Minimalism doesn’t have to be focused on a stark white look. The modern minimalist trend has an emphasis on clean lines, different textures and sculptural details. Touches of brass and wood add some interest and prevent the look from becoming too clinical. Don’t be afraid to use pops of color in your fuss-free floral arrangements with wild blooms and greenery.

When it comes to thinking of simplistic silhouettes for your wedding dress, there’s an array of minimalist styles out there. The focus should be on the construction of the dress, so look out for interesting pleats or cuts. A subtle open back like this is ideal for the theme.

Brass candlesticks with white candles bring the romance and mood lighting.

A set of calligraphed invitations are a classic touch for your wedding stationary.

Glass vases filled with yellow acacia will provide you with a subtle inclusion of color that doesn’t look overdone. As they are so easy to arrange, this is a great DIY project that will save on your budget for flowers. Likewise, recycle your glass bottles or head to a thrift store to pick some up and these too can be used as centerpieces.

A bouquet of white lilies is a lovely idea as the shape of the flowers really adds a sculptural element that would complement a draped dress.

An all-white wedding cake gets an update with a tiled pattern and glossy stand.

If you want to incorporate some wooden or rustic elements, then a hanging macrame decoration will set the scene. With a clean backdrop you might be in need of some nature.

A green centerpiece works well with a simple white tablescape.

If you prefer the style of only having white flowers, then give it a little twist by using different stem lengths and types of flower.

The days of the plastic bride and groom cake toppers are long behind us. There are so many ways to decorate a simple cake and change its entire look by simply adding a topper. This one fits in with the modern minimalist look with its elegant and uncomplicated design.

Photo one: katepricephotography.com; Photo two: sunday-suppers.com; Photo three: firstmatephoto.com; Photo four: bridalguide.com; Photo five: weddingchicks.com; Photo six: pinterest.com; Photo seven: ericaobrien.com; Photo eight: loveisabigdeal.com; Photo nine: ingmanphotography.com; Photo ten: lanedittoe.com; Photo eleven: sarahbrayphoto.com;

It may be a little old fashioned and even a little cliché, but pale shades of pink will always have our hearts. Today’s pink, mellow rose, is a little darker and a little dustier than its popular blush pink cousin, but it has a regal lady-like quality to it that makes it just as pretty and perfect for your wedding day. Even if pink isn’t typically your thing, we think these 5 palettes will have you seeing the color in a whole new light!

We love this unconventional pairing of pink, dark mustard,and grey. It would make a wonderful and daring fall color palette, don’t you think?

Another beautiful and non-traditional fall palette full of muted shades of pink and purple and just a hint of yellow.

Perfect for spring or fall, this color scheme uses mellow rose as a neutral accent color to play off the brighter shades of orange and add an interesting contrast to the palette.

Pale pink and mint have always been a great color combo, but here the dusty wash of the colors and the addition of deep orange to the pairing elevates this color scheme to a whole other level of sophistication in our eyes.

Another classic color combo – pink, black, white, and gold –, this palette works just as beautifully with mellow rose as it would with blush pink.

Photo one: herriottgrace.com; Photo two: weddingchicks.com; Photo three: ohhappyday.com; Photo four: oncewed.com; Photo five: 100layercake.com

Winter wedding favors are a great way to continue the festive spirit and thank your guests with seasonally-appropriate and useful gifts. Edibles are always welcome around this time of the year with sweet drinks and warming brews. Keeping your guests warm throughout the day is another thoughtful way to show your appreciation, as well as decorative touches that they can take home for the holidays. We’ve picked out 10 favors for your winter wedding, many of which you can make yourself.

1. Homemade Eggnog

You know it’s time for the holidays when the grocery store shelves are lined with cartons of eggnog. Coffee shops start adding eggnog to their lattes, and finding an eggnog ice cream becomes your new mission in life. But can anything really beat the taste of homemade eggnog? Make a large batch for your guests (and yourself) then turn them into bottled favors.

2. Mittens 

If some of your winter wedding will be outdoors, keep your guests warm by gifting them with a pair of mittens. They’ll be very grateful and will also be useful for the rest of the season. Warm hearts, warm hands…

3. Pinecone Fire Starters

This is such a great way to use dry pine cones and turn them into something wonderful. Candles are always a lovely gift in the colder months and this one is especially festive.

