Bridal Inspiration Mood Board #63 ~ Faraway Shores

Here at Pocketful of Dreams we are currently dreaming of distant horizons, with memories of Vicki's recent trip to Gambia still lingering and Michelle's upcoming travels to southern Spain looming invitingly.

We are of course planners at heart and so part of the enjoyment of a holiday for us is researching a trip and uncovering those hidden treasures off the beaten track.  The inspiration for this week's set of inspiration boards and event styling guide therefore came from Michelle's extensive research for her summer break and we're sure it's going to have you dreaming of a destination wedding…

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Image Credits: 1. 2. Etsy 3. Laced in Weddings 4. Gueuleange-Mariage 5. Everly True 6. Lisa Vorce 7. Style Me Pretty

Faraway Shores celebrates the beauty of foreign lands and the stunning colours and textures found in nature; we've been inspired by warm sunshine, soft sandy beaches and bougainvillaea growing wild.  This look is the epitome of stylish bohemia: beautiful sun drenched detailing provided by nature and effortlessly presented to create a carefree vibe.  We're not so much celebrating one country in this look, more the very experience of visiting new places, uncovering their natural wonders, cultural traditions, hidden treasures and revelling in a relaxed, carefree environment.  Making it the perfect design concept for a destination wedding or even for a UK wedding celebrating the beauty and freedom encountered on faraway shores…

To bring this look to life, we've chosen a bright and beautiful colour palette of cheering honeysuckle pink which captures and blooms in the warmth of the sun, a soft gold which emulates deserted coastlines and a neutral stone shade to balance the palette and reflect the outdoor lifestyle we all long for.

We're celebrating nature at its finest with a hint of the exotic so style your day with beautiful, untamed natural elements such as delicate wild flowers and warm textured stone mixed in with muted luxe metals.


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Image credits: 1. Eugenia Kim 2. Rosantica 3. Nina Ricci 4. ALICE by Temperley 5. Gucci 6. Cesare Paciotti

In keeping with our exotic location, our Faraway Shores bride best suits a lightweight dress with a bohemian feel.  We love this Nina Ricci dress from Net-a-porter;  the cascading tiers of crinkled silk-chiffon give it a carefree and ethereal look whereas the back boasts a sultry split and oversized bow, adding just the right amount of glamour and sophistication for a Love My Dress bride.  And with it being a destination wedding, we know the heat and therefore the party will last late into the night, so why not plan a cheeky dress change for the evening?  Something short and vibrant would be perfect and pair both your dresses with some high fashion honeysuckle pink heels such as these laser cut beauties from Cesare Paciotti.

Keep make up light (you don't want it melting in the heat) and hair loose and tumbling.  Add a hint of luxe with a delicately crafted headpiece in a soft – not shiny – gold.  This Eugenia Kim headband is just the perfect tone of gold and the whimsical butterflies will add a free-spirited finish to your tousled locks.

Opt for handcrafted jewellery with a bohemian twist; look for semi-precious gems and stones that just might have been discovered locally.  Pink amethyst or agate for example would pop to perfection against your white gown.

And have your bridesmaids raise the fashion stakes whilst keeping cool in crepe or chiffon maxi dresses for the ultimate in bohemian chic.


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Image Credits: 1. Style Me Pretty 2. Inspired By This 3. Wedding Chicks 4. Style Me Pretty 5. Society Bride 6. Style Me Pretty

This look is all about celebrating the natural beauty discovered in faraway shores so go all out on your florals, presenting local flowers like bougainvillea in all their natural glory.  Remember we're capturing the essence of a relaxing holiday in this design, so let the stunning colours of the flowers speak for themselves, with a riot of pink blooms presented in an unfussed fashion; we love the idea of freshly picked wild flowers being presented en masse.

Focus on pink blooms and aim for a range of shades and tones to create a rich ombre effect and intersperse with creams, foliage and lotus pods for a natural yet high-impact look.  Keep vessels simple and in matt, soft metal and stone tones; we love milk vessels sprayed gold for large outdoor displays and simple bud vases in varying heights for tables.

Whether you're getting married inside or outside, an aisle runner of pretty petals is a simple way to add a huge impact to the ceremony and look to introduce ribbons as a hanging backdrop or tied to chairbacks for high-impact but low-fuss decor.


