As you might expect, military weddings carry with them a great amount of tradition, ritual, rules, and regulations.  But in many respects, planning a military ceremony is just like planning a “regular” one: you need to start early.  Just as desired venues get scooped up fast, especially during peak seasons, military chapels and halls are also booked well in advance.  It is advisable to book your chapel and reception venue a year in advance by applying to the chaplain’s office.  Check to make sure you are eligible for a military wedding as some rules apply.

If the service is performed at a military chapel or on academy grounds, the chaplain charges no fee, but do plan on making a donation to the chapel.  Some chapels allow another clergy person to co-officiate, so do ask if you would like to pursue that option – and you will have to pay that officiant’s fee.  Your chaplain may require pre-wedding counseling as well.

Speak with your chaplain about proper seating as there are some guidelines to consider.  Also ask about flowers and chapel decorations because rules vary.  The Chapel Altar Guild does arrange the flowers, candelabra, and other décor, and this is the same for every wedding.  You may have to provide your own reception decoration or even plan it yourself.  Part of the appeal of military weddings is the sense of tradition, and this extends to every detail, down to the decorations. And don't forget to look into matching wedding accessories as well.

Military weddings are gorgeous, and a large part of that are the uniforms.  Officers or enlisted personnel in the bridal party wear their uniforms (which may differ depending on the seasonal regulations or formality of the wedding).  A black-tie affair, for instance, would require dinner or mess dress uniforms, while a white-tie and tails event would require evening dress uniforms.  Non-commissioned officers wear dress blues or Army greens, and none of the uniformed service people wear a boutonniere.  Guests who serve in the military can choose to wear their uniforms or civilian clothing.

What if the bride is an officer?  Does she have to wear her uniform?  She may, but she may also wear a bridal gown, if she chooses.  Even the military knows not to mess with the dress.

There are also rules for the receiving line and reception.  For example, if the groom is uniformed, he must be before the bride in the receiving line.  Again, your chaplain is a great resource and can help you follow the regs – and have a great wedding!

The arch of the sabers (or swords, for the Navy) is optional, but it is often a highlight of the ceremony. Surprise; there are rules for this too!  In the Army, for instance, the couple exits the church under the arch.  In the Navy and Marines, the ushers usually form the saber detail, while in the Air Force, they cannot.  Regardless of the branch of the military, it is a stunning tradition.

From seating and decorations to dress and cutting the cake, there are rituals and traditions in every detail of the ceremony and reception. The rules and regulations may seem overwhelming at first, but chaplains (and handy websites!) are there to guide you through your military wedding preparations.

Related Articles:

• Remembering the Men and Women Who Serve
• Creative Groomsmen Gift Ideas
• Inspiration: Nautical & Sailor Style Wedding

Of course the bridesmaid dresses will look adorable, because who doesn't look good in pink? Accent colors are a breeze as so many colors go along with hot pink. There's of course white and ivory, but don't forget baby pink, black, gray, brown, green, etc. No matter which complementary color you choose, it will look wonderful!

Use pink gerbera daisies in your centerpieces and really make the pink color pop at your wedding reception! Of course there are pink carnations and pink roses as well as perfectly acceptable substitutes.

What about your cake? Well there are a couple ideas above to get you started. But don't feel like you need to get too out of hand with the hot pink on everything. Keep it simple and use your accent color occasionally so that your guests don't feel like they've just stepped into the Barbie aisle at the toy store!

Who could forget the fun wedding favors that are just waiting for a hot pink wedding? There are so many fun choices, that this is almost my favorite part of choosing this color!

Pictured Above:

Left - Personalized Fuchsia Rectangular Favor Boxes
Center - Elegant Pink Paper Folding Fans
Right - Fuchsia Filigree Favor Boxes

So what are your thoughts? Would you consider doing a hot pink wedding? Or maybe you already have had your wedding, was it pink?

More on Pink Weddings:

• Orange & Fuchsia Wedding Ideas
• Wine and Pink: Inspiration Board
• Tuesday Shoesday: Gone Pink!
• Pink and Chocolate Color Scheme

Today, brides and grooms have no rules when it comes to color. There are bright orange wedding dresses and dark green cakes. Brides have come down the aisle wearing red shoes and tables have been draped in bright purple and pink. Bridesmaids now don’t even wear the same dress style, but just the same color palate. So anything goes. Your Aunt Ruth may tell you what it was like in her day, but you don’t have to use any of her suggestions if you don’t want to.

