The Knot Ultimate Wedding Lookbook by Carley Roney and the Editors of TheKnot.com – Excerpt

8/4/2019 The Knot Ultimate Wedding Lookbook by Carley Roney and the Editors of TheKnot.com Excerpt

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Copyright 2010 by The Knot, Inc.

All rights reserved.Published in the United States by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of the Crown PublishingGroup, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.www.crownpublishing.comwww.clarksonpotter.com

CLARKSON POTTER is a trademark and POTTER with colophon is a registered trademark ofRandom House, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataRoney, Carley.

The Knot ultimate wedding lookbook : more than 1,000 cakes, centerpieces, bouquets,dresses, decorations, and ideas for the perfect day / Carley Roney and the editors ofTheKnot.com.1st ed. p. cm. Includes index. 1. Handicraft. 2. Wedding decorations. 3. WeddingsEquipment and supplies.4. WeddingsPlanning. I. Knot (Firm) II. Title.

TT149.R65 2010 745.5941dc22 2009051949

ISBN 978-0-307-46290-9

Printed in China

Design by Liza Aelion for The Knot

For photography credits, see page 284.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

First Edition
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To get married all you really need are a few rings, a dress,

and an appointment at City Hall. But many couples feel the wedding is an important step in their lives togetheronethey want to share with their family and friends as well. Howto express that excitement in a way betting the occasion?Thats where all the extras come in: owers, music, fancyescort cards. Every detail adds up to a lovely manifestationof the emotion the day is brimming with. But deciding onthose elements can seem downright daunting. Whereandhowdo you begin? With the big picture: by establishingthe style of the day.

Dont worry if you nd the idea of your wedding styleto be vague and abstract, or the task at handchoosing oneparticular vibe for the eventto be overwhelming. This bookis meant to make the process inspiring and fun, guiding you

your planning to-dos Create your guest list Figure out what your budget will be Tap into your wedding style

nding your styleintroduction


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Often just a single piece of inspiration can represent yourwedding style. Here that inspiration is a beautiful piece of lace.In your case, it might come from your wedding dress or yourmothers. Maybe it s the same lace youre using as yourchuppahs canopy. While the other details dont have to pick upthe lace exactly, they can share the same romantic mood.


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through each elementof your wedding dayand offering a senseof the many optionsavailable that can betailored to suit youand your groom. Eachchapter focuses onone specic aspect ofthe event, giving you

the information you need to organize your thoughts and to choose a moodthats unequivocally you. Youll also discover useful tips that will help youawlessly pull off every detail, along with hundreds of inspiring photo-graphs of every kind of wedding, from fancy-free to formal. When planninga wedding, every choice you make will inuence your next decision and theoverall feeling. For a seamless aesthetic that translates into an unforget-table day, its crucial to settle on one concept and stick with it. Heres how.

thinking about your wedding style The guidingprinciple for your big day could be as simple as a palette of pink and green,or as specic as a modern-day interpretation of A Midsummer Nights Dream, complete with swags of oral garlands, gauzy bridesmaid dresses, moss-and-ivy-lled centerpieces, and special Love Potion cocktails. Where you startand how far you carry out the conceptis entirely up to you. No matter howelaborate your theme, a common thread will pull the whole day together.

Consider these perfectly thought-out, though stylistically distinct,examples straight from recent brides: A bride and groom who couldntresist New England in the summertime hosted a preppy lobster bake(page 262). A California couple who loved the idea of an outdoor weddingdecided on a harvest-style reception in Napa Valley (page 70). Anothercouple chose to tip their hats to their Mexican wedding location and servedtheir guests cervezas and seviche (page 224).

gathering inspiration Sounds fun, right? But if yourenowhere near nailing down your wedding style to this extent, dont panic.The beginning of the process is the dreaming phase, when ideas areallowed to be disparate and not completely formed. Start collecting inspira-tions, and dont limit yourself to browsing the obvious sources; somethingas unlikely as a wallpaper pattern or a photo of a terra-cotta urn can spark

design-era dictionaryGeorgian (17141830, England)THINK Matchy-matchy with adecadent air. Chippendalechairs, rened colors, fans onthe seats, and bridesmaiddresses with an emphasis onthe waistline will unify yourtheme.WEDDING-STYLE INTERPRETATION Your signature shade is lilac orpale pink. Your bridesmaidscarry monochromatic bou-quets, and the groom and hisgang wear formal attire, butperhaps in a light color. Thereception is probably under atent with paper lanterns abovethe dance oor.

Regency (17501850, England)THINK Classic and timeless.Brass and marble make arened statement.WEDDING-STYLE INTERPRETATION Youre hosting a ballroomaffair; black tie optional. Yourtables are a mix of rectanglesand rounds, set with simplegold-rimmed white china.Chandeliers and pinspotlighting accentuate the cas-cading table arrangements.

