Kickstart Your Wedding Design: Choose the Perfect Color Palette 🎨
Kickstart your wedding planning by choosing the perfect color palette! Your wedding colors set the tone, guide design decisions, and create a cohesive look. Discover tips on selecting hues that reflect your style, complement your venue, and bring your dream wedding vision to life!
Last week we talked a little bit about wedding themes (see here), but maybe you’re feeling like you have no idea where to start with your wedding design and the thought of deciding on a theme is just too much for you right now.
That’s okay, I totally get it. Wedding planning overwhelm is REAL!
As a former DIY bride myself, I know exactly how stressful wedding design can be (especially if you’ve never done it before). If you’re newly engaged and just starting your wedding design journey, I have 2 things to say:
CONGRATULATIONS! This is such an exciting moment in your love story and I encourage you and your partner to take time to celebrate your engagement. There’s no rule (and even if there was, I would encourage you to break it) saying you have to start designing and planning your wedding the second you get engaged. Take your time and enjoy this magical time.
If you are ready to start designing your wedding and landing on a theme is too overwhelming (see here for some wedding theme inspo) - I encourage you to start with wedding colors.
Choosing wedding colors is easier than you may think. There are a lot of clues in your surrounding environment that will help point to your ideal wedding color palette. Once you choose your wedding colors, it will help serve as a creative foundation for all aspects of your wedding design. From invitations to decor, attire to florals, your chosen palette becomes the invisible string that ties every element together.
I love me some momentum, especially when it comes to making decisions. You’ll soon find once you get that wedding planning momentum going, you’ll want to keep going.
Here's why selecting wedding colors is so important and how it can help jumpstart your wedding design process:
Wedding Colors Define the Mood and Style
Your wedding colors are more than just a combination of shades you love; they reflect the mood and style you want to convey. Are you dreaming of a romantic and elegant celebration? Soft pastels or muted tones like blush pink, sage green, and ivory can evoke that feeling. Prefer something bold and modern? Jewel tones like emerald, burgundy, or navy can make a powerful statement. By choosing your colors, you’re creating the first building block of the atmosphere you want to create for your big day.
A Guide for Design Decisions
With so many choices to make, having a color palette in place simplifies decision-making. Whether you're selecting linens, centerpieces, wedding party attire, or even the icing color for your cake, your chosen colors will guide you. Without a defined palette, it’s easy to feel lost in a sea of options. Your colors act as an anchor, streamlining the process and ensuring all elements of your wedding feel cohesive. One of my favorite mood boards I’ve made tonight was a fictional wedding between Avril Lavigne and Elle Woods (see below).
Inspiration for Theme and Decor
Choosing your colors can also inspire the overall theme or aesthetic of your wedding. For example, a palette of soft blues, greens, and neutrals might inspire a coastal theme, while shades of burnt orange, rust, and terracotta are perfect for a fall or bohemian vibe. Once you’ve nailed down your colors, it’s easier to build a cohesive look and determine an overall theme that reflects your vision as a couple.
A Personal Touch to Your Day
Your wedding colors are a reflection of your personal taste and relationship. Maybe you’ve chosen hues that remind you of your favorite season, the flowers from your first date, your favorite travel destination as a couple, or even your home decor. Adding this personal touch not only makes your wedding feel more meaningful (no cookie cutter weddings here!) but also makes the design process more enjoyable.
If you’re feeling stuck with color selection, take the FREE GHD Wedding Color Quiz to help jumpstart your wedding color palette decision.
Tips for Choosing the Perfect Colors
Start with Inspiration: Look for inspiration in your everyday life. What colors make you happy? Are there tones in your wardrobe, home, or favorite artwork that you’re naturally drawn to?
Consider Your Venue: Your wedding venue plays a huge role in determining what colors will work best. A rustic barn might pair beautifully with earth tones, while a modern ballroom might call for sleek neutrals or metallics.
Seasonal Palette: Let the time of year guide you. Pastels are great for spring, vibrant shades work well for summer, earthy tones shine in fall, and rich, deep colors suit winter weddings.
Test Combinations: Play around with color swatches and mood boards to see how different shades work together. Get the FREE GHD mood board guide with templates here. For more color inspo, check out this GHD Pinterest (purple wedding, jewel toned wedding, red and pink wedding).
