What a great year 2011 was … I feel so blessed, and 2012 has more exciting things to come! Just take a peek …

2/14/12 – our I Dream of a Wedding wedding takes place

4/1/12 – Bliss, a fine wedding fair takes place at City View

Spring 2012 – clutch, a bride’s guide to have and to hold debuts with its first issue

Of course, more exciting things are in the works, but that is what we have for the first part of 2012. I wish you all the best in your endeavors in the year ahead.

~ Jennifer

I am on “blogiday” this week spending time with family and friends. I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas and that you get a chance to relax and take a little bit of a break, too. I will see you with everything fresh and new in January!

Flowers are the touch at a wedding that brings in an element from nature, and I just think that fresh flowers make people happy … they are beautiful, colorful and fragrant. I am so pleased to have this guest posting today by Trisha Hardings of FlowerDelivery.net! If you are like me and have always wondered what flowers are in season when, then read on …

With weddings occurring year-round, finding flowers that are not only in season but also affordable can be a massive headache. This guide will help you to navigate through the most commonly used seasonal varietals, plus give you ideas for a few less common blooms.

Winter

There is a much broader array of winter seasonal flowers available now, due to many commercial growers utilizing environmentally controlled greenhouses to grow seasonal varietals all year long. Many florists also import flowers from warmer climates, giving them a greater variety from which to choose from. However, these flowers tend to be very expensive, and when buying large quantities for a wedding, that cost can add up very quickly.

But there are some fantastic flowers that have their peak season in the winter, many of which can be used for your wedding if grouped together with the proper foliage:

One of the loveliest is the amaryllis, which flowers in mid winter and can be used to make stunning centerpieces and table decorations. They come in red, white, and white/pink varieties.

Cymbidium orchids make wonderful bouquet flowers for the bride to carry. They are widely available in the winter and come in white, yellow, and pale green.

Gerber daisies, tulips, and roses are also grown in the winter and come in a wide array of colors.
It should be noted that the busiest time of year for flower delivery is during the winter: Valentine’s Day. Flower prices tend to skyrocket on and around this time, which can end up costing you in the long run.

Spring

Spring is the best time to find the widest array of flowers for your wedding, as nature replaces the drab lifelessness of winter with lush new color. Spring also represents “new beginnings;” a wonderful time to get married.

Tulips are at the peak of their seasonal blooming right now, offering a veritable rainbow of colors and varieties.

Hyacinths are in season near mid-spring. They are popular to use because of their pleasing fragrance and delicate shape.

Some less common, but very appropriate spring flowers to use include peonies and lily of the valley(s). They can both be used effectively in the bride’s bouquet or in the boutonnieres for the groomsmen.

Summer

Summer tends to be the most popular season for weddings. Not surprisingly, it is also the time of year where an explosion of colorful foliage and flowers takes place naturally, lending itself to fantastic wedding arrangements.

Stock is a traditional summer flower that is widely used in weddings. It has a luxurious scent, and comes in white and pink varieties during this time of year.

Lilies, with their large blooms and pleasing scent, are very popular for summer weddings. However, the bride must be cautious not to get the orange pollen on her white dress on her wedding day, as it is almost impossible to get out without a full dry-cleaning.

Gerber daisies tend to be at their peak in early summer, offering a perfectly circular bulb in a wide array of colors. Gerber daisies are very prevalently used in bridal bouquets.

Autumn

There are plenty of flowers available during the autumn months, despite the constantly falling leaves and colder weather.

Chrysanthemums, though available year-round, are at their peak in the fall. They come in a wide array of sizes and colors and have a very long vase life. Chrysanthemums are commonly used in table centerpieces and bridal bouquets.

Hydrangeas are at the end of their availability in autumn, but can still be found in large bulbs of blue and pink.

Dahlias are in season in autumn, and come in a range of colors from vibrant yellow to bright red. They are a spectacular addition to ceremony arrangements and centerpieces.

No matter what the season of your wedding is, just remember that it is all about you and your special day. Make the most of it, and ensure that you get the flowers you truly want for your special day.

I am on “blogiday” this week spending time with family and friends. I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas and that you get a chance to relax and take a little bit of a break, too. I will see you with everything fresh and new in January!

I am so pleased to have a guest posting today by a local, creative designer! This is such an adorable idea, and you may be able to still snag some Christmas balls fairly inexpensively. Thank you, Amanda for contributing this fun, easy, thrifty DIY for our HCB readers!

1. I saw a tutorial on this blog for making moss topiary balls. I loved the idea … here is my own quickie version. Get a package of moss from Michael’s (Use a 40% off coupon, and it will total $3.50).

2. Find some round object to cover. Originally, I thought I would use foam balls, but they were overpriced (I thought), so I found the ugliest ornaments I could. They were 90% off and came to 70 cents a piece, which is great, since they already have the perfect opening for a pole or stick.

3. Then it is just super easy construction. Hot glue on the ornament, and put the moss on the glue. Easy!

4. And voila! So cute!

5. I will probably put them all on sticks eventually, but it’s too stinking cold to hunt for just the right sticks right now. So, in the mean time, I love them on random items from around the house.

6. I was really wanting something fresh and clean looking after removing all the Christmas decor, and this is just right!! I love how it picks up on all the green in my dining room.

7. This took about 20 minutes to do and total cost was about $7. So fun!!

Amanda Carver is a lover of interior decor and most things creative. With a very eclectic style, she focuses on making things beautiful without breaking the bank. She gets immeasurable joy from transforming items from thrift stores and garage sales into beautiful, usable pieces. When she is not hot gluing, spray painting or putting holes in the walls, she is chasing after her two sweet daughters.

You can follow Amanda on Twitter, check out her Facebook page or her website. She is one creative gal, and thanks again, Amanda for the post!

