Wedding Decor - Using Your Linens

Linens can play a big role in your wedding day decor.  Ivory linens with a matching napkin is the standard but sometimes your tablescape needs more than the standard. Your linens include the tablecloth, napkins, overlays, table runners and chair covers so this gives you many different ways to utilize your wedding linens. 

Don't be afraid to use color. Adding your wedding color palette to your tablescape is a great way to enhance your wedding day décor. Trade that ivory for plum, fuchsia, chocolate or whatever your wedding color palette is.  

Photo Credit: Grace Ormonde

Textured or patterned linens in your color palette is a bold statement.  This will take your decor from the nice to decadent. 

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Anne Designs

Table runners are not just for the home. You can use this decor tip for your wedding as well.  This is a simple way to add a pop of color.  

If you want just a touch of color, you can change out the color of your napkins.  

Using an overlay can add a soft but special touch to your tablescape.

Photo Credit: ParatiNovia

Chair covers have come a long way.  The usual cover and sash is now the standard.  Now chairs are just as dressed up as the guests.

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Anne Designs

Do you need some help with your wedding day decor? Send me your wedding colors and theme at DJoseph@weddedluxe.com  and I will create a free inspiration board just for you with tips and advice on how to pull it together!! 

Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha  Joseph

Wedded Luxe

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Wedding Stationery - Making it Work Harder!

Using your wedding stationery suite is an easy and cost effective way to enhance your wedding day décor. Your wedding stationery will serve double duty because menu cards, escort cards, programs and table numbers serve a purpose all while being pretty.  Strategically placed items can add the special touch you need to take your décor from being nice to beautiful.  Here are some easy tips to follow:

Escort Cards

This is the first place your guests will get a taste of your décor before they enter your reception room.  The display of the escort cards is really the wow factor here.  It be as simple as adding rose petals or as intricate as having them attached to a tree.  Or you can simply let the design of your escort cards speak for themselves.

Menu Cards

You can have menu cards for each guest places in a pocket napkin fold.  To add an extra touch, you can add a single flower as well.  To save money,  have one large menu for the table.  Tent style is always the best way to have it stand on it’s on or you can frame it.




Photo Credit: Wedding Paper Divas



Table Signs

Long are the days when you just use the venue’s black and white numbers for your table.  Now, you can have your stationery designer customize your numbers to match your décor.  Couples have been going a step further and personalizing their tables with names of places that are special to them, different languages or whatever they may have a connection to. 

Favor Tags

Again, presentation is everything! A personalized tag makes the smallest favor seem so much more special.  Your stationery designer can match the tag to the rest of your stationery
 suite so everything has a cohesive look.  These miniture wine bottles also served as escort cards as well. 

Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha  Joseph

Wedded Luxe

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DJoseph@weddedluxe.com

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718.938.4713

A Wedding is a Wedding is a Wedding!!

All photos courtesy of The Knot

Congratulations to all the newly engaged couples out there.  This is an exciting time and it’s a lot of fun.  Every season brings new couples, with new ideas and they all want AN UNFORGETTABLE WEDDING. Every time I meet with a new bride, I hear the same thing, “I want my wedding to be different”.  I use to smile and tell them their wedding will be different but for 2012, I’m taking a new approach. 

The truth is a wedding is a wedding is a wedding! If a planner promises you that your wedding will be like no other, please don’t take it literally.  Whatever you are thinking has been done before. Monograms, lighting, candy bars, skydiving, nude, underwater, in a zoo, you name it, it’s been done!! Even these couples that try to be anti wedding can’t help but fall into a category as well. But this doesn’t mean your wedding won’t be different.  What makes your wedding unique and special is that it’s your wedding.  

So how do you plan a wedding that is different, you start with figuring out what you want.  From colors, to food, to music to flowers, take the time to figure out your wedding day style.  Read blogs, buy magazines and get all the inspiration you need.  Whatever you do, just remember to stick to your vision and don’t get caught up in the latest trends unless it's an element that adds to your overall style.  Once you figured out your wedding day vision, stop looking! Too many elements will cloud your vision and before you know it you will have a rustic, elegant, chic, modern, masquerade with a touch of old Hollywood wedding! 


You maybe wondering "what kind of advice is this". Trust me, I'm saving a lot of time and saving your sanity.  It is easy to get caught up in the details, loose focus and stress yourself out trying to have a wedding that is different from the rest.  If you remember to stay true to yourself, this will eliminate the added stress that goes into planning your wedding.



Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha Joseph

DJoseph@weddedluxe.com
www.weddedluxe.com
718.938.4713

Guest Blogger - Danielle Cococcia of Crystal Blue Weddings

Last week Danielle gave great tips on how to choose your vendors for your destination wedding.  This week she's talking about reflecting your personal style even when you have a destination wedding.  You know I am a BIG believer in being you and showing your personality during wedding so I love this post! Thanks again Danielle!! Don't forget to check out Danielle's blog for great destination wedding advice, real Cayman Island weddings and inspiration!!

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Davidson

Just because you are getting married outside your hometown does not mean your wedding cannot be a reflection of your style. For example, if you are getting married on the beach, the décor does not need to be all sand, starfish and seashells. Here are a few tips to keep in mind…

1. First things first. Create an inspiration board (or book) to bring the vision in your head to paper. This will help you focus on what design aspects you are thinking about and looking for.
2. Talk to the designer you have hired at your destination. Look at photos of weddings they’ve designed before to find out what they can do. If there are items you are dying for but they don’t have, source them from somewhere else and ask if they will store them for you so you can ship them ahead of time.
3. Choosing a color palate. Again, if you’re getting married in the Caribbean, your color scheme does not need to be tropical, bright colors (unless you want it to be!!). Go with what you love.

4. DIY. As with any wedding, destination or otherwise, take comfort in these three lovely letters. Look to your family members or bridesmaids to help you prepare and carry these items to your destination location.

5. Remember that your wedding style does not start and end with décor. Think about it when choosing your dress, menu, favors and all of the rest.

Photo courtesy of Better Angel

Every aspect of your wedding speaks to your style…you may have to think outside the box to get what you want, but regardless of your chosen destination, one way or another, it can be done!

Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!!
Deniesha JosephDJoseph@weddedluxe.com
http://www.weddedluxe.com/
718.938.4713

Unusual Wedding Venues - Tips on making it work!!

Photo Credits: New York Wedding Guide Central Park Zoo

Sometimes the venue that's for your wedding breaks all the rules but it's still the perfect setting for your nuptials. A museum, a farm, heck even an aquarium maybe the right place for your wedding.  These types of venues are more than welcomed in the world of weddings but your wedding will still need all the elements that make a great venue. You may need to add a kitchen or even bathroom to have your wedding at this unusual venue. You even have to build a reception space from scratch. As a wedding planner, I love these spaces but you should know all that goes into having your wedding there.

Photo Credits: Martha Stewart Weddings Tent Wedding 

Catering

Your caterer of choice will need to bring in a make shift kitchen for outdoor venues or venues without full kitchens. They will charge you for the rental of this equipment.

Bathrooms

Port a potties have come a long way so don’t be scared of the idea of renting one for your wedding.

Tables, chairs and linens, Oh my!

Renting all the tables, chairs, linens, china, glassware and flatware is very important. You have to have more than enough for everyone and you have to ensure you have everything you need. Consult with your caterer or wedding planner a list of must haves.

Photo Credits: My Wedding Binder

Dance Floors

An outdoor space will require you to rent a dance floor.  A rental company will be able to tell you exactly how big of a floor you will need.

The Elements

You have to keep your guests cool in the summer, warm in the winter and dry all year round.  Renting heaters, air conditioners and the right tenting are required when planning an outdoor soiree.  

Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha Joseph

DJoseph@weddedluxe.com
www.weddedluxe.com
718.938.4713

Wedding Venue - Room Transformation

Last week we discussed selecting the right venue and what makes it the right venue for you. Well sometimes the right venue is almost perfect but we need to make some changes to make absolutely perfect.  It fits everything you need for a great reception but the decor could use some tweaking , this is no reason to change your venue.  There are ways to fix this minor set back.

Chair covers or changing out the chairs will dramatically change the room. When you have 150 burgundy chairs in a room it’s a focal point.  Cover them with your matching colors or ivory chair covers to give a neutral look. Also consider changing out the chairs if your venue has space to store the other chairs.

Photo Credit: The Cloth Connection

Draping the room with a neutral color will create a whole new color palette to the room. This will cover any fixtures that can’t be removed from the room while providing you with a whole new look to play with.

Photo Credit: Elite Rental

Lighting can do wonders to plain room and hide what you don’t want your guests to see.  With the right lighting, you can highlight the pretty things and dim the lights on the not so pretty.  Also it can change the color of a room instantly. 

The Lighting Guy

Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha Joseph

DJoseph@weddedluxe.com
www.weddedluxe.com
718.938.4713

Choosing The Right Centerpiece

When you are choosing your centerpiece there is one important factor that goes overlooked and that’s the shape of the table. Your centerpiece should complement the shape of your table and create the right flow. Not all centerpieces are made for every shape table. Here’s a guide on picking the right centerpiece for your tables.


Round Tables – very versatile and most centerpieces go well on round tables. High or low centerpieces can be used. You also have the option to use multiple vases, containers and candles in different heights and sizes.

