Tickled Pink Brides - Orlando, Florida's Premier Wedding Planner

The Not Wedding Orlando Video

Recently, our friends Alex and Samm from Imprint Cinema particpated in a one-of-a-kind event here in Orlando called The Not Wedding.  This unique event is a faux wedding where brides and grooms-to-be are invited to attend a ceremony and join in a dinner reception, while seeing amazing vendors in action just as they would be at a real wedding.  It's really a bridal show like no other, and couples get a firsthand look at what they can expect on their own wedding day as well as getting some major inspiration from all of the artistic displays involved.

I wanted to share the video from The Not Wedding to show what creativity was involved- from the bride and bridesmaids' attire to the table decor and paper goods.  Loved it all!

The Not Wedding 2012 - Orlando from Imprint Cinema on Vimeo.

The Friday Five: Springtime Wedding Inspiration

Spring is in the air! The weather is warming up, flowers are blooming, and it’s the perfect time of year to get married. This week is all about finding inspiration for your spring themed wedding. Bright, fun colors and flowers by the plenty come to mind. Here are five springtime items I am loving right now:

Go for a mixed bouquet with bright colors and lots of different textures.

Shoot for an outdoor reception, maybe in a garden or on a great lawn. It will give your wedding that springtime garden feel. Why not play some lawn games while you’re at it? Your guests will love to play a little croquet during cocktail hour.

Go for a dress with feminine touches like flowers and soft fabrics like organza and lace.

 Try to mix some wild flowers into your centerpieces. It will give off that freshly picked from the garden look.

Give your guests spring-themed favors like these mini potted plants or herbs they can grow at home. 

 

"On Behalf of the Bride" - Put your own stamp on it!

Today, brides are more daring than ever, looking for ways to push the envelope and make their wedding stand out from the rest. I too find myself looking for ways to put my stamp on my wedding. I’m constantly checking my favorite sites for inspiration and looking for ways to mix tradition with modern trends. This week I thought I would share some ideas I have come across that I love. Just be sure to keep in mind your overall style or theme and ask yourself, does this work for our wedding? Is it us? Does it make sense? If you can say yes to all of those questions then go for it!

Instead of sparklers of bubbles for your grand exit, try ribbon wands or glow sticks. Ribbon wands are an easy DIY project, and you can incorporate different colors and fabrics to go along with your color scheme (look for tutorials on youtube). Glow sticks are fairly inexpensive and make for a cool effect in pictures.

Who says your bridesmaids all have to look alike with the same color and matching dresses? Mix it up and allow them to choose their own dress (obviously with your approval!).

Instead of a traditional guest book that most people never look at again, try one of these ideas.

Have your guests put their thumbprint on a cool design like this one (there are all kinds) and sign their name next to their thumb print. After the wedding, frame it and hang it in your home. It will be a constant reminder of how much fun your wedding was!

Have your guests sign little pieces of cloth that can be made into a quilt. This is a great keepsake that will last for years.

Kill two birds with one stone and have your favors double as your escort cards. They just get thrown out anyways! Setting them out during cocktail hour is a great way to say 'thank you' right off the bat. 

 

The Friday Five: Pattern Happy

This week I'm dedicating the Friday Five to those bold and funky patterns we are seeing everywhere from clothing to weddings to house decor.  Mixing fun prints into your wedding color scheme is an easy way to pack some punch into your big day.  Using just a little here and there, you can keep a polished overall look while standing out from the crowd at the same time.  Here are some (five, in fact!) of my favorites:

Chevron: {chev•ron} A v-shaped pattern

Stationary is the perfect place for this pattern!

••••••••••

Ikat: {ee-kaht} A method of printing woven fabric by tie-dying before weaving

 This is an ikat-inspired cake by My Sweet and Saucy, displayed on Chevron fabric. Mix those patterns up!

••••••••••

Seersucker: {seer•suhk•er} Striped cotton with alternate stripes crinkled in the weaving

Seersucker bridesmaid attire or men's suits add major Southern style and casual charm.

••••••••••

Damask: {dam•uhsk} A reversible fabric with a pattern woven into it

Use your patterns in an unexpected place, like lighting on the dance floor!

••••••••••

Lattice: {lat•is} A regular, repeated ornamental pattern

This pattern, often seen in Moroccan or Indian textiles, brings a global elegance to your wedding day style.

Using 2012's Color of the Year {TANGERINE}

Pantone has announced that Tangerine Tango is 2012's Color of the Year.  We've used tangerine as an inspiration color before for a pretty, springtime wedding here in Orlando (check it out here).  I'm excited to see what else we can do with this color in our 2012 weddings.  Here are some beautiful ways to incorporate this splash of color into your own event!

                                                        Source: asoutherntradition.com via Brittany on Pinterest

                                                               Source: oksugar.com via Brittany on Pinterest

                                                              Source: 100layercake.com via Vivien on Pinterest

                                                                 Source: etsy.com via Rachel on Pinterest

The Friday Five: Moroccan Inspired Ideas

I'm always looking for unique and interesting ideas for my ambitious brides. Right now I'm especially loving the Moroccan inspired wedding theme. Here are five great ideas to help bring your Moroccan wedding to life:

1. Use bold linens like orange, fushia, pink and gold. These colors are very popular in the Moroccan culture and will create an impact. Be sure to choose luxe fabrics with texture, embelishments or embroidery. 

2. Utilize unique lighting. Moroccan inspired lanterns  are easy to find and create a beautiful ambiance. Place them on your guest tables, in lounge areas, or hang them inside of tents. 

