Lovers in Japan

This week I arranged "Lovers in Japan" for our string trio because it's one of my favorite Coldplay songs.  And aside from the fact that I saw Coldplay last year in concert, I was lucky enough to go to Japan last summer!  I can't get enough of traveling really, and always wish I could do more.  Already can't wait for the next trip, wherever it may be.

This week's topic? Travelers: how do you incorporate worldly themes into your wedding?  Especially when you're, well, American, and it feels out of place to have a totally cultural wedding.

There are actually quite a few ways to bring your worldly experiences back home and into your wedding.  Since Japan is on my mind tonight I'll focus on that for this post.  While in the country, three things that caught my eye (and taste buds) more than anything were Japan's stationary/fine papers, cuisine, and fabric.  I loved perusing shops in search of scrapbooking papers (usually I'd buy origami papers) or delicate stationary--some of the best handmade and detailed papers I had ever seen.  The foodie in me enjoyed devouring anything from green tea soft-serve to pork ramen (the freshly made kind).  And, nestled among the other westernized trendy shops was the occasional kimono maker.  A tailor's shop, where you could choose a gorgeous fabric for your one-of-a-kind kimono and have it custom made.  I stood especially in awe of those kimono shops, as the fabrics were detailed, silky, and, of course, rather expensive.


Below are some Japanese-themed ideas that incorporate these three favorites.


Invitations using fine paper:

Paper craine garlands:

More craines for Singapore's 2009 Lunar New Year at the Singapore Botanical Gardens:

Paper fans for a warm day:

Green tea mojitos:

Sushi (these pics are from a reception I attended):

Cherry blossom cake:

If you're looking for a bit of a surprise cake, think of the ever-popular cupcake idea... but with (get ready...) sushi cakes.  I love this.

Matcha (green tea) cupcakes:

If you read my rainbow post, you'll know that I love the reception photobooth idea.  Add a nice Japanese flair to photos with a fabric drape.  http://www.fabrictales.com sells Japanese fabric by the yard.

If all these beautiful prints haven't left you feeling inspired, check out this Versace top:

Hey, I had to have some fashion in this post!  


Again, unless you're going for a full-fledged Japanese-themed party, only use a couple of these ideas for your wedding.  If you and your partner have a special and significant city, country, or place, why not pay a little tribute to it on such an important day.  Like, instead of numbering your reception dinner tables, name them after cities you've visited.  Like, making an Eiffel-Tower-shaped cake because that's where he proposed.  Like, asking your string trio to play tangos because you're honeymooning in Argentina. You get the idea ;)


**While I'm writing, please be sure to revisit our website and blog soon!  Tomorrow Chesapeake Strings is doing a photo shoot with Allison Britton, Alexandria-based photographer!  We love her pictures and can't wait to work with her ourselves.  Check out her website: abrittonphotography.com.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow... Butterflies Fly?

In doing some blog research, I have discovered countless other blogs like this one, suggesting wedding-related color schemes.  Of course I'm going to continue posting similar ideas, but my question now is, what if you CAN'T decide on just one color??


It seems like there is an infinite number of color duos to choose from, and color plays such a huge part in your wedding's ambiance.  Like music, wedding colors can elude elegance and sophistication, modern flair, rustic charm, or liveliness (see the yellow post).  If a couple can't decide on a color group, why not choose all the colors?  


I've been reading Martha Stewart Weddings for a few years now, and have never forgotten the beautiful butterfly cake on the cover of the Winter 2009 issue:

In fact, there is an entire website dedicated to butterfly cakes, like this one:

With these pictures, I'm not suggesting a butterfly-themed wedding (we'll save that for later), rather, a wedding so colorful that there are no main theme colors.  

Picture an outdoor waterfront ceremony decorated with colored balloons:

And a cocktail hour underneath a rainbow of parasols (or balloons, or butterfly garlands, etc.):

For the reception, ask your photographer about setting up a photo booth and drape the background with a bright fabric.  IKEA sells this one for $6.99/yard!

Well, now that we've set the scene... what to wear?

Let's talk about the bridesmaids and groomsmen first.  One option is to have all the bridesmaids wear similar dresses but in all different colors, and the groomsmen wear colored ties to match.  Perhaps a less vivid option is to have the bridesmaids wear their favorite LBD's (little black dresses) with some colorful accents.  

