One of the best things about this wedding is the spectacular use of color. When you think of autumn shades, a lot of times we focus on the fading hues of summer rather than the splashy vibrancy of leaves changing in the fall.  Those colors are insanely bright.

By expanding her palette into reds so deep they’re almost black and greens so intense they’re nearly chartreuse, Kristal has tapped into an energetic and sophisticated blend that makes their wedding day a real stand-out in terms of style.

Married under a natural trellis made of woven branches, Kristal and Erik didn’t DIY their flowers — though it certainly could be done, using the same basic ideas, in anyone’s back yard for a garden style wedding.

If you do want to replicate this look at home or elsewhere on your own, you may not be using branches as the base for the trellis or overhead arbor, instead it could be an iron arch or any interesting architectural structure that you decorate with blossoming greens and flowers. Make sure it’s soundly secured.

Looking closely at Krystal’s bridesmaids’ dresses, it’s hard to pin down exactly what color that is, but it’s delicious… somewhere in the deep-yet-creamy magenta category? I especially love the way the dramatic deep rusty red mum ties into the dresses and amps all the other colors up.

Having a strong, dark shade like that helps your wedding transition from sunny-daytime-cheerful to nighttime elegance and you want that special distinction of day-to-night for yourselves and your guests. Plan on so you can party on!

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Vendors for this wedding:

Photographer:http://www.whitmeyerphotography.com/; Venue: Old Edwards Inn and Spa;  Event Planner: Weddingbells 4 U;

Photographs provided via Two Bright Lights

When some people get married on the beach, that means they got hitched at a resort, or on a dock overlooking a bay. Not Cindy and Matt, though… they got married right on the beach, in the sand, just feet away from the water. So that called for something special to denote their sacred space… they made it in a form that reflects the best of nature: cured sapling boughs topped with soft white fabric fluttering gently in the ocean breeze. Love love love.

Mason jars are like the Waterford crystal of the elegant-but-casual beach wedding. Cindy used a variety of mason jars, vases and other odd-ball glass thrift-store finds that, when grouped together and filled with abundant and color-charged arrangements, wind up looking like unstudied perfection. Remember, unexpected collections and beautiful re-use is cool.

About those flowers that Cindy carries, and also the bouquets that decorate their rustic tables… do they not look like someone just strolled through a field picking blooms as they go? Not every flower has to be tight in the bud. The lacey way these greens and stems and the wispy way they mingle — it just oozes romance and days-gone-by. To say nothing of the peonies, people, and candles everywhere. Let’s say it together: everyone looks better by candlelight.

I have yet to see the beach-bride who wears stilettos, and Cindy is no dummy so you know she wore pretty little flats. Matt has got his own look figured out, too, and it’s great when the whole vibe of a wedding allows people to just be who they are, instead of who people want them to be. Yes, I am talking about Matt’s hat. Right on, Matt, you’re out there paving the way for grooms around the globe.  Can not get enough of the costume-jewelry trend that’s so personalize-able it’s bound to become a classic: fabulous old pin on the stem of Cindy’s bouquet plus an elaborate vintage number around her neck.

This is one of those weddings where I could rhapsodize for days about individual elements. Instead, let’s just focus on that cake for a second. I positively adore the eyelet-lace effect on the white-white cake. It reminds me of a perfect little summer dress and goes so well with this easy, breezy beachy affair. After cutting their cake, the lovers kissed as the sun went down and the bride wiggled her toes in the sand. The end.

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Vendors for this wedding:

• Photographer: http://www.jadorephotographie.com/; Reception venue: Heart of Destin Events; Floral designer: Florals by the Sea; Event designer: The Eventful Planner
• Photographs provided via http://twobrightlights.com/home.php

What you can’t see is the sweat-equity that Sara and her girlfriends put into this wedding — you can’t see their effort but you sure can see the results — and the results are spectacular!

