10 Tips for a Fabulous “Love Birds” Themed Wedding

photo courtesy of Google Images

Because I’m a true lover of all things historical – I know. My cool points just went up about 12 degrees, haha! – I love love love where the concept of “love birds” comes from. Born centuries ago, the phrase first started making its way onto the scene when it was believed that birds began mating on February 14^th each year. This being the ultimate holiday of love, the two circumstances happened into one lovely little expression that has now become a commonplace endearment today.

The romance of this sentiment has inevitably translated into the world of weddings and has become a highly adaptable and trendy theme. So, if you’re a sucker for love birds, here is your guide to creating the perfect, “Watch the Birdy!” themed wedding of your dreams.

#1. Feathers. One of the most stunning aspects of any bird and not to mention one of the hottest wedding trends today is feathers! Feathers are the perfect touch of glamour and romance for any wedding day celebration and are easily incorporated into most of your details. Simply sneak these trendy tufts everywhere you can: boutonnieres, bridal hairpieces, bouquets, centerpieces, etc. Even your dress can bird fur inspired! The list could go on and on, so get creative!

photos courtesy of austinweddingblog.com, thesweetestoccasion.com and atticsunglasses.com

#2. Card Holder. Transform a beautiful vintage birdcage into a convenient wedding card holder. Guests will marvel at your resourcefulness, and this station is sure to complement the rest of your wedding seamlessly.

photos courtesy of marilynskeepsakes.com

#3. Dove Release. Create a striking ceremony finale by featuring a couple of real life love birds with a dove release. These stunning white flyers symbolize peace, love, and good fortune, making them a popular wedding favorite.

photo courtesy of virginiadoves.com

#4. Place Cards. Greet each guest at their respective place settings with a nest-and-eggs place card. Simply nestle a few sugar-coated almonds into some decorative moss, stick the place card inside and voila – a magical place setting that doubles as a sweet treat.

photos courtesy of exoticexcess.com and southernliving.com

#5. Bird Houses. No bird-themed bash would be complete without a few fowl-friendly abodes. These miniature dwellings can float from the reception hall’s rafters, but can also be utilized as centerpieces, table numbers or a wish “jars”.

photos courtesy of joeelariophotography.com

#6. The Send-Off. Go green by providing some traditional bird seed for your guests to celebrate the send-off. The seed is easily accessible and affordable and will complement your theme flawlessly. Plus, it provides a tasty treat for the actual birds hovering nearby.

photos courtesy of babyshowerhosting.com, manolobrides.com and heidiryder.net

#7. Beverages. As couples imagine more and more creative ways to keep refreshments cold and refreshing (bathtub coolers, canoe coolers, etc.), why not think like the birds? Get a few big-basined bird baths, fill with ice, and let cocktail hour begin.

photos courtesy of alyssajulblog.com and plowhearth.com

#8. Cake Topper. A simple detail, but important none-the-less. The latest cake topper favorites include classic and modern porcelain birds, or quirky and whimsical fabric birds. Either way, tailor your love bird cake topper to complement your theme and your personality as a couple.

photos courtesy of marilynskeepsakes.com and thisnext.com

#9. Tweet. Even with all the above ideas, there is still plenty of room for imagination. Fill your reception venue with plenty of bird inspired décor, such as: Paper bird pendants, fabric birds perched on branches, signs that read “Love Tweet Love” and “Love Birds” or miniature birdcages filled with candles.

photos courtesy of boards.weddingbee.com, debbiemumm.com and modernepr.com

#10. Favors. Don’t send your guests back to their nests empty-handed. Make sure you end the night with take-home treats that pay homage to the love bird theme. Bags of sugar-coated almonds will act as delicious, candied robin’s eggs. Or go a little greener with ornament-style birdseed that guests can treat to their backyard friends. And don’t even get me started on love bird themed jewelry for bridesmaids! Talk about trendy and unique!

photo courtesy of weddingchicks.com

No matter what you choose, there’s no denying the chic appeal of a love bird themed wedding! It’s understated elegance allows you to go as simple or outlandish as you like, while still maintaining the underlying theme of love, peace, and hope. For more great love bird wedding ideas, check out Marilyn’s Keepsakes.

Give Your Wedding Personality: How To Choose From Popular Themes & Colors

If you’re anything like me, you’ve been conjuring up your perfect wedding plan for years.  Long before your Mr. Wonderful made his entrance, I’m guessing you already had Barbie and Ken – bedecked to the nines – acting out to your dream wedding in a fully functioning dress rehearsal.  I’ll even go as far to say that you more than likely already had the color of his vest on reserve and your flowers selected and put on hold, and while I think this is fabulous (because we yet again have something in common – hehe), I would urge you not to limit yourself.

