Summer weddings are wonderful because you have more of an opportunity for outdoor ceremonies and bright, vibrant colors. Depending on the time of year, different color schemes will fare better. For summer weddings, don’t be afraid to use the great outdoors for inspiration.

It’s not just one color
Many weddings are incorporating accent colors in addition to the main color. That means you have more opportunities to pair two shades with one another. These colors can not only be incorporated into wedding party outfits, but also table settings, the cake, the invitations, the website, custom backdrops for photos and other wedding elements.

Bright, vibrant color schemes can set the tone for a summer wedding.

Pick a combo, any combo
The Knot has provided some great ideas for color combos you’ve probably never seen before. Here are some of the highlights:

• Tangerine, orange and yellow for a modern summer wedding.
• Navy, yellow and blue for a rustic summer wedding.
• Gold, peach and green for an outdoor summer wedding.

Hot shades for summer 2016
Magnet Street has a handy collection of some of the trendiest marital color schemes for this summer. Here are some of the collections they feature:

• Fresh: Mint, teaberry, champagne and custom blue. Together, these pastels look refreshing and sophisticated.
• Showy: Ocean, custom green, silver and teaberry. Are you throwing a beach or nautical-themed wedding this summer? Use this combination that brings you back to the beach or the lake.
• Flashy: For something a little different, chartreuse, azalea, carrot and classic grey combine for a bold, fun look.

Make your wedding pop
For the ultimate colorful photo backdrop, Sign Art Etc has got you covered! Whatever brilliant colors or patterns you’re using in your wedding, you can incorporate it into the banner, either as part of a template or in your own unique design.

Summer is here, and that means it’s time to start planning for the 4th of July! Independence Day is a time to gather with friends and family to celebrate everything that makes our country great. Hosting this year? Here are a few 4th of July party ideas to make the festivities spectacular.

Food and drinks
It’s all about grilling. Burgers, hot dogs and corn on the cob are staples of Independence Day parties. And don’t forget the potato salad and coleslaw on the side!

Country Living has a list of 21 red, white and blue cocktails you can make and serve for America’s birthday. Try the red, white and blue vodka lemonade slushies or the All-American gin and tonic to quench your thirst.

For dessert, your guests can cool off with patriotic popsicles. The Little Kitchen has a recipe for homemade red, white and blue “bomb pops.” These pops are made from watermelon, coconut and blue raspberry extract, and they’re just like the popsicles you used to get from the ice cream truck as a kid.

You can make these patriotic cocktails for your 4th of July party guests.

Decorations
Obviously, you can’t go wrong with the stars and stripes. Good Housekeeping has 30 patriotic decorating ideas, like striped lanterns, firecracker party favors and flag lanterns.

Setting up a photo booth with props is fun for everyone! A patriotic background can set the stage for fun photo opportunities. You can select from our pre-set templates or design your own.. To make the pictures even more fun, Brit + Co. has this list of 4th of July photo booth prop ideas.

For a backdrop that gives any party that red carpet atmosphere, visit Sign Art Etc. Our team is ready to help you create the perfect look for any event.

Happy Independence Day from Sign Art Etc!

If you’re planning for your big day, there are lots of accessories that you’ll need to get for the wedding. Some of them are functional, others are more for decoration, but they all bring something to the event. Here are some of the items that add the most to any celebration:

Jewelry
Every bride should have a little sparkle. Some brides don’t like to wear too much jewelry, and that’s perfectly fine. But just a few pieces, like earrings or a necklace, can be enough to add some glimmer.

Purse
You’re going to need to somewhere to keep your essentials. You can even put together a wedding day survival kit and ask your maid of honor to keep it close by for you. Personalized bags also make a cute bridesmaid gift.

You have lots of options when choosing your bridal bouquet.

Bouquet
A beautiful bouquet of flowers is a staple for wedding receptions, both modern and traditional. You can select flowers that fit with your color scheme or your overall theme, like springtime or a rustic wedding. According to Bridal Musings, choosing your wedding dress first makes it easier to pick flowers that go along with it. You’re also going to want to find out what flowers are in season on your wedding date.

Backdrop for Photos
That’s right, a backdrop is the perfect accessory for any bride! You can customize it to include whatever design you’d like. You can feature your names along with the date, or select imagery that meets your wedding theme.

What makes a backdrop such a great wedding day accessory? It fun for you and all of your guests! Wedding photos are such a big part of anyone’s nuptials, and that includes the goofy pictures you take in between dances. You can even use fun photo props.

To select the right backdrop for your big day, contact Sign Art Etc. You can select from our extensive list of templates, or design your own.

A traditional rustic wedding can bring you back to the basics while still looking stunning. Karin of Heart Love Always describes a rustic wedding as “heartwarming, sweet, diverse, creative and oh-so-much more.” It’s a style that embraces vintage design, textures and natural organics. It’s also spectacularly beautiful.

If you love rustic style and you want your wedding to show it, you’ve come to the right place! Sign Art Etc has helpful tips on how to plan a pastoral wedding that shines.

Colors
A rustic wedding is a way of getting back to the basics, so no need for too many different colors. Stick with simple monochrome decorations and earth tones.

Decorations
Remember that simplicity and down-home feeling are key here. Think about including some of these elements:

• Twine
• Burlap
• Chalkboards
• Wooden signs
• Cowboy and cowgirl boots
• Mason jars
• Simple bouquets

Pick a bouquet that looks like it was just freshly picked from a meadow. Serve drinks in mason jars, and direct your guests with signs made from chalkboards or wooden planks. A barn would be a perfect setting, but if that’s not possible you can hold it outside and decorate with strings of simple outdoor lights.

Your rustic photo booth
While you may be veering more towards a simple, low-key aesthetic, you can still have fun with your photo booth pictures. You can customize a banner to match your wedding theme. You can select one of our many templates and add your names and the date of your big day, or you can use a barn image or simple wood paneling, perfect for your down-to-earth nuptials.

For more help designing a beautiful backdrop for your rustic wedding, visit Sign Art Etc.

The National Basketball Association playoffs are down to the last four teams, and soon the winner of the Eastern Conference will face off against the winner of the Western Conference. Whether it’s the Raptors, Cavaliers, Thunder or defending champion Warriors, the Sign Art team is here to help you host a championship-caliber NBA Finals party. Even if your team doesn’t make it, it’s sure to be another fantastic series!

Unlike other events, the NBA Finals is a best-of-seven series, so the first team to win four games becomes the champions. This gives you a lot of options – you can have a series kickoff party on the night of Game 1, or wait until Game 4 when things are getting down to the wire. Or you can throw a party for every game!

Food
Snacks and small plates are great for sporting events because they’re easy to eat, drink and cheer at the same time. Martha Stewart has a great collection of NBA Finals snack recipes, including a spicy-sweet pretzel mix, chili-lime popcorn, baked potato chips and soft pretzels.

Decorations
Preparing your home for the NBA Finals is easy. All you need are some basketball-themed decorations. Shindigz offers NBA-themed cups, plates, banners and more. You can even buy custom backdrops from Sign Art Etc with the logo and colors of your favorite team.

If you and your friends enjoy taking quirky photos, a personalized background goes great with these basketball-themed photo props from Etsy. You can turn your home into a custom photo booth and pose for pictures during time outs.

Whether you’re hosting an NBA Finals party, a wedding or a charity event, Sign Art Etc has backgrounds for every occasion.