The BIG wedding news of the moment has of course to be Prince Harry's wedding to Ms Meghan Markle. 

It's a golden moment for weddings indeed. And actually, your wedding day should be one of the most golden moments of your life.

So this inspired us today to think of using the color gold on your wedding day. 

Why is gold a glorious color for weddings? 

• Because traditionally it's the color of wedding bands
• It's a precious metal
• Gold signifies security 
• It also denotes real value - "she has a heart of gold"

Any month of the year

Gold looks wonderful at any time of year. It's warm and embracing in the winter (and of course is a given at a Christmas wedding) but also adds sparkle and shine to a summer wedding. Spring is a golden time too, with naturally golden flowers like daffodils and tulips in abundance and as for fall - well you have all the golden colors from the trees to be considering. 

In different venues

If you're having a city wedding, then a gold theme would be ritzy glitzy enough for the smartest venue

Of if you're getting married on the beach, the whole wedding party could be dressed in white with gold accents (like jewellery, sandals ...) The bride and bridesmaids could wear goddess-style dresses like this one from Dessy. 

Ways to use golden accents on your big day

Well, you could go all out and have a golden wedding dress. There are some beautiful ones around. But if that feels a bit too much for you then consider a frock with golden thread woven through it, on the bodice maybe.

Tie the look in by dressing your maids in Dessy's spectacular gold sequinned dresses - or put them in gold sequin separates (which they will LOVE wearing).

You could also have your wedding veil edged with gold.

We always love it when brides choose metallic shoes - particularly as you're much more likely to wear them after your wedding day than traditional white or ivory. (So it's time to treat yourself to those strappy metallics you've always had your eye on). 

Image credit: De La Creme Creative Studio

Gold leaf on your wedding cake would look AMAZING. 

And you could investigate using gold on your place settings. 

As for your stationery, gold has just so many options. You can be ultra traditional and have gold edged wedding invitations on white card. Or gold calligraphy. 

Have your seating plan written in gold calligraphy and place it inside a golden frame.

We could go on ... there is just so much potential with this theme. But just check out the images we've found here and then take a look at Dessy's gold weddings board on Pinterest  which is just packed full of inspiration. 

If you're planning on holding a more informal kind of wedding ceremony, then you want to set the tone right from the beginning. 

You probably feel that a formally calligraphed invitation, on stiff board with a gold rim isn't quite you.

Is your venue low key? Maybe you don't want any fuss?

Maybe you're getting married on a beach? Or having a festival-style ceremony?

Perhaps it's second-time around for the pair of you and you want things to be a bit different. 

You want to do it your way and your want your wedding invitations to reflect your sense of fun. Have something spontaneous about them. 

See what we've found

We've picked out a few ideas for invitations and save the dates that are sure to bring a smile to your guests' faces when they receive them. Some could be used as wedding favors also. 

And best of all? Most of them act as keepsakes for the future, rather than an expensive invitation that will eventually end up in the recycling bin. 

Printed tea towel by Wedding Tea Towels

This idea is sure to make your friends laugh when they receive it - and it's a beautiful accessory for the kitchen too. Choose from a variety of different designs and over 16 different shades, from fuchsia through to blush - so you can even keep your wedding color theme matching if you have one. 

Save the date pencils from Etsy

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best and these pencils are certainly that. They're a really inexpensive option too, coming in at 99p each. Of course, they'd also work as wedding favors too if you have any left over! 

Photobooth Save The Dates - image via Pinterest

You can create these on the spur of the moment, dress up as you wish, add accessories. Again, they're a cheap way to send Save The Dates and you can be as imaginative as you wish. If you're having a beach wedding, maybe you want to dress up in beach gear? Well, we'll leave the creativity up to you. 

Save The Date mugs via Etsy

These tick the box of being useful as well as kind of beautiful. We like the simple white design and lettering that will look good in even the most minimal home. 

Another idea - you could adjust the lettering to make them wedding favours too - maybe fill with candies and sweets and put at each place setting? 

Some rules are made to be broken. 

And in our view, the one that only the bride should wear white at the wedding is one of them. 

To be honest, it didn't seem to bother Kate Middleton much when she married Prince William. Her sister Pippa wore an off-white bridesmaid frock and looked completely fabulous, without detracting from the bride in any way. So if Royalty can do it, why can't you? 

