A look at color options

For the past few weeks, I have had color palettes for our wedding in the back of my mind. And for the life of me, I cannot decide on which color scheme I really like, and one I think would look good. I'm trying to pair the hues with the fall season and the location we'll be having it at (it will be an inside-outside wedding), and so there are many factors to consider. I'm also thinking about my bridesmaids — their dresses and what will look good on them. I know that my next step is to find MY dress, but I have yet to look around yet. So, I've got color on the brain.

Today I received an e-mail from TheKnot.com, and lo and behold, they had pages and pages dedicated to color options! They must have been thinking of me, because there were some that really caught my eye. At the moment, I'm thinking of a deep, cranberry red paired with a burnt orange and a chocolate brown OR a lavender paired with an icy blue and creamy hazelnut brown. I know, two totally different color schemes, but those are the colors that really spoke to me!

The Knot had some color combinations that were really outside the box, which I really liked. Here are some that I thought were truly gorgeous!

This combination has such a funky name — plus I love the deep and light hues that were put together. And the orchids in the beautiful bouquet!! It's called Eggplant & Gobstopper Pink. How fun is that? I'm not a huge pink fan, but this pairing was an elegant way of including a bold shade of pink into a wedding. Not sure if this is THE palette for me, but it sure is fun to look at!

This one is called Peony & Nickel. (I know, right?! These names are awesome!) I really liked the more muted colors on this one — especially with the nickel option. It seems like a gray almost on the verge of blue. It's definitely a pairing I never expected would look so nice. Maybe lavender would look good with the nickel? Just a thought.

This version is very light — appropriately titled Butter & Gold! It has a very fresh and airy feel to it. I like that it doesn't feel overdone. That's one thing I certainly don't want to do — to bombard people with all kinds of colors. Simple is better, less is more. This match up is particularly helpful when trying to accomplish that. Gold would look great in a fall decor — maybe paired with lavender?

Peppermint & Aqua — a pairing that is so vibrant and so lovely! I love how the blue just pops when mixed with the deep red. This one would look great during the wintertime. Only, I'm not having my wedding in the winter! Oh well, it's still a good source for ideas.

Another very light and airy option — Pumpkin & Slate. I'm not a huge orange fan, but I thought it looked so fall-ish, that it was great inspiration.

Can I just say, this is one of my favorites! Powder Blue & Plum. Such a refreshing, juicy mix of colors, that it nearly takes your breath away with its originality and cheerfulness! My only concern is, will it go well with the falling of brown and orange leaves that will most likely be cascading around us on October 14th? Looks more like a springtime palette...

This Wintergreen & Lavender is right up my alley. I love love love this combination! It is so refreshing and has such a burst of color. Maybe with a spark of orange added to the mix would make it good for a fall wedding...Maybe a chocolatey brown? Or does it even need that? This one is definitely one of my favorites.

This combo is up near the top too — Cherry & Mocha really speaks to me. It's very elegant and not too overdone. It includes that cranberry red I loved, plus the chocolate brown. In fact, this pair is up at the top with Wintergreen & Lavender.

If anyone has any comments or opinions they feel like sharing, please let me know!! As you can see, I'm having a tough time deciding between all these beautiful options!

Popping the question

Jessie and Jennifer -- my two all-time best friends. In a little less than 30 minutes, I will be asking them both (via 3-way on the phone, of course) if they will be my Maids of Honor. I know it's slightly unconventional to have two maids of honor, but I just couldn't choose between them. They seriously are like sisters to me. Unfortunately, neither of them live in Asheville, but I'm hoping that won't make it difficult in this whole wedding planning.
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They said YES!!!!

One of many inspiration boards

This is an inspiration board I started on theknot.com — there were so many photos to choose from, but these are ones that really grabbed my attention. At the moment, my main thoughts keep going back to my color scheme. I'm torn between a lavender/icy blue/creamy brown palette and a deep cranberry red/burnt orange/deep brown palette. I'm trying to decide what would look best with the space we have and the fall season. I'm leaning more toward the cranberry color scheme, but boy do I love lavender and blue. I'm just afraid that combination will look too spring-y.