The Music and Ceremony

Before we get to the lavish details of this wedding and reception, let’s stop and talk for a moment about music. There is simply nothing more lovely than live music as one glides (hopefully) down the aisle of her dreams.

In this case, it’s a single violin player — and you can imagine the sounds lifting up to the heavens before and after this beautiful couple said their vows. Not only is it absolutely lovely, but it’s also ALOT cheaper to have one musician vs. a whole group playing at your wedding.

For Sara and Tony’s wedding the music was extra-special, having been provided by the groom’s dad (post ceremony) and his friend during the ceremony. While it’s great to have a live band or disc jockey at your reception, nothing beats the real sounds of music at the wedding. Okay, rant over!

Now, back to the ceremony. This event is very DIYable. Sara and her friends made the exhuberant pinwheels that adorn the gazebo where they wed – talk about whimsy.

The Small Details

Things like the ceremony music and other delectable details (did I mention she Mod-podged rose champagne-colored glitter on her shoes?) really help a bride and her wedding party — and even all the guests — sort of bond with the event… the more time you invest (not more money, necessarily) the more the wedding becomes your wedding.

There are myriad examples of that kind of attention to detail throughout Sara and Tony’s big day. Sara spent hours up-cycling old t-shirts into fabric flowers for the table, which is a great way to go not only for saving money, but for saving the planet, too.

The may have saved sanity as well, because interestingly, they had no bridesmaids or groomsmen — something to think about if you can already picture your friends or family bringing the drama (not in a good way). Instead, the happy and possibly stress-free couple had good friends come in few days early and help with preparations (again, pinwheels).

The family made not just one but several wedding cakes — a great solution for a bunch of reasons, cost-effectiveness being one. Another is sheer taste and bounty. You do realize it’s possible to actually make a wedding cake, right? Not only is is possible, I have seen it done and I have done it and if you are so inclined, you can do it, too. Warning: the more layers you apply, the harder it gets. Kind of like make-up, so don’t confuse the two!

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Vendors for this wedding:

Photographer: http://www.jenniferbunce.com/; Venue: Vintage Gardens Bed and Breakfast

Photographs provided via Two Bright Lights

From the ocean-colored stem of Holly’s bouquet down to her pretty pink ballet flats, this wedding pops with color and a lively sensibility that suits this young couple right down to the turquoise tie sported by this ocean-going groom. They live in Pennsylvania but frequently vacation on this super-nice little island getaway and decided to get married there, too. What better place to play with theme and color than a beach wedding?

Speaking of play, or playful, one thing that’s really darling and special is Jason’s boutonniere — it blends in against his shirt so it’s a little hard to see. It’s a sea star and I absolutely love that he did that. The bride’s flowers are a super-fragrant blend with a sweet surprise tucked underneath the wedding petals.

As we all know, everybody loves somebody some time. Clearly, this c0uple loves their pet Chihuahua enough that they placed a little picture of their precious puppy on her bouquet. That’s dedication with a big sense of humor on the side and I believe it bodes well for the couple. It’s a way to keep the four-legged kids to remains in the picture without having a pooch bar or on-call groomer.  Seriously, if you can’t have a little fun at your own wedding… you could try harder.

This is a darling way to personalize your bouquet and the picture doesn’t have to be of your dog… it could be your parakeet. Their fur-baby shows up again on the cake (thankfully not in person though something tells me that puppy got a treat later) with the hand-made cake toppers that include Bride, Groom and Dog, forever wed in holy matrimony. Howl.

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Vendors for this wedding:

• Photographer: http://www.sarahcarperphotography.com/; Reception venue: 1848 Island Manor House
• Photographs provided via http://twobrightlights.com/home.php

Proving once and for all that you can trust a man in a black hat, Stacey and Nicholas got married against the incredibly dramatic backdrop of Utah’s sand dunes and canyon lands. I love the way the wedding theme plays with the old-time formality of the west — their wedding is country style charming with a nice dose of playfulness.

