2.22.2010

Event Essentials - Theories of Color

col·or
Its often the starting point for event design.
Client's choose their color-scheme based on their favorite colors, their college team colors, eithnic colors or colors that match the scenic surroundings. But little do we consider what color symbolizes and means in culture, history and mood. Here is a little info on each.

Red is the color that we pay the most attention to. It is the warmest and most energic color in the spectrum.
We associate red with love, valentines, danger, desire, speed, strength, violence, anger, emergency exit signs, stop signs and blood. Red can evoke a fight-or-flight response, raise blood pressure and make the heart beat faster. In China red symbolizes celebration and luck, used in many cultural ceremonies that range from funerals to weddings.
In India red is the color of purity (used in wedding outfits).
Light red represents joy, sexuality, passion, sensitivity, and love.
Pink signifies romance, love, and friendship. It denotes feminine qualities and passiveness.
Dark red is associated with vigor, willpower, rage, anger, leadership, courage, longing, malice, and wrath.
Brown suggests stability and denotes masculine qualities.
Reddish-brown is associated with harvest and fall.



Blue represents peace, tranquility, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, loyalty, sky, water, cold, technology, and depression. Blue can "slow the pulse rate, lower body temperature, and reduce appetite." Blue is considered a business color because it reflects reliability.
In China, blue is associated with immortality.
In Colombia, blue is associated with soap. For Hindus blue is the color of Krishna. For the Jews, blue symbolizes holiness. In the Middle East blue is a protective color.
Light blue is associated with health, healing, tranquility, understanding, and softness.
Dark blue represents knowledge, power, integrity, and seriousness.


Yellow represents joy, happiness, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope, sunshine, summer, gold, philosophy, dishonesty, cowardice, betrayal, jealousy, covetousness, deceit, illness, hazard, spirtuality and inspiration. The yellow rose is a symbol of friendship, less passionate or threatening than red ones. In Asia yellow is sacred, and imperial.
Dull (dingy) yellow represents caution, decay, sickness, and jealousy.
Light yellow is associated with intellect, freshness, and joy.


Black is the absence of light and therefore, of color. It represents power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, fear, evil, anonymity, unhappiness, depth, style, evil, sadness, remorse, anger, underground, good technical color, mourning and death.

Green, one of most-often cited favorite colors. It represents nature, environment, health, good luck, renewal, youth, vigor, spring, generosity, fertility, jealousy, inexperience, envy, misfortune. "Its cool quality soothes, calms, and has great healing powers." It is often worn in operating rooms by surgeons. In China, green hats mean a man's wife is cheating on him. In India green is the color of Islam. In Ireland green has religious significance (Catholic).
Dark green is associated with ambition, greed, and jealousy.
Yellow-green can indicate sickness, cowardice, discord, and jealousy.
Aqua is associated with emotional healing and protection.
Olive green is the traditional color of peace.

Orange is a combination of yellow and red. Orange is considered a warm color like red, but to a lesser extent; orange expresses energy. It has luminous qualities and has been used for attention-getting purposes, such as on caution signs. Orange brings up memories of fall leaves, pumpkins and Halloween. It symbolizes balance, warmth, enthusiasm, vibrance, flamboyancy, and is demanding of attention. In Ireland orange has religious significance (Protestant).
Dark orange can mean deceit and distrust.
Red-orange corresponds to desire, sexual passion, pleasure, domination, aggression, and thirst for action.
Gold evokes the feeling of prestige. The meaning of gold is illumination, wisdom, and wealth. Gold often symbolizes high quality.


Purple represents royalty, spirituality, nobility, ceremony, mystery, transformation, wisdom, enlightenment, cruelty, arrogance, mourning. Purple is considered an exotic color. Purple dye was made from the mucous gland of a snail. It required thousands of snails to yield 1 gram of dye causing it to be a color only nobles could afford. Today purple is a trendy color targeting creative types and especially popular with weddings.
Light purple evokes romantic and nostalgic feelings.
Dark purple evokes royalty.


