No conversation about wedding flowers would be complete without mention of roses. They are the most popular flower for weddings, and make wonderful additions to all of your floral arrangements for the ceremony and the reception. Roses can range in color from a cool and elegant lilac to a brighter passionate purple. The roses in the purple and lilac family also tend to be among the most fragrant. The various shades intermix very nicely for bouquets and centerpieces with a nice depth of purple color.

Tulips are another very popular wedding flower that can be found in purple. Whether your preference is the classic Dutch tulip or the baroque parrot tulip, purple tulips are fantastic for a wedding from the winter months into the summer. For the most drama, choose tulips in a dark inky purple that borders on black. They would be a sophisticated accent for an evening wedding, and pair nicely with other striking accessories, such as wedding jewelry that is handmade from dark purple crystals.

If your style is old fashioned or vintage, you will have some lovely purple wedding flowers from which to choose. One of the prettiest is the charming look of a big bouquet of ruffly sweetpeas. You couldn’t find a more delightful bouquet for a spring wedding. Another wonderful flower with a vintage flair is stocks, which comes in several shades of purple. Multiple blossoms grow along one tall stem, making stocks an excellent addition to centerpieces or ceremony arrangements, much in the same way that florists use gladioli for height.

Some brides love sophisticated and glamorous wedding details, from their handmade wedding jewelry to their letterpress wedding invitations to their unique and stylish bouquets. If this sounds like you, then you will adore the look of exotic orchids. Phalaenopsis orchids come in a rich medium purple, and unique Vanda orchids are a dark purple with white accents. Either looks fantastic in a dramatic flowing bouquet, and used in the centerpieces as well. Another great option is purple mini calla lilies. They work beautifully for bouquets with a single type of flower, and the small size of mini callas also makes them a natural addition to mixed flower wedding centerpieces and bouquets.

Speaking of small, one of the most darling purple wedding flowers is muscari, which is also called grape hyacinth, due to the fact that it resembles a small bunch of purple grapes. Muscari can be used to add texture and variety to wedding arrangements that feature a range of purple flowers. It is also a lovely choice for creating flower girl wreaths and bouquets for a spring wedding.

There are still more gorgeous purple flowers! Bright anemones add cheer and color to winter weddings, while foxgloves and pansies are charming for spring weddings. Whatever the style of your wedding, and whatever the season, purple flowers can add immense style and beauty.

About the Author Laura Firenze

Laura is interested in wedding planning and wedding trends including jewelry,receptions and gifts. Handmade wedding jewelry has always been one of the most important parts of the bridal ensemble.

Purple Wedding Flowers Photo by WeddingsbyColor.com

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The perfect finishing touch for your wedding day is the perfect wedding favors. The little gifts that you give your guests to say thank you are not only a gracious gesture, but also another chance to reinforce your theme. This is a look at some of the loveliest favors for a garden theme wedding.

You plan every aspect of your wedding right down to the tiniest detail, from which wine to pair with dinner to designing custom pearl bridal jewelry to complement your gown. You wouldn’t settle for just any old pearl bridal jewelry, so why settle for generic favors that do nothing to enhance the style or theme of your wedding? Sure, a candy bar is great, but by the end of wedding season, your guests will have seen ten of them. It is much better to choose favors with a more personal flair.

Naturally anything to do with flowers is fantastic for a garden theme wedding. If your wedding is in the early spring, send each guest home with a tiny handpainted pot filled with the smiling faces of pansies. They not only make wonderful favors, but will add a nice decorative touch to your wedding reception. The equivalent for an autumn wedding would be a small basket of mums in your wedding colors.

Favors which can be planted are also excellent for garden theme weddings. Several bulbs wrapped in little burlap bags tied up with grosgrain ribbon or colored raffia are a nice option. Packets of seeds can also make nice wedding favors, if you take the time to personalize them. Choose flower seeds which have some meaning to you personally, or which have a romantic tone, such as forget-me-nots. Seal with a sticker with a message from the bride and groom (and don’t forget to include instructions!).

Garden theme favors do not have to be live flowers or seeds. Candles are always a popular wedding favor, and there are some fun ideas for candles with a garden flair, some of which you can even make yourself. One very cute idea is to make your own candles in tiny flower pots. Craft stores sell clear glass candle holders in the shape of flower pots to make this project easy enough for anyone to try. Add a scent such as lavender to the wax, and tint the candles in a shade to coordinate with your wedding colors. Another pretty candle favor idea is to give candles which have dried flowers embedded in them. Wrap them up in a sheer organza bag, and you will have terrific favors that anyone would enjoy.

There are other neat ways to tie wedding favors in with a garden theme. What about pewter flower shaped wine charms? They are not only beautiful, but really useful. Another idea that combines flowers and wine is a wine stopper with a flower motif. Obviously, if you have children at your wedding, you would want to select an additional flower to set at their places in lieu of the wine related gifts.