How Wedding Colors Drive Your Design Journey
Once your colors are chosen, you’ll find that many other wedding design decisions will become easier. Your floral arrangements, table settings, invitations, and even lighting can all be designed with your palette in mind. It’s like creating a roadmap for your wedding—giving you a clear direction to follow as you progress in your journey of making your wedding vision a reality.
By starting with your wedding colors, you’re setting the stage for a cohesive and memorable event. It’s a fun and creative way to kickstart your wedding planning journey and ensures that your celebration truly reflects your style and story as a couple. So, grab those swatches, open up that mood board template, raid your closet and home for favorite items, get inspired, and let your wedding colors lead the way!
“Engaged 2 Planning” - Wedding Planning for DIY couples
The moment has finally arrived…my wedding planning course is officially live!
Now I know I’ve only talked about my wedding planning course a little bit recently (see here), but what you might not realize is this idea has been in process since 2016. Yes, you read that right, 2016, as in almost a decade ago - in other words…
2016 is when I first discovered online courses and the concept of running a virtual business. It was the year I purchased my first online course from, which happened to be right around the time I had my first baby (that’s a lot of firsts in 2016). At night between when this baby went to bed (around 7pm) and when baby got back up to “dream feed” (if you don’t have kids - google it - it’s a whole thing) at 10pm, I would stay up and work on learning about online business. While I was exhausted in a way only a new parent can be, I was energized by this idea of a virtual business.
Of course life gets in the way sometimes and causes delays and reprioritizing…since 2016 there have been multiple apartments/houses (6 to be exact), multiple jobs, and then baby #2 in 2018.
Note to viewers babies do not always sleep peacefully - do not be fooled!
When I finally launched GHD in 2019 (3 years after that first online course I took), I spent a year getting it up and running (building socials and my website, doing design giveaways online, having styled shoots, etc.). Then in March of 2020, I launched my first online offerings (4 years after taking that first course). In a cruel trick from the universe, a global pandemic hit at the EXACT same time and everyone was worried about well…not weddings.
Throwback to the original GHD Logo (circa 2019)
In 2021, I returned to the corporate world and shoved my design dreams in the back of my desk drawer (literally, my notebook for all my GHD plans was in my desk). For a while, I thought it was over - my dream would die a slow death (and gather lots of dust) in the back of my desk drawer.
If you’ve ever met me in real life, you know I’m not one who gives up or lets go easily (relentlessness is one of my most intense qualities - good and bad). Even in my corporate job, I always found ways to infuse design and event planning anywhere and everywhere I could, but I still missed wedding design. Turns out it’s pretty hard to fit color palettes and mood boards into the health care industry.
By December of 2023, I knew I just had to breathe life back into my wedding dreams - even if that meant doing it on the weekends or evenings while working full time. I rebuilt my website (from scratch), started a weekly newsletter (ps you can sign up for that here), launched my blog, and began creating all kinds of freebies (quizzes, guides, PDFs) to help support couples with their wedding planning and design. All those resources are free to you here!
By fall of 2024, it became very clear to me that for my virtual wedding business and dream of creating a course to ever be more than a “hobby”, I would need to be able to work on it full time.
Then came the doubt (“What if I fail?”), imposter syndrome (“Am I even a designer?”), and reality (“Can I even record a course while my house is undergoing major renovations?”). Oh doubt, hello dear friend.
Well the universe must have felt bad for being such a punk to me (to all of us) in 2020 and it created a very clear path for me to exit my corporate job and thus here we are.
It only took 9+ years from my original dream to get to this point and honestly I’m okay with that. While it didn’t go how I thought it would originally back in 2016, the journey to this dream has been the exact wild ride I needed.
That’s the thing about life, it always works out the way it’s supposed to in the end (even if it seems like absolutely NOTHING is adding up right on the way there).
Now that you know a little more about the journey I’ve been on to get to this exact moment, I couldn’t be more thrilled to bring you “Engaged 2 Planning”, the online course to help guide newly engaged couples navigate from their engagement into the wedding planning process.
This course guides couples through the 3 Key Wedding Planning Decisions they need to make first (before starting on any design elements of their wedding). These key decisions include: wedding size, wedding budget, and wedding date.