Victorian (18371901, England)

THINK Queen of Englandmeets Newport mansion.White lace and orangeblossoms infuse a romanticsetting with sophistication.WEDDING-STYLE INTERPRETATION Your palette is all aboutpastels. You welcomeunexpected elegance to thetables with vintage teapots

continued . . .
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an idea. If fabrics,color chips, sta-tionery, and otherinteresting trinketscatch your eye, col-lect those, too. Soon, youll start to see atheme or color paletteemerging, which willhelp to organize yourplanning.

focusing on a theme If you nd youre stuck for ideas, thinkabout interests and hobbies you and your anc share, and places andexperiences that are meaningful to you. A shared love of Baroque art couldlead you to a wedding in a museum space with centerpieces straight out ofa Dutch masters still life. If 1950s movies are what brought you together,the lm High Societycould inspire the retro, elegant look of your event:The venue could be on the grounds of a beautiful old mansion; the decor would be sophisticated and chic, such as white garden roses brimmingout of round silver vases; and the dress would channel Grace Kellya chic A-line with a natural waist. Perhaps theres a special place that could serve

as a touchstone: Did you get engaged on a snowy mountaintop in Vail? Youmay want to hold a winter wedding with a theme that inspires every detaildown to the save-the-date cards designed like ski passes.

If nothing has come immediately to mind, try to describe your per-sonal style using a few evocative adjectives. Words likerustic, preppy, glam,modern, elegant, and beachy may suddenly inspire a eureka moment. Evenclassic wedding is a theme. Then, as you rene the concept, try layeringon another lter to help further polish and personalize your theme. Youridea of a glam wedding may be a glam, Art Deco wedding, or your garden wedding might be an English garden wedding.

Another trick to guring out your style is to think about venues youre attracted to. If you know you love the idea of having your wedding ina posh hotel, that may dictate a more classic, elegant, or old-world style. Onthe other hand, if youre drawn to a sleek new art museum, you may wantto complement that space with modern, minimalist decor.

Your faith and culture may also play important roles, inuencing thekind of food you serve, the music you playeven the attire you and your wedding party wear. You may prefer to simply cherry-pick details from your

holding uffy pink and whitepeonies. Consider clusteredoral or pale damask linens.

Belle poque(Late 1800s,France)THINK French cafe and nightlifeepitomize the era.WEDDING-STYLE INTERPRETATION Bring in charming, round bistrotables. Mix casual touches withmore ornate pieces, such as aheavy velvet curtain thatseparates the cocktail hourfrom the reception.

Hollywood Glamour(LateNineteenth Century toMid-Twentieth Century,United States)THINK Magic in the air. Lightingis most attering; sparkle iskey; jewel tone colors andlacquer are essential. ElizabethTaylor would feel comfortableat your wedding.WEDDING-STYLE INTERPRETATION Black-and-white photos ofweddings past hang around thecocktail area. Metallic detailsand mirrors are everywhere.Tables are mostly squares andrectangles with votives andlanterns running down thecenter.

Art Deco(19251939, Europeand United States)THINK Opulent and lavish arethe idea hereSouth Beach

hotels, lots of black and white.WEDDING-STYLE INTERPRETATION Work the black-and-whiteparquet oor and dont shyaway from color like brightmagenta or sunny yellowaccents. Your reception tablessparkle thanks to the mirroredbases for your centerpieces.continued . . .

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GETTING STARTED1

Infusing cultural elements,such as a special pattern orspecic color combination is not only meaningful butalso the perfect starting pointfor what will become theaesthetic of the day.


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Something blue is also awedding-perfect

jumping-off point. Tokeep the cool hue from

feeling too frosty,chartreuse accents join

the party. Whimsical dotson the stationery, playful

appliqus on the cake,surprising ower bundles,

and multilevel center-pieces keep the mood

carefree, while a bold ringand a beaded clutch add

a touch of glamour.


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FINDING YOUR STYLE

backgrounds rather

than strictly followthe rules of one par-ticular culture, buteven those choices will have resonance. A Chinese-Americancouple decidedto mix elementsfrom their Asianheritageorigami

cranes and red paper lanterns dotting the reception spacewith moremodern Western objects, like cupcakes in birdcages and cylinder vases fullof oating candles and submerged owers (page 146). Consult with familyand religious leaders before you get too far into the planning so youll know whats allowed and what isnt (a Catholic ceremony needs to take place in aCatholic church, and a Jewish ceremony needs to happen under a chuppah,for example). Check with your venue, if you have one, to see if there are anylimitations on use of the space.