Dressing your maids in white or cream has a number of things going for it

• Whites or creams look fabulous at any time of year. Spring, summer, fall or winter
• Brightly colored wedding flowers are beautifully offset by white frocks
• You can add pops of color with colorful shoes and accessories
• White and cream suit all sorts of skin tones
• White is just made for a destination beach wedding too
• White is a classic - it never goes out of style as a color

Styling up white bridesmaid dresses

If you want to mix it up with your maids in terms of necklines and sleeves, then all white dresses will hang your whole look together. Ask your girls which necklines and waistlines they feel flatter them best and then go bridesmaid dress shopping. 

In winter or in chillier weather, give your girls shrugs or wraps to cover bare shoulders. Any colour goes with white so you can follow your color theme.

Think about adding sparkling touches. Maybe metallic shoes for your girls? Chandelier earrings? White is a neutral which means it works as a blank palette, so you can layer on colors, textures and different shades. 

It's likely that the bride will have quite a bit of detail on her dress - maybe an embroidered bodice or sleeves. In which case it's best to keep the bridesmaid frocks fairly simple if they're going to be in white. Think in terms of shapes and fabrics instead. Maybe opt for a slinky satin or ballerina length skirts.

One tip is to use the same shade of white for all your frocks (which is easy with Dessy's fabric swatches). Although you might think white is just one shade, it's actually not and if your bridesmaids are wearing different hues of white then you won't get the effect you're after. 

You can shop for white bridesmaid frocks here at Dessy. 

All images featured via Dessy Facebook page

So you're getting married somewhere far away.

Maybe on the beach. Under palm trees. 

You've got your own dress sorted and it's beautiful. But your bridesmaids?

The thing is your girls are all different. One's curvy and voluptuous. Another is tall and willowy. And another is pregnant. 

Plus which, you want more than one look for your girls. Something for the beach ceremony and then something for the evening dancing. 

You want your ladies all to wear something they feel fabulous in, that shows off their best features. But what? 

Sounds like you should investigate the Dessy Twist Dress.

• It can be halter-style, strapless, sleeved or one-shouldered
• It's made from soft jersey that travels beautifully and just shakes out on arrival
• It's a dress your girls will want to wear again and again
• It has a forgiving fit - so it's perfect for ladies who are pregnant
• You can change the look from day to night
• It comes in a dazzling rainbow of different colors, so there's one to suit your theme and your girls. Go for an ombre effect, jewel shades or two or three contrasting shades

The bridesmaid frock that works through day and night

It'll take your girls from an afternoon ceremony on a sandy, palm-fringed shore and then off to a sophisticated evening party. Effortlessly.

Check out this real Dessy wedding featuring Twist Dresses here. 

Go strapless, in flats and it's a completely perfect bridesmaid dress for a destination beach wedding.

Change it to halter-style maybe, add heels, an updo, some statement earrings and they're all set in a glamorous cocktail frock.

Why your bridesmaids will LOVE this dress

You'll be their friend forever. For a number of reasons.

Your bridesmaids can create a style that shows their best features (sleeveless, strapless etc. etc.). You just pick a dress from one of the colours available and leave the rest to them.

They'll love it that you chose a Dessy Twist Dress for that reason, because there's nothing worse than having to wear something that doesn't suit you. Especially when you're going to be photographed A LOT.

Also you've given your girls a fashion treasure that'll last because this is a dress they really will wear after your wedding day. Again and again. And it looks classy.

What else? Oh yes, this multi-tasking gown comes in either long or cocktail length.

You might even like to buy one yourself to take on your honeymoon - for a different look every night.

See all the Dessy Twist Dresses here. 

All featured images of Dessy Twist Dresses worn by real girls via Dessy Facebook page

