Board No. 87: Plum and evergreen for Caroline

(Click to enlarge!)

My good friend Caroline is getting married next January in Massachusetts. I'm so excited she's having a winter wedding! I think they're beautiful, but quite rare. I'm also excited about her color palette, but I'll let her tell you a bit more about that. Here are the guidelines she gave me when she asked me to put together an inspiration board:

"Colors: some combination of a deep green, plum or violet, silver, and ivory/white. I like the idea of my two bridesmaids in a shade of silver with more colorful bouquets, but I'm also wary of a silver color washing them out...what do you think? I'd also like to keep a winter-y, natural and organic feel but without doing a literal interpretation of a snow-covered evergreen forest..."

Doesn't that sound beautiful? In addition to shades of evergreen and plum, I love the idea of incorporating wood elements to bring in the natural and organic feel Caroline is looking for -- escort cards tacked to a stack of cut wood, silvery birch elements either in centerpieces or framing the ceremony space, pinecones tucked into bouquets or used as boutonnieres, tree stump rounds standing in for cake plates.

I think gray bridesmaid dresses are beautiful, though personally I would steer clear of a metallic silver because I think Caroline's right, it might wash out the girls. Plum, as pictured in this board, is another gorgeous option.

Other things I love about this board? The centerpieces of massed carnations in faux mercury glass bowls, the weathered lanterns (which would also be beautiful as centerpieces!), and the ceremony space, with all that weathered wood and those cream pillar candles.

Caroline, I hope this has been helpful! Ladies and gents, if you like this post, you might want to check out the Pinterest board where I've been collecting ideas. There's a gorgeous bouquet, a beautiful winter portrait, and a pair of perfectly purple velvet heels, to start.

The Details:

First row, left to right: ceremony photo by Thayer Allyson Gowdy via Snippet & Ink, photo by Carla Ten Eyck via Elizabeth Anne Designs, rootbeer milk photo by Aaron Delesie via Martha Stewart Weddings

Second row: carnation centerpieces by Blush Floral Design, boutonniere photo by Anna Sawin via Style Me Pretty

Third row: lantern photo by Steve Steinhardt via Style Me Pretty, birch and plum bridesmaid dress photos by Justin & Mary Marantz