Because the bride picked time-honored, deep royal colors for the wedding party to wear… colors that just bring the drama… their ceremony itself retains a dignity and seriousness that compliments the more casual elements of a western theme. In other words, the bridesmaids are wearing LPDs with sandals, okay? In this case LPD stands for little plum dress.

So gorgeous is the way Stacey’s gown and veil are windswept figuratively and literally, and how Nicholas rocks that big bloomin’ red rose on his lapel. Along with twin black cowboy hats (hers has rhinestones) , the the groom and groomsmen’s suits and other little touches reinforce the color palette — like the black ribbon on the bride’s bouquet and the fancy red vest Nicholas wears.

Country simple does not preclude taste and elegance, as is made clear by the mason jars the couple used to serve appetizers. That’s big fat strawberries and fresh baby asparagus inside the glass, tied with a simple raffia ribbon. How simple and fabulous is that? Stop for a minute and imagine the freshness of those tastes — that is the essence of spring in two bites. Your own little snack to carry around and easy to dispose of the strawberry stem. Joy!

Another charming and do-able part of this cowboy extravaganza are the flowers and greens, which are rich with color contrast and won’t make a person poor in the pocket. The floral designer is using some gorgeous stems in just the right places — it’s not overdone which means it’s affordable and doesn’t try to compete with the big sky background.

Horseshoes symbolize good luck in many cultures, and who can’t use extra luck in life? For Stacey and Nicholas, two  equestrians, the horseshoe has a practical application, as well. They totally took advantage of one sure place where any bride and groom can punctuate their wedding theme in a perfect way — talking cake topper. Theirs mimics the motif that permeates the reception — with scrolls, ribbons and horseshoes adorning their classic cake — it’s topped with a couple on horseback. There’s only one thing left to say — happy trails!

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Vendors for this wedding:

Photographer: http://www.sikoraphotography.com/

Photographs provided via Two Bright Lights

Rain or shine this wedding was going off without a hitch — the bright lemon color choice is so up-beat, it practically commands joy! Before we go on about the sunshine that is this yellow, let’s get back to Catherine for a moment, and specifically, her wedding dress. The strapless gown drapes dreamily in the front and the bias-cut scalloping flows down from the waist like champagne flows at a toast.

These stunning organically-inspired shapes are great for a beach wedding, where you  may want to have a grand dose of elegance while still taking cues from the actual nature of your location. I also love the wide band of costume jewelry on Catherine’s left wrist, and that the photographer took a picture of her as-yet-unmarried hands. Coupled with the simplicity of the neckline and complex yet soft structure of the dress, a couple of statement pieces like the band and earrings make the whole divine concept work, as far as I’m concerned.

Onto the yellow! Catherine’s grandmother did almost all of the decorations for this wedding and she made sure you can see that punch of dazzling sun throughout each detail.  From beach-club stripes to plenty of polka-dots, plus tulips and roses that are beyond beautiful, you can’t help but smile when you see that crazy bright color. I also love the buckets at the beach — such a great idea for holding flower petals to sprinkle down a sandy aisle.

Thankfully, Catherine and her family stopped the lemon theme just shy of her bridesmaids, who instead are like pretty rain clouds floating by on an otherwise sunny day… after all that yellow, the ladies are positively sublime in heather grey… they really bring it in terms of casual elegance.

Take this color palate a step further…that is — white/lemon/grey — and place it against the backdrop of this exciting beach wedding with nature’s colors of blue in the ocean and sky… and it still works. It’s a really great idea to think in terms of your wedding location for the first clue toward discovering color palates. Ultimately, the skies did cloud and rain did storm after Catherine and David got “hitched” on the beach… and by that time no one cared… because  they were on the sunny side of life.

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Vendors for this wedding:

• Photographer: http://www.charophoto.com/; Reception venue: Lumina Hall
• Photographs provided via http://twobrightlights.com/home.php

From the tea-length hem of Wendy’s wedding gown to Brian’s classic vintage suit and hat, and all the marvelous details in between, these two set the tone with their theme destination and just as they fell in love, so have I… with this wedding!