I am on “blogiday” this week spending time with family and friends. I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas and that you get a chance to relax and take a little bit of a break, too. I will see you with everything fresh and new in January!

Weddings have always been about love and about celebrating that love with friends and family, yet today’s weddings also incorporate getting to know the bride and groom. Never has there been a time when the true spirit and personalities of the couple can shine through in everything from the overall theme to the invitations. Here are a few fun, yet trendy tips to have your wedding be a day where your uniqueness shines through.

Vintage Touches

It does seem odd to start off with all things “vintage” when talking about modern weddings, but one of the biggest crazes is to have a throwback wedding. Whether you choose an era (say the 40s or the 60s … each of those would be such a blast!) to model your wedding after or whether you choose to just add a few vintage elements into your day, this trend is one that I absolutely love!

Think about adding a few “something old”s into your day. Wear your grandmother’s jewelry, carry your great grandfather’s handkerchief, or even have a “family tree” at an outdoor wedding by hanging framed photos of generations both past and present on the tree trunk itself.

Other ways to incorporate a vintage feel are to choose a color palate that goes with the antique vibe you are going for. I am picturing soft, muted pinks and creams as the bride carries a bouquet of heirloom roses and fragrant peonies. The sky is the limit … how fun! I would like to stress that if vintage isn’t true to yourself or really doesn’t make a statement for you as a couple, then shy away from the whole overly done “vintage wedding” trend … I fully adore this when it’s real for the couple and not when a couple just chooses vintage because of trending.

DIY

For those who do not know, DIY stands for “do it yourself”, and no I am not talking about being your own caterer, officiant and dj all in one. I am speaking of those small touches that wow your guests that may not take as much time as you would think.

Think about snipping your own flowers from your garden for stunning centerpieces, or how about learning how to make some fun floral headbands for your bridesmaids? If you live where fresh fruit is grown and in season, try making some jams or jellies in small jars to give away as favors. Many DIY projects can be done several months in advance so that you can have these little, special touches out of the way long before crunch time! Even so, be careful and do not DIY yourself to death … a few touches is fine, and don’t get too bogged down. Enjoy the process of planning your wedding, and don’t cause extra stress with too detailed of projects.

Nontraditional Cakes

A lot has to be said for the traditional, beautiful wedding cake (especially when eating it … yum!), but many couples are opting for cakes that border on fun. Cakes now express interests of the bride and groom (say hiking, theatre or even bowling) along with being edible works of art. For those who want a true nontraditional cake, cupcake towers and carefully stacked donuts or cookies always offer a little bit of fun at the end of the reception.

Pre-Reception Entertainment

We have all been to weddings that have been beautiful only to be followed by the boredom that comes in between the wedding and reception. Why bore your guests?

One fun trend is to have a caricature artist. This not only helps to pass the time, but it also gives your attendees a fun keepsake from your wedding (even if it is only a little something to laugh at for a while!).

Many photographers now offer what they call a “photo booth” where they bring a fun backdrop and a ton of props, and by props I mean wacky stuff! Oversized sunglasses, boas, mustaches and the like are there for the wearing, and guests and groups can get in on the fun and have a photo to take home with them. Also popular is the actual photo booth … you know the kind where you actually get in a booth and have a series of photos taken? Renting one of these also makes for some fun memories while guests pass the time.

Theme Weddings

Weddings are a theme in and of themselves. Many brides just choose a color scheme and go with it … after all, that is what I did! Nowadays couples are so creative in really letting their interests and hobbies shine through in their weddings.

I have seen themes such as cowboy, nautical and Indie that were all very tastefully done. You can draw your color inspiration, decorations, invitations and so much more from your theme if you choose to have one for your special day.

No matter what you choose to incorporate in your wedding, just remember one thing … it is about you and your spouse to be. I would say do not go crazy and overboard because it is important to pull off your wedding with style and grace. That being said, YOU need to shine through. Besides being married after the day is done (yay!), there is no greater satisfaction than knowing that your day was uniquely yours from start to finish.

This may sound a little familiar to you if you read The Favour Shoppe’s blog because I first wrote this article as a guest posting. I hope you enjoyed it!

I am on “blogiday” this week spending time with family and friends. I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas and that you get a chance to relax and take a little bit of a break, too. I will see you with everything fresh and new in January!

Something has to be said for the combination of budget shopping and creativity … call it resourcefulness, thrift or thinking out of the box, but this project definitely exemplifies all of the above! When Emily Kim Bart found some planters on clearance (I love it when things are budget friendly) for just $1.25, her thoughts started churning, and she was able to turn the planters into adorable little markers for the food at her wedding.

I am not expecting you to go out and find exactly what Emily did, but a lot of the secret in doing DIY projects is personalizing it and making it your own. So, I encourage you to think about things in a new way and appreciate them for the possibilities like is shown in today’s post. Enjoy this little DIY, and hopefully it gets your mind’s wheels turning, too!

Here are the planters before the project was started. Not too bad, but repurposing them is definitely a great idea at $1.25 each!!

The pieces were disassembled, and both can be used for other projects somehow. The wooden planters are sturdy, but they need some sprucing up.

Cream colored paint was lightly applied to the wood in order to give it a whitewashed look for a vintage, garden wedding.

Emily added extra moss to cover the top of the planter. Small signs were printed off of the computer onto cardstock. I love how the handwriting adds a personal touch … of course it helps if you have nice handwriting! Holes were punched into the paper, and Emily used sticks that she found in order to impale the paper. What a cute effect this has … perfect for a casual wedding.

Thank you, Emily Kim Bart, for sharing these with us. I love to look at items and think about what they could be turned into with a little bit of effort. The fact that she combined a DIY with a small budget is a definite plus. I wonder what this will inspire Hill City Bride’s readers to do. Any ideas?