Category Archives: inspiration
Renaissance is Romance!
Regardless of the season or color scheme, one eclectic wedding theme always embraces romance, it is the renaissance era! Craftsmen of wood, silver, lace, and even burlap create celebration scene only in fairytales. Enjoy a few candid pictures from a wedding of two talented musicians as they share their vows among family and friends.
“As a cultural movement, the ‘renaissance’ encompassed innovative flowering of Latin and vernacular literatures…the development of linear perspective and other techniques of rendering a more natural reality in painting, and gradual but widespread educational reform.”
“In politics, the Renaissance contributed the development of the conventions of diplomacy, and in science an increased reliance on observation…Although the Renaissance saw revolutions in many intellectual pursuits…it is perhaps best known for its artistic developments and the contributions of such polymaths as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, who inspired the term ‘Renaissance man’. There is a consensus that the Renaissance began in Florence, Italy, in the 14th century.”
WedEclectic is fortunate enough to have a renaissance man, Steve Riley, from New York, who creates amazing hammered silver wedding bands. The bride and groom will treasure these each day throughout their years together.
Eclectic brides can enhance their everyday tresses with gorgeous hairpieces in custom color matched braids. On top, an elegant orchid crown is the perfect style for a more medieval or renaissance style. This simple combination will create a distinctive look of centuries gone by which is very feminine and delicate.
“The middle class could usually afford to dye their wool and colors such as blue and green. The wealthy could afford to add elaborate designs to their clothing as well as dying it red and black, expensive colors for the time. Purple was also considered a color of royalty and was reserved for kings or religious figures such as the pope.” The Pantene color of 2014 is ‘radiant orchid’ so our eclectic brides can feel more like royalty when using this warm tone. WedEclectic artisan offers a stunning crown in this motif.
In medieval and renaissance fashion includes high-waist dresses and possibly corsets. These options allow for gorgeous dresses for many varying body types. This might be helpful for the bridal party. “Both men’s and women’s clothing was trimmed with bands of decoration, variously embroidery, tablet-woven bands, or colorful borders woven into the fabric in the loom. The famous Anglo-Saxon opus Anglicanism needlework was sought-after as far away as Rome. Anglo-Saxons wore decorated belts.”
Natural whites and light silver colors from birch trees can elevate cakes, gifts, or centerpieces for the bridal shower and wedding. After the ceremony, the new couple may continue to enjoy them as chargers for special occasions.
This rustic charm is enhanced by burlap silverware pockets. We lean toward the renaissance era and away from the medieval times, since flatware wasn’t always used by knights at round tables.
A wonderful gift for the bridesmaids would be long lace gloves, which would not require removal for touching up make up or even drinking champagne. This long lace can also be used after the nuptials with a favorite blouse during the holidays or an well-dressed dinner party.
Romance in the Renaissance can include Italian food for the reception and lovely music. Help your guests know what is in store by using fairytale ‘Save the Date’ cards, invitations, and Thank You Notes with golden crowns as found in this gorgeous custom collection.
The bride and groom can encourage their guests to participate or leave the fancifuls to the wedding party. Regardless, this eclectic wedding would be an event to remember.
Etsy treasury:
WedEclectic artisans:
Dalias Woodland:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/171485444/birch-tree-sliceswood-slicesrustic?ref=tre-2722931125-1
Jewelry by Steve Riley:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/98069149/slim-hammered-silver-diamond-wedding?ref=tre-2722931125-2
Home Goods Alacarte:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/150369055/burlap-silverware-holders?ref=tre-2722931125-3
Puppycatmeow:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/61235166/bridal-hairpiece-wedding-flower?ref=tre-2722931125-4
Odd Lot Emporium:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/173709473/vintage-fairytale-royal-wedding?ref=tre-2722931125-5
Wedding of Dreams:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/173767072/wedding-gloves-white-gloves-of-high?ref=tre-2722931125-6
Ms Formaldehyde:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/153997862/floral-crown-wedding-wedding-crown?ref=tre-2722931125-7
References:
Pantene Color of 2014:
http://www.pantone.com/pages/index.aspx?pg=21129
Renaissance:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance
Early medieval European dress:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_dress
English Medieval Clothing [colors]:
WedEclectic Q&A
We ask the WedEclectic team a question, and post their answers each week…providing some advice, inspiration and insight into the person behind our shops. We hope you enjoy them!
What colors do you think Brides will embrace in 2014?
Jennifer from ClayBouquetShop
Blood-orange…I’ve seen it listed by many brides in their color palette.
Edi from MemoriesForLife
I definitely think Pantone’s color of the year Radiant Orchid will be showing up in a lot of weddings this year!
Keri from DelaneyPhotoJewelry
I am seeing a lot of gorgeous peachy/pinks. And more gold tones than normal over the ever popular silver accents.
Ella from EllaWinston
I agree with Keri. I have been seeing lots of brides embrace gold as a signature color in their weddings. They are choosing to compliment the gold tone with blush pinks, or minty greens.
WedEclectic Team Treasury
In honor of Chinese New Year please enjoy this team treasury by Dalynda from SteampunkWedding
WedEclectic Q&A
We ask the WedEclectic team a question, and post their answers each week…providing some advice, inspiration and insight into the person behind our shops. We hope you enjoy them!
If you had a winter wedding where would your dream honeymoon location be?
Julie from OddLotEmporium
Ice castle in Greenland!
Amanda from ArtisanMaskers
I’d either embrace the cozy inside/cold outside and go somewhere in Germany’s black forest, or skip off to the much warmer Italian Mediterranean!
