Things We Love, Vol. #3
This is one of my favorite weekly posts. I love to star my favorite blog posts through out the week and share them with you all. I also really enjoy reading YOUR weekly round up posts as they always point me in the direction of very talented people!
Okay, so the photograph above? I am loving this pink and navy wedding posted on The Brides Cafe Blog…. everything… the bridesmaids dresses… the flower girls cardigans… ALL of it… I LOVE IT. So much style!
I love this Mary Norton chiffon rosette purse featured on SevenEight…. it is super dreamy.
Real Simple‘s advice to accessorize with shimmer instead of a scarf this season… love their choices. I agree, a little shimmer on the collar bone makes such a difference!
I have a love of chalkboards, and had to share 8 cool chalkboard finds on Real Simple’s blog.
Having an e-session soon? Take note of inspiring details from style me pretty!
A little floral inspiration from Sarah of Party Perfect. Just what you need on a gloomy and rainy day!
Love banners, especially this colorful DIY celebrate banner from Once Wed.
I’m totally drooling over these Save the Dates and Invitations from Katie and Ben posted on Brooklyn Bride… i’m such a sucker for awesome packaging!!
I love the crystals and chandeliers from this wedding featured on style me pretty.
These stylish bridal sashes posted on Classic Bride are gorgeous.. if you know me, you know I love embellished belts (with flowers!) so these are right up my alley!
Things We Love, Vol. #2
Yesterday I totally fell in love with the real wedding of Kelly & Chris, featured on style me pretty. It is so visually STUNNING, no detail being forgotten. Makes me want to do a yellow mod wedding, stat!
Ritzy Bee posted a gorgeous, frilly, feminane pink baby shower that has to be mentioned… I love when so much care, consideration and design is put into a party!
These DIY paper vase packaging from Once Wed is so crafty, fun, and unique. I love it! Definitely on my DIY to-do list.
Loving these beautifully dress beds from the style files…. makes you want to rush out and redesign your boudoir! I could design an entire event around that first photograph!
I love chandeliers. LOVE. And I really love these gorgeous Marjorie Skouras Chandeliers from Apartment Therapy… We’ll be renting some fabulous chandeliers like these for an upcoming event, so be sure to check it out!
This is such a pretty and preppy tablescape, via Party Perfect Blog
Ice cream sandwiches were one of my absolute FAVORITE snacks as a kid. I love these homemade ones featured on Head of the Table for a baby shower. These would be so fun at a wedding, displayed on a sweet station or passed as hor’dourves (quickly, of course!)
These gorgeous dresses by Sarah Seven featured on Something old, something new.
I love paper! And these graphic, creative, and FUN invitations from Allison & Mark featured over on Oh so beautiful paper are the reason why!
Things We Love, Vol. #1
Love the above shot from the real wedding of Sommer and Justin as posted by polka dot bride. Makes me want to have a coffee bar at my wedding!
Fair tale details are totally inspiring us from ritzy bee.
I am in LOVE with these gorgeous floral arrangements featured on wedding chicks of designs by English Garden Florals
Got plans for Cinco de Mayo? Well, I can assure you that with a little help from the party dress, these cocktails will make your soiree super festive!
I’m definitely feeling flowers this week, and my absolute favorite is this eye candy posted by the brides cafe. Loving the yellow and pink!
So glad that real simple introduced me to studio violet.
These DIY centerpieces from pink avenue bride would be so gorgeous for a bridal shower!
A Preppy Spring Inspired Tablescape: Yellow, White & Black
Last month Abby of Style Me Pretty asked all her Little Black Book vendors to dream up and create a DIY capable tablescape for her readers. I love any opportunity to dress up a table and quickly went to work on a simple Spring design using common household items. This tablescape was featured here!
Yellow has become my new FAVORITE color. I’ve become so inspired by it and now have a ton of new yellow cardigans, shirts and dresses. It has even worked its way into the redecorating of my living room this weekend! I love is cheery disposition and ability to brighten every room. The color yellow was my inspiration for this design and I set out to find all the pieces!
I didn’t have to look far — I opened up my pottery closet where I store way too many platters, dishes, and glassware. I pulled out items that we all have — a white cake stand (by Martha Sewart), some standard household vases (no doubt purchased at homegoods), and some vintage glass coke bottles passed down to me by my mom (a flea market or tag sale find, I’m sure). Real simple stuff, nothing super fancy, expensive, or unique. I knew I wanted to use these items but didn’t know what to put in them.
