworthy

Black & white is possibly one of the favorite wedding color schemes of all time.  It oozes sophistication & elegance & is very easy to put together.

I have put together two black & white schemes to inspire you.  The first is a vintage style scheme & the second a modern, contemporary scheme.

Vintage Black & White

This scheme relies upon the use of heavy patterns such as toiles, damasks & florals.  It is feminine but not overly so, so it should please the groom as well!

This scheme would fit many different styles of venue & wedding styles.  You can dress it up for a formal wedding or tone it down for a more casual affair.

Dress your bridesmaids in dresses with a black & white pattern, either printed or embroidered.  You should look for a wedding dress with a vintage style & add some black accessories such as a belt or fancy jewelry.  If you are having a casual wedding then look for a less formal gown & wear a black silk flower in your hair.

You can add some feather butterflies to your centerpieces & other floral arrangements & dress your tables with damask table cloths & pretty vintage style china in plain white.  Balance the busy patterns with some plain elements or a simple geometric pattern, for instance add a black & white dance floor to the center of the room which will draw the eye.

If you wanted to add an additional color you could try blush pink for a truly vintage feel or swap pure white for pale cream or ivory to soften the look.

Modern Black & White

This scheme is for uber sophisticates & is extremely elegant & stylish.  It relies on clean simple lines & geometric patterns to add symmetry.  There is nothing flouncy or fluffy here either but the scheme is not cold or hard to the eye.

Avoid the over use of pattern as this would be too busy & look over done.  You may prefer to use patterns in small doses, such as ribbons on menus & patterned napkins.

Your bridesmaids can be dressed in stylish black dresses with white sashes, whilst you choose a modern mermaid style gown with a black sash or if you prefer simple black jewelry.

For your flowers look to the elegant calla lilly in black & white.  You can choose to use one color on its own or mix the two together if you feel it is too overpowering.

If you wanted to add additional colors try grey which is very trendy at the moment or for a gothic feel you can add scarlet red.  Add sunny yellow for a spring wedding in the form of contemporary flower arrangements.  The yellow acts as a nice foil to the static black & white.

There is a temptation here to add in sparkly crystal & mirrored accessories.  Personally I would avoid using them as it could make your scheme look like a tacky nightclub.  That said though, a few mirrored coasters under your centerpieces could add a nice accent to your tables.

This scheme would work best in an environment which is all white.  Imagine a grand ballroom with white marble columns & floors & plain white walls with crystal chandeliers.  A tall order I know, but you get the general idea!

 By Georgina Clatworthy

After you have decided on the venue & the style or theme of your wedding it is time to turn your attention to your reception room by bringing together everything you will need to create the ‘look’.

This is an exhaustive list, & by no means a complete one, as creative brides will often think up other little extras to add in.  But I have tried to cover the basics & it is up to you to then add in anything else you feel is necessary.

Furniture – The venue may provide all this for you, including tables, chairs, extra side tables etc.  If you are perhaps hiring an empty hall or erecting a marquee in the garden then you will need to bring in your own.  A marquee company may have furniture packages for you to choose from, although you might want to look elsewhere to get better prices.

You will need to hire in:

•  Tables – top table & smaller tables for your guests to sit at. If you are having a buffet then you will need long tables on which to layout the food.
• Side tables – to display your wedding cake on & one for the wedding gifts & guestbook. You might also want some small tables to display your flower arrangements on.
• Chairs
• Other items to consider are sofas, couches or benches so your guests can sit in comfort & relax in small groups, perhaps during the cocktail hour before moving to the dinner tables.

Table Linens – This includes table cloths, which can be large covers to cover the full table with smaller cloths over the top.  These are often presented in two colors according to the wedding scheme, for instance, a white cloth underneath with a pink one over the top.  Napkins in your chosen main wedding color, perhaps to match the top table cloth & chair covers.  Many brides choose to add these to bring some extra color or to hide ugly chairs.  Usually they are white but you may be able to get them in a range of other colors.  It is more common to use white ones with a colored sash tied around the top.

Don’t forget to hire in extra cloths for any additional tables & make sure you take into account the shape of your tables, round, square, rectangular, long.  Square cloths on round tables doesn’t work very well!  Be aware that is you hire in linens you will likely have to pay a cleaning charge as well.

China & Crockery – Again your venue may provide this but if it doesn’t or you do not like it then you will need to look to hire it in.  There a re many hire companies out there who can give you a range of styles & options to choose from, from classic white to vintage patterns, you can find crockery to match just about any wedding scheme.  Make sure you hire enough pieces & don’t forget that you will need plates for each course, bowls for dessert, side plates, serving plates & a few spares.  You should also think about coffee & tea cups along with milk jugs, coffee/tea pots & sugar bowls & extra plates on which to serve your wedding cake.  Take note of any charges for breakage & collection/delivery costs.

