Are you planning to have candles on your reception tables? A gentle breeze can sometimes whip up quite a mess at a moment’s notice. Check out any local craft store for inexpensive hurricane covers to shield your candles from gusts of wind. Also make sure that the flowers you chose will stand up well. Mums for example are excellent for outdoor receptions.

Consider an assortment of paper fans colorfully arranged for your guests to pick up as they head into the reception in your wedding is towards the end of Spring when temperatures can spike up without warning. If you are planning to set up event tents no matter what the weather, think about portable heaters or fans as well to keep everybody comfortable.

Always make sure to check out the location you’ve picked for the outdoor portion of your spring wedding on a windy day. It is possible that what looks to be the perfect place to exchange your vows or celebrate your wedding on a calm sunny day is the worst place possible if the wind picks up. If that gorgeous country setting you and your fiancée fell in love with is surrounded by dirt roads, a kick up in the wind could create a mess.

If you are planning to take advantage of the warmer weather to plan some of your big day outside, remember to have a backup plan in place. April Showers bringing May flowers is not just part of a child’s nursery rhythm, springtime brings unpredictable weather with it. The weather can go from balmy to snowy in the space of a few days in early spring and from delightfully cool to hot and humid in late spring before you know it.

Consider double checking with an indoor hall or your church to make sure that your reception or ceremony can be quickly moved indoors if those April showers come calling on the morning of your special day. Also think about renting event tents and having them on hold for delivery or tucked away at your ceremony/reception site so that they can be put up quickly in the event of a change in the weather.

Pantone, the standard in color definition has announced that a shade called Honeysuckle which is a variation of dark pink as being a big contender in choosing wedding colors.  Pairing this with greens, browns or a lovely neutral champagne is another front runner in wedding colors.    Another color combination that is  shaping up to be popular this year are purple and silver.

Using varying shades of the same color is still a strong contender in creating your perfect wedding.  By spinning that monochromatic color wheel across several different textures between your flowers, dresses and the decor for your reception in a great dramatic effect.

Another trend making an appearance this year is brides choosing to use up to 4 different colors when creating the right look for their wedding and reception.

10 Creative Wedding Sites–Beverly Harris of Beverly Harris Wedding and Events
When discussing wedding sites with your fiance’, consider the approximate number of guests, activities (dancing, eating–buffet, finger food or sit-down meal?), budget limitations and proximity to your home. Below are 10 creative wedding sites that you may not have thought about.

Yacht or Yacht Club
Art Studio or Gallery

Things are always going to be forgotten when preparing for your wedding, especially if you are a DIY bride and are doing your own floral arrangements.  One of the smartest things you can do is take an hour before that final push to get everything place and pack a bridal emergency kit.   Or if you are the Maid of Honor, what better way to help your friend by getting a check list together and making sure that everything she will need in those last hours before the ceremony is packed and already at the church or hall waiting for her.

Here are some things you should consider having available on your wedding day in case of an emergency.

Grooming: hand lotion, wet wipes, tissues, cotton balls, cotton swabs, make up, makeup remover, nail polish in shade worn, nail polish remover, nail file, tweezers, small grooming scissors, small hand towel, lint brush, curing iron/hot rollers, hair dryer, brush, comb, hair spray, hair gel, bobbin pins, hair elastics, barrettes, headband or clips for pulling hair back while applying make up, tooth brush, tooth paste, floss, mouth wash, baby powder, deodorant, perfume

Attire: garter, clear nail polish for runs in panty hose, extra earring backs, extra buttons, flat shoes for the reception, iron, extra panty hose, safety pins, sewing kit with thread that matches the bride’s and bridesmaid dresses, masking tape or sewing tape for last minute ripped hems, small scissors for thread, club soda or other stain removal solutions

Health/Medical: antacid, antihistamine, cold remedy, prescription medications, aspirin, pain relievers, bandages, upset stomach remedy, feminine hygiene products

Miscellaneous:  extra copies of directions to reception, breath mints, cell phone and home phone numbers of all wedding participants, contact information for all vendors, snacks, cooler with juice/sodas/bottled water, champagne and glasses, small flashlight, folding utility knife, duct tape.

Feel free to add your own unique items to the list!

