Top Eco-Friendly Wedding Ideas

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Hello again everyone! Glad to be back again this week and talking about a very trendy topic for weddings: Eco Friendly or “Green” Weddings. In the past few years the idea of conservation of our environment has grown in popularity and it has now moved into the wedding industry and is on the cusp of hitting its full stride. Many couples express interest in having an environmentally friendly wedding, so I will be showing you some different ideas on how you can create an eco-friendly wedding.

 

Weddings traditionally are filled with paper products of one time use. Wedding invitations, save the dates, programs, signs, you name it! This is one of the easiest ways to make your special day a little more eco-friendly. Simply chose recycled paper to print on and encourage guests to recycle them when they are planning to throw them out.

One of the most essential wedding decorations with endless eco-friendly options are the centerpieces. Instead of flowers for the centerpiece use a potted plant and encourage the guests to take them home, plant them, and send you the pictures after a year for a great picture college. It would be your very own “Our Love Grows” photo collection! Another great idea is to hollow out a watermelon and serve fresh fruit on each table for a colorful and delicious centerpiece that encourages guests to snack the night away.

Wedding favors are by far the easiest wedding aspect that you can be creative and eco-friendly. One couple I knew recently gave out a custom made pouch with their names personalized on the outside and seeds for guests to plant on the inside and they were a huge hit. Another idea is to think natural. Use real wood on coaster favors, real dried starfish for a beach wedding, etc. One of the most unique ideas I have seen is our personalized beans that are plantable and grow a message on the plant itself once they sprout. So cool!


Other great eco-friendly wedding ideas include: choosing an organic menu, using digital photography, buying a second hand dress, getting local and organically grown flowers, and choosing a nonprofit venue.

For more wedding ideas or if you have questions tweet us @hansonellis and follow us on Facebook and Pinterest! If you would like to see any topics talked about on our blog then let us know by posting on our Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #WriteThisCurtis. See you all next week! -Curtis

 

 

Top 5 Wedding Color Palettes for This Year

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Hey Everyone! I’m here once again this week to bring you more of the hottest wedding trends for this year. Today I am feeling rather blue, not because I’m sad, but because we are talking wedding color palettes! After hours of research and pinning on Pinterest I came up with a list of great wedding color ideas for the upcoming year. Most of the selections are based around lighter, more vibrant colors because for many brides right now last minute planning for your summer wedding is in full swing!

So without further a due, here are five of my favorite color choice combos for this year:

1. Soft Shades of Pink and Green

This color mix is perfect for a summer wedding. It brings a natural feel and if you’re a flower person, then this pairing is too good to be true. I recommend using multiple shades of pink from light to dark and a touch of an off white to accent little details. These colors are clean and crisp and offer lots of options for creative decorations as well.

2. Pink and Glitter Gold

What bride doesn’t like a little glitter? This palette is a perfect color combo for many brides. These colors are very fun and festive and the glitter will add that special touch of pizzazz that everyone looks for. One issue with these colors is getting the groom to agree on them, but if it is a dream come true it may just take a little convincing for him to see your side.

3. Mint and Lavender

While this color combo tends to be on the soft and airy side it also is a very natural mix, which is perfect for summer or spring weddings. If this is too soft for you, one option is to increase the color intensity of the lavender and that will add the extra pop you are looking for!

4. Purple and Blue

This palette is based on cool tones and is great for any kind of beach themed wedding. I love that you can have so many variations of these colors and the different variations bring a different feel to the wedding. Blue is a traditional wedding color and when paired with a complementing cool tone like purple you are looking at one of the top palettes for 2014.

5. Coral and Aqua

By far the brightest and boldest color combo on the list, this palette has been growing in popularity over the past year. They are not typical shades of their colors, but they are definitely a head turner. If you are looking to add pop to your wedding consider these two colors!

One last piece of advice for brides: choose a color palette that YOU love more than what is trendy or in style. This is YOUR big day and your color choices should reflect that above all else. If you need more ideas for colors and all things weddings then check out our Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter (@hansonellis). Feel free to tweet us questions if you have them and until next week, happy planning!   -Curtis

PS – All pictures are from the website The Perfect Palette. Check them out for all things color.