A nal word of advice when it comes to settling on a theme: Dontload up on too many ideas. Its ne if you like Broadway musicals and yourgroom is into drag racing, but trying to incorporate both ideas into your wedding day is going to lead to a weirdly disjointed affair. For the bestchance at a day that dazzles, choose one concept and stick to it.

picking your colors and motif Just as a theme willemerge from your collected bits of inspiration, so will a palette. In fact,since nearly every wedding has a unifying color schemeand since colorscan be more concrete than themesyou may even want to start here rst.Take a look at a color wheel to see what shades youre drawn to (check outthe tool on TheKnot.com/color), or look through your closet or in yourhome. Are there certain colors you keep seeing? Thinking about the kindsof owers you like will denitely narrow down your options. To learn moreabout what owers come in what colors, see the lists at the end of eachchapter. Check out the special guides at the end of each chapter, too, forinspired color pairings, from deep fuchsia and orange to robins-egg blueand chocolate; they also provide tips on how to use color to unify all theelements of a wedding.

Design-challenged brides, take note: The easiest way to make all of your wedding elements come together is to stick with two colors rather

Fifties (1950s, United States)THINK Everything is over thetop. Bold, bright retro style isfun and fashionable.WEDDING-STYLE INTERPRETATION Turquoise and pink with a popof tangerineyoure all aboutcolorful air. Maybe yoursave-the-date resembles aretro postcard. Your invitesinclude song request replycards for the DJ, and youllsurprise guests with a photo

booth.

Pop Art (Late 1950s, UnitedStates)THINK Kitschy and overempha-sized use of color and graphics.Warhol prints are the go-to artselection.WEDDING-STYLE INTERPRETATION Cherry red, lime green, andsunny yellowyes, all together.Your invites have dimension,be it a bloom that pops upwhen you open it or anembossed design, and usebold, oversized fonts andgraphics. Photos of yourfavorite modern-art prints topyour escort cards.

Minimalist (Late 1960sEarly1970s, United States)THINK Less is more. Emphasizeclean lines and natural, non-fussy colors and elements.WEDDING-STYLE INTERPRETATION Nothing says sophisticationlike an all-white wedding. Yourdetails come in the textures,such as cable-knit or linens,and in the lighting. Your go-toowers are hydrangeas,orchids, garden roses, andranunculus.
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16 K ULTIMATE WEDDING LOOKBOOK

than juggling threeor more. And whilea color combinationalone is enough toinspire everythingfrom soup to Jordanalmonds, you may want to add another

layer of inspiration. This would be your theme. The color combination and your theme will help you zero in on specic details. For example, a black-and-white wedding implies a formal affair, but youll nd plenty of leeway when it comes to the specics. A black-and-white wedding with an Art Deco

theme is more focused and may call for a dress with a sheath silhouette,centerpieces bursting with oversized white feathers, and a cake with ageometric design. Likewise, a black-and-white fties-themed wedding mayconsist of polka-dot decor, a irty rufe hem dress, and pops of cherry redas accents. With the right details, you can take a simple color palette in justabout any direction.

Your motif is that last ourish that completes the overall look of your wedding and can crop up everywhere from the cake to the invitations. Itsa shape, a pattern, or an insignia that conveys your style. A monogram,a family crest, cherry-blossom branches, or a pretty toile patternit can

be any design, pattern, or graphic you use. Whatever you choose shouldreinforce the mood youre trying to create. Toile, for example, connotes aFrench, pastoral feel, whereas a cherry blossom is fresh and modern. Use your motif sparingly, in three or four places; any more than that can feelforced. When paired together, your colors, theme, and motif should exudethe look youve always pictured. If it doesnt, revisit one of these threedesign elements and see whats throwing off the scheme.

dont forget the vibe Finally, while your theme obviouslyaffects the look of your wedding, it can also set the tone. A nighttime wedding in a gilt-trimmed ballroom meant to conjure The Great Gatsby willramp up the chic quotient a notch, while a clambake on the beach will haveguests kicking off their shoes and enjoying beer from the bottle. Either isappropriate as long as it feels right to you. Aside from having a gorgeousevent, you want your guests to celebrate who you and your spouse-to-beare as a couple. You want your personalities and passions to shine through, which is what makes a wedding stand out as truly special.

BOOKMARK IT

See the hottestwedding color combos at

TheKnot.com/color

Get tips to dene yourwedding theme at

TheKnot.com/weddingstyle

Find ideas for a creativecouple monogram at

TheKnot.com/monograms

Design your owninspiration board at

TheKnot.com/inspirationSee the latest

wedding dress styles atTheKnot.com/fashion

Find chic ways todecorate your ceremony atTheKnot.com/ceremony

Get must-have hairand makeup tips at

TheKnot.com/beauty


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GETTING STARTED1

BROWSE BYCOLOR PALETTE

Get inspiration for everywedding day hue.

Green . . . page 30

Purple . . . page 64

White . . . page 94Yellow . . . page 116

Pink . . . page 140

Orange . . . page 192

Red . . . page 218

Blue . . . page 256

Brown . . . page 276


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The Knot Ultimate Wedding Lookbook by Carley Roney and the Editors of TheKnot.com – Excerpt

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