Since I’m such a design nut though, I included a bonus module in the course to help determine overall wedding vibe/style, color palettes, and mood board inspiration (including how to make your own wedding mood board!).
Features:
-120+ Minutes of Video Instruction
-14+ PDFs & resources including:
Wedding Budget Tracker
Money Mindset Activity
Mood Board Templates
Color Palette Concepts
Wedding Vibe Guide
Wedding Invitation Discount Code
AND MORE!
A MAJOR benefit of this course is the amount of time it saves newly engaged couples who are DIY-ing their wedding planning. From a fellow DIY bride to another, I KNOW exactly how overwhelming and time-consuming planning your own wedding can be. With this course, instead of scouring Instagram, Pinterest, wedding blogs and magazines, everything a couple needs to get started with wedding planning is “gathered here” (see what I did there?), all in one place, for easy access.
The course is a one time $47 payment. I’m putting that out there because I am a fan of transparency and I personally like knowing these sorts of things up front. So there you are, less than $50 bucks (pretty sure the bonus section alone is totally worth the cost of the entire course).
Not ready to spend the money, but still need help planning? I’ve got you covered. Check out my FREE resources page and snag your copy of the Ultimate wedding planning checklist.
If you’re not getting married, but know someone who is - be sure to share this link with them!
Have questions about the course? I’m here for it! Email me directly at gatheredheredesigns@gmail.com and we can set up time to chat, text, or email.
I am starting this New Year out on a mission to help support all those lovers who made it official during engagement season with getting the wedding planning journey started.
Cheers to your engagement, the wedding planning to come, and dreams realized! I hope to see you in the course soon!
A year end review…
Gathered Here Designs’ year-end review is a heartfelt look back at an exciting year of growth and creativity! From helping newly engaged couples with tons of free wedding planning tools to hitting 63k+ monthly Pinterest views, Amanda Jean shares how 2024 was a year to remember. She reflects on milestones like moving into a charming 1937 cottage, designing close to 200 custom pins, and launching dozens of free wedding planning resources. Plus, there’s a sneak peek at what’s next: a brand-new virtual wedding planning course for all the DIY couples out there. It’s inspiring, relatable, and full of love for weddings and community! 💕🎉
The end of the year brings up all kinds of feelings of nostalgia for me. There’s something about the end that makes you think of the beginning. For me 2024 has been a restart for Gathered Here Designs.
Originally GHD launched in 2019, then that beloved 2020 came and kicked all our butts. From 2021-2023, GHD was basically “on pause”. During the engagement season of last year, I was inspired to renew Gathered Here Designs with the goal of providing oodles or helpful FREE content to newly engaged couples online. By the end of the year, my goal was to complete building out a virtual wedding planning course to help support those newly engaged DIY couples who need just a little extra support with the planning process.
While my course recording is temporarily on pause due to this sore throat that just won’t quit, I’m confident I’ll be able to finish recording before that clock strikes midnight on 12/31.
Looking back on the year, I feel excited about what I have been able to create with Gathered Here Designs - SO. MUCH. CONTENT. It’s one of my favorite parts of the business is creating things that are helpful to those planning their wedding. I consider myself a content queen of sorts..
As we look forward to the New Year and all that 2025 has to bring, I wanted to share all the data and favorites from 2024.
GHD 2024 Data
63k+ monthly views on Pinterest
175+ custom designed pins on Pinterest
28 blog posts (if you count this one) - see my first blog post here from 12/29/23
17 Wedding Wednesday emails
3 wedding quizzes
10 landing pages
1 holiday coloring book (still time to purchase before Christmas - makes a great stocking stuffer!)
1 virtual course (almost completed - waitlist here)
Here are a few of my favorite things from 2024…
My favorite quiz is the first one I made all about finding your wedding style, though the wedding season quiz is a close second.
My favorite landing page is this one, which is all about mood boards.
PS if you’re not on my email list, be sure to sign up here. I share all kinds of personal details and photos that I do not include on the blog.
DON’T MISS OUT - SIGN UP FOR WEDDING WEDNESDAY EMAILS!!!
