Bouquets have come to be the classic accessory for bridesmaids to carry as they walk down the aisle. A bride in Plant City, Florida, however, decided on something different. When Andee Ondina and Tina Krasinski wed on Monday, their bridesmaids strolled down the aisle with puppies instead of flowers.
The bride, Ondina, made this unorthodox decision in the hopes of raising awareness for rescue animals and to persuade people to adopt, not shop. Adoption applications were even available at the wedding reception.
Credit: Facebook/Andee Krasinski
The bridal party included 10 adoptable five-week-old puppies. Ondina told WFLA-TV that she decided to nickname her furry bouquet substitutes “puppquets”.
This unconventional choice made the day even more special by adding an adorable flare to the ceremony. The couple’s decision to use their wedding for a good cause is likely to have an even happier ending. From stories we’ve seen in the past, these kinds of thoughtful gestures usually end with most, if not all, of the puppies ending up in happy and loving homes.
It isn’t just the Krasinski’s getting into the puppy spirit. In 2017, North Carolina bride Meghan Bulter also opted for puppies instead of bouquets for herself and her bridesmaids at her wedding. Like Ondina, Butler had decided on this in the hopes that she would raise awareness for puppies who needed rescuing. After the wedding, Butler told People that all the puppies had since been adopted.
Similarly, Sally Burky told Insider that after her wedding, which also showcased adorable dogs who were up for adoption, four out of the total five dogs were adopted. On this occasion, having the puppies at the wedding not only allowed for the adoption of four puppies, but also drew a lot of attention to the rescue home that the dogs were living in. The rescue home, Haven of the Ozarks, was overwhelmed by the support they received after Burky’s wedding.
So, to us, having bridesmaids carry puppies is cool and unconventional but also heartwarming and adorable. It may just be the pawfect decision.
Flappers, fringe and fancies, oh my. The 1920s characterised the Jazz Age, a time of lush decadence. Dubbed art-deco, this time period featured geometric shapes, mixed metallics and lots of glitz. Gatsby glamour at its finest.
As 2019 comes to a close, we are quickly approaching the new decade and will soon usher in the 2020s. Many 2020 weddings are predicted to take on a roaring 20’s theme in honour of the new decade. Here is how to do it right.
Invites:
Incorporate gold accents and geometric shapes for an invite Jay Gatsby would be proud of. Gold and royal blues are swell together and give a sleek yet decadent look perfect for the Jazz age.
A venue that features sharp angles and gold finishes will work best. A grand hall will give off the feeling of grandeur, which is exactly what you want.
Guide your guests to their seats in style with these escort cards. White and gold is effortlessly chic and the simple lettering is a more modern take on art deco.
Round tables were popular at 1920s soirée’s because they would circle the dance floor, which was the most important part of the venue. We love how this table is covered in a black glittery fabric that creates an understated opulence.
Gold was a mainstay at 1920s parties, and your wedding should be no different. Encase candles in gold vases for a modern yet romantic finish. The table numbers below make a simple statement without competing with the other decor.
The prohibition stopped nobody from drinking during 1920s America. Honour their love of alcohol by creating custom drinks featuring 1920s favourites like gin, bourbon and rum.
Black, white and gold are art-deco staples. Have your cake adorned with geometric shapes and different textures to create a dynamic finish. Gold pearls and white feathers accessorise this sweet treat perfectly.
Edward Scissorhands. Beetlejuice. The Nightmare Before Christmas. Corpse Bride. All of these films are classic Halloween-time viewing that come from the mind of the unique writer and director, Tim Burton.
Many laud Burton for being the king of spooky with his dark yet comical films that have gone down in history. His characters continue to inspire many a halloween costume, and now it has even inspired a wedding photoshoot.
Miami-based couple Genesis and Kelvin have been together for 10 years and married in July 2019. However, due to personal circumstances they did not have the financial means to throw the extravagant wedding they wanted. They have four children, one of whom suffers from a severe form of epilepsy called Dravet Syndrome, and her resulting medical bills have been costly.
“We didn’t really have a big wedding because our daughter has a disability,” Genesis told Business Insider US. “Our wedding day, unfortunately, was a big flop.”
The couple, who are big Tim Burton fans, were granted the opportunity to have the wedding of their dreams when their friend approached them to do a posed photoshoot.