If you’re getting married at a place with a babbling brook and lucky rusted horseshoes adorning the walls — a theme is being handed to you on a tarnished silver platter. Go with it. One of the reasons I find this wedding so dreamy is that every little piece fits together like a puzzle and it’s timeless.

Wendy’s simple yet sexy dress highlights her soft looks, as do the colors of her bouquet… creamy whites and then bursts of soft pink in the tulips and old-fashioned roses. The bridesmaids’ deep violet dresses add quiet a bit of drama to the palate — the color is sort of a surprise in terms of adding bold hues and I really like it.

Everywhere are sprays of flowers in those gorgeous colors… it’s as though Spring stopped by grandma’s farm to visit with flowers blooming at every possible point. The cake itself whispers classic wedding cake and what’s so simply impressive about this entire wedding is that the size and scale is perfect for the number of people, time of day and for Wendy and Brian, too. A lot of these details could be DIY (it can be surprisingly easy to make a wedding cake) or instead hand-crafted for the rustic appeal of precious moments frozen in time.

Here’s my absolutely favorite thing about this wedding: the table. Have you ever been seated at a table so long you feel as though you are just the coolest person in the room? Seating can be such a bug-a-boo, as one has to make choices about how many tables, who’s at which, how many altogether… it can be tricky as we all know.

This elegant, seemingly endless table takes care of all those issues and is plain breathtaking… I can feel the excitement as the bride and groom looked up and down the table, past setting after setting of china and crystal, as their guests beamed back at them on that one… magical… night. It’s like something out of a movie, really! Love love love it.

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Vendors for this wedding:

Photographer: http://ashleygillett.com/; Floral Designer: Pearl’s Garden; Cake Designer: Hallmark Cakes; Caterer and Reception Venue: Mast Farm Inn

Anne and Chris were married just before Christmas in Washington, D.C., where the couple set very high standards for drama and elegance… and guess what? Anne was her own wedding planner. Beauty and brains, darling, what else do we need?

Each divine element of this masterfully crafted red wedding is utterly perfect. Three simple colors are used with a rich tapestry of textures… like the intricate beading on Anne’s dress, repeated in the wedding cake. The tablescaping looks as though it’s fit for Ladies and Lords of a bygone era. I also love how the chairs are covered in a silky-gold fabric and tied with deep red tulle. This overflowing, rapturous look signals a most special evening is in store.

Can I just pass a law that says everyone must use candles? Is there ever any reason not to? First of all, candles, like these pretty votives floating in a crystal vessel, are affordable. Secondly (or should this be first?) we all look great by candle light! Who needs re-touching when candles abound? Finally, candles add a vibrant touch, flickering away like guests dancing to a great band. Not only do candles adorn some strategic stations at the reception, but Anne and Chris had theirs personalized as fab and functional remembrances for the guests. Great ideas, all the way around.

Most of us have heard the phrase, “Something old… something new… something borrowed… something blue.” Did you know there’s one more line? Anne knew, and that’s why there’s a significant coin in her satin slipper. The rest of the saying goes, “and a silver sixpence in her shoe.” This signifies prosperity for the bride and groom. Talk about being symbolic! For Anne and Chris — they’ve got love! Who could ask for anything more?

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Vendors for this wedding:

Photographer: http://www.janmichele.com/; Floral Designer: Janet Flowers Wedding and Event Designs; Cake Designer: Cakes by Linda; Venue: TCM

Check out their fabulous “do” at the fancy but never schmancy Mission Beach Women’s Club in San Diego, and maybe borrow some of their ideas as inspiration for your own magical day: see what you come up with!

