Love Birds Decor: Wedding Trend Predictions for 2013 by Art Deco Gal

We're Birds of a Feather, You and I.

Hello, love birds! Your heart all aflutter with wedding planning for next year? Looking for the hottest wedding trends to make your shindig the party of the year? Look no further, Art Deco Gal has the trend forecast for you right here on de Lovely Affair. So far, I've covered stylish wedding dresses, the popular rainbow color palette and this week, I'm all about Birds- the go-to wedding theme and decor piece for 2013.

Photo via Bower Power Blog

Birds are going to be everywhere; big ones, little ones, gracing invitations, hanging from ceilings, topping cakes; couples are branding their wedding from beginning to end with these feathered friends. Whimsical, romantic, and charming, a perfect compliment to outdoor, woodsy, garden and DIY weddings. “Everybody’s heard, bird, bird,bird…bird is the word”; you heard it here first.

Here are some of my favorite unique bird decor ideas for your wedding. There are so many variations of this theme, so, pardon the pun, let your imagination take flight!

Bird’s Nests 

We have great DIY project ideas for these two bird themed wedding decor pieces coming up soon.

Photo by Rachel Olsen Photography

Bird Cake Toppers

Photo via Wedding Paper Divas

Bird Houses as Favors, Card Boxes, and Decor

Photo by Kate Hamilton

Photo by Kate Brissenden

Photo via Butter Bean Vintage on Etsy

Birds on a Wire

Photo via Pottery Barn

Photo via Ela and Poppies Photography

Paper Bird Garland

Photo via Emmaline Bride

We found a super cute DIY project for this over at Once Wed! Stay tuned for all the deets.

Photo via Once Wed

And last but not least, the ever popular Bird Cage, perfect for cards, as a centerpiece, dessert display, place card holder, suspended decor, candles, flowers, food....the list goes on!!

Photo via Pocketful of Dreams

Here's a super cute Love Bird Board we found over at Things Festive that just about sums it up!

Photo via Things Festive

And there you have it - my Wedding Decor Trend Prediction for 2013. In my personal opinion, the Love Bird Wedding theme is one of the cutest I've seen by far. It can be incorporated into any style wedding - vintage (swoon), rustic, outdoors, whimsical, garden, it works everywhere! Just remember to take the theme from beginning - save the dates, all the way through to the end of your big day - thank you cards for a cohesive and branded wedding look.

What other bird ideas do you think will be a big hit in 2013? We'd love for you to join in the conversation over on Twitter and Facebook. Won't you stop by and say hi?

Have a delightful day!
Clare - Art Deco Gal

P.S. Remember to check out my other 2013 Wedding Trend Predictions - Wedding Dress Styles and Rainbow Color Palette. And next week, I'll have a go at Wedding Flowers!

dLA Wedding Week in Review - Rainbow Palette, Fortune Cookie Favors + DIY Bulb Vases

Happy Weekend! We've had a super fab week here at dLA, overflowing with ideas and inspiration to make your wedding the most amazing experience ever! Budget ideas, gorgeous colors, 2013 wedding trends for Contributor Art Deco Gal, a stunning multicultural Real Wedding from Shang Chen Photography - all to get your wedding planning juices flowing!

In case you missed any of our features, here you go:

Real Multicultural Wedding with Evan and Marisa

de Lovely Idea: DIY Light Bulb Vase - LOVE it!

DIY Fortune Cookie Wedding Favors + No Bake Option

Art Deco Gal's 2013 Wedding Trend Predictions - Rainbow Color Palette

Hope you've enjoy this week's selection and remember, if you have an idea or suggestion you want covered just send me an email. Or pop over to Facebook and Twitter to be part of the conversation!

Happy Planning,

Rainbow Wedding Decor - Top Trend for 2013 by Art Deco Gal

Looking forward to a wedding next year and want to know the hottest wedding trends for 2013? Look no further, Art Deco Gal has the trend forecast for you right here on de Lovely Affair. Each week I'll bring you the best for the 2013 wedding season, from wedding dresses to decorations, bridesmaids, themes, and flowers. And other predictions you'd like me to make, just let us know.

Today is all about THE hot trend in wedding décor for 2013 - Rainbow Colors. If the devil's in the details, look no further than this bold prediction!

Rainbow Wedding Decor - It's a Skittles world out there!