The photoshoot, captured by photographer Angela Vallejo, recreated their wedding day in epic style. Together with Monica Reyes, event planner from ‘Events with a Promise’, the couple were spoiled with the spooky and glamorous day they had originally envisioned.
With the white piping on his lapel and the black and white colour scheme, Kelvin’s suit perfectly hinted at Jack Skellington’s attire from The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Credit: Angela Vallejo Photography
Genesis went for a gothic look, sporting a black lace gown with a lengthy train.
Credit: Angela Vallejo Photography
Elements from Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and Beetlejuice were incorporated through decor and colour scheme. Green, purple and black are focal colours in many of Burton’s films, and were stylishly woven into this styled table without looking overly themed. Pumpkins, Jack Skellington’s favourite accessory, were also included in the decor.
The wedding invites featured curlycue script on a charred paper, giving a Halloween inspired look. The envelope, which reads “Mr. Unlucky”, referred to “Jack’s Lament” in The Nightmare Before Christmas.
There was even a replica of Beetlejuice‘s “Handbook for the Recently Deceased”, except this time it was used as a guest book.
The stunning three layer black cake was adorned with dried flowers and a cake topper with the figures of Jack Skellington and Sally cut into it. It also reads “Mr” and “Mrs”. The cake stand is in the shape of skeleton legs.
The photoshoot gave Genesis and Kelvin some much-needed time to spoil themselves. Most of their time is dedicated to looking after their children, especially their special needs daughter.
“Your whole life becomes taking care of this child,” she said of her youngest daughter. “You don’t notice how much time is fleeting, and although your life becomes taking care of this child, you need to practice self-love too.”
“We don’t really have time to go on dates or things like that, so for us, this shoot was just a time for us to take a step back and really, you know, practice self-care,” Genesis said.
Black is not just a colour for mourning. For decades, white has been synonymous with weddings for its symbolism of purity. White is traditionally expected. However, while many are afraid of including this dark-hued colour in weddings, black can actually bring much class and sophistication to your big day. Take a walk on the dark side and think of bringing this dark tone into your wedding.
Here are a few way to incorporate black into your wedding that won’t look morbid.
The modern wedding is one of fun, and unique-ness. Couples of today are eschewing tradition to create a personal story for their big day, one that will stay with them forever. As such, we have seen a number of new and different trends flare up in the wedding industry over the years. From neon signs and dried botanicals, to bridal jackets and artful cakes, couples are making statements with their wedding elements.
While there is no one-size-fits-all for weddings, wedding trends often help to guide couples when planning their Big Day. These are the biggest wedding trends predicted for 2020.
Individuality:
The main trend of the 2020 wedding season is individuality. People are embracing what makes them unique and incorporating that into their weddings. With so many options, engaged couples are no longer pigeon-holed into particular styles that may not suit them. It truly has become a free-for-all for the upcoming 2020 wedding season.
Bridal Fashion:
Bridal designers of today has moved away from the traditional bridal look. Bridal fashion has become less of a focus on the ‘bridal’, but more on the ‘fashion’. The millennial bride is ready to take risks and be bold, and designers are loving it. With more brides opting for separate ceremony and reception looks, there is more opportunity to have fun.
Vera Wang, Victor and Rolf and Monique Lhullier all featured puffy sleeves in their Bridal 2020 lines.
Credit: Instagram / Vera Wang gang
Victorian romance was featured in shows of Mira Zwillinger and Costarellos.
Credit: Costarellos Bridal
Reem Acra and Galia Lahav are putting the leg on display with side split wedding dresses.
Credit: Instagram / Reem Acra Bridal
The bridal jumpsuit is having a huge moment, and featured in collections by Cushnie, Pronovias and Viktor & Rolf.
Credit: Instagram / Cushnie Bridal
Statement veils are having a moment in 2019, and will extend to 2020. We most recently saw Hailey Bieber feature this accessory in her wedding to Justin Bieber.
Veils are traditional and timeless, but with small finishes, they can be given a modernised look.
Unique, vintage inspired rings will be the big trend for 2020. Mia Moross, founder of The One I Love NYC, says she has seen a rise in cushion-cut, hand-mined diamond rings being purchased, and predicts that there will be a rise in yellow-gold rather than platinum bands, as well as Art Deco pieces. She believes that modern couples want their rings to tell a story, and are looking for pieces that reflect history and soul.
