Women often swap notes about their weddings. And if you’re one who has overheard those water cooler conversations, you probably realize most weddings are pretty similar.
The majority of couples tend to stick with tradition or stay close to what the popular bridal magazines or wedding sites recommend.
However, a growing percentage of couples aren’t worrying much about what’s in. Instead, they’re going for something a little different, something their own. That’s why non-traditional, themed weddings are quickly becoming the new water cooler wedding conversations.
So far, though, Patty Hanson, owner of Silk Expressions in Mankato, said only a small percentage of the weddings she plans are non-traditional.
“Mostly, 97 percent are traditional, and the other 3 are different,” Hanson said. “Some of them aren’t brave enough yet to take that plunge to doing something so wacky.”
Her most recent wedding was a Roaring ’20s theme complete with flappers and tiaras. The couple, Melissa Mullen and Marcus Hubmer of Lakeville, chose the theme for sentimental reasons. She chose a wedding ring that resembled her grandmother’s with a 1920s vintage appeal.
“I decided to go with the 1920s theme off of the vintage ring idea, plus I like the look back then,” Mullen said. “Feathers, beads and the pin stripe suits — it seemed like a fun time in life.”
From a Zoot suit wedding in the ’20s to a Vegas theme with flamingos and Elvis, Hanson has much experience working outside the box.
She even had the opportunity to help plan the wedding of her son, Kris Harpham, last October.
The theme, appropriate to the season, was Halloween. The bride wore an elegant orange gown and the groom’s tux featured an orange vest and boutonniere. The reception was transformed into a costume ball where guests came dressed in spooky attire. There were some guests in costume Hanson didn’t even recognize.
“Everyone went so crazy with that costume theme,” Hanson said.
Newlywed Jessica Harpham, Kris’ wife, said Hanson had always wanted to do a Halloween wedding, so they decided to give her that chance. But it was also something she had thought of before.
“I didn’t want the wedding to be like a normal wedding. I wanted it to be something everyone would remember,” Harpham said. “Those who attended still talk about how much fun they had.”
Harpham entrusted her mother-in-law with the majority of the planning after offering a few decorating ideas.
“I wanted it to be a tasteful décor, not tacky,” Harpham said. “We used the usual Halloween colors — black and orange. We had carved pumpkins as vases with beautiful flowers in them, a ghostly bride and groom, spider webs (and) our wedding glasses were goblets being held by skeleton hands.”
http://www.mankatofreepress.com/
Friday, March 14, 2008
Dazzling décor
Decorating hotels is as critical a selling strategy as it is an art. Dr Debjani Maitra, who heads Garden & Flower, speaks of the importance of dressing up an edifice to bring forth its beauty to the beholder
It has been a while since India has been offering world class service levels in the hospitality industry, measuring up to every detail that ensures a comfortable and pleasurable stay of our guests. Along with other fields, decoration is an integral part of this business of luxury. Interiors of any hotels are done at the project stage in line with the hotel design concept.
Following this are soft decorations. Namely, each property is done up in sync with the original concept - conventional, classical or contemporary, as the case maybe. Apart from this, hotels are decorated for special occasions such as festivals, be it Christmas, New Year or Deepavali, or for promotions. Food and wine festivals organised by different F&B outlets and special events like book or product launches or corporate events and private functions are also reasons for hotels or certain parts of it to get dressed to the occasion.
Deconstructing decorations
Any decorative work needs to be preceded by a certain amount of research work regarding the particular type of function, where it is to be held, the climate and the season. Also the theme, the colour scheme if any, the size and shape of the venue have to be taken into consideration before a sketch is worked out of the plan. Then deliberations need to be made on the material to be used, the design to be created and finally, a final blueprint taking into consideration all the inputs. This has to be presented to the client for approval and incorporate preferences and inputs if any. The execution process is started after all this has been taken into consideration.
Trend tips
People are moving towards simplicity and using more contemporary materials and motifs. The use of natural materials is preferred as opposed to more complicated creations using artificial materials. However, there is a vast range of high quality flowers, plants, containers, and props that are available these days.
Most luxury hotels prefer good quality designs presented in simple fashion. These days hotels across the country get ready for festivities especially during the winter season for Christmas and New Year. Ideally, the preparations for decorations should be carried out behind the scene and be ready before the event, moving out immediately after the event is over. For example, India attracts a large number of business travellers from the West. But they all head back home by the second week of December to celebrate Christmas with their families. Thus decorations for the season should definitely be put up before the second week of December so that guests enjoy them, and removed immediately after January 1.