Dalynda from SteampunkWedding
A ski resort with a fire place and a hot tub or a big jacuzzi tub would work. Hot cocoa and flannel – totally romantic and cozy! Bring great black and white classic movies too!
Eva from ABridalTouch
I do not do well in cold weather…so, honeymoon would definitely be a warm spot…not necessarily hot. When I got married in March, we went down to Jekyll Island for our honeymoon…warm and quiet times.
Kitty from KittyKanzashi
I would love to go to Japan from North to South.
Keri from DelaneyPhotoJewelry
Fiji Islands for sure. A dream honeymoon for newly weds and the romantic at heart.
Ella from EllaWinston
I would love to honeymoon in a snowy winter wonderland. Stay in a beautiful log cabin (with all the modern amenities of course!) maybe in Tahoe or Colorado.
WedEclectic Q&A
We ask the WedEclectic team a question, and post their answers each week…providing some advice, inspiration and insight into the person behind our shops. We hope you enjoy them!
Holiday Weddings – Would you attend a wedding (or have your wedding) on a major holiday such as Thanksgiving or Christmas?
Julie from OddLotEmporium
If it was an offbeat or super cool themed wedding I would!
We attended a friend’s wedding last year over Thanksgiving weekend and it was so much fun. The couple created an entire wedding weekend (and on a strict budget no less!) on the bride’s family farm. A lot of the guests actually stayed out at the farm for the weekend and the family made Thanksgiving dinner for everyone who was in town the day before the wedding. All of the thoughtful details that went into the weekend made the whole event feel so intimate and family-oriented. It was truly a one of a kind wedding that I will never forget!
Edi from MemoriesForLife
Yes, if it was for family or a close friend. If it’s a family wedding, I’ll get to spend it with my family and celebrate a new family member 🙂
Amanda from ArtisanMaskers
I agree that it would depend how close I was to the family. I did take photos for a Valentine bride once, and it was really beautiful because (unprompted!) everyone showed up in her colors: black, white, and red! She also had the good fortune to get married on a snow day. I don’t remember ever photographing a more striking event!
Dalynda from SteampunkWedding
Of course! Sometimes it is the only time a family can get together! For example, my little brother is on active duty in the military & often it is the one time of the year he can get leave to come home. The more the merrier!
By the way, a Halloween Wedding is the most fun ever! Everyone got to dress up and have a lot of fun!
Eva from ABridalTouch
My niece was married Jan 2…it was a terrific way to end the holiday. I would definitely attend a family member’s wedding whenever it is held because there is usually a reason why it would be held over the holiday.
Keri from DelaneyPhotoJewelry
I want to say, No, and No. But we go to my parents for Christmas, and I supposed that since my father can officiate, it could happen at my parents home. They have hosted weddings there before. But it’s very important to me to have Christmas morning as planned. I still have believers.
Kitty from KittyKanzashi
I probably be hesitant about Christmas only because of travel and accommodation but if that has all been sorted then why not.
Ella from EllaWinston
I don’t think I would attend a wedding on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. With two large families it’s hard enough trying to get in time with everyone. If a close family member were getting married I would go. Any other holiday would be fun! I’d love to go to a New Year’s wedding, a Halloween wedding or even a Thanksgiving wedding!
WedEclectic Q&A
We ask the WedEclectic team a question, and post their answers each week…providing some advice, inspiration and insight into the person behind our shops. We hope you enjoy them!
What is your dream winter wedding location?
San Antonio, Texas! I am a bit biased because I got married in San Antonio in the winter but the trees lining the Riverwalk downtown are all covered in beautiful, twinkling lights around the holidays and the weather is absolutely perfect. The culture, food, and people in San Antonio are truly unique too, which makes it easy for guests to find plenty to do in the way of excursions or sightseeing around town before and after the wedding.
Edi from MemoriesForLife
I’ve always wanted a summer wedding. But if I get married in winter, I’ll want a tropical destination. Mexico, Jamaica, the Bahamas…somewhere warm 🙂
Amanda from ArtisanMaskers
I’m a homebody, so I’m afraid winter or summer wouldn’t have made much difference. I’d just have stuck right here in Utah!
Dalynda from SteampunkWedding
Young brides have grown up reading Harry Potter, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and other fantasy classics. This love of castles and magic often shows up in some of my favorite wedding locations. We’ve been lucky to attend a few special events at historic homes and hotels, which feel like a magic castle with the right decor. My advise for a great holiday location is to capitalize on the festive season and find a Victorian-era locale with white lights!
Eva from ABridalTouch
If money were no object, a small romantic wedding in a foreign locale.(as long as everything was taken care of legally). So many lovely places in this world to get married…
Kitty from KittyKanzashi
If it is winter then somewhere near a nice warm fireplace with good food and drink. Although there is a place in Lapland where you can stay in a glass igloo which sounds lovely place for a wedding.
Ella from EllaWinston
I would LOVE to get married in Lake Tahoe during the winter. I would want to find a luxury log cabin on the water and decorate with lots of flowers and candles, with a roaring fire in the background.
Engagement Inspiration – Thank You Cards
Congratulations – you’re engaged!! Here are some wonderful cards to thank your guests after your engagement party or bridal shower.
All are handmade and customizable from shops on Etsy. Two of them are pdf files so you can print out however many you need for yourself. Clicking on each photo will open a new tab to that shop’s listing for information about each item.
Happy Wedding Wishes,
Marcie Forest
www.forestcandlestudio.etsy.com
www.facebook.com/ForestCandleStudio
www.pinterest.com/forestcandle
ArtisanMaskers
ClayBouquetShop
EdenGalleryArt
ellawinston
forestcandlestudio
vanesseva
Krissy - Make Believe'N
WedEclectic 