Thanks again

Print at home thank you card from our 'i do' it yourself shop

Well Happy Halloween everyone as we say goodbye to another month and another theme. It's certainly been a lot of fun putting together ideas for an aqua blue and red wedding full of romantic roses. I hope it's helped to inspire some brides to be a bit more daring with their wedding colour palette. Thanks again for everyones contributions and comments, keep them coming!

I'd also like to welcome a new member to the 'i do' it yourself team, our new manger in charge of product durability testing, he looks like a hard worker, here's a pic :) ...

real wedding: Dough and Paige

Roll up, roll up... for one of the most entertaining weddings you'll probably ever see. Dough and Paige married in the US earlier this year and they certainly captured all the fun of the fair with an aqua blue and red wedding. There are so many captivating details and inventive ideas, it's just the ticket to finish up the month.

Stunning photography by Jamie Hammond co-ordinated by Amorology Weddings

eye-catching cakes

To finish off the month we've put together some eye-catching, not to mention mouth watering wedding cakes to get you thinking about your dessert designs. Yummmm...

cake credits: plum prefect via project wedding; pretty as a picture, via Jonathan Canlas Photography; aqua cake with red rose decoration, credit unknown; red and teal cupcake from I Need a Cupcake; beautifully decorated with aqua ribbon and red roses via Boutwell Studio.

DIY project: rose place cards

These delicate little paper roses will add the perfect finishing touch to your wedding place cards. So simple to do, I remember making these in high school, you'll easily be able to whip up bunches of them in an evening.

You will need:

sheets of A4 red card

a pencil

scissors

double sided sticky tape

sticky tape

strips of white card stock

DIY project:

1. Sketch a spiral taking up the full width of your A4 piece of paper. You'll want the space between each line to be about 2cm, the bigger the space the bigger the rose.

2. Cut your spiral out following the lines you have sketched.

3. Starting from the outside, fix the end with a piece of double sided sticky tape and begin rolling the spiral up.

4. When you have finished rolling fix the other end with more double sided sticky tape and let the roll loosen a little to form your rose.

5. With your guests names carefully written or printed onto the strips of white card, stick a name to the bottom of each rose.

handmade help for an aqua blue and red wedding

If you're stuck for where to begin creating your red and aqua wedding, etsy is a good place to start. We've pieced together some brilliantly bold finds from etsy sellers to help make your wedding a party to remember.

• Don't forget about the boys! Make sure the groomsmen stand out from the crowd with these matching red ties hand-screened with blue flowers. US$81 for three from Toybreaker.

• Party on with these paper pom poms in shades of blue and teal. US$30 for seven from Party Poms.

• Add some pretty polka dots and stripes with these red and white flags, US$27 from Giggleberry.

• Embellish clothes, gifts, scatter them on the tables, there are plenty of uses for these adorable little turquoise flowers. 12 for only US$6 from Supplier.

• Roses are red and table numbers too. Add the perfect finishing touch to your table decorations with these gorgeous red and blue print at home table numbers. Files for numbers one to 12, US$10 from 'i do' it yourself.

• These cute vintage doilies would look beautiful scattered under a table centerpiece. Set of 20 in various sizes for US$13.50 from Sweet Vintage 78.

• Such pretty fabrics, so many uses. US$25.80 for half a meter of four different Darla cotton fabrics, from Fresh Fabric Australia.

• A dozen romantic red roses that will never wilt, because they're made from paper. US$40 from PookyButt.

• This beautiful Tiffany blue ring pillow with red ribbon and rhinestone is a steal at US$30 from Creative Bridal.

Don't forget to always keep an eye at the bottom of the page as we update our favourite wedding finds on etsy each week.

daring designs

Not for the faint hearted, an aqua blue and red wedding means an instant injection of fun and fabulousness. But with such a powerful colour combination it's hard to go wrong with decorations. For the daring bride we've put together a little collection of our favourite romantic red and bold blue design finds.

Start as you mean to go on, with a delicously daring cocktail like this blueberry martini via Martha Stewart Weddings. You can call the aqua blue and red colour palette simply stunning because its so simple to look this stunning! Photo via Project Wedding. One of the most simple decorating ideas - bunches of balloons to add a little fun. Use our petal cone template for a scattering of roses, or, fill them with red and blue candy for a sweet treat like this photo from brides.com. A colletion of red lanterns suspended over a mass centerpiece of red roses is a dramatic and romantic display, photo Martha Stewart Weddings. Lolly pops and candy made a great focus point at this wedding, photo by Jonathan Canlas. It's difficult to put this table setting into words except just perfect comes to mind, photo by Boutwell Studio . Don't forget to decorate the aisle, perfect for a sprinkeling of rose petals, pic by Marriott Photography via Southern Weddings. Red polka dot ribbon will be a pretty handy DIY accessory. Aqua M&Ms... mmmmm... pic from Jonathan Canlas.

quirky centerpieces

Here is a cute and quirky idea for your table decorations. Take some large glass goblets in different styles, you could pick these up from a junk or charity shop for next to nothing. Turn them upside down, rose underneath, candle on top and group them together down the center of a long table. Now you have some unconventional but fun wedding centerpieces.

DIY project: rose petal cones

There is nothing more romantic at a wedding ceremony than a scattering of rose petals. In the past the bridesmaids or flower girls carried a basket of petals, but paper cones are increasingly popular and very easy to make.

