Photo Courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

It is long standing tradition that the wedding party dresses up the new couple’s getaway car to announce the happy occasion. We all think of tin cans and string, but there are other options! Try tying it into the theme of the reception. Have fun with this. Be creative. Make sure everyone knows that this couple was ‘Just Married!’

Brides.com

Brides.com

Brides.com

From top left: J.Crew Dress; InStyle Weddings Table Display; J.Crew Shoes, Clutch, and Dress; InStyle Weddings Anchor Placecard; Brides.com Nautical Cake; Dolce Press Letterpress; The Knot Bouquet

Now I may be a bit partial to this theme as my husband is in the Navy, but I really love the combination of navy blue and yellow. If you are planning a spring or summer wedding near the water, keep this in mind! There are so many fun accents you could use to dress up your day. The lighthouse cake might be a bit overboard (pun intended), but you could use fresh blueberries and yellow flowers on a white cake to subtly tie in the theme!

Did you use this color palette for your wedding?

Thanks to a few of my co-workers, I have discovered The Macbeth Collection and now I’m slightly obsessed! This collection of home accessories and storage containers is absolutely adorable. From vases, to bins, to office accessories, you can add some style and flair to your life with these fun and unique patterns. They would even be perfect as reception accents. If you are having a more casual or outdoor wedding reception, these bins would be great to hold favors, beverages, or use them on a candy buffet to compliment your color scheme. You may also want to use a smaller bucket for your welcome gift to out of town guests. So many options!

Add a little fun and fantasy to your wedding with feathers! The Hostess with the Mostess Blog highlighted these images as a twist on typical decor. Use feathers in your bouquets and in your centerpieces in addition to flowers or on their own. I used feathers a couple years ago as centerpieces for a New Year’s party and they looked great!

I have come to love the inspiration boards at Snippet & Ink, especially this pistachio and cream board. These colors would be wonderful for a spring garden wedding. Depending on your style, you can dress this color pallete up with an accent of copper or bronze or keep it casual. As it is, the soft shades have a calming effect, which is always a plus on the wedding day!

I originally saw these photos in an issue of InStyle Weddings and fell in love with this color palette. The combination of pink and gold evoke a sense of elegance without being too formal. The metallic trim is the perfect accent to the softness and femininity of the various shades of pink. Beautiful!

Are you planning a pink and gold wedding?

In the madness that is wedding planning, many important elements may be overlooked. Lighting can make such a difference in the overall appearance and mood of your room, that I would definitely suggest taking the time to experiment. Candles have always been a great, and less expensive, way to add ambience to a special event. Use candles along the aisle for your ceremony, as centerpieces for the reception, or as an accent to showcase your cake or guest book table.

Check with your venue to be sure they actually allow real candles. If not, there are many creative alternatives.