Spring Wedding Themes: Pretty Pastels

July 27, 2011

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Glamorous and Glinty Pinks

Iridescent runners of pale-pink silk shantung overlay an off-white tablecloth on this candlelit setting inspired by formal 1940s dinner parties.

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Delicate Hues

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All you need is wood veneer paper to turn plain glass vases into perfectly matched pieces that can hold flowers or candles.

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Taper Route

In lieu of pricey floral arrangements, display sleek tapers in a variety of shapely glass candlesticks.

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Mirror Centerpiece

Credit: Annie Schlechter

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When topped with shimmering votive candles, a mirror becomes a pool of reflective light that casts a glow onto the reception tables.

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Pom-Poms

Credit: James Baigrie

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Joyous bursts of color dance above a table, imparting a cheerful radiance to a rehearsal dinner or casual reception.

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Napkins in Bloom

Weddings are full of flowers, but sometimes the littlest arrangements make the biggest impact.

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Beribboned Bulletin Board

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Before the meal, guide guests to their seats with the help of a beribboned bulletin board.

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Gentle Landings: Floaty Butterflies

Credit: Charles Maraia

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Paper butterflies alight on the rims of Champagne glasses, staying still just long enough for guests to find their seats.

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Pastel Ribbons

Credit: Dana Gallagher

These satin, grosgrain, and taffeta ribbons are available in subtle and unusual colors -- French blue, pale pink, oyster, celadon, lavender, silver, and buff. Use them to tie on napkins, finish off favor boxes or to wrap around centerpiece vases.

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Palest Pinks

Both the miniature calla lilies and the ranunculuses display touches of pink and green in this fan-shape bouquet, which is romantic yet still modern.

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Sweet Peas Bridesmaids' Nosegays

Credit: Victoria Pearson

From collars of matching organza, this quartet of sweet peas emerges.

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Pastel Puff

Credit: Dana Gallagher

A bouquet of Cafe au Lait dahlias in pink, salmon, and yellow.

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Painter's Palette Rose Bouquet

Small tailored garden roses in buff set the stage for dramatic pink French garden roses. Clematis buds and vines tumble out between them.

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Dreamy Bouquets

Credit: Maria Robledo

Lilies-of-the-valley evoke water droplets trickling over hydrangea florets, which are plucked from a single bloom and wired to form a loose grouping.

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Blushing Pink Classics

Credit: Lisa Hubbard

Ruffly pink azaleas and ivory sweet peas blend seamlessly in this bride's bouquet. For the bridesmaids, miniature roses and budding double kalanchoe peek out from clusters of ranunculus; lollipop-shaped miniature mums look sweet with wax flowers, hyacinth florets, single kalanchoe, and a jacquard cuff with pink ribbon binding the stems.

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Pink Garden Rose Bouquet

The palette for the bridal bouquet is more vivid, with pink garden roses (some barely budding, others full and layered like a tulle skirt), pink-tipped hydrangeas, and variegated geranium leaves, which add fullness.

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Frosting-Free Layer Cake

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Here, we put the notion of icing on ice, relying instead on unadorned pastel layers for graphic appeal.

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Gerbera Daisy Cake

Credit: Dana Gallagher

Pink gerbera daisies are the inspiration for this lively cake.

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Rose Garden

A garden of roses in pink, peach, and yellow encircles a full-size cake.

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Dogwood Cake

At first glance, this cake appears to be monochromatic, but the edges of all of the gum-paste petals are actually brushed with powdered coloring in a mix of moss green and pale pink.

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Pretty Pleats

The edible pleats here recall the crinolines beneath a cream puff of a wedding dress.

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The French Confection

A majestic design turns a bit coquettish when it's festooned with macaroons -- the quintessential French treats -- and dressed up in flirty pink.

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Ribbon Rose Cake

Credit: Lisa Hubbard

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A cascade of 60 piped meringue flowers tumbles down a stack of rectangular tiers; each tier is edged in a pristine border.

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Special Delivery

The fondant-covered box lids are the actual cake here, and the bottoms, also wrapped in fondant, are cake risers. The whole package is tied together with a taffeta ribbon, while each tier is edged with gold luster dust and matching royal-icing dots.

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Rose Melting Moments

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Crystallized geranium-petal cookies and a pink coconut cake are a perfect pink treat.

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Fancy Candy

Credit: Jonathan Kantor

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Humble supplies can take on an elegant air: Monogrammed stickers and crepe paper decorate clear plastic tubes filled with Champagne-bubble candies.

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Mini Coconut Macadamia Bundt Cake

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Favors as gorgeous as these can double as decorations: Use them to enhance place settings or an entry hall, or group them together for a centerpiece.

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Pretty Pinups

Invite guests to help themselves to these yummy favors. Cellophane bags printed with the couple's initial and wedding date are filled with delicious goodies including pink-chocolate wafers, pillow mints, strawberry puffs, jelly beans, candy-coated milk-chocolate pieces, and tinted rock candy.

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Marshmallow Favors

Credit: Annie Schlechter

These marshmallows are imported from Paris and, as you might suspect, they're not your typical campfire fare.

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Favors in Boxes

Credit: Richard Pierce

The message on this scroll was calligraphed, then photocopied onto the paper. Placed on a plain favor box filled with candy, it makes a lovely and inexpensive favor for your guests.

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Italian Meringue Drops

Credit: Ellen McDermott

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At the end of the reception, send guests on their way with sweet treats.

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More

Spring Wedding Themes: Pretty Pastels

1 of 32

Glamorous and Glinty Pinks

1 of 32

2 of 32

Delicate Hues

2 of 32

3 of 32

Taper Route

3 of 32

4 of 32

Mirror Centerpiece

4 of 32

5 of 32

Pom-Poms

5 of 32

6 of 32

Napkins in Bloom

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7 of 32

Beribboned Bulletin Board

7 of 32

8 of 32

Gentle Landings: Floaty Butterflies

8 of 32

9 of 32

Pastel Ribbons

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10 of 32

Palest Pinks

10 of 32

11 of 32

Sweet Peas Bridesmaids' Nosegays

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12 of 32

Pastel Puff

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13 of 32

Painter's Palette Rose Bouquet

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14 of 32

Dreamy Bouquets

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15 of 32

Blushing Pink Classics

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Pink Garden Rose Bouquet

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Frosting-Free Layer Cake

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18 of 32

Gerbera Daisy Cake

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Rose Garden

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Dogwood Cake

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Pretty Pleats

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22 of 32

The French Confection

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Ribbon Rose Cake

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Special Delivery

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Rose Melting Moments

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Fancy Candy