Dessert tables are expected to continue to be a big deal in weddings. Variety is the spice of life, and a wonderful way to end a reception meal.

A further wrinkle on this trend that’s on the rise for parties that last late into the night is a second spread of snacks offered to guests on their way out. Doughnuts, cookies, sliders, coffee and cocoa… this is the chance to offer up a tasty final gift to your guests.


Alternatives to flowers are another trend on the rise. Paper, brooches, fabric, feathers… if it can substitute for flowers, someone’s using it. This is a great trend if you’re dealing with allergies or want to DIY your bouquets and centerpieces over time. But real flowers are hardly going anywhere.

More brides have been doing DIY projects for their weddings, and that isn’t changing anytime soon. Whether it’s to save money, add uniquely personal touches, or honor a family tradition, using your own hands to put at least a couple pieces of your wedding together can be tremendously satisfying.

Green is clearly the way to go in the coming year. From invitations of recycled paper to living plant centerpieces, to packets of wildflower seeds as favors, brides and grooms everywhere are getting eco-friendly and loving it.

More weddings than ever are happening in the great outdoors. Whether it’s a garden, a beach, the woods, couples are choosing the sky as the ceiling they prefer. As someone who had an outdoor wedding and loved it, I say go for it… just make sure you have a backup plan in case of inclement weather.

Of course trends are fun, but never follow one if it feels wrong to you. You should do what matters to you.

Whether you’re looking to make centerpieces, design and make your own veil, or coming up with handmade favors, chances are you can find inspiration and instruction somewhere on the net. So I’m going to hunt down some of the coolest ideas and clearest instructions to help you get started finding what projects are right for you.

Today, we’re talking about flowers. I’ve been looking around and I’ve discovered some fun projects that nearly anyone can do.

First up, see that picture at the top of this article? Wouldn’t those be delightful on the tabletops at a spring wedding, particularly with a Japanese theme? They’re also origami. This is the sort of project you can do over time or organize a party to play with.

For a more last-minute project, eHow has a really clear and simple video class on tying bouquets. Trust me, I tied my own the night before the wedding, and it was simple. As long as you’re not trying to do something elaborate and tiered, chances are you can do your own if you’d like to.

How about these fun and fabulous fabric flower garlands? I could see stringing these while watching TV or chatting with friends over the course of weeks or even months. Find out how it’s done at Once Wed.

For something really different, consider freezing flowers in ice and displaying them around the room. You can find tips on how to do it at From Sparkly to Spouse.

Whether you’re going for sophisticated or down home, a riot of color or tone on tone monochrome, you can do all or part of your own wedding flowers. It’s all a matter of finding the right idea and practicing a little.

Captured by Daniel Usenki Photography

Fact: When it comes to personalizing a reception venue dance floor, options are limited. You can use lighting design to spruce up your party space. Or choose a reception venue with a dance floor that’s a cut above – something like a wood tile floor or light up dance floor. The only other option that comes to mind is the vinyl dance floor monogram, provided your wedding venue of choices allows such things.

But when you’re hauling in your own dance floor, anything goes. Er, within the limits of the local event rental companies’ inventories, I suppose. If I had my wedding to do all over again, I would spring for the dance floor – sandy soil underfoot didn’t exactly inspire booty shakin’ – and furthermore opt for a checkerboard like the one above. Probably wee like the one above, too, since I like the idea of everyone cramming their finely dressed selves onto a tiny checkerboard dance floor outside in the empty air as if that’s only place dancing is permitted. The contrast between the checkerboard floor and nature is fantastic.

Have you thought about your dance floor options? Or is that just too tiny a detail to matter in your wedding planning book?

How about floral ice cubes? Which your wedding caterer may be able to provide. And aren’t that hard if you’re handling your own wedding catering. You can order edible flowers in bulk online, and floral ice cubes can make even simple things like water feel more luxurious.

Easy pretty touches for the DIY bride (or your caterer)

Or if flowers on ice aren’t your thing, consider spicing up your groom’s and groomsmen attire with floral ties for the guys. At one wedding, the groomsmen’s ties coordinated with the maid of honor’s dress, and the effect is really striking and fun.

Floral ties on the guys? Gorgeous!

Tiny touches can be anything, from mismatched, thrifted embroidered linens on your reception tables to something like puzzle place cards. What tiny touches will make your wedding extra beautiful?

Eating jam, getting centerpieces!

The recipe for this particular low-profile mason jar centerpiece? Take nine mini mason jars per table – easily acquired online or by eating a great deal of jam and cheap pesto in advance of the wedding – arrange in a grid, tie a ribbon around the whole thing, and add water and flowers. DONE. I really wish I’d done this at my own wedding, as the look would have been absolutely perfect and so much better than the messy afterthought arrangements I did have on the tables (boo, hiss!).

And speaking of my own wedding, today just happens to be my and The Beard’s fourth anniversary! Mazel tov to us!

A colorful paper bridal bouquet

Paper flower pew bouquets

HUGE flower wedding table centerpieces

And classic paper roses

Very cute, no?

Alternative, but similar idea: wedding pinwheels!

Scrabble wedding portrait via CapClassique.wordpress.com

Scrabble save-the-dates from MagnetStreet Weddings

DIY scrabble magnet favors from Project Wedding

Scrabble wedding decor snapped by http://youlooknicetodayphoto.com/

Giant scrabbles tiles snapped by http://melissamcclure.net

Crazy awesome Scrabble wedding cake by Just Fabulous Pastries

Scrabble place cards created by Briana at http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com

I am LOVE LOVE LOVING the Scrabble wedding theme – wish I’d used the idea myself, in fact. Are you planning a theme wedding?

Of course, there’s also nothing stopping you from finding vintage silhouettes and using those in your wedding decor. After all, who says the framed silhouettes on your reception tables or on your place cards actually have to be you? And you don’t have to necessarily go tradition, either. There are some really cool artists out there creating totally modern takes on the classic silhouette for brides and grooms!

Here’s some wedding silhouette inspiration from me to you for what may just be a dreary Monday full of blahs (for both of us):

A silhouette wedding cake by K. Rose Cakes: http://krosecakes.com

Custom silhouette weddng favor tags from ForeverWed Store

Silhouette ornament wedding favors seen on Manolo for the Home

Letterpress wedding invitations from Oh So Beautiful Paper: http://ohsobeautifulpaper.com

Silhouette cameo-style wedding favor boxes from Favor Makers

Keepsake wedding silhouettes from http://www.portraitsinsilhouette.com

Silhouette wedding cookes, too!

An awesome modern wedding silhouette from http://www.etsy.com/people/ellothere

Where would you or have you used silhouettes in a wedding?

You say you’re not planning a New York City subway themed wedding? No problem, just replace the subway card with anything. How about glittery table numbers or some other pretty thing?

All it takes are some nice flower pots – you could even use plain terracotta pots, homegrown wheatgrass, LED tea lights, and the table number of your choice.

Are you DIYing your reception centerpieces? If so, remember to scale your design to the size of your table so it doesn’t look dinky (or absolutely huuuuge)!

Images: Portobello; Love My Dress; OkaySK; The Budget Savvy Bride; Instalytes