Wedding Colors: Opalescent

A flurry of bubble-like glass ornaments, hung with monofilament, creates an ethereal canopy for your vows (or for a special spot at the reception, such as over the cake). Strands of tissue-paper squares, stitched together on a sewing machine, add to the festive, breezy feel. Tissue squares, Oriental Trading. Six-inch iridescent glass balls, Jamali Garden Supplies. Iridescent ornaments: 3-inch, 2-inch, Anvente Event Essentials. Gown, Alberta Ferretti. Earrings, Monet, Macy's. Blazer and pants, Shipley & Halmos, Barneys New York. Shirt and tie, Calvin Klein, Macy's.

Clockwise from top left: "Max" earrings, Andrea Fohrman, Twist. Bangle, Monet, Macy's. Drusy studs, Pade Vavra. Rose de France necklace, Suzanne Kalan, Fragments, 212-334-9588. Amethyst earrings, Iradj Moini, 212-925-5666. "Glamour" bracelet, J.Crew. Rectangle chalcedony earrings, Bounkit. Rose-gold marquis-shaped earrings, Irene Neuwirth, The Squash Blossom, 800-323-2339. Moonstone bib necklace, Wendy Mink Jewelry

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This sweet drawstring purse makes a great bridesmaid gift; it's also the perfect size for bridal essentials -- tissues, lipstick, vows. Ultrasuede, Mood Fabrics. Cord, Mokuba New York. Dress, Jenny Yoo. Moonstone cuff, Pade Vavra.

Not too matte, not too teenybop-glittery, nail polish with a frosted finish has just the right amount of wattage for a wedding. Invite bridesmaids to choose a shade that coordinates or contrasts with their gowns. And as for you -- take your pick! Clockwise from top: Jessica Custom Nail Colour in Blush and Pashmina, jessicacosmetics.com. Essie Nail Polish in Buy Me a Cameo, essie.com

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Bridesmaid dresses don't need to look like, well, bridesmaid dresses. Pick out frocks in your palette that have potential for an afterlife and feature exquisite details -- oversize ruffles or allover pleating, perhaps? -- and your attendants will rejoice. From left: Strapless organdy dress (#2514), Vivian Diamond for Dessy Collection; coral necklace, de Vera; 50mm ribbon (#10000, color #31), Mokuba New York. "Nice" flower girl dress, Pip-Squeak Chapeau Etc.; 9mm ribbon (#10000, color #31), Mokuba New York. Silk gazar dress, Luisa Beccaria. "Galette" dress, J.Crew. Crinkle silk chiffon gown (G561C), Amsale. "Orchard" strapless dress, 57 Grand; stone necklace with pendant, Monet, Macy's.

The secret to this bountiful bouquet's endless appeal: There's not a flower in the gathering that's truly monochromatic. Deep-purple anemones with saturated centers, tightly layered blush garden roses and ranunculus, speckled hellebores, mottled begonia leaves, and ruffly sweet peas in pink, lavender, and tangerine, cinched with a shimmery ribbon, give the eyes plenty to feast on. Similar 75mm organdy ribbon, Mokuba New York

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Who knew a cluster of foliage could be so eye-catching? Rex begonia leaves, with their burnished glow and richly colored veins, are beautiful standing alone on a lapel. 15mm sheer iridescent ribbon in pink, Mokuba New York

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For more oomph, pair angel-wing begonia leaves with a hellebore bloom. 15mm sheer iridescent ribbon in pink, Mokuba New York. One-inch silk satin ribbon in Victorian rose (#33103), M&J Trimming

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These fruit sparklers are a gorgeous sight to behold, a breeze to make -- and as refreshing as a breeze to taste. Grapefruit Sparkler: Scatter 3 tablespoons of sugar in a shallow bowl. Using your finger, wet the rims of your coupes with water, and dip the rims in the sugar, coating them evenly. Pour 1 ounce of ruby-red grapefruit juice into each coupe, and top with 5 ounces of sparkling wine. Apricot Sparkler: Pour 1 1/2 ounces of apricot nectar into each champagne flute. Top each with 5 ounces of sparkling wine.

A scattering of single-flower arrangements (we used sweet peas, poppies, and anemones) in colorful bottles makes for an informal yet impactful tablescape. Give glass containers a lit-from-within look with our simple technique: Pour 1/4 inch of glass paint into a bottle or jar, and rotate it slowly, moving the paint around until the whole interior is coated. Set the bottle upside-down to allow excess paint to drain out. Turn right-side up, and let dry overnight. Complete the look with place cards made of metallic and translucent paper circles strung like beads on silver thread. Bottles and jars, Specialty Bottle. "Porcelaine 150" glass and ceramic paint, Pebeo, Blick Art Materials. Metal thread (TD100/8/GD S), Tinsel Trading Company

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As they say, it's all about the packaging. On the next few slides we share some of our favorite packaging ideas.

Seal your treats with a pretty ribbon and pearly round labels (to make, use circle craft punches and sew tags to ribbon). Pyramid boxes, Bayley's Boxes. Metallic paper, and translucent paper, Paper Presentation. 32mm silk ribbon (color #178), YLI.

A variety of colorful candy in clear rectangular boxes, wrapped with translucent paper, makes for stylish favors. Acetate boxes (T109), Glerup Revere Packaging, glerup.com. 3 1/2mm ribbon (ER1540), Mokuba New York. Translucent paper, Paper Presentation. Lavender rock candy, crystallized ginger, and champagne gumdrops, all The Sweet Life. Gummi peaches (C100857), Haribo, Candy Warehouse

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Here's a gem of a favor: jewel-shaped cookies nestled in see-through boxes. Clear boxes (C331), Glerup Revere Packaging. Cookies, The Jewels of New York. 3 1/2mm ribbon (ER1540), Mokuba New York.

The next best thing to ice cream cones? Candy cones. Pearl White mini milk chocolate balls (SWC3735), Candy Warehouse. Iridescent film (#11209-1036), Blick Art Materials. 32-lb. metallic paper in opal, Paper Presentation. 7mm ribbon (#ER1540, color #71), Mokuba New York.