Somewhere in the midst of all that I was working full time until October 2024, raising 2 children, moving from a rental into a 1937 cottage, and began renovating said cottage. Looking at the all this makes me realize why I’m probably so tired haha.
Now while we’re on the nostalgia train, we may as well go waaaaayyyyy back to when I first fell in love with weddings, I was 5. Now talk about nostalgia…
Fun fact: I’ve only been in 2 weddings - one at age 5 and one at 26!
My 5 year old self is the one who keeps the passion of creativity alive, while my 20 year old DIY bride self helps know what tips and tricks are most helpful to share with newly engaged couples, and my current 30-something self is the one who makes it all come together.
Since next week is Christmas, you won’t be hearing from me. While I believe in hardwork, I also believe in rest and boundaries. I’ll be spending next week with my little family in Boise, doing things like a Christmas movie at the Egyptian Theatre and soaking in the hot springs.
As I reflect on the year and all it brought to be (both things I sought and a few surprises like buying a house and walking away from my full time job), I am so thankful to have the opportunity to be here with you to chat about all things weddings. Thank you for making this a year to remember!
In case you’re wondering what’s next…
A sneak peak into 2025
Switching email platforms
Launching wedding design course (more on that here)
Possibly offering 1:1 design sessions (we shall see!)
Don’t forget to watch my favorite go to New Year’s Eve movie that I talked about here. There’s so much New York in this movie, I could just BURST!!!
Happy holidays to you and yours, however you may choose to celebrate - I’ll see you back here in the New Year!
Note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase a product through my link I can earn a small commission. This helps allow me the ability to keep providing you free weekly content (yay!).
Why wedding planning doesn’t have to be overwhelming
Wedding planning doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By starting with three key decisions, such as determining your wedding size, you can ease your wedding planning experience.
With the right focus and resources, wedding planning can become an enjoyable part of the journey rather than a source of stress.
For more details, you can explore the original post here.
If you have ever planned a wedding, you know exactly how stressful and overwhelming it can be. There are 100+ decisions to make, millions of articles/videos/checklists online telling you what to do, and often never-ending unsolicited input from family and friends.
Now if you’re new to wedding planning and aren’t aware of these things, my apologies if I just scared the pants off you.The truth is wedding planning can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
As a former DIY bride myself, I know what it feels like to be sitting on the floor surrounded by wedding magazines, trying to piece together a plan of how to DIY my wedding. Once I made it through my own wedding planning, I started supporting family, friends, and eventually couples online with their weddings. In 2019, I decided I wanted to use my wedding knowledge to support more couples through DIY-ing their weddings and thus Gathered Here Designs was created. Here’s a little breakdown of my journey to wedding design:
My journey to wedding design
While wedding design and styling are my absolute favorite part of the wedding process, I have learned you really have to start with planning first. I know, I know, talking guest-lists, budget, and setting the date are not the glamorous part of creating your dream wedding. I also know that if you skip to the design part, you’ll end up wasting time, money, and eventually you’ll have to go back to the actual planning part.
“The truth is wedding planning can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be that way.”
Whether you like it or not, wedding planning is happening - it’s a must for pulling off a DIY wedding.
To help make the process easier, I have put everything I know about wedding planning into a digital mini-course to help newly engaged couples DIY their wedding planning without the overwhelm. This course focuses on the 3 key decisions couples need to make first when planning a wedding and guides them through how to do so. It’s called Engaged 2 Planning.
While naturally I wanted to create a wedding design course, I really feel for all those stressed out couples trying to plan their wedding so I wanted to start with planning first (then we can get to the fun stuff later).
What this course includes:
Welcome Video
3 Modules
Multiple Video Lessons
PDFs and Worksheets
Bonus Section on Design
This course will be available before the end of the year. If you are a newly engaged couple or you know someone who needs help with their wedding planning, be sure to have them sign up for the Engaged 2 Planning waitlist.
If you’re not getting married and are just curious about the behind-the-scenes aspects of Gathered Here Designs, be sure to join the Wedding Wednesday email list. I send wedding tips, along with personal updates in this (mostly) weekly email. Sign up here.
My hope is wedding planning with this course will be super chill…happy planning!!!
Which season is best for your wedding?