And this is why…

My parents have been married for 34 years.  They were high school sweethearts, and after a long, fairytale like courtship (siiiigh), my father uttered those four famous words every girl loves to hear, “Will you marry me?”  Of course my mother said yes, and began piecing together her dream wedding.  She didn’t know much, but she knew one thing for certain: she had to have blue and yellow, floral bridesmaid dresses.  (Let it be advised, this WAS the seventies, people.)  So, imagine her shock when she walked into the bridal store repeating “blue and yellow” over and over again, and walked out with six red and white dresses… who-da thunk it?

So, stay open to new ideas.  Try on colors and shapes and arrangements you’ve never considered.  Ask for suggestions.  Implore friends and family.  Because even though your wedding might not be the picture you’ve always imagined, you just might get something even better.

Wedding Themes

One way to create the initial theme of your wedding is to incorporate the theme in your invitations.  Finding invitations that pertain to your specific theme will help explain to your guests what type of wedding you have planned.  Include a special note separately or on your reception card explaining what type of wedding you are having along with a couple of phone numbers where guests can contact you with questions.

When hosting a theme type wedding, sometimes traditional wedding etiquette rules are set aside. This allows you to include a suggested dress code that is normally omitted from traditional or formal wedding invitations where the time of day the wedding takes place would normally dictate the type of dress preferred.  Be sure to make your guests aware that the dress code is optional. 

If couples choose to dress the part, along with their attendants, it can make for a very authentic, incredibly unique celebration.  Depending on your theme you can find its décor at costume shops or thrift stores if your theme if from a period in time. Costume shops and party shops may have all that you are looking for in terms of attire and decorations.

If you have an idea in mind for a wedding theme, visit your local library or surf the internet to learn more about how to incorporate your wedding theme with décor, activity, attire, and music.  Take a look at some of these: 

• “When in Rome”… throw a Roman feast fit for a king
• Beach Party Wedding… stay casual and breezy
• “When You Wish Upon a Star”… play music that involves lyrics that sing about stars and decorate your reception with sparkle lights and stardust.
• “Once Upon a Time” or “Cinderella”… make your big day a dream come true
• Victorian Wedding Tea… make your wedding a regal affair
• Winter Wonderland… take your Christmas time wedding to a whole new level
• Roaring Twenties / Wedding Speakeasy… capture the fun and romance of a another era
• Love at the Mardi Gras Ball… throw a truly colorful party
• Game of Love… have a sports or Vegas themed wedding
• Red Carpet Wedding: Hollywood Style
• Bewitched with Love… work your wedding into Halloween

Your wedding can also pattern itself after the very season it is scheduled for. A Christmas wedding may incorporate the holiday theme or a winter wonderland theme. Maybe you will be married 4^th of July weekend and you want to decorate with a patriotic theme.  The possibilities are limitless – just like your fabulosity!

Wedding Colors

Popular wedding colors vary with every trend, year and season.  Many brides choose their colors based on their wedding date.  Summer and spring are more likely paired with bright hues and vibrant pastels.  Think of your favorite spring time bouquet: dusty pinks, cobalt blues, periwinkles, teals, yellows and mangos.  Fall and winter seem to denote more reds, burnt oranges, cinnamons, dark sages, chocolates, blacks and warm yellows. 

But this is a guestimated (guess + estimated = guestimated) pattern at best, because it really boils down to you.  2009 has marked the year for cool colors.  Blues, greens and purples have overtaken the wedding scene, pushing warmer shades aside.  Combining colors and choosing coordinating hues over perfectly matched details has also been on the rise, but does this mean you have to follow suit?  Heck no!

Every bride is different, and while there may be more popular colors chosen overall and at different times during the year, you’re not like every one else… so, your wedding shouldn’t have to be either.  I suggest picking colors that you love that hold a timeless quality with you.  After all, you’ll be looking at these pictures for many years over!  Below are some of the most popular colors chosen through the years:

• Sage Green
• Teal
• Butter Yellow
• Chocolate
• Pastel Pink
• Wisteria
• Black
• Raspberry
• Eggplant / Deep Purple
• Metallic Silver / Platinum
• Champagne
• Wine / Deep Red

Of course no color scheme or wedding theme is nearly as important as the “Ken” you’re going to marry; so, no matter what color, theme, pallet or trend you choose, always remember the most important choice… and choose each other!