The theme or the color scheme you want for your wedding will most probably influence the style and color your wedding invitation will come in. There are no hard and fast rules for this, but it’d be more appropriate if your wedding invites resembles the overall theme of your wedding so your guests will know what to expect. For instance, semi-formal to formal wedding invitations usually come in muted colors, whereas you can be as wild as you want for informal weddings.
Formal wedding invitations
The paper used for formal wedding invitations usually come in off-white, cream, ivory, or similar shades. To liven it up a little, you can add color to the embellishments and ribbons. Even if you don’t have a specific theme in mind for your formal wedding, there might already be a theme in the decor you’ve chosen, even if you don’t realize it! For instance, if you love pink roses and most of the flowers you ordered are arrangements of pink roses with other flowers, then you can make pink and white the dominant colors of your wedding invitation. You can also use a pink ribbon or dried rose petals to add color to your invitation.
Choosing the color scheme of formal invitation is a lot easier since the dominant color is often a shade of white; the only color you really have to decide on is the accent. With informal weddings, however, you’ll find that you have a lot of options - maybe even too many options.
Informal Weddings
If you intend to hold an informal wedding, your invitation will reflect the atmosphere of your wedding in the colors you select and its overall design. You’re more free to play around with the colors of the paper and embellishment, but don’t get too experimental when it comes to the ink color. Colored ink, especially silver and gold, cost a lot per invitation more than black ink. Also, even colors that look great together, such as blue and yellow, won’t necessarily make your invitation easy to read. Generally, choose a light colored ink if you intend to use dark paper, and choose dark ink when you want light-colored paper.
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This gorgeous satin number by Maggie Sottero is one of the sexiest wedding gowns I’ve seen lately. You can tell that the fabric is made of superior stuff with the way it shimmers and falls, plus the pale gray color is a refreshing change from the usual white. The dress is designed to emphasize the curve of the hip, and the embellished bust gives the illusion of a full chest - perfect for A-cup brides. For that sexy, carefree look, don’t put your hair in an updo; instead, tease a couple of strands with a curling iron and let your hair cascade down your shoulders. Add glam to your hairstyle by putting on a sparkly headband or hair clip.
A caveat though - this sexy wedding gown won’t look too sexy on a bride with large breasts!
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Deciding what to wear on your wedding day does not end in choosing your wedding gown design - you’ve got to consider what bridal jewelry to wear with it! If you don’t know what kind of jewelry to wear, go for pearls. According to top jewelry designers, pearls are the best stones to set on bridal jewelry because of their versatility. The delicate luster and classic simplicity of pearls draw attention to the bride’s face while subtly complementing her white wedding gown, no matter what style it’s in. The best part about pearl bridal jewelry is that you can wear them with other formal dresses after your wedding.
Pearl necklaces are typically divided into six different lengths. A pearl collar is around 10 to 14 inches long and made of three or more strands of pearls. Since this type sits comfortably around the lower part of the neck, the choker is best worn with a strapless or off-shoulder wedding gowns, or v-necklines. A similar necklace to the pearl collar is the pearl choker. The choker is about two inches longer and sits comfortably on the collarbones - perfect for strapless gowns.
If you want a longer necklace to go with your dress, go for the princess pearl necklace. These necklaces are 17 to 19 inches long and look amazing on any bridal gown style. You can also combine your princess pearl necklace with other kinds of necklaces. The best type to combine with the princess pearl is the pearl matinee necklace, which is around 20 to 25 inches long. These necklaces look stunning on wedding gowns with high necklines.
Even longer than the princess and matinee pearl necklace is the opera pearl necklace at 27 to 36 inches. The opera pearl necklace can be worn as it is or wrapped into double strands. This type of necklace instantly glams up the simplest of wedding gowns. And if you think you still need more pearls to go with your wedding dress, there is the pearl rope option if you really can’t get enough of pearl jewelry to wear. Pearl rope necklaces are 40 to 72 inches long.
As for your earrings, the trick is to balance out your jewelry so you don’t end up looking too gaudy. Wear simple pearl studs if your necklace is heavy and intricate; opt for chandelier pearl earrings or more complicated designs if you choose to wear a simple necklace.
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With the excitement and bustling activity of wedding planning, it’s easy to lose track of deciding what kind of wedding cake to order. Although it might seem as though choosing a wedding cake is a pretty simple task, you should give a lot of attention to selecting one since this will serve as the focal point of your reception.
Traditionally, wedding cakes were round, multi-tiered confections made with basic sponge cake and vanilla icing. Today, you’ve got way more options than that; wedding cakes come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and the design, flavor, and style can be fully customized and range from simple to absolutely stunning. The basic elements you should consider when selecting your cake is the design, style, and flavor.
The wedding cake’s design and style usually go hand and hand with your wedding’s theme. The traditional tiered cakes are more elegant and formal - perfect for old-fashioned weddings. Newer wedding cakes are a bit more whimsical and creative than traditional cakes, but still maintain a dignified air. The design of your cake also depends on the frosting you want. Traditional cakes usually have buttercream frosting since this can be used to make all sorts of designs. Modern cakes usually use fondant - a smooth, satiny cover that can be used to create intricate designs, unusual shapes, and spectacular accents.
The flavor of your wedding cake depends entirely on your cake. Cake flavors range from traditional sponge cake to more unusual ones like amaretto and strawberry. Some bakers also include a filling in between layers of cake, usually cream, custard, or mousse; you have the option to decide which filling you want too.