Photo via Modern Wedding Hawaii 

I guess everything old really IS new again! Rainbows are BACK and these bold colors are going to be THE popular theme for weddings next year! A confident couple with outside the box thinking is likely to pull this off - a color explosion is not for the faint of heart. This loud, vivid color palette screams fun and frivolity, joy and pure happiness, so be prepared!

Photo via St. George Weddings (decor) & Weddingish (flowers)

From dresses to lanterns and pinwheels, wedding cakes to guest favors, rainbows are popping up everywhere! I'm keen on the idea of showcasing all colors so that no one color is dominant, quite a departure from the monochromatic palettes we have been seeing lately. Remember to temper it with white or neutral as this color scheme can appear harsh and tacky when overdone. Think My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding....yeah that kind of tacky. Done right - super tasteful!

Photo via Cakes for Wedding, Topper via Bittersweetz Esty Shop

I think a perfect place to put this trend front and center is with the ladies! Bridesmaids dressed in brilliant rainbow colors are a natural compliment to the bride's traditional white attire. Talk about POP! Tie it all with flowers, each girl with the same color as her dress or mix them all together for each bouquet - just keep the colors consistent. Make sure your bouquet is an explosion of the same colors to keep the wedding brand going!

Photo via Emmaline Bride (top) and Modern Wedding Blog (bottom)

Photo by Our Labor of Love

Truth be told, there is no hard and fast rule about which form your rainbow colors take - they don't have to be in a straight line. Try to add different variations, mix it up and have some fun playing with the hues and the color palettes.

Photo via Nicole Rene Design

Last but not least, offer of a rainbow of sweet treats that are sure to please any palette! Dessert tables and candy bars are by nature bright and vivid to attract the wandering guest - sort of like a bee to a flower. A color overload here is flavorful and fun, a delicious way to say thank you for being part of our day!  And with so many candies and sweets to choose from, this should be relatively easy to create DIY style and on a budget.

Photo board via Bridal Tweet

Hope you've enjoyed our romp around rainbow wedding land - there are so many gorgeous wedding images and ideas from which to choose! The most important thing I can say is - take it and make it your own, have fun with this wedding trend and don't be afraid of color! Make sure to head over to Pinterest and check out de Lovely Affair for more trend ideas.

Make Your World Colorful,
Clare - Art Deco Gal

P.S. You can follow Clare and all her vintagie goodness on her blog aptly titled Art Deco Gal

Top 10 Wedding Dress Trends for 2013 + Fab New Designer

Art Decor Gal's 2013 Wedding Predictions

Looking forward to a wedding next year and want to know the hottest wedding trends for 2013? Look no further, Art Deco Gal has the trend forecast for you right here on de Lovely Affair. Each week I'll bring you the best for the 2013 wedding season, from wedding dresses to decorations, bridesmaids, themes, and flowers.  Got any other trends you are dying for me to cover, just let us know!

Now for what every bride worries about the most, her Wedding Dress. Looking into my crystal ball…I see HOT, elegant trends for 2013 - the length, the variety, the style, perhaps the best year yet!

Short
Short is the new black. My first forecast is that more and more brides will be opting for short wedding dresses, channelling the Mad Men trend and all things 1950s/60s.  I love this short 50's style design London's by up and coming Sabina Motasem! Seriously, a designer to watch, be sure to check back for our interview with her!

Photos via Sabina Motasem & Wedding Dress Info

Colored 
Black is the new Black! I predict we will see brighter, more daring wedding dresses next year spanning all the colours of the rainbow including black! Vera Wang ROCKS a runway with these dark beauties.

Dresses: Vera Wang

Peplum 
The Peplum skirt is everywhere right now! It is a very wearable and flattering style and has been spotted on a number of wedding dress fashion shows such as Amsale for Spring/Summer 2013.

Photo via One Wed

I’m Bringing Sexy Back!
Next year, I predict the back of the dress will be the most detailed and glamorous part of many wedding dresses. One wedding dress style I absolutely love is the portrait back wedding dress. As you can see they mirror some of the vintage wedding dresses from years ago but with a modern twist. Illusion (sheer) backs are also very stylish and sophisticated. Long necklaces draped down the back of a plain dress can also look stunning. Sabina Motasem designs dresses with this detail and covers a number of these trends with her latest collection. www.motasem.co.uk

Photos via Wedding Bells Blog

Illusion (sheer) backs are also very stylish and sophisticated. Long necklaces draped down the back of a plain dress can also look stunning. Sabina Motasem designs dresses with this detail and covers a number of these trends with her latest collection.

