Winter Wedding Color Ideas

A lot of brides opt for traditional spring and summer weddings. However, couples who are brave enough to step out of the box and plan winter weddings are often rewarded with higher attendance rates (no one’s off on summer holidays!) and brisk but beautifully picturesque weather.

While ivory and soft pink are perfect colors for a delicate spring wedding, choosing a winter wedding opens you up to a whole new and exciting palette full of sultry, seasonal colors.  If you’re planning a wedding this season, take a look at our wedding color ideas for winter 2013 for some divine inspiration for your special day.

guest article by tiffany faming

Image credit: sterlingandnicole.blogspot.ca

1) Arctic White & Ice Blue
For a refreshing twist on a summer theme, combine arctic white and ice blue. The two colors are bang on trend for winter 2013 and come together perfectly to form a sophisticated combination that isn’t common or overdone. This beautiful color combo is particularly gorgeous for areas that experience heavy winter snowfall, as arctic white and icy blue are often the first colors that spring to mind when we picture a winter wonderland.

For a breath-taking bouquet, combine white roses with blue delphiniums and hyacinths.

Image credit: lovemydress.net

2) Winter Berry
Winter berry is a magnificent color choice for winter weddings, particularly for brides who adore pink but don’t want to go the pastel route outside of spring and summer. This sensual hue marries together beautifully with a crisp white for a semi-conventional bridal color scheme. However, if you want to step out of the box, winter berry looks equally amazing when accompanied by just a hint of mandarin. Sheer warm orange shawls draped over the shoulders of pink clad bridesmaids will add a touch of interest and flair.

Bouquet choices for this color scheme are endless. Try fuchsia peonies with black calla lilies and orange tulips.

Image credit: http://www.bridalguide.com

3) Navy blue
Like ice blue, the whole frosty spectrum of blue represents winter spectacularly. For a truly regal and effortlessly elegant wedding, navy blue is a lovely, contemporary choice for winter 2013. Dress it up by pairing it with classic white or opt for a bolder design by breaking out yellows and golds for a stark contrast. The seamless combination of navy blue and yellow will evoke poetic notions and remind guests thateven the harshest winter eventually blooms into spring.

For your bouquet, it’s hard to go past the amazing combination of hydrangeas and yellow roses.

Image credit: weddingideasmag.com

4) Burgundy
If your relationship is intense and passionate, why not reflect that in your wedding color scheme? Burgundy is a gutsy but popular winter hue that truly shines against a snowy, white backdrop, making it ideal for outdoor weddings. If you love the color but don’t want it to eclipse a white bridal gown, try using it as an accent color with white, plum or even olive green.

Burgundy is another color that leaves your choice of bouquet wide open. For a bouquet that is one part dramatic and two parts gorgeous, we recommend black calla lilies, red ranunculus and geraniums.

Whichever color scheme you choose, we’ll be here to help you out and make sure your special day goes off without a hitch!

Author bio: Tiffany Faming is passionate writer. She loves to write on fashion, travel, family, home decor and gardening. Now she is writing for PromoCode4Share.com, a great site that updates many interesting deals of wedding venue.

Bridechilla™ Tip #30

Tip #30 – How to be a BRIDECHILLA™ – Remember the 5 most common things Summer brides forget! See our list below.

Photo by Michele M. Waite

Tomorrow is the first day of SUMMER (what’s your favorite summer activity?!), so if wedding season isn’t in full swing yet – it’s about to be. While we’re preparing ourselves we also want to make sure our Bridechilla’s are too. This week’s Bridechilla™ Tip is made for the brides planning to say ‘I do’ in the next few months. These tips will have you on top of the things most Summer Bridechillas will forget.

PHOTO BY Summer Street Photography

☼ the  B O U T O N N I E R E  –  Order a back-up boutonniere (or two!) for your groom. Since he will be wearing this all day, the florals are apt to wilt a lot quicker. Having a spare will keep his look fresh and chill through a sunny and warm wedding day.

PHOTO BY onelove photography

☼ the  G U E S T S  –  Keep your guests in mind when planning a summer wedding. The day is likely to be hot and sunny, so have something out for them to stay cool with. Either fans, umbrellas, or even pairs of shades for every one!

