The wedding planning has really taken off over the last week or so. Having found the perfect venue (which I will post about as soon as we’ve paid our deposit and had confirmation of our booking through) I’ve suddenly developed a much clearer image of the overall look I want to aim for on the day.
As I’m very much leaning towards a vintage look (think old Hollywood glamour with plenty of art deco touches), in terms of a colour scheme I want something that evokes the glamour of the fabulous black and white movies I love so much. At the same time I want to avoid the obvious choice of a monochrome colour scheme. Don’t get me wrong, I think black and white weddings can look stunning and incredibly elegant. Indeed, it would make dressing my bridesmaids a whole heap easier, I mean, who doesn’t look good in a LBD? But I feel that sometimes a black and white colour scheme can look a little stark, I want something a little softer.
While browsing the Monsoon website I spotted a gorgeous maxi dress and I was instantly reminded of the fact that Isabel refers to my collection of B&W movies as grey and white. Id already fallen in love with the pale green dress for Izzy and side by side they look stunning, very vintage and very elegant.
Now the images from the Internet don’t really do these frocks justice. The grey is lighter in real life and the velvet panels on Isabel’s dress have an amazing iridescence to them, there’s almost a silver quality to the fabric. My florist friend is certain we can pick this colour up in foliage for the bridesmaid’s bouquets. Also, the beading on the shoulders of the dress in shades of silver, gold and pewter is exquisite, I adore it!
Just to be awkward, my sister doesn’t fit into the Monsoon dress. She’s a tricky shape to dress on the high street and she was caught between a 10 and a 12. We decided the style of dress would be near impossible to alter but luckily I’ve found a dress in Coast that sits well with the others. Again the website images throw off the colour a little bit, I laid these side by side in the store this morning and the grey is an almost identical match.
Fingers crossed it fits when my sister eventually tries it on!
Obviously, the absence of any grey or green flowers means that I’ll have to add some other shades to my scheme! I’m very taken by a particular rose that goes by the name of Dark Hypnose. I love the duskiness of the pink, I think it would really compliment the green in Izzy’s dress. 
But then I love shades of pale lilac too. Or I could just keep it very simple with creamy shades of white and ivory and lots of silvery green foliage.
Hmmmmm… decisions, decisions!
Loveaudrey xxx
Those dresses are beautiful. I love the maxi dress, especially.
The pewter shade is very nice indeed- keeps with the vintage idea. Lilac flowers would go very well with it as its also a ‘cool’ colour.
Our colour scheme was mainly white, with small touches of pistachio green (in my sister’s long satin column bridesmaids dress and the bows on the invitations) and our flowers were white, vintagey pink and lilac. The lilac was also picked up in our table decorations, the men’s ties and our cake. It looked very clean and fresh, and not overpowering, which is exactly what you say re black and white- a lot of colour schemes are too stark in my opinion.
By the way, you can get green flowers- roses come in a greeny white which is actually more pale green. They look lovely. Link to image:
http://www.rosesbydesign.co.uk/prodimages/green_roses.jpg
And that very greyish lilac colour of some roses would also work as ‘grey’:
http://www.florist2u.co.uk/ekmps/shops/justbecause/images/lilac_rose_wedding_posy_close_up.jpg
Very excited to see your venue! xx
Ooh it’s going to look fab – each of those dresses are super pretty and look really cute together. Can’t wait to see your venue! Feeling really wedding-y myself lately, but saving is a cow lol xx
Oh wow, wow, wow! I’m in love with those dresses, the Monsoon one is stunning. I can’t wait to see these wedding plans progress, I’m getting all excited for you! Izzy will look beautiful in her dress too, what is Jesse going to wear? xxx
@The BBB I’m glad you approve, I like the maxi best too!
@Anonymous Girl Your colour scheme sounds gorgeous! I think I will pick up the green in small details like you say, on invitations etc.
I’m liking the idea of lilac more and more, especially something like the ones you posted that look almost grey. I can imagine something like that with the silvery green foliage. I’ve seen the greenish roses before but I’m not sure I like them, kind of remind me of cabages!!
I’m quite drawn to images of hand tied bunches of lavender too, it’s one of my favourite plants (I love the smell and I think Mr. LA really associates the essential oil with our babies being born as I burnt it before, during and after labour!). I might try and include that somehow.
I’ve been meaning to ask, did you manage to dance in your Jenny Packham (assuming you had dancing of course!)? I’m toying with the idea of a different dress for the evening ‘do’ but I think I’d rather get my moneys worth from my proper frock!
The venue is FABULOUS and very ‘us’!
@Lolipop I’m glad you like them, I’ve had a few raised eyebrows from friends when I’ve told them I’m putting the girs in grey! Yes, the whole money side of things is a little scary isn’t it! We’re seriously watching the pennies at the mo!
@Laura I’m so pleased you like them. I value your opinion alot 🙂
Izzy does look stunning in her dress, she keeps asking to try it on ‘one more time’, bless her!! I think Jesse will look adorable in trousers, shirt and a waistcoat, probably in grey to match the bigger boys. Think I’ll stick him in his Converse too!
xxx
Cabbages, haha! I see what you mean.
The greyish lilac colour is so stunning in real life, it would work fabulously with your pewter/ art deco theme, and would also go perfectly with bunches of lavender.
Yes I danced all night in my JP dress- what they do is put a little silk loop hidden under the layers, so that when it’s dancing time you just put the loop over your wrist, so the train/ bottom of the dress kind of swishes up by your side and is out of the way for dancing. Does that sort of make sense?! I tried to find a pic on google to explain what I mean and this is the best I can find:
http://www.wildweddings.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/1761-the-hurlingham-club-london-sw6-dance-party-wild-weddings-photography-18.jpg
Basically, it just takes the train/ bottom inch or two up very very slightly so its out the way of your feet. It still looks very romantic and swishy.
Not sure how it happened but at our wedding there was a dance off, with everyone standing in a circle and people taking turns in the middle to outdo each other. The dress in no hampered my bootylicious hip hop butt dancing! Hahaha.
@Anonymous Girl Yes, I know what you mean about the loop. The woman in the bridal shop said I could have a small button added to the back to create a sort of bustle too. Not sure how that will look though. Dance off sounds brilliant! Must have been a great party. If you managed to boogie the night away then I’m sure I’ll be fine in my frock, if I do indeed end up in a JP number!
xxx
They usually put bustles on fuller wedding dresses rather than slinky ones- if you do go slinky I imagine you’d be much better off with the loop. xx