Designs and Photo via Sabina Motasem

I love interesting back detail on a wedding dresses, and opted for this at my own wedding, because the back is such a focal point.  Think about the ceremony - the majority of the ceremony your guests will be looking at your back. At the reception, as you are dancing your first dance, they will also be looking at your back…get my point?

Lace 
Thanks to Kate Middleton and Grace Kelly, the lace trend is here to stay and will be everywhere next year. Lace is elegant and timeless and evokes a glamorous era from the past.
 

Photo via Enchanting Events

   
Cowl Necklines
So much inspiration came out of the Royal Wedding and no more so than Pippa Middleton's cowl neck bridesmaids dress. Badgley Mischka and Carolina Herrera are hopping on this new trend, an elegant alternative to a strapless or halter dress. Sexy and feminine, perfect for a spring or summer wedding.

Photo via Be U Weddings

Birds of a Feather

Feathers, Birds, Birdcages – you name it, Birds will be flocking everywhere next year and they make for a beautiful, natural wedding theme. Feather skirts, boleros and embellishments on gowns, shoes and bags will be very on trend for 2013.

     Photo via 3D Memoirs

 The Great Gatsby

This one is very close to my heart. Thanks to Baz Luhrmann, new fabulous life has been breathed into The Great Gatsby. It's a trend that has been around this year and is set to stay. Think pearls, slinky satin dresses, dropped waists, cute bobs, finger waves, feathers, peacocks and black and gold. My vintage dream theme come true!

Dresses: Jenny Packham. BHLDN, Jenny Packham, Shop Ruche

Photos via 3D Memoirs

Pantsuits

Traditionally, many brides on their second or third marriages - or just older brides - tend to go more towards the pantsuit. Now, it's for anyone and everyone! This sassy style recently seen at an Oscar de la Renta fashion show elegantly shows off your feminine figure, while making a strong statement at the same time. Gender roles, what gender roles?

Photo via Enchanted Events

Convertible dresses
Transforming your look from wedding dress to evening gown can be costly and time consuming, especially when you just want to enjoy your wedding day. Dresses next year are functional, smart and futuristic – with clever tailoring, zip sand hooks, turning a long elegant dress into a cute cocktail number or vice versa!

Photos via Arabia Weddings

There you have it, my Top 10 Wedding Dress Trends for 2013! Will you follow the crowd or go with your own drum? I'd love to hear which dress type you might be choosing. Leave a comment below and then join the conversation over at Facebook and Twitter!

Be bold, be brave, and be you!
Clare O’Connor - Art Deco Gal

http://artdecogal.com, Twitter @artdecogal

Art Deco Gal's Guide to Kick Ass Bachelorette Parties, Part 2

Alter Your Thinking

Planning a bachelorette party for a unique bride with little interest in strip clubs and penis cakes? You SO know your bridal bestie and like so many these days, want something more creative and personal for the "Last Night Out." You've come to the right place. And with so many fresh ideas, we've had to deliver you two scorching hot posts! Check out Part 1 for vintage, foodie, and crafty inspired events BUT not until you've locked your peepers on these amazing ideas! Let's GO!

Photo Courtesy of Since 86 Blog

Sports Fan 

There is nothing better than an afternoon watching her favorite sports team; don't forget the bachelorette sashes, flashing veil head bands and bridal beer steins.

Photo Courtesy of Celebrations at Home

• More interested in action? Set up a bachelorette baseball game or a round of golf.  
• Put together an Olympic games party in the backyard for all the entire wedding gang to join as a cheaper alternative. 
• The afternoon can be devoted to the sporting portion of the bachelorette party while you hit the clubs later that night. 
• No time for sport? Have a rocking party in a sports bar to watch the big game.

Photo Courtesy of Elk Ridge

Outdoor Enthusiast
A camping trip may be just what she would like for her bachelorette party, believe it or not.

Photo Courtesy of A Daily Something

• Spend overnight in the woods; go biking, climbing or kayaking; or do whatever other outdoor activity she enjoys. 
• To make it more glamorous and enjoyable for participants who don't enjoy the great outdoors, rent a cabin and throw a slumber party! 
• Load up on fun snacks (s’mores, anyone?), playing cards, and a cooler full of your favorite beverages!  

