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Archive for the ‘Winter’ Category

If you’ve selected Valentine’s Day for your nuptials, then you are likely a true romantic at heart. Injecting that romance into the ceremony and reception can be accomplished in many ways. For example, choose a romantic location for your wedding such as a local bed and breakfast, castle or even a winery. When it comes to a color scheme, red is synonymous with Valentine’s Day and using it in all aspects of the wedding is a great way to infuse a bit of romance. As you can see in my inspiration board below, I like wedding dresses with red accents or red bridesmaid dresses at a minimum. A classic black tux with a modern red tie pairs perfectly with the color scheme. Red roses are the obvious choice for Valentine’s Day flowers, but there are plenty of other red flower choices if you are on a tight budget (we all know how outrageously expensive roses can be around Valentine’s Day).  Be sure to use candles throughout the reception area to add some romantic ambiance.  You can also see on my inspiration board that I love the idea of a classic white and red wedding cake covered in red scrollwork….why not choose red-velvet as the cake flavor?  Creating a red or pink custom cocktail for your reception guests is a fun idea.  I love pomegranate martinis!  Finally if you want to give your guests a little thank you gift, consider small heart-shaped boxes of chocolate or white gift boxes filled with conversation hearts.  Just add a red ribbon and a personalized custom hang tag and voila!, you’ve got the perfect wedding favor.

Valentine’s Day Wedding Inspiration Board by WeddingBlogger on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
Timeless red and white wedding dresses
Real Weddings: A Romantic Red Wedding: Glowing Candlelight, $5.99
Wedding, Red, Bridesmaids – Photo by Bella Bridesmaid – Project…
Manassas Cakery – red scroll wedding cake – Wallpapers – Mobicious
Wedding Obsession – Your daily dose of all things wedding

When it comes to winter wedding cakes, there are many unique and unusual cake toppers that incorporate the winter wedding theme. Consider the skiing couple shown in the photo below for example. This clever cake baker used round coconut-covered cake layers to act as the “snow” for the skiing wedding couple. By tilting the final layer, it looks as though the couple is skiing down the slopes. What a cute idea!

Other options for winter wedding cake toppers include things such as snow globes, wooden or metal sleds, and even crystal winter scenes. Hand-blown crystal cake toppers and decorative snow globes are keepsakes that can be cherished by the couple for years to come.

If you are a bit more whimsical, find a cute penguin or snowman couple that could sit atop your cake….or have your baker sculpt whimsical winter characters to top your wedding cake.  Finally if the groom is a sports fan, you could consider using mix and match bride and groom cake toppers where the groom is dressed as a hockey player (like this hockey player cake topper from Wedding Favors Unlimited).  When it comes to winter wedding cakes, the possibilities are endless!

Depending on the exact month of the big day, winter wedding couples can take advantage of several color scheme or theme options. If the wedding is in December, then a wedding cake that incorporates a red and green color scheme, Christmas tree ornaments, and cake tiers that are shaped like Christmas gifts may be entirely appropriate. However my favorite winter wedding cakes usually incorporate a icy blue and/or silver color scheme along with natural organic elements such as pine cones, berries, and “snow-covered” branches (really sugar).  You can opt to add a bit of whimsy to a winter wedding cake by incorporating snowmen, penguins, or even polar bears sculpted from modeling chocolate or colored fondant. One of my favorite winter cake accents are snowflakes.  Bakers can use royal icing to pipe snowflakes directly on the cake (or sil-pat) and add a bit of sparkle by applying edible glitter or granulated sugar before the icing dries. They could also make various-sized snowflake cut-outs using fondant. You can see in the photo below, that the style of winter wedding cakes can vary greatly. 

If you love one of these ideas, why not print it out and take a photo along with you to your cake baker? See full size images by clicking on the Winter Wedding Cake link below:
1. winter wedding cake, 2. winter wonderland (2), 3. I like this cake, 4. winter wedding, 5. christmas wedding present cake veiw #1, 6. Sarah Davis Wedding Cake, 7. Sean’s cake, 8. winter packages, 9. “Winter Flurry” – Dec. 6, 2008

When I think winter wedding, I think “Walking in a Winter Wonderland”. Icy blue, white, silver, and a snowflake motif would be key elements in my ideal winter wedding. While searching for some inspiration at Polyvore, I found some amazing reception decoration ideas that you can see in the montage of photos below. You don’t have to be outside to create the feeling of a winter wonderland. The use of painted white trees uplit with blue lights along with pine trees covered in fake snow can set the scene perfectly. For tableware, I love silver chargers with white plates and then icy blue stemware. Of course, a snowflake adorned wedding cake with silvery glitter sugar is a must as well. When it comes to the wedding gown, I like a bodice with a bit of sparkle along with a faux fur stole or wrap. It also looks amazing when the bridesmaids where faux stoles around their shoulders as well. It tends to tie the entire look together. While winter isn’t the most popular time of the year to get married, it does afford you many advantages over a summer wedding. You can create a winter fantasy-land that your guests won’t soon forget and you can save money because you are getting married in the “off season”.