Freshly floral
Theme weddings are getting popular day by day as clients are always in search of something newer and want something different. Wedding decorations are based on these themes. Here, floral displays are preferred. For floral displays, one should use fresh flowers of the best quality available. Along with them, high quality containers, vases or contemporary creations are most appreciated. Colours can vary. There was a time in India when we seldom used white flowers in weddings or any auspicious
ceremonies, but now times have changed. One gets to see so many wedding functions done up elegantly with fresh white flowers. So the colour scheme is completely subjective and varies from project to project.
Case study
My brief for Grand Hyatt Mumbai was to do something futuristic at the centre of the lobby for Christmas. I took a short visit to the hotel as it is very important to see the site before designing. Post the visit, I was sure that I wanted to design a piece of art for the festival that will blend with the hotel's simplicity and elegance. The hotel has a lot of straight lines in their design and overall has a very contemporary look. Moreover, I was given a colour scheme of silver and gold to work with, which automatically indicated that I would work with materials like metal, or with items that evoked a similar effect. That triggered me to design and develop the cones with twigs and lights, which was very unique as a Christmas concept, yet it complemented the fever of festivity and brought forth the joy of celebration.
http://www.expresshospitality.com/
It has been a while since India has been offering world class service levels in the hospitality industry, measuring up to every detail that ensures a comfortable and pleasurable stay of our guests. Along with other fields, decoration is an integral part of this business of luxury. Interiors of any hotels are done at the project stage in line with the hotel design concept.
Following this are soft decorations. Namely, each property is done up in sync with the original concept - conventional, classical or contemporary, as the case maybe. Apart from this, hotels are decorated for special occasions such as festivals, be it Christmas, New Year or Deepavali, or for promotions. Food and wine festivals organised by different F&B outlets and special events like book or product launches or corporate events and private functions are also reasons for hotels or certain parts of it to get dressed to the occasion.
Deconstructing decorations
Any decorative work needs to be preceded by a certain amount of research work regarding the particular type of function, where it is to be held, the climate and the season. Also the theme, the colour scheme if any, the size and shape of the venue have to be taken into consideration before a sketch is worked out of the plan. Then deliberations need to be made on the material to be used, the design to be created and finally, a final blueprint taking into consideration all the inputs. This has to be presented to the client for approval and incorporate preferences and inputs if any. The execution process is started after all this has been taken into consideration.
Trend tips
People are moving towards simplicity and using more contemporary materials and motifs. The use of natural materials is preferred as opposed to more complicated creations using artificial materials. However, there is a vast range of high quality flowers, plants, containers, and props that are available these days.
Most luxury hotels prefer good quality designs presented in simple fashion. These days hotels across the country get ready for festivities especially during the winter season for Christmas and New Year. Ideally, the preparations for decorations should be carried out behind the scene and be ready before the event, moving out immediately after the event is over. For example, India attracts a large number of business travellers from the West. But they all head back home by the second week of December to celebrate Christmas with their families. Thus decorations for the season should definitely be put up before the second week of December so that guests enjoy them, and removed immediately after January 1.
Freshly floral
Theme weddings are getting popular day by day as clients are always in search of something newer and want something different. Wedding decorations are based on these themes. Here, floral displays are preferred. For floral displays, one should use fresh flowers of the best quality available. Along with them, high quality containers, vases or contemporary creations are most appreciated. Colours can vary. There was a time in India when we seldom used white flowers in weddings or any auspicious
ceremonies, but now times have changed. One gets to see so many wedding functions done up elegantly with fresh white flowers. So the colour scheme is completely subjective and varies from project to project.
Case study
My brief for Grand Hyatt Mumbai was to do something futuristic at the centre of the lobby for Christmas. I took a short visit to the hotel as it is very important to see the site before designing. Post the visit, I was sure that I wanted to design a piece of art for the festival that will blend with the hotel's simplicity and elegance. The hotel has a lot of straight lines in their design and overall has a very contemporary look. Moreover, I was given a colour scheme of silver and gold to work with, which automatically indicated that I would work with materials like metal, or with items that evoked a similar effect. That triggered me to design and develop the cones with twigs and lights, which was very unique as a Christmas concept, yet it complemented the fever of festivity and brought forth the joy of celebration.
http://www.expresshospitality.com/
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