To Dye For

Though tie-dye may seem a bit out of place in conversations about weddings and romance, the ’60s trend—which is making a comeback even in the unlikely circles of high fashion—seems rather appropriate, actually. In a nod to a love of color, free-spirited celebration and handcraftsmanship, we’ve rounded up some charming little delicacies inspired by the look. The key is to thread it lightly through your wedding, in ways that enhance the overall experience. Opt for simple details that reflect the essence of tie-dye—think vibrant pops of color on the cake or party favors, free-flowing lines on invitations and place settings, and hand-painted details on a couple of key elements, such as macarons for dessert.

1. Modern Macramé: Lux Sucre Desserts of Wilsonville designed this three-tiered dream of a cake ($10 per slice). The fondant-based design is embellished with hand-cut and hand-painted tie-dye details and gold accents. Lush fresh flowers provided by Sophisticated Floral complete the dreamy confection. 

2. Water Colors: Lisa McGuire, owner and designer of Crave Designs, created this menu in soft blue/gray tones to mimic the sense of water as well as tie-dye ($4 each). McGuire notes, “When a couple requests day-of printed materials, I find out as much as I can about what they’ve already purchased/planned. I want these extra stationery pieces to enhance the setting and add something special for each of their guests.” Place cards are hand-tied to the menu with a soft gold metallic cord for a darling finish.

3. Confetti Toss: Add a playful twist to the traditional rice toss with these “Toss the Confetti” party favors from Fancy That ($4 per confetti package; $36 per set of 12 custom boxes) of Hillsboro. The company offers fully customizable confetti and packaging. 

4. Suite Dreams: “A custom invitation suite sets the mood for your entire wedding,” says Amanda Franz, founder and creative director for Wide Eyes Paper Co. Here, she’s reimagined tie-dye with graphics saturated in geometric shapes and hints of watercolor (main invitation plus colored envelope, $4.50 each; RSVP card and colored envelope, $3.25 each; details cards, $2 each; envelope calligraphy, $4 per envelope; envelope liners, $2.50 each, pre-assembled by Wide Eyes Paper Co; wood cutouts, $3 each). “We focus on innovation and creating unique stationery for couples looking to set the tone for their wedding in the most personal way possible,” says Franz. “If they can dream it, we can do it!”

5. Merci Beaucoup: These whimsical, hand-painted macarons ($3) from Papa Haydn make for charming parting favors for your guests.

6. Free Form: Anthropologie’s “Strata” dinner and side plates ($15, $12) fuse the soft lines of tie-dye with chic aesthetics and modern design. Crafted from custom marble clay, each unique plate is trimmed in gold.