Choosing your wedding flowers is probably one of more enjoyable aspects of wedding planning – certainly a lot more fun than, say, trying to figure out how to seat your feuding families so the reception doesn’t turn into a scene from Springer. Yet even deciding on fragrant, gorgeous blooms can become more chore than pleasure if you just don’t know where to start. Many brides have a favorite flower or color scheme in mind, but even then, the floral choices can be endless and overwhelming.

A good place to start is with the centerpieces – the floral arrangements that will grace every table at the reception. While they don’t have to be identical to the rest of your floral décor, they should certainly complement it. In fact, centerpieces may constitute the bulk of your wedding flowers.

Choosing your Centerpieces

There are many things to consider when planning your centerpieces. Some of the main points to think about are:

• Colour scheme
• Flower type/combination
• Vase colour
• Vase height
• Whether the centerpieces will be taken home by your guests or not

A good place to start is with the fourth point, vase height. What is better, a tall centerpiece, or a short one? That is almost like asking what kind of bride is better, tall or short! The varieties are literally just as infinite. But there are some guiding principles that should help you decide whether to go tall or short for your wedding flower centerpieces.

Long and Tall

Your flowers say a lot about your personality. Tall wedding centerpieces tend to be more dramatic and fancier than short ones. You’ve probably heard the injunction against having tall centerpieces: the fact that your guests might not be able to see each other over the towering flower arrangements. But there are two simple fixes for that: the first is to have glass vases that your guests can see right through, and the second is to make sure that the vases are slender, and more than 24 inches tall. That way, your guests will be able to talk to each other ‘under’ the arrangements. Just make sure no blooms are at head-height.

Short and Sweet

Your options increase with short centerpieces, just because there are so many different types of short vases (or other receptacles, such as teapots, flower pots, hurricane lamps, and the like) that can be used. Generally with shorter centerpieces, the flowers within will require more arranging than with a tall centerpiece (you can’t really get away with sticking a single radiant tulip into a short vase).

Bit of Both

Don’t forget, it’s your party! There is nothing wrong with mixing it up. You can have more than one centerpiece per table, mixing tall and short creations; place short centerpieces on some tables, and tall ones on others; or change some feature of the centerpieces, such as playing with different coloured vases. A popular idea is to add shells, coloured stones, or flower petals to the tablecloth itself, to complement and enhance your centerpieces.

When it comes to your centerpieces, the sky’s the limit – tall or short or anything in between, your centerpieces should be a beautiful representation of your special day.

For more Centerpiece ideas & Inspiration – www.gpsdecors.com

Whether you read your marriage proposal on a JumboTron or saw it written in the sky, or simply shed a tear when your fiancé went down on one knee, the day he popped the question is probably one of the most memorable in your life. And the ring you wear is a reminder of that wonderful day. You might not have had a say when it came to the style, but the same can’t be said of your wedding rings – which most couples like to choose together. Here we look at the year ahead in terms of what’s trending for wedding band styles. Most jewelers agree that there are a handful of wedding ring styles we’ll see again and again in 2016.

Rose Gold

Ritani, a top New York jeweler, forecasts that rose gold will make a big appearance this year, perhaps even rivalling the white metals that have been popular in past decades. Why is the warmer colour making a comeback? Tradition goes around and comes around; yellow and rose gold are warm, romantic traditional favourites that really make a diamond pop, plus they complement more skin tones than starker white gold. Feel free to contrast them with your white gold engagement ring; after all, bling is bling.

Eternity Bands

Let’s face it: there’s nothing wrong with more diamonds. Why go for one when you can have a whole ring of diamonds?

Stackable Gemstone Wedding Rings

See above re: what’s wrong with more gems? Stackable wedding rings are generally slimmer and lighter than traditional rings, but there are more of them, so it works out. Brides can create a personal, dazzling look by stacking diamond and gemstone rings in different combinations of precious metals. The rings can further be personalized to commemorate special moments, like the birth of a child, or nod to special meanings, such as the couple’s birthstones.