White is what we see when all colors come together in perfect balance. It represents reverence, purity, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence, youth, birth, winter, snow, good, sterility, and marriage. In Japan, white carnations signify death. In eastern cultures white symbolizes coldness and sterility.

2.19.2010

Crowning & Cunning

Here is a great gift idea that makes for a wonderful keepsake!


Artist Sadieryantiles uses a sand casting process to imprint invitations on
hand-crafted tiles, giving them a chic white patina.

Tiles come in two sizes: 8.75 x 7 inches or 10.75 x 6.5 inches
to accommodate different sized wedding invitations.
This idea is great for engagement parties, showers, baptisms,
birthdays & wedding anniversaries.
They are $49.95 and can be ordered at Etsy

2.13.2010

2.12.2010

Eventista

Will you be my Valentine, forever?
Written by Brittany Craig  

Here’s a riddle: What is an iron ring worn on the left hand that serves as a “slave band” to signify that the woman is the man’s chattel and belonged exclusively to him? (I give you full permission to gag.) Yes, this is what the Roman Republic believed to be the betrothal or engagement ring.

The Egyptians were a little more lighthearted and believed the circle-shaped adornment signified a bond between two people who intended to marry. Wearing the ring on the “ring finger” dates back to the Romans who believed the fourth finger was the opening to the vena amoris or “vein of love” which leads to the heart.

Ladies, we owe it to Max. The Archduke, Maximilian I of Austria proposed marriage to Mary of Burgundy with a diamond ring in 1477 and we’ve been smitten since.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. And it happens to be the most popular day to get engaged with nearly 10 percent of Americans dropping to one knee. About 5,000 Americans get married every day — so you can only imagine how significant engagements are on Valentine’s Day. Jeff Jaffe of Harold Jaffe Jewelers can attest to that.

“Love is in bloom. January and February have been very strong,” Jaffe said.

Your love is unique and why shouldn’t your jewelry be? Custom designs are hot this year. Celebrity Kristen Bell received a fancy-colored diamond from fiancĂ© Dax Sheppard. The traditional is so expected. So surprise her with some color.

“We are seeing much more interest in fancy yellow and brown diamonds,” Jaffe said, suggesting rubies, emeralds or sapphires for center stones.

Popping the question can be just as unique. Take her to a special place just the two of you share; somewhere you can always return to reminisce. And you get points for presentation, too. Put the ring in a keepsake or serve it up in a way she’ll never forget. When you’re out to dinner, order oysters with the ring inside the shell. Afterwards take the shell to a jeweler to be made into a keepsake.

For a place she is sure to say yes, take her to Mancy’s.

“I’ve seen dozens of proposals, but never a ‘no’, ” said John Mancy of Mancy’s Bluewater Grille in Maumee. “It’s pretty exciting. You know when she says ‘yes’ because the whole restaurant applauds.”

Fifi Berry of Fifi’s Reprise agrees. Her romantic fireside table is always a popular place for dropping to one knee on Valentine’s Day. Both restaurants host many unique requests from guests who are planning a special evening.

Hopefully Cupid’s arrow will pierce you and your true love’s heart this Valentine’s Day.




2.08.2010

Crowning Inspiration

This weekend I met with a fabulous bride and mother-of-the-bride to start brainstorming on the design of her wedding. One idea we are starting with is heavy candlelight down the center of long tables, with some small vases of flowers scattered in between and a dramatic presentation of flowers at the ends. We plan to use small to large pillar candles for everlasting glow and luminicent tables!
Here's part one of the inspiration board...

more to come as the design process progresses....

2.02.2010

Will Spring Sprung Early?

Well Buckeye Chuck of Marion, Ohio did NOT see his shadow.
Therefore, as tradition has it, an early Spring for Ohioans!

What, in the name of crinoline does this have to do with Weddings?!
Well, for those who are marrying in April and May, this means more days of warm sunshine and blooming flowers and less days of rain and mud! Yeah!!!