Photo Courtesy of Preston Bailey

Coffee Chat, High Tea Party
Who can resist a girly chat over custom-made coffee or tea? Add a fresh scone or a decadent muffin and we've got a party! Perfect for a non-drinking bride who likes it a little more low key.

Photo Courtesy of Design Dazzle

• Recreate the best parts of the gourmet coffee experience in your own home with a Designer Coffee Bar Party with a group of friends. 
• Try a High Tea inspired party if coffee just won't do.
• Design the party space to invoke feelings of relaxation, friendliness and comfort, with a hint of elegance. 
• Ask the girls to bring cakes and bakes and enjoy the produce together. 

In Need of Some Relaxation
A day of pampering may be exactly what the wedding doctor ordered. While this may be a common outing, if it fits your bride, then go whole hog - mani, pedi, massage, facial, mimosas, sauna and soak.

Photo Courtesy of Zank You

• If your friend is pregnant, try reflexology or an Indian head massage, both urprisingly relaxing and a change from the usual back massage, which your friend might not find comfortable getting depending on the size of the bump! 
• If your bride is spiritual you could book a tarot card reader to do everybody’s cards whilst sipping cocktails in your robes. 
• Need a stress relieving laugh – give her a gag gift! Fill a plastic bucket or a pretty box with marriage "necessities" such as: ear plugs, grannie panties, a roller pin, a rubber chicken, a dog chain, air freshener, a personalized pillow that says "not today", etc. Include funny items that will make her laugh and forget the stress from all the wedding stuff.

Older bride
Maybe the bride has been married before or is in her golden years? Fear not, there are alternatives to the been there done that events. It is important to remember that just because she is older doesn’t necessarily mean she won’t want to let her hair down and party!

• Try a trip to a musical or a theatre might be fun followed by a meal and salsa lessons. 
• Chocolate tasting is always a good idea and a ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ theme can be an elegant alternative to traditional themes and plastic willies! 
• Why not bring the party to the bride and have a celebration in the comfort of her own home? Book in a specialist to give her a makeover or even a clairvoyant, or perhaps a chef to cook her a slap-up meal? Just don’t let her do the dishes afterwards! 

I hope these ideas give you some inspiration for celebrating your unique friend in a personal way. Just remember to make it all about her and have fun!! Make sure to check out our bachelorette party ideas Part 1 from earlier today!

Leave us a comment below with some other ideas to add to our Kick Ass Bachelorette Party Guide. As always, we can be found chatting all things wedding on Facebook and Twitter!


Enjoy the planning!
Clare, Art Deco Gal

PS Check out all things retro and fabulous at Art Deco Gal's Vintage blog. You can follow her on Twitter at @artdecogal

{Guest Post} Planning a Unique Vintage Wedding

Art Deco Gal’s Guide to Planning Your Unique Vintage Wedding 

Once upon a time, the ‘something old’ in that familiar wedding adage may have meant an inherited brooch sparkling on a shoe teamed up with a brand spanking new, budget-busting, blingtastic dress. More recently, a global trend has taken place with more stylish brides choosing to reject the shiny new and instead rediscover the charms of the past with a full-blown Vintage wedding theme. Vintage, it would seem, has become the new black, evoking the beauty and glamour of days gone by.

Photo by Simon Clubb

For me, styles of yesteryear offer a timeless elegance that some modern weddings would find hard to beat, so I decided to go vintage and opt out of a big fat white wedding.  I also felt hypocritical going traditional with my wedding; the virginal white dress, a veil covered face just weren’t me. Once we meet “the one”, are we suddenly expected to change our personalities and care about a big expensive ring, an even bigger white dress and spend a fortune because it’s our ‘big day’? 

Well, it would seem that we sistas are increasingly doing it for ourselves and turning towards alternatives – vintage weddings, arty, thrifty, personalized affairs,  DIY weddings, or a small service somewhere obscure, all seem to be exploding back into fashion. And going vintage could range anywhere from Rockabilly 50's to the Roaring 20's, Art Nouveau to Art Deco and everything in between!

Photo via One Wed

Whilst researching for my wedding, I did find myself combing through far too many cute, froufrou sites urging brides to spend the equivalent of a mortgage that seemed to dominate the wedding blogosphere. Thankfully, vintage wedding blogs are now appearing in droves, offering women a real alternative to the traditional budget busting white wedding. This can only be a positive move away from the traditional glossy magazine shoots, with the perfect decorations and reception, piling even more pressure on the bride. 

