Wedding Decor

We enjoy the reactions of guests as they walk into a ballroom that's totally transformed. As much as we would like to be adventurous when it comes to weddings, we know that the couple has their families to answer to if the decor is too outrageous. Planning a wedding? Talk to us! What will help us most is giving us your budget and we'll work our hardest to work within it. We promise! Here are some theme colours that are not over the top.

Wedding Trends 2011

Yes, the new year's coming and despite us being busy preparing for the year end parties, we have not forgotten that some of you are already planning your wedding in 2011!

So here are Mandi de Lude's predictions for the new year:

The Dress

Everyone’s favorite part of a wedding is seeing what the bride wore as she walked down the aisle. 2010 paved the way for more and more ruffles, as we saw elegantly structured, layered, avant-garde tiers.

In 2011, you can expect feminine romance to continue, but in softer, more subtle ways. Expect more floral appliqué, sequins, and beading on thinly streamed trumpet and mermaid gowns.

Expect fuller-length gowns to have demure chiffon layers, with the flower appliqué and sequins.

The Invitations

In 2011, expect more contemporary and personalized wedding invitations-Mod, Nature, Vegas!-nothing is off limits. Expect the couple’s personality to really shine through.

OUT: Boring white

STILL IN: Damask (try paisley for a new-but-old twist)

IN: Go green with soy ink, recycled paper, and online save-the-dates!

The Cake

Like invitations, expect cakes to be brightly colored, lots of fondant, and lots of flowers! Goodbye traditional white butter cream. Also look for more creative wedding toppers.

The Colors

Expect lots of reds and yellows. Gray is the hottest new “color” and a nice alternative to brown. Try gray and blush or gray and yellow.

OUT: Brown and pink ,Most Pastels

STILL IN: Black and white (And always will be.) Add a nice pop of unexpected color to a B &W wedding like teal or yellow (no more red with this color combo, please!). Light green with any color, also not going anywhere.

IN: red, yellow, teal.

The Decor

Wedding centerpieces will continue to be more contemporary than traditional bouquet centerpieces. Anticipate fish and floating flowers and candles and branches. Think outside the box to make your wedding centerpiece one-of-a-kind.

Also look for other pops of color in hanging lanterns, table covers, and clothing accents (sashes, flowers pins, shoes, etc.)

SUMMARY: This is not your mother’s wedding. Out with everything white; in with bright, unexpected pops of color, modern cakes, invitations, and centerpieces. Be creative and have fun!

These are just speculations from a 2011 Bride and Maid of Honor, who has done her fair share of wedding research and planning. Of course, the most important thing is to stay true to yourself and your tastes. If you like a nice, old fashioned sort of wedding, don’t create a brightly colored circus wedding theme because those colors are in! Go with white if you want –it's YOUR wedding day!

Wedding reception and decor trends 2010

You want your wedding to look different. Here are simple ideas to give your celebration a personal touch.

Black Accents Are Back

We’re talking little black lacquer flower vases, black pillows in the lounge area, black glassware. To keep it from looking too dark, choose a deep jewel tone like deep blue, purple, or even red. It'll give your reception that timelessly chic, formal, time-for-cocktails-and-fun feel.

Photo: Jake Holt Photography

Props as Centerpieces


Re-think the term, reception centerpiece and incorporate decorative accessories (like the kind you would use to spruce up a coffee table, kitchen shelf, or fireplace mantle) into your centerpieces. Sparkly spheres, brilliant mercury glass pieces, or even a retro scale topped with fruit and flowers like this one can become the focal point of your tables.

Photo: Tanja Lippert Photography

Fabric Wrapped Vases



Forget about stressing over roses versus lilies and put the focus on your vases by wrapping them in eye-catching fabrics to give them a textured look and feel. To keep he look clean (not messy), choose flowers in the same colour like this all-white table here.

Photo: Antonis Achilleos

Great Gatsby Garden Decor

Button up a backyard or garden wedding with silver mint julep vases; pretty white garden urns and pedestals, and plenty of silver cocktail hour trays. Small flower arrangements on crisp cocktail tables will set the scene for an event Jay Gatsby would be proud of.

Photo: Kristen Alexander Photography

An Eclectic Mix of Monochromatic Vases

Like the mix and matched, wildflower, outdoor wedding aesthetic? Choose a monochromatic mix of flowers in all different shapes and sizes for your tables filled with colourful flowers for a more streamlined pulled-together look.

Photo: Blue Castle Photography

White Bouquets with Attention-Grabbing Wraps



Let your bouquet wrap shine by choosing all-white flowers. Then personalize it by asking your florist to wrap the stems with beads, sequins, pretty pins, shells, crocheted lace, or even twine are just a few ideas.

Pink & Brown

A sweet mix of pink and browns are pleasing to the eye. Consider short flower arrangements to keep the focus on the colour theme.

Lollipop wedding

Who says weddings have to be mellow? We love bright colours which brings out the positive vibes in people.

Black and gold

Ok so you prefer something dramatic, black and gold will not go wrong when you have bright flowers to bring cheer to the table. Consider fairy lights to create a dark night sky effect.

Sea-breeze weddings

Blue and white weddings

Blue and white weddings create a very laid back atmosphere. To avoid a bare feeling, have big bouquets of flowers as centrepieces.

Under the Sea wedding

Can't get enough of the sea? Create a unique centrepiece using seashells and painted dry twigs (corals are meant to stay in the sea!).

Green & white

For a natural high tea wedding, opt for light colours such as light green and white. Have fruits adorn the table for that in the backyard feel.