A Hue For Every Mood: The Psychology Of Color & Your Wedding Day

I think it’s safe to say that most brides choose their wedding colors based on two things.  One) their personal preference, and two) the season/weather surrounding their date.  Both simple and personal, this school of thought has held up through the years, and while trends may change, this is one area that has remained constant.  No matter if a bride chooses navy, royal, baby or Tiffany’s, part of her mindset was always focused on blue. 

Since the Mister and I are set to wed the Saturday after Thanksgiving, we found ourselves in a weird state of: is it a Fall or Winter wedding??  Being from the Midwest, there is honestly no telling what the weather will be.  It could be 65 and sunny, which suggests Fall or 10 below and snowing, which suggests Winter.  Awesome.

So, we (of course, I’m using the term “we” very loosely – hehe) decided on gold, ivory and Venetian red.  Since I’ve always thought that red brings out every girls’ inner diva and the three colors worked well for Winter and Fall, it felt like a win/win.  During my victory dance, however, I really started to wonder why I associated red with awesomeness, which led me on a scatter brained, internet research journey to the find the meaning of the color red… yes, this tends to happen a lot.

According to industy reports and online encyclopedias from places such as TheWeddingReport.com and Wikipedia.org, most colors tend to have dual meanings.  I encourage all of you, especially all you brides-to-be, to only focus only on the good… because nothing, and I mean nothing good ever came from being negative :)  So, feel free to find your hue below and see what it can do for you!

• Red is the warmest, most energetic color in the spectrum, which is why it is the one most paid attention to.  (See, I knew it was for divas!)  It is associated with everything from love, passion and desire (great!) to violence, danger and fury (uhhh, not so great!).  While some cultures uphold red as a symbol of courage and purity, others revere it as a sign of guilt or warning.  (I’m sticking with the cultures who see it as brave and divine.)
• Orange represents energy.  Still part of the warm hues, orange has a number of luminescent qualities, which include warmth, enthusiasm and vibrancy.  (Perfect for a wedding day celebration!)  However, orange also has a tendency to come off as demanding and controlling.  (Can you say, Bridezilla?)
• Yellow, both warm and friendly, signifies optimism, joy, imagination, hope and happiness.  In some cultures, however, yellow is the symbol for dishonesty, betrayal and cowardice.  (Note to all brides, stick with the inspirational version.)
• Green, often the most sited favorite color of women and men, symbolizes nature, health, renewal, generosity, fertility and vigor.  On a darker note, it also corresponds with jealousy, inexperience and misfortune.  (Feel free to ignore the yucky translation.)
• Blue epitomizes peace, tranquility and harmony.  In most cases (which are the ones you should focus on) blue symbolizes unity, trust, confidence, loyalty and security.   However, (this is the part brides-to-be shouldn’t rely on) it can also be a representation of depression and lonliness.
• Purple/Indigo has the most regal representation globally.  Often associated with nobility and royalty, purple embodies wisdom, enlightenment and spirituality.  (Ooh la la!  A color fit for a queen!)  But even though it’s considered an exotic color, purple can also be seen as arrogant, cruel and mournful.  (Blah, blah, not listening.) 
• Black – despite popular belief – is the absence of all color and/or light.  It is said to represent everything from power and wealth to sexuality and sophistication.  On one hand, black creates a unique blend of elegance, formality and class; while on the other hand, it can represent mystery, fear and sadness.  (I’m gonna go ahead and say when referencing “weddings,” we’ll stick to the first hand.)

Leave a Comment July 8, 2009

My New Obsession: Uber Cute Teapots As Reception Table Centerpieces

At the risk of sounding too bold, I’m gonna go ahead and say that teapots rival the cuteness of puppy dogs and baby feet.  There, I said it… do with it what you will, but there is no denying the undeniable creativity and colorfulness of a wedding day centerpiece done up Mrs. Potts style!

With their variety of shapes, sizes and styles, teapots have a chic’ness that exude an ironic blend of timeless elegance and contemporary freshness.  Fashioned in everything from antique, hand painted ceramic to engraved stainless steel, there is surely a teapot to fit every wedding day decor.  And with the ability to dress them up with your favorite fresh flowers or coordinated tea cups, the possibilities are almost limitless!

Which is exactly what so many brides are looking for!  Because every wedding is different, teapots have the ability to individualize every couple’s big day.  They can capture every mood from an afternoon tea on a spring day on a London to the Mad Hatter and March Hare party in Alice in Wonderland.  It truly is an unmatched brilliance, and after viewing all their possibilities, I’m hooked!

If you find yourself hooked as well, feel free to visit TheTeapotShoppe.com or TheEnglishTeaStore.com for more ideas and start purchasing your pots today!

7 Comments July 6, 2009

Take Control Of The Masses: Creating The Ideal Guest List

With all the hustle and bustle that goes into wedding planning, the guest list seems to be the first thing to wheel out of control.  And before you know it, you’re intimate ceremony of 50 guests has now turned into a crowd that could easily compete with all the painted faces and torsos of Super Bowl XLIII!  (Not good.)

But this doesn’t have to happen to you.  When planning a wedding, it is important to remember one key fact: it is your wedding.  You don’t have to be a Bridezilla to plan a wedding day celebration that will be enjoyed to the fullest by you and yours, but you should also take charge in setting limits.  Essentially a wedding guest list is bringing two sets of family and friends together and making one big happy bunch.  And while some people want to include everyone, embracing a long list of after-school-bosses and favorite lunch ladies; others are happy with a close knit group of their favorite people. 

But like most things in life, weddings provide a setting where adding on is much easier than subtracting off.  Many brides fall under the trap of, “if I include person A, I have to include person B.  And if person B is invited, then I have to invite X,Y,X.”  Just remember that locating limits and finding a compromise will leave both your sanity and your budget in a much better place.  Be sure to listen to your fiancé, and if you have parent’s or grandparent’s helping with the finances, be sure to keep their means in mind as well.  I mean, what Dad can’t relate to Steve Martin’s character, Frank Banks, in Father of the Bride when he goes light headed over all the returned RSVP’s?? 

In the end, it is a celebration that’s all about your love.  So be sure to include all the people that have helped you develop that love and hold a special place in your heart without going overboard.  Let your guest list flourish with people that you’ll be able to look at fondly on your 50^th wedding anniversary, and remember not only who they are, but why you needed them there. 

Need helping trimming your list, here are 13 More Tips OR if you’ve already conquered the list, check out our beautiful line of timeless Invitations & Stationery.

Leave a Comment July 2, 2009