Red White and Blue

Steel Blue and Coral

Ivory and white

Watercolored Wedding

DIY Herbal Bouttonnieres

You will need:
13 small stems of herbs  (choose varying colors and shapes)
3 stems of small berries
floral tape
narrow ribbon

1: Start with a leaf stem like sage to be the backbone of your boutonniere. This leaf is just for support.
2. Place taller, lanky herbs like lavender and rosemary on top of the leaf. It’s OK for them to sit higher than the first leaf.
3. In front, place smaller rounder, herbs like oregano or thyme blossoms or fruit like blueberries. Heavier items always look nicer at the bottom with the leaner stems poking out the top
4. Secure with floral tape
5. Wrap the ribbon around the stems several times to disguise the floral tape while leaving a length of ribbon free to tie up the ribbon at the back of the boutonniere.

http://www.oncewed.com/20220/wedding-blog/diy-wedding/diy-herbal-bouttonnieres/

Budget Friendly Centerpiece II

Make waves with an arrangement set in a seashell. The trick is to fit a piece of floral foam inside the shell. Then you can tuck in stems, and they'll stay put. Here, variegated hosta leaves and frilly ferns cup a green-and-white cluster of Queen Anne's lace.You can use a seashell you already have or buy one at a crafts store.

1. Choose a large shell that sits securely -- without rocking or falling over when opening, faces upward. Begin by soaking a block of floral foam in water until saturated, usually a few minutes (the moist foam will then keep your arrangement fresh for 3 to 4 days).

2. With a sharp knife, cut the foam to fit inside the shell's opening, trimming it as necessary. Press and pack the piece of foam down into the shell; it should fill the opening to just below the lip.

3. Use a pencil or a stick to make holes an inch or so deep in the foam for plants with pliant stems, such as hostas and ferns; sturdy or woody stems can be pushed directly into the foam. Combine flowers and greenery as you wish to create a pleasing arrangement.

Budget Friendly Centerpiece

Make a striking flower arrangement by displaying buttons en masse in a vase. The buttons create an eye-catching vision of a rippling pool of baubles.

You'll need a large glass vase, a narrower vase that fits inside it, and enough buttons to fill the space between them. (Pictured is mother-of-pearl buttons.)

Fill the bottom of the large vase with buttons, and place the second vessel on top. Add more buttons, filling the space between the vases.Fill the smaller vessel with water, and arrange flowers inside.

Don't have hundreds of buttons laying around? This works great with small crystals, colored sand, small pebbles and shells. Because you aren't filling a large vase you save on both the filled and the flowers!

Coral, peach and yellow

Black Cherry

Black and red each exude romance, mystery and drama.

Navy blue and Pink

Pale Blue and Smoke

DIY Wedding Hair - The Half and Half

Soft and romantic perfect with or without a veil. I will be wearing my hair like this in August at my wedding.

Step 1: Use a large-barrel curling iron to create loose curls all around your head, from the ears down.

Step 2:  Part your hair in the middle, and use your fingers to loosen and separate the curls.

Step 3: Starting halfway down the part, begin spritzing your roots with hairspray. Continue to the crown.

Step 4: To create height and volume, tease the sprayed hair with a fine-tooth comb.

Step 5: Use a brush to gently smooth the teased hair, and gather the sides up into a half ponytail.

Step 6: Secure the sides with pins, then use your fingers to gently shape the curls into place.

Step 7: End with shine spray

http://www.marthastewartweddings.com

Black, Teal, Purple, Gold and Silver - The Perfect Storm

Finding color inspiration can be easy, as long as you know where to look. Alot of designers use http://www.pantone.com  to find color inspiration, which are great, but what about the not-so-obvious choices that you can use? For this post I was inspired by all the thunderstorms we've had this month. Deep purples, greens,golds, silvers and blues. 

DIY Tiered Floral Arrangement

You can boost the height and visual drama of any arrangement with the help of a large bowl and coordinating tall vase.Best of all because this arrangement uses large head flowers it keeps the cost down as well. This is perfect for the center of a buffet table or dessert table! 

1. Line bowl with plastic wrap.

2. Place floral adhesive on underside of vase. Set vase in bowl.

3. Fill bowl with soaked floral foam. Arrange stems in foam.

4. Add water to vase, and fill with more flowers.

How fabulously simple this is and what a statement it makes. The key to this arrangement is height and fullness, this arrangment works best with large head flowers such as lilacs, hydrangea and peonies.

Strawberry and Mint

 

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Hot picks for Bridesmaid dress

One of the most difficult tasks that a bride has is picking dresses that all of her bridesmaids actually like and are comfortable and complimentary. Let's take a look at some of the hottest styles for 2011.

Florals and sequins reign at Monique Lhuillier Spring/Summer 2011 Ready-to-Wear show. I love the poppy red flower skirt and the nude corset top and that dress on the left with a top that looks like sprayed on glitter.

Pretty dresses in deliciously pale shades of pink and beige from Zuhair Murad Fall/Winter 2011 ready-to-wear collection.

Perfect Spring dresses from Luisa Beccaria – delicate, sheer and in a gorgeous pastel palette. Lovely  long draped gowns in sugared almond shades.

Frilly floral frocks and drapey dresses in dusty pastel shades. It’s the return to charming old-fashioned femininity over at Alberta Ferretti Spring/Summer 2011 runway.

Top 10 Summer Bridal Gown Picks

We've heard of grooms fainting at the altar; these gowns will give him a good reason.

Take a look my top 10 most fabulous gowns heating up this summer.

• Monique Lhuillier Amber blush embroidered lingerie inspired gown with drop waist corset bodice and full illusion tulle skirt. Shown in this season's hottest color trend. 
• No princess inspired meringues here but there is this sexy, slinky dress with plunging neckline inspired by the Duchess of Cambridge's gown. 

• Puma sleek bias-cut sheath dress with scoop neck. Love the unusual peek of lace at the bodice.

• Styles with a contemporary spirit and details worthy of couture divas: lace appliqué, hand embroidery and fitted bodices with flowing trains.

• Silk organza chiffon and tulle banded trumpet gown with petite organza straps.

• Silk organza with French tulle gown with crystal accent at the waist.

• A-line wedding dress accented with a wide obi sash.

•  Sheath dress with deep V-neck line and flower appliques.

• Silk satin fit to flare gown with a full skirt and sweeping train and intricate beaded bolero.

•  Strapless ball gown with pleated bodice and rows of pearls accenting the waist.