Celebrate the bride-to-be with a dainty midday fete
A well-designed bridal luncheon is an extra special affair. “Bridal luncheons are about celebrating the bride, so don’t be afraid to play up the girliness,” says wedding planner Laura Helm. Helm, who runs Ashton Events, likes to build luncheons using ladylike themes. She recently played off the feminine retro styles found in the movie The Help to create the perfect setting for a lunch. “We wanted to highlight the bridge games that happen throughout the movie,” she says. “We were inspired by the rose print we used for the table runner and chairs, as well as the vintage rose playing cards. The whole look was very classy but lighthearted.” Helm carried the rose throughout the party’s invitations, place cards, and centerpieces, and kept the color palette to sherbet tones to keep the style whimsical without overdoing it.
Worried you won’t be able to pull of a theme without looking corny? Helm says don’t be. “Don’t let having a theme be a stumbling block. Base the day around the bride, incorporate her favorite things, and you can’t go wrong!”