This post offers an in-depth comparison of getting married in spring, summer, fall, and winter, highlighting the pros and cons of each season. It caters to engaged couples searching for advice on wedding planning by discussing key factors such as weather conditions, cost implications, natural scenery, and practical considerations for guest attendance.
There are sooooo many decisions to make when it comes to designing your dream wedding. If you’re feeling overwhelmed but are dying to get started on your wedding design, landing on which season your wedding will be in is a great place to start. See here for another key wedding decision that makes everything else feel easier.
Each time of year poses its own unique set of pros and cons to consider. Now I know I’ve been droning on and on for the past few weeks about fall weddings (see here and here), a fall wedding might not be for you (I’ll try to find it in myself to forgive you for this).
Maybe you’re one of those summer people and you’re just dying to enjoy the summer sun on your big day. Or perhaps you’ve dreamed your whole life about a Christmas wedding (I’ve been to one and it was breathtaking!). Whatever you might have in mind, understanding what each season offers can help you and your partner choose the best season for your special day!
Spring Weddings
Spring (March to May) offers a newness that draws a perfect parallel to the beginning of your life as a married couple. As nature awakens with blooming flowers and fresh greenery, it sets the stage for a picturesque wedding.
Pros:
Natural Beauty: Flowers are in full bloom, providing vibrant colors and natural décor for your ceremony and reception.
Mild Weather: Spring typically offers mild, comfortable temperatures, especially for outdoor weddings.
Fresh Menu Options: Seasonal foods like asparagus, berries, and fresh herbs are abundant, allowing for a lighter, more vibrant menu.
Cons:
Unpredictable Weather: While temperatures are mild, spring showers can be frequent and unpredictable, making outdoor weddings a little risky.
Allergy Season: Pollen from blooming flowers can be a nightmare for guests with seasonal allergies. Read more on my summer wedding warnings here.
Higher Costs (later in spring): Late spring is a popular wedding season, so vendors and venues may be in high demand, potentially increasing costs.
Challenging Travel: Spring is not always easiest for guests to get away from their day to day commitments to travel to your wedding.
Summer Weddings
Summer (June to August) is a popular choice for couples who want long days, sunny skies, and outdoor fun. Summer can create a fun and carefree wedding vibe.
Pros:
Outdoor Weddings: With warmer weather and longer days, summer is perfect for beach weddings, garden parties, and outdoor celebrations.
Vacation Time: Many guests will already have time off during the summer, making travel easier and ensuring higher attendance.
Lush Backdrops: The greenery is at its fullest, offering lush landscapes for stunning wedding photos.
Beach Wedding: If you’re wanting a beach or coastal wedding, summer can be the perfect season for your event!
Florals: Flowers are readily available in the summer, meaning you won’t have to pay a premium price to get the flowers you want.
Cons:
Hot Temperatures: In some locations, summer can be uncomfortably hot, especially for outdoor events. Heatwaves and humidity can make the day uncomfortable for both you and your guests. Please note I got married in July and it was outdoors, over 90 degrees - many guests ended up dehydrated and sunburnt. We guzzled down so much water that day!
Higher Costs for Venues: Summer is peak wedding season, and venues tend to charge premium rates.
Competition for Vendors: Popular photographers, florists, and caterers may book up quickly, requiring early planning.
Fall Weddings
Now you know this season has my vote! Fall (September to November) is ideal for couples who love rich colors, crisp air, and a more intimate feel to their wedding. With the leaves changing colors and cooler temperatures, fall offers a cozy and romantic backdrop.
Pros:
Beautiful Foliage: The changing leaves provide stunning reds, oranges, and yellows, perfect for outdoor ceremonies and photographs.
Pleasant Weather: Temperatures in early fall are often mild, creating a comfortable atmosphere for both outdoor and indoor weddings.
Unique Menu Options: Fall offers an abundance of delicious seasonal foods, including pumpkin, squash, and warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
Cons:
Shorter Days: As the days get shorter, you may need to adjust your schedule to accommodate less daylight, especially if you’re planning an outdoor ceremony.
Unpredictable Weather: Fall can bring sudden temperature drops and unexpected rain, so having a backup plan is important.