TOP PHOTO by Catherine Hall Studios, Bottom photo by Jessica Burke Photography

☼ the  D R I N K S  –  Make sure there are plenty of non-alcoholic refreshments! Guests will be trying to stay hydrated, so you don’t want them grabbing cocktails every time they get a little thirsty. A signature of an Off The Beaten Path Wedding, the “Spiked” and “Not Spiked” punch is always the way to go. Also… make sure you and the groom have water bottles handy – you will be talking, dancing, and moving a lot so you will be very thirsty!

photos by Jessica Burke Photography

☼ the  P O R T R A I T S  –  Your photographer may have warned you of this one, but we’re going to tell you anyway. Do NOT schedule your portraits for noon. And if you don’t know what the “magic light” or “magic hour” is, be sure to ask your photographer! At noon, the sun will be at it’s peak and you will definitely be having some harsh shadows ruining your images. So remember to wait later on in the day, around pre-sunset for the most chill photo experience.

PHOTO via the habit of being

☼ the  F A V O R S  –  Don’t forget to use the summer season to your advantage! Our favorite way of sending a chill thank you to your guests is by sending home summer treats as thank you favors. Theses seasonal fruit favors will keep your guests refreshed, and can even be a snack for the ride home. We even have a list of summer fruits for you right here.

Happy planning, Bridechillas!

Be more on top of the Bridechilla Blog by being on our e-mail list! Send your e-mail to gloria@offthebeatenpathweddings.com to be added!

Bridechilla™ Tip #29

Tip #29 – How to be a BRIDECHILLA™ – Keep your wedding party CHILL by taking them on a group bike ride with Napa Valley Bike Tours.

IMAGINE. It’s finally here, the week of your wedding. After all the venue hunting, planning, finding that perfect chalkboard touch you were looking for, deciding on the ultimate floral crown, & even purchasing some very chill bridesmaid gifts, what else is there to do? If you ask us, we’re thinking it’s time to C H I L L. If you’re a California Bridechilla, we suggest a heavy dose of chill  by getting outside, unplugging from our cellphones, and truly enjoying all that wine country has to offer. To make this outdoor experience even more perfect, why not try it on bike? There’s no reason not to take this chance to see Napa Valley from a whole new perspective, especially when our friends at Napa Valley Bike Tours make it so easy.

Napa Valley Bike Tours has hosted numerous wedding groups on private and bespoke guided bike tours; in fact, they’ve even hosted a few of our Bridechillas who have had their Off The Beaten Path Wedding in Napa. Napa Valley Bike Tours hosts bike rides for bachelorette and groomsmen trips, as well as private bike tours for bridal parties and select family members the day before (or even after) the nuptials. Taking one of these tours is the ultimate chill activity that engages everyone in the beautiful destination you’ve chosen for your wedding, while making for a great pre-wedding memory. Let go of that smart phone and try this on for size!

How will you relax on your wedding week? By having a bicycle ride date with your groom-to-be, or by taking the whole party?

So IMAGINE a long adventure through Napa Valley concluding in an outdoor picnic under the shade.. can you say C H I L L? We can’t think of a more relaxing adventure than one that lets us nature, food, and the California sunshine all in one day.

To find out more information about Napa Valley Bike Tours for private bike tours, click here.

All photos provided by Napa Valley Bike Tours

A big THANK YOU to all of our new readers & followers, we are so grateful for each of you! Please don’t forget to stop by our shop sometime and see some other ways  you can wear the chill.

Bridechilla™ Tip #28

Tip #28 – How to be a BRIDECHILLA™ – Stay chill (and we mean literally!) while out there in the Summer sun with our Bridechilla™ cap, “The Emily”.

The sun is shining bright, you’re hydrated, ready to take your cruiser around some gorgeous Napa Valley trails, and the only thing you’re missing is some shade to cover your head and eyes. We suggest you spare yourself that awful scalp sunburn and a hairzilla episode, and put on our Bridechilla™ cap, The Emily. It’s perfectly chill with a vintage touch, what better way to gear up for your adventure than try this hat?

