Color Combos: Black & Yellow

[Photos from TheKnot.com]

Black & Yellow is a great color combo for summer weddings. The bold contrast of black against a whimsical yellow gives off an elegant, modern vibe. You can choose to have yellow as your main color and throw in little black elements to still have a light, airy feel to your venue or have black as a main color and throw in a couple yellow accents to keep the feel modern and sophisticated.

For unique, cheap accents go for the bright yellow of Lemon Heads paired with black jelly beans inside of vases on tables. You could also feature your drinks in black martini glasses and stick a lemon on the rim. Enjoy!

Dessert Toppers

[Photo found at Etsy.com]

Etsy always manages to offer the quintessential wedding accessories. Anything from paper for invitations to matching shawls for each of your bridesmaids.

A friend of mine sent me a link yesterday to these wonderful wooden miniature bride and groom figurines. Goose Grease is the shop on Etsy that created the adorable cake toppers that are in the picture above. They promote them as cupcake toppers (an idea that I adore) and allow you to customize them to your liking. However, you could incorporate these adorable miniature couples into any aspect of your wedding.

Each bride and groom is hand painted with non-toxic materials and comes with a pick that is securely fastened but can also be removed so you can keep the dolls as a keepsake after the wedding. Each doll is 2" wide and 7/8" tall. Goose Grease will customize one pair of wedding toppers with customized hair, dress, suit and tie colors for $40, or you can e-mail them for a discount on a large order.

However, they also sell unpainted wooden dolls. This could be a quick and easy DIY project that won't cost you a fortune! One set of two dolls is only $3 and a large package of 20 dolls is only $9.50! Goose Grease Undone also sells paint sets that include six different colors or you could use any acrylic paint found at an arts and crafts store.

[Information and inspiration from Etsy.com - Goose Grease.]

Ring Pillows That Are Sew Easy!

[Photos courtesy of MarthaStewartWeddings.com]

Making your own ring pillow is a great way to trim down on some unnecessary extra wedding costs and to personalize parts of your ceremony.

What your rings are held on doesn't necessarily have to be a pillow either- Like I said, it's a chance to be unique and creative! If you and your fiance share a particular interest, use this opportunity to incorporate into your ceremony which will make it seem a little more personalized. If your taste is more on the classic side but you still want to personalize this part of your wedding, incorporate your monogram onto the fabric. This is a keepsake that you're going to want to save for years to come so have some fun with it and make sure it's something you really like.

A ring pillow doesn't have to be a costly expense either. In fact, they're really quite simple to make on your own and you'll save some money by doing so.

To create a simple, square ring-bearer pillow you will need fabric, lace or ribbon if you wish, fiber filling from a local craft store, hot glue, a disappearing pen or light pencil to mark the fabric (make sure you test this out to make sure it will come off), and a basic sewing machine or needle and thread if you're feeling determined.

There are lots of patterns online for different types and styles of ring pillows so search around for what kind you're interested in!

Sweeties Soda Shop

[All photos from TheKnot.com, Dress by Ralph Lauren]

I've always loved the old-fashion soda shops when I was younger. They're so '50s classic and yet modern at the same time. I found this gorgeous pink candy stripper type dress from Ralph Lauren and was inspired to create a soda shop color board.

I think this idea would be especially adorable for a bridal shower. Base it with shades of pink and add some black pieces for a modern accent. Create a cutesy candy bar with all kinds of yummy treats and leave bags on the table so guests can take some with them. Another cute idea is to create a sundae bar. Offer different types of ice cream and toppings galore!

DIY Favor Box

[Photo from MarthaStewartWeddings.com]

I was first drawn to this favor box because of it's modern simplicity. I love the classic tag with the bride and grooms names on it and I just adore the modern loop that acts as the handle. When I found out how easy it was to make, I just had to share it with all of you.

You start off with a simple white cube box. You then get different colored origami paper to cover the sides of the box. There are hundreds of different options when choosing your paper. You can pick a few different shades of the colors incorporated in your wedding (like used in the picture) or use patterns that go well with your theme. You will then glue the paper you selected to all sides of the box (you can simply use a glue stick). You could also choose to leave the box white and pick a bright ribbon to be your statement color.

After you glue on all of your paper, the next step is to use a hole punch to punch a 1/2-inch hole through the top of the box. Print off the message you want on your tag in a classic, modern font and cut it about 1 cm wide and 9 cm long (play around with it a little to get the size how you want it). Cut one of the edges on a side angle to get the look above.

Next, pick a 10-by-5/8-inch ribbon that goes along with the colors on your box. Loop the ribbon in half and tie the ends together, then push the loop through the hole you punched and through the tag. Voila!

To customize it a little more, feel free to have two tags (maybe you and your fiances name on one and your wedding date on the other), or incorporate pictures of you and your finance on a couple sides of the box along with some colored papers on the other sides. Now you've got a cute favor box for under $1 a box, just find something equally cute to put inside!

[DIY instructions found on MarthaStweartWeddings.com]

Oscar hair styles

[Photos courtesy of AP]

I loved the different hairstyles on the Academy Awards Red Carpet this year! Above are some hairstyles that could easily be transferred onto the aisle.

Amy Adams (top left) and Anne Hathaway (bottom right) both showed off a classic pulled back bun which looked so clean and elegant. I personally love this type of hair style paired with a dress that has a significant neckline. It allows you to show off the cut of the dress without taking anything away from it.

