Save the Date!

Wedding season is right around the corner and we couldn’t be more excited to start it off with an engagement party to promote Syracuse Opera’s “The Marriage of Figaro”! Join us at this cocktail style event to support the arts, learn more about the services The Wedding Studio vendors and other local vendors provide, and toast to the happy couple, Figaro and Susanna. Tickets can be purchased online at http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase. We hope to see you there!

Wedding Flowers for Holiday Weddings: The Pros and Cons

So you are getting married, how exciting!

The first thing that you need to do is pick a wedding date. Couples sometimes choose their wedding date to coincide with a major holiday. This has both good and bad sides.

I myself got married 33 years ago (and still going strong) on Memorial Day weekend. It was the first nice weekend after a very long winter, so some of the invited guests skipped the wedding to do family things. But then they came to the reception, so it all worked out

At The Floral Gardens we welcome holiday brides.

When choosing flowers for your wedding let the holiday you pick guide your theme. Christmas weddings offer the ability to have Christmas greens in your bouquets. Bridal bouquets of blue orchids will add that touch of blue for your Fourth of July wedding. Valentine's Day weddings bring red roses to mind.

Here are some pros and cons to consider when choosing a holiday wedding -

Pros
Holiday wedding usually offer more of a party atmosphere.
People are on a longer weekend, and out of town guests have more time to travel.
For Christmas and other weddings, many venues will already be decorated with holiday colors. This can save you money in the long run.

Cons
Remember for your out of town guests it is usually more expensive to travel around a holiday.
Flowers for a holiday wedding can be challenging. Florists may have to charge you more for a Christmas or Valentine's Day wedding because flowers are in high demand. And some florists don't even take Valentine's, Easter or Mother's Day weddings . Also with the time constraints of the holiday it is best that you secure your day with your preferred vender early.


Make sure you send save the date cards from someone like Bride Design to ensure your guests can attend. Putting a great team of professionals, like The Wedding Studio at 224 Harrison behind you is a great start to a perfect holiday wedding.

Wedding Tip: Open Bar vs. Consumption Bar

Determining the best option for offering alcoholic beverages to your guests while managing your budget can be like walking a mine field.

The Open Bar price is where you pay a set dollar amount per guest, no matter how much they drink. Unless you're throwing a bachelorette party, the majority of your guests will not consume that dollar amount.

Your better option is to opt for a Consumption Bar where you only pay for the drinks actually ordered by your guests.

Cheers!

MarrymeNY

2013 Color Trend Prediction: Neutrals

This year we are seeing a turn from shabby and chic to romantic and elegant and neutrals are really becoming the life of the party. Champagne, blush, browns, tans and even off whites are becoming key players at weddings and create a sweet, soft look for any romantic event.

2013 is shaping up to be a pretty exciting year in the wedding industry and we are excited to see where these color and style trends will lead adventurous couples. For more ideas and inspiration, follow our Pinterest boards and like us on Facebook to receive the latest updates in color and style trends!

2013 Color Trend Prediction: Grey

Fifty Shades of Grey was definitely a major hit in 2012 and there is no doubt in our minds that we will continue to see fifty shades of grey play a major role in wedding décor in 2013. Paired with other neutrals or a pop of color, grey is becoming more and more versatile and desired. Whether it is a dark charcoal or a light aluminum, this once considered dreary color is lighting up the party from floral inspiration to linens!

For more color and style inspiration, visit our Facebook and Pinterest

2013 Style Trend Prediction: Lace

We've always seen lace as a design trend for wedding dresses, but in 2013 we are predicting lace to be quite a style trend throughout the entire wedding. Lace will be seen on invitations, wrapped around votive candles, as linens, as menu and place card details, and even worked into the design of the cake. We can also expect to see a lot of lace paired with neutrals this year, giving weddings a soft and sweet vibe. Going for a rustic themed wedding, but don't want to lose the romantic feel? Pair lace with burlap! This classic beauty is making a come-back and pairing up quite nicely with many color combinations and design trends.

For more color and style inspiration, visit our Facebook and Pinterest

6 ways to honor a loved one on your wedding day

One of the challenges a bride may face when planning her wedding is how to honor a loved one at her wedding. I myself quickly realized this challenge as I began planning my own wedding. My father passed away when I was little and it never dawned on me how much I would miss him on my wedding day. I thought it would be nice to share some of the really unique and creative ways that some of my brides have used to honor their loved ones on their wedding days.

1. A brooch bouquet:

This is a collection of family brooches made into a bouquet. The most amazing part is that it will last forever!! Here is link to a bunch of different artists who create these on ETSY

2. A loved ones belongings:

Wearing something of your loved ones at the wedding. This bride wore her fathers hat for the ceremony. I am sure every time she looks at those pictures she will remember him. Another bride tied her fathers class ring to her bouquet.

3. Grandma's secret recipe:

A way to honor your Grandma's amazing culinary skills would be to make your favors out of her secret recipe!! I love this idea because everyone that is at your wedding gets to feel a little bit closer to Grandma.

4. Balloons:

At this wedding the grooms mother had passed away and she would have loved nothing more than a beautiful church wedding for her son. The couple got married at a big church and while outside in their receiving line they let a group of balloons fly away into the air. It was such a beautiful moment.

5. Loved ones note:

At this wedding the brides grandmother had written a note to her future granddaughters about a handkerchief that had been walked down the aisle many times before. It was beautiful to see such a wonderful piece of that families history.

6. Tattoo:

Ok I know this one is a bit extreme. I myself have never had a tattoo but after seeing this at a wedding this summer I am absolutely wanting one. This image I took this summer of a brides wrist, her 2 sisters wrists and her mothers wrist. Their father/husband had passed away and it was his handwriting of I Love You on all of the girls wrists. It has become my favorite image that I have ever taken. I know that in that exact moment my brides father was with looking down on her.

Although this can be a sad and emotional subject it can be happy too!! If you have any questions on how to honor your loved one at your wedding, I would love to help. Please feel free to email me at meg@meghanthomasphotographer.com.

Best Wishes!!

Meghan Thomas Photographer

www.meghanthomasphotographer.com