4. Peppermint Lip Balm

Everyone wants a favor that they will actually use. A key ring photo of the happy couple, not so much. We can all use some soothing lip balm in winter, especially a seasonal minty one. These lip balms are quick and easy to make and your guests will love the homemade touch.

5. Festive Ornaments 

Individual boxes of ornaments make for a great festive favor. Start early and look for them in thrift stores, winter markets or make your own.

6. Homemade Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extract is a kitchen staple and a key ingredient for many holiday recipes. Give your guests a helping hand with these lovingly made favors. Bare in mind that the extract takes 4-6 weeks to infuse, so start ahead of time. You can also try different flavors such as peppermint too.

7. DIY Candy Cane Fudge 

Instead of handing out candy canes, be extra naughty by making candy cane fudge instead. This addictive recipe is a winter winner. Box a few of them up and give them out as favors or include them in a candy bar.

8. Candied Walnuts 

Delicious candied nuts in sparkly packaging is a winter wedding must-have. Another easy to make recipe, if you don’t eat them all while your making them.

9. Tree Saplings

Make a display with these tree saplings for your green fingered guests to grab. They can grown their own evergreen or pine and they make for a great winter decoration too.

10. S’mores Kit

A winter wedding really isn’t complete without s’mores. You can package these kits for your guests to enjoy when they get home or if you’re having a bonfire at your reception they can be used there.

Photo one: 1000threadsblog.com; Photo two: ruffledblog.com; Photo three: evermine.com; Photo four: livesimply.me; Photo five: ashleygainblog.com; Photo six: tasty-yummies; Photo seven: Intimate Weddings; Photo eight: Intimate Weddings; Photo nine: bridgetrochellephotography.com; Photo ten: stylemepretty.com

For Ross and Mallory, the best thing about having an intimate wedding was the freedom to go off the beaten path and do things their own way –  and go off the beaten path they did! With rainbow colored cakes, thrifted and handmade decor, a dress fashioned from doilies and vintage tablecloths, and a ceremony filled with references to Lemony Snicket and Doctor Who, this fun couple’s wedding was about as far from conventional as you can get – and they wouldn’t have wanted it any other way!

Special thanks to Sara Lynn Paige, who traveled all the way from Canada to photograph Ross and Mallory’s big day, for sharing it with us today!

Ross, 30 & Mallory, 27

Mont Alto, PA

Wedding Date: March 22, 2014

Number of Guests: 65

Wedding Cost: $3,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: The Dance Pavilion at Mont Alto State Park

Wedding Reception Location:  The Dance Pavilion at Mont Alto State Park

Why did you have an intimate wedding? 

My husband and I both consider ourselves somewhat reserved people, and neither of us liked the idea of having a large wedding; we’ve always been more comfortable in small groups. Our goal was to represent us as a couple, and in doing that, we felt it made more sense to keep the celebration small, so we could focus on aesthetics and mood. We knew from the start that what we were setting out to do was a bit off the beaten path, and that not everyone was going to understand it, but this was something we were only planning to do once, and we wanted to do it right.

What are some of the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

Finding a venue was certainly a challenge. We wanted something that felt personal but open, and I spent several months online digging through possible locales. I turned to searching state parks when I realized they would offer the kind of backdrop we wanted at a price point we could afford, and the minute I saw the picture of the pavilion (which was formerly a carousel), I was enchanted. My sister and I wound up driving through a blizzard to see it in person, and even through the snow, I could tell it was the perfect place.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list? 

At first, we struggled a bit with deciding who to invite. The original guest list was somewhere between 150 and 200 people long, and that felt unwieldy. In the end, we realized it was more important to make ourselves happy than anyone else, and we decided to pare it down to only those people we felt closest to. This helped to take the stress out of the entire planning process, and I’m so glad we did it.

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them? 

Luckily, our families were pretty understanding about our need to keep the guest list manageable. My pool of relatives is extremely large, and there was no way we were going to be able to include everyone, so in the end, we included just our immediate families as well as a few extraneous cousins, aunts, uncles, etc.

What were the highlights of the ceremony? 

For me, the biggest highlight of the ceremony was the music. My friend Micah drove down from upstate New York, and his acoustic performance really helped create the relaxed environment we were looking for. My other favorite part was that we were able to include references to some of our favorite literature and television shows. Lemony Snicket played a large role in our vows, and the wedding wouldn’t have been complete without a mention of Doctor Who.

