How to Decorate a Wedding Tent

It's still summer in DC, and that means beautiful outdoor weddings are in season.  Because tents are often used for an outdoor wedding, we frequently get asked how to decorate them.  Do we use flowers?  lighting? tables?

Colin Cowe Inspired

So, we thought it would be appropriate to share 5 tips on how to decorate a wedding tent for a DC wedding:

1. Lining: Traditionally, decorated wedding tents are lined - the walls are draped with a silky fabric for a sensuous and luxurious look. Linings can be plain or striped, smooth or ruched, and white or colored. Vendors will vary in the linings they have available. White or off white are most common. Flat linings are currently fashionable.
   
2. Poles: Tent poles should be included in the decorative planning. Wrapped with garlands, fabrics, lights, or flowers, they can be transformed into eye-catching and stunning aesthetic additions. Consider wrapping tent poles with tulle, as it is both beautiful and inexpensive. Decorations can then be attached to the fabric with a hot-glue gun.
   
3. Let the Outside In: One of the key differences between wedding tent receptions and indoor parties is that you can use the surrounding landscape in your decor.
   
4. Lighting: Lighting is a very important aspect of tent-wedding decoration. String lighting offers many choices in terms of color, brightness, and display. Choose multi-colored or blinking lights for a playful effect, or all-white lights for a more elegant appearance. Special bug lights placed around the perimeter of the tent will provide a nice glimmer while keeping you pest-free.
   
5. Flowers: Add flowers to your tent-wedding decorations and you will have everything you need for a warm and beautiful affair. Choose ornate silk bouquets or terra-cotta pots filled with your favorite blossoms. 

We're these tips helpful?  Please share your thoughts below:

How to Choose Wedding Flowers

When you plan your ceremony and reception decorations, you may be surprised at just how big of a role flowers play in your wedding day.  From altar arrangements and aisle runners to table arrangements and cake embellishments, flowers create beauty, elegance, and color throughout your venue. 

So how do you choose the right flower for your wedding?

• Start by looking through bridal magazines and books on flowers. If you don't already have an idea of the types of flowers you'd like to have, simply looking at beautifully photographed flowers can be a great place to start getting ideas. 

• Choose Classics. There are some classic wedding flowers with which you can't go wrong. They are: roses, peony, lily of the valley, hydrangea, orchid, and calla lily. This doesn't mean you must have any of these flowers but it can help you when deciding to know that these classics are sound choices.

• Set a Reasonable Budget. Don't hedge around the cost with your florist. Be honest if you can't afford much; it'll help your florist look for less expensive yet just as lovely alternatives right from the get go.

• Buy in Season.  The season plays an important role in your choice, especially if you're budget-conscious. While non-seasonal flowers can be flown in, this increases the cost and complexity considerably. 

Were these wedding flower tips helpful?  What have you done to choose the right flowers for your DC wedding?  Please share it with our audience.

Where is Matt?

We just loved this video by Matt Harding that shows how universal music is and how easy it is for everyone to get a long.  He dances with nearly every culture on earth.  This is a great lesson for political leaders seeking world peace, don't you think?

We're not the only ones who loved this video...so did over 3 MILLION other people.

...go Matt!

Washington DC Monument Weddings

Did you know there are restrictions when it comes to getting married at a DC monument?  Yes there are.  Although our tax dollars pay for these amazing monuments, the city has issued certain requirements needed before anyone can say "I Do."

Photo credit:  Kurstin Roe Photography

There are three (3) permitted locations for wedding ceremonies within the National Mall and Memorial Parks:

• Jefferson Memorial, West Lawn: Two (2) hour limit
• George Mason Memorial: One (1) hour limit, No set-up is permitted
• DC War Memorial

There are also restrictions that wedding photographers must follow as well, as fees need to be paid before they can shoot your wedding.  So if getting married on the West Lawn of the Jefferson Memorial is your cup of tea, then make sure you ask the photographer whether he has the permits required.  You don't want everyone showing up for your wedding and come to find out that your photographer can't shoot there.

For more information regarding getting married within the National Mall and Memorial Parks, click here.

Funny 4th of July Cartoons

In the spirit of the 4th and all that it entails I wanted to share some of our favorite cartoons with you.  They're funny, inspirational and down right goofy so all of us here at the Devers Design Group hope you enjoy them:

 

HAPPY 4th OF JULY 2012!!!!

Father of the Groom is Photoshopped into Wedding Photos

We’ve all had our relatives miss huge events in our life...but what would you do if your Dad missed your wedding?  Well, this couple used their photo-editing skills and photoshop their Dad into each wedding picture. 

Instead of keeping things simple and tasteful, they decided instead to embed him in some very out-of-context situations. The results are absolutely hilarious.

 

What do you think?  Is that something you'd do?

Hollywood has wedding fever

Hollywood has wedding fever.  On May 19th, Mark Zuckerberg married his girlfriend Priscilla Chan.  Drew Barrymore wed her longtime boyfriend art dealer, Will Kopelman last week, Matthew McConaughey wed the mother of his children, Camila Alves, and the list goes on.

Many of the recent Tinseltown weddings are small, intimate affairs which makes me wonder;  are the days of extravagant, multi-million dollar Hollywood weddings over?  Probably not!  I guestimate that with all the Hollywood couple engagements since December 2011 we'll start to see Hollywood glitz and glamour again very soon.