FEATURE/Pink is the New White in Weddings: The Knot Reports Color is All the Rage for 2004

Business Wire, June 7, 2004

Lifestyle Editors/Feature Editors/Business Editors

FEATURE...

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 7, 2004

#1 Wedding Resource Provides Simple Tips for Infusing Color and

Personality into Your Wedding

Here comes the bride, all dressed in...pink? That's right. According to The Knot (www.theknot.com), today's #1 bridal resource, wedding color choices are no longer as simple as black and white. In fact, unconventional color combos such as hot pink and tangerine, lavender and lime, even rich chocolate brown and pastel blue are creating shocking wedding palettes. Whether you're planning a wedding or attending one in the coming year, you'll be seeing all things bridal through colored spectacles.

"More and more couples are using color as a way to add a punch of personality to their weddings," says Carley Roney, editor in chief of The Knot. "Weddings are such festive occasions that they should be anything but monochromatic!" Straight from the pages of the all-new THE KNOT Weddings regional magazine series, Roney provides these simple tips to elegantly color-coordinate a wedding affair -- from the dress to the cake:

THE DRESS: Color Makes a Splashing Debut

Though the white wedding dress remains the universal wedding icon, why not make a style statement with a touch of eye-catching color? Virtually every designer from couture queen Vera Wang to mass-retailer David's Bridal are introducing color -- ice blue, sage green, and lilac -- to their collections. Having a fall wedding? Check out Beverly Hills-based designer Monique Lhuillier's line: she incorporates richly colored sashes in teal or chocolate brown to warm up her ivory lace designs. For a feminine springtime affair, take a look at Bergdorf-fave Melissa Sweet who infuses shades of pink into her gowns, from the sashes to all-over blush satins. Coordinate your gown's colored accent or contrast it with the bridesmaid dresses, and don't forget the groom and his buds -- colored ties are hot on the red carpet, and now the wedding party too.

THE INVITES & FAVORS: Send Guests Vivid Requests

Forgo traditional ecru or white invitations and spread the word about your wedding in color combinations that convey your unique personalities and the mood of the event. Choose cardstock in your event color, or simply use colored ink on a white invitation to announce your wedding-day details. Then carry the color combination throughout -- in the programs, place cards, table cards and, of course, the favor tags! Color gives your wedding on-the-spot style. You'll have an instant theme and a wedding to rival any Martha Stewart masterpiece.

THE FLOWERS: Set the Stage with Bold Bouquets & Brilliant Centerpieces

Today, even the most traditional bride carries a colored bouquet as she seeks to stand out from the crowd. Choosing blossoms by the season makes for beautiful arrangements -- often economical (in-season blooms can save you big bucks). There's a palette of bright botanicals for every season of the year. In spring, opt for voluminous blooms like peonies and hydrangeas in shades of lavender, hot pink, and green. In the summer, get exotic with orchids and mini calla lilies in mango, lime, and violet. For fall, go organic with fresh-picked blossoms in harvest hues -- golden sunflowers, Tuscan roses, plum dahlias, orange calla lilies -- and add fall leaves for an extra seasonal effect. For winter, select rich jewel tones like black magic roses, wine-color calla lilies, and burgundy berries for your bouquets and centerpieces, and accent these with colored napkin rings and glassware.

THE CUISINE: Toast with Colored Cocktails & Dine on Artistic Dishes

Why stop at the flowers and linens? Another easy way to dress up your tables is to infuse color into your cuisine. Create a signature cocktail with fruit flavored liqueur like RemyRed(R) (which comes in a variety of flavors including Grape Berry, Strawberry Kiwi and Red Berry and colors including purple, pink and, of course, red) and give the drink a special name in honor of your nuptials. For instance, an ordinary cosmopolitan becomes the adorable "Blushing Bride"; a drink with blue curacao gets named "Something Blue"; a purple champagne cocktail is "Bubbling Purple Passion". Be sure to let guests know what your cocktail is called -- print the name on the cocktail napkins (in your signature color, natch). In addition, caterers everywhere are taking appetizers and desserts to new artistic extremes. Ask if the menu can be coordinated to match your overall color theme. Sprinkle cranberries on the salad course, serve a beet puree to complement the magenta centerpieces, or dish up blood-orange sorbet to cleanse the palette -- and to match your mango calla lilies, of course!

THE CAKE: Creatively Colorful Cakes

White fondant and ivory buttercream are always prime choices for classically beautiful cakes. But also consider making mouths water with decadent confections iced in colors from cafe au lait to cinnamon red to turquoise blue. From all-over rolled fondant to elaborate handmade sugar flowers to themed creations like sandcastles, colored wedding cakes shout personality...and make a lasting impression on guests. Top off the tiers with a crown of flowers, a monogram, even a vintage cake topper (which, by the way, is making a serious comeback in modern weddings) for a special and personal finishing touch.