I'm going to explore more photos with the color schemes I'm thinking about, and post them here. Maybe that will make the decision a bit easier.

The ball is starting to roll

Finally, I think we have a date and a location for our wedding!! It's been such a crazy couple of weeks, and I have truly been overwhelmed with everything that has been happening. I knew it would be a lot to think about, but you just never know truly how much until you are in the midst of it all. So, if all goes according to plan, then we have 8 months and 17 days until the Big Day — October 14th!

We both really wanted a fall wedding, and as luck would have it, the venue we are hoping to be able to get has an opening on one of the peak leaf weekends of the season! How lucky/crazy is that? Now, this venue happens to be probably the most beautiful places to have a wedding in Western North Carolina — Biltmore Estate. We looked at other possible venues, namely Homewood in the Historic Montford district of Asheville, and The Venue which is located smack dab in the center of downtown. The Homewood we were unimpressed with. Unimpressed is putting it kindly. As soon as we walked in, we were rushed and felt like we were a nuisance to the man giving us the tour. He kept going back and forth to other clients who were there, which was a bad first impression for us. So, I'm happy to say that we went with our gut on throwing out the Homewood as a possible place to have our wedding. Plus, the layout was just too formal and a little stifling for our tastes.

The Venue on the other hand was much different — more modern, with a chic vintage feel to it. A beautiful place to have a wedding, and we were really very impressed. It was very open and airy feeling — with large windows in the reception and ceremony room — and the owner of the place was right up our alley. She was so sweet, and answered any questions we had openly and honestly. Which was a breath of fresh air. (I've come to notice that some people in the wedding industry really love to nickel and dime you, I guess because they can!) The only aspect I found unappealing about the venue was that it wasn't that private — what with it being right on a street in downtown. There wouldn't be a nice place to take photos outside, and that's something I definitely want to have.


So, it was between Deerpark at Biltmore and The Venue. And let me just say, the very first moment I laid eyes on Deerpark, I fell in love with the space and the magical feel of it all. It is truly gorgeous! We instantly had our hearts set on Deerpark the moment we stepped inside. It has a lovely courtyard in the center of the venue, with floor-to-ceiling windows that can open and close — giving the space a lovely breezy atmosphere. The restaurant wraps around the courtyard, with intricate ivy and twinkle lights wrapped around the rafters on the ceiling. I could literally go on and on. And the best part is, Biltmore is being so kind as to give us a significant discount since Mike works there! It is so incredibly generous of them to help us out in such a huge way, and we will forever be grateful for that!

I hope I'm not seriously jinxing this right now, but I'm just so excited to get the rest of the planning done, I had to write this all out! If we could have our wedding at Deerpark, it would be such a dream come true. I would be able to have....the wedding of my dreams!!!!! Fingers crossed!!!
Deerpark at Biltmore

And so, the planning begins...

As some of you know, the trials of planning a wedding can be stressful to say the least. Mike and I have now had a little over two months to let our engagement sink in. And sink in it has...At first I admittedly got a tad bit freaked when I realized how much stuff there was to do to get a wedding planned. And while we can't really afford a wedding planner to take care of all the details, we will have to be the planners. Which I am — at this point — totally okay with. Not because I have to be (financially speaking), but because I'm genuinely excited about figuring out all these details that lay before us. At first, yes, it is rather frightening, but in the end, I know it will turn out to be the most beautiful night ever! 

The reason I started this blog was to create an outlet for all my wedding ideas, questions, rants, decisions, and lack of decisions. It will give me insight on what I want, what I don't want, and what I can cross off my dangerously long to-do list. And while I'm not an avid blogger, this will put my wedding planning dedication to the ultimate test. Procrastination, be gone!