Jenny's Illustration Board

My niece, Jennifer Nalus, is getting married in January, 2010.  I was so excited when she asked me to help her plan her wedding.  The wedding is in the Philippines and I am in California, so that is a bit of a challenge.  All my wedding vendors are in the US and I am not familiar with wedding vendors in the Philippines.  However, with my talented sister-in-law and my other nieces helping their sister, everything is working fine.  Jenny’s wedding planning is coming together.

Black and White Wedding Colors

Jenny chose black and white as her wedding colors.  She and her bridesmaids will be wearing white.  The bridesmaids will have black lining on the dresses while the MOH will wear black of the same design with white lining.  The groom will wear a black barong tagalog.  Barong tagalog is a native formal wear. The flower girl will be carrying a black and white basket filled with white petals while the ring bearer will be carrying a black and white ring pillow.

The reception will be held at the elegant Shangri-La Hotel with 200 guests.  The tables and chairs will be covered with black linen accented with white dinner plates and white napkins.  A white pillar candle embellished with white butterfly, white silk flowers and pearls will be the main centerpiece.  White rose petals and silver-wrapped chocolate kisses will be scattered around the centerpiece to give a colorful contrast to the black table top.  The pillar candles will also be surrounded by cute bride and groom votive candles.

Wedding Gown, Bouquets and Cake

Jenny chose a local designer, Olan Roque, to design her bridal gown; and did I say it looks fabulous!  The wedding gown is made with Mikado silk and chiffon with cut beads and stones hand sewn into the halter neckline.  As for the wedding bouquet, the bride will be carrying red roses, her favorite flower, dotted with stephanotis.  The bridesmaids and MOH will be carrying white calla lilies wrapped in black and white satin handle.

The white wedding cake will be decorated with cascading red roses and black ribbons.  Replica dolls of the bride and groom will be added to the base cake tier.  I was told that the cake is designed and will be made by one of Jenny’s friends.  It looks splendid!

Reception Menu

Since Jenny is marrying a chef, isn’t any wonder that the menu is so mouth-watering?  It makes me hungry just reading about it!  Here is the menu:

Salads and Appetizers

• Selection of garden greens with various dressings
• Potato Salad with croutons, bacons and spring onion
• Coleslaw

Soup

• Pumpkin or Mushroom soup

Main Courses

• Lasagna
• Chicken with homemade barbeque sauce
• Sesame breaded snapper with pickled Mayo
• Kingdao Spareribs
• Lechon

Desserts

• Assorted cakes and pastries
• Fresh fruit platters

More details  of the wedding planning  later …

Start with the Invitation

Traditionally the wedding couple picks out the most beautiful invitations and doesn’t concern themselves with materials used.  A green option is to go with invitations that are not only pleasing to the eye, but are also made from recycled materials or hemp.  In green weddings it is also acceptable to skip hand held invitations and send out e-invitations through email.  E-invites can also say you money on not only invitation costs but also postage.

Eco-friendly Wedding Gowns

When it comes to the Bride’s beautiful dream wedding dress there are also green options available.  Gowns made in natural materials, such as organic cotton, silk, and silk satin, are becoming very popular.  Hemp is also an option, it absorbs moisture, naturally resists mold and mildew, and therefore stores better.  Renting a gown or using mom’s or grandma’s dress is also an environmentally friendly option.

What to Serve On Your Reception

Organic food is easy to come by.  Many cake makers already cater to eco-concerned parties.  Tell them your concerns and watch them create special dishes just for you that are both delicious and organic.  Organic options may also fit into special diets some of your guests may have.

Eco-Friendly Confetti

As the Bride and Groom exit the reception it’s traditional for confetti to be thrown.  A green option is bird seed.  It’s classic and it feeds the local birds.  Never throw rice as once a bird eats rice it can expand in their stomach and make them sick or worse.  Bird seed is a safe green option that is also very traditional.

Eco-Friendly Wedding Favors

Lastly, and just as important as any wedding aspect, is the wedding favors for the bridal party and guests.  Green ideas are endless in this department.  Any organic gift or gift made from 100% recycled materials is acceptable.  Some popular organic gifts are organic candles, seed packets, a tree sapling, organic soaps, organic candies and chocolates; even organic food baskets.  Your wedding guests would never forget getting a Lucky Bamboo plant at your wedding.  For the bridesmaids a gift basket of organic beauty products would be spectacular.

