Wedding Colors: Yellow and White

Sugar-paste daisies drift down a fondant-covered cake, by Gail Watson of New York City. This effect is created by covering the top tier entirely with the blooms, and placing fewer and fewer on the bottom tiers. The choice of daisies, a decidedly old-fashioned flower, gives the simple, modern design a retro appeal. The cake's petite form gains presence when displayed on a footed cake stand.

To create these bold yellow-and-white centerpieces, New York City floral designer Naomi deManana combined jonquils, ranunculus, tulips, and sweetpeas, placing flowers in single-variety mini bunches before combining; this highlights the lush textures of each type. Opaque vases mean no stressing about the look of the stems. A band of thick yellow ribbon around each vase, plus lengths of it across each place setting, extend the crisp color scheme.

Although kept in discrete groups, mimosa, jonquils, ranunculus, and tulips visually merge for a perfectly polished effect. Just arrange the blossoms into a round, even shape before cutting the stems, and -- presto! -- a bouquet that looks like the work of a pro.

Cards and invitations, ranging from playful to sophisticated.
1. Overlapping letterpress dots by Cheree Berry.
2. Ornate flourishes flank gold calligraphy (by Deborah Delaney) on an envelope with matching thank-you card by Sesame Letterpress.
3. Fun as favors, matchbook-style notepads by Egg Press come with yellow pencils.
4. A chipboard card stamped with mustard-color ink slips into a tiny envelope, by Claudia Calhoun.
5. A letterpress invitation by Bella Figura pairs yellow bubbles with gray text.
6. Blind-embossed daisies by Modern Press.
7. Coasters with letterpress lemon slices by A Day in May are fresh for a bar.
8. A program sealed with a starry letterpress band, by Forty Quid.
9. Golden leaves adorn a seating card by Julie Holcomb Printers.
10. A scalloped border sets off bold yellow print, by Paper + Cup Design.

Get dotty on cards, stirrers, ribbon, boxes, yo-yos, and ties. Corks, by Hearts & Crafts, from Create for Less. Yo-yos, Kipp Brothers. Slide boxes (No. 8227491), from Paper Mart. Stir sticks, ForYourParty.com. Custom tie, Tiecrafters

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This sunny bunch of large and small blooms boasts creamy white, muted yellow, pale orange, and mossy green ranunculus; the texture comes from a mix of budded and open blossoms. White garden roses and yellow begonias add volume, while weigela leaves complement the color scheme. The stems, which are nestled in floral foam inside a footed compote, are cut to varying lengths, allowing for a loose symmetry.

These pretty packages are true to the color scheme through and through. Boxes and bags decorated with cheery fabric, paper, or ribbon open up to reveal candies and cookies in coordinating hues. The favors are quick and easy to assemble -- even if you have hundreds of guests -- yet each is so special, it will feel as if it's one of a kind.

1. Japanese jelly candies rest inside nesting boxes; the lid is topped with a patterned sticker and tied on with cotton ribbon.
2. Place jelly beans in a yellow box dressed in fabric. Fold cotton fabric in thirds, making a 1-inch-wide strip. Set box on strip and bring ends together above lid. Wrap a clear hair elastic around ends, then pull ends like a bow tie; trim with pinking shears.
3. A ribbon handle turns a clear round box into a powder-puff-style package; ours holds almond-flavored confections.
4. Transform a plain box with ribbon; an inexpensive sticker machine makes wrapping quick work Line with glassine, and fill with jelly fruit.
5. Simple folds, held in place with a silk bow, unfurl to offer white-chocolate candies embossed with yellow blooms.
6. Stitching seals lemon candies inside glassine pouches stamped with subtle lemon-slice designs.
7. Set pre-wrapped candy sticks inside box halves, and cover with a pretty sleeve (fold paper around open box, and tape at the bottom). Stamp date on a card-stock tag; tie on with embroidery thread.

The right ribbon can tie the colors of a palette together beautifully. Use it prominently all over your wedding: Wrap wide ribbon around the stems of bouquets or the base of the cake board, or turn it into sashes for bridesmaid and flower-girl dresses. Narrow ribbons can embellish favor boxes or bind program booklets.

1. Silk ribbon from Tinsel Trading.
2. Vintage picot-edge taffeta ribbon from Hyman Hendler & Sons.
3. Bold grosgrain stripes from Masterstroke Canada.
4. and 5. Wide mustard-color and pale grosgrain ribbons from Mokuba New York.
6. Narrow velvet ribbon from M&J Trimming.
7. Vintage dotted cotton ribbon from Hyman Hendler & Sons.
8. A geometric jacquard from M&J Trimming.
9. Striped sheer nylon ribbon from Tinsel Trading.
10. A single line of dots on vintage grosgrain from Hyman Hendler & Sons.
11. Classic cotton gingham ribbon by Offray.
12. Hand-dyed silk floral ribbon from M&J Trimming.
13. Cream satin with yellow edging by Midori.
14. Wide buttery satin ribbon from Masterstroke Canada.
15. Grosgrain polka dots from Offray.
16. Thin grosgrain with white stitching by Offray.

A little goes a long way with this table decoration. Fresh German chamomile is placed in a jar, then enclosed in a white paper bag for an exuberant centerpiece that is also economical. The top of the bag is trimmed with scalloping scissors, folded, punched with holes, and laced with yellow ribbon. Thread a tag with the table number onto ribbon before tying.