Forged Men’s Wedding Bands

Let’s not leave out the gentleman. Rather than opting for classic smooth and satin finishes, rustic hammered men’s wedding bands are expected to be popular in 2015 for their artisan appeal, which has been popular since ancient times.

If you’re a lady who wants a say in your engagement ring as well as your wedding ring, you’ll be happy to know that today’s focus on finding a unique and different ring has brought many more styles to the forefront, including ‘fancy cut’ (as opposed to round) diamonds and petite settings that are both more delicate, and less expensive, than their flashier counterparts.

Whatever style of wedding ring you opt for… congratulations are most certainly in order! Don’t forget to instruct your photographer to get a shot of your wedding ring as it’s being slipped on your finger for the very first time.

When it comes to wedding traditions, some things never go out of style. Alcohol seems to be one of them. Unless you’re getting married at the crack of dawn (maybe even then), liquor is traditionally a big part of the festivities. In recent years, liquor consumption at weddings has actually increased in importance, with 92% of American weddings having some type of bar, toast or signature cocktail – and surprisingly, the majority of modern receptions (58%) are now featuring a formal cocktail hour with nibbles, in lieu of a sit-down meal.

So, about those drinks…do you really need a signature cocktail? Well, no, but it’s a great way to add a personal touch to your menu or festivities, and it can save you money if you forego the open bar and simply serve beer, wine, and just your signature cocktail. Couples who choose to go this route are then faced with the dilemma of how to find or create a signature drink that speaks to their personality, but that everyone will enjoy. Here are 3 ways to pick your drink.

Match Wedding Style

If you’re having a destination wedding, your task just got easier: there are a plethora of tropical drinks that will go well with all the warm-weather props, like coconuts and pineapples. You could probably get away with putting rum in a mason jar and calling it your signature cocktail. But if you’re staying local, the task is a bit trickier. Having an Indian wedding? Why not try a cardamom berry smash or a matcha green tea gimlet? Try matching your drink to the season, to the theme (such as a spin on the martini for a glamorous Hollywood wedding) or to your personality; we love the Blushing Bride as a simple, classy, aesthetically appealing drink that will go with any elegant wedding.

Match Wedding Colours or Flowers

Forgot something blue? Don’t worry, there’s a drink for that. With skillful use of liqueurs, you can easily match your signature drink to virtually any colour under the sun; if your drink has a neutral-coloured base, like champagne, you can add the wedding colours in the form of citrus twists, mint sprigs, berries or fruits. A signature wedding cocktail is also the perfect place to showcase the same rose petals or miniature orchids that appear in your floral wedding décor. Your guests will remark at the attention to detail.

Feature a Favourite Liqueur

Maybe you and your spouse-to-be are just wild for gin or Cointreau or crème de menthe. You can work with that! Incorporate your favourite liquor into the signature drink and create a small card that lets guests know why the drink is so special to you both, providing the recipe on the other side. Definitely a great conversation starter for your guests.

Not unlike picking paint colours, choosing a wedding palette can seem nearly impossible. With thousands of colour shades and possible combinations, it’s no wonder some brides throw up their hands and base everything around what will look good on the bridesmaids. The good news is that with a little guidance, every bride can pick gorgeous wedding colours that are on trend with what’s hot in 2016 and still stay true to her heart.

How to Choose Wedding Colours

The reason it’s important to choose your colour scheme up front is that it will ensure every decision you make from then on – from the décor to the cake to the boutonnieres – is in alignment with your colours. Regardless of the 2016 trends, there are some things a couple should always consider when choosing their wedding colours:

• Favourite colours: it just makes sense to try to incorporate your faves, if you have any.
• Favourite flowers
• What the season is: if it’s Christmas, you don’t have to automatically use colours like red, green and white – but be aware that many churches, banquet halls and reception areas will already be decked out for the season, so you might have to contend with colour clashes
• Venue: you generally have a lot more colour leeway with an outdoor wedding than with indoor spaces that may already have strongly coloured draperies, carpeting and décor

While brides of yore were limited to 3 complimentary wedding colours, Wikihow advises that modern brides can choose up to 5 colours for their wedding palette.