Fall colors are always going to be in fashion. Try oranges, browns and yellows. Pumpkin orange is a terrific color choice because pumpkins can be used as wedding centerpieces, and can coordinate with everything from napkins to favors. Several fall colors, including shades of rich dark green, are popular.

Summer colors include blues and yellows. The blues can be rich, royal blue or a more pastel blue. Yellows will bring to mind sunshine and can be from light to bright. It’s a very happy color that works when it’s light and almost cream colored or a more funky neon yellow. Try mixing a cream with a blue for a beach feel.

Spring is the season where color reigns. You can take any color you see in nature and know that it will work as a color at your wedding. Nothing has to match. Pick up colors from the flowers and you will find that everything matches back.

Winter weddings allow you to immerse yourself in the colors of the season for a warm glow.  Use reds, dark greens, royal purple, silver, dark blue, and gold. Think of the colors in Christmas ornaments. Any of them will work for you.

Color is a very trendy thing, but the classics always work. When in doubt, pick one sedate color and one that is your favorite. Chances are they will match perfectly. You can visit a paint department at a home store to get some ideas for hues and colors that work well together. One strip card of paint is designed to work together, so gather strips and see which shades will work for you.

Having a white wedding these days is the exception. Most couples now hardly incorporate white at all or use it as an accent color. Go with what makes you happy and don’t worry about what anyone else likes or doesn’t like. It’s a fun time to be a bride because you can make all the choices you want based on your own taste, not society’s dictates.

Use your own sense of style as an indicator of what colors you naturally gravitate towards. Chances are the colors you wear the most and have in your home decor will be the colors that will work best for your wedding.

Related Wedding Color Articles:

• Silver and Blue Color Scheme: Inspiration for a Winter Wedding
• Wedding Inspiration: Tiffany Blue and White Color Scheme
• Wedding Inspiration: Pink and White Color Scheme
• Wedding Inspiration: Lemon Yellow Color Scheme
• Winter Wedding Inspiration
• Wedding Inspiration for a Purple Passion Color Scheme
• Teal & Brown - Fall Wedding Inspiration Board

Accent Colors for Pastel Pink. Choosing accent colors is always an important step in any wedding, and just because pastel pink is a classic doesn't mean this requires any less thought.  Accents that look great with pink are other shades of pink, white, chocolate, mint green, sage green, blues, mauve, silver, cream, taupe, ivory, soft lilacs, pale yellows...it's quite a list, so you do have quite a bit of freedom and versatility.  Choose a look that you love and which coordinates with your theme, if you have one.  For instance, a Victorian wedding will be a lovely affair with pastel pink and the softest lilac, green, and creamy accents.  Don't feel as if you need to confine yourself to two colors: pastel pink with an accent color can also be dressed up with splashes of other colors here and there.

Your Flowers. Roses are always classic choices, which makes them a perfect choice for a pastel pink wedding.  You can find roses in all shades of pink, as well as pale green, yellow, cream, and even chocolate.  Adding crystal picks or pearl accents make a refined and sophisticated statement.  Other great choices include Gerbera daisies, lush peonies, garden roses, cabbage roses, and hydrangeas.  Bridesmaids can carry smaller versions of the bridal bouquet or bouquets in complementing colors.  Remember to add touches of green, white, and other tones throughout your centerpieces and other floral arrangements.

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5. bridal portrait, 6. Giant 'Happily Ever After' Tag,

7. True Love Lasts Forever , 8. Untitled-89, 9. Black Water Glasses, 10. Untitled-13,

11. Pink Slippers, 12. Montreal Wedding Engagement Cupcakes, 13. Untitled-113

Pastel Pink Attire. You can always go with the white bridal gown and pink bridesmaids' dresses look, or you could add pastel pink into your own gown.  A pink sash, delicate pink embroidery, or pink accents at the neck and hemlines makes a lovely statement.  Today's brides are definitely opting for more color, and pink is the most popular shade for a wedding dress – other than white, that is!

You can find gorgeous creations that will most certainly make you feel pretty in pink.  From the lightest pastel pink slip dress to an over-the-top Allure Couture gown with a full ballerina skirt and fitted bodice with darker pink and silver accenting.  It is fun, flirty, innocent, and not-so-innocent all at the same time.

We love this dress by Lela Rose (found on Dessy.com). It's gorgeous, billowy in all the right spots, and is pink! Not to mention the cute ruffles, which are always an added bonus.