Finally we come to edible favors. They are always popular, and can be customized to tie in with a garden theme. Perhaps the simplest idea is to order large cookies in the shape of flowers or boxes of chocolates shaped like your favorite blossom. Edible favors always make for a sweet ending.

About the Author Bridget Mora

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Do: Give your guests an introduction to your wedding theme with your invitations. This could mean designing custom stationery that features a motif across the top in letterpress. It could be making up invitations in a distinctive color scheme like aqua and chocolate. Or it could even be that your invitations feature an image related to your theme, such as a beach scene for a tropical wedding. Since the wedding invitation is your first chance to make an impression, be sure to take advantage.

Don’t: Require that your guests play a role in a theme. In other words, it is really not kind to insist that everyone dresses in red or that all the men wear Hawaiian shirts to your luau themed bash. Anything that would inconvenience your guests or cost them money to further your wedding theme is a bad idea.

Do: Choose attire for your attendants that ties in with your theme without looking costumey. Going back to the tropical wedding example, tan linen suits on the groomsmen would be handsome and beach appropriate, but having each man wear a pair of shorts with a tropical print would be too much. If your wedding is inspired by the a particular time period, the men could wear a tie that harkens back to that time, such as ’60s style skinny ties for a Rat Pack theme wedding.

Don’t: Expect your bridesmaids to wear a period dress from a specific era; it is much more chic to choose styles that are inspired by a theme than costumes that are better suited for a play than a wedding. For instance, if your wedding has a Renaissance theme, please do not ask your attendants to dress like wenches at the RenFair! Instead, select dresses with details which refer to that period, such as the appropriate neckline or color palette.

Do: Select bridesmaid gifts which tie in with your theme as long as they are beautiful enough to be enjoyed later. A bride having a Winter Wonderland wedding could select Swarovski crystal snowflake earrings for her bridesmaid gifts. They would both suit the theme and be a style that her friends would enjoy wearing again. Avoid any gifts that are so narrowly focused on your motif that they have no real use after the wedding. The same goes for the wedding favors.

Don’t: Overlook the reception menu when designing a theme wedding. This can be one of the best ways to tie everything together into a neat little package for your guests. Research the food, drinks, and desserts which can enhance your theme (or in the case of a color motif, design a cake in your signature shade). Guests always remember the food at a wedding, so this is a terrific place to really bring your theme to life for them.

About the Author Bridget Mora

Ask Bridget for advice in areas of jewelry or weddings. She writes numerous articles providing information for the customers of Silverland Jewelry.com. Bridesmaid gifts which have a timeless elegance will be cherished by your attendants.

Theme Wedding Favor Ideas

Beach Favors	Seasonal Favors	Elegant Favors
Whimsical Favors	Hearts	Fairy Tale
Coffee & Tea	Vegas	Asian
Wine

The next thing to consider would be your invitations and color scheme. There are several beautiful love bird themed invitations and thank you cards that match almost every color palette. When deciding on the colors for your ceremony, almost any color will work with a love bird theme, however natural colors are beautiful. Greens, browns, gold tones, and blues carry out the nature feel of a love bird wedding. If you are choosing to go with a more contemporary love bird theme, you may want something a little bolder, or something as simple as the classic white.

Decorations are next on the checklist for your wedding. These can be as creative as you are willing to go. You can incorporate birds’ nests into your décor, artificial of course, if you really want a unique look. This can even be carried over into the reception by using small branches with bird nests as the center pieces for your tables. If you want decorations that are a little more traditional, ivy and green plants work wonderfully. You can also incorporate some flowers as well. Another great decoration for your wedding and reception alike are to have several bird figurines around, and you may want to consider adding a few bird houses in as well. You can find them in most any color. There is also the option of having real birds, in beautiful cages, at the reception. Place card holders for the reception are also a great way to tie in your theme. There are several bird nest place card holders available. You can even get creative with the flower girls basket and the ring barer pillow. The possibilities are endless.

Favors are another big part of any wedding. There are several neat items available for a love bird themed wedding. You could go with something like love nest soaps, which are small egg shaped soaps that are contained in an artificial birds nest. If you want something a little more traditional why not go with love bird salt and pepper shakers. Mints are a great option as well, they are available in several flavors, and you can get the mint tin customized with your wedding date and theme.

Love bird wedding themes can be such fun to plan. Details are the key with this type of wedding, so look for anywhere that you can add something unique and special. Always remember with this theme or any other theme, your wedding day is your special day, so be sure to follow your heart.

Erica A. Brooks is the owner of SimplyElegantBridalAccessories.com where she offers brides elegant Love Bird bridal accessories, bridal favors and inexpensive wedding ideas to help them to plan the wedding of their dreams while saving money.

Love Bird Theme Wedding Favor Ideas

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