Nicole, Chris and I sat down recently to talk decor. As it is for most people, this is always my favorite part. I mean, the decor for their wedding is really what girls dream about… colors, details, flowers, it’s all fun.

We talked a lot about colors, overall vibe of the day and key elements that are musts for the two of them when it comes to the design of their wedding day. We poured over lots of photos, talked about how to work with the design of their venue, The InterContinental Boston, and how to transform Nicole and Chris’ every day style into their wedding day style. This is what we ended up with:

Nicole and Chris are a traditional couple with a modern flair. They want drama, but nothing “too crazy”, rather, they aim for simple and classy. Their venue is modern, and they’d like to stick to that vibe without creating a room that is too streamlined and stark. They want a little bit of romance! They definitely want their dancefloor to be a highlight of the room, and would love to see a room filled with candles and a little bit of sparkle. The colors are still a bit up in the air, but platinum and silver will definitely be incorporated somehow.

My next step is to show them a few ideas, which is where you come in, dear readers! The way I see it, there are a few different ways we can tweak Nicole and Chris’ vision to create something spectacular, and I would adore your input!

Option One: We could create something modern and simple that is softened and warmed with natural accents. We will bring the outside into their ballroom using elements such as natural wood and feathers, but still keep everything a little glimmery and sparkly using lots of candlelight, crystals and pops of silver. The overall palette will read as silver and platinum, but mixed with hints of pale pink and soft purple:

Option Two: We could bring up the drama with lots of added sparkle, and a little more modern feel overall. This option is very chic and stylish, very dramatic. Lighting and other non-floral decor elements paly a huge role in this decor option. The vibe is a bit more streamlined, a bit less soft. The palette is heavier on the platinum tones, contrasted with bright whites. I’d love to see lots of lucite and mirror elements in this room.

Option Three: A halfway point between the first two options, this option would be very modern, but with traditional, romatic elements mixed in. We would still incorporate lots of sparkle, and soften it with lots of candle light, and other soft ambient lighting and natural elements for contrast. The floral arrangements would be a bit loose and natural in this look, but would be created using chic, modern options such as orchids and calla lillies.

What do you think? Vote below to help Nicole and Chris make their decision!!

Stay tuned for next week’s episode… Finding the Dress!

The Blogging the Bride team (so far):

Lately I have been loving color palettes that are mostly very soft and a bit washed out, but then have pops of a brighter color for contrast and interest, like this board I put together with a buttery yellow, sky blue and raspberry palette:

Photo credits: row 1: table scape photo by Margaret Singer, Ceci New York invitation, cake via Martha Stewart Weddings. row 2: tent via Sperry Tents Seacoast. row 3: florals via Carolyne Roehm, bouquet via MS Weddings, Oscar de la Renta dress photo by Elizabeth Messina.

I would love to see this wedding in a garden on the water under a (Our Favorite!) Sperry Tent – so gorgeous and ethereal, I can just see butterflies flitting around as every guest just enjoys being at an outside party for the first time this year. Such a breath of fresh air!

XO

PS. Can’t WAIT to share MY spring color palette with all of you!!

*Photo via Style Me Pretty

Lucky for you, I’m not the only one who’s nuts for this trend right now. Hop on over to some of my favorite reads and see what I’m talking about!

Happy, happy weekend everyone! Stay warm and cozy!!

XO

The Fairmont Copley Plaza would be the perfect venue for the rich jewel tones found in peacock feathers. I would adore to see a design like this – using deep tones in the fashion, linens and acessories and lighten everything up with shots of gold and cream in the centerpieces. I would absolutely use a deep aubergine satin linen and a gold ballroom chair with this design. So romantic and bold at the same time.

*Photo credits: 1st Row: peacock centerpiece via Grace Ormonde, feather photo {source unknown}, aubergine dress by Vera Wang, 2nd Row: couture invitation by Ceci New York, glass rocks {source unknown}, purple bouquet via Style Me Pretty

What do you think about the feather trend? Love it, or not so much?

XO

*Photo credits: 1st Row: glass candle sticks via Martha Stewart, flowers by Tangerine Creations, photographed by Margaret Singer, 2nd Row: Cake by The Cake Girls, invitation by Ceci New York, shoe by L.A.M.B., dress via Style Me Pretty

I would love to see this palette in the gorgeously modern Ritz-Carlton Boston Common. I feel like the combination of the masculine gray and girly rose fits so well with the mix of modern and traditional luxury that you’ll find at the Ritz. I think when most people think of the Ritz, they expect the space to be very ornate and traditional, but it’s not! It’s a really wonderful blank canvas space.

XO

PS. Do you LOVE those shoes? I {might} have bought them in a moment of weakness…

I loooooove to think about how I would choose to dress these venues if I had complete free reign, so for all of you brides planning Boston weddings, I thought it might be fun to take a little peek into the mind of a planner!

First up: A Vintage Nautical Wedding with a City Twist

This wedding would be perfect for the Boston Harbor Hotel – right on the water, gorgeous views of the harbor, but definitely a chic city venue. Not a sand dollar or starfish to be found, this wedding is all about glam with bits of vintage sprinkled in for contrast. A palette of navy and french blue with hints of bronze would be totally gorgeous in the Wharf Room.

