image by Suzanne Hansen Style

What is style anyway? Webster’s defines style as "A quality of imagination and individuality expressed in one's actions and tastes." As in; "She does things with style."

So style is really a combination of imagination or creativity and individuality or understanding and reflection of the self. A wedding is the perfect opportunity for style, your style, to come shining through at each and every moment.

This only reiterates our belief that style is not about money! We feel that style is not about how much you spend on something. In fact we have seen some potentially stylish wedding events ruined by couples throwing money around, instead of investing a little time, a little creativity and a little personal energy.

Style is quintessentially personal, so when you come to design this intensely personal event, do not be dissuaded by magazines and books pushing some antiquated style on you. Most wedding resources are very Bride-centric and are still promoting a rather dated, weak style to Brides and eventually Grooms. Who are they talking to?

Today’s Bride and Groom are anywhere from 18 to 80, are usually both working and enjoying full adult lives and deserve to be treated as powerful and complete individuals who are moving into balanced partnership. Couples in this day and age want to express their own style and honor all facets of their lives; the families they came from, the family they may have already created, their individuality, their new partnership, their friendship with guests and each other and more!

A wedding is a special event in your lives so be sure to have some of your lives in your wedding. You’ve got style! On your wedding day, flaunt it!

Please enjoy our style galleries at left.

image by Suzanne Hansen

Color expresses mood, feeling and adds an original ambiance to your wedding. Explore and find the right colors that represent you and your spouse’s style.

Color has always been used symbolically, whether painted directly on the body or a canvas or worn to announce the wearer's social status, their tribe, country or other significant group. People have always used color for decorative purposes or to signify important events. In most cultures, colors have distinct meanings and uses, from the sacred to the mundane. Each hue has a very meaningful and/or magical effect. Color influences us on many levels. Did you know that every color has an emotional and psychological effect on people? The associations we most make with color are based on our cultural and generational perspective. Orange may be the grooviest color to your Mom, and scream Burger King to you. Black may be the most dramatic and refined color to you and be reserved only for funerals to your Grandmother. Three different generations; three different associations with color.

Culturally, color really has impact; in a traditional Chinese wedding the bride wears red, the color of joy and good luck. In Western cultures, we wear the "traditional" white bridal gown, while in China wearing white is reserved for mourning!

So to use color to your best advantage look at the physical aspects of your event;

~the time of year; is it warm or cool weather?

~the setting; do you want to recall the ocean with blues and green, a vineyard with wine tones?

~the view; what colors catch your eye naturally there?

~the amount of light; does a dark interior needs a lift from light colors?

~time of day; the morning might mean softness, sunny midday bold, and the evening subtle drama?

~period and style of décor; muted vintage colors, bold contemporary, or multi-hued natural?

Then address the cultural influences if any, and very importantly, address the mood you are hoping to create. As you peruse through our encyclopedia of colors, you will find the emotional and psychological affects of each color and any cultural traditions associated with that color.

Have fun with color! It is a powerful way to express feelings and moods. If you want to wear red for your bridal gown, wear red! Personally we respect coloring outside the lines!

Pastels, primaries [yellow, red, blue] secondaries, [orange, green, purple] cool tones, warm tones, or monochromatic; anything goes at a wedding these days. Whatever tickles you... pink!

Please enjoy our color galleries at left.