The Commons 1854 Blog: March 2012

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

The top 6 wedding colors of 2012 and 2013

The top 6 Top Wedding colors for 2012-2013

The Commons 1854 is the perfect palette to suit your dream colors at your wedding reception. Below are the hottest color trends.

And The Color Of The Year Is...

***(1) It looks like the kind folks from the Pantone Color Institute are responsible for this one....Tangerine Tango & Pink. Pantone declares tangerine tango as a "bright and encouraging color" and as such, is a perfect combo for your spring or summer wedding. However, tangerine alone can certainly be a bit overwhelming used on its own, so it could use a little sumpin-sumpin' to calm it down a little. Enter hot pink. Now I know you're saying hot pink...how can that be calming? There's something about pink that despite the shade adds a softness to whatever it touches. Can't you just picture your bridesmaid's bouquets in all roses of tangerine and pink with maybe a little yellow thrown in for fun?

***Your Wedding Decor Is In The Pink

***(2) Blush Pink & Pewter Gray. Now I'll admit to being a pink fan from way back, but this pink is not the pink you would be pairing with the Tangerine Tango hotness mentioned above. This is the softest of pinks, think the faint blush of a baby's cheek. Paired with grey, which is on a high it hasn't seen in years, it's a gorgeous and elegant color combination. Throw in a little bling with some diamond mesh wrapped votives or mercury glass vases and you have a stunning look that will create an audible intake of breath when guests first lay eyes on your reception venue, I promise! Grey IS the new black!

***Vintage Wedding With Your Grandmother's Blue Willow China

***(3) Blue Willow & White. At a loss for what else to call this color and very hesitant to tag it with a handle like Royal Blue which sounds like it belongs in a nautical themed wedding, I'll call it Blue Willow like the famous china of the same name. Of course, Pantone would call it Sodalite Blue, another on their list of hot colors for 2012, but hey, what do they know, right? You'd think they were color experts or something! The great part about this shade of blue is that it's flattering to just about everyone, so your bridesmaids will love you for it! Ditto your groomsmen, since men are famous for their love of blue. Not to mention with the emphasis on vintage still in full swing, despite Huffington Post's misguided assertion that vintage is dead, you can use readily available pieces of blue & white china for centerpieces and decor. Throw in a little red if it's a military wedding or sunny yellow which looks fabulous with blue & white and you have an amazing color palette.

***The NonColor Color...White

***(4) White On White - The beauty of white for a wedding is absolutely unparalleled. When you think of white, most people think of a stark color, but white can be so much more. How about cream, ivory, buff, eggshell, vanilla, magnolia, ecru, beige...the list of beautiful whites goes on and on, including an off-white called Starfish tagged as a hot color for 2012 by Pantone. Mixing different shades of white in your wedding decor can look incredible together if you're careful about the undertones of the whites you are using. Some whites have a bluish undertone, giving them a cool look, others have a brown undertone which tends to warm them up a bit. The fun part about using white on white is you can play with texture to really make the differences in the whites stand out. An example would be using a stark white tablecloth for your reception tables with a beautiful khaki (also a form of white!) damask runner and a cluster of milk glasses vases as the centerpiece filled with peonies, roses, and dahlias all in different shades of white and cream. Even versatile burlap which comes in ivory and natural can add interesting texture to your tables and centerpieces.

***Be My Valentine!

(5) Red & Pink - OK, I'll admit this is a stretch, even for a dyed-in-the wool pink lover like myself, but I have seen some truly amazing combinations of red and pink that were simply stunning. With this combo, you need to be careful about the color red and pink you choose. Hot pink and red...not so much...pale pink and red... ahh, yes, gorgeous! You really need to underplay the use of this palette to avoid it looking a little Valentine-y, but if you don't morph into overkill, it can turn out looking elegant instead of cheesy. For a classic look, pull in some silver touches like mercury glass with your centerpieces. Put your bridesmaids in blush pink short dresses with red rose or peony bouquets and have groomsmen wear pale grey suits with pink ties and hints of red handkerchiefs poking out of their bread pocket. Your friends will call you crazy until they see the effect all together at your wedding, then they'll call you innovative and daring!

***I'll Have A Margarita, Please!

***(6) Sweet Lilac & Margarita- I'll admit these were stripped straight from the Pantone Hot Color Chart, but can you imagine this dynamic color duo? In 2011, pewter and eggplant, grey and plum, purple and silver were done to death. This is such a fresh and light approach to the heavy handed purples we saw last year with the fun zing of a soft lime added to the mix. With the innovative things florists are now doing with shades of green in bouquets including green hydrangeas and Bells Of Ireland, your bridesmaids could wear dresses in lavender tones and look incredible. Lilac, like blue, is a color that looks great on just about everyone, whether of fair or dark complexion and can be paired with either gold or silver.