You might also want to look at adding in charger plates, which are large decorative plates which take the place of traditional place mats & sit underneath the main crockery.  They do make a nice decorative addition to your tables & are well worth considering.

Cutlery – From kings pattern to simple contemporary styles your choice of cutlery should also tie in with your wedding style.  A traditional wedding with lots of flowers & opulent touches would be complete with some luxurious gold plated kings style cutlery, whilst an Asian theme would be set off with some contemporary cutlery with bamboo style handles.

You will need to order the following items according to your menu:

• Knives & forks for the first course
• Soup spoons
• Fish knives & servers
• Knives & forks for each additional course
• Steak knives
• Dessert forks
• Dessert spoons
• Tea spoons
• Side knives – for bread & butter
• Servers – knives, spoons, tongs etc.

Don’t worry though as the hire company will be able to guide you, just furnish them with your menu & number of guests & they will do all the calculations for you.

Glassware – From cut crystal to smooth contemporary lines, your glassware can add the perfect finishing touches to your tables.  Some brides don’t like to use those often provided by venues as they can appear scratched or worn from years of being washed in a glass washer.  If you are a having a particular style or theme you may want a particular type of glassware to coordinate.

Glasses you will need to consider ordering include:

• Red wine glasses
• White wine glasses
• Champagne glasses
• Water glasses

These are the main types of glass usually found at a formal place setting.  Other types of glass such as beer or tumblers, will be provided by the venue or if you need to hire them in as well, you can choose a cheaper type as they won’t be part of your table settings.

Other items – You may also want to think about items such as hot food servers, chillers, serving platters, wine coolers or champagne buckets. A wedding cake stand if not provided by your cake maker.  There is also your entertainment to consider, things such as a dance floor, seating for your entertainment & tables.

 By Georgina Clatworthy

Once you have the basics in place for your reception – tables, chairs etc, it is time to turn your attention to the details.  I have already discussed table cloths & linens in the reception shopping list & other items such as charger plates, so this is about all those other little details that will transform your reception room from bland & boring, into fabulous & wow!

Centerpieces – These are the decorative arrangements that will sit in the center of your tables.  Traditionally floral arrangements, these days anything goes & creative brides are coming up with ever more unusual versions for their reception tables.

You will need centerpieces for each of your guests tables, arrangements for the top table, in which you might want to include your bouquet in front of yourself & your groom & arrangements for additional tables such as the wedding cake & guestbook/gift tables, although many brides will use their bridesmaids bouquets for these tables.

Seating Plan - Essentially a map telling your guests where they are seated.  It is usual for the seating plan to be presented on a large board displayed at the entrance to the reception room.  You can make one yourself or have one custom made for you in your wedding colors & to match your wedding stationery.

Lighting - Lighting can be vitally important for your reception as it will help to set the tone & atmosphere.  Your venue may already have a good lighting system in place allowing you to adjust the lighting in certain areas as you want.  Alternatively you may have to introduce additional ceiling lights or change the shades on the existing one (get permission first!) & add in some table or floor lights too. 

Take some time to think carefully about your lighting, if possible visit the venue at different times of the day so you can see how the natural light plays out over the course of the afternoon & into the evening, this will help you come up with a lighting scheme that will keep the atmosphere at a constant.  Adding some candles to your tables or into your centerpieces will also help the ambience, but ask the venue first if you can light them.

Place Cards – Such an important addition to your tables is often overlooked by brides.  Your place cards will provide the final finishing touch to your place settings so take some time to consider how to best present them.  In their simplest form they are handwritten tent cards, but you can also purchase small frames or holders to set them off to perfection.

Wedding Favors - These are the little gifts you give to your guests as a token of appreciation for joining you on your wedding day.  Never overlook wedding favors, many guests will expect them!  Coordinate them with your wedding style or theme, including the packaging.  You can double them up as place card holders or make the place card holders the wedding favor! 

Additional Decorations - These can include floral arrangements, which you may have brought over from the ceremony site, banners, garlands, paper lanterns, ornaments.  Whatever your style or theme make sure you add to the whole scheme with some additional decorations to complete the look.  Check out hire companies which specialize in props or interiors for some interesting items.

Extras - This includes your guestbook, post box for cards, cake stand & servers.

 By Georgina Clatworthy

Asian wedding themes have been a popular choice for some time now.  Couples like the symbolism associated with the theme & the delicate colors & motifs make a beautiful & elegant wedding scheme.

If you would like your wedding to have a taste of the orient, then here are some style tips to consider. 

