Be flexible when using wedding magazines for inspiration

Brides are bombarded with images through magazines, vendors, friends, family, and television shows. Everyone is selling the dream, the fantasy of the wedding. Magazines show even the simplest wedding perfect in decor and location; nothing is overlooked except the details of how it all comes together. Who wouldn’t want their wedding to be as beautiful and flawless as the one seen in a magazine? One magazine in particular has the most fantastic favours, bouquets and hors d’oeuvres and the pages are filled with images so natural, so simple that you are sure any fool could do the same with very little effort. Unfortunately, all of the wonderful favors, bouquets, and hors d’oeuvres can be very expensive to purchase and extremely time-consuming, complicated, and expensive to make.

Recently, there was a huge spread of photos of a beautifully decorated wedding and reception along with a “how to” article on how to dress up the chairs. Large bows were placed on the backs of the chairs, adding to the elegant look of the wedding. However, the “how to” part of the article was unclear to say the least and the distance needed for the arcs was left out entirely. After some research, it turned out that the ribbon used to make the bows was an expensive French silk that had to be specially ordered due to its extreme width. The tape in question was sold in ten-yard rolls and retailed for $76. Each chair bow required five to six yards, bringing the cost per chair for the bow alone to $38. According to statistics, the average number of guests attending a wedding is 178; the cost of the arches based on that number would be $6,764.

You can of course use substitutes, but you have to be careful. If you go too cheap or stray too far from the size and style of the design, the look is lost. Your attempt at a classy look will end up cheap, an obviously failed attempt at creating a look you can’t afford.

Several online event and party supply sites specialize in extra-wide ribbons and fabrics for wedding decorations. One site features a beautiful selection of satin and shimmering organza in finished size bows and table decorations. A package of five organza bows sells for $4.95. The same fabric is also available in forty yard bolts. It pays to do some internet research before shopping at a local craft or fabric store.

Remember that the images you see in bridal magazines are staged. Images found in magazines are not necessarily practical. They don’t have to be functional or safe because there is no real wedding. However, you can often achieve the same mood or look you see in magazines if you’re willing to think outside the box and keep at least one foot planted in reality.

A bride once requested that her cake and buffet tables, aisles and paths be decorated in the same way as shown in a wedding magazine. The background of the cake and buffet tables was lined with votive candles, as were the aisles. The photograph, taken at twilight, gave the setting a very beautiful and romantic look. It was just stunning.

Unfortunately, there was a little hiccup; he was neither safe nor practical. In fact, it was a fire hazard. Anyone who got too close or the linens moved by the breeze could catch fire. We took it upon ourselves, creating small foil florets of light through the use of mini electric cluster lights. Each group was secured to gutter nails with electrical ties and the nails were driven into the ground to hold the lights in place. The bunches were covered with small glass floral bowls to prevent them from being stepped on. The effect was lovely and we achieved the same romantic feeling without creating a fire hazard.

You can accomplish almost anything if you keep an open mind. Being flexible and looking outside the box are your greatest assets when it comes to getting what you want. Magazines and TV shows are great resources, as long as you keep in mind that it’s not always possible to achieve exactly the image you see, but you can usually get the same feel and look if you’re flexible. When you are tense and unwilling to see or hear other ideas, to look outside the box, you limit the possibilities available. So stay open, stay healthy and smile, you’re getting married!