2016 Wedding Colours

• Rose Quartz And Serenity
• Pale Pink and Grey
• Champagne and Gold
• Navy Blue and Silver
• Peach and Gold
• Lilac and yellow
• Plum and Green

If you just can’t picture how your chosen wedding colours will work with your entire theme and décor, spend some time online looking at more trending 2016 colour palettes.

How to Use your Wedding Colours

Now that you know what wedding colours are trending for 2016, don’t forget to be careful how you use them. Your colours should:

-Complement, not overwhelm, your wedding

-Be subtle; don’t try and match everything but use variations of complementary shades

-Be tasteful. A little touch, like the flowers on the wedding cake and in the flower girl’s hair, goes a long way

-Be affordable. If you want a particular flower that’s way over your budget, go with a neutral flower colour such as cream, and match the colour to the ribbon instead.

While walking down the aisle is itself a timeless action, wedding trends change every year, affecting the choices of even the most traditional bride. If we had to pick one underlying theme for 2016, it would be DIY: whether you really do it yourself or hire an event design company like GPS Decors to pull off your theme, this year is characterized by personal touches throughout, from the invitations to the attire and flowers. These little details make the wedding unique and showcase the couple’s personality.

Here we touch on what you can expect to see this year everywhere from the bridal shoppe to the salon, courtesy of our own observations and YourWeddingCompany.com.

Wedding Dresses

wedding dress trends feature short sleeves — sheer to embellished giving a romantic feel. You can also expect to see layers of tiers, a spin on the traditional layered effect. These tiered layers are going on everything from ball gowns to trumpets. When it comes to necklines expect to see plunging V necks. Lace sleeves are still en vogue (thanks, Kate!) and crystal-studded bodices remain popular.

Accessories

Designers can’t stop talking about the resurgence of the bird cage veil, as well as wraps: fur, velvet or pashmina for winter weddings, organza and lace for warm weather to cover those bare shoulders. Wearing flower crowns or crystal brooches in the hair is popular this year; brides are also accenting their shoes with crystal clips.

Floral Trends

There are always a variety of floral designs that it might be hard to choose with so many options.  Here are just a few floral wedding trends that will be very popular this year to help you with your decision!

• Wild Local Organic Flowers, brides are requesting more of a natural garden design in their bouquets and floral arrangements which could include a mix of size, color, as well as an assortment of different flowers
• Greenery can help create a romantic setting throughout a wedding and really bring in the popular natural trend for this year
• Hanging chandeliers of florals and foliage, this trend is another creative way to use flowers to decorate your venue in an unexpected stylish way
• Rose Quartz and Serenity as the Pantone colors of the year, we may start to see a trend of this color being used in wedding floral designs

Wedding Décor

This year’s banquet hall is decorated in a non-traditional fashion that blends round and square tables and centrepieces of different sizes for a less coordinated feel. Popular vase fillers include artificial pearls, fake snow and ice, shells, sea glass, and fresh citrus fruits. In terms of fabric, rustic burlap and vintage lace are big for table runners, while traditional table confetti like silk rose petals and miniature shells work well with this year’s hot beaches wedding theme.

Popular wedding décor trends for 2016 include:

• Themed Wedding Stages –  A wedding stage setup must be spectacular, where the bride and groom can bask in royal splendor.
• Oversize Statement Bouquets – For brides-to-be looking for a real WOW factor for their big day, oversized bouquets are a sure way to impress!
• Hanging Centrepieces – IN LOVE with this new concept! They are unique, exciting and on the practical side by saving space on your tables.
• Textured Tables – Think raw wooden table tops
• Lush Greenery – Think crazy lush green walls, ferns, tropical palm fronds, succulents and more
• The new theme is no theme – Couples are increasingly focusing on small details—not big themes—to set their wedding apart.
• Laser-cut details are everywhere – Featured on invitations, place-cards, and even place mats, laser-cutting will be especially popular.