Kate Winslet (bottom left) pulled off a classic, retro hair-do that looked amazing! It really allows you to focus on her features and gorgeous face. This style would be perfect to wear with a veil that would sweep back with the hair.

Angelina Jolie (top left) was one of my favorite hairstyles of the night. I like the romantic, long-flowing hairstyle but she brushed the front half back which took away the messy look that leaving your hair down usually creates. "Poof" it up at the crown to add a little volume and add some gorgeous vintage earrings and you've got the perfect romantic look.

Any Oscar styles you loved or hated? E-mail us! ABlushingBride@gmail.com.

-A Blushing Bride

Featured Photographer: Amber Lights Photography

[All images © 2009 Amber Lights Photography]

Amber Lights Photography is a photography studio based out of Milford, MI that does some of the most amazing wedding photography that I have ever seen.

I personally have worked with Amber before and she is just absolutely delightful! She gets to know each couple she works with and establishes their individual styles and personalities which shows through in her work. She has the perfect eye for what makes a beautiful photo, but I don't have to tell you that, just look at her pictures! She's always adding in something a little extra to get an amazing shot. Amber Lights does weddings and engagement photos in addition to many other specialties. They also offer beach sessions during the summer which always turn out spectacular!

Be sure to check out the Amber Lights Blog and look through all of her amazing work! To get in contact with the studio call 248.685.8600 or sign up for their mailing list on their website.

Ralph Lauren 2009 Runway Collection

[Photos from the 2009 Ralph Lauren Romance Fall Runway show.

Color swatch developed from CCSDrive.com]

The Ralph Lauren runway show is always my favorite out of New York fashion week because there is always the best color combinations in his designs. Runway shows are always a great insight into what is coming up in wedding trends and colors as well as fashions.

This year, the Ralph Lauren Collection presented their line, Romantic Luxury, which consisted of very classic, romantic fabrics and colors. Lot's of cream and blush Incorporated into silk and tulle fabrics.

I love the one-shoulder cream dress with a blush/raisin pink for bridesmaid dresses. The grey/blue is another great alternative to match the luxurious romantic color scheme. Add a couple elements of sparkle (an antique broach or jewelry) and you have a fairy tale romantic wedding.

Refreshing Favor Idea

[Photo by Wendy Woods Photography, Found on TheKnot.com]

[Pictures of bottles found on MyJones.com]

I was browsing around on TheKnot.com, like I am usually doing at any given time during the day, and I came across a very creative wedding favor idea that I just adored! Ashley and Mike, a Real Wedding couple featured on TheKnot.com, decided to put a photo of themselves on a Jones Soda Berry Lemonade bottle and give them out as wedding favors! [Photo above.]

The Jones Soda website, http://www.myjones.com/, has a step by step process that takes care of everything! You first upload the photo you would like to be featured on your custom bottle; the bottles come in a case of 12 so you can choose multiple photos on different cases if you want to get creative. You then get to write a personal note that you would like featured on the label above the nutrition facts. The space allows for around 280 characters so you can write a special message to your guests or simply put your names and the date of the wedding.

Get creative with your pictures! If you're naming your tables after places you and your fiance have visited, put pictures from your time there on the bottles for that table. Did you take engagement photos that turned out great? Do you have photos of significant moments in your relationship? (e.g. Graduation, a special date, a picture of of you both at your favorite sporting event.) This is a chance to have some fun and share some special moments with your guests!

Jones Soda comes in multiple flavors and colors that go with many wedding combos! Don't limit yourself to one flavor either, if you're main color is red, incorporate a couple different shades. You can either keep them by the bar, use them to assign tables, or use multiple colors around one table as place settings to add a little more 'pop' to your setting.

A case of 12 costs $29.99 plus shipping. However, if you order between 10-20 cases you will receive 5% off before shipping. If you order 20 cases or more, you will receive 10% off before shipping. [Make sure to read the FAQ for more details.] *Don't forget to order an extra case for you too keep as a memento!

If you've customized your own Jones Soda bottle, send us a picture! ABlushingBride@gmail.com.

Have a wonderful weekend!

-A Blushing Bride

Blue & Yellow

[Row 1 (left to right): Benjamin Walk Corp., stationary by Kenzie Kate, J Crew

Row 2: Grapevine Paperie, Cake by The Broadmoor Hotel, Midori Satin Anchor Ribbon

Row 3: From TheKnot.com, Grapevine Paperie, Lettuce Paper - Brooklyn]

I love the bright yellow and blue color combination. It would look amazing with a Summer or Spring wedding. There is many different ways to incorporate these two colors in pretty much any aspect of your special day.

The shoes featured in the top left corner are from the Benjamin Walk Corporation. This company has been in the footwear business for 113 years so they definitely know a thing or two about a woman's feet, and let's face it, you're going to be on those things for a while so you want to take good care of them. Their shoes come in a large variety of sizes, styles and heights. The thing that puts this company on the map is that all of their shoes are dyeable! Can't find that perfect color shoe in the right pump? Look no further!

Also, the navy blue polka dot place cards in the bottom left corner are a simple DIY project! Throw down a table cloth to match your color scheme, find card stock in a pattern that you like and write out the names for a personal feel. It looks great too!

Any other great finds for blue and yellow accessories? E-mail them to us - ablushingbride@gmail.com.