3. Traditional food. Treat your guests to some of the most delicious Moroccan food like hummus with pita bread, olives, taboule, cous cous and more! Setting these items up in a buffet style will allow your guests to taste a little bit of everything. 

4. Entertainment. Hire a traditional belly dancer to get the party started and entertain your guests throughout dinner. 

5. Rental Items. Rent some Moroccan inspired furniture and create lounge areas for your guests. Use low wooden tables, simple cushions, and lots of bright pillows. Moroccan tents are another great specialty rental item that create that palace-like feeling. Can't find a tent? No problem. Use lots of ceiling draping to create the same effect. 

The Friday Five

This week we're showing off some various wedding trends that make us smile.  Across the board, we love for weddings to feel personal and intimate, even if your guest list seems to have gone sky high.  

Terrariums make beautiful centerpieces, and are even more exciting when guests get to take home mini versions that double as place cards.

Serve a family-style dinner where guests will interact more with those around them.  Place banquet tables end-to-end and dress them with festive runners and low centerpieces to encourage chatting across the table.

There's no rule that says bridesmaids must wear dresses.  Skirts and blouses are a modern alternative.

Use serving pieces and decor you already have.  Grandma's cake serving set and crystal toasting flutes...lace table runners your mom happens to have...the cake topper from your parents' wedding.  Even having one or two things that you or your family already owns will save you money and make your wedding feel a little more cozy.

 Flower girl fairies.  Need we say more?

 Have a lovely weekend!

The Friday Five

This week has been a complete whirlwind wrapping up final details for our fall weddings!  In the midst of it all, I took some time to pull away a few looks that I am loving right now.  We have a mix of weddings from contemporary glam to rustic, Southern vibes, and I am finding details from each wedding theme that really inspires me.  

 

How gorgeous are these shoes?  Benjamin Adams makes the most beautiful rhinestone-covered peep toe pumps that brides and non-brides alike can swoon over.  Wear them for your wedding, your bachelorette party, the honeymoon, to vacuum the house... In Orlando, you can find them at Solutions Bridal.

 

All week I have been trying to find 30 minutes to recreate this manicure from Cupcakes and Cashmere (hasn't happened yet).  Even for a classic bridal style, let your bridesmaids have some fun with color, patterns, and glitter nails.

Rustic-chic weddings are trending now and I'm having so much fun designing these mixes of stylish and ecelectic events.  Mix it up with crystals, antique frames, teacups, burlap, linen, and chalkboards.  Use a soft, classic color palette and let the details do the talking.  Look for unique venues with wood beams, overhanging trees, and lots of character.

Cake stands really can be unique and customized.  Fabulous Wedding Cake Stands creates one-of-a-kind stands made to your specifications.  Don't forget you can also look around your own home for interesting pieces or ask family members for heirloom cake stands and serving trays.

 

Our friends at Studio 222 Photography offer "Party Booths" as a really fun alternative to a traditional photo booth.  With a backdrop, a little signage, and guests that are ready for a good time, these are the perfect way to bring loads of personality and laughs to your event.  You MUST check out the Party Booth they did with one of our October 1 weddings that is definitely the funniest one I have seen yet!

 

Have a great weekend, ladies and gents!

Go Team! Incorporating School Spirit in Your Wedding

Football season is here!  So in honor of the most wonderful time of the year (or so we think), here are some fun tips on how to incorporate your favorite team in your wedding day! The key to keeping it classy is to not go overboard with the alma mater decor but to add subtle touches in just the right places.  

1. Your wedding day garter

One easy spot to place some festive colors is here! It's a super easy touch for you and the groom!  Go to two different schools?  Wear two garters... one for each!

   

 2. Your wedding cake

Another place to incorporate your school spirit is your wedding cake. You could use this for your main wedding cake (for you die hard fans) or you can let the groom's cake have all the fun.  Check out the most amazing stadium cake below! 

 3. Table Numbers

Name the dinner tables after memorable places in your college town!  You can even add cool black and white photos of the best spots on campus along side the table names.  Small personal touches in the wedding decor will make a big impact and be very special to you and your guests!

Replace the photo here with an awesome photo of the football stadium or your freshman year dorms or your Greek Life sorority and fraternity!

4. Wedding Day Songs

Using songs is a great way to have a quick college moment without the overkill! Maybe you could play your school's fight song as you are introduced or during the processional.  The guests will get a good laugh and it will add a light hearted touch to the wedding!  Insiders tips? Only use this fun moment once during the wedding... it'll make a bigger impact and won't be too much.

 5. Engagement Photos

I'm loving the idea of using your engagement photos to capture your love of your alma mater! Engagement photos can be much less serious than your wedding day photos so it's the perfect time to incorporate this! Another perk is that many college campuses actually have amazing photo spots!

Check out these FSU pictures below. Adorable!

For all you divided houses (we don't want an uproar!), here are some UF engagement photos to balance the score!

Using Ruffled Streamers to Create a Photo Backdrop

Typically I would tell you that streamers have no place in weddings, but because we've seen more and more photo booths, DIY projects, and homespun weddings, I was so excited to come across these ruffled streamers and how to make them.  The ideas on the Made website are easy and fun and work so well for any type of party!  We're making ruffled streamers for my daughter's second birthday party this weekend and I'm tempted to try some of the paper wallflowers, too!  These make a fun backdrop for your photobooth, or strung overhead inside a tent or from the rafters to add a ton of color in an inexpensive way!

Here's how to make ruffled streamers

Find out how to easily make the paper flowers or pom-poms here.