Your Ultimate and Bridal Style Guide for 2018
Bejewelled Autumn
Autumn – Masala and Gold
Envision a marriage celebration dripping in jeweled and bedazzling tones and truly captivating your guests with an autumn ambiance through embracing Patone’s 2015 Colour of The Year, Marsala. The deep wined hue when paired with sparkly tones is for the daring bride who wants to free herself from the traditional white wedding.
Announce your regal ceremony in true style with a luxurious gold laser cut invitation revealing a marsala, purple or blue card with luxe embellishments and accessories such as gold lined envelopes, wax seals, ribbons and drop crystals. Destined to trend in 2017 is gold stamping and foiling that leaves a glittery and glistening finish.
For your wedding theme, think of absolute extravagance and elegance. By coupling the rich red colour palette with deep colours such as purple, cerulean blue and gold, you want your wedding to breathe an air of luxury through themes with an Old Fashioned, French Glamour or Parisian Boudour feel.
Think of gold kissed ornaments and gold framed seating arrangements against your baroque styled tablescape. To add that touch of warmth and a touch of understated gold, don’t hold back with the candles. High rise candle arrangements on each table and throughout the venue will add a seductive glow and a heavy scent of romance.
For your cake, think of a rich chocolate covered cake topped with fresh cherries, strawberries or blueberries or a show stopping gold frosted or foiled cake. For accompanying desserts, think of maroon coloured macarons kissed in gold foil, a pie buffet to warm up your guests’ tummies, caramalised apples, glazed donuts or pumpkin cheesecake!
To add that touch of decadence, go with a black layered cloth and layer it with a trail of moody blooms and poignant ferns. Flowers rich in oxblood and merlot reds and arrangements dripping with fruit will add that sense of opulence. Seasonal flowers include dahlias, orchids, calla lilies, tulips, roses, ranunculus blossoms, lilies, camellia blooms, disbuds, hyacinth and snapdragon flowers.
If you aren’t prepared for a marsala coloured gown, don’t be afraid to introduce it into other aspects of the wedding such as the bridal gowns, jewelery or shoes while incorporating a rich blue into your groom and groomsmen’s’ suit and/or tie or opt for a grey or black suit with a maroon tie. For yourself, consider a lace embellished gown, gold plated crown and a bold berry coloured lipstick.
Gilded Charcoal
Winter – Black and Gold
Winter weddings are amongst some of the most elegant celebrations of the year. Charm your guests with introducing the boldness of black into your wedding and balancing it out with gold and white accents. Marry romance with mystery for the perfect Fairy tale Winter Wedding. A royal and regal colour combination that is not expected for a traditional winter wedding will present your guests with an evening full of opulence and sheer style.
The theme can be Old Hollywood Beauty, Gatsby, Vintage Elegance or Classic and Minimal Glam. The colour combination already breathes an air of class, grace and luxury therefore whichever theme you pick will only intensify it. Welcome guests to your lavish affair with an ornate Victorian framed frame or a crystal mirror with white text for a minimalistic feel.
For your wedding invitations, don’t be afraid to choose a thick black paper with stunning hot foil stamping in gold. The shimmer and sparkle of that technique will be a true treat for your guests’ eyes while the colour scheme brings a sophisticated and sleek style to announcing your special day. Dare to go elaborate with designs reminiscent of the 1920’s that are dramatically embellished or embody an old age essence.
Bring in the true winter spirit by surrounding the venue with bare white snow or gold painted branches to set the scene for a wintery forest. For an enchanting feel, have some blooms and chandeliers draping from the ceiling, floating candles and white roses bursting from the centerpieces. Add candles and lights, and lots of it, for that golden shine while keeping your guests nice and snug!
For the cake, opt for a gold frosted or foiled cake filled with rich chocolate ganache or for something that will truly make a statement, go with a black coloured cake surrounded by white blooms. For desserts, surprise your guests with gold glitter cake pops, a smore station and hot chocolate or warm apple cider upon arrival.
Line the tables with black and white tablecloths and have it complimented by gold chairs, textured geometric tealight holders or vases, exquisite gold-plated tableware, black champagne glasses and candle holders and bow tie napkins. As for the glitter, you want to add a touch of it to little features such as your shoes, nails or DIY candle holders so as to not overdo it.
For the bouquet, consider seasonal blooms such as blushing brides, lisaianthus, David-Austin roses for the bouquet. Fill the room with daphnes, double tulips, hyacinth and sweet peas. Fill the ballroom with pure white blooms and orchids for the table setting or draping from an overhead arrangement. The white blooms will contrast well against the black and gold décor and will serve to balance out the darker tones.
For a real touch of the season, add fur or shawls as accessories for your bridesmaids and elegantly tie blankets to the back of the chairs or lay them in a basket to mindfully keep your guests warm. Set aside time to have everyone go outside and light some sparklers for a truly magical feast for the eyes.