Travel Challenges: With holidays like Thanksgiving, you’ll want to avoid scheduling your wedding too close to major holiday weekends to prevent conflicts for guests. Fall is also a harder time for people to take vacation days, so your guest list might be smaller thank you wanted.
Winter Weddings: A Magical Wonderland
Winter (December to February) might not be the first season that comes to mind for weddings, but it's an excellent choice for couples seeking something unique and budget friendly! The season can add a magical ambiance to your special day.
Pros:
Romantic Atmosphere: Twinkling lights, cozy fires, and snowy backdrops can make your wedding feel like a magical winter wonderland.
Lower Costs: Since winter is the off-season for weddings, many venues and vendors offer lower rates, helping you save money (as long as you avoid holiday weekends).
Holiday Cheer: If timed right, your wedding can coincide with holiday festivities, adding an extra layer of joy and celebration.
Cons:
Cold Weather: Depending on where you live, freezing temperatures and snowstorms could pose logistical challenges, especially for travel.
Limited Outdoor Options: If you're dreaming of an outdoor wedding, winter probably won’t be the best time for it.
Holiday Conflicts: Winter weddings can overlap with Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and other holidays, which could make scheduling tricky for guests.
Not Sure Which Season is Right for You?
Deciding on the best season for your wedding involves balancing your vision with practical considerations. Still not sure? Take our Free Quiz to find out which season best suits your wedding style and personality! Whether you're drawn to the warmth of summer or the coziness of winter, this quick quiz will help you figure out the perfect time of year to say, "I do."
Each season offers its own charm and ambiance. Ultimately, the best time to get married is the time that feels right for you and your partner.
The 3 best things about my wedding day!
You won’t remember everything about your wedding. 14 years later, these are the 3 things I remember most about my wedding day.
Today marks my 14th wedding anniversary. FOURTEEN YEARS!!! This seems impossible, even as I type it I don’t believe it. In some ways so much has happened in the past (almost) decade and a half, yet in other ways it seems like we just got married.
I still learn new things about my spouse on a regular basis. Like how his dream job as a kid was to become a tow truck driver (this one still cracks me up!). It keeps things interesting for sure, knowing that even after all this time, we still don’t know everything about each other.
My wedding anniversary always brings me back to the memory of our wedding day. With 14 years passed, I have some perspective on the whole event - it’s much easier to see what mattered most (and what didn’t), when so much time has passed.
The things that mattered most to me were:
Music - I LOVE music. All kinds of music from all periods of time. I grew up with my parents listening to Elton John, The Eagles, Michael Bolton, The Temptations, and, Aerosmith (thank you papa!). I fell in love with listening to music from the 40s-60s on vinyl (Ottis Redding, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Ella Fiztgerald & Louis Armstrong). I cheered in junior high and high school (thus entered all things 90s and early 2000s pop and hip hop). Most of my childhood was spent growing up in rural America (hello Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Trisha Yearwood, The Dixie Chicks {now The Chicks}, Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Reba McIntire). We paid for our wedding ourselves and we were young and broke, so all the music was done via an iPod (yes, you read that right) and rented speakers. I curated all the music to play in a specific order. Starting with easy listening, moving into dance party songs, sneaking in a couple slow songs. It was all timed perfectly. We still listen to our wedding playlist 14 years later and multiple people have asked for a copy of the songs for their own wedding.
We tore up that dance floor on our first dance!
Want help with your wedding music? Get my free guide below!
People - The people make a wedding. I have never been one to have a large group of friends, but the people I do have I know and care about deeply. Quality over quantity. The people who have helped shape my life are the people I invited to my wedding. With a few exceptions such as those of us who were on an exciting international internship and couldn’t make it due to said super awesome globe trotting…cough, cough…Emma…cough.
You can have a beautiful wedding, but if no one you care about is there, does it even matter? Our family and friends came from all over to celebrate with us in Oregon. Idaho, California, Tennessee - they all showed up, just as they have our entire lives.