I took a drive over to one of my favorite florists, Flore in Southbury and asked the owner, Lori, what she had chilling in her cooler. Here is what I purchased on the fly:
1 stem white hydrangea
1 stem green hydrangea
1 ½ dozen circus roses
1 bushel of fancy yellow tulips (5 total used)
2 football mums
3 stems white lisianthus
Total Price: $60 wholesale
On my way home I stopped by the local fabric store to find something for our table runner. I spied some really gorgeous eyelet fabric and walked out with three yards (which proved to be a bit too much, but excess is always best!). I also popped over to the craft store and grabbed some yellow 8.5×11 heavy card stock (for the “charger”) and lacy inspired corner punch. Last stop: the dollar tree, where a good bargain is hit or miss. Fortunately they had some pretty yellow pillar candles and I scooped up two.
I had previously designed the menu card, which you can see, once I had decided on my color scheme. My inspiration for the menu was certainly my kate spade black and white tidbit plates, which I also incorporated into the tablescape. I love those plates! I had the menu cards them from a 8.5×11 sheet of standard white card stock and used this particular corner punch to add a little femininity.
After I had purchased my materials it was only a matter of putting it together. No one ever comes home with all the right ingredients and has a perfect centerpiece — there was a lot of playing around, new ideas, eliminations, and additions. In the end, this is what I came up with in about 20 minutes after focusing my ideas. I love it! After I was finished photographing it in my home studio, it graced our dining room table for the week.
Our tablescape can translate into any event and would look gorgeous at a wedding, mother’s day brunch, bridal shower, baby shower, or any other special occasion. You can dress it up, down, and adjust the formality pretty easily.
Things We Love
Here are some things we absolutely LOVE from around the web for this week!
The above vintage photograph of an amazing couple from the 1920′s? via one of our favorite blogs, Vintage Glam Weddings
A great tutorial on how to create a spring inspired centerpiece with some edible material from The Party Dress.
DIY Paper Wedding Cones from the talented ladies at Once Wed.
The gorgeous paper from the real wedding of Anne & John featured on Style Me Pretty. It was all designed and crafted by the bride!
Inspirational floral design featured on 100 layer cake of florals from Dandelion Ranch. Swooning!
Yummy and beautiful organic cakes by Sarah Magid’s and featured on Oh Joy!
Calligraphy
Calligraphy. . . a word that may strike fear into the hearts of brides to be. But just about anyone can do Calligraphy, its not as bad as it sounds. The first thing you will need is a Calligraphy pen and ink. When I first started doing Calligraphy 9 years ago I purchased a Sheaffer Calligraphy kit similar to this one. You will also need 2 pieces of paper, one of which will be for the writing and the other will be your guide to make sure that your writing stays in a straight line.
Once you have a Calligraphy pen my first suggestion is to play with them. Hold your pen at a slight angle and draw squiggly lines so you can start to get a feel for the flow of the ink. There are different nibs that come with your kit. What is a nib you ask? Well, the nib is the tip of your calligraphy pen. The thicker the nib the thicker the line you will end up with.
Now that you have started to get the hang of your calligraphy pen you can begin to experiment with lettering. Most letters you will need to use at least two strokes to complete the letter. For example here is step one of the letter ‘a’. Your basically drawing what looks like a ‘c’.
Then you are going to add the back and the tail end of your ‘a’.
One more example is the letter ‘g’. Again you are drawing a ‘c’ using your second sheet of paper as your straight edge.
Now you will add the side and bottom of the ‘g’. With calligraphy the fancier the better!
When doing a full name you can see here that due to the straight edge you are not able to add on the bottom of the ‘J’. This just gives you the opportunity to focus on how you would like to add to your letters.
step 1: 
step 2: 
Lastly when doing mailing addresses you can do two different things. One, you can center the address on the envelope. Secondly, you could stagger the address on the envelope. These are two very different looks and my suggestion is to try both out and see what works for you. Enjoy!
