A Wedding Palette: Vintage Edge, Autumn Hues & 70’s Love Oddities

Fall has settled in, the cold is creeping in the window cracks that I never fixed due to a love of small summer breezes now and then… it has settled, unpacked, and put on its slippers to get comfortable.

I really do favor fall, more than any other season – in fact, i was convinced for many years  that my wedding would take place in the fall (but, scheduling doesn’t always work out the way you “dreamed” it!)

This doesn’t mean that I can’t have a bit of fun with autumn wedding palettes, however – so much to choose from: golds, browns, deep reds, purples, even blues, etc.  In fact, the first image brought to mind is an old (and unattractive) flannel shirt that I used to own.  I’m sure that I never wore it in public, and that it was stolen from a boyfriend I can’t remember (I think?)  But, it was warn, and comfortable, and tacky, and full of fall colors!

Tacky plaid may not be the best pairing for a wedding, but the plaid shirt brings me to an interesting theme: Harold and Maude.  (1970’s flick – go see it.) There is something about that entire movie that makes my mind link it directly with that tacky flannel shirt!  More importantly, however, is the link to fall colors!

So… an oddly matched 70’s vintage couple, in a quirky (but sad) little movie?  Can I pull the “fall feeling” that I get from this movie, matched with the quirky vintage love theme from the storyline, and throw it all into an amazing fall wedding palette?  Well, I’m going to try!

There they are: Harold and Maude...

Oh, did I forget to mention the AMAZING soundtrack by Cat Stevens that is wedding-worthy?

A little less red, and this somehow manages to match our palette!

How about a real life wedding to fit into our palette, today? (Click photo for link back to site.)

Make it a casual, afternoon affair - and, they're invited to our palette! (Click photo for link back to Flickr photo.)

Here are a few that fellow wedding blogger “Perfect Bound…” found in the “plaid” category – I really like a few of her selections shown below:

Plaids from Perfect Bound (click image for link)

Another favorite, this one by J. Crew (click for link back to Perfect Bound...)

But, I’m getting off track with the focus only on plaids…  back to some color focus!

OK - one more plaid photo - this one is for the men! (By Nixon - click photo for link.)

Tom's Shoes in our palette shades - a little casual, but a great cause... wear them while getting your hair and makeup done! (Click photo for link.)

They're bright, handmade... they're a cool favor!

Good old generic-look orange soda? (Make a signature drink out of it using champagne, and other creative bartender mixtures... eh?)

Vin-tastic lights by IKEA (click image for link.)

More palette staple:

Staple browns for the palette...

Golden margaritas on your registry this fall... (click photo for link.)

This has to have a place somewhere! It's just to awesome! (Vintage Playboy Magazine.)

Golden wedding floral arrangements?

A little more subtle color, but a happy daisy bouquet is 70's gold!

Well… I may have gotten “off topic” throughout the palette, but it was only due to the fun I had searching!  However, considering that this palette started with the phrase, “tacky plaid flannel shirt” – I think I came pretty far!

Thanks for the journey Harold and Maude…

Pashmina Is Your Friend For Fall Weddings…

Before you know it, Fall will be here… and, this signals a change when it comes to accessories for both you and your bridesmaids.  The temperature will be slowly dropping as we ease into FAll- when it comes to weddings, you need something that easily fits that “sometimes warm, sometimes not” characteristic experienced during Fall…

I will suggest to you now, what I suggest to everyone no matter the time of year… pashmina.  It is the answer to so many problems!  The capabilities of these scarves are amazing in both casual and formal attire, and unlike so many “warmth” accessories out there – covering yourself with a pashmina only adds to your look instead of detracting away from what you worked so hard for that day!
Another bonus: many retailers provide you with hundreds of choices in color!

For Brides:
The subtle differences between pashmina styles is what determines your price factor – you could pay anywhere between $40 and $300!  Fortunately, there are many in between to choose from… so, depending on the quantity you need to buy for your bridesmaids (plus one for the bride!) you can have some flexibility to stay within your budget.

Here are a few options that look like they would be amazing to wear:

Top Row (see bottom row descriptions…) Middle Row from left to the right: HoneymoonWrap from White & Warren, $275, Golden Sandal Stole from Shawls Unlimited, $22, Azuri Classic Cashmere Pashmina Shawl from Nimli, $70 (on sale.) From bottom left to right: Airy Ribbed Cashmere Wrap from Nordstrom, $99, Close Up Fabric from previous item, The Wedding Wrap from White & Warren, $175.

For Bridesmaids:
Obviously, you can get into more colors here – but, you can also add a little something extra if you are planning to give these as gifts for your bridesmaids!  Like many wedding items, a pashmina can easily be monogrammed make each gift unique – but, I just love the idea of a very tiny monogram at the edge of the scarf to make this something that they will want to hang on to.  (Don’t rule out embroidery on your own scarf, brides: a tiny blue monogram would make a fantastic “something blue” for you!) You can use somebody near you to do the work on scarves purchased elsewhere, or you can order from a retailer that has the ability to embroider prior to shipment!  (One of my choices below is noted as such…)

Here are some brightly colored bridesmaid options (click images for links):

Wrap Up Scarf by White & Warren, $175

Ruffle Wrap from White & Warren, $275

Only one of 110 colors to choose from! Feather Pashmina Wrap by Nimli, $85 (on sale)

Just several of the many colors available to embroider as you wish! By Rocky Mountain Emporium, $59 (on sale)

♥ Lastly, for anyone that needs help with learning the versatile ways to wear their pashmina scarf, this may get your started!

Keep those arms covered, and stay warm and fabulous!