Men can wear a pink vest and tie or a vest of an accent color, such as silver, with a rich, pastel pink or purplish pink silk tie and pocket square.  You can also opt for silver, taupe, cream, or another accent color for the vest and tie, with a pink boutonniere.  Yet another option is to use the accent color for the vest and tie and then adorn them with pink tie clips and/or cuff links.

Centerpieces, Cake, and Favors. You cannot go wrong with pink!  For your centerpieces, let the blooms do the hard work.  You can place a single large bloom in pink or other accent colors in a glass vase – very simple and yet very elegant.  You can also choose short cylindrical or square glass vases and arrange roses in a very tight configuration with very little or no foliage.  Wrap a coordinating ribbon around the vase, and you have a perfectly lovely centerpiece.  Cakes can be adorned with fondant and real blossoms, pearl and crystal accents, silver scroll work, and other decorative touches to meld with the theme of your wedding.  Simple pink boxes filled with delicious chocolate and tied with a simple white bow make excellent wedding favors.

When planning a pastel pink wedding, always incorporate other shades and tones to provide a dynamic, interesting, and romantic look.  There is a reason that pink has always been so popular for weddings: it is what the bride wants it to be.  It is classic, fun, elegant, trendy, sophisticated, sweet, innocent, or sexy.  It is you, and it can help you create the dream wedding you've always wanted.

The daisy is a sweet white flower with a yellow center. That’s what most people think of when they think of the kind of daisies that grow wild. But did you know that there are many shades of daisies from bright red to bright orange and even all green? Make use of the many colors of daisies and you can add pops of color all throughout your day.

Start off with your attire. You can either wear a daisy crown and a veil or you can choose a dress that features daisies in either beading or silk flowers. Don’t be afraid to add silk daisies to your waistline or place them in your hair.

The cake is another place that it’s lovely to add daisies. You can have them cascading down your cake in bright shades or fall colors. Or you can have a yellow cake with white daisies adorning it. The cake shown here was actually found on Flickr, it is so stunning that I had to add it to my daisy wedding inspiration board on Dessy.com - which you'll see below.

Your garter can be a crocheted daisy pattern. If you know a handy crafter who likes to crochet, ask them to make one for you. If not, you can find them online.

Of course, incorporate daisies into all your printed materials. From your save-the-date card to the invitations and table cards and programs, you’ll want to have daisies to carry your theme throughout it all. You can either have light daisies printed on vellum paper or have a card printed in black and white with a daisy motif.

Have bubbles instead of rice, which has been known to harm birds, at your ceremony for the sendoff. The tops of the bubbles can have silk daisies on them. If you can’t find them ready made at a wedding supply store, it’s easy to add a silk daisy bud to each small bottle of white wedding bubbles.

The flower girl will of course want to carry a basket of daisy petals, real or silk, to throw as she comes down the aisle. She can also be adorned in a sweet outfit featuring daisies. She can wear a daisy crown and her basket can be adorned with silk daisies. A cute idea for her dress is to have an overlay made in gauzy fabric that actually contains silk daisies inside it. She’ll look like a walking flower patch and everyone will ooh and ahh at her adorableness as she comes down the aisle and runs around the reception.

Your shoes are another place to add daisy accents. Clip-on daisies work well but you can also do a subtle sandal with rhinestone daisy accents.

Cupcakes at your reception can have daisies done in icing. Their entire tops can feature one big daisy bloom. Place them on stacking trays around the dessert table, or put one at each person’s plate for a really cute favor idea.

When all is set up, your daisy wedding accessories will look like a charming romp through a peaceful meadow. Everyone will sigh with delight.

For more yellow wedding ideas, see our post on Going Yellow With Your Wedding.

Before you do anything, you'll have to have a budget for your flowers. Remember that this will include your bouquet, your bridesmaids bouquets, groomsmen, ring bearer and usher boutonnieres, parent's flowers, grandparents flowers, wedding centerpieces, flower girl petals and any other items that you'll want flowers for. So make sure that you take all these into account when setting your budget for wedding flowers.

Next, do your research. Look around online or ask friends who have gotten married about their florists. Compare rates, reviews, years in business and options that they offer. It's a general rule of thumb that if you're trying to cut on costs, choose flowers that are in season. Flowers that are in season in Spring include: Daffodil, Anemones, Lilacs, Boronias, Star Gazer Lilies, Delphiniums, Narcissus, Sweetpeas, Ranunculus, and Tulips (to name a few).

