Current day Victorian era inspired wedding ceremonies still incorporate old traditions of having the wedding at the bride’s church or home. With wedding decorations ranging anywhere from elaborate floral arrangements, garlands and swags to potted plants and flower blossoms.

Victorian wedding flowerswere not chosen for their beauty, they were chosen by what meaning or symbol the flower has.

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For example, white roses represent purity and virtue, daisies innocence and purity and orange blossoms which represented bounty, purity, innocence and fertility.

Bridal bouquets were in the style of a nosegay or tussie mussie featuring flowers and blooms symbolic of prosperity, fertility and fidelity.

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 The romantic elegance of these celebrations was regarded as the most important function of the year with the bride wearing the finest silk hosiery and high heeled white slippers to flower blossoms or a tiara supporting her veil. Velvet, satin, a heavy silk, cotton, or woolen fabric with a raised design, often in metallic threads and huge quantities of embroidery, lace and tulle were often worn by the bride and were replaced with lighter weight satin’s and chiffons by the early 1900’s to a simpler fashion.

Ceremony Decoration

Classy-Wedding-Ideas.com

Classy-Wedding-Ideas.com

Using tulle along with ribbon, silk or natural flowers to decorate is a cost effective decoration that will enhance church isles as well as dress up the chairs for an outdoor wedding ceremony.  For example, drape chairs with tulle and tie with colored ribbons that match your wedding colors or strands of ribbon that drape behind the chair or use premade bows to accent arches, doors or gates. Floral and ivy garlands are also very cost effective wedding decorations and keeping it simple, you are sure to stay within your budget.

Spreading a carpet of flower petals or blossoms along the pathway the bride walks assures a happy path through life.

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Another wedding ceremony decoration is a good luck symbol that can be hung over the spot where the couple exchanges their vows. This could be a bell, dove, horseshoe, or any other good luck symbol.

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Reception Decoration

The right table setting for a reception entices friends to come, sit, and stay awhile. Your tables should match the mood of your reception and convey the formality of your special event. So look for ways to individualize your dinning and reception space and no matter how relaxed your reception is it should still feel special to you.

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Reception Decoration, according to your theme, is plentiful throughout the wedding reception adorning doorways, banisters, handrails, windows and fireplaces with colors in any combination.

TrendSettingWedding.com

Table Decoration 

Victorians loved fabrics and textures and often mixed various tablecloths covered with lace overlays, embroidered cloths and doilies, embellishing tables with vases and containers filled with flowers, china, teacups and saucers. You can borrow these items from relatives or find them in garage sales and flea markets.

Victorians saw ivy as a symbol of fidelity and ivy plants and vines sill grace many wedding tables, trailing from baskets and accenting buffet tables to tumbling down candelabrasto achieve a look of lavish abundance.

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Centerpieces not only enhance the spirit of a wedding reception, they also provide a unique way for a bride and groom to express their sense of style. Use flowers and/or other forms of decoration to help define your theme. During the Victorian era flowers conveyed messages and were a way for men and women to communicate with each other because various flowers hold different meanings.

It is entirely a matter of personal taste on how you decorate your reception tables and venue. Just remember, your decorations should blend with other elements of your reception such as the centerpieces and style of the venue setting. 

Creating a Buffet Table

Presentation of the buffet table: Any caterer or hotel chef will tell you that the most important factor of a buffet table is the way the food appears to the guests. An effective buffet presentation will impress your guests and help create an atmosphere of splendor, even on a budget.

Remember, these tables are part of your event décor and theme.

Jefferson Street Mansion - Buffet Table - Jen's Foodie Blog

 Basic Rules for Buffet & Party Tables

Here are some basic rules to follow to help you create interesting and enticing buffet tables for special events.

*Elevate the food dishes. Unless you are having a potluck you should NEVER serve your foods on flat trays across a table.  This can be done in several ways:

* Use heavy books covered by a tablecloth or linen napkins, you may also want to make a staircase presentation with the books covering them with linen napkins and then placing your food items onto them simulating a staircase. Make sure the books you use are heavy enough to hold the items you are placing on top of them.

* Large and small bowls turned upside down and covered with tablecloths or linen napkins. Make sure the bowls you use are sturdy enough to hold the items placed onto them.

* Cake stands are also a great way to elevate foods and even use as centerpieces. Check with family and friends.

* Check around the house to see what you have readily available to use. Just remember, the items you decide to use MUSTbe sturdy and strong enough to hold the item/items you wish to place on top of them.

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* Layering adds depth and interest so when you are creating place shorter items in front of the taller items. Use odd numbers in groupings, for example: 2-3 décor items with 2-3 food items. This has been a long proven method for presentations.