*Photo credits: 1st Row: flowers by artfool via Martha Stewart Weddings, vintage trophy via Ritzy Bee, hand calligraphed compass escort cards by Laura Hooper, taupe dress by J. Crew, 2nd Row: vintage cocktail via Ritzy Bee, Louboutin heels, invite via Ruffled

I am so digging this new trend that’s been floating around of creating insanely gorgeous floral designes, and containing them in something a little beat up and vintage-y, like this trophy cup. Little contradictions like that can really help to make your design pop. And I mean, really, who doesn’t love a little cocktail that ties the whole color palette together?

Are you planning a wedding at the Boston Harbor Hotel? What palette are you working with?

Come see us again in just a bit – we’re visiting lots of great venues today!

XO

When I first started the planning process, I really had no idea where I was going to end up going in the color department. I had entertained a few different ideas, but nothing really felt right and to be honest the palette has continued to evolve over the past year, though I THINK I have it nailed down now!

Like I said in my last post about planning my wedding, it all started with The Dress, but not my dress. It all happened on a trip to Priscilla with my Maid of Honor and Mum. I tried on many dresses that day and actually didn’t end up buying anything for me (more on that later!), but as we were leaving, my MOH saw it… The Dress… HER dress!

Now, I had always kind of imagined that I’d let my girls wear whatever they wanted, or pick their favorite black dress. Maybe something like this…

I can’t tell you what color A’s dress actually is, but I can tell you it isn’t black. The dress that she chose was not something that I had ever imagined would be part of my wedding, the color is not something I had ever thought of including! But, it’s perfect. It’s perfect for her, it’s a perfect spring color, it’s the perfect style for the fun, spring wedding that we’re planning. I love it. Even more importantly she loves it (and I know this because just about every time I talk to her, she’s wearing it around her house for fun. Seriously). Finding The Dress was my “ah-ha” moment in deciding the color palette. It’s been the jumping-off point for many decor decisions and I couldn’t be happier with A’s choice.

The color of A’s dress is bright. At first I thought, what the heck, let’s go bright and cheery all the way! While that would have been beautiful, and totally fit the wedding that we’re planning, as the months went by (many, many months), I decided to tone down the other colors in my palette and let the bright pops of color really shine.

I know I said no hints, but I have to leave you with at least one little photo, don’t I? So here’s a teeny peek…

How did you decide your color palette? Did you have an “ah-ha moment” like I did?

XO

Okay, so just to recap, we are working with a palette of Raspberry, Eggplant and Ivory.

For the ceremony, we started in the center of this palette – lots of ivory with a hint of what’s to come later at the reception (the raspberry and eggplant tones).

*Photo credits: 1st Row: bouquet via InStyle Weddings, wreath via The Knot, programs & lace photo by Christopher Dumas, 2nd Row: Rolls photo by Christopher Dumas, flowers by Jeff Leatham, dress photo by Elizabeth Messina

For the cocktail hour, I still like to keep things fresh and light, so sprinkling in some lavendar and light pinks would be gorgeous.

*Photo credits: 1st Row: Hanging flowers {unknown source}, flowers by Spruce Floral via Style Me Pretty, Flowers by Artfool via Martha Stewart Weddings, 2nd Row: lavendar champagne via Martha Stewart Weddings, 3rd Row: lilacs via Brides, floral escort cards by Spruce Floral , photo by Eric Barry

Now, the reception is really where the “wow factor” comes in – the build up of the color palette really pops as guests enter the dinner space, and the raspberry and eggplant tones really deepen.

*Photo credits: 1st Row: flowers by Spruce Floral , photo by Eric Barry, lighting photo via Boston Uplights, 2nd Row: Flowers by Jeff Leatham, flowers by Spruce Floral , photo by Eric Barry, photo via GetMarried

What do you think? Do you like the transitioning color? Is this a trend that you love?

XO

One trend that I’ve noticed lately is brides choosing to variate their color palette throughout the day of their wedding. This works really, really well for brides who want the wow-factor as guests enter the reception because it continuously gives guests something new to look at and be surprised by. This also allows the creation of different feelings for each of the different spaces you create – the ceremony, the cocktail hour and the reception.

Generally, the ceremony will take place during the afternoon or early evening when it’s still light out – I think it’s nice to start the day (at the ceremony) with the lightest version of your palette, so lets say you know you want to end up working with a palette of Raspberry, Eggplant and Ivory, your overall palette might look like this…

When you’re creating the color board for the ceremony, you might start at the center of this palette, and work your way out as the evening progresses. I love starting at the ceremony with an overall palette that reads as white, but that also has subtle hints of what’s to come later at the cocktail hour and reception. So for this palette, the ceremony color board could look like this…

*Photo credits: 1st Row: bouquet via InStyle Weddings, wreath via The Knot, programs & lace photo by Christopher Dumas, 2nd Row: Rolls photo by Christopher Dumas, flowers by Jeff Leatham, dress photo by Elizabeth Messina

Check back in just a bit to see my color picks for the cocktail hour and reception!

XO

*Photo credits: 1st row: modern centerpiece via The Knot, marshmallow favors via Martha Stewart Weddings, photo by Our Labor of Love, found via Snippet & Ink, watermark invations by Elum Designs, 2nd Row: bouquet by Dana Markos, photo by Amanda Ambrose, glass hurricane found via Martha Stewart, cake by April Reed

Which do you like better? Soft & Whimsical or Chic & Modern? Or are you into a more colorful palette?

XO

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