Winter White Wedding Design Tips for 2014/2015

WI have seen a trend for all white wedding designs, and am truly pleased.  Winter white weddings are easier on the budget, and look so amazingly beautiful!  Are you having a white winter wedding?  Please comment below and let us know any tip that has helped you.

1st Winter White Wedding Tip:  Yes Lighting Matters!

~ From whiteme.net  The use of spot lights are so beautiful!  So how can the same affect work for a low budget?  How about dimming the lights at the location and having a white aisle with white petals down the aisle and then line the aisle (under the petals) with battery-powered white lights?  A few flowers off the side of a few chairs in white will add emphasis.  I love the idea of using a lot of white dendrobium orchids.  When bought in bulk they can cost less.  Find a local wholesale florist that can work with you on getting a price down to at least $1.50 a stem.  How about having just two large dramatic tree standing arrangements at the front of the ceremony location with either two hidden uplights?  Or, even better, get the ones that can actually be placed into the plant containers and shoot white light up the branches!

Please don't forget tons of candles!  Yes, I mean put them everywhere with the exception of burning the house down of course!  There are so many creative ways to place candles.  They don't need to be placed in random places on the table, but that's okay too.  How about placing a few low white tea light candles together to look like a flower with petals?  Or, white votive candles look great in sets of three.  White escort cards also look great against a dark colored tablecloth.

2nd Winter White Wedding Tip:  It's Okay To Go ALL White!

~ Photo by tailoredengagements.com
Yes, I know the photo is not completely all white, but it could have been just as nice if the chiavari chairs were in white (there's not extra cost to rent different colors usually), and the white glass vases where covered in white ribbon, lace, or white marbles were used in the water.  The white peonies are fabulous!  And guess what!  They are in season in the winter.  These blooms are so much larger in person.  Please make sure to allow enough time for these to bloom before an event.  They take longer than roses to bloom.

A low cost alternative would be to cover regular chairs with white chair covers, perhaps add a white iridescent chair sash.  In the centerpiece use a large white rose with a lot of petals and buy by the box online or a wholesale florist.  Try the proud rose and if the budget allows add a few White Cloud garden roses from the David Austin collection.  White linens are sometimes less than colored linens.  If purchasing tablecloths online be sure to regular check on your order to make sure that there are no backorders.


Just a quick note on the simple but elegant design of this table.  I love the square plates that match the shape of the wedding favor gift boxes and then the centerpieces are round and not square.  This was a lovely choice.

3rd Winter White Wedding Tip:  A Little Glitter Goes a Long Way...

Try a rhinestone buckle tied on a white napkin with white satin ribbon.  Rhinestone snowflakes are fun.  They can be draped from white branch centerpieces to get a winter wonderland feel.  A small rhinestone flat back can be used on a wedding menu or program.  Rhinestones are stunning against white.  When there is lighting or candles they even sparkle more.

A little sparkle can go in so many places:  The bride's hair, the bride's bouquet (yes you can add rhinestones here, and it's more popular than you would think!), on the centerpieces,  in the air, on each fan program, or on any other part of stationery.  How about hand some glam on beautiful chandeliers?

More Winter White Wedding Tips coming soon

I am so excited about our new winter white wedding stationery collection debuting mid December on citrinedesigns.com

2013 Trends

Earlier this year we received an email from Etsy noting the upcoming color trends.  Amazingly it was so accurate!  A lot of brides are going for emerald green this year matched with other colors such as baby blue, yellow, purple, or tan/mocha colors.  The next most popular trend is a very light pink/blush color.  Other pink shades seem to have gone in 2013.  It's been exciting to see the color changes for the year. Every year the three main colors still remain: Purple shades, Brown shades, and Orange.  Orange and Purple (Plum, Purple, and Eggplant) will show up all over the place this coming fall.  We look forward to designing more with all of these lovely colors.

Cranberry, Chocolate and Silver all Together!

Congratulations to Rachel (my sister!) and Charlie wed August 2012 at

NorthCreek Church in Walnut Creek, California

Their wedding was held at their church in the chapel including the reception.  Around 100 family and friends attended this lovely event designed in the unusual wedding color combination of silver, chocolate and cranberry (maroon).

It was a beautiful wedding day.

Bridesmaid flowers were all white roses with a little dusty miller and greenery, 

tied with silver satin ribbon and silver beaded pins.

The Bride's flowers were cranberry cymbidium orchids, deep burgundy dahlias, red roses, red spray roses, white spray, black roses, and dusty miller with a little greenery all tied with satin cranberry ribbon and cross tied with maroon satin ribbon and pearl pins.  I designed most of the flowers with the help of family (Rachel helped with some arrangements).

