Blue Inspiration Ideas

As we move through the rainy days of summer, check out these Blue Inspiration ideas. Looking for your "Something Blue"? You may just find it here. Or maybe blue is your favorite color or reminds you of long relaxing days at the beach. Blue weddings can be fun and unique from dress to decor. Whether its a great pair of shocking blue heels (even if they aren't Jimmy Choos) or a dainty blue paper fan to help shoo away the hot humid Florida days....can't you just hear the waves crashing? Happy Summer!

Photo credits: (1-2) TheKnot, (3) eluckyme.com, (4) TheKnot, (5) eluckyme.com

Color Inspiration

Simple yet elegant...if your looking for a color combo that's stylish and simple to coordinate, black and white is the way to go. Make it yours with an additional accent color like red or pink. Check out these photos from Southern Weddings and The Knot for a few great ideas.

A Southern Chic Bridal Show on June 28th!!

Are you looking for a great bridal show to attend? Or do you want to learn how to get the wedding of your dreams from local experts? Then we have the bridal event for you! On Sunday, June 28th at the Tampa Woman's Club (2901 Bayshore Blvd) from 1-4pm, you can come out to meet local vendors, attend educational seminars and purchase discount bridal gowns ($100!!) to benefit charity. If you are interested in meeting us face to face, we will be in attendance and would love to meet you as well, so come check it out! If you'd like to check out our chairs...sit in them, touch them and see just how beautiful they are, they also will be in attendance. For more info, go to http://www.gettingmarried101.com/. Admission is free but the organizers are asking for a $5 donation, all of which will go to the charities that the Tampa Woman's Club supports. Hope to see you there!!!

Great new Cake Stand Idea!

I wanted to pass along a new reception idea that I came across recently. Its a company that designs custom cake stands. Apart from the traditional silver or gold plateaus, there aren't many modern or custom options for today's trendy or modern bride. Raise the Cake however, provides a new way for brides to show off a beautiful wedding cake while showcasing their wedding colors, personal style and even a little bling.

"Design your own cake stand to match your event or choose one from our Couture Line. From Glizzy & Glam or Fun & Funky to Sleek & Mod, there is a cake stand for you. All stands come in 3 lightweight, one-time use sizes and arrive to you with directions and helpful ideas on how to make your cake table look faboo!" (http://www.raisethecake.com/)

Tip of the Day Tuesday...Welcome Baskets for your guests

Guests spend a great deal of cash to travel to your wedding so why not go the extra mile to make them feel welcome (and special) when they arrive in what may be a strange town?? What's even better, make it a basket they will find useful during their stay. If you are getting married near a beach, give your guests a basket with some sunscreen, bottled water and a map to the nearest beach! Take a look at http://www.navyandlavender.com/. All of their baskets come with a great little kit called "Rescue Me" that includes personal items like toothepaste, bandaids and tissues.

Yellow...a great color for many occasions!!!

Planning a baby shower, bridal shower or spring wedding? A yellow pallette is the perfect color selection to bring cheer, joy, love and a little sunshine to any occasion. And why not? Yellow reminds us of things that make us all smile...the warm sun, fresh squeezed lemonade and those fun yellow smiley faces from the 1970's!! Take a look at these decor ideas for your spring or summer event and use them as inspiration to find other other pieces that are sure to keep your guests smiling as well. Keep in mind that yellow also mixes well with many other colors like blue, green, and even black and white for a more modern look.

Photo credits: 1, 2 and 4-www.theknot.com; 3, 5, 6-www.eluckyme.com; 7-www.jeanm.com

8-10-www.invitationconsultants.com

Are you a "Green" Bride??

More and more couples are looking for unique and innovative ways to carryover their eco-friendly lifestyles to their wedding day. There are countless ways to make even the smallest impact on the environment (and often your wallet) when it comes to wedding planning. If you're afraid to jump in the deep end, pick just a few of these ideas to use and know that you really are making a difference.

• Check National Green Pages for the most current list of recycled paper products.


• Keep the ceremony and reception size small (more intimate and relaxed, and it certainly saves on resources).


• Reuse; avoid disposable or one-use items (e.g. disposable cameras).


• Borrow or rent before purchasing, and try to use good-quality items, as they last longer.


• Recycle (paper, plastics, etc.) or use materials made of recycled materials.


• Use companies that donate a portion of their profits to good causes.


• Consider table decor that is not so wedding specific that it can't be reused or given away.


• Buy from local merchants to cut down on shipping.


• Use flowers that are in season.


• Leave wild flowers in the wild so they can reseed.

Source: http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/

Remember, every little bit counts!! This is just a sampling of the many ways to reduce your carbon footprint when planning your wedding. Check out the following book for more ideas.

Green Wedding: Planning Your Eco-Friendly Celebration by Mireya Navarro