Wedding Colors: Green and White

Ruffly hydrangeas and viburnums look like a hedgerow atop this Nantucket basket-inspired weave of ribbon. Grace Collection glasses, Martha Stewart for Wedgwood Stemware Collection at Macy's. Containers, Jamali Garden Supplies

.

Sail-white plates edged in green as fresh as grass inspire us to pop our collars; a length of grosgrain drawn through a notched card recalls prep school spiffy ribbon belts with monogrammed buckles. "Tropic Green" dinner, salad, and bread plate by Raynaud at Michael C. Fina. "1810" sterling flatware, by International Silver

.

A picket fence running alongside a hedge inspired these "Spring Stripes" invites by Kerry Doyle for MintedPostage stamps, Champion Stamp Co. Calligraphy by Deborah Delaney, 212-877-8773.

Serve the ultimate country-club libation: gimlets. Swap out vodka and Rose's lime juice for cucumber gin, fresh lime, and simple syrup tinged with mint, and serve them with tea sandwiches -- sans crust. That picnic perennial, gingham, looks just as crisp indoors as out, and polka dots in a similar shade pack a coordinating graphic punch. "Pearls" paper napkin from Caspari [casparionline.com].

Don't stop at the dresses -- think green when it comes to sashes, accessories, and shoes too. From left: "Nakamura" dress, Smitherman & Barnwell, 212-201-1309. "Pond" strapless gown, by Lela Rose, from Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier, 212-319-6778; ribbon, Mokuba New York, 212-869-8900; "Hannah" dyeable satin shoes, Blue Tux [shopbluetux.com]. Midori dupion silk dress in style #3422,Watters Maids[watters.com]. Flower-girl dress with pleated skirt in green-apple gingham shantung, Simple Silhouettes [simpledress.com]; girls' ballet slippers in dyeable satin, Butterfly Kisses Children's Boutique [circuscitykids.com.] "Emmerson" dress, Jenny Yoo Collection [jennyyoo.com].

Refresh your senses with the blend of bergamot, verbena, and lime blossom in Bond No. 9's [bondno9.com]"Central Park." Airy iris, tuberose, and gardenia make an elegant bouquet in "Fleurissimo," by Creed at Neiman Marcus [neimanmarcus.com]. Breathe in notes of cedar, sage, and musky white amber when your groom sprays on "Eternity Summer," by Calvin Klein at Macy's [macys.com].

Register for single teacups in many different coordinating motifs that you can mix and match -- it makes for a whimsical and eclectic table. From top: "Fish Scale Green" by Herend from Bergdorf Goodman [bergdorfgoodman.com]. "Gardner Street Green," by Kate Spade for Lenox [katespade.com]. "Bamboo Casual," by Monique Lhuillier for Royal Doulton [royaldoulton.com].

When you choose a single color to anchor your table, you can blend different china patterns, as we did here. The natural motifs make these designs even more interchangeable. The bamboo lattice pattern calls to mind afternoons lazing on the patio furniture, and the abstract leaves are softened by the organic lines of the vines they grow on. A touch of formality comes from the gold-edged and fluted rims of overlapping scales. "Fish Scale Green" by Herend from Bergdorf Goodman [bergdorfgoodman.com]. "Gardner Street Green," by Kate Spade for Lenox [katespade.com]. "Bamboo Casual," by Monique Lhuillier for Royal Doulton [royaldoulton.com].

Stems of the feathery, crepe-like blooms add tons of texture to this green-and-white delight. Bunched together en masse and tied together with a crisp, multihued striped ribbon, the vibrant bouquet is more like a portable garden -- cheerfully, blissfully uplifting. A sleek white dragonfly (we painted it white) perches atop verdant masses of green and white, giving this bouquet a fresh, summer-day feel. Dragonfly from Floraltrims. Two-inch cotton-striped ribbon (#2101, color #277) from Hyman Hendler and Sons, 212-840-8393.

Tender greens radiate from delicate shell-pink blossoms on this linen-and-felt ring cushion, which was designed exclusively for us. Ring pillow was custom made by Llubav Choy Duerr, wedding bands by Benchmark

.

As long as men wear shirts, links will make great gifts. Cuff links, clockwise from top left: 1920s Art Deco vintage cuff links from The Missing Link. Quilted cuff links by David Donahue at cufflinks.com. Irish shamrock from J.Press. Striped magnet from The Missing Link. Cuff knots from Thomas Pink, 212-838-1928.

Interchangeable straps turn this into five gifts, not one. Watch face with striped band from Griffin and Cooke

.

Trust us -- he'll want to tie these on. Clockwise from left: Custom tie by Tie Crafters, 212-629-5800, made in plaid wool by Oscar de la Renta, from Mood Fabrics, 212-730-5003. Microstripe Tie from Alexander Olch. "Luck of the Irish," Tie from Vineyard Vines. Linen and silk tie in green from Hickey Freeman Neckware Collection. Satin-faced shantung tie in lime green from Simple Silhouettes. Custom bow ties in fabrics from B&J Fabrics, by Tie Crafters, 212-629-5800.

Bid adieu to your guests with these snappy favor boxes. Make each box with a tag bearing your and your husband's initials, then slip it under a fancy knot -- like those often employed in sailing -- made from a length of cotton rope. Arc box from Parapluie Designs. White cotton rope from Pacific Trimmings, 212-279-9310. French almonds from Koppers Chocolate. We've got some great spring clip-art to download to make these favors including the horseshoes, a dragonfly, a butterfly and a four-leaf clover.

Make a graphic impression with a selection of geometric tea sandwiches. Spread cream cheese onto bread, and layer on thin slices or strips of cucumber (the key is to leave the colorful peel on), then cut into shapes. Blanched asparagus, sandwiched and sliced, presents an equally striking -- and tasty -- option.