If you’re still trying to decide the color schemes for your wedding, then check out Michelle Mospens’ blog, “A Wedding Sketchbook.”

In a recent two-part  post, she features 2011’s trendiest wedding colours.

Mospens’s Wedding Sketchbook is an interesting resource for brides who want to explore colour trends.  She’s been forecasting next year’s ‘it’ colours since 2001, and her picks have been quite accurate over the last nine years. An artist and professional invitation designer, Michelle Mospens uses her extensive knowledge, creative instincts, and experience to identify the hot hues to choose.
Mospen says that the wedding colour trends for 2011 are not only hinting towards bright colours; they also include many vintage, earthy, and sun washed colours.

So check out Michelle’s blog “A Wedding Sketchbook” if you’re looking for inspiration for choosing your wedding colours.

You can create a world filled with nature’s magic on your special day.

Fill your day with all the romantic glowers and blooms that represent a stroll in a garden…flowergirls with flower baskets overflowing with petal perfect blooms.

Stay to the soft romantic palettes with soft pinks, white and the fresh greens inspired by nature.

Carry the look over to your venue with bird cages or lanterns for centerpieces.

1. Elbow Park in Calgary, AB

2. Chair Decor by Special Event Rentals

3. Chair Decor by Special Event Rentals

4. All flowers done by Studio Bloom

So you’ve gone online and magazine shopping, starting to prep for your big shopping day. You are going to get THE GOWN. But as you continue your research for the perfect dress you start to see terms you weren’t expecting. Off-white, bright white, diamond, eggshell - what the heck is going on? Relax - we’re here to help. See, wedding gowns come a variety of different ‘whites’, some of them not even white at all. We are here to direct you in picking the best shade for your skin tone.

stark white - this is the brightest and crispest white and looks fabulous on dark skin.

silk, diamond or natural white -  a shade off of stark white but it looks pretty much identical in photos. Most people look good in this colour.

ivory - you have a couple of choices here: ivory is also referred to as eggshell or candlelight. Some ivory dresses have yellow undertones and some are just a toned-down white. Check with the salon on which category your gown falls into.

Champagne - also called rum, this is a white with pink undertones that look nearly white in photos.

Which one is best for you? Know your skin tone and you will know exactly what colour of dress to choose.

fair - yellow/ivories but stay clear of stark whites as this will usually wash you out

medium (with pink undertones) - look for creamier colours

medium (with yellow undertones) - go for diamond white or champagne

dark - lucky bride! Most shades with complement your skin tone, however; stay away from yellow and ivory.

If you’ve found your dream dress but the colour doesn’t look right, ask your bridal salon consultant if it is available in another shade. Bridal shops carry samples but not usually one of each shade in the same dress.