First of all, you’ve got to love these colors! Call it purple and green or orchid and lime — any way you stack it these are smashing hues and this is one bride who was not afraid to let her wedding party shine and pop (she’s a knock-out!). These bridesmaids look awesome and the groomsmen are… they’re… they’re wearing khaki and white.

Okay.  Sometimes low-key colors are the best way to go for men and at least you won’t hear any complaining about the guys spending a little dough on shirts and pants they actually, really truly I-swear-they-will wear again. Personally, I think these men missed an opportunity to bring it, but whatever, they look marvelous!

Check out the little cutie-pie flower girls and that touch of orange on their sun-dresses… it shows up again in the women’s bouquets and other little places. Look closely at their feet — no painful pumps or stilettos here — these gals are wearing comfy, classy silver-grey sandals with a kitten heel. This cute sandal business is a really important model for embracing your location and not working against it… can you imagine the pictures if the women had worn high heels?

The colors of the bridesmaids dresses play throughout the event, most notably in the gorgeous spray of orchids Michelle carries down the aisle to her simple ceremony at the water’s edge.  This pair did not miss a beat when it comes to integrating theme colors throughout their spectacular wedding.

Theirs is one of the prettiest wedding cakes I’ve ever seen: the air-brushed ocean-blue studded with sea stars and shells… but, wait… there’s more! I LOVE THE CAKE SET! This is one matchy-matchy that works so well and every time they use those after the wedding they’ll get that little zing! of remembering that cake-cutting moment. Talk about sweet.

Also sweet is the way they dressed the tables — that natural, organic look is really doable and I like how they didn’t feel it necessary to carry the bright colors through everysingledetail… instead, they let certain areas stand out (flowers and bridesmaids) and other elements become dramatic backdrop (table tops and groomsmen!) for the festivities.

Among other smashing details at Michelle and Danny’s September wedding were the hand-made signs (totally DIY-able) and the delightfully romantic personalized fans, great for hiding happy tears when a lovely and loving couple like Michelle and Danny tie the proverbial knot.

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Vendors for this wedding:

Photographer: http://www.ilianaphoto.com; Cake designer: Sumi’s Oven; Event venue: Mission Beach Woman’s Club

First things first. How gorgeous is Amanda, with her hair sleek hair-do and aforementioned stole/cape/shrug? Not only was the top piece absolutely necessary, since this Virginia couple married where it’s cold, but it adds drama and invites “ooohhs” and “aaahhs” when she shrugs the shrug and reveals that gorgeous, strapless, tight-fitting-textured dress.

In the “details, details, I love details” department… look closely at Amanda’s hair. See the glamorous curl behind her ear? Now observe her flowers, particularly the white rannunculas (they’re the ones that look like her curl). Just breathtaking. And FYI: in the “language” of flowers, rannunculas mean “I am dazzled by your charms.”

Onto the little girls’ dresses… black, red, silver… they’re not matchy-matchy but do go together so beautifully. To add to the excitement, they carry star-studded wands — perfect for that young age where one foot is planted in reality and another in magic… those wands will be treasured and are probably adorning the girls’ bedsides, now. Amanda wanted to make sure everyone’s dreams came true at her wonderland wedding and she did an amazing job. Tiaras on request!

Here’s where all the warmth comes in (besides the obvious heat between bride and groom): the flowers, fresh greens and pine cones that drape, like nature’s swagging, and adorn nearly every available surface of the place. This is definitely something you can do yourself and some of those greens have got to be super fresh (cedar and pine boughs) or they’ll droop instead of drape. I always love pine cones, their shape and texture, the color… and they can be collected, well in advance of a wedding. Watch out for sap!

The flowers at this wedding are so grand, I have to say a few more things about them. The natural abundance of these arrangements is incredible — and I really love that they use the lotus pods, the rustic looking woody “shell” that remains when a lotus flower fades. The lotus pod is one of the most ancient and important symbols of love and purity — isn’t that thought what a marriage really amounts to?

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Vendors for this wedding:

Photographer:  http://www.robholley.net/