If you want to celebrate your heritage and showcase the beauty of Asian cultures, it can be featured in a wedding that reflects your personal tastes, whether it’s more trendy, classic, or a mixture of both! Incorporate elements like cherry blossoms, brocade, saki cups, and chopsticks, all embellished with Japanese calligraphy or Chinese characters.

The photos above come from Manolo for the Brides. The decor is from Social Couture, but MftB points out that the look can be easily and inexpensively replicated with accessories from the craft store, eBay, the Oriental Trading Company, and Amazon. These favors below are from the Oriental Trading Company:

American Bridal also has a selection of Asian-styled favors such as these, for something a little more upscale:

Paper lanterns, like these pictured at MftB and Paper Lantern Store, add a delicate, colorful touch:

The Paper Lantern Store also sells hand fans and parasols in a variety of colors and patterns. How pretty your bridal party will look in pictures, carrying these lovely accessories! Here are a few of their parasols:

And here are some of their pretty fans (in all colors to match your wedding!):

To put the perfect finishing touch on your Asian styled wedding, you’ll need a cake adorned with cherry blossoms, of course!

Beach Wedding Favors also has lots of cute things for you guests, including these beach-themed cookie cutters ($1.83) and Mikasa Maritime Bottle Stopper ($7.74):

Morgan Howard has three adorable, low-cost ideas for unique favors you can put together yourself. After all, even when you’re keeping the cost down, you still want your guests to feel appreciated!

First off, there’s a Beach Trunk of Saltwater Taffy, reminiscent of the ocean and perfect in every way, except for Grandpa’s dentures.  All you’ll need is a mini wooden trunk, tulle netting, optional stickers and acrylic, paint, and of course the taffy. Total cost is approximately $3.00 per box.

Her second idea is a Pirate Treasure Chest of Gold Coins, great for chocolate lovers! You need a small wooden chest, acrylic paint, pirate icon, and gold coin chocolates. Cost per favor is about $3.00.

The Wine Favor is her third and most versatile favor, as you can pretty much dress up the bottle to coordinate with any theme. You need a small bottle of wine, tulle, ribbon or raffia to tie with, and a sea shell, gift tag, or charm to dress it up. Cost per favor is about $2.50 each.

For more details on how to assemble any of these favors and where to purchase supplies, see Morgan Howard’s website. Wishing you lots of fun in the sun on your wedding day!

Trend: Dynamic Colors

Think sophisticated brights. Sticking with just two hues (or two plus an accent color) will keep your space unified. Rather than splashing color all over your reception space, use one dynamic color for a strong statement — think all-pink centerpieces or bold orange table linens. This holds especially true for your centerpieces: Instead of multicolored centerpieces, alternate single-color floral arrangements for a pulled-together look.

Trend: Upscale Picnic Food

Summer is the season for barbecuing, so consider serving a grilled entree for instant seasonal style.  Stay on the lighter side with chicken or fish. Bringing in fruity flavors will add even more seasonal flair — think chili-lime rubbed chicken breasts or grilled tilapia topped with mango salsa.  Upscale picnic-style fare is both a low-maintenance and high-style way to go. One example menu we love: coconut-fried chicken served with dipping sauces, red bliss potato salad, and mandarin orange and mesclun salad with raspberry vinaigrette.

Trend: New Themes

Think of your favorite summer hangouts when planning your theme. Rather than just any beach, bring in elements specific to the beach you remember as a kid. If it was a cabin in the woods, go for a wilderness theme. Another idea is to honor your honeymoon destination. If you’re having a garden wedding but honeymooning in Hawaii, add orchids to your bouquets or fill the bottoms of your centerpiece vases with black lava rocks.

Trend: Unexpected Invitations

Use colors in a new and unexpected way on your invites by reversing the typical invitation color scheme. For example, rather than using fuchsia lettering on a cream-colored invite, opt for cream print on fuchsia paper. Or mix it up — do the cream-colored invite with fuchsia writing, and then a bright pink reply card with a cream-colored font. Consider the material of your invite as well.

One hot-off-the-press idea: Get fabric-printed invites, programs, and escort cards for a laid-back look perfect for summer.

Trend: Wine Smoothies

Wine smoothies are cold, frosty, and pack less of an alcoholic punch than margaritas. Perfect for your cocktail hour and as a signature drink for the evening, ask your caterer about serving one of these concoctions. A wine smoothie consists of a fruity wine, like rose, blended with ice and fruits of your choice. Garnished with a couple of berries or fruit slices, it makes for a refreshing and unexpected signature sip.

Trend: Natural Centerpieces

Cut citrus fruit is a tried-and-true favorite for summertime centerpieces, but other options out there are more unexpected and just as visually appealing. Have your florist use hollowed-out watermelons as a centerpiece container for a casual look that’s fun and seasonal. Another option is to go natural and green with your containers. Incorporate wooden vases or pedestals with grass or moss to give centerpieces a textured, natural feel.

Trend: Beyond Wedding Cake

White wedding cakes are popular for every season, and of course, chocolate always reigns for groom’s cakes. But with cake bakers nowadays offering so many delectable flavors and fillings, why not try a seasonal selection?  Think fresh strawberries and whipped cream filling for a strawberry shortcake-style wedding cake, or a citrus-infused filling like Key lime, lemon, or orange vanilla buttercream that honors a summertime fruit.

A big-hit idea we love: Hire an ice cream truck to arrive at the end of the night offering summertime favorites — the perfect nostalgic, late-night snack for your guests.

Trend: Eco-Friendly Favors

Why not give back to the planet while you give to your guests? Eco-friendly favors are bigger than ever, particularly if you’re taking advantage of natural beauty and marrying outdoors. One idea: Give guests locally grown herbs planted in recyclable glass jars or tin cans. Dressed up with ribbon or paper in your wedding colors, they’re gorgeous and good for the earth. Beyond plants, you might also consider donating to a local charity for a wedding favor idea that never goes out of season.