I love these glittered slingbacks from Kate Spade:

And perhaps this would be too matchy to wear with pink shoes, but this Dolce and Gabbana bag also caught my eye:

If you'd rather not spend a grand on a bag, check out this clutch from Topshop:

If each bridesmaid picks her own accent color, these Anthropologie earrings would perfectly coordinate with our earlier butterfly ideas:

Now for the million dollar question!  What will the bride herself wear?  Answer: Whatever she wants!  A bride can stand out in a crisp white gown among her colorful wedding, or she can choose a colorful gown for herself!  Gwen Stefani was one bride who fearlessly sparked the non-white trend when she wore a white and pink gown:

Today, almost any formal colored dress can be worn as a wedding gown, however non-traditional this may seem.  Designer Chrissy Wai Ching has created a line of wedding dresses that are everything but classic white.

Brides: if you are hesitating about breaking traditional all-white dress rules, DON'T!  You can wear whatever you want!  

Of course, if you're planning a very colorful wedding, it would make sense to accompany it with some very colorful and upbeat music.  

A couple suggestions:

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
"Viva la Vida"  ~Coldplay
"Any Way You Want It"  ~Journey
"Bohemian Rhapsody"  ~Queen
"It's A Beautiful Life"  ~Ace of Base
"I Gotta Feeling"  ~Black Eyed Peas


Think about what music pumps you up!
because,
Happy Music = Happy Guests!

Here Comes the Sun!

Well, we're halfway through August, but it's never too late for an August wedding post!  Does anyone else feel like the most popular color this summer has been yellow?  Ali Fedotowsky loved wearing yellow on "The Bachelorette," and designers have been using it for accent pieces, like this Kate Spade tote.

I attended a baby shower this weekend, and five people wore yellow!  I realize that's only a handful, but yellow definitely stands out in a crowd.  And, there are so many different shades of yellow-- from chartreuse to gold to lemon to maize!  


For August weddings, any of these shades of yellow are appropriate, but personally, I can't help but think of sunflowers when thinking of an August yellow.  In other words, more golden and natural than lemon and neon.  There's a diverse Sunday farmer's market in downtown Baltimore, and the vendors always have beautiful sunflower selections in August.  


Sunflowers can really make a wedding bouquet POP:

Because of their brown centers, sunflower yellow and brown has become a nice color palette for a late August wedding.  And I say late August because brown is also a popular fall color.  These dresses are from BCBG (gold) and J. Crew (brown).

  

Our sunflower theme can also be used on the cake and invitations:

  

Yellow can really be paired with a range of colors to suit any season--eggplant, plum, aqua, red-orange, shades of blue, teal, light pink... the list goes on and on.  

I'll delve into my love of eggplant and plum weddings later this fall, but since it's still summer, lets  explore one more bright palette: lemon yellow and lime green.  Think minted lemonade and peridot (this is August's birthstone, after all). 

  

A brighter combination than gold and brown, lemon and lime is ideal for a warm-weather-wedding held during the last few dog days of summer.  If you'd like to avoid brown-centered sunflowers, use teddy bear sunflowers in your bouquet.  (Notice their green centers!)

  

Other things to do with lemon and lime?  Key lime cupcakes:

Lemon Cake:

Lemon dress and shimmery silver shoes:

 

Lime feathered headband and green patent ballet flats:

Citrus centerpiece:

And, Yellow globe lanterns:

Musically speaking, play any songs about sunshine and they'll fit perfectly into your sunflower theme.

"I'm Walkin' On Sunshine"     ~Katrina & the Waves

"Here Comes the Sun"     ~The Beatles

"I'll Follow the Sun"     ~The Beatles

"You Are the Sunshine of My Life"     ~Stevie Wonder

"Pocketful of Sunshine"     ~Natasha Bedingfield

Featuring a bold yellow at your event truly eludes happiness and fun, guaranteeing your guests a memorable time!

See you next time,

Elizabeth from Chesapeake Strings

Greetings!

Hello there!  Thanks for visiting our new blog!  Chesapeake Strings is an up-and-coming string ensemble specializing in performing at weddings and other events.  We can't wait to share our personal stories and pictures with you, so please stay tuned!  


Check back in September for pictures from our upcoming photoshoot with Allison Britton, a wedding photographer based in Alexandria, VA.  By then we'll also have some recordings and video clips of our favorite songs!


Violist Elizabeth is in the process of arranging these popular songs for string trio (violin, viola, cello):


-"Need You Now"  ~Lady Antebellum
-"Lovers In Japan"  ~Coldplay
-"Chasing Cars"  ~Snow Patrol
-"I'm Yours"  ~Jason Mraz
-"Fireflies"  ~Owl City
-"Love Song"  ~Sara Bareilles
-"Lucky"  ~Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat


If you'd like to hear any of these at your event, contact us!  And for more titles, please visit our website, Chesapeake Strings.  


Thanks again for checking out the blog!  We'll post again soon!