One of my favorite wedding looks is that of the rustic winter wedding. This look is complete with a backdrop of snow in a cozy lodge. Aside from the rustic charm of the warm wooden walls and beams, or the huge windows overlooking snowy valleys, the style of the lodges can make for amazing detailing for your ceremony or simply for photo ops. Depending on the architecture of the lodge, you really can have any style of wedding you want.

For a lodge wedding venue you have several options on where to have your ceremony. Inside the lodge is the most obvious option. With surroundings like a towering stone fireplace, or high wood beam ceilings, lodges have stunning interiors and the fireplaces are cozy and add to the intimate feel of a lodge wedding.

The outside of a lodge is just as serene. Having a gorgeous snow capped mountain backdrop is jaw dropping and your guests can watch the ceremony (hopefully not a very lengthy one!) wrapped in coats, or blankets you provide, then huddle around the hot fire with hot cocoa and sweets for the cocktail hour before the rest of the celebration.

These reindeer blankets would be amazing for an outdoor snowy fete!

Lodge decor already adds so much to the look of a wedding that adding your own touches is simple and takes a lot of pressure off of the design that you will add.

Snowshoes, skis and sleds are all great props to add to your look of the lodge inspired wedding, and you can use them inside or out!

How amazing are these little skis for bouquet detailing??

Centerpieces and other decor items can take cues from the interior decorating and architecture of the lodge itself and pull together the overall look of your wedding. One of my favorite looks is centerpieces that incorporate antlers! Pine cones can also add to the rustic charm.

Wintry weddings are just plain dreamy. The white snow gives the proceedings an ethereal glow and a fresh feeling of new beginnings, perfect for a wedding day! Rustic warm tones of the wood, cozy clothes, and fresh powder all make for the perfect lodge look.

Image One and Two: 6:8 Photography; Image Two: amountainbride.blogspot.com; Image Three: snippetandink.com; Image Four: alwaysandriweddingdesign.blogspot.com; Image Five: benjhaisch.com; Image Six: scout.typepad.com; Image Seven: photosbyaw.com; Image Eight: stylemepretty.com; Image Nine: lancashire.gov.uk; Image Ten: stylemepretty.com; Image Eleven: stylemepretty.com; Image Twelve: stylemepretty.com; Image Thirteen: greenweddingshoes.com; Image Fourteen: rocknrollbride.com; Image Fifteen: thesweetestoccasion.com; Image Sixteen: rusticweddingchic.com

Rebekah is a stylist and wedding and event designer. She owns the company A & B Creative, read her blog.

The trend of white on white at weddings is growing. White on white is a stylish, modern and elegant look that’s incredibly simple. Grouping white items together creates an effortless look of style that can be used in any season. Winter is the perfect season for white on white to emulate the look of snow, but the look could work equally as well for a crisp summer wedding. We’ll explore the white on white trend from dessert tables to bridesmaids’ dresses.

Once you have your theme of white on white in mind, creating a dessert table is easy. Simply select and arrange your favorite white treats and you’re ready to go! Marshmallows, powdered sugar doughnut holes, cake pops, cookies and cupcakes are all perfect.

Candy bars are another white on white option. So many candies come in white and you can add visual interest by displaying them in different sized vessels.

You can also choose to have a white on white cake. You may think that because it’s all the same color it would be difficult to see details, but you can easily add texture with flowers, frosting or candies to have a stunning effect.

Flowers are a simple way to display the white on white look, either in your bouquet or with your centerpieces. (The two bouquets below have flowers that are actually made of wood!)

Tablescapes can also be done in all white. Using white chairs, or ghost chairs (clear lucite), along with white linens and flowers creates a stunning look.

While most brides already opt for white wedding dresses, a newer trend is to also have your bridesmaids in white dresses. If you’re comfortable with someone other than you also wearing white then go for it! This look can be very ethereal and looks beautiful when the whole wedding party is together.

White on white is a blank canvas to which you can add whatever extra touches are personal for you. The look can be done in a modern and minimalist style, vintage inspired, or even eclectic. Having the unifying theme of the color that ties everything together gives you a lot of options for whatever style you choose.

Image One: blog.amyatlas.com; Image Two: merrylbrowsevents.com; Image Three: inspiredbride.net; Image Four: merrylbrownevents.ccom; Image Five: hello-naomi.blogspot.com; Image Six: blog.amyatlas.com; Image Seven: theinspiredbride.net; Image Eight: cutestfood.com; Image Nine: yummycupcakes.com.au; Image Ten: krislyndesign.com; Image Eleven: paperdollstudio.ca; Image Twelve: stylemepretty.com; Image Thirteen: hello-naomi.blogspot.com; Image Fourteen: lanedittoe.com; Image Fifteen: theresejacintodesign.blogspot.com; Image Sixteen: vogue.com; Image Seventeen: stylemepretty.com; Image Eighteen: ruffledblog.com

Rebekah is a wedding and event designer and owns the company  A & B Creative, read her blog.