Wedding Colors

Picking your color palette is one of the most important aspects of your wedding day. It will show in your entire theme, from your save the dates to your wedding information to bridal party attire, and more. We recommend selecting some favorite colors that will work well with your season and venue. Then, start exploring different hues to make sure everything stays uniform on the color front. Our favorite place to look is at Pantone. Each year they designate a color or the year and they create a list of wedding colors. Most of the Pantone 2016 wedding colors are new to their color palette. The shades work well for fashion, interiors, and more making them versatile for all wedding needs. And, many can be used in any season.

Signage

If last year was all about the chalkboard sign, 2016 reveals an elegant alternative, with gilt-framed mirrors taking centre stage. Expect to see menus, seating charts and ceremony signs hand calligraphed on the reflective surface; the trend can be easily adapted to suit a relaxed theme by swapping an ornate frame for one made from recycled wood.

Weddings that last long

Forget limiting the festivities to just one night! While extensive itineraries for guests were once reserved for destination weddings, more couples will be making the most of the whole weekend no matter where they’re tying the knot this year.

For more 2016 wedding trends including trending photography, wedding stationery and more, check out GPS decors Blog. Congratulation

Canadian brides have an interesting dilemma: with the weather only really being warm enough to wear a sleeveless dress in the gazebo from May to September – peak wedding season – what can you do if you want to get married sometime during the other seven months of the year? If you long for a unique winter wedding, be it a Christmas extravaganza or a romantic Valentine’s Day to remember, rest assured that you have plenty of options. From snowy mountains to beautiful woodland settings, Canada has much to offer for couples looking to make the most of winter.

Go West

PerfectOutdoorWeddings.com lists not one but two of the top five winter wedding destinations in Canada as being in Alberta. First it names the Fairmont Chateau in Lake Louise, nestled in the heart of Banff National Park (which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site). It’s the best of Banff – breathtaking mountains, glaciers, lakes and forests – but rather than taking it all in from a rugged campsite, the hotel features luxurious guest rooms and beautiful facilities for your ceremony, reception and dinner. There is even wedding planning assistance, making the Fairmont Chateau a true one-stop shop.

The Sawridge Inn and Conference Centre is another option for nature-loving couples. Located in the heart of Jasper National Park, you can say ‘I do’ at the foot of the Rockies or beside a clear blue lake, then retire with your guests to one of the Sawridge’s several luxury themed ballrooms for an evening of fantastic food, dancing and celebration.

Keep going west…a little further

If the thought of reciting your vows in temperatures that turn your heartfelt words into frosty clouds leaves you, well, a little cold, why not consider BC: with a relatively warm winter climate and gorgeous natural beauty, the province has something for everyone. There’s more to a winter wedding in B.C. than hitting the slopes at Whistler-Blackcomb; the iconic Waterfall Building in Vancouver is guaranteed to provide a breathtaking backdrop to your wedding photos, while the Cecil Green Park House on the UBC campus offers incredible scenic views, stunning architecture, and was a 2013 finalist in the BC Wedding Awards.

Or just stay indoors.

On the other hand…getting married in winter need not incorporate nature and snow. After all, isn’t cozying up indoors what winter is all about? Canada’s cities are consistently featured on cultural ‘best-of’ lists, so there is certainly no shame in making for Toronto or Montreal and choosing a classy hotel rich in amenities, or a charming bed-and-breakfast for a small, intimate winter wedding.

To make your event interesting for guests who won’t be leaving their home city, include a ‘staycation’ calendar in your wedding invitations, featuring local events and attractions your friends and family might not have visited – giving them a chance to be tourists in their own backyard. Not sure where to hold the big event? Check out the Toronto Life style guide to top Toronto wedding venues. It’s sure to provide some inspiration for your indoor winter wedding.