* Fill the table with color for eye appeal. In addition to the foods being served place ribbons, pyramids of fresh fruit, greenery, flowers and/or candles, unique tabletop décor items and even small statuettes to add interest in and around the food trays to create an interesting and memorable buffet.

* Garnish the food trays. You don’t need to spend hours carving up radishes and apples but it is advisable to add something! Here are a few ideas:

*Frame each dish with a green leaf lettuce such as romaine.

* Add fresh flowers or even one

* Add melon slices to compliment and add eye appeal

* Add parsley

Buffet Table Collage - Lemon Tree Creations

                * Add fresh strawberries, pineapple chunks or your favorite fruit

All these items are simple add-ons that will help you transform your buffet table into an amazing presentation of great tasting and great appealing foods for you and your guest!

Paper parasols are quite charming and bring a romantic feeling to wedding ceremonies and special occasions. They are often inexpensive and can be used as an alternative for flower bouquets for your bridesmaids and even for your flower girl at outdoor weddings and special occasions. A great gift for your wedding party.

Paper parasols are ideal for spring and summer weddings or for any special occasion where you may want to bring in extra color and style.

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Paper parasols are a simple and inexpensive creation that will provide your guests with an alternative to sitting or standing in the sun at your outdoor or beach wedding.

So go ahead and be yourself, consider beautiful inexpensive parasols for accent and decorations at your own unique wedding or special event!

Paper Lanterns

Paper lanterns are very popular and with good reason.  They come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors, are very affordable and can be used in several different ways!

You can hang them from tent or ceiling tops to get rid of some of that open dead space, filling the space in with color and light makes it feel more inviting, not so empty and plain.

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Hang your lanterns at different levels for a spectacular visual impact!

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Not only do paper lanterns look great during the daytime. They create romance and magic as they light up in the night time for you and all your guests!

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Hang your lanterns with colorful ribbons or fishing line-also known as beaded cord to give your reception and party décor the style and elegance you deserve.

*TIP – Not all paper lanterns come with lights, so make sure that the lighting you use is safe for using with paper lanterns.

Reception table centerpieces should be low enough to talk over or rise higher than eye level so that they do not get in the way of your guests conversation. Whether using several small containers that hold small bunches of flowers and candles or a single vase or container, the centerpieces will set the mood for your reception and let your guest know they have entered a special place.

Wedding Flower Centerpieces

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The entry table is a perfect spot for a big, showy arrangement! This is the spot where guest books and table assignment cards are often placed and a good way to catch guests’ attention.

Your reception tables centerpiece should match the atmosphere of your celebration, the joining together of two people.

Water Diamond Candle Centerpiece

Reception Centerpieces using Pedestal Cake Stands

Using cake plate stands arrange them with cupcakes and decorate the cupcakes with butterflies that are colored to compliment your wedding reception. Not only does this give each table a simple centerpiece it also gives your guest a delicious treat!

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Lisa Su Company

Instead of butterflies you can use one pedestal cake plate and add flowers or greenery in between and around the cupcakes for a warm and welcoming effect. Alternative: Tie ribbon around the pedestal to form a bow for an affordable and stylish look for your centerpieces.

Cake plates are very versatile. Whether using them with elegantly prepared food items on them, decorative sand and starfish or filed with flower petals,jewels and candles, they add elegance and charm to any table setting!

Centerpiece Ideas to help Inspire You!!

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Jim Hjelm Occasions

Bridal party dresses should compliment your style and call attention to your wedding gown. Your bridesmaids should feel beautiful in their dresses and be comfortable. So try several elegant and versatile styles that compliment and flatter the silhouettes of your bridal party.

There are several styles, colors and affordable dresses to choose from for every budget!

Bridesmaid Dresses: Bari Jay

Watters & Watters

Jim Hjelm Occasions

Wedding Dresses Designers

There are simply way too many designers for us to mention, so we have gathered some of our favorites along with the links to their websites. You will find information on their website as to where you can purchase their wonderful designs!

Justin Alexander – Justin Alexander is worldwide. Magnificent and unique wedding dress designs that are sure to please every bride!

Da Vinci – Da Vinci’s website offers a wedding dress style guide to help you pick the right style dress for your silhouette along with unique designs, comfortable fabrics and lots of feminine appeal! Affordable wedding dresses and more!

Demetrios – Unique and inspirational, Demetrios’s designs help you capture your own style and personality for that special day. From destination wedding dresses to junior bridesmaid dresses, the designs and styles are Truly magnificent!

Impression – Made with the finest quality fabrics: dress styles to suite even the most daring brides. Wedding dresses for all figures!

2010 Wedding Dresses

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