In choosing the style of your wedding, many considerations must be addressed. The first decision is to decide how formal or informal your wedding will be. Formality can be determined by considering the location of the ceremony and reception, number of guests, size of the wedding party and time of day. There are three types of weddings: Formal, Informal and Semiformal. Below are some guidelines to help you determine which is most suitable for your affair:

Image by Photography by Anne

• Ceremony – Typically take place in a house of worship or in a large home
• Wedding Party Size – The wedding party usually consists of 8-20 attendants
• Wedding Party Attire – The bridesmaids wear floor-length dresses and the groom and his groomsmen wear suits or tuxedos
• Guest Attire – Female guests wear street-length dresses for a daytime wedding and floor-length or cocktail dresses for evening weddings. Male guests wear either suits and ties for a daytime wedding or tuxedos for an evening wedding. “White Tie” is the most formal wedding
• Reception Location – The reception usually involves a sit-down dinner, elaborate decorations, music and dancing in an elegant location

Next, you’ll want to decide on a color scheme for your wedding! Many brides let this decision be one of the hardest to settle on and with so many options out there, it’s no wonder!! Here are some things to consider to help you narrow down your colors:

Image by Verve Studio

• Time of Year – Think about the colors you associate with each season (i.e. pastels for spring, bright pops of color in summer and darker shades for fall and winter)
• Seasonal Flowers – Research which flowers are in season during the time of year your wedding will take place. Which ones are your favorites? What colors do they come in? Let this steer you in a certain direction.
• Bridesmaids Dresses – Consider the skin tone of your bridesmaids and the colors that will look good on them. If you have many types of skin tones, you may just opt for a neutral color and bring in your color scheme with their jewelry, shoes and flowers.
• Location of the Wedding – Look closely at the surroundings of where your wedding will take place. Are there certain colors that you notice in the decor that you like and might be able to complement? Build off of what you have around you if you can.
• Personal Style – Consider your clothing, accessories, household decor, even your favorite catalogues to see what colors you’re naturally drawn to.