She also notes that couples are choosing the rings together, rather than the one proposing doing it themselves.
Informal Venues:
Informal and relaxed venues have been trending for years, and do not seem to be going anywhere. Forests, barns, backyards and beaches have been popular wedding venues for a good reason. It’s less stuffy, more inviting and often times more affordable than renting out halls and wine farms.
Today’s couples are much more environmentally conscious, and are actively looking for eco-friendly alternatives to many wedding staples. Many venues and suppliers are starting to incorporate sustainability into their services. One such South African venue, Cederkloof Botanical Retreat, provides various elements of sustainability in their wedding offerings, covering aspects of social, environmental and financial health.
Seasonal Flowers:
Dried botanicals have been featuring in many bridal bouquets, and are as popular as ever. Engaged couples are also leaning towards local, seasonal and sustainable flowers to feature in their weddings.
2020 wedding decor will focus on statement pieces. Think balloons, neon signs, elaborate wedding arches and massive floral centerpieces. Over sized decor makes for a wonderful talking point, and gives weddings a personal, unique touch.
Mood lighting is still all the rage. Exposed bulbs dangling from the ceiling, floating candles and twinkling fairy lights create a beautifully romantic setting perfect for weddings.
A bride’s bouquet has sentimental value and so it is not surprising that many brides want to keep it. Preserving your bouquet is a beautiful way to create a reminder of your wedding day and add some decor to your home at the same time.
If you’d like to have a personal keepsake from your wedding that is different to the norm, take a look at these 3 ways to preserve your bouquet.
Air dry your bouquet
This is the most simple and traditional way to preserve your bouquet as it was on your wedding day, but it will take the longest.
All you have to do is take your entire bouquet, or just the flowers that you’d like to keep and tie it together very tightly with a rope or string of your choice – twine will work very well. Once you are sure that the bouquet is tied tightly and securely, hang the whole bunch upside down in a warm and dry area, like a cupboard. A darker space will preserve the colour and scent of the flowers, although the colour will be slightly muted, better than a space that allows light in, which will cause the colours to turn into shades that look vintage. Leave the bouquet to dry for a few weeks and then take it down once all the flowers are completely dry.
Now that you have your dried bouquet, you can do with it as you wish. A nice idea to display the bouquet is to place it in a vase of your choice and cover it with a large glass dome or a perspex case.
This is probably the most affordable option when it comes to preserving your bouquet but it will involve you creating a new piece from the flowers from your bouquet.
Choose the flowers that you’d like to preserve and cut about 1-2cm off and spread them out on one or multiple sheets of baking paper, depending on how many flowers you are wanting to press. Place the sheet with the flowers on the inside of a heavy book and add another layer of baking paper on top, then close the book and place another heavy object on top to weigh it down. Leave the flowers there for one to two weeks. Once the flowers are dry and flat, be careful when you start to arrange them as they are very delicate.
Most people create a frame display of the flowers by putting them into an empty photo frame and then hanging it on the wall as decor. Now every time you walk past it you will be reminded of your special day.
With this preservation technique, you will be able to show off your flowers to their full effect as the shape of the flowers will remain the same.
Choose flowers with tight petals from your bouquet and hang them to dry. If you do not allow them to dry properly before setting them in epoxy, they may begin to decay once they have been set. Then cover your work area with newspaper and make sure you wear gloves when you work because epoxy sticks to everything. Choose a mould in your desired shape and make sure that you have enough epoxy resin to cover the flowers as well as create your desired shape. Fill your mold halfway with the epoxy resin mixture and delicately arrange the flowers within that. Then fill in the rest of the mold with the mixture and leave to dry.
After you take the mold off, you will have a stunning decoration, or a few if you do this multiple times, that you can place all over your home and have constant reminders of your wedding.
The bow brings a sense of nostalgia to any item it is paired with, as well as a cute and feminine touch. You can play around with the size of the loops of the bow and the material used to create the bow, allowing you to create whatever you want.
Here are 6 ways to incorporate the bow into your wedding:
Traditionally, when you think wedding you think bright, blossoming buds in beautiful floral arrangements. However, the latest wedding trend is going against the norm. Dried botanicals offer a muted colour palette and vintage feel that many brides are loving. For a soft vintage yet modern feel, consider adding these dried flowers to your wedding day.