Be bold and different and dress your bridesmaids in black gowns. For the bride, opt for a dramatically detailed white lace gown and perhaps a long sleeve dress to keep yourself warm. This is your chance to go with a hair-down wedding look- think Hollywood waves paired with a prominent winged cat eye-liner look and for the groom and groomsmen, a clean cut black suit with a gold tie.
Hosting a wedding during this season is perfect for your budget as it is generally considered to be off season, so you will save on costs. Talk about an added bonus!
Rose Quartz Serenity Spring
Spring – Rose Quartz and Serenity
A charming wedding embodying a romantic and feminine feel. Rich in pastel and a whimsical feel with touches of rose gold for that air of luxury and class. Your special day will set hearts aflutter as you embrace ethereal pale pink tones with a grey blue hue. The muted, dusky and chic tones will give you the chance to set the scene for the romantic affair you’re envisioning.
For the invitations, choose something with magical and cursive calligraphy to truly draw your guests in. Your wedding stationary should be printed with rose gold foil features, lush floral or laser cut designs and blushing water coloured invitations for a soft and subtle look.
We picture an outdoor garden party or a courtyard celebration and if you want to go with a theme, think of rustic or Boho. Welcome your guests with a timber welcome sign surrounded by draping green florals or a white board with pink flowers adorning the edges.
It’s Springtime so it’s the perfect chance to be outdoors and to really embrace nature. Treat your guests with a wedding swing draped in pink blooms and bursting green leaves, flower arches, wreathes, garlands, hanging flowers, lush bouquets, petals streaming down the aisle and romantic fairy lights hanging from the trees.
Seasonal blooms include peonies, hydrangeas, lilies, gardenia blooms, hellebores, hippeastrum, hyacinth, jasmine, lilac, lily of the valley, peonies, ranunculus, snowball vibernum and waratahs.
Consider a naked cake, even with an ombre design with added real life blooms for that extra touch of elegance. Keep your guests hydrated in this weather with a drink station of iced tea, lemonade and water. Bring in the pink desserts such as fairy floss, strawberry cupcakes, pink donuts and chocolate covered strawberries!
Cover the tables with white or blue linen and dress it with bright and blooming pink and white flowers and green branches and leaves. Think of clear or copper crystal tableware, white napkins, rose gold candle holders and for the real rustic feel, add some touches of timber to the place cards.
For wedding favours, consider gorgeous little pot plants accompanied with a loving sign such as “Let Love Grow.” The baby pink and blue are really playful so get into the spirit with some DIY projects such as creating pastel coloured mason jars to decorate the tables with.
For the bride, a strapless sweetheart gown will look magical when paired with silver accessories. Dress your bridesmaids in baby blue or blush gowns and have the groom and groomsmen in grey or cream beige tailored suits with a pink tie or a baby blue suit with a pink rose pinned to it.
Botanica Summer
Summer – Botanica
Shades of fresh, crisp green and stark white will surround your guests and a touch of gold or copper promise to stand out and make a statement. Picture a natural, organic and pure wedding theme that is romantic as it is earthy. Simplicity will be the key for your summertime wedding.
It’s summer time so plan an outdoor, winery or rooftop wedding. Keep it simple, for the floral arrangements will truly do the talking. Announce your special day with a fresh and modest design. Go for a minimalist look with rose gold foiling, luscious floral accents and embossed features on crisp white paper.
Carry over that natural feel to the cake, go with a clean cut white cut and surround it with cascading sugar flowers or real life blooms! Your guests will need to be kept hydrated in the warm weather so get creative with mock tails and cocktails and even consider a make-your-own punch or mimosa bar.
Decorate the tables with white linen, fresh fruits and drool worthy cheese platters, little darling pot plans, fresh green blooms, clear crystal glassware, geometric caged vases with blooms bursting from within and copper wired chairs and touches of rose gold or copper tableware for a feminine and chic touch.
Bring out the rose-filled flower wall, you know you want to! If you don’t want to go that excessive, choose a wedding love letter sign reading LOVE, MRS & MR or you and your partner’s initials surrounded by flowers or a flower frame. This is the perfect season to go all out with creating a garden-like wonderland for your guests.
Make use of lush greenery and succulents and twined leaves paired with in-season pure white and light green amaranthus’, cornflowers, dahlias, gloriosas, hydrangeas, lavender, lisianthus’, peonies, orchids, proteas, stephanotis and zinneas.
For the bride, consider a French tulle dress or a sheer, light and lacy backless gown and nude or blush gowns for the bridesmaids. For makeup, don’t forget that the lighter the better, strobing and highlighter is destined to be a major trend in 2017! For the groom and groomsmen, opt for a beige coloured suite or keep it smart casual with a white shirt and beige pants.
This article has been written by the senior creative team at Adorn Invitations alongside top wedding stylists to produce the ultimate bridal styling and colour palettes for 2018.
To view their glorious range of wedding stationery please visit their website here: Adorn Wedding Invitations.