DIY Details We Love
This week Style Me Pretty is featuring amazing DIY projects from their readers… a bride can find herself in heaven (and a bit overwhelmed!) at all the gorgeousness going on over there. Here are some of my favorite projects they’ve featured:
Wedding Invitation / Save the Date Labels
So when I was getting ready to send out my save the dates I didn’t want to do them all by hand. I felt that I wanted to save that little something special for the invitations themselves. So I created a template using photoshop and incorporated my colors. These wrap around labels were not only used for my save the dates but when wrapped around the opposite side they make for the perfect return labels for your RSVP’s.
So once you have your template printed out your handy dandy paper cutter comes in to save the day. . .
and now you are left with your labels, I suggest folding them in half so you know exactly where to place the label on your envelope.
all you have to do now is apply your adhesive and put on your envelope
and here is your finished result!
Church Bubbles
) I have seen bubbles a million times and its always the same thing. . .wedding cake design or doves on top but you should know me better by now I want more! So I found an AMAZING deal on the knot for bubble wands (which can also be purchased at Michaels). On top there was a heart and although I got the wands to match my color it still wasn’t personal enough so here is where the monogram I mentioned comes into play. . . TAGS! I took some left over paper from my invitations and table numbers and put a mat behind the monogram and then for a hole punch and went to Michaels and got a heart hole punch. . . (I know how cute and for only 5.99) to attach the ribbon onto the bubble wands. Here is the outcome. . .
Real Connecticut Wedding: Ashley & Mark | The Details & Reception
I love brides who roll up their sleeves and get involved in the process of creating for their wedding. Nothing is more amazing than when a bride hand crafts her invitations from scratch. Ashley did just that when she created these thoughtful and amazing invitations for her wedding! I love how the story of how they came to be unfolds in the invitation. You can see how much time and thought they put into designing them and she did such a wonderful job!
Ashley decided to make her own invitations when she couldn’t find what she wanted. She researched paper and ordered samples over a series of three months. She hand folded the accordion style invitation, cut and glued the printed cardstock and pictures on each panel. The final touches were the ribbon which held it closed and the printed inner and outer envelopes. To put it in her own words: “It was a lot of work!” They ended up being her pride and joy and really started the whole theme of “home,” which you can see throughout their wedding. This led into the napkin cards which was a letter that she to their guests thanking them for their love and support. To tie it all together, she created her own favors which were a set of 4 stoneware coasters. Three of them had the images used in the invitations of their three main “homes” CT, CA, and England, and the fourth had the main line from the napkin card, “Home is the comfort, support, and love of friends & family.”
I asked Ashley to describe her wedding day decor and style. She wanted to use her favorite color, pink, but add a spin to it as they were married during the fall. She chose a warm, salmon colored pink to fit in with the season. For her tablescapes she ordered 289 class cylinder vases in varying sizes, which she and her mom covered with a beautiful coral colored tissue paper. Now that is DIY dedication! This tablescape provided a really romantic glow with all the candles lit inside and provided the exact kind of atmosphere that Ashley and Mark wanted!
The flowers in her bouquet were shades of coral, salmon, peach and pink with curly willy branches within the flowers. She also used some as centerpieces to give it an authentic, organic autumn feel.
Guests dinned on a personalized menu that the couple crafted with the Seaman’s Inne. They show stopper? A last minute addition to the menu — a seafood pot pie with Stonington scallops and shrimp in a Maine lobster cream sauce. Can you say yum? Ashley and Mark loved that they had local, fall comfort food. They also paid homage to Mark’s British upbringing with the pot pie! e guests enjoyed a sweet little snack on the dance floor as they skipped the traditional wedding cake and opted for butler passed mini cupcakes, which is so Carrie-chic (remember her fabulous book launch party? love it!)
What family traditions did you incorporate into your wedding?
We tried to pay tribute to Mark’s English culture in subtle ways- the feather fascinator in my hair, the pot pie, and lots of British 80s pop on the dance floor! I tied my grandfathers alter boy pin on my bouquet and carried my Gram’s hankie (which I did end up needing halfway through the ceremony!) Other than that, I think it was more about the people we are today, the life we have built together, and the traditions that we maybe created for future generations.
What is the secret to a successful marriage?
I’m not sure if I’m actually qualified to say after only 4 months! BUT… I think what makes mine and Mark’s marriage wonderful is that there is no one else on earth I’d rather spend my time with. We know how to make each other laugh and more importantly, we know how to laugh at ourselves. Everything about us, as a couple, is honest, true, and sincere. I think that overall, what will continue to make our marriage successful over time is our commitment to family. Whether it’s a family of 2 or 10, it’s the commitment to your family and the life you have created together, that makes it a success.
