Many Caribbean destination brides are becoming adventurous with their use of color and are moving away from traditional pastel colors to brighter, bolder ones. Hues that you find in some of your favourite jewels such as sapphire, ruby, emerald, and aquamarine are just a few of the many choices you have. Who would have though that when he asked you to marry him with a diamond, you’d be choosing sapphire or emerald…for your wedding colors?

To have your perfect wedding without blowing your budget, try doing your own shopping for accessories instead of having your decorator do it for you. In fact, most of the fun in planning a wedding is accessorizing just the way you want! Use a coordinator to help you put your ideas together, but make sure that you get most of your own ideas in so that your wedding day is just as you dreamed it would be. Here’s how you can bring jewel tones into your special day:

Invitations: Your invitation is the first glimpse into your wedding for your guests, so choose carefully! Color combinations such as different blues, greens, and pinks with rich accents create a stunning effect. One way to do this is to select a main color for the invitation pocket. And, for an elegant touch, try a metallic accent. Add the accent color on the inside of the invitation and use the actual invitation paper outside. To finish up, seal the invitation with a jewel or glamourous ribbon. Another option to this is Indian-styled scroll invitations that arrive, not an ordinary envelope, but a box!

Setting: Whether you’re planning a beach wedding or a wedding inside, be sure to capture some natural aspects of the lush and tropical surroundings by bringing more green into your bouquets and head table. If you’re having a formal indoor wedding, use ficus plants and cover the pots with your wedding color. Add some intimacy by decorating the plants with fairy lights. If you’re having your wedding outdoors, create a stunning ‘enchanted’ garden by hanging colored Chinese lanterns that match with your theme. Hang white lanterns and colored light bulbs for softness and true romance.

Cuisine: Be bold and include food from a culture that’s not your own! Remember, this is a destination wedding! Offer a colorful blend of Chinese, Indian, and Creole dishes, or experiment with Mediterranean cuisine for a nice addition to your menu. Some simply irresistible and eye-catching finger foods include samosas, seafood kebabs, spring rolls, jerk pork, and wontons.

Dress: A Caribbean Destination wedding allows a bride to choose colors and experiment with unique combinations without being limited by seasons. Chocolate brown as an accent color is a real favorite, and fresh, bright colors such as pink, tangerine, and aqua are also becoming very popular. Borrow from the Caribbean’s diverse cultural heritage by using bold colours and heavy beading wherever you can on your gown and other wedding attire. For instance, Eastern-inspired looks such as sari-style dresses with intricate beading will surely give exotic allure to your bridal party. And, if your bridal party is made up of different ethnicities, it’s a great idea to use color combinations that will enhance each member’s skin tone and complexion. Remember to think about your favorite jewels and choose the colors that you love!

Isle Do encourages all of their brides-to-be to research their wedding vendors carefully, get referrals, opinions and feedback from friends and past brides. Be sure to use the free tools such as a budget calculator and free wedding website that can help you to bring your wedding planning to life and keep you on track.