Meaningful decor - I have always enjoyed design. From fashion to home decor, I love it all. I used to turn my childhood closet into a fashion house, taking faux orders on a corded telephone with my sisters and cousin, then furiously sketching out our creations for our pretend clients (note drawing shoes was NOT my strength). When it comes to design these days, I like to feel connected to what I create. If it’s a feature wall, each element will be personal or carry some sort of hidden meaning. I have to share a connection with what I create. Weddings are the perfect opportunity for this. In our wedding, I incorporated yellow butterflies in memory of my maternal grandmother who had passed away 4 years prior and told us on her deathbed she’d come back as a yellow butterfly.
I also spent a lot of time curating the centerpieces, which were made up of black and white photos relevant to each of the people assigned to sit at that table. I talk about them a lot, I know (see most recent mention here ) - it's because they just meant so much to us and so much to the people who showed up to celebrate with us…I’m not crying, you’re crying.
Something I like to do when I’m working with clients to help them design their dream wedding is to have them pick the 3 most important things to them as a couple for the event. Some people don’t care about the decor, but they do care about the food. That’s great! Others prefer to skimp on the alcohol to splurge on the flowers - perfect, lean into that!
By sitting down with your partner and agreeing on the top 3 most important wedding items to you both, it will help provide clarity on where to spend your money and your time when it comes to your wedding design.
Take it from someone who’s 14 years removed from their wedding, focus on what matters most to you both and the rest, you’ll likely forget about over time.
Stay tuned for next time to learn about the 3 things that mattered LEAST to me and the one thing my older sister (said sister pictured below) STILL won’t let me live down 14 years later.
Happy dancing, happy singing, happy wedding planning!
3 Summer Wedding Warnings
Summer wedding season is here! Here are 3 things to keep in mind when planning your summer wedding.
Wedding season is nearly upon us and it had me thinking about some heat-specific things to keep in mind when throwing your summer wedding.
Summer weddings can be stunning or they can be sweltering…I think mine was a little bit of both (circa July 2010).
Below are 3 things to keep in mind so you don’t end up like I did on my wedding: overheated with bugs up my dress.
Summer weddings can involve bugs, sun, and dehydration…OH MY!
Summer Wedding Warning #1: Bugs
As you can see in the photo below, bugs can cause some mishaps at a summer wedding. During our summer wedding, the bugs kept flying up in between my multiple layers of tulle and getting stuck. I bet Lesley Margaret Webster aka Maggie Sottero did know their wedding dress design doubled as a very expensive mosquito net. Thankfully, my cousin was there to save the day (and the bugs) by picking them out one by one. A wedding I went to last July was also outdoors and there were so many mosquitos. I remember the photographer coming into the reception hall with giant welts on her legs from all the bites. It makes me itch just thinking about it!
Be more prepared for bugs than I was by offering guests mini bug spays, inquiring if your venue can spray for mosquitos prior to your event, and/or considering placing natural bug repellent oils or candles around your event.
Summer Wedding Warning #2: Sun
In addition to my own (which was in the 90+ degree heat, outdoor ceremony in direct sun in July), I’ve been to some other really hot weddings. One wedding I attended was outdoors in direct sun. The ceremony felt long and I remember standing up and my dress was stuck to my legs from all the sweat…#notcute. For one wedding I went to they had their wedding program printed on fans which was a very clever idea.
To help reduce the heat at your summer wedding consider having the ceremony in a shaded area and the reception in an air conditioned space. It can be hard (especially for young and elder guests) if there is no break from the heat. Provide fans for your guests, mini-sunscreens, and/or even sun hats (you can purchase in bulk for relatively low cost). You can also consider setting up misters around your space if you’re wanting to keep the whole wedding outdoors.
Summer Wedding Warning #3: Dehydration
This might be one of the most important summer wedding warnings. Heat stroke and dehydration can easily happen for guests who get so caught up in the happenings of the event that they don’t realize how hot it is and they forget to drink enough water. To help prevent your guests from overheating and becoming dehydrated keep plenty of water out at your event.
Consider placing water stations around your event (the dance floor, by the dessert table, near the food, at the bathroom, etc.). Provide bandanas or small towels your guests can cool in water and wrap around their head or neck (inspired by my father-in-law, Alonzo DuPont, who did this exact thing at our wedding - see below).
My father-in-law, Alonzo
Looking for more ideas on what to include in your summer wedding?
Check out my “don’t forget” Pinterest board here.
Wishing you a joyous start wedding season!
~Amanda Jean