Having a green wedding is just as easy as having a traditional wedding.  You can have the wedding of your dreams and still be environmentally conscious.  If you plan correctly, your green wedding will be just as elegant, if not more so, than traditional weddings.  Your guests will never forget the “green” wedding they attended and you will know you did your part to protect the Earth.

Photo Credits:  Elegant Green Wedding by brideadvocate on Polyvore.com

Victorian Wedding Theme

What comes  to your mind when you hear the words “vintage weddding”? Does it bring images of you wearing your mother or grandmother’s wedding dress?  Or does it conjure images of even more distant past – like the Victorian era?  Either way, you are thinking of “vintage”.  Having a vintage theme in your wedding means celebrating your memorable day in a simulated era of some 20 years or more ago.

My favorite vintage theme is Victorian.  There are so many Victorian wedding traditions that we still practice today.  Remember the rhyme, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue…”? Yes, thats one of the Victorian traditions that we still practice today.  The “old” must be something that belonged to a happily married woman.  It is believed that the happiness and luck of the owner will transfer to the new bride.  The “new” is the bride’s bridal attire from the gown to the shoes.  The “borrowed” is something precious like gold or diamond jewelry to ensure wealth and fortune in the bride’s future.  The “blue” is a symbol of true  love.

White wedding gowns became popular in the late eighteenth century and it is still the favorite gown color today.  However, if you want a non-white wedding gown, you can choice almost any color except black and red, which during the Victorian era supposed to be symbols of devilry or witchcraft.

A traditional Victorian bridal gown has a high-neck collar, long sleeves and lace cuffs.  You may add a Victorian-style wide-brimmed hat with veil trimmed with ribbons and flowers or shun the hat and wear the short veil instead. Complete the outfit with white lace gloves and ankle-high boots.  The modern Victorian wedding dress has capped sleeves and made with lace.  You do not have to stick to the traditional Victorian wedding gown to have a vintage Victorian wedding.

Apply your Victorian theme throughout your wedding event.  From the invitations to bridal accessories to table decorations and wedding favors.

Photo Credits: Traditional and  Modern Victorian Wedding Gown:  Victorian Trading Company; Bride and Groom Cake Topper: Sugar Craft; Victorian Toasting Goblets and :Victorian Lace Photo Album:  Chloes Chic Boutique;

Italian Ethnic Wedding

Italian Wedding

The Ceremony: For a traditional Italian wedding, the bride will wear a white dress, symbolizing purity, and a veil to keep the groom from seeing her face before the ceremony.  She will not wear any gold until the moment that her wedding ring is placed on her finger.  Most Italian weddings are also held in Catholic ceremonies. The ceremony will therefore be proceeded by a Catholic Mass. Most Italian wedding ceremonies take place in the morning or early afternoon. Following the wedding ceremony, it is customary to release two doves into the air. The best day to get married is Sunday, but weddings during Lent or Advent are often forbidden.

Traditions:  A bit of Italian folklore requires that the groom carry a small piece of iron ore in his pocket during the ceremony to ward off the evil eye.  Another Italian wedding tradition is the shattering of a vase or glass.  The bride and groom shatter the glass together, and each piece is said to represent one year of happy marriage.  A common wedding toast is “Per cent’anni”, which means “for a hundred years”.  This toast is often repeated several times at the wedding celebration.

Menu and Reception:  At an Italian wedding reception the meal may feature as many as fourteen courses. The meal will usually begin with an antipasto featuring items such as salami, pickled peppers, mushrooms, calamari, olives, and prosciutto.  Following this will be various courses of soups, salads, pasta, meats, and fruit. Wine is a common accompaniment to the meal. Dessert will often include an elaborate array of cakes and pastries accompanied by coffee. O ne symbolic wedding food is the “wanda”, which is a twist of fried dough coated in sugar. A t some Italian weddings, a traditional wedding cake will not be served. Instead, guests will receive small bags of sugared almonds which are a symbolic merging of bitter and sweet – much like marriage.

Irish Ethnic Wedding

Irish Wedding

The Ceremony: In traditional Irish weddings of the past, the bride would wear a wreath of wildflowers in her hair.  She also carried wildflowers in her bouquet.  Today this can translate into beautiful bouquets with a variety of mixed flowers. I t is considered bad luck for the bride to wear green on her wedding day.  In some customs this extends to the guests and wedding party as well.  A traditional Irish wedding ceremony is almost always Catholic and so follows all the customs of a Catholic wedding ceremony, including mass before the wedding.  To give the ceremony a distinctly Irish feel, some couples will include Irish music or even station bagpipers at the doors as guests enter.  An Irish wedding will traditionally feature a unity candle ceremony.  The vows are often unique to the couple and feature Irish blessings and proverbs. An Irish wedding emphasizes a marriage of equals.

