Photos: Blue glass with hanging crystals, The Treasured Petal~White and blue, Broadway Florist~Ball jars metal lids, TreasureAgain~Blue jars red floral, MattLauraJones~Hand-tied blue glass, Sweet Pea Floral~Dark blue glass, Wedding Bee~Blue stemmed peonies, Heather Ham~Blue pink dahlias, Shannon Nicole Smith~Blue mixed floral, Partee Hee Hee

Photos:  Lanvin for H&M dress, Bisou Online~Choker, Aranwen~Boutonniere, Amie Otto Photography~Cupcakes, Dotty About Cake~Cocktail, Cointreau~Handbag, SueJack~Peep-toe, Vera Wang~Wedding Dress, Vera Wang~Peonies, Fos Decor.

But those tight, white bundles of perfectly uniform blooms all perfectly tied are so perfectly…perfect. Maybe too perfect. How about introducing a little contrast to kick up the white a notch? How about adding a feathery touch or a flutter of wings? How about checking out these examples of gorgeous white (but not quite) bridal bouquets we’ve picked just for you?

Black-centered anemones, fragrant eucalyptus and pops of palest pink and yellow give this loosely arranged bouquet a beautifully organic feel.

How can you not love this whimsical white bouquet—those green-striped orchids and graceful fern fronds, those joyful butterflies and spotted brown feathers? Thanks to the always-delightful Austin Wedding Blog for sharing this one!

And speaking of feathers, here’s a completely different way to use them in your white bouquet. Very glamorous, but somehow sweet and demure at the same time.

Another take on the white-offset-by-black theme. Imagine this sophisticated bouquet paired with a black ribbon belt, or black bridesmaids’ dresses. So chic!

Of course, sometimes less is more. Especially in the case of simply tied, naturally sculptural white calla lilies (like these from Chicago’s Fleur), and nuthin’ else. Fifty years from now, the image of these will resonate as elegantly as the real thing does today.

We don’t mean to interrupt your well-deserved Labor Day lounging around, but you may want to take a sec to mark your calendar. This Thursday, Sept. 9, wedding-planning firm extraordinaire A Day To Remember –you know them for their glorious cakes, gorgeous flowers and impeccable event planning–celebrates its 10^th anniversary in high style…and you’re invited!

Festivities start at 6 p.m. at the truly spectacular Villa Rinata, and last until the last guest leaves (now that’s OUR kinda party!). Houston brides and their entourages fortunate enough to attend will find themselves surrounded by fine food and drink, awesome entertainment, great door prizes and swag, swag, swag.

As you can imagine, space is limited. So if you’re a bride-to-be who’s looking for amazing wedding ideas, while simultaneously taking a break from the hard work of wedding planning, make sure to RSVP, PDQ!

Vintage-jewelry genius Noaki combs antique shops, estate sales, flea markets and other sources to find unique and exquisite heirloom jewelry, than hand-selects pieces and hand-wraps them into unbelievably gorgeous bridal bouquets. She can also incorporate your own family heirlooms and wedding colors, or create a special arrangement to match the theme of your wedding.

Check out more of her stunning wedding work here and here. Wow!

Photos by Lindsey Joy and Claire D.

The best thing about a daytime wedding? Well, beyond the fact that it’s a perfect lead-in to a let-your-hair-down, informal evening gathering, and that it allows weary revelers to get their beauty rest, having a daytime wedding, especially a Sunday daytime wedding, can save you a bundle on venue rental fees. Which means you’ve got that much more budget to allocate to things like floral, linen and décor. And trust us, you’re going to be grateful that you do. Because as far as elegance, artistry and luxury are concerned, the bright blue sky’s the limit for today’s daytime wedding.

We’ve collected a few breathtakingly beautiful examples to inspire the daytime bride in you!

How sweet is this Texas-style Southern California backyard wedding featured on 100 Layer Cake? The hand-lettered signs and bright, funky floral arrangements add so much warmth and whimsy to this joyful fête.

Photo: Michelle King

Also from 100 Layer Cake, here’s a showcase wedding design that was featured at a recent bridal show at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. We particularly love the “vintage concept” tabletop, with those antique vases and mix-n-match china. And the Hostess Sno Balls? Lordy, too cute!

Photo by Scott Clark Photo & Robert Wagner

This South African wedding, featured over at Junebug Weddings, is so simple and elegant. The pristine white-and-silver color scheme is lovely, especially with those small touches of green in the succulent and wildflower centerpieces.

Photo by Christine Meintjes

And lastly, here’s a completely different take on the daytime white wedding, from the ever-stylish Style Me Pretty. We adore everything from the monochromatic box centerpieces (perfect for rectangular banquet tables), to the white chiavari chairs, to the sea-glass plates and personal apple pies. So homey, yet so chic.

