Your Beautiful Spring Wedding

Can you think of a better time to start your married life than during spring, the season of growth and new beginnings?

The spring bride faces a mind-boggling list of tasks to prepare for her nuptials. Choosing the colors for save-the-date cards, invitations, bridesmaid dresses, table linens, etc., is but one of the numerous decisions facing her.

The website www.about.com says the bride may take her cues from the colors of the season. She can choose between pastels and bright colors or may use a combination of both lighter and brighter tones.

Colors for spring weddings include pink, tangerine, lilac, periwinkle, hot pink, fuchsia, lime, yellow, cream, soft violet and white according to Michelle Mospens, wedding invitation designer.

Sarah Pyre, a designer of custom and unique invitations and stationery, suggests these two-color combinations for spring:

Ivory and pastel green, white and lavender, pastel green and dark green, white and pink, ivory and light blue, white and ivory, chocolate and pink, light blue and pastel green, chocolate and light blue, or orange and pink.

Three-color schemes Pyre offers for your inspiration are:

White, ivory and pink; ivory, sage and lavender; white, ivory and mocha; white, ivory and periwinkle; ivory, lavender and pastel green; ivory, pink and sage; pastel green, pink and lavender; and white, mocha and light blue.

Getting married in spring does not mean, of course, that you are limited to only traditional spring colors. A formal or romantic wedding calls for more expected color choices, but you may still bring a spring feeling to the color palette. For instance, instead of black, white and red, use black, white and fuschia. Rather than the usual black, gold, and ivory, substitute lilac for the gold for a striking black, ivory and lilac scheme.

The spring bride may also wish to use the flowers of the season for her wedding. Lilacs and hyacinth can be used with lavender or lilac color schemes. Daffodils will add a yellow accent to bouquets and centerpieces. Peonies are a gorgeous addition to your pink, fuchsia or white wedding. Blooming pussy willow branches will add a structural element to centerpieces. Beautiful tulips come in many colors and add a definite springtime feel to the scene.

Spring color schemes offers the opportunity to use other natural elements to decorate your wedding and reception sites. Bird nests with light blue "robin's" eggs or natural colored eggs would make unique centerpieces at your reception. Small nests with gourmet jelly beans standing in for bird eggs could be placed on each guest's plate as favors.

A garden theme also complements a spring wedding. Garden sculptures surrounded by greens and flowers would make impressive centerpieces. At least a month before the wedding, plant grass in small clay pots and write each guest's name on a pot with a gold or silver marker. The pots will be both place cards and table favors. Lattice can serve as an inexpensive but beautiful backdrop when painted and draped with twinkle lights and floral garlands.

The colors of spring are sure to inspire you to design your own unique beautiful spring wedding.

Sources: Sarah Prye at www.prye.com/view/wedding/colors.com.html

Michelle Moshens at www.weddings.about.com/cs/bridesandgrooms/a/color.htm