1. Think of the location of your wedding. If you're getting married on a beach, then your maids will need to be wearing something soft, light and filmy so that they look and feel cool. Don't go for any heavy fabrics or brocade.
2. Ask your girls to tell you honestly what they feel their best points are and what they'd rather remain hidden. So a girl who has long elegant legs might want to show them off - but hide a somewhat flat chest. Alternatively, a girl who feels her arms are her best feature may be happy to show them, but be a bit self-conscious about her legs. Chat to them and look through bridesmaid styles together. 
3. Think about the colors you're choosing. Some girls suit some shades and others don't. If you've got a particular color theme you can get round this by choosing contrasting and complementing colors or by opting for an ombre effect. (The Dessy Pantone tools are very useful for choosing wedding colors and working out what goes with what.)
4. If you want your maids to wear their frocks again, then think about separates. This is very on trend. Check out this Dessy style here. 
5. Don't be frightened of opting for different necklines. They can look fabulous and choosing the same color will hang your look together.
6. In winter, be thoughtful and give your girls some cover ups against the cold. Maybe a cosy pashmina or shrug. Don't leave them shivering - it won't make for good photographs. 
7. If you have a bridesmaid who's a young teen and at that in-between age, you'll find Dessy Junior Bridesmaid styles a real find. They're similar in design to adult bridesmaids, but cut for a less mature figure. 
8. Don't forget about shoes for your bridesmaids - experiment with different colors and remember that metallics always look good.
9. Get some fabric swatches for dresses you like - and talk through the fabrics with your maids. 
10. Finally, the Dessy Twist Dress is popular for good reason. It comes in all sorts of colors, can be wrapped in a number of styles, you can choose long or short and it will also work for pregnant bridesmaids.

(Image credits clockwise from top left: Green Wedding Shoes, Wedding Chicks, Wedding Chicks, Wedding Chicks)

 One of the most important thoughts to bear in mind when you're styling your wedding is to spend money where it will have the most impact. And a floral wedding arch certainly creates the wow factor when your guests arrive at your wedding venue.

(Image credits from top: Green Wedding Shoes, Wedding Chicks, Wedding Chicks)

 A bower of flowers is a good idea for plenty of reasons:

• It gives a sense of welcome at the entrance to your venue 
• It provides a focal point for the area in which to say your vows or where you sign the register
• If you're having a Jewish wedding, then you'll want a floral huppah to be married underneath
• It's a great backdrop for photographs
• It can beautify a less than beautiful doorway
• Or create a doorway wherever you want one
• If you're marrying outside, you can set an arch up with spectacular scenery behind
• You can use flowers for the season and theme of your wedding day 
• A flower curtain can disguise an indifferent area at your reception
• You can use a floral arch or arches to direct guests to where you want them to go. For example, if you want people to head to the bar while you're having your photographs taken, have an arch placed there that calls out 'this way to where the party starts'. If you're having a country-style wedding day in summer, think about old-fashioned flowers like roses and peonies.
• In the winter, think of holly, berrries, ivy.
• In fall, use trailing vines, mini squash and have an earthy palette. 
• If you're having a Jewish wedding, then you'll want a floral huppah to be married underneath
• Floral arches are a great backdrop for photographs
• Fancy making one yourself? Here's a DIY guide to making a floral wedding arch. 
•  Talk to your florist and say that you're interested in having a decorated floral arch and see what is suggested for the time of year and your location. 
• Maybe take some Pantone swatches if you're keen on matching up colors to flowers. 

Think carefully about where your flower budget goes - after all, table decorations are all well and good but they don't feature big time in the wedding photos, do they? A floral wedding arch is a styling trick you really shouldn't miss. 

(Image credits clockwise from top: Taryn Baxter,  Wedding Chicks, Wedding Chicks.

Dress your bridesmaids in black? "Whoa, I don't think so" you may think to yourself. 

But we'd say, think again. 

Because the results can be absolutely spectacular, as you can see from these photographs of real weddings. 

And there are a lot of advantages too

• The little black dress is an absolute classic
• Every girl should have the perfect black dress in their wardrobe
• Black looks spectacular at a chic evening wedding
• You can liven up the color with bright wedding flowers - which will look fabulous against a dark gown
• Black suits just about every complexion
• You can ring the changes with different necklines for different girls
• Think about cocktail length or full-length frocks 

Let's think about fabrics

Depending on the style of wedding you're having, consider the different fabrics that are available.

• You could choose a black bridesmaid gown with lace inlays for a really sophisticated but covered-up look. Maybe a black frock with a paler color inlaid underneath.
• If you want something dramatic and film-starry, think about fishtail skirts or dresses that use black netting. 
• Chiffon is also romantic and dreamy on sweeping long black skirts. 
• Or for something powerful, maybe black satin or black sequins. 
• Of course, black and white also work beautifully together - so you could opt for a monochrome approach. (This Dessy frock makes it easy to do that). Have a black bodice with a white skirt, or vice versa. 

When black won't work well

We'd say that there are some locations and themes for which black bridesmaid frocks wouldn't work so well. 

If you're having a rustic style wedding day, then a black frock won't really give you the look you're after. You'd be better off choosing colors or pastels. 