You will need:

A4 paper

Printer

Scissors

Decorative edged scissors

Double sided sticky tape

Hole punch

Ribbon

Rose petals

DIY project:

1. Download the template here and print it on your home printer.

2. Carefully cut the template out - you can use decorative scissors for the rounded edge if you wish.

3. Punch the two holes (over the marked dots) and attached a strip of double sided sticky tape to the flap.

4. Stick the flap to the other side of the paper cut out to form your cone shape.

5. Thread roughly 60cm of ribbon through the holes and secure each end with a bow or knot.

And you're done, just fill the cone with rose petals! You can further decorate your petal cone in lots of ways with monogrammed stickers, more ribbon or even doileys.

CLICK HERE to download the free petal cone template

Or visit our online store for more colour and pattern options

accessorising with aqua and red

Credits (clockwise from top) Look fabulous in this feathered aqua headpiece, US$32 from Bethany Lorelle. Add a cute touch to your wedding outfit with this rosebud cotton and linen brooch, US$20 from Me Make. A stunning yet simple necklace with blue and red polymer clay roses, US$24 from Divine in Mind. So pretty and so striking with hot red and turquoise, this vintage flower necklace is US$20 from Beads by Evelyn. A pretty little polka dot purse will add a bit of kitschy cuteness, US$25.99 from The Tinder Box. This gorgeous English rose ring embroidered with red and pink French knots is a steal at only US$12 from LiD Designs Boutique. The perfect accessory to finish your look... red rose earrings, only US$8 from I Love Sugar.

blushing bridesmaids

Last month our bridesmaids post was so popular I thought we'd better do it again! And with such a fun colour palette bridesmaids cant fail to look stunning, so here are a couple of ideas...

Puff ball bridesmaids dress with corsage flower from Courtesan Boutique with red cloisonne heart earrings by Meredithbead, US$32. And J Crew dress with red rose and turquoise stone necklace by The Silver Dog, US$23.

steal that style - roses are red

Ahhh, it's fashion inspiration time again and there are certainly no shortage of ideas with red roses as the theme. Obviously some are more dramatic than others, but even little touches such as this cute rose purse by Catherine Mee are lovely.

The fun aqua blue and red colour scheme really lends itself to 1950s style dresses like this vivacious red number from Candy Anthony via Wedding Magazine.

Accessorise with a red and black choker, US$29 by Jodi French; or bring in a burst of aqua blue with this stunning raw silk rose wrap US$79 by Bonzie.

The rose can be added to your dress design in various ways, from the subtle through to the dramatic: A simple red rose sash over a lace and organza dress by Lyn Ashworth looks lovely. While the one shouldered Reverie gown by Melissa Sweet features delicate roses on the strap and around the hemline. Go completely mad with something like this Ian Stuart explosion of colour! Or finish off with a beautiful giant rose bustle by Joan Shum. The options are endless!

If there is one wedding fashion trend we're seeing more and more of, it's the coloured wedding shoes. A glimpse of hot pink, bright red or stunning aqua under the white gown adds a bit of playfulness to the day. So here's a spot of fun footwear inspiration.

We're loving the gorgeous contrast of white and red in this photo via Martha Stewart Weddings; sassy red rose Pierre Dumas shoes via Piper Lime; perhaps not in every brides budget - Mai Lamore's Rose Shoes Bight You have the oh so slightly crazy price tag of $30,941, but they are pretty to look at!

DIY stationery: roses are red

We really wanted to capture the fun and fabulousness of this months theme with our new wedding invites. The contrast of beautiful aqua blue and romantic deep red really pops (one friend has described the design as 'Cath Kidston on acid' - thanks Sarah).

The background of chintzy roses has been given a new lease of life with a spiral texture and polka dots. While the back focuses on the words 'LOVE' in big bold font - but this can be customed to say whatever you like, just like the rest of the text. Finished off with a red polka dot and aqua ribbon detail this really is for a wedding with the wow factor.

How does 'i do' it yourself DIY stationery work?

1. Follow the link to purchase the design through our etsy store.

2. Email your wedding detsils through

3. We send you a proof to check

4. Once signed off we email you the finished files for you to print, decorate and send! Easy!

CLICK HERE to visit our etsy shop.

Above you can see the finished product as the gatefold version, or see below for other ideas:

The full design, front and back.

This version has been cut to A5 size

The square cut to fit a standard 150mm envelope.

Matching RSVPs in varions sizes are also available

CLICK HERE to visit our etsy shop.

roses are red... scrapbook inspiration

If you're planning a wedding with the 'wow factor' then this colour palette might be for you. Romantic red and stunning aqua blue make a striking combination.

Credits: kicking back in style - aqua and red wedding party with rose bouquets, photo by Michael Norwood Photography; decorate your own cupcakes with these delicious blue roses, pic from Boutwell Studio via Snooty Bird; the stunning table settings for Jennifer and Mike's wedding shot by Boutwell Studio; La La Love You poster by Sparkle Power; oh so cute flower girl, again photo by Boutwell Studio; a cake with the wow factor! by Papillon Cakes via Brides in the City; red rose pomander on blue ribbon by Amy Squires Photography via Southern Weddings; the inspiration for this month - Alexander McQueen dress; rose hair pin by Whimsical Origins; fabulous shoes worn by the bride and shot by Cameron Ingalls; beautiful blue and red bouquets, photo by Shutter Love Studio via The Knot.

roses are red...

We're so excited, the start of a new month means the start of a new theme here on 'i do' it yourself. Spring is definitely in the air - the flowers are blooming and the clocks are changing -and our theme for this month is fabulously floral. Inspired by this amazing Alexander McQueen dress we were reminded of the old poem 'roses are red, violets are blue'. Sometimes called duck egg blue, sometimes Tiffany blue, we're going to go with aqua blue. But whatever you call it this bold colour choice is certainly making an impact, with brides all over the world choosing this fun and fabulous combination.

Colour palette: red and aqua blue

Photography by David Slijper, styled by Marcus Teo via W Magzine.