Wedding Wednesday | Reception Night Lighting

I don't know about you but with the warmer weather now here, I want to be outside all the time. I just want to soak up every warm night and take advantage of the way the Summer heat feels on my skin. So, Wedding Wednesday today will be all about outdoor receptions - more specifically the lighting at outdoor evening receptions.

Once the sun goes down, it still stays nice and warm (where I live at least!) All you need is a little fun lighting to create a beautiful ambiance and you'll have a gorgeous nighttime reception for you and all your guests. Here is my inspiration:

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You can choose any size light. You can string them around trees, from trees, from buildings, above water, above grass, above tables. You name it - you can pretty much make it happen with lights nowadays. 

Christmas lights, lanterns, candles, chandeliers, etc.

My personal favorites would probably have to be the candles around the pool and the lights wrapped around the palm trees :) 

What kind of wedding lights are your favorite?

Wedding Wednesday | Cool Cakes

It's time for a Wedding Wednesday post that I've been saving up for. There are certain wedding categories that I've found myself pinning on Pinterest more than others. Wedding dresses, table decor, bouquets, and... cakes! I am so amazed at what cake designers can do these days. 

I admit, designing [and tasting of course] was one of my favorite parts of planning my wedding. It was just so cool to see your visions and ideas be drawn into a masterpiece by the cake designer! For Wedding Wednesday today, I wanted to share some totally fun and unique cakes that really just blew me out of this world!

1. Lots of different bright colors with some gold and chevron by Charm City Cakes

2. A simple, feminine and delicate cake by Three Little Black Birds

3. A rich, gold cake by City Sweets & Confections that costs $16 per slice!

4. Perfect peach cake by Lael Cakes

5. Birdcage cake by The Pastry Garden

6. Beautiful aqua ombre cake with ruffles by Wild Orchid Baking

7. Grey and canary yellow polka-dot/chevron cake by One Sweet Slice
8. A sequined cake by Sweet Element. I have officially seen it all
9. A romantic vintage cake with faux pearls and pretty gold trim by Cakes by Nadine
10. Moroccan-inspired cake by Love Street Cakes

As I mentioned in this post, turquoise, teal, and aqua might as well be the only colors I can see which is fairly evident after looking back at the cakes that I chose. Oops?

Regardless, I am in love with all of these cakes. If you're a not-super-traditional bride like me, I think you should go ahead and have fun with your cake! Spend time flipping through idea books [or Pinterest] and toss some ideas back and forth with your designer. I guarantee you they'd love to try something new!

So, tell me, which cake would you pick for your wedding? Or are you one of those super traditional brides? ;)

Come follow me on Pinterest for more fun wedding ideas!

Also, remember that tomorrow is the final day to enter the $50 Shabby Apple gift card giveaway! Enter here!

Wedding Wednesday | Fancy Side Ponytails

A great way to add pizazz to your everyday ponytail is to wear it to the side. More recently, brides have chosen side ponytails for their wedding day hairstyle, adding curls and braids to give it some volume and texture. Today for Wedding Wednesday, I'm sharing some different variations of this look.

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As you can see, there are many ways to spruce up a side ponytail. Make it you! Whether you like lots of big curls, a French braid, a loose fishtail braid, a big flower barrette, or beachy waves, if you're a side ponytail kind of girl, you can make this style unique!

My favorites would have to be the fourth hairstyle [with the French braid AND the fishtail braid wrapping around the ponytail if you didn't catch that] and for another look, I also like the sixth hairstyle. I have a thing for knots and texture :)

Which is your favorite?

Wedding Wednesday | The Dress Shot

I've been pretty active on Pinterest, if I do say so myself. No matter what is going on in my life or what I need to find inspiration for, I can find it on there. AND, Pinterest finally changed their Terms of Use! As many of you know, I'm a lover of wedding planning and have been for quite some time. About 50% of my boards on Pinterest are wedding-related. Don't believe me? Come follow me here :)

As a former bride, I can honestly say that aside from the first moments of having a ring on your finger, the other moment where you'll think to yourself, "Holy cow! I'm getting married!" is when you try on wedding gowns. Sigh. I could go on and on about that but today, I just wanted to share some of my favorite photos I've found highlighting the wedding dress on the bride's special day.

It will mainly be up to your photographer and their stellar creativity to determine where to place or hang the dress to capture it in all its glory. If you're like me, you will consider that when choosing what venue to get ready in :)

Wedding dresses look gorgeous up against the light of a big, bright window and this is how most gown shots are captured:

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When browsing the wedding websites and Pinterest, I also came across some of the most creative, fun, and beautiful dress shots that I've seen. Some of the shots really encompass the surroundings and scenery:

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The rest of the dress shots are each unique in their own way. I love what the photographers have done to really set the mood.

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I think that last shot is definitely one of my favorites! It's so unique and beautiful.

And, just because I love you all and know you're begging to see the shot of my dress, here it is for you ;)

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I sure love that dress :)

If you've already gotten married, did you have a dress shot taken? What does it look like? If you haven't, where do you dream of your dress shot being taken?

I'm linking up with The Vintage Apple as well for Pinteresting Wednesday! Go check her out and, if you haven't already, follow me below!

Wedding Wednesday | Neon

I'm such a lover of love, romance, and... wedding planning! I've taken a few weeks off from Wedding Wednesday but I just had to bring it back. I know that a good portion of you are already married but, if you're like me, you love looking at wedding-related things any time, any day!

With Spring quickly approaching, you'd think we would be seeing pastels everywhere! Well, I've been seeing NEON everywhere. [Not sure what colors we'll be seeing once Summer arrives!]

So... you guessed it - today is all about neon-inspired weddings! It might be a little too far out there for some of you, but it's fun to imagine!

Brooklyn Bride did a neon wedding inspiration shoot and, let me tell you, I think it might be starting a new trend amongst our more daring brides! I love what they’ve done with the pieces – and check out that neon veil!

They also styled some neon wedding decor! You see all the neon pink and orange striping? Well, get this - they used artist tape for that! Genius.

If you love neon but aren’t so sure you want EVERYHING to be neoned out, I’ve put together a couple different ideas on how to incorporate the flashy color palette:

Alyssa Short Design came up with this witty idea to use fun, neon colors for the seating chart! This would be a subtle way to add a touch of neon.

Or, you could have some fancy-shmancy neon invitations designed to really “WOW” your guests before they even arrive!

Ladyfingers Letterpress and Cheree Berry designed these awesome invites! Proof that whatever you want for your wedding, chances are, someone can help you accomplish it!

Lastly, you can do like this bride and groom did by incorporating neon into their wardrobes!

Although her wedding dress was, in fact, white – she switched it up for the reception and chose a softer neon green dress! Totally cute, if you ask me!

While not for all brides, I think using neon in your wedding is definitely unique and fun.

So, now tell me – would YOU use neon on your Big Day? And if so, be sure to send me an invite because I’m sure that wedding would be a blast! :)