Square Tables – like round tables, square tables are very versatile. Square tables are also a great choice of a modern tablescape design.

Rectangle or Oblong Tables – the best centerpiece for these shapes is a tablescape design the goes across the length of the table. Utilize the entire table instead of just the center. You can have a main centerpiece that is the largest and add small vases along the length of the table, vases with different heights or a monochromatic look of vases all in the same size.

Happy Planning,

Deniesha Joseph
DJoseph@weddedluxe.com
http://www.weddedluxe.com/
718.938.4713

Reception Décor – Table Numbers

Small touches at your wedding make a big difference. Instead using the black and white stand a reception venue will supply you; use these silver numbers that can be inserted into your centerpiece. This small detail will give your table a wow factor your guests will be sure to talk about.

You can find these table numbers at The Wedding Outlet.

Deniesha Joseph,


Wedded Luxe - Luxury Wedding Planning & Couture Designs
DJoseph@weddedluxe.com
http://www.weddedluxe.blogspot.com/
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718.938.4713

Wedding Flowers – Carnations

I know when some brides hear the word carnations they cringe at the thought but you should reconsider carnations for your wedding. I’m not talking about the ones from your local grocery store that you pass on the way home. I’m talking about quality, fresh picked carnations that when they bloom are just delightful and so feminine. Carnations are an inexpensive flower that goes a long way. So when you are considering your wedding flowers, consider carnations. Here is some carnations inspiration.

Photo Credit: Brides.com

Photo Credit: Project Weddings

Photo Credit: Project Weddings

Photo Credit: Style Me Pretty

Photo Credit: Southern Wedding Magazine

Tips on how to use carnations:
Carnations can be combined with other blooms to add fullness without taking you over budget.

Budget Tip:
Try using carnations in place of peonies. Peonies can run from $5.00 to $7.00 a stem versus the carnation that is a fraction of the price.

Décor Tip:
You can have an arrangement of all carnations for a full and luxurious centerpiece. Or you can use them as accents for some floral designs that may use a lot of flowers.

Happy Planning,

Deniesha Joseph
Wedded Luxe - Luxury Wedding Planning & Couture Designs
http://www.weddedluxe.com/
718.938.4713

Inspiration Brought To Life!!

Taking a bride’s vision and bringing it to life is my job as a wedding planner and designer. Currently I’m working with a bride and mother of the bride with two different visions for the wedding décor. The bride loves color with a contemporary style and her mother has a more traditional and classic style. To accommodate both bride and MOH we came up with a compromise. I combined the bride’s love of peonies and color and the MOH classic style and love of roses and created this beautiful and colorful centerpiece all while keeping with the bride’s color scheme of green and shades of pink. Tell me what you think!!

This center piece has green hydrangeas, pink peonies and pink roses. The final version will be sitting on a 20" high clear stand that will be filled with pink colored water to add more color for the bride. Each table will have pink and green votive candles with rose petals. I'm so excited and I can't wait for the wedding day to see it all come together. Stay tuned for the wedding day pictures of all the floral designs.

Happy Planning,

Deniesha Joseph
Couture Events by D
Designed by me, Just for you
http://www.coutureventsbyd.com/
718.938.4713

White Wedding Inspiration Board

White wedding are a classic choice for your wedding décor. White can transformed into any mood you are want your wedding to be. If you want modern, classic or whimsical, you can achieve your look of choice with white. White is perfect for winter, spring or summer weddings. You go with all white or a white with a splash of color. Whatever you choose, a white wedding is always beautiful. I hope you enjoy my white wedding inspiration board.

(all photos are courtesy of the theknot.com)

Happy Planning,

Deniesha Joseph
Couture Events by D
Designed by me, Just for you
http://www.coutureventsbyd.com/
718.938.4713

Something Blue Inspiration Board

Is your something blue your color palette? Here is a blue inspiration board just for you. Blue is a great color for spring, summer and winter weddings. It can also be great in the fall with the right shade and contrast colors. Since spring is here and summer is coming, I went with the spring/summer feeling. I'll be sure to create an icy blue inspiration board for my winter brides and something for my fall brides as well. I hope you enjoy my something blue!!

(photo credits from right to left: 1-5) theknot.com, 6) projectweddings.com)

Happy Planning,

Deniesha Joseph
Couture Events by D
Designed by me, Just for you
http://www.coutureventsbyd.com/
718.938.4713

Lemon and Lime Inspiration Board

Yellow and celadon was the knot’s pick for 2009 colors. I agree but I love lemon and lime!! This combination is great for spring and summer weddings. Yellow reminds us of the sun shining on a beautiful summer day while we sip cold lemonade. Green symbolizes the well manicured lawns and all the beautiful blooms that blossom in warm weather. This is sure to bring the feeling of good times and great weather to your wedding. You can add small details of lemon and lime like the yellow signature cocktail, the white invitation with lemon and lime writing or a touch of color for your shoes. If you want to really emphasize your lemon and lime theme, adding lemons or limes to your floral arrangements will do the trick. Enjoy the lemon and lime inspiration!!