Here are some top tips for organizing your own budget vintage wedding that I discovered while planning my own celebration! Imperfections and all.

• Decide on a general theme and colours: Art Deco focuses on bold colours, strong outlines and geometric designs for example. This lends itself well to a striking motif for a wedding. The Fifties/Rockabilly styles call for lovely bright candy cane colours and cherry reds.

I love the Rockabilly boldness, the red pops and the hairstyles ROCK!

Photo via Sad Man's Tongue Rockabilly Bar & Bistro

• Pick your Location: Try to find a building from your time period, as it will act as a perfect backdrop for your wedding/reception. You could start by researching historical cinemas, cafes, restaurants, hotels or bars. It doesn’t have to be an expensive hotel or castle; sometimes there are little gems right under your nose! The right place will most likely still have internal architectural details from the period including designs on the walls and floors.

Union Train Station in Santa Monica, CA 

Photos via Ruffled Blog

• Design your Wedding Stationery: The wedding invitation sets the tone for your celebration, so you want it to be overtly linked to your vintage theme to prepare guests for the style of the actual event. You could select a simple invitation portraying signature designs of the era, or a single image of a person or people dressed glamorously in the clothes of the time.

A perfect example of classic an Art Nouveau wedding invitation suite.

Photo via Invitation Crush

• Be creative with decor- For my Art Deco wedding, I opted for a few relatively cheap decorations such as peacock feathers, mirrored vases, faux pearls, calla lilies, vintage handheld fans, paper parasols, old photographs of past family weddings in black and white supermarket frames and some retro champagne posters to name the tables, printed and laminated myself. Try vintage postcards or luggage labels as name tags.

Photo via WeddingBee

• Make a statement with your wedding cake: Use the cake to reflect your theme in an unmistakeable way. To save money, I would avoid going to an official wedding cake shop and go it alone;  t can be so much fun! You could simply buy or bake some lovely cupcakes and then add a fabulous unique topper.  My husband and I love cheese and opted for a black and white tiered wedding cake made entirely of fine cheeses from Somerset in England. We decorated it with peacock feathers and pearls and it was a real talking point, costing a fraction of the price of other cakes that had we had seen. Also look for period textiles or unique patterns of the times when choosing cake decoration.

An Art Deco Cheese Wedding Cake - classic!

Photo via Art Deco Gal

• Dress up! For a 20s style, look for drop waist wedding gowns with vibrant patterns or geometric designs. Designs can be sleeveless, have capped sleeves or long sleeves narrowing to the wrist for a slim fit. For that 30s look, at the end of the art deco period – women’s dresses were a bit more figure hugging, with a narrower waist but wider sleeves.

If your man wants to get into the spirit, he can wear a double-breasted suit with suspenders underneath! Also, a hat of some description is a must. If going for a 1950s style wedding, which is very popular – wear a short wedding dress (much cheaper too ☺) and groovy bright shoes – the possibilities are endless and your unique style can really shine through. Head pieces were very popular in the past, so go with a bird-cage veil, flowers in your hair or peacock feathers- a nice alternative to a princess tiara.  

Itching to get started? Why not create a wedding mood board? They can be a super useful thing to send to florists, photographers, the bridal party and you can make your own online at the Dessy Group website or on Pinterest. This is after all, your wedding, and not a fancy dress party. Make sure to include little touches that only you and your partner hold dear for this is what will make your special day unique. 

When planning our wedding, we decided to make it all about us, incorporating some old and new traditions that fit our Celtic heritage but also embraced my love of Art Deco. I wore a gold satin dress and a peacock feather headpiece. We drank whisky out of a Quaich during the ceremony and had a cake made entirely out of cheese. We served up bacon rolls at the evening Ceilidh dance, where the men looked great in kilts. I did not agree to obey my husband, we didn’t have traditional pretty candy favours – instead we donated money to a cancer charity. No top table; just lots of small, round, sociable tables. A small rebellion, but it was our rebellion nonetheless.

Photo via Art Deco Gal

My final thoughts; when planning your vintage wedding - stay true to your ideals, don’t worry about mixing elements of the past with modern things you love. Just remember your strength as an individual, your love as a couple and your priorities; it is your life and your choice after all.

Happy Planning!

Art Deco Gal

PS. You can find out more about Art Deco Gal on our Guest Blogger page. Also remember to Like us on FACEBOOK and follow us on TWITTER for all the latest good stuff!