my fair wedding pictures
If you love wedding shows like I do, you have probably seen "My Fair Wedding", the one where a famous wedding planner comes in and totally remakes weddings at the last second. The results are crystal clear: the "afters" are always way more fabulous, elegant, and chic than the "befores". Now, most brides are not going to get any last minute guidance from a celebrity wedding designer, but every bride can make her own wedding more beautiful with the right tools. Read this article to figure out if your wedding needs a makeover.
Your wedding might need a makeover if...fake flowers are the main form of decoration. In fact, this has been a common theme on the episodes of "My Fair Wedding" that I have seen: rather than investing in fresh flowers, brides hope to get by with the fake ones. Most of the fakes are not at all natural looking, either, generally coming in too-bright colors or not resembling the shape of genuine flowers at all.
Just don't do it! It is far better to create smaller floral displays using gorgeous real flowers than massive centerpieces and bouquets made from the not-so-fabulous fakes. One very chic idea that actually requires a minimal number of flowers is to create submerged flower centerpieces. One or two long stems of an orchid or berries are placed into tall clear vessels filled to the top with water. Submerged flower centerpieces will give you maximum style and effect with a minimal flower budget. Another option is to decorate the wedding reception tables with fresh fruit like limes, green apples, or oranges displayed in pretty footed vases. Surround with a few votive candles, and you will have table arrangements that are fresh, modern, and affordable. Definitely a wedding "do"!
Your wedding might need a makeover if...you spend most of your waking hours with a hot glue gun in hand. While there are certainly any number of lovely diy wedding projects which a crafty bride can undertake, it is also all too easy to go way over the top with the homemade decorations. Here is the key: if your efforts look like you made them at home with a hot glue gun, they are not elegant enough for a wedding. One of the worst examples I saw of this on television was a bride who hot glued fake flowers (two strikes!) to everything in sight, including the bridal hair jewelry for her bridesmaids. Flowers can be a pretty theme for bridal jewelry to wear in the hair, but only if they are delicately handcrafted - never humongous and stuck to a stretchy headband. Remember that your bridesmaids are supposed to be your closest friends and relations. If they all cringe or hide their faces in embarrassment every time that they put on their bridesmaid dresses and accessories, it is probably time to rethink that selection!
Your wedding might need a makeover if...you do not have a good plan for the flow of the reception, including the cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing. Is it ever okay to rent a tent which will accommodate only some of your guests for dinner and ask the rest to picnic on the ground outside of the main tent? Uh, no - think about how insulting that could be to those who did not make the cut to get a seat at a table for dinner. You also want to make sure that you have a good way to separate the cocktail and dinner areas, especially if the ceremony seating will be removed and changed over into the dinner table arrangement.
A wedding should always feel magical, which means that your guests never see the behind-the-scenes stuff taking place. The good news is that it is never too late to make the small changes which will yield big improvements in the style and beauty of your wedding day. From decorations, to attire, to the reception, you have the power to make everything absolutely gorgeous so that you will be able to enjoy the dream wedding you deserve.