Traditions: An Irish bride often carries a horseshoe for good luck. While this was an actual horseshoe many centuries ago, brides today will usually carry a small porcelain or fabric horseshoe. Another beautiful tradition is the magic hanky. The bride will carry a handkerchief with her on her wedding day that will later be turned into a bonnet for the couple’s first child. When the child grows up, the bonnet can be turned back into a handkerchief for their wedding day.

Menu and Reception: Corned beef and cabbage and Irish soda bread are some traditional Irish dishes that may be featured at the reception. Drinks should include Irish whiskey and Guiness, as well as a variety of Irish cocktails. Another customary drink is honey wine, which is thought to promote virility. For the wedding toast, the couple will usually share a single glass rather than having two separate champagne flutes. The traditional cake for an Irish wedding is fruitcake. Reception decorations may feature shamrocks, swans, and celtic symbols.

Polish Ethnic Wedding

Polish Wedding

The Ceremony: A Polish wedding ceremony has some unique features that differ greatly from American weddings. The bride and groom will walk down the isle together. A wedding party is very rare, and instead, witnesses are very important. There will usually be two witnesses for both the bride and groom. The ceremony itself consists of the reading of the vows by the priest, and the exchange of rings. In many cases, guests are only invited to attend the ceremony, and are not invited to the reception.

Traditions: It is customary for a bouquet of flowers to be presented to the new couple following the ceremony. These signify good wishes for the bride and groom. Other popular traditions include the Sto Lat toast, which signifies 100 good years together for the bride and groom, and the money dance. There are many variations on this dance. In most cases, during the money dance, the bride dances with each of the wedding guests and receives a monetary wedding gift. It is customary to give at least $40-$50 to the couple at this event.

Menu and Reception: The wedding reception will usually feature many courses. This includes a soup, main course, dessert, and fruit. Features dishes often include Polish beet soup, roasted meats, pierogi, and walnut torte. There is rarely a groom’s cake at Polish weddings. And even the wedding cake may be smaller and less elaborate than many extravagant American wedding cakes. Since the reception will last throughout the night and often into the next morning, guests will also be served a special late night dish as well. This is usually borscht soup, flaki (spicy pepper soup), or bigos (hunter’s stew). Drinks are also plentiful. Champagne is required, and vodka and other hard liquors are often popular as well. The wedding reception will also feature lots of dancing throughout the evening.

Hindu Ethnic Wedding

Hindu Wedding

The Ceremony: Traditional Hindu wedding ceremonies are usually performed at least partially in Sansrit, which is the language considered most Holy. Weddings are very colorful and the celebration can often last for days. Hindu weddings today often pick and choose among the various traditions to create a ceremony unique to the couple. Choices are influenced by the bride and groom’s caste. The ceremony is usually performed beneath a canopy with four pillars, known as a mandap. A sacred fire, the Agni, will be present during the ceremony. The bride wears a red and white sari. The groom will wear a long shirt known as a kafni, leggings called pijamo, and a turban. No one can wear shoes in the mandap, so both the bride and groom will choose footwear that can be easily slipped on and off.

Traditions: In preparation for the wedding, the bride will often have her hands and feet decorated with henna, also known as mehndi. The mehndi is applied in a variety of intricate and beautiful patterns. Mehndi takes a long time to wear off, and it is sometimes said that the length of time the mehndi lasts indicated how well the bride is treated by her in-laws. Another wedding tradition is the red dot placed on the forehead. Gests will apply this to both the bride and the groom following the wedding feast to wish the new couple good luck.

Menu and Reception: For many Hindu wedding receptions, the food will be provided by friends and family. Traditional Indian dishes include curry, pastas, rice and bean dishes, breads, and roasted potatoes. Though all meals eaten in the days prior to the wedding must be vegetarian, the celebration that follows the wedding ceremony may feature some non-vegetarian dishes, as well as alcohol. Hindu weddings typically forgo a traditional wedding cake. Instead, the bride and groom will feed each other five bites of a sweet dish such as honey and yogurt.

For other wedding theme ideas, read our Creative Wedding Theme post to see other wedding themes such as:

Winter Wonderland Wedding Theme, Undersea Adventure Wedding Theme, Red Wedding Theme, Wine Wedding Theme, Winter Wedding Theme in Blue, Princess Fairytale Wedding Theme,  Eco-Friendly Wedding Theme, Holiday Wedding Theme, Country Wedding Theme, Celebrity Style Wedding Theme, Evening Enchantment Wedding Theme, Autumn Style Wedding Theme, and Six More Wedding Themes.

