Have you and your fiancé started planning for the big day? If you have set the date and chosen a spring timeframe, there are some significant considerations to make and unexpected rainy weather to keep a watchful eye on. To make your springtime wedding unforgettable, here are 10 tips for planning a spring wedding – from the invitation’s color palette to the plated dishes and desserts.
1. Choose a Spring-Influenced Wedding Gown
Choose a wedding gown that is as light and breezy as a spring day, whether it’s covered in floral lace or is a cute midi-style dress that gives a more casual look. Even if you choose to go full ball gown, the layers of gauzy fabrics and silks can give a floaty cloud-like appearance. And since you will be wearing white, make sure to brighten your teeth for a fresh, clean-looking smile, too. Leading up to the wedding, use a teeth whitening kit or Extreme White applicators for a quick whitening boost. Touch up your smile before wedding photos and rehearsal dinners with a tooth stain eraser.
2. Plan for Those Spring Showers
Spring weather can be a bit unpredictable. In the northeast region, spring means the chance of a Nor’easter blizzard, and in the southern states, it can mean a balmy 70 degrees. So plan your wedding accordingly and be prepared for unexpected conditions to arise.
Keep an eye on the weather forecast leading up to your wedding day. This goes especially when it comes to planning an outdoor spring wedding. If you choose an outdoor wedding in the middle of a grassy field, be sure that there’s also a shelter or tent to keep everyone dry should a rainstorm pop up. If rain is in the forecast, a nice gesture is to provide umbrellas for guests.
3. Make Note of Spring Holidays
Look ahead and make note of any spring holidays, whether they annually fall on a Sunday, Monday or one of the other days of the month. From Memorial Day weekends to Easter and spring breaks, these holidays can put a damper on your plans in some shape or form.
While a three-day weekend seems like the perfect time to plan a spring wedding, other factors can come into play. For example, the cost of flights and accommodations could rise, making it hard for out-of-town guests to check that “Will Be Attending” checkbox on your RSVP. And while your mom might rejoice in celebrating her only daughter’s wedding on Mother’s Day, other moms may not be crazy about giving up their weekend.
Overall, keep your guests’ circumstances in mind and keep tabs on any spring dates, avoiding them if you can. Once you land on a date that makes sense for everybody, send out save-the-dates to give everyone plenty of notice. A good rule of thumb is to send them out four months in advance for local weddings and eight to 12 months in advance for destination weddings.
4. Put Together a Spring Color Palette
Spring is a transitional season, so your style can be transitional, too! You can design your spring wedding color palette to have softer hues and pastels or go bold with saturated colors of deep navy blues, bright yellows and grass greens. Consider your color palette before you even choose your invitations or get into wedding decor – sometimes, it can inspire and set the tone for the big day.
5. Pick Proper Attire for Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
To make sure your bridesmaids and groomsmen are comfortable at your wedding, take time to consider their attire. For spring weddings, consider lighter attire such as breezier dresses and flats for the bridesmaids and rolled-sleeve white button-downs with suspenders over khakis for the groomsmen. You can even get creative with clever accessories such as rain boots.
6. Think Local and In-Season Spring Foods
With spring comes the arrival of fresh fruits and veggies, from leafy greens and carrots to melons and vine-ripe heirloom tomatoes. While you might want to plan your wedding menu around your favorite dish, create dishes that use more local and in-season foods. When you do so, it can ensure that you are not having exotic items delivered from faraway places, reducing your carbon footprint while also saving your wallet.
Work with your caterer to choose local and in-season foods. They can offer tons of creative ideas. For instance, fish or poultry can be prepared with lighter spring herbs, served with a side of roasted vegetables.
7. Go for Lighter-Flavored Spring Wedding Cake or Dessert
Spring isn’t the season for dark chocolate or red velvet wedding cakes. Instead, think of lighter notes like berries, citrus and vanilla. Drape fresh spring flowers over a frosting-minimal, naked cake for a trendy spring wedding look. Prefer something a little more down-home for a rustic spring wedding? Serve up personal-size pies filled with raspberry and lemon meringue for each of your guests.
8. Spring Wedding Flowers
Much like you should choose in-season, local foods, you should select in-season flowers. And like the rhyme says, “April showers bring May flowers,” so there’s no better time to make a beautiful bouquet or even a flower crown. From dainty baby’s breath to giant blooming peonies to colorful ranunculus, you can make a gorgeous arrangement of flowers, adding a touch of greenery with eucalyptus or even succulents.
9. Create Spring-Themed Wedding Favors
Be sure to give out some wedding favors to thank your guests for coming. And when it comes to spring-themed wedding favors, the ideas are endless. Think of little jars of local honey, mini succulents or a packet of seeds and a pot they can plant them in. (Hint: This is also how you can give them colorful umbrellas or parasols for any sprouts of rain.)
10. Mix Up Spring-Inspired Signature Cocktails
If you choose to create signature cocktails for your spring wedding, tie it in with the food and think fruity. From bourbon-based craft cocktails with muddled berries to a white wine sangria filled with cut fresh fruit, you’ll treat your guests to something as refreshing as spring. If you plan to serve beer, offer lighter IPAs and Blondes that have earthy, hoppy notes.