Every wedding day is special, but a lot of couples chose their date because it has a special meaning just for them.  Valentine’s Day is always a favorite choice especially if it falls on a Saturday.  Who wouldn’t want to get married on Valentine’s Day, I know that if it had fallen on a Saturday the year I got married, I would have had a Valentine’s Day wedding as it is my favorite holiday.  October 18th is another fun day, as it is known as The Sweetest Day.  A number of couples chose to marry on a anniversary of a family member’s long marriage.  Others pick the anniversary of they day they met, a first kiss or any other anniversary that has a special meaning for them. Or they chose a fun or unique date, like this coming Saturday 09/10/11.

If you have decided to pick a fun or unique date for your wedding, be prepared to start planning even earlier than for the average wedding.  Statistics show that these dates are booked sometimes years in advance, especially if you are planning a destination wedding.

For instance, what’s your favorite color?  What about your fiance?  Picking a color is an important aspect of your wedding planning.  Whatever color or colors you choose will lend themselves towards the flower choices, linen choices, dress and tux choices, invitations, favors, possibly even a signature drink choice.

Keep in mind that the bridal stores are typically one season ahead of the current time.  So if it is March, Spring time when you are planning your wedding, you may be looking at Fall/Winter colors at the dress stores.  There is an assumption in this business that you will be planning at least six months in advance.

Do you have a theme?  Themes can be picked on colors, hobbies, sports, favorite pastimes, ethnic backgrounds, the schools you went to, etc., etc.  Samples themes include golf, wine/winery, Seasons such as Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter, travel, a specific Country, gardening, fishing, baseball, football, music, hearts…..let your imagination soar and make sure you are both on the same page!

Let’s start out by defining a destination wedding.  Typically this term means you go away somewhere to get married.  So a destination wedding could be to Las Vegas, Hawaii, Tahiti, Bermuda, Costa Rica or even stay closer to home.  With so many hotels, resorts and even historical sites offering wedding options these days, the choices are almost unlimited.

I was catching up on my reading and I have several destination wedding magazines included in that pile….I found some great tips posted from a book called Magnificent Weddings by Design, written by a wedding planner named Sasha Souza.  Sasha is known as the celeb wedding planner.  Here are the tips that she shares:

A fabulous wedding is all about the details is her mantra!

1) If your wedding is outside the country, be prepared to declare and pay customs on anything you bring with you, from gifts to decor.  She references a couple she knows who tried to sneak items for welcome bags and had to pay 40% duty and penalty fees!  OUCH!  And, I have to say, this is not something I would have thought about!

2) Research your wedding vendors before you hire them, and get everything they promise in WRITING.  If possible, bring your three most important vendors with you: photographer, videographer and florist.  In other words, PROTECT YOURSELF.

3) The color of the decor should be opposing to the location.  So don’t do blue if you are in a beach location.  Instead use pinks, corals and green to pop against the blue backgrounds.  Your decor will STAND OUT this way.  In the picture to the right, you will see that I used light colored roses for this outdoor destination wedding and they really stand out from the surrounding green grass.

4) Hire local resources for what they do best and treat your guests to the experience of the destination.  Serve fresh conch in Turks and Caicos, or use tequila for a toast instead of champagne if you are in Mexico.

Rebecca Kinnear authored the above tips out of the book.  If you are considering a destination wedding, I suggest you pick up one of the Destination Weddings Magazines for lots of great ideas.

Watch this five minute segment from Channel 10 in Philadelphia about ways to save money on your wedding.  There are some fantastic ideas, including, of course, the Do It Yourself Wedding Flower Guide.

 http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/shows/10-show/Fab_Weddings_on_a_Budget_Philadelphia-123579169.html

Keep in mind that the bridal stores are typically one season ahead of the current time.  So if it is March, Spring time when you are planning your wedding, you may be looking at Fall/Winter colors at the dress stores.  There is an assumption in this business that you will be planning at least six months in advance.

Do you have a theme?  Themes can be picked on colors, hobbies, sports, favorite pastimes, ethnic backgrounds, the schools you went to, etc., etc.  Samples themes include golf, wine/winery, Seasons such as Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter, travel, a specific Country, gardening, fishing, baseball, football, music, hearts…..let your imagination soar and make sure you are both on the same page.

Remember I can help you in two ways.  If you are on a tight budget and are looking for ways to save money on your wedding flowers, check out everything I have to offer here at doityourselfweddingflowerguide.com.   If, on the other hand, DIY is not for you, please visit my www.heavenlyevents.net site where you hire me to do the flowers FOR you.

Either way, happy wedding planning!