Photo by Bello Photography

Events in Bloom - Photo: D. Jones

If you’re one of the more than 1,000 lucky brides and assorted family and friends who attended the Jan. 24 Before You Say … “I Do!” soiree, you’re probably still reeling from the thrill of the experience. We know we are.

This year’s show featured nearly 80 in-demand Houston wedding experts and purveyors of wedding beauty and bounty (thank goodness for that
Java Pura coffee bar…with so much to see and such divine cuisine and drink from the ever hospitable Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, we needed a caffeine kick or two!)

We want to thank the wonderful Lisa Hopkins, director of catering for The Houstonian, and her amazing staff, without whom the soiree would not have been possible. And this year’s show wasn’t just possible, it was “fabulous,” notes Weddings in Houston publisher Radhika Day. “Gorgeous weather, great turnout and incredible displays” were all on hand, she says. As for those designer tablescapes and cake displays? “They were show stopping! And the cocktail reception was a big hit with the brides.” Shocker, huh? But it was the Houston BoyChoir, which performed on stage just before the spectacular soiree fashion show, that really wowed the crowd. As Day says, “Their angelic faces and beautiful voices stole the show!”

Houston Boychoir - Photo: Nhan

We’ll have more Before You Say … “I Do!” wrap coverage coming up, but take a look at these photos for a little taste of our sweetest soiree yet!

Mia Bridal Couture - Photo: Nhan

Bring you mother, sister, maid of honor, fiancé…or the whole crew, and enjoy cocktails, gourmet nibbles, spectacular tablescapes, gorgeous cakes, a stunning bridal fashion show, door prizes and special treats. And while you’re at it, take advantage of the chance to chat one-on-one with some of the best wedding talents in the business.

Tickets for this once-a-year luxury showcase of the best in Houston weddings are only $20—that’s less than the price of a single manicure!—for a full FIVE HOURS of wedding ideas, inspiration and goodies galore. And guess what? They sell out. Every year.

We’ll definitely be there. Make sure you are, too!

If you’ve spent any time researching Houston wedding floral vendors, you’ve almost certainly heard Lisa Tran’s name. For years, she has been one of the most sought-after florists in town for weddings and special events.

Now Tran has opened a linen gallery, dubbed Linen Gallery, which boasts a large selection of tablecloths, chair covers, and just about every other linen you might need to accent your special day. She’s also changed the name of her company from Floral Impressions (previously Wedding Flowers by Lisa) to Blooming Gallery. Both the linen shop and floral studio are now located at 1510 Delano in Houston.

Don’t let the name change fool you: Lisa still offers the same great service and level of quality that’s led Houston brides to have her handle all of their floral needs for years, and we’re guessing that her full-service linen shop will quickly become one of the most popular places to call for luxurious linens.

At Linen Gallery, Houston brides can choose from a large selection of unique linens that includes just about every design and color imaginable. That includes some gorgeous sequin designs that are sure to make your reception sparkle.

And if you can’t find linens that are everything you imagined, don’t worry. Lisa can hook you up with some custom-made linens designed just for you. Pretty fabulous, right?

Honestly, we’re not surprised: Lisa is known for taking her each of her brides to the flower market to make sure she gets exactly the flowers they want—in exactly the hue they want, and she’s committed to ensuring that Houston brides get exactly the linens they want. “Quality is all that matters,” Lisa tells us. “Most brides only have one wedding, so I want to give them service they remember when they talk about their wedding.” We’ll toast to that!

Clay Flowers by DK Designs

There’s nothing quite as beautiful, quite as fresh, quite as romantic as wedding-day flowers. Until the end of the night when they droop and discolor and have to be tossed unceremoniously in the trash bin, that is.

If you’ve dreamt about wedding flowers that would look gorgeous and last practically forever, your dreams have now come true. Diane Phillips of DK Designs creates clay flower arrangements that are every bit as vibrant as the real thing, but will stay totally fresh looking throughout your event, and endure for ages beyond (with proper care—don’t get them wet or expose them to extended direct sunlight—and storage).

DK Designs’ custom creations include centerpieces, bridal bouquets, hair accessories, boutonnieres and wedding favors—all made from CLAYCRAFT by DECO Soft Clay. The designer also sells standard designs through her Etsy shop. These flowers are incredibly lifelike and richly colored—guests will think they’re real, unless you tell them otherwise.

We love, love, love this concept, and we love DK Designs. So does Martha Stewart. The queen of crafts featured DK Designs on her “Martha Stewart Show” April Fool’s Day episode, where Diane taught Martha how to make clay hydrangeas.

Check out these stunning examples for inspiration!