Photo Credits: Italian Ethnic Weddings: Italian Weddings
Irish Ethnic Weddings: Celtic Shamrock, Irish Wedding
Polish Ethnic Weddings: Crucian Adventures
Hindu Ethnic Weddings: Tin Green Flicker Photos, Jovika Flicker Photos

Greek Orthodox Wedding

Our cultural wedding for this week is the Greek Orthodox Wedding.  The Greek Orthodox ceremony is very traditional and has not changed much in many years.  It is a very unique event, full of symbolism and tradition.  Watch the video at the end of this depicting a Greek Orthodox Wedding.

Ceremony:
Prior to the ceremony, the guests and groom stand outside the church, awaiting the arrival of the bride.  The groom usually holds a bouquet of flowers to give to his bride.  The ceremony itself takes place in two parts.

• First is the Service of Betrothal.  The priest will bless the rings, which are then exchanged by the bride and groom.  The Koumbaro  (the couples sponsor best man, maid of honor) may then swap the rings three times from the bride to groom.
• Next is the Sacrament of Marriage.  This part of the ceremony consists of several prayers.  The bride and groom join hands throughout this part of the ceremony, symbolizing their union.

In a Greek Orthodox wedding, the bride and groom do not exchange vows.  Their presence is considered to be enough proof of their intention. There is also much symbolism throughout the ceremony.  Actions are often repeated three times to symbolize the holy trinity.

After the Sacrament of Marriage, the couple is crowned (the crowns are exchanged three times by the Koumbaro) symbolizing that the two are now one.  Once the couple is crowned, the priest chants several Bible verses about the duties, responsibilities and holiness of marriage.

The bride and the groom then drink three sips from a glass of wine symbolizing that they will share the cup of life together.  The priest then lead the couple around the altar three times signifying that they will be following the word of God as they start their lives together.  The circle also signifies the eternity of marriage.

At the end of the ceremony, the crown is lifted from the heads of the newly weds indicating the end of the marriage ceremony and the beginning of their life together as husband and wife.

Traditions:
Koufetta is a popular Greek Orthodox wedding tradition.  Koufetta are fresh almonds, which are bittersweet to the taste.  This symbolizes both the good and bad in any marriage.  The almonds are coated in sugar, however, to emphasize the good.  Traditionally, the wedding bed is sprinkled with these almonds.  Each guest is then given an odd number of almonds to symbolize that the two are now one.  The more popular name for these sugar coated almonds is Jordan Almonds.  Unmarried women will place these almonds under their pillow that night in hopes of dreaming of their future husband.

Menu and Reception:
The most important consideration when planning a Greek Orthodox wedding is the timing.  The wedding cannot be held during any fasting holiday because food is such an important part of the wedding celebration.  Sourdough breads are an especially common inclusion.  These breads will be decorated, and some may have coins and rings baked into them.  The menu may feature Greek dishes such as lamb kabobs, orzo, and stuffed grape leaves.  The wedding cake is traditionally made with honey and quince.  The reception is usually a huge party with lots of food, drinks, and dancing that may last well into the night.

Here a short video that depicts a Greek Orthodox Wedding

Photo Credit: Agni Travel

Ethnic Wedding – Chinese

Chinese Wedding

The Ceremony:

Traditional Chinese weddings are filled with ritual.  There were many symbolic ceremonies which had to take place before the wedding itself even began.  After extensive preparation, the wedding ceremony would be conducted at the family altar.  Here the couple would pay homage to their ancestors and gods.  The couple would share tea, then bow to each other.  In many cases this completed the ceremony.

Though many Chinese ceremonies today are more modern, traditional influences are abundant.  Guests will usually wear at least a small hint of red to symbolize luck and prosperity for the couple.  The symbol of double happiness is also often spotted in the decorations.  This character symbolizes happiness for the newlyweds.

Traditions:

The hair dressing ritual was one of the most important traditions in a Chinese wedding.  On the day of the wedding, the bride bathes in pumelo-infused water to cleanse her or evil influences.  The bride’s hair was then carefully dressed into the style reserved for married women.  After the hair dressing, the bride would dress in a jacket and shirt and wear a special pair of red shoes.  Her face was also covered by a red veil.

