It’s never too early to begin planning a spring/summer 2011 wedding (these picks are likely too late for our 2010 summer wedding brides). I love bright colored weddings and think the ultimate spring wedding colors would be bright yellow and lavender. These two colors would allow you to work with a variety of shades because light yellow and dark purple accents would look good too. So this week I will plan a lavender and yellow spring wedding with a garden tea reception. I just love the idea of having an outdoor wedding in a blooming garden. And making it a tea party let’s you add a few whimsical touches, even if you only serve iced teas.

bright yellow short bridesmaids' dresses

These bright yellow bridesmaids’ dresses are so cute and they pop so well next to the bride’s crisp white dress.

yellow and lavender bouquets

Just substitute theses flowers into their hands and this would play nicely into my garden wedding. These dresses are from J. Crew, which is likely why I was drawn to them in the first place.

I love flowers – I mean who doesn’t. If they tell you they don’t, they’re probably lying. They smell pretty, they look pretty and it always helps if they come from an equally pretty boy. Nonetheless, I think plain flower arrangements for wedding reception tables are a bit boring. There are just so many more modern options today that you shouldn’t let those flowers stand alone.

fruits and flowers

This purple and green centerpiece incorporates limes, which add such a fresh edge to an otherwise traditional bouquet. I also love that they skipped roses – there are so many other pretty flowers out there that are so much more reasonably priced. And purple hydrangeas, sign me up please. The dark purple and bright greens have such an inviting contrast I can’t look away. Add in that this couple outfitted the reception hall with bamboo chairs and you’ve combined all three of my wedding colors with natural elements. I might add in a few candles (and obviously escort cards and dinnerware) to finish off this purple, brown and green reception table.

Pomander – this is a new word to my vocabulary today. Have you ever heard of one? Well if you haven’t, you should because these huge scented flower balls are adorable. A pomander is traditionally a fruit that has been poked with cloves all over the outside, then dried and covered in pretty smelling things making a huge pretty potpourri ball. Flower pomanders are inspired by the original and are still great smelling pretty balls but are actually flowers stuck into a styrofoam ball center. This wedding ceremony set-up is perfect for an outdoor wedding and features these little balls of goodness.

outdoor wedding with pomanders

Hanging a few at the beginning of the chairs defines the beginning of your space, much like a door would do if you were having an indoor ceremony. They also look great hanging with ribbons down the aisle.

pomander arch perfection

And this altar is absolutely stunning. I love the idea of things hanging overhead and am a sucker for paper lanterns, which is why I fell in love with this flower pomander altar. It adds structure and tradition to your outdoor wedding while retaining that whimsical, organic feel you want when getting married outside.

It’s tradition to make a bridal bouquet for the wedding rehearsal at the bridal shower. Usually it’s a combination of wrapping paper cut outs and ribbons from all of the gifts the bride receives. Well I found this kit on Etsy from paperplatypus (do I even need to say that’s where I find everything any more?) and find it kind of amazing. It combines that tradition with a classier presentation, making the bouquet a keepsake rather than something that gets tossed before the wedding ceremony even happens.

peony paper perfection