Your wedding cake designer should show you his or her portfolio and give you a list of flavor and design options. Once you’ve chosen all these options, you’re ready to order your cake. Make sure you’ve placed your order at least two months before your wedding date, especially if you’ve chosen a very intricate design!
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Gardens set the perfect mood and atmosphere for weddings. The lush greens and the colorful blooms is best environment for quiet wedding ceremonies and celebrating love and nature. Nurture Spa at Tagaytay offers romantic garden weddings that you can personalize according to how you envision your nuptials to be. So no matter what theme you’d like and whether you want to customize the wedding with your own vows, music, and poetry, Nurture Spa would be more than happy to tailor-fit the ceremony according to your plans.
There are lots of benefits to choosing Nurture Spa for the big day. You have exclusive use of the Nurture Garden for five hours. No need to worry about bringing your own florist from the city and shouldering the expenses. Nurture Spa will line the aisle with rose petals or colorful flowers, and set up each table with an elegant candle and floral centerpiece. Even the Royal Gazebo will be set up with a linen and floral drop arrangement. Smoke and bubble machines are also provided to add to the magical atmosphere.
As for the reception, Nurture Spa will set up an impressive buffet. Your guests will be seated at an eight-seater round table lined with floor-length table cloth and decorated with a floral centerpiece. Nurture Spa’s warm and hospitable staff will help you out at the event as usherettes, buffet servers, and waiters. The sound system will also be set up for you, so the only thing you need to worry about is the music you want playing while you and your guests eat and celebrate.
Finally, Nurture Spa will give you additional gifts should you decide to hold your wedding there. These include a three-layered cake, a bottle of red wine for the bridal toast, and doves in a decorated cage.
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Although we live in an island, beach weddings are not common because Catholic law requires weddings to take place in a Catholic Church. But if you’re really dead set on getting married by the ocean, beach weddings in Boracay are fairly easy to arrange these days. They require a far more planning and budgeting than a Church wedding in the city, but I think exchanging vows as the sun sets over the sea makes it all worth it.
The first thing you should do is keep the guest list short. Even if money is not an issue, fewer guests makes the logistics of flying everyone to Boracay and finding accommodations for them a lot easier. Book your tickets through a travel agent since they offer discounts for large parties. They probably also have hotel packages as well. If not, most beachfront hotels in Boracay like Microtel offer wedding packages, and are flexible about bookings and reservations. Overall, a wedding in Boracay with forty guests should cost you at least Php 400,000.
Wedding suppliers usually charge more for destination weddings, and you might have to also pay for their plane fare and hotel accommodations. Try to find a supplier that won’t charge an arm and a leg for out of town trips. Better yet, ask around for a reliable wedding supplier in Boracay and consider hiring their services.
Finally, remember that it’s never too early to start planning your wedding, especially if it will be held out of town. Start making plans six months before the date and make sure your reservations have been made weeks before the event.
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In the Philippines, our strong kinship ties with extended family makes large, elaborate weddings fairly common. Not only do engaged couples have to worry about not offending a distant great-aunt by forgetting to send a wedding invite - coworkers, neighbors, and former classmates are also considered in the guest list. The problem with large weddings is that the couple might find themselves still paying for it months after the event. It is also difficult to mingle and spend time with your guests with so many of them in attendance.
Small weddings are becoming more acceptable these days and if you’re the type who enjoys more intimate and personal events, then this might be the best type of wedding for you. Small weddings don’t necessarily mean informal; it does not even have to be cheap. It simply means inviting less guests, which will definitely cost you a lot less than if you were to hold a wedding party for a larger number.
With fewer guests to attend to, the bride and groom can dedicate more of their energy and creativity into specific aspects of the wedding - especially if money is not an issue. Small weddings will give the couple an opportunity to spend a lot on a few guests than spend conservatively on many. For instance, if you’ve always wanted to get married by the seaside, holding a small wedding at Boracay will be more feasible if you invite only close family members and friends. A shorter guest list will also give you the chance to spend time talking to the people who you genuinely care about and want to be with on this special day.
Remember, before anything else, weddings are a celebration of love. Inviting only a few friends and family members who have meaningful relationships with you will make the event more memorable and intimate than a large wedding.
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You’re probably reading this blog because you’re planning to get married, or know somebody who is. If you were able to get a lot of great ideas for your dream wedding from this blog, just think of all the wedding inspirations you can get at the country’s biggest and longest running wedding fair.
Wedding Expo Philippines is happening on September 6 - 7 at the PICC Forum, CCP Complex, from 10 am to 8 pm. It’s more than two times the size of the average wedding fair, with over 300 wedding suppliers from all over the country to show the latest bridal trends, from wedding gowns to reception venues. The Wedding Expo is organized according to category to make it easier for the almost-marrieds to compare options and decide which services to hire - and to keep you from getting lost.
Besides featuring the services offered by the hottest and newest wedding organizers, photographers, and caterers in the country, Wedding Expo Philippines will also hold a bunch of exciting, wedding-related events. Watch out for the Bridal Jewelry Showcase, a big display of cakes and dessert buffets (with free product samples!), free hair and make-up sessions by select make-up artists, plus lots of freebies.
Pre-register for Wedding Expo Philippines at Themes and Motifs, and get free admission and freebies (while supplies last).