(photo credits: left to right: 1,4,6,7,9) theknot.com, 2) J Crew, 3,5,8) projectwedding.com)

Happy Planning,

Deniesha Joseph
Couture Events by D
Designed by me, Just for you
http://www.coutureventsbyd.com/
718.938.4713

Purple Passion Inspiration Board

I hardly ever think about what I would do if I was getting married. I would go crazy if I did because there are so many fabulous options for weddings. But one thing I know for sure, if I ever get married, purple would be my color palette. So if any of my girlfriends are reading this, you’ve been warned!! I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite color but something about purple just always grabs my attention. If you have purple passion than this inspiration board is for you. Purple comes in many shades from lovely lavendar lavender to elegant eggplant. It’s also one of those colors that can be used during any season. From summer to winter, you can find the right shade and/or accent colors for your wedding.

Espresso and Lavender is one of the hottest new color combos for this year. Perfect for fall or winter weddings.

(photo credits: theknot.com)

Purple and Yellow is a great combination for spring or summer weddings.

(photo credits: projectwedding.com)

Here is my purple passion inspiration board. Enjoy!

(photo credits from left to right: 1) projectweddings.com 2) Bridescafe.com 3,4,5) theknot.com , 6 & 7) projectweddings.com)

Happy Planning,

Deniesha Joseph
Couture Events by D
Designed by me, Just for you
http://www.coutureventsbyd.com/
718.938.4713

Sunflower Power Inspiration Board

I was recently contacted by a bride who was having a sunflower wedding. She said she was a sunflower/hippy child!! I must admit, sunflowers are not my first choice but ever since that conversation I've been thinking of sunflowers. I guess the challenge of stepping out my box inspired me to create this sunflower inspiration board.

(photo credits from left to right 1,2,3) theknot.com, 4)projectwedding.com, 5,6,7,8) theknot.com)

Sunflowers are in season from mid-spring to late summer and it an inexpensive flower. You can mix them with other blooms or let them stand alone. Sunflowers make a statement of summer, fresh and fun!

Happy Planning,

Deniesha Joseph
Couture Events by D
Designed by me, Just for you
http://www.coutureventsbyd.com/
718.938.4713

I Heart Hydrangeas!!

One of my favorite flowers is the hydrangea. Even as a child, I loved to see them in my neighbor’s garden. They are so simple yet so elegant and they make a huge impact with just one stem. Hydrangeas are in bloom during spring and early summer. They come in white, shades of pink, blue, green and burgundy. A great way to use the hydrangea is your centerpieces. A simple arrangment of all hydrangeas or a mix with other flowers will be the perfect addition to your table scape. Also you don't need a lot to do a lot. Four hydrangea stems can make a complete centerpiece. Here is some hydrangea inspiration!!

(theknot.com)

(theknot.com)

(theknot.com)

(stoneblossomflorist))

(betterhomesandgardens)

Happy Planning,

Deniesha Joseph
Couture Events by D
Designed by me, Just for you
http://www.coutureventsbyd.com/
718.938.4713

Ceremony Decor

Although you will spend most of your wedding day at your reception, your ceremony is just as important. This is when you and your groom officially become husband and wife. It’s a special moment and the décor should reflect that magical moment. I must admit, I am not a fan of spending a lot of money on ceremony décor, especially when you are working with a tight budget but I am an advocate for making the space look great. When choosing your ceremony décor, there are some things you should consider. If you are getting married in a church, synagogue or any other house of worship, the setting may not need a lot of décor. You can keep it simple with flowers with ribbon or tulle for the pews/seats.

Photo Credits: Project Weddings

Photo Credits: Project Weddings

If your ceremony is taking place in a non-traditional setting, like a park or beach, let nature be your back drop and add an arch or chuppah as you focal point.

Photo Credits: Theknot.com

Photo Credits: Project Weddings

Many couples are opting to have their ceremony on the same grounds of the reception. In this situation, you may have to add a little more to make the space look more like a ceremony. Choose a focal point, arrange you seating accordingly and don’t forget the aisle.

Photo Credits: Theknot.com

Photo Credits: Project Weddings

Photo Credits: Theknot.com

Happy Planning,

Deniesha Joseph
Couture Events by D
Designed by me, Just for you
http://www.coutureventsbyd.com/
718.938.4713