Winter Wedding Inspiration Board by WeddingBlogger on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
winter-wedding-dress.bmp (BMP Image, 540×900 pixels)
Winter Weddings | | Brides.com
Winter Wonderland – Preston Bailey’s Designs – In Style Weddings
Wintry Sparkle – Winter Wonderland Sponsored by Godiva Liqueur – Stars…
Winter Wonderland Dessert Buffet
Snowflake Ornament Wedding Favors

If you are getting married in the month of December, then chances are that you are considering a Christmas theme with a red and white color scheme.   Planning a Christmas inspired wedding can be great fun….plus you can save tons of money since it is considered “off-season” by most wedding retailers and venues.  Personally when I envision a December wedding, I think red and white with hints of green like pine branches covered in pine cones.  And I love the idea of the bride arriving in a horse drawn sleigh (or a horse drawn carriage if you get married where there isn’t much snow).  If you get married in a church, chances are that they will have the place decorated for Christmas with a tree and nativity scene.  For the reception, use white Christmas lights to add some sparkle.  I love the idea of using glass ornaments in the centerpieces and you can even give them to guests as wedding favors to take home at the end of the event.  For flowers, red roses are a traditional choice, but I also love the idea of using white/ivory and red poinsettias throughout the ceremony and reception areas.  Here are some inspiring photos that I found at Polyvore along with the resources where you can find the items.  Enjoy and have a Merry Christmas!

Christmas Wedding Inspiration Board by WeddingBlogger on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
(Bridal Originals) Wedding Dress LD3DD :: Christmas Wedding Dress ::…, $180
Timeless red and white wedding dresses
Photos of Winter Wedding Flowers and Centerpieces
Real Weddings: Winter: Heidi & Michael in Indianapolis, IN from The…
Christmas Wedding Cake – Vox
Hot Cocoa Wedding Favors

Give your wedding cake a seasonal flair with some of these tips and be sure to use the photos below for inspiration.  They were some of my favorite Christmas Wedding Cakes that I found on Flickr.

When it comes to selecting a flavor for your wedding cake, try something different that ties in with the season.  A spice cake with rich caramel frosting or a delectable red velvet cake with buttercream frosting are great choices for the Christmas season.  If you do decide to go with white, you could consider adding a layer of raspberry, strawberry, or even cranberry preserves inside the cake.

The cake icing/fondant color and floral decor should coordinate with your wedding.  In this post, I’ve focused on a red, green, and white color scheme (see a post later in the week for a icy blue wedding cake inspiration).  Gum paste poinsettia flowers that cascade down the cake layers are a lovely choice for a Christmas wedding.  Or red sugarberries along with modeling chocolate or sugar holly leaves can also look fantastic.  For more casual weddings, consider gift box-shaped cakes that are decorated to look like presents beneath the Christmas tree.

Finally, you can also decorate the cake table with winter greenery such as red berry covered branches, pine branches, and pine cones for a stunning presentation of your beautiful wedding cake.

Cake Photo Resources:
1.The wedding cake, 2. christmas wedding present cake veiw #1, 3. Christmas Wedding, 4. Christmas cake, 5. Tier – with Giant Cupcake on top ~totcupcakes.com~, 6. Holiday, 7. Ivory and Gold Wedding Cake, 8. Christmas birthday, 9. CHRISTMAS WEDDING CAKE

Sweep your guests up and carry them away to a Winter Wonderland with some of these inspiring ideas. My favorite winter wedding color scheme is simple – white, silver and ice blue. This simple and elegant color scheme can easily be carried through to all aspects of your wedding. In my winter wonderland inspiration board, I found some of my favorite wedding accessories, venues, and attire that I wanted to share with you today. Enjoy!

Image Resources:
Row 1 Left – Winter Wonderland Wedding Reception from The Knot
Row 1 Middle - Winter Wonderland Garter with icy blue square-cut rhinestone from Wedding Favors Unlimited 
Row 1 Right – Silver Snowflake Bookmark Favor with blue and white package that can be personalized
Row 2 Left – Winter Theme Wedding Receptioninside the state street building in Boston, Massachusettes
Row 2 Center – Silver & White Reception Decorfrom Flickr
Row 2 Right – Winter Wedding at Donovan Pavilion in Vail, Colorado
Row 3 Left – Blue & Silver Snowflake Invitations from Invitations By Dawn
Row 3 Center – Winter Wedding Cakes from Wedding Flowers & Reception Ideas
Row 3 Right – Winter Wedding Gown by Alfred Angelo