 

 

Why Destination Weddings Are A Hot Choice in 2014

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Hi everyone! I am Curtis Rose, the marketing director at HansonEllis and wedding industry expert, and for the next couple of months I am going to be taking over this blog every week to discuss all the hottest wedding trends for 2014. We will discuss everything from colors to budget, dresses to favors, and everything in between.

So without further a due this week’s topic: Destination Weddings.

When most people think about destination weddings they probably say to themselves: “Sounds like a lot of fun and a dream come true, but it takes so much time and money to pull it off.” I hear this all the time, but the truth is that it may not be as difficult as you think. The average destination wedding costs about $21,285 as compared to the nearly $30,000 that most brides spend on weddings close to home.

In addition, destination weddings usually have less guests which means spending less money on each guest, or being able to make your wedding even more extravagant for those who attend. On average destination weddings have between only 30-40 guests! One of the biggest drawbacks is that because you must travel for the wedding attendance will be lower than if you had a local wedding. So as a bride you have to decide what is more important to you: number of attendees or location.

Now let’s talk about location. There are tons of beautiful spots around the world, but most brides tend to lean towards tropical spots like Costa Rica, Tahiti, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. These are great choices because all have some of the world’s top resorts and most beautiful beaches, but destination weddings don’t have to be an international event. In fact, 6 out of 10 destination weddings still take place within the US! This is great for weddings on a budget and for guests that don’t want to take time off work to travel.

Lastly, because most destination weddings are to a beach front location, the majority of weddings will have a beach, tropical, or nautical theme. Starfish and anchors tend to be the most popular designs and are great to use in decoration accents and wedding favors. For colors, white and black pairings are common as well as navy blue and grey. One color scheme that is taking center stage for 2014 is the coral and teal pairing which adds a bold taste to the cool colors of the surrounding area.

Well that’s it for this week! If you have any questions or are looking for advice on your wedding reach to us on Twitter (@hansonellis). For more great ideas and tips on destination weddings, follow us on Pinterest to have them delivered straight to your feed!

Thanks for reading and see you next week!  –Curtis

 

 

10 Wedding Ceremony Backdrop Ideas

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The wedding is a celebration of the vows that are exchanged at the altar. Yet time and time again, so much energy is expelled on decorating tables and the reception, the altar, the place where the magic happens is often overlooked or thrown together at the last minute. Understandably, some places have the altar set up already, so it’s easy to forget, under the assumption it’s already set.

But your union is unique, so why speak those life changing vows in a generic old altar? Make it you! You’ll be looking at the photos for years to come, and it’ll leave an impression on guests as they wait for the bride to steal the spotlight.

1. Vines: With backyard and home weddings becoming more prevalent, decide early in the season on where the vows will be exchanged, and plant flowering vines on a terrace.


Source: Martha Stewart Weddings

2. Sheer draperies: Use whites to create a soft romantic look, or vivid colors to offer a some contrast against your white dress.


Source: Confesiones de una Boda

3. Picture perfect: For a scenic location, hang a large picture frame from the back of the altar to literally frame the landscape, and later be a great photo op for guests and the couple.

4. Glowing tree: Instead of a traditional altar, exchanging vows under a tree decorated with hanging candles sets a magical scene for an outdoor wedding.


Source: Pinterest

5. Wedding garland: String together antique and vintage handkerchiefs handed down by family members to create a gentle and sweet decoration.

6. Hanging Glass Orbs: Hang glass orbs filled with candles and flowers to create a modern and unique backdrop.


Source: JL Designs

7. Flanked by Saplings: The bride and groom each select a sapling to stand between on the wedding day, that they can later plant as they plant their roots together.

8. Ribbons: Tie a variety of ribbons on the altar, weaving in a few flowers for interest.


Source: HansonEllis.com

9. Tent or yurt: Open the front of a cloth tent or yurt as a rustic and whimsical place to exchange vows in an outdoor wedding.

10. Potted plants: Surround the space with potted plants of differing heights and sizes.


Source: Style Me Pretty