Today, Chinese wedding ceremonies may feature a variety of clothing styles, but red is still a prominent color.  Red will often be used as the color for the bridal party or even the bride’s wedding dress.

Installing the Bridal Bed:

One of the key roles that a groom has in traditional Chinese weddings involves the installation of a newly purchased bridal bed before the wedding day, usually on the day or a few days prior to the wedding date.  Once the bed is in place, children were invited onto the bed as an omen of fertility.  Fruits and nuts such as red dates, lotus seeds, peanuts, etc., are scattered on the bed for the children to scramble and eat.

After the wedding ceremony, the bride and the groom together with their bridal entourage pose on the bed for photos as part of the photographic keepsakes of the wedding.

Menu and Reception:

The menu at a Chinese wedding feast will feature many items which symbolize prosperity and long life.  A traditional meal will feature eight courses.  The dragon and phoenix symbolize the yin and yang, or male and female aspects of our nature, in Chinese culture.  Therefore, many appetizers may feature these designs.  The main course will generally be duck or geese, as these are birds that mate for life.  Sea cucumber is popular side dish as this represents harmony.  Tea will be served with the meal, as well as a variety of other beverages.

Collage Credit: Polyvore

Wedding Theme Brides by bellab

We promised you 12 Wedding Themes and we have given you 6 great themes so far.  Here are the rest of the wedding themes that we hope will inspire you to choose one of these wedding themes or to create your own.

7.  Pretty Princess

• Décor: Flowing white tablecloths with bold accents or deep red and purple.  Big bouquets and gold, jewel-encrusted vases.  Specially decorated “thrones” for the bride and groom.

• Favors: Castle-shaped candles or picture frames.

• Special touches: If there are children at the reception, provide them with crowns or pointy princess hats with flowing ribbons.

• Attire: An extravagant tiara is a must for the bride.  Bridesmaid’s dresses should be scarlet or deep purple.

8.  Lively Luau

• Location: Beach or poolside.  Note: The beach does not have to be on the ocean. Many lakes have sandy beaches that will work just as well.

• Décor: Bright tropical flowers, woven straw or grass placemats, tiki torches, seashells.

• Menu: Go casual and fun with ribs, mahi mahi, a tropical fruit plate, and other Hawaiian cuisine. Provide lots of fruity drinks with little umbrellas.

• Special touches: Provide each guest with a lei.

9.  Parisian Paradise

• Décor: Sophisticated black and white with small touches in one bright color, such as red.  Eiffel tower sculptures for centerpieces.

• Favors: Small Eiffel tower sculptures, engraved with the date.

• Menu: Crusty bread, fine cheese, fruit, wine, and French cuisine.

• Special touches: Even if your guests don’t speak French, incorporate some French music into the reception.

10.  Autumn Ambiance

• Décor: Orange, crimson, and gold centerpieces featuring leaves and Autumnal fruit and vegetables (or candles in these shapes).

• Favors: Candles with autumn leaves decor.

• Menu: Have turkey as your main course instead of the more traditional chicken. Include pumpkin soup or pie, and don’t forget the warm apple cider.

11.  Springtime Garden

• Décor: Seasonal flowers, wicker baskets, pastel or natural colors

• Favors: Small packets of seeds or seed paper

• Location: Outdoor locations such as parks, gardens, or a butterfly garden

• Attire: Tea-length bridesmaids dresses in flowy materials, pale pink or baby blue.

12.  Victorian Tea

• Location: Garden or tea room

• Décor: Floral patters, lace, roses, and antique-style centerpieces

• Menu: tea or a light lunch, sandwiches and salads, sorbet

• Attire: Short lace gloves, Victorian hats, full demure dresses

Afro-Centric Wedding Theme

African American brides who choose an Afro-centric wedding will plan to combine the western tradition with African wedding traditions. Here are some of those traditions:

The Ceremony:
African wedding traditions vary greatly depending on location.  Various tribes have unique traditions and practices.  One thing that is common to all African weddings is the importance of family.  Another common thread is the presence of bright, bold colors in the decorations.  Song and dance are also important aspects of African culture.  Though the specific songs may vary, music is a very unifying element of this culture and is used as a way to bring people together and celebrate.

Traditional African attire for a wedding involves many bright colors and patterns.

• The bride may wear a wrap skirt (iro), or a grand bou-bou – a loose-fitting skirt – with a loose blouse (buba) and shawl (iborum).
• The groom will wear slacks known as sokoto, a shirt, and a flowing jacket (agbada).  He will also wear a box like hat called a fila.
• For a more American wedding with just a touch of African culture, a more traditional wedding gown and tuxedo may be selected, but accented with purple and gold which are the colors of African royalty.