I absolutely love this photo!!!  Such beautiful photos came from Yuliya M. Photography!

Centerpieces were lined with coffee beans in-between two glass containers.  

An idea based off of Charlie's coffee shop in China.  

Silver napkins neatly folded around the customized fan wedding programs (by Citrine Designs).  The table was lined in white linen and topped with four burgundy votive holders lined in silver as well.  

A chocolate linen pocket fold invitation was customized for my sister by Citrine Designs.  Inserted with grey linen and printed in dark chocolate and cranberry ink colors.

Congratulations again Rachel and Charlie

Our Evening Fall Fanciful Collection Expanded

In response to a client request, we have expanded the fall fanciful collection. We are pleased to introduce that new collection including rhinestone buckles and more!  These can be fully customized.  Email us at customerservice@citrinedesigns.com for free proofs by email.

Winter Wedding Saving Tips and Ideas

I've been researching the web for inexpensive ways to make a winter wedding unique.  This blog is on my findings.

 Stay with one color, and the least expensive is all white:  White linens are commonly included in most catering halls/restaurants and may even include white chair covers.  Keep that in mind when searching for a venue.  If you stay with all white roses, you can save a lot!  I recommend ordering roses on globalrose.com (The earlier in ordering the better, and do not go with the Vendella rose at it has too much of a pink/peach hue unless that's what you are looking for.), and you want to order them to arrive at least 2 days/preferably 3 days before the event.  Their flowers do arrive the way the florists receive them so they will need to be placed in buckets of water with flower food; be sure to cut the stems in a slant before placing them in water.  The day before the event find a crafty friend/s and place about 30 count or more roses in a vase or take all the roses to the venue the next day and assemble them there.  For added silver or snowy  white you can pick up silver sprayed leaves/berries/branches at Michaels (Don't forget to use a 40% off coupon).  ~Picture is from dotcomebride

• Branches are an inexpensive way to add some glitz to any winter theme.  I've seen whole indoor trees (branches only) sprayed in white or silver, glittered, and then with just a few white peonies or hydrangeas (glittered as well sometimes!) tied onto the branches for a reception wedding.  This is something you can even do in advance.  Perhaps use artificial blooms just for the tree decorations, and then fresh flowers for your bouquet.  If the winter wedding is in February or March you may be able to find the beautiful white peonies in bloom.  Branches can also be used to build a tree for escort table cards by placing sprayed in white/glittered branches in a vase and then tying on the escort table cards.  Or placing escort table cards on the table, but then placing some peony blooms on the branches as well.  With many peony blooms on the branches it just reminds me of snow, or add some glitz with rhinestones hanging on them. ~Picture is from Pinterest, Flowers by Semia
• Lighting, white not inexpensive, can change the look of an event dramatically.  White light placed in an event can add glitz to a table by making all the glitter or rhinestones glitter more.  If you have blue as a wedding color; adding blue light can change all of the white decorations into a beautiful blue hue.  Don’t forget candles, which can be bought in bulk many times.  Make sure to buy candles that will last the whole event and that they will not make a burning scent.  The best kind are soy candles because they last longer.  They can be found at many low cost stores, on sale, or online.  Winter berries or snowflake garlands etc. can be twisted around glass votive holders.  

One Of the Best Holiday Wines

This last late October I went to my favorite towns: New Hope, PA and Lambertville, NJ for some holiday shopping.  I like to finish my shopping before it gets close to the holidays.  These two towns are absolutely adorable and connected by a bridge that you can walk across over the river.  There are many cute little restaurants to eat at as well.  Some overlooking the water.  Many of the stores are composed of one-of-a kind treasures created by hand.  I love glass art, and there are many stores there that have that.  I also like things that glitter; and then there are the stores that are unique gift stores.  Right after the bridge there was this cute wine store.  My fiance and I decided to try the wine tastings.  I picked the flight of 10 sweet of course, and he went for the flight of 10 white wines.  Towards the end of the tasting we tried one of the most delightful tasting wines called Alpine Spice.  It's actually served heated, and tastes just like a very good apple cider.  We both fell in love with it and took some home for the holiday season.  This wine would be a great addition to any holiday party or wedding.

Thank you for help with the new designs!

As the year almost ends... we want to thank our customers this year.  We love reading all of your nice comments and inspirations for the upcoming year.  As always, if you are looking for something special please let us know and we would love to design something new for you.  Our best ideas always come from our customers.  Wishing all of you happy holidays ahead.

This week we will be working on research for upcoming winter saving tips for weddings.  If you have an idea please let us know and maybe we will tweet it!

Thank you much, Jessica Bubb