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Whether you are on a tight budget or not, flowers add a gorgeous touch to any wedding. Even if you choose to use fake flowers, take your time and really put together some bouquets that you'll love to have on display for your wedding day.

If you're interested in more ideas for centerpieces, see this article for Wedding Centerpiece Trends.

You might be wondering what color(s) would go well together with this so called, 'wine'. Or, better yet, you're probably not wondering because it's right in the title of this blog post. Hence, a wonderful complementary color for wine is a petal pink. In this inspiration board from Dessy.com, there are all kinds of ideas for how to make the colors work. Whether you choose one or the other to be the main color for bridesmaid dresses, or flowers, there are plenty of ways to make the other color just as beautiful and dominant in your wedding color scheme.

How about your groomsmen? Well, the traditional tux color is black, but with these soft colors, you could really go for a khaki, tan, or a light gray even! Or, if you'd still like it to seem formal, you can still opt for black tuxes.

What about the wedding cake? Choose a color for icing/fondant, and use the other color for decor. Pastel pink is a gorgeous color for a cake, so why not accent that with wine-colored flowers, ribbon or pearls? Don't forget another complementary color in this romantic color scheme; and that's brown. Any shade of brown, really.

With all these colors available to you, there's no possible way to go wrong! What do you think of these colors together? Would you use them for your wedding?

P.S. I know I said this color scheme is great for any season, but wouldn't it be the perfect Valentine's Day wedding??

If your winter wedding is going to be in a ritzy location such as a glam hotel or chalet, then maybe burgundy, green, or midnight blue would be practical. Don't forget the overlooked essentials for winter weddings such as gold, platinum, and silver. These colors look great with any of the above mentioned colors and will make it really feel like the holiday season.

Images by Polyvore.com

There are other ways to incorporate the winter wedding theme into your reception and ceremony. There are so many details to a wedding that the opportunities are endless. Consider your favorite winter activities (ice skating, sledding, snowball fights, icicle hunting, snowman making) and think about incorporating those into your theme somewhere along the line.

Key details that you can incorporate fun props into include:

• Wedding favors
• Table centerpieces
• Guest book table decor
• Table confetti
• Invitations, programs, place cards, thank you cards
• Between-time lounge activities
• Special drinks (hot chocolate, hot cider) at reception
• Aisle runners
• Flower girl petals (snow flakes)
• Bridesmaid jewelry
• Groomsmen tux squares
• Gift table (instead use Santa's sleigh)

Winter Wedding Favors

Of course, wedding favors are another big part of incorporating your theme. Shown above are just a few examples of some fun ideas by Wedding Favors Unlimited. They include snowflake place card holders, snowflake candles, snowman cookies, and more. There are also glass snowflake coaster sets, snowflake bottle stoppers, snowflake bookmarks, and more.

What about winter wedding centerpieces? There are so many different ideas you can use for your centerpieces. You could use pillar candles that would look like something you might see in a church during the winter seasons. Other winter items you might enjoy are poinsettias, they are truly a winter plant and their colors look beautiful in any atmosphere. If poinsettias have too much color, try wreathes with a candle in the middle. These look adorable and bring in the pine feel from the outdoors (like Christmas trees!)

Be creative, use your imagination and let your brain take control. Before you know it, you'll have come up with all sorts of clever ideas to incorporate into your winter wedding theme!

More winter wedding ideas:

• Winter Wedding Favor Ideas
• Winter Wedding Color Ideas
• How to Create a Winter Wonderland For Your Wedding
• Silver and Blue Color Scheme: Inspiration for a Winter Wedding
• Winter Themed Bridal Party Gifts

]]> http://www.herecomestheblog.com/2010/10/26/winter-wedding-inspiration/feed/ 3 http://www.herecomestheblog.com/2010/09/29/mission-color-scheme-green/ http://www.herecomestheblog.com/2010/09/29/mission-color-scheme-green/#comments Wed, 29 Sep 2010 18:08:22 +0000 Sarah http://www.herecomestheblog.com/?p=969 There are many colors that seem to get used more than others for weddings. Reds are very popular, along with black, pink, and blue. But people seem to overlook the simple, natural choice of green. It's a mystery why, however, because there are so many ways to make green the most magnificent color scheme out there.

