Fresh Wed » decor

Re-think: Church decorations

admin — Thu, 27 May 2010 15:20:14 +0000

When decorating the church for your big day, think beyond alter flower arrangements and bows on pews. Lately Brooke from Just Add Water is getting inspired by magazines showing carnation spheres as centerpieces.

For last Saturday’s wedding, Brooke says the bride wanted something different, so she used carnation spheres on square vases at the reception. The bride and groom also wanted a unique look for the church. Brooke thought, why not start at the church with the carnation spheres? Instead of hanging the flowers from a pew, she made a bigger statement with a tall clear vase next to the pew and topped it with her favorite curly willow sticks for some height.

Brooke L-O-V-E-D the way the carnations looked and so did the bride!

Speaking of the bride, she carried soft orange roses which were complimented by red hybericum berries to give it some texture. She wanted simple, yet chic and contemporary flowers.

The bridesmaids’ bouquets were constructed of light blue hydrangea, red hybericum berries, red dahlias and soft orange roses to coordinate with the bride’s bouquet.

Photos by Shawna Noel Photography

Outdoor wedding ceremonies

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:37:02 +0000

Years ago, it seemed couples didn’t have many options to think about when planning their wedding location. It was just assumed that they would have the ceremony in the bride’s church and then off to the city hall to eat and dance the night away.

Now there are so many other options to consider. One trend that many couples have jumped on is to skip the church and get married outdoors. Couples are choosing unconventional locations to make their day unique and special. You’ve probably all heard of someone getting married at a park, but what about at the zoo or on the roof of a hotel?

A very unique location: The roof of the Hotel Donaldson in downtown Fargo. Photo by Milestones Photography

Today Maranda from the Hotel Donaldson is sharing her tips and ideas for outdoor ceremonies. Here are a few things to consider as you start to plain your ceremony:

Weather – Of course living in North Dakota/Minnesota, we know that our months to hold any events outside are limited, but you may want to look even further into it. Temperature averages and precipitation patterns change pretty drastically from April to September. It is more likely to rain during the months of April through June. So, July through September may be more ideal months for and outdoor ceremony, as far as avoiding rain, but other things to consider are heat and wind. It may be nice to provide water, fans and/or umbrellas for your wedding party and guests.

A wedding ceremony by a lake in Minnesota. Bridesmaids carried parasols instead of flowers (the parasols protected the bridesmaids from the sun!). Photo by Shawna Noel Photography

Back-up plan – No matter what the weather may bring, have a weather back-up plan! Look into tent rental and make sure it is the kind of tent that can stand up to heavy rain and wind or have an indoor location. If your reception is indoors, maybe that is an option.
Seasonal colors – Depending on the time of the year, the season’s colors may be enough decoration for your ceremony. Keep in mind how nature’s colors change from spring to summer to fall months. You may want to even consider coordinating seasonal colors into your wedding decor or bouquets. Tip: April or early May might be too early to count on beautiful lush green grass.
Wedding attire – It may be a no-brainer that a Cinderella-style ball gown for an outdoor wedding may not be ideal. But, don’t forget to keep temperatures in mind when picking out the guys attire. Many tux companies do make thinner, more breathable shirt options, which can help on those hot summer days. Or maybe consider doing a more casual look without the jacket. Perhaps linen button down shirts and khaki pants?
Seating and set-up –Will you need to rent ceremony chairs, sound equipment, etc? Who will do the set-up and tear down?

Wedding ceremony at the bride’s family farm. Chairs had to be rented and set-up. Photo by Shawna Noel Photography

Religion/Officiate – If it’s important to you and your fiancée to get married a specific religion, make sure to check with your officiate and see if they will perform and outdoor ceremony. Some won’t agree to marry outside a church. More and more couples are asking a friend to get ordained.

Although it may be a little more work and stress, planning an outdoor wedding is so worth it in the end, especially if Mother Nature cooperates! There is just something about the elements of the outdoors that can make an outdoor ceremony really special. Also, your photos will be gorgeous!

Winter wedding style

admin — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:55:42 +0000

December weddings with red and green color palettes can sometimes say “Christmas” more than “wedding.” Brooke from Just Add Water put her unique spin on a red and green theme for Nora and Jay’s December wedding and created a warm, comfortable space to celebrate!

Brooke says, “Although we are off into a new year, this December wedding is a must to share with all of you. It was a wedding to remember with fabulous details! There is something so warm and inviting about a winter-styled affair: the textures, the dramatic and yet cohesive colors, the elegance.”

At winter weddings, there are so many opportunities to add little touches that are simple and yet full of rustic elegance. From Christmas place card ornaments to pheasant feathers and an apple topiary, Nora and Jay’s wedding featured clever ideas for red and green color palettes. Nora’s bridal bouquet was created with red hydrangeas, red rouge roses, hybericum berries and seeded eucalyptus. Centerpieces varied from tall glass vases filled with red apples and twigs to red hurricane vases that were lifted onto birch buckets and draped with greenery, pine cones and of course more pheasant feathers.

Photos by Mosaic Photography

Fabulous bridal shower

admin — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:33:11 +0000

Although bridal showers share similar gift giving rituals, there are so many fantastic ways to make them memorable and different. Here are photos of a recent bridal shower with a purple and blue color palette.

This modern but classic decor started with tables draped in white table cloths. Centerpieces in the main dining room were clusters of roses and black mini calla lilies placed in clear cylinder vases, along with floating candles. At each seat, blue and white menu cards were tucked into folded white napkins. As a take-home gift, purple alstroemeria lilies were snuggled into mini vases for each guest.

This idea was too cute : a photo-time line of the bride and groom’s life together. Designed by the bride’s sister-in-law and printed at Kinko’s!

What brunch is complete without mimosas?

The gorgeous bride, enjoying her shower!

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This bridal shower was photographed by Shawna Noel Photography. Brooke Roche and Georgia Smith from Just Add Water helped the bride’s family with the decor of the shower. Brooke is a floral designer based in Grand Forks, ND. From her home studio and at your wedding or other special event, Brooke helps brides and clients make a statement through fresh, accessible, affordable floral creations. Just Add Water’s new website is coming soon! We’ll add a link to it when it’s ready. Here’s a Q+A with Brooke :

How long have you been in business?

Brooke started Just Add Water in 2004 but has been designing for the past 7 years.

Who is your ideal client?

Brooke’s ideal clients are modern couples (with a little bit of funk) that are looking for new and creative ways to design their reception or event.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Brooke loves to uncover each individual’s uniqueness and the event’s floral designs reflect those attributes. Each event and wedding is really one-of-a-kind; she dislikes doing things the same twice.

Did you go to school for your job or are you self-taught?

Brooke is a graduate of the University of North Dakota in Communications and Visual Arts with seven years of expertise in the floral business — education and experience that enable her to transform flowers into art.

Here’s another tid-bit about Brooke : She’s recently engaged! Check out her gorgeous ring!