Thanks so much to Ashley and Mark for allowing us to share in their fabulous wedding! I had so much fun learning about them and putting together this wonderful series.
The Vendors
The story of their day was told in photographs by the talented Amanda Herzberger of Orchard Cove Photography. The wedding ceremony was held at Noank Baptist Church in Groton, Connecticut with a classic New England fete at the Seamen’s Inne in Mystic. Hair and makeup for the wedding was by Deanna & Danielle of the Rob Rivers Salon in Mystic. The bride wore a magnificent gown by Cymbeline Paris, purchased at Lili Bridal in Tarzana, California. The bride’s attendants wore beautiful dark champagne colored Jim Hjelm satin dresses. The groom donned a custom tuxedo by Mattucci in Redondo Beach, California with a black and white stripped tie by Brooks Brothers. The groomsmen wore suits by John Galante. Personalized cup cakes were deliciously designed by You Take the Cake in New London. Floral design was by Adams Garden of Eden in Pawcatuck, Connecticut. Guests danced the night away to music and entertainment provided by Rich Conway . The day was captured on video by Casey Moran, and the bride created the invitations and designed the wedding herself!
Part of the Real Connecticut Wedding: Ashley & Mark in Mystic series
- Real Connecticut Wedding: Ashley & Mark in Mystic
- Real Connecticut Wedding: Ashley & Mark | The Ceremony
- Real Connecticut Wedding: Ashley & Mark | The Details & Reception
DIY Card Box
Here is the perfect project to get your fiance involved in the planning process! So here I am for the past year doing project after project after project and I really didn’t think that my wonderful fiance had the slightest idea how much work I have been doing. I knew I wanted to do this for a while but me and power tools . . . well lets just say that we don’t really get along too well. To begin you will need 4 large picture frames, brackets with screws, hot glue gun, pillow stuffing, and a Styrofoam board. First step here is to pre-drill your picture frames and then use the brackets to attach them. Here is my amazing fiance Eric working on the frames.
You are going to need to do top brackets and bottom brackets. Not only will this hold the box together but it will serve as supports for the top and bottom of your card box. Here is what you should end up with. . .
Next step is to cut down your Styrofoam board to fit the top and bottom of the box. I of course had to take it one step further and make the top fancy by using fabric to cover it (here is where your hot glue gun comes into play) and then I proceeded to stuff it to give it a pillow appearance. Don’t forget to cut a slot in the top! Here is the finished product. . .
I am so happy with the result! We inserted 4 of our engagement pictures (taken by the wonderful Carla Ten Eyck) into the frames you cant make it any more personalized than that! I think that after joining in on this project my fiance has a new found respect for all of my hard work. Good luck ladies )
Decor Idea: Hanging Light Bulb Vases
I came across this DIY project on Craftershock.com and instantly fell in love. What a fabulous vintage detail to add to your outdoor summer soiree or garden party. I can see them hanging from trees or stringed lights. I love them so much I’m trying to figure out how I can incorporate them in an event of my own! The idea is to find used light bulbs that you can in turn recycle into these hanging vases.
Here is how to make them, courtesy of Craftershock.com
Step 1: Using fine-tooth metal saw, gently saw the bottom of light bulb. Pull out the filaments.
Step 2: Using a hand held drill place metal against some scrap wood and poke two holes opposite from each other.
Step 3: Lace thin wire through the holes and tie off at desired length. Fill with lovely blooms.
Monogramed Favor Boxes
When your special day is winding down and coming to an end its time to thank your guests for sharing in your special day. I obviously wanted to personalize this but on a budget you have to be cautious of how you can accomplish this. So I ordered 1/2 pint Chinese to go boxes. It was something like $30 for 200 boxes. Now that you have these very plain and simple boxes its time to make it personal. I have incorporated my monogram in many places throughout the wedding so when this presented itself it seemed like another great opportunity (FYI: if you plan on using monograms just remember your fiances last name should not be used on anything prior to the ceremony. Think of it like this its not your last name yet so you cant use it) . So I designed the template using photoshop and made it into stickers! I made the stickers 2 1/2 inches by 2 1/2 inches and printed it out on photo paper. . .