Green Wedding Flowers

Simple white roses, daisies, or any color really, if you wish the flowers to pop, you can always go with bold and vibrant bouquets to really accent your bridesmaids.

For reception decorations, opt for white flowers and green tablecloths. These look beautiful together and when you look around the room from your bridal party table, you'll love the way everything looks so unique and coordinated.

Green Wedding Favors

Decide why you wanted to use green as your wedding color scheme. Was it because you wanted to 'go green' and be eco-friendly? If so, then choose eco friendly wedding favors. These are great to go with your theme. Maybe you chose green because you love the way it's nature inspired and you love the way flowers complement it so naturally with every petal. If that's the case, then opt for items that would revert to your original inspiration. Favors involving flowers, nature, or something of the sort, would be sure to incorporate your original ideas.

Green Reception Sites

Choose a reception site that will accent your color choice. A place that would work wonderfully might just be a garden or an outdoor reception site in the Spring, Summer or Fall. The grass will undoubtedly coordinate with your decor, dresses, flowers, and everything else that you'd prepared for the big day!

You could even swing this the other way, where you produce an elegant reception hall with white and green draped from the ceiling. Use crisp green, white or even yellow linens to make the color scheme carry through the whole reception site.

For more color inspiration:

• Inspiration: Nautical & Sailor Style Wedding
• Wedding Inspiration: Tiffany Blue and White Color Scheme
• Wedding Inspiration: Pink and White Color Scheme
• Wedding Inspiration: Lemon Yellow Color Scheme
• Harvest Color Scheme - Inspiration for a Fall Wedding
• Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Colors

When choosing a seaside blue wedding, your accent color will be very, very important. A very trendy, refreshing combination is blue and orange. This isn't usually a combination we see, but for seaside weddings, it is light, airy, and incredibly fresh.

The colors are reminiscent of tropical skies and seas and luscious, juicy fruit. How does this look in a wedding? Imagine the bride wearing a sparkling white dress, tied with a brilliant blue sash. Her bridesmaids wear knee-length blue dresses with white sashes. White accents can also be added at the neckline and hemline for contrast. Bridesmaids could also wear a lovely orange-coral dress with blue sash. The flowers are tropical and lovely: the attendants carry bouquets of yellow, orange, and red flowers, while the bridal bouquet is a colorful combination of all of these gorgeous, vibrant tones.

The colors can be incorporated into your cake: a blue fondant cake with orange roses, delicate gold scrollwork, and white beading will look elegant and fun at the same time. A white cake can be decorated with bold Hawaiian style orchids and flowers or a lovely, sophisticated white eyelet cake can provide a nice contrast to the vibrant blues and oranges of other details.

A combination of seaside blue, yellow, and navy blue is also very elegant. The contrast can be dramatic in centerpieces, and yellow always imparts a very fresh feel. For instance, you can arrange a vase or box of bright daffodils adorned with a dark blue and white striped ribbon. The addition of fresh lemons makes the perfect table accessory. White and yellow daffodils look great tied with a seaside blue ribbon, and a dash of navy or light blue will add a fabulous touch of contrast to the bridal gown.

Seaside blue and green are another beautiful combination, and you can really play up the seaside theme with multiple shades of smooth sea glass in your centerpieces, floating candles in blue-tinted water, and ethereal paper lanterns. Tint your cake pale blue or green and adorn with sea grasses, starfish decorations, shells, or simply a classic strand of pearls. Perfect favors for your guests are small blue-green boxes of salt water taffy, bath favors or beach candles.

Images by Polyvore.com (featuring KarenWise.com)

To play up the casual feel of a beachside wedding, have wedding flip flops made for the bridal party, add a sash to a simple slip dress, put vases of white sand with starfish and seashell accessories on your tables, or simply use children's beach toys for a fun, playful feel. No matter what accent color you choose, pillar candles wrapped in raffia, hurricane lanterns, blue glass, shells, and other accessories will provide a breezy beach feel that you can dress up or down to suit your preferences.

Whether your beach wedding is on the sand or a thousand miles away from the coast, you can create a warm, inviting, and refreshing atmosphere that you and your guests will enjoy.

More Beach Wedding Ideas:

• Planning A Beach Wedding
• The Best Beach Wedding Locations
• Beach Wedding Bridal Accessory Tips
• Beach Wedding Favors
• Inspiration: Nautical & Sailor Style Wedding
• Beach Wedding Cake Ideas