***Top colors from Hubpages.com and DIYweddingplanner

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Fall Wedding Reception at The Commons 1854

978-887-4100

Bride and Groom: Jaclyn and Fernando Garcia

Fernando and Jaclyn met in 2005 while attending Bentley University. Jaclyn and Fernando envisioned their wedding to be in an elegant and Romantic setting that could provide five star cuisine. The historic Ballroom with its grandiose windows was the perfect setting for their wedding reception.

Guests dined on poached lobster tail and filet mignon, while hand-rolled sushi was created by authentic Japanese sushi chefs. Everyone enjoyed a late night snack featuring Black Angus sliders, truffle parmesan fries and Fried dough.

The Arrival:

Jaclyn and Fernando arrived in style escorted in a vintage Rolls Royce provided by Black Tie Limousine.

The Perfect Venue:

The Reception was held at The Commons 1854, a historical venue that specializes in weddings.

Jaclyn and Fernando loved the idea of having the venue all to themselves for the day.

The Brides Bouquet:

This lush, classical bouquet incorporates a blended palette of soft pastels. A luxurious mix of hydrangea, calla lilies, and Dutch Candy Bianca roses radiates warmth and romance. A vintage brooch of Swarovski crystals from Pricilla of Boston accents the bouquet.

Wedding Attire:

The Bride wore a custom -made gown designed by Stephen Yearick, the cathedral length vale was adorned with Swarovski crystals scattered throughout. After the ceremony, the vale was replaced with a Swarovski crystal headpiece from Priscilla of Boston. The Groom wore a Joseph Abboud tuxedo paired with a black silk dupioni tie and white silk pocket scarf.

Escort Table:

The hand calligraphy escort table cards were secured by Swarovski crystal holders atop custom designed linens.

Signature Martinis:

Guests were greeted at the door with the couples favorite signature blended martini’s, some of which were garnished with petite granny smith apples served on silver trays.

Seafood Raw Bar:

Fresh delicious seafood bar consisted of the finest seafood brought in from the Boston fish pier. Shrimp, lobster, king crab claws and oysters overflowed on heaps of crushed ice. An ice bar just steps away was filled with Ice Cold grey goose Vodka where guests enjoyed oyster shooters.

Authentic Colombian hors d’oeuvres:

Aprepas with avocado crème and shaved Jicawa salad was served in mini martini glasses a tribute to Fernando’s Colombian heritage.

Cuisine:

Chefs created a color pleasing palate with exotic fruits placed on the stationary food display. As the evening progressed, guests dined on poached lobster tail and filet mignon, while hand -rolled sushi was created by authentic Japanese sushi chefs. Everyone enjoyed a late night snack featuring Black Angus sliders, truffle parmesan fries and Fried dough.

FireFly Event Lighting:

The crystal candles reflected the lighting that was created by FireFly Event Lighting . The lighting captured the mood of the evening creating a magical romantic feeling. The architectural pillars in the ballroom took on new meaning each time the light changed.

Centerpieces:

The bride's elegant centerpieces were designed with all white phalaenopsis orchids (named for their resemblance to tropical moths). These fragile orchids, flown in from Thailand, cascaded from crystal vases with embossed basket weave design and were surrounded with three Swarovski crystal candle holders. Wedding Flowers by Annette envisioned the brides dream and created these exquisite floral centerpieces.

Romance:

Jaclyn and Fernando posed for a gorgeous photo in front of the indoor water fall. Firefly event lighting provided saturated rich hues of color to enhance this breathtaking photograph.

Wedding Cake:

A five tired fondant hexagon cake was designed to reflect the warm tones of the ballroom, consisting of handmade sugar orchids which were brushed with a 14 karat gold trim to match the elegant favors at each place setting. The third tier was shaded in a warm cream tone and boasted the couples Initials.

Entertainment:

Live Saxophone and jazz duo played throughout the cocktail hour. Entertainment was provided by the Boston Band “Night Shift” The first dance sung by Night Shift was a Love that will last from Renee Olstead. The Guests didn’t sit down from that moment on.

Favors:

To conclude a perfect evening, male guests enjoyed hand rolled cigars and scotch outside on the patio. For the woman, Favors were placed at each setting consisting of Slatkin candles, personalized matches adorned with bow toppers with crystals from Papyrus. Handmade purse holders from Colombia with the damask motif matching the invitations were provided by the Grooms Mother.