A little about this piece of un-zilla wear: The Emily was named after one of our Bridechillas, Emily who had her Off The Beaten Path Wedding with now husband Matt in Napa in July 2011. The Emily is gently frayed and faded, and manufactured by Alternative Apparel. This perfectly distressed HAT has a been-to-the-front-lines-and-back look with a signature vintage-inspired style and distressed accents. Features pre-curved bill, velcro closure and a contrasting stitched box on the side.

DETAILS: THE EMILY

• Color – Khaki with Tangerine text
• 100% cotton chino twill
• Enzyme washed
• Destroyed accents
• Unisex regular fit
  

Purchase The Emily here. Happy riding!

A big THANK YOU to all of our new readers & followers, we are so grateful for each of you! Please don’t forget to stop by our shop sometime and see some other ways  you can wear the chill.

Bridechilla™ Tip #27

Tip #27 – How to be a BRIDECHILLA™ – Keep calm and hire a planner.

Here are  f i v e  solid reasons to hire a wedding planner and minimize your stress and maximize your chill on your big day.

Reason #1 – You’re newly engaged! At this point of your life you could be finishing up grad school, juggling two jobs, just starting a new one, or you might just have way too much on your plate to even think about taking on planning a wedding. Becoming engaged can come when you least expect it, so it might be hard to prepare for the wedding down the road while trying to maintain your current day-to-day life. But don’t let that be a detriment to your big day! Hire a planner and leave the vendor meetings, invitations, florals, and all that jazz up to them.

Reason #2 – Wedding planners more than likely have great connections with wedding vendors. This can benefit your budget tremendously. Instead of searching through hundreds of centerpieces and wasting hours of your own time, hire a planner to work around your budget and you’ll get the biggest bang for your buck.

Reason #3 – Planning a wedding comes with a lot of decision making. From colors to food, to the order of events to what kind of cake to have. Say you and your groom are butting heads trying to make a decision; having a third opinion (and a knowledgeable one) can save you and your future husband a quarrel and a big conversation. Hire a planner you can trust to help you with these decisions, so that you can both enjoy each other on your chill day.

Reason #4 – Of course wedding planners have TONS of experience with wedding etiquette and how to go about who to invite, who to leave off the guest list, where to seat that crazy uncle, and how to ensure every detail about your chill day goes smoothly and everyone has a great time. Hire a planner to ensure that every thing is done with careful consideration and thoughtfulness.

Reason #5 – Less stress, more fun. Wouldn’t you want some peace of mind on your chill day knowing that everything is being taken care of? Planning an entire wedding on your own might just be the perfect trick to becoming a “bridezilla”. And believe us, no one wants that. Hire a planner to be sure you can focus on being happy and being married.

A big THANK YOU to all of our new readers & followers, we are so grateful for each of you! Please don’t forget to stop by our shop sometime and see how you can wear the chill.

Bridechilla™ Tip #26

Tip #26 – How to be a BRIDECHILLA™ – Remember to capture a special moment with your mother!

  Photo by Solace Weddings

Hopefully our Bridechillas have remembered that Mother’s Day is right around the corner, (May 12th, for those of you who forgot! 😉 ) and have found a special way to show your mother how much she is appreciated. And even if you haven’t gotten your mom a gift yet, we really do love these ideas on Little Inspiration as well as this necklace we came across on Lisa Leonard Designs. Even just a lunch date would probably make for a memorable Mother’s Day.

Since we’re celebrating our mothers we just had to share some of these photo ideas for your chill day. If you’re looking to have a special photo with Mom, these are the perfect combination of sweet and fun.  And speaking of gift ideas, take one of your photos with mom to be framed and give it to her this Mother’s Day!

Photo by Taylor Lord Photography 

Photo by Mademoiselle Fiona Wedding Photography

A great mama-daughter photo.. this one deserves to be in a frame for sure!

Photo by Edison Photography

And isn’t this just a dream? This is from a must see post on Style Me Pretty Canada. Perfect if you’re planning a Mother’s Day tea party or even a picnic!