Once you have your monogram labels printed you are going to cut all of them out. I cant tell you how helpful this paper cutter from Michael’s has been!
Now you will need to take your cut out monogram and make it into a sticker. I purchased an 5″ Xyron creative station to accomplish this. It doesn’t get any easier all you have to do it turn the handle and there you have it. . . stickers!
This is what comes out on the other end 
Your final step is to adhere your sticker to you white chinese box.
Perfect!! 
Church Door Decorations
While looking through some wedding pictures I saw the bride and grooms name in flowers hanging on a church door. Well . . . of course I thought to myself DIY!!! Remember our tissue paper pomanders? This project is similar and can really add to your special day.
Here is what you will need:
- Tissue Paper
- Scissors
- Stapler
- Paper mache letters
- Hot glue gun
First step will be to create your tissue paper flowers. Begin by using 6 pieces of tissue paper and fold paper back and forth. You will then fold the paper in half add your staple to keep it together and round the edges.
From here you will just open your flower by separating one layer of tissue paper from another. (tip: switch back and forth between the sides as you open the flower to give it a round natural look)
Once you have all of your flowers you will now use your hot glue gun to attach your tissue paper flowers to your paper mache letters.
Here is the finished products:
and there you have it yet another DIY project completed!
Table Numbers
If you are looking to personalize your table numbers then this is a project for you! I know in most places they have a plastic card with a simple black number on it being held by a wire fixture. Why not put your personal stamp on this necessity? You can use several different programs to design a template for yourself. I have become familiar with photoshop and so this is what I have used to create pretty much everything for my wedding. The table number is actually going to be three sided and it will not just have your table numbers included. You can put whatever you would like on the other 2 sides such as a favorite place you are your fiance share, a picture, basically the options are limitless! I have chosen to put my menu on one side and then translate love through different languages on the last side.
So here are the templates that I designed:
So once you have printed your template you are going to take card stock mats and tape your ribbon on top. Now you are going tape your template on to the mat right on top of the ribbon. The final step is to tie your bow :0) Here are some pictures of the final product. . .
How To Remember On Your Day
We have all lost someone we have loved at one point or another. These are people that you wanted to spend your special day with. There are many ways to honor those who you have lost on your special day. You can do this by putting out a picture or lighting a candle. I decided to combine these two things for those special people in my life. Here are the instructions for you to remember that someone special on your day.
Here is what you will need:
- Vellum (Michaels $.50 a sheet)
- Glass vase (Michaels $1.99)
- Ribbon
- Double sided tape
- Computer and printer
- Candle
First you will have to design a template that will be printed on your vellum. I used photoshop to create my template this can be a difficult program to use at times but once you become familiar with it you will love it. I also chose to do a black and white photo and I will bring in the color later with my ribbon. Here was the template design that I came up with. . . .
and here it is after you print your template on the vellum
I purchased this paper cutter and it is beyond worth it! So now you have to cut out your template.
So now you have your cut out template
and your vase
time to begin assembly. . .
First you will want to position your vellum
and then use your double sided tape to secure your template
To hide your seam you can use some of your ribbon and the tape will work to secure this as well.
Now to finish it off you will use your ribbon on the top and bottom of the vase. I have chosen to incorporate both of my wedding colors and on the vase and I love the layered look that it produced.
and there you have it your finished product. . .
Here is one in color and black and white. . .
DIY Tissue Paper Pomanders
I have always been quite the crafty person and some have found this skill to be pretty useless. Well needless to say that I am the one laughing now. The smallest craft that you may undertake can make the world of difference in an event and especially in a wedding! Once me and my fiance decided on our color scheme I undertook my first project. . . the tissue paper pomanders. I learned how to make tissue paper flowers back in elementary school for our parade floats. When I saw a real pomander I thought they were beautiful but the price was way out of my range. So I combined these two things together and it is a huge cost saver! Here are the instructions:
What you will need:
Tissue Paper
Floral Wire
Styrofoam Ball
Ribbon
**All of these items can be found at pretty much any craft store**
First thing you will need to do is cut down your pieces of tissue paper. This is totally up to you but do bear in mind the bigger the piece of paper that your using the bigger your flower will be. (One quick hint would be to fold the paper until you get the size your looking for and then just cut along your folded lines)
Your paper will end up looking similar to this.