Traditions:
The most common African American wedding tradition is known as broom jumping.  This ritual actually originated in America as a way for African slaves to express their commitment to each other when marriages were forbidden.  In Africa, a wife would sweep the floor of the home with a broom as a symbol of commitment to her husband and his family.  The broom jumping ceremony begins with the bride and groom each sweeping the floor while the officiate speaks.  After he has given the couple encouragement and perhaps a blessing, they will set the broom down on the floor. The couple will then take each others hands and jump over the broom.

Menus and Reception:
African culture has many rich and delicious foods.  Some dishes that may be served at the wedding feast include puff-puff, chin-chin, fried plantain, and hot pepper soup for appetizers. The main dish will probably feature fried fish or chicken or an African stew.  Side dishes may include pounded yam and coconut rice. Drinks would include Malt drinks and palm wine.

Celebrity Style Wedding Theme

Our 5th installment of our Creative Wedding Themes is Celebrity-Style Wedding Theme.  You’ve seen, read or heard how celebs conduct their marriages.  Granted most of their marriages don’t last long, but we all know that they did a good amount of planning, albeit mostly in secret to prevent paparazzi from knowing the event.  On top of that, most celebs weddings are overdone and very expensive.  It does not have to be expensive if you choose to go with this theme.  All you need is a little bit of inspiration, creativity and help from a wedding planner or your good friends.  Here are our tips for pulling this theme off:

• Location:   Find a place that you can hold both your ceremony and reception.  The more off-the-beaten-track or secluded it is, the better.  Some suggested locations:  Museums, public libraries, even mansions like those in Newport, Rhode Island that are available for weddings.

• Invitations: Although most celebs keep their wedding dates a secret, you certainly want to share that date with your friends and relatives.  Choose creative invitations that tell your guests what is in store for them at your wedding and reception.  How about some red and gold invitation – red for the red carpet and gold for the Oscar statue.

• Gown: Most celebs do not go for bulky full gowns.  Yes, they spend a lot on wedding gowns, but most of the gowns are not typical bridal gowns.  They are more formal party gowns than wedding gowns.  Because the brides have shapely figures, most of them wear gowns that accentuate that figure.  If you are blessed with the same silhouette, then you can wear form-fitting wedding gown, too.  Your gown need not be an expensive designer gown, look for “look-alike” gowns.

• Special Touches: Let your guests walk through a red carpet and have someone posing as a paparazzi take their pictures while they enter your reception area. Add an element of “wow” to your reception with fireworks, dove, butterfly or balloon releases.

• Favors: Give your guests personalized favors – such as heart shaped cookies with your name and wedding date or pretty jordan almonds wrapped in tulle.

Celebrity style wedding doesn’t have to cost a fortune.  Get inspiration from their style and interpret them into your own style.  Have fun, it is your wedding!
Photo Credit: Polyvore

Country Wedding Theme

For the bride who wants warm, relaxed, and down-home wedding, country wedding theme fits the bill.  Country wedding does not mean jeans and cowboy boots, although you can wear these, too, if you fancy yourself getting married in these clothes.  Nothing wrong with that, but what we want to share with you here is the more conservative country wedding – with the gowns, lots of fresh flowers and country music.  Here’s the list:

Location:  Choose a rustic country with open wood beams and large, cozy fireplaces, an old farmhouse or a big barn-style building.

• Gown: Simple, white cotton dress or for elegant country look, white and full with gathered skirts.  For the Bridesmaids, choose bright clean colors or simple dress in plaid.

• Men: crisp white shirt with brown vest, black pants and matching black cowboy hat.  For a more formal look, tuxedos or dark suits

• Décor: Bright reds, yellows and gold colors captured in your bouquet, table centerpieces and favors.  Fill mason jars with sunflower or a bunch or wildflowers.  Hang place cards on a clothes line and secure with wooden clothes clips.

• Menu: Comfort food with a Southern flair – barbecue ribs or chicken, trays of country fried chicken and biscuits or pot roast.  Serve fresh squeezed lemonade or iced tea in mason jars instead of drinking glasses.

• Favors:  Give your guests homemade apple preserves or jelly and attached your personalized label with your names and wedding dates.

With a little bit of planning, you, your groom and your guests will have a great western wedding experience that will long be remembered.

12 Creative Wedding Themes

Photos: Polyvore