Colors

The most popular choices are red & black with gold or pastel pink, green & gold.  Other colors include orange, brown, blue & ivory.  Many of the accents you would want for your wedding will be available in the first two combinations, but you could consider a Willow pattern scheme of blue & white, although this may lend itself better to a country house scheme rather than an Asian one.

Red & black lends itself to a very formal affair, whilst the pastel shades of pink & green would fit a number of wedding styles including formal & casual.

Reception Decorations

This is dependant on the color choices you make, so I will deal with the two most popular here.

Red & Black – Throwing a scheme of red & black around the room, could end with the result of your reception looking like a cheap casino! So it needs some careful forethought.  I would use red table cloths & gold chairs.  Your table centers could be large pillar candles in white surrounded by black river pebbles or potted bamboo.  Choose black chinaware, red napkins & accent with black chopsticks – which could also double as your wedding favors.  Rest your place cards on the back of white china cranes which also could double as favors.

Pink & Green – Look for Chinese silk table cloths that are embroidered with these shades.  Again choose gold chairs.  The beauty of these colors is in their subtlety so neither can be too overpowering.  The addition of patterned table cloths will highlight the Asian feel otherwise it could just look like another pink & green wedding scheme & your guests may miss point.  Your table centers could include branches of cherry blossom or again white pillar candles.  The china cranes will also work here & you should choose white chinaware, in a contemporary style & plain pink or green napkins.

You can decorate the rest of the room with paper lanterns & strung blossom flower garlands.  An Asian tradition is for the bride to make origami paper cranes, which you could use as wedding favors or attach to filament & suspend from the ceiling.

Flowers

For a red & black scheme I would choose orange Chinese lanterns, red spider chrysanthemums & small potted bamboo shoots.  Ask your florist for advice on the best flowers for this color scheme.

For a pink & green scheme you can choose peonies, cherry blossom, chrysanthemums, orchids, water lilies.

Wedding Favors

You will find a world of choice when it comes to wedding favors, here are just a few options:

• Chopsticks
• Fans
• Paper or china cranes
• Mini bamboo steamers
• Fortune cookies
• Candles
• Miniature potted bamboo

An Asian wedding theme will provide with much food for thought.  Every element of your wedding can easily be coordinated & you can create a stunning & stylish wedding scheme with relative ease.  It is worth also reading up on Asian wedding customs as you find much inspiration in them & some unique ideas for your wedding.

 By Georgina Clatworthy 

There is nothing as romantic as a wedding & a wedding that incorporates pink roses into its theme is not only romantic but very, very beautiful as well.   If you are busy planning your wedding & thinking about color schemes & themes, then take a look at the following for inspiration.

The Venue

This scheme would work anywhere, but is particularly suited to a garden wedding or a venue with luxurious surroundings.  Imagine a beautiful ballroom with opulent gold rococo decoration.

Colors

Pink obviously! Try to stick to just one shade of pale pink or match colors as closely as possible.  Add in white or cream & accent with an antique gold color.

Decorations

Cover your tables with a cream damask cloth & choose gold chairs.  Drape garlands of roses around the room, along with hanging lanterns – either metal candle lanterns or paper balloon shades.  The garlands can be made from fresh flowers, but fabric versions would be cheaper & easier to work with.

Have your florist make up floral table centers in vintage style urns.  Finish your tables with gold charger plates, gold place card holders & gold kings cutlery.  Choose plain china, perhaps with a gold rim & have your guests sip champagne from crystal glasses.  You can also add in pink tea lights or votives.

Flowers

Pink roses & peonies, white or cream roses, baby’s breath & pearl accents.  Parrot tulips in pale pink would also look nice.

Wedding Favors

Look for things with a romantic theme, try pink scented candles in gold colored holders; pink & gold colored heart shaped chocolates in plain boxes topped with a fresh rose bud; gold colored bud vases or crystal ones in which you can place a fresh rose; pink crystal paperweights.  Other options could include cupcakes decorated with buttercream icing & topped with a pink sugar rose or a mini cake covered in pink fondant & topped with a rose.

Wedding Cake

I once saw a wedding cake which looked just like a rose.  Each individual petal had been made by hand & the whole thing took two days to assemble!  If this is out of your budget & let’s face it, it is probably out of most people’s budgets, then choose equally beautiful that is in budget.  How about a multi tiered round cake, covered with white or cream buttercream icing & covered with a cascade of pink sugar roses or decorated with one of those rose garlands mentioned earlier.  Have a chat to your cake designer as they will come up with something perfect & which will match all the other elements of your wedding.

This scheme gives you the opportunity to create something romantic & beautiful & which will fit with a number of surroundings.  You can create the opulent scheme described above or give it a more rustic ‘French farmhouse’ feel by using wooden trestle tables & chairs & dispensing with the table cloths.

It really is one of those schemes which can be dressed up or down to suit the style of your wedding.