What were the highlights of the reception? 

The highlight of the reception was definitely having all of our favorite people in one place. We had friends in from all over the country (and our wonderful photographer and my dear friend, Sara Lynn Paige, came all the way from Canada) to help us celebrate, and this made the whole experience that much more wonderful.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding? 

Having complete control over it! We were able to handcraft everything ourselves: the bunting, centerpieces, dreamcatchers, and assorted table décor, just to name a few. My husband and I are both thrift store junkies, so we gathered all of our plates, glasses, and linens from our local Goodwill, Salvation Army, and Community Aid, and a few yard sales along the way. We even wrote our entire ceremony from scratch. We also weren’t locked into the rules that a lot of conventional venues set out, and this allowed us to really express ourselves.

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding? 

I know this is everyone’s advice, but I would say: stay true to yourself. There were certainly instances where it would have been easier to hand the reins over to someone else, or to simply give in to other people’s opinions of what a wedding should be, but we stuck to what we wanted, and I couldn’t have been happier with the results.

Vendors:

Photography:  Sara Lynn Paige

Music: Micah

Venue: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania at the Mont Alto State Park

Wedding Décor: Everything was either made handcrafted or sourced at thrift stores and yard sales in or around York, Pennsylvania. We spent a lot of time digging through bins and shifting things around on shelves – and then even more time at home washing and matching dinnerware, but it was worth it.

Books: Purchased second hand from the East Shore Area Library

Vintage China & Tableware: Resource York

Dress: My sister and I crafted it from a vintage corset, doilies, tablecloths, and lace scraps.

Food: My dad cooked dinner for all of the guests, and my sister was kind enough to make me seven different cakes, one in each color of the rainbow.

We love weddings with a whole lot of heart, and you can’t get much more heartfelt than Célèste and Ryan’s big day. The winter-loving couple exchanged their vows on their 5th anniversary and paid homage to the season in which they fell in love by creating a cozy, snow covered space for their guests that not only set the mood, but also evoked memories of their first date. They even included a handmade evergreen ceremony chuppah reminiscent of the snow-covered trees under which the couple shared their first kiss. And while the bride may have, in her own words, ugly cried all the way down the aisle, it only makes us love this wedding (and this couple) even more!

Special thanks to Cameron and Mindy of Braun Photography for capturing all the beautiful moments – tears and all – and sharing them with us today!

Célèste, 25 & Ryan, 32 

Cincinnati, OH

Wedding Date: January 24, 2014

Number of Guests: 50

Wedding Cost: $20,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: Centennial Barn

Wedding Reception Location: Centennial Barn

Why did you have an intimate wedding? 

Intimacy was our number one priority for our wedding. We got married on our 5th anniversary after living together for several years and considering carefully what marriage would mean to us, and we wanted to be very purposeful with every wedding decision we made.

Neither of us is religious, but we wanted our ceremony to have the same deeply meaningful resonance of a religious one. So, we created a ceremony from scratch, borrowing from several traditions, making up some new ones, and incorporating both traditional vows and vows we’d written ourselves. Because our ceremony was so personal, we decided to share it with a small group of trusted friends and close family. I don’t think I would have felt comfortable reading the vows I wrote in front of hundreds of people.

It worked out well because I cried a lot. You always picture yourself walking down the aisle, looking the most beautiful you’ve ever looked. Instead, I ugly cried the whole way down. I kind of wish I had a pretty picture of myself walking down the aisle (I do have one from the rehearsal at least), but that’s just the unpredictable nature of love I guess. At the moment I felt myself physically moving toward my future, gazing into Ryan’s eyes and seeing the look on his face, it all became so real and I felt a rush of gratitude for him standing there, for my father walking next to me, and for all the loved ones surrounding us. There aren’t many opportunities to physically do something that represents a big change in your life, and I think ceremonies can be very powerful. It’s like when you graduate and you think, What’s the big deal? Maybe I’ll just skip the ceremony. It’ll probably be boring. But then the act of moving that tassel from one side of your mortarboard to the other just feels so momentous, like in that one gesture you’re cementing all the hard work of the last four years.

