Wedding Dos - June 2010

By: Lisa Glines


   It’s that time of year again. It’s June and love is in the air. Most of us think of June as the stereotypical wedding month with all the blushing brides coming out of the woodworks. However, June is not the only popular month for weddings. In the Uintah Basin, we see them happening all summer long. Whether you are planning your own, or being invited to several this season, most of us will be included in a wedding in some shape or form this summer.

    For those who are planning their own or assisting in the coordination of a wedding this season here is a medley of ideas from money saving tips to hot trends for 2010. To cut costs, one of the most effective things to do is cut the guest list. By doing this, you will not only save on catering costs, but the number of invites and the number of centerpieces you’ll be needing as well. When it comes to flowers, using more greenery than flowers will save you money. Choose flowers that are in season, stick to just one or two kinds of flowers, and also do your homework about which flowers are less expensive. For example, the cost of peonies can be five times more expensive than roses! Another way to save is to skip the main course. Appetizers and drinks are fine too--it’s all in the presentation and details that will make your reception stand out. If however you do have a full course meal in mind, then serve up comfort foods like barbecue chicken, mac and cheese, and corn. It’s often cheaper and you can make it really fun by tying it in with a backyard picnic theme.

    So what are the up and coming trends of the season? As for colors, keep it bright and bold! The “IT” color for the 2010 summer season is undoubtedly cobalt blue. It’s so vivid and brilliant. It makes the old adage “something blue” totally an understatement. When using cobalt blue you could pair it with muted neutrals or metallics such as gray, white, or silver. Or if you are more daring, you could choose a radiant counterpart, such as a bright fruity orange, a juicy citrus yellow, or even a lime green. Other color combinations that are sure to please, especially for outdoor weddings this season are blue, orange, and white; pink, gray, and white; or green, yellow and white. Some options for more elegant color combinations are raspberry, eggplant, and brown; navy, green, and white; dark purple, blue, and brown/tan. Hopefully some of those combos will get your color wheels spinning!

    As for the traditional “walk down the aisle” wedding couples are choosing to mix it up by opting for non-linear aisles. The staff at Get Married portray it as, “Brides are personalizing the procession by altering the traditional aisle with a circle or a triangular double aisle, enabling the couple to enter from multiple spots with a central meeting point.”

    The fashionable trends that are being seen as far as receptions go is using props as centerpieces. Taking decorative items that you may see in a home on a coffee table or a mantel and incorporating them into your centerpiece which can give you a more modern feel. In the long run it can save money as well because fresh floral centerpieces can be pricey. And this alternative can be used later for decoration in the bride and grooms home. When using this method, make sure the items still coordinate with your theme. Also using furniture from inside the home and setting up a lounge style seating area is innovative and gets your guests to feel like it’s alright to hang out and visit rather than leave as soon as they’ve said congrats and eaten their food. These feel especially swanky when having an outdoor event.

     In the catering realm what is in vogue is having cocktail inspired food and drinks. As mentioned before having appetizers and drinks as an alternative to a main dish will save money. Make it fun by incorporating the details you would see at a real cocktail party or a Manhattan club by getting plastic martini glasses. If you can’t afford alcohol or prefer not to serve that, you can opt for faux martini’s made up simply of Sprite garnished with a green grape on a toothpick. Or how about a Shirley Temple? There are various ways to make it feel like a cocktail party. If going for this theme, be sure to have several little food stations around with hors d’oeuvres.

    If the idea of planning and executing your own wedding seems daunting then turn to the professionals for help. There are many professional wedding planners and caterers in the Uintah Basin that would be happy to help you as you make the big trip down the aisle. Wedding planners are an amazing way to help elevate the stress of overseeing and coordinating all the vendors for bride and groom’s big day.