The past few years have seen traditionally old-school wedding finishes being reinvented in modern ways. We’ve seen rustic and garden party-esque wedding themes grow in popularity, and dried botanicals fit these themes perfectly.
Modern dried botanicals include more than just flowers. Think seed pods, reeds, and grasses. Mix dried botanicals with live flowers for a varied floral finish. This dynamic flower arrangement provides a whimsical yet rustic touch to your wedding. With so many options, dried botanicals bring much versatility to your wedding decor.
Here is some inspiration if you want to incorporate dried botanicals into your wedding day.
We’ve seen them just about everywhere, but the last thing you want is a standard, non-significant flower crown on your special day. But don’t stress – we’ve gathered 6 very significant flower crowns for you to incorporate into your wedding day beauty look. You don’t even have to stop and smell the roses – just wear them!
Keep things subtle and simple with a greenery-inspired flower crown that adds just the right amount of green to your look, without looking too boho. Ideal for a forest or garden wedding and, in addition, quite complimentary to redheads!
Big blooms are never a bad idea, especially ones with burgundy tones to contrast your wedding dress. This flower crown demands attention, and this one definitely has ours.
Who said flower crowns need to only go around your head? Why not try this alternative which consists of cascading peonies, orchids and hydrangeas giving brides that boho-chic look.
The highest flower crown you’ve ever seen? Yes please! Ivory colours to match your wedding dress, incorporating a bit of flowers and the very trendy pampas grass as well – this is definitely an eye-catching flower crown fit for a queen.
Pink roses never disappoint when it comes to adding that something extra to your wedding look. Flowers out of season? Try silk flower crowns that will last long after the wedding day is over and you can use it again in the future!
Really want to make a statement with your flower crown? Try this completely covered floral hat in soft tones of purple and lavender which can fit over your hair perfectly. With such an extravagant floral headpiece, keep jewellery simple to keep the attention focused on the crown.
For those planning their wedding, some things may seem out of their financial reach. Most modern weddings have become extravagant and costly, but they don’t have to be. There are a number of ways an engaged couple can save some coins whilst planning their dream wedding. Here are some tips to reduce your wedding budget:
Turn to technology:
Cut costs by sending out digital wedding invites and having guests RSVP online. Simply find a great digital artist to design your online invite (or design it yourself using apps like Canva) and set up a link to a website, Google Drive document, app or a phone number guests can use to RSVP.
Of course, dedicated wedding venues are popular for a reason. However, there are a variety of other locations that can work just as well for a fraction of the price. Consider having your wedding reception at country clubs, community halls, parks, restaurants, galleries or even a family member or friend’s property.
A large chunk of one’s wedding budget often goes towards the dress. Spend your money wisely by searching for sample sales, repurposing a family member’s dress, picking something off-the-rack or even thrifting a wedding dress. Remember that any dress can be good as new with some custom-additions. Think of it as your ‘something old’!
Have a friend or family member become ordained online so that they can marry you and your partner, saving you money and giving your wedding a personal touch.
There are so many simple DIY’s that will save you money and personalise your wedding. Use thrift shopped mirrors, chalkboards or window panes to create one big wedding program. Besides being cost-effective, it’s also better for the environment to not print out individual programs.
Off-peak dates can get you your dream venue at a cheaper price. As most weddings are held on Saturdays, consider having your wedding on a Friday or Sunday to cut venue and food/drink costs.
Use more affordable flowers as decoration. Mismatched, smaller centerpieces are cost-effective and cute. You can also add bulk and dimension to your bouquets by using foliage.
Flowers are expensive. Make sure they work double-duty by reusing them throughout the day. Consider reusing bridesmaids bouquets after the ceremony to create one large centerpiece or add them to table decor.
We get, it, sometimes things can run overtime during your wedding. However, photographers and musicians will charge extra if they have to stay longer than originally agreed, or wait around unnecessarily. Ensure you stick to a swift schedule between your ceremony and reception to avoid paying more than you bargained for.
Shareable family-style meals are more cost-effective and interactive than 3-course sit-down meals. Consider designing a shareable menu filled with fan favourites that will cater to every diet.
Wedding favours don’t have to be extravagant. Something small and travel-friendly is ideal. Think mini-wine bottles, handmade soaps, individual succulents or tiny jars of your favourite sweets. You can also offer shareable favours for couples, such as a bottle of wine, to cut costs. You can also read: Best wedding planning APP’s and tools