What are some the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

The biggest challenge was finding a venue that was right for us. We actually found Centennial Barn, which ended up being perfect, because someone at a larger venue recommended it. She basically said, “Our venue is way too big for you, but, if you like exposed brick, you should check out this place.” The barn ended up being the perfect size to hold our ceremony and reception all in one place, and I loved how guests could hang out in the loft and look down on the dance floor.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

We are introverts by nature and we tend to prefer spending time with a small circle of close friends, so the guest list actually came together pretty organically. There were certainly groups of people (extended family, coworkers) whom it would have been easy to add, quickly doubling the number of guests, but we found a natural place to draw the line and we felt good about it.

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

I knew that excluding extended family might rub some people the wrong way, but I didn’t feel it was worth compromising the inherent nature of the kind of ceremony we wanted to have just to please other people.

Paradoxically, I think having a very small wedding lets you off the hook when it comes to perceived “snubs.” When you invite hundreds of people, there can still be people who feel left out, but when you only invite 50 people, most understand that you’re going for intimacy and don’t take it personally that they didn’t get an invite.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

We wrote our own vows, and a big highlight for me was hearing Ryan read his. I had no idea what he was going to say, and he absolutely blew me away. I also really loved all the special ways our families participated in the ceremony.

What were the highlights of the reception?

Just after the ceremony, Ryan and I snuck into the stairwell as guests filed out of the ceremony room and began cocktail hour. We took about ten minutes to just revel in the emotion of the moment and look at the secret inscriptions we’d each had engraved in the other’s ring. It’s hard to put into words the feeling of those ten minutes, but they were definitely the happiest of my life.

The overall look of the space also sticks out as a highlight. We worked hard creating DIY decor with the help of family and friends to give our wedding a personal touch. Ryan and I fell in love in the winter. Our first date was sledding, we said I love you in a snowstorm, and all our favoring memories of that time involve snow. So, we knew that we wanted our wedding to be cozy and snow-covered to evoke the mood of that time and place. When it came time to plan our wedding, the first idea that came to me was that we could say “I do” on our fifth anniversary and kiss under an evergreen chuppah to remind us of the snow-covered evergreens we shared our first kisses under. My incredibly devoted parents took on the challenge of creating the chuppah I had in my mind and it set the stage for the rest of the decor, which streamed from the ceremony room out onto the barn’s loft and down a candlelit stairway to the dance floor.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

Although we chose an intimate guest list primarily with the ceremony in mind, it ended up making for a really great reception as well. The mood was reminiscent of holidays spent with family and we were actually able to spend some quality time with everyone who came.

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding? 

It was easy for us to pare down the guest list because an intimate wedding was what we both sincerely wanted. I think you can always tell if you’re on the right path just by asking yourself if it feels right. If it doesn’t feel right, you can re-examine what you really want and go from there.

Being on the same page as your spouse is the most important thing. If your desires don’t align at first, discus how you can compromise. Once you are both on the same page, you can represent a united front when discussing your plans with family and other concerned parties.

When it comes to people who want you to invite more guests, it’s important to be direct yet polite. Remember, they’re happy for you and they just want to share your happy day with more people.

Vendors:

Venue: Centennial Barn

Caterer: Eat Well

Coordinator: Jen Weber of The Love Riot

Photography: Braun Photography

Videography: Studio Z Films

Decor: DIY

Favors: Green World Project

Invitations and Stationery: Five Dot Design

Bridal Gown: Catherine Deane for BHLDN

Bride’s Accessories: fur coat, vintage (borrowed last minute from bridesmaid’s mom) // boots, vintage // tights, Topshop // clutch, Kate Spade // necklace, designed by bride and made by mother-of-the-groom // bouquet and floral crown, Inspired Floral Design

Groom’s Attire: suit, shirt, and tie, Indochino // boots, Asos // boutonnière, DIY

Bridemaids: gowns, BHLDN // fur coats, vintage (borrowed last minute from bridesmaid’s mom) // necklaces, Bauble Bar // bouquets, DIY

Special songs:

Processional: “The Book of Love” by The Magnetic fields (bridal party), “How Deep is Your Love” by The Bird and the Bee (bride)

Recessional: “Everybody’s Gonna Be Happy” by The Kinks

First Dance: “Love Letter” by The Wannadies

Father/Daughter Dance: “Find Love” by Clem Snide

Wedding Video: “January Wedding” by The Avett Brothers