Also, if you're having a wedding day in the height of summer out of doors or if you're getting married on a tropical beach - you'd be better off choosing different bright colors.

If you want to check out masses of bridemaid frocks in black, in different styles, start your search here.  

Image credits: Clockwise from top:  Wedding Play Book, Wedding Play Book, Jose Villa, Rachel Meagan Photography, June Bug Weddings 

Middle image via Pinterest 

Interior designers have long known that a ‘pop’ of color in a neutral room can add a fabulously vibrancy.

Which is exactly why you should consider colorful wedding bouquets and wedding flowers.

If you're going down the traditional wedding dress route, then your bridal gown is likely to be white or ivory – neutral in fact. And an splash of carefully-considered color could give some serious styling to your big day.

Image credit: Style Me Pretty

Bright colors, blue skies

If you're getting married under a tropical sun or somewhere hot, then bright colors work really well. Pastels can look a bit washed out under palm trees and on white sands – but brights really come into their own. Same applies with your bridesmaid dresses. Under a cloudless blue sky think about dressing your maids in stand-out shades and jewel colors. Think about the heat too – maybe it's time for one-shouldered bridesmaid gowns.

On a beach, have a colorful wedding arch created from local flowers to give a focal point for saying your vows (and having your photograph taken).

Image credit: Wedding Chicks

Think about how your flowers are presented too – we love the idea of using tropical fruit – like the pineapple above – as containers for your floral décor.

Image credit: Casaecozinha

White dresses, colorful bouquets

A vibrantly colored wedding bouquet will look fabulous against the white of a wedding dress – like the bride shown. She's cleverly chosen to echo the color of her bouquet in her bridesmaid gowns too (and better still, has given her maids different necklines so that they're confident they're wearing a dress that suits them perfectly).

Image credit: Ruffled Blog

Image credit: Burnetts Boards

Colorful accents

Colored wedding flowers aren't just for bouquets either – think about ways to use them to decorate your wedding cake, around doorways and on chairbacks (we've some great ideas for decorating wedding chairs here too). Enjoy!

Image credit: Wedding Chicks

One last word: Always talk to your florist about which flowers are in season for the area you are in. You'll be saving money and you'll also be doing your bit to help the environment, by not having expensive out-of-season blooms flown in from distant countries.

Image credit: Aisle Society

Wedding cakes with flowers like the ones above are perfection if you're having a very romantic kind of a wedding theme.

Of course, your wedding cake is going to take center stage on your big day.

So you need to make sure it says just what you want to

And you have so many options. Deciding on the look of your wedding cake might be one of the more difficult decisions you make when planning the catering for your big day.

(Image credit: The Cake Parlour)

Here are a few wedding cake tips from us

1. Have wedding cake tiers in different flavors - a chocolate sponge, a traditional fruit cake and a citrus flavored sponge. 
2. Offer a gluten free cake on the tier so all your friends can indulge
3. Have a nude wedding cake - with minimal icing, like the one shown above. 
4. Don't forget the bridegroom. Surprise him with a groom's cake as your gift. Choose his favorite recipe. Prince William had a chocolate biscuit groom's cake when he married Duchess Kate. 
5. Don't want a traditional cake?  You could go for a tower of cheeses if you prefer savoury to sweet. Or put one on your dessert table as another option for guests. 
6. Watching your budget but still want to have an impressive tier of cakes? They don't all have to be real you know. Just have one or two tiers that are cake and get your caterer to ice boxes for some tiers. Nobody will know the difference except you and the caterer. And you're not going to be saying anything, are you?
7. A spectacular wedding cake could make a really good gift from somebody
8. Give your caterer fabric swatches or Pantone refereces (Dessy makes it easy here) so that they can get colors EXACTLY as you want them. For things like ribbons and paste flowers.
9. If you're marrying somewhere really hot, a citrus flavored cake could just hit the spot
10. On a budget? Buy a good quality iced cake from a baker or supermarket and decorate it yourself with flowers. Here's a tutorial for doing just that.

     

11. Finally, choose a cake that reflects your style of day. Your wedding dress. The venue. The time of year. If you're having a boho or rustic wedding, you probably won't want to opt for a formal tiered iced cake. Or if you're having a chic city wedding then you might find that decorating your cake with rustic flowers doesn't look quite right. 

(Image credit above: Wedding Chicks )

Image credits above and below: Maisie Fantaisie

Image credit: Rosalind Miller Cakes