Thank heavens it's Friday – and a long weekend for us here in the UK. Let's start the count-down to the bank holiday weekend with a new addition to our fortnightly inspiration boards. Please join me in welcoming Michelle and Vicki of Pocketful of Dreams back to the blog this morning, who are bringing us some fun and fresh pastel gorgeousness, just perfect for this sunny week we've been enjoying!
As creative event designers, we love to experiment with unusual colour combinations and so when we spied a rather fabulous pair of Carven shoes, it inspired us to create this gorgeous but perhaps unexpected colour palette…
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Image credits: 1. Magnolia Rouge 2. Robyn Thompson 3. Sugar Coated Mama 4. Refinery 29 5. Etsy 6. Gardenista 7. Etsy 8. The Fashioner
The turn in the weather this week has had us dreaming of long, lazy summer days in the sunshine and in celebration of that, this design is a fresh and light look guaranteed to lift your spirits.
Pastel shades are perfect for creating a soft, exquisite look and this beautiful colour combination is both delicate but also uplifting and youthful. Match muted tones of azure blue and blush with nude and cream shades for the perfect soft-hued look. Then throw in a hint of gold for a delicate luxe edge. The result is a novel take on a pastel palette and allows you to add a hint of fun and creativity to your design; embracing the softness and laid-back beauty of pastels whilst adding a hint of modernity.
To embrace the effortless beauty of this concept, look to natural materials such as wood and jute and complement with cut glass and fun, lighthearted details.
Image credits: 1. 100 Layer Cake 2. Weddbook 3. La Fotografia Aplicada 4. Bottica 5. Style Me Pretty
Our Blushing Blue bride requires the most exquisite and delicate of dresses. Think a fitted, slinky dress but keep it modest with a high neckline, plunging back and oodles of lace and even broderie anglaise detailing. Look to designers such as Jenny Packham and Claire Pettibone for your perfect gown or Elie Saab if you fancy a dress in a pastel shade. Accessorise with a pair of killer heels; the Valentino pair above are just perfect – the softness of the nude shade with those fierce spikes perfectly embodies this look.
Aim for a dewy and flawless base and then embrace those pastels in your make up. If blue shadow feels like a step too far, opt for neutral shades on your eyes with a delicate liner flick and then select a matt pastel pink for your lips. Keep hair loose and natural, perhaps tied with a blue ribbon or if you are considering a veil, then look to Juliet cap styles as the perfect delicate accessory.
Your jewellery is a fantastic opportunity to inject some of that unexpectedness back into your look with a subtle modern twist. Look for pieces in pastel shades and don't be afraid to experiment with slightly unusual materials for your bridal look. This rope necklace from Bottica is certainly not your typical bridal jewellery but the use of natural materials and the dip dye pastel azure means it would sit perfectly against a soft and delicate gown.
Stick to knee length dresses for your bridesmaids to keep the laidback vibe; a combination of dresses in shades of blue, blush and nude will allow your girls to each pick a dress that complements their skin tone. Mismatched colours and dress styles will help to reinforce the relaxed and effortless beauty of this design.
Image Credits: 1. Cute Pinky 2. Style Me Pretty 3. Wedding Chicks 4. Fine and Dandy 5. Fashion Trunk
Your decor and details provide you with an opportunity to incorporate the shades from your colour palette but use these elements to also reinforce the underlying essence and feel of your day. You're aiming for a soft, relaxed and very beautiful day with a hint of cheeky unexpectedness that adds a freshness and modern feel to proceedings. So give thought to colours, textures and materials; cute little touches like pastel blue stripy straws and balloons at your drinks reception add a fun edge and injecting subtle gold hints to vases and platters will add a modern hint of luxe. Choose crisp, clean stock for your paper goods with a subtle pastel wash and delicate, scrolling fonts to keep things looking fresh.
Natural materials sit alongside exquisite yet subtle elements to create this look – details should be beautiful but soft. For your wedding breakfast, use delicate blue linens, silver or white flatware and look to source coloured and unusually shaped tableware. We adore these gorgeous Juliska scalloped plates from Amara which would work perfectly as charger plates.
Stick to beautifully unstructured florals displayed in simple glass vases, perhaps wrapped in jute and twine to reflect the fresh and natural essence of this look. Delicate cream and blush roses can be paired with pale blue toned florals such as thistles, hydrangeas and echeveria succulents. Think about texture as well as colours to add interest; spikier shapes will inject a modern edge to complement the softness of the pastel shades.
Hand craft wooden signs to direct your guests and ensure the day progresses effortlessly; polka dot detailing will once again add a fun twist but still sit perfectly against softer details such as fabric hanging backdrops or pastel ribbons used as chair backs.
For your sweet goods, choose a blush and blue butter iced cake or why not create a cake table of mouthwatering pastel perfection with an array of cakes of varying sizes in creams, blush and azure shades? Ruffled and polka dot icing finishes will add a fun and pretty finish to the display. Present cakes on a variety of stands made of rustic wood and simple cut glass, decorated with beautiful blooms.
This fresh yet fun design concept is a great option for couples who love the soft and pretty look of pastels but are looking to add an uplifting twist to a classic, romantic look. Do let us know what you think in the comments box below and if there are any colours, concepts or ideas that you'd like to see us incorporate into an upcoming inspiration board we'd love to hear from you!
Michelle & Vicki xx
Creative Event Designers at Pocketful of Dreams
Pocketful of Dreams is a duo of creative event designers, passionate about creating beautiful experiences. They design, style and deliver unique weddings tailored to your own personal story. Email [email protected] to find out more.
Annabel View all Annabel's articles
Founder of Love My Dress. Passionate Podcaster and Editor. Annabel lives in rural North Yorkshire with her husband and business partner Philip, their two daughters and menagerie of furry hounds. She loves photography, meditation, walking, being outdoors and star gazing. She is fierce when it comes to championing talent within the wedding industry and when she's not working on Love My Dress, she supports her husband Philip in the running of the family's sustainable flower farm and floral design business, Moonwind Flowers. In 2013, she became a published author.
