Wedding Party Guide

The great thing about wedding jewelry is that you can wear it during the wedding and every day after if you want. Of course, you are not going to wear the exact same jewelry every day with exception to your wedding ring. And although your wedding dress and tiara are going into storage, your wedding jewelry can be an integral part of you daily, weekly, or monthly jewelry wardrobe. The important thing to consider when purchasing your wedding jewelry is that you will wear it after the wedding day so you want it to not only match the theme of your wedding, but you also want it to be functional for wearing years after the wedding.

Don’t limit your wedding jewelry to only the big day itself. This is where a really good and reliable jeweler comes into play. If you don’t know a good jeweler already, have a friend or family member refer someone to you. The reason that I bring up the jeweler is because they are very experienced when it comes to the before and after effects of wedding jewelry. An experienced jeweler will understand the jewelry that is necessary for the theme of your wedding, yet also understand how to incorporate the wedding jewelry for the after years.

Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. It is one of the only times that you get to “kill two birds with one stone” and buy jewelry for the wedding and jewelry for after the wedding. But you won’t have to buy more than one piece to accomplish this. Yes, you may purchase multiple pieces of wedding jewelry, but you won’t have to buy extra pieces for after the wedding because it will be all-inclusive.

But even if you decide to buy online and not use a jeweler, just make sure you are thinking not only about the wedding day, but about what you will want to wear after the wedding. This will not only save you money, but it will allow you to wear jewelry that is sentimental because it will remind you of the big day!

Choosing your wedding flowers can be as simple as picking your favorite flower, or if you’re like me, a complicated affair trying to match the flowers with dresses, stationery, decorations, and the wedding party. Here are a few helpful hints to make choosing your blooms an easier task.

A match made in heaven

Playing with colors can be a little daunting at first, and if you think it takes a genius to match two colors together our easy guide will help you color coordinate with the best of them.

Here are four basic color schemes formulated from the color wheel (you can pick one up at any hardware store). They may be a savior to your color coordinating woes, or just a good reference if you’re already an expert.

1. MONOCHROMATIC: This is a fool-proof color scheme – it includes only one color, which is almost always the color of the bridesmaids’ gowns. Purple bridesmaid gowns? Choose purple flowers.
2. COMPLEMENTARY COLORS: These are shades that are opposite each other on the wheel. Yellow bridesmaid gowns? Choose yellow and violet blooms.
3. TRIADIC: So you’re starting to feel confident with this color-coordinating caper? The next level is including three colors. All three colors will be of equal distance apart on the color wheel. Blue bridesmaids? Choose red and yellow flowers.
4. ANALOGOUS: This scheme uses shades that are situated right next to each other on the color wheel. Violet Bridesmaid gowns? Have red-violet flowers.

Forget-me-not

Now that you’ve done all this hard work you can’t let it got to waste! – Have your precious bouquet preserved and framed. Brides are becoming more creative with the way they’re choosing to preserve their bouquets.

Many brides are now including wedding memorabilia with their bouquet. Even in this final stage you’ll need to be color savvy and remember your coordination skills. There are different colored backing boards or use some fabric from your gown instead.

The pick of the bunch

In need of blooming ideas? Here are my six favorite bridal flowers:

• Hyacinth
• Tulips
• Roses
• Freesias
• Oriental Lillies
• Cymbidium Orchids