Photo by Rebekah Hoyt

Love this shot of the bride and her mother! What a great perspective, and so precious.
We’re sharing Bridechilla™ Tip #26 in honor of all the great moms out there. Don’t let a special photo with Mom slip your mind amidst all the other photos on your wedding day.. remember she will love to have a photo like this too! From all of us at Bridechilla, we wish you and your moms, grandmothers, and even mothers-to-be a very chill Mother’s Day!

“A mother is she who can take the place of all others but
whose place no one can take” –Unknown

Thank you to all of our new readers & don’t forget to stop by our shop sometime! P.S. Check out the Bridechilla Team tee, could be a great gift to the Mother-of-the-Bridechilla!

Bridechilla™ Tip #25

Tip #24 – How to be a BRIDECHILLA™ – Have seasonal fruits as wedding favors! 

This is a great tip for the DIY Bridechilla™ because it will give the opportunity to get crafty with packaging options. Using seasonal produce as a wedding favor is easy, chill, and delectable… not to mention it won’t blow the bank! You can buy your favors in bulk, package them in jars or burlap bags (if they’re small like cherries) or create a custom sticker with a personalized monogram to stick on them (if they’re something like apples or pears). Here are some of our favorite picks for favors categorized by season:

Strawberries and cherries are great favor ideas for a spring wedding, and we just love the pops of bright red they bring to the day. You can bag them up or make a homemade jam with a customized label. Or, you can even give your guests a strawberry plant to grow at home. Either way, both of these spring treats make scrumptious favors… and great snacks for the ride home!

Summer is just around the corner and if your wedding is too, you might want to start preparing yourself by knowing when the farmer’s market happens in your town. For a summer wedding, find produce like apples and berries. You can take either and make homemade jam or apple butter for your guests. Label with a cute phrase like, “we thank you berry much” or something even more clever.

To our Bridechillas having a fall wedding, we love love love these organic herb plants as favors. Pick up herb such as parsley, sage, rosemary, or thyme. These will have an aroma that your guests will enjoy, and you can tie them with twine and a tag that says “let love grow”,  or just a simple “thank you”. You can definitely have fun with this one Bridechillas!

Pears also make a great wedding favor for a winter wedding. Imagine how chill and stress free this guest favor is – order a custom sticker, stick in on, make a cute table with a sign reading, “take a pear” or “we make a perfect pear” and you’re set! The silly phrases are endless, but so are the possibilities of using seasonal produce for wedding favors. We’re only trying to inspire you to explore your options… now what seasonal produce will you transform in to a wedding favor?

Thank you to all of our new readers & don’t forget to stop by our shop sometime!

Holiday Wedding Inspiration

Whether it’s going to be a Merry Christmas or a Married Christmas, let’s talk about how awesome this winter wedding inspiration board is. From a plaid wedding dress sash to salted caramel cupcakes, this inspiration just screams winter. Did we mention that a wedding during this time of year is great for your budget, too. Why? Finding decorations is easy, they are EVERYWHERE. Hey some pine cones in a mason jar and you are there! Not that our Bridechillas let the stress of a tight budget get to them, but hey, anything helps right? Another bonus to having a Christmas wedding is having the beautiful color palette of red, evergreen, silver, and gold. With touches of plaid and holiday decor, your winter wedding will leave your guests in awe.

Inspiration Board from Heart Love Wed.

Fall Wedding Ideas

How is everyone’s fall season coming along? Whether your carving your pumpkins or painting them, prepping for a chill alternative wedding, or looking for fall wedding trends and ideas, we’re going to bring you the chillest ones we’ve come across for this season. Be ready to FALL in love with vegetable table decor, autumn apples, seasonal stationary, hay bale seating, and everything else that is chill and perfect for the fall wedding.

We love that fall bouquet and the acorn boutonniere that would also look lovely for a winter wedding. Figs make for great place setting decor and the cozy blankets will be great for guests feeling a little chilly on a brisk fall day. And finally, what kind of autumn wedding isn’t complete without s’more guest favors? You will have your guests leaving with not only a cozy blanket, but a happy tummy. Cheers to you, our Fall Bridechillas!

Image Source