Want to learn how to make bath bombs? Not only are bath bombs a great way to enhance an already pleasurable activity (who doesn’t love a warm soak in the tub!), they also make for fantastic shower or wedding favors.

Bath bombs smaller than these sell for  $6.45 a pop at Lush. If you take lots of baths, your money will dissolve pretty quickly.

Before I go on to tell you how to make bath bombs, I have a confession to make: this is the third bath bomb recipe that I’ve tried – and the only one that worked for me. I nearly gave up after my last attempt turned into a crumbly mess – but something in me was fiercely determined to succeed. And that I did!

After doing some heavy duty reading on how to make bath bombs, I’ve realized that perfecting a bath bomb really does take practice. You might not get it right the first time – and if that’s not okay with you, then you might want to hop on over to Lush to purchase your bath bombs, instead of making them.

If you don’t have all the ingredients to make this recipe, all you really need is baking soda, water, citric acid and essential oil. I suggest you read this guide to making bath bombs before you proceed.

If you are making bath bombs as favors, you’ll probably want to get smaller molds or just fill half the mold for each one. This recipe makes 2.5 eight ounce bath bombs.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. baking soda
• 4 oz Citric Acid
• 4 oz. corn starch
• 4 oz. Epsom salts
• 3/4 tsp water
• 2 tsp. essential oil (I used peppermint)
• 2.5 tsp almond oil or other light oil
• A few drops food coloring
• sugar flower (the kind you use for decorating cakes)
• Clear Plastic Fillable Ball Ornament

Gather your dry ingredients.

Dump all of your dry ingredients into one big bowl and stir.

Place wet ingredients in a small jar and mix.

Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir, using a whisk. Mixture should clump together in your hands.

Place sugar flower upside down in one half of the baubles.

Pack mixture tightly into first half of plastic ornament. Repeat with second half. Pile mixture loosely on top of filled second ornament and press both halves together. If you find that the mixture is not packing well, place back into the bowl and add a WEE bit of water. This is tricky, because too much water will ruin your bath bomb.

Carefully release from mold. Place bath bombs on a fluffy towel covered with wax paper (this will help to eliminate the flat spot on the bottom of the bomb) to dry. Let dry for 1-2 days before wrapping.

If you are giving these as DIY favors, place in a cellophane favor bag or wrap with tissue paper.

Winter picnics in the snow are perfection. I absolutely love when people take something that is normally so heavily associated with one season and use it in another. Obviously picnics are generally a spring or summer activity, but I love the look of a winter picnic that has replaced green saturated grass with deeply packed snow. Cozy woolen blankets and hot cocoa keep you warm amongst the chilly temperatures.

I am completely infatuated with the idea of a winter picnic being used as a part of the “first look” shots before a wedding. How intimate would it feel to be cozied up before the wedding having one last special moment together before you are married?

This could also be amazing for engagement pictures.

If you are inspired to have your own winter picnic,  I’ll break down a little supply list for you. As you can see a cozy blanket is necessary. Then bring whatever special treats you like best  and some hot cocoa or hot toddy ingredients to keep warm.

Winter picnics make for stunning images and they add an unexpected tone to first looks, engagements or even a wedding reception alternative! So grab your favorite warm blanket, a thermos of warm drinks and your most tasty treats and cozy up with your love and enjoy an unseasonal picnic.

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Rebekah is a wedding stylist and designer. She owns the company A & B Creative, read her blog.

Weddings are exciting on their own – add New Year’s Eve to the mix, and you have one awesome celebration!

If you want to have a New Year’s Eve wedding it will work best to have the wedding start later, say seven or so, then serve dinner and begin the reception after with the goal of ending after the ball drops. Since people have a tendency  to drink more than usual on New Year’s make sure you can provide a shuttle back to the hotel where your guests are staying or a taxi.

Here are ways to make your New Year’s Eve reception dazzling:

1. Sparklers – Sparklers as a send off have become really popular, but I LOVE using sparklers in less expected ways, like in these couple shots, on a cake, or as favor.

2. Champagne – Since toasting on NYE is a tradition, having a champagne tower like this would seem perfect for a NYE wedding!

3. Clock – You’ve already been counting down to the big day since you were engaged, and NYE is all about the countdown, so why not have elements of time with clock decor around your wedding?

4. Noise Makers and Party Hats – These are all fun NYE staples to add to your wedding.

5. Glitz and Glitter – Decorating your venue in anything with glitz, glitter and sparkle will add to the festive energy that New Year’s Eve has. You can buy lanterns, or make garlands to hang, and balloons are also a great way to decorate for NYE.

7. Confetti

8. Fireworks

9. A Kiss – Instead of rice or sparklers at the end of the night, what would you think about this fitting send off?

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Rebekah is a freelance writer and wedding stylist and designer, she owns the company A & B Creative. She splits her time designing between California and Oregon, read her blog.