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Image Credits: 1. Bridal Guide 2. The Italian Dish 3. Revel 4. Veggie Belly 5. Pastel Overload 6. Huffington Post

For your wedding breakfast, keep food light and packed full of local flavours.  Fresh salads, seasonal vegetables and grilled meats and fish are perfect for feasting in a hot destination or why not serve something a little bit special like these beet ravioli stuffed with goats cheese and hazelnut?

Transform a simple white tiered cake by piling it high with vibrant bougainvillea and edging the layers with bamboo for a look that is in no way fussy but oh-so-memorable.  Or go all out and introduce an ombre effect into your icing and even sponge to complement your decor and details.

Don't forget to carry your styling through to your drinks reception as well.  Served pink coloured cocktails such as spiked lemonade complete with sugar rimmed glasses and slices of lemon to create a mouthwatering display.  And of course, don't forget the ice!

Edible favours are always well received so why not package up cute little pink goodies for your guests to enjoy such as pink lemonade bars or coconut ice which not only look amazing but will have a refreshing and exotic flavour perfect for our setting.

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Image Credits: 1. Nelliana on Etsy 2. Anthropologie 3. Studio DIY 4. 79 Degrees 5. Ron & Noy on Etsy 6. Fresh Modern Fabric on Etsy

Continue your ombre effect into your linens and fabrics, whether that be fabric backdrops to frame your dance floor or a food station, or napkins for the wedding breakfast.  We've fallen for this hand painted tablecloth from Anthropologie which would set the tone perfectly when your guests sit down for their wedding feast.  However, if this is a little out of your budget, why not try having a go at DIYing something similar; start with a stone – rather than white  - rough fabric linen and add thick paint stripes to create a stylish but not too polished effect.

Create a laidback and fun vibe with relaxed wicker seating, quirky hanging lights perfect for an outdoor lounge set up and fun activities like a golden pinata which will add a memorable twist to your day.  Etsy is the perfect place to look for those one-off pieces which will add a unique style to your wedding day and can be kept as lasting momentoes.  We especially love this origami lampshade which would look beautiful inside your venue or hanging from olive trees with festoon lighting.

And finally, look for innovative ideas for the little details like your guest book.  This beautiful 3D artwork is in the perfect shade of pink and would look beautiful displayed for your guests to write a message on each butterfly.

Our Faraway Shores design is a great option for couples who want to inject some exotic sophistication into their day but maintain a relaxed and fun bohemian vibe. A gorgeous pared back look which celebrates special holiday memories, shared explorings or hopes of adventures yet to come.  Now of course if you are considering a destination wedding, it isn't all sandy beaches and cocktails.  As creative event designers and wedding planners we had the pleasure of working on a rather fabulous destination wedding last year in the South of France and can share some top tips and points to consider when getting married abroad:

Heart  Consider the time of year that you want to get married.  Guaranteed sunshine is a clear draw for destination brides but Morocco in August will have you and your guests literally melting.  Similarly the Caribbean during hurricane season may not be quite the memorable event you were hoping for.  Pick a time when the weather will suit your celebration and if possible try to avoid the height of peak season when flights and accommodation will be at their most expensive.

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Heart  Research local requirements and legalities – countries will have different laws about when and where you can get married.  Look into factors like the language in which the ceremony is conducted and residence requirements or consider having a blessing abroad after a legal ceremony in the UK.

Heart  Be prepared to let go a little…or invest in help – inevitably planning a wedding overseas, often with time differences, makes things far more difficult and best suits brides who are happy to take a more relaxed approach to the details.  Or hire a wedding planner who can manage the details for you and take away the stress of planning a wedding from afar.

Heart  Dress the part – many designers offer fabulous destination bridal gowns which are typically lighter and will be far more comfortable in higher temperatures.  Avoid corseted dresses or heavy woollen suits and consider a later ceremony time to avoid the glare of the midday sun.

Heart  Remember your guests will have made a real effort to spend your day with you so consider other activities outside of the wedding itself.  For instance at our France wedding, guests were invited back to the bride's parents' home the next day for a fully catered brunch.

If you've fallen for this look, then make sure you pop by our Faraway Shores Pinterest board for even more inspiration.

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

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Annabel

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.

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