Next step will be to do an accordion fold. You will fold one way then flip and fold the other. When you are finished it should look like this. . .
While the tissue paper is still folded you will need to fold it in half. The general purpose in this is to find the center of your flower.
To give the flower a more realistic look you can draw a curved line on the top. As you do more of these you will not have to use this line. Now all you have to do is cut along your guide.
Now you will need to take the wire and wrap it around your tissue paper. After you have done that twist the wire together. Now make sure you wrap the wire tight around the tissue paper otherwise your flower will not be very sturdy. Then you will need to spread open the two sides to prepare for the opening of the flower.
Now you are able to begin separating the layers. To make sure you flower is rounded I suggest altering sides as you work. It should begin to look like this. . .
Now you are done with the hard part. You will need to make 45-50 flowers per pomander. Once you have completed all of your flowers you will be able to start putting them into your Styrofoam ball. First step here will be to insert your ribbon into the ball. I used a piece of wire to make sure that it was secure.
Take your flowers and insert the wire into the ball. . . continue until your ball is filled.
And there you have it tissue paper pomanders!
Holiday Centerpiece: Carnations
Elisabeth from BLUSH floral design posted a fabulous purple centerpiece on her blog and I wanted to share. I just love these carnations in varying shades of purple. Believe it or not, carnations in bulk (like these) can look so gorgeous. The key is to use a lot and make your centerpiece very full. I agree with Elisabeth, too, that with these flowers the you can use the container to dictate the style of the arrangement. You can use square chunky vases, tall cylinders, old candy jars or medicine bottles, or mint julep cups. Although, I really love the antiqued vessels she used. And the sequin balls? Gorgeous! They’ll sparkle too in candlelight and are a touch of necessary glamour.
If you’re too busy for arrangements this season, give Elisabeth a call. Blush is offering holiday inspired arrangements at a really fabulous price. Get all the details here!
Reinventing the Guestbook: Platters, Quilts, Canvas and “Wish Jars”
I was thinking yesterday about the traditional wedding guestbook. I want to ask all my married readers: what did you do with your guestbook after the wedding? My guess is you need a super-sized swifter to lift all the dust off. Most couples file their guestbook away somewhere and never open it again, which is unfortunate, especially for those who spend good money and thought on custom designed covers and binding. So why should you purchase something that will serve little-to-no purpose after your wedding? Sure, it is a keepsake, but what is so great about a bunch of signatures? Nothing. Does that mean you should give up your guestbook? No, not at all! What it means is you should think outside the box, reinvent what the guestbook is at your wedding, and figure out what purpose it will serve after.
Some of my favorites are items that guests sign: platters, a canvas engagement photograph, a quilt made for the couple. These are all reusable items that won’t be gathering dust somewhere or stuffed in an old shoe box. Some of my favorite platters are featured below. I’ve never had a thing for gimmicks or themes, so I wouldn’t recommend your standard platter with a bride and groom in the center. To me, that won’t translate well while entertaining for thanksgiving dinner. However, a platter with your married monogram, initials, or an excerpt from your vows is extremely beautiful!
Be sure to click on the thumbnail to see the full-sized version!
Platter #1: Serendipity Crafts | Platter #2: Say Anything Ceramics
I’ve also seen a bride and groom ask married couples to send in a photograph from their wedding with the R.S.V.P card. At the wedding, the photographs were displayed on card stock which was removable from a book or hung on a tree. The couples left beautiful messages and words of wisdom next to their wedding photograph, and it was used as a keepsake for the bride and groom. Here is an example from Room Service Home:
Be sure to click on the thumbnail to see the full-sized version!
Another idea which has become really popular over the years is to have a “Wish Jar.” This is what I prefer best, because if you’re craftly like me, you can take all those wishes from your wedding guests and display them. You can have them mounted and framed in a fun collage or you decoupage them on canvas , using glazes and paints to infuse some personality. Another idea? Place them in your wedding scrapbook! What is great about the Wish Jar is you can customize the jar and use it in your home for décor or as something functional. Also, don’t get hung up on the word “jar.” As long as you can place a card in it and remove the card with ease, you’re good to go. So vintage jewelry boxes or hat boxes made a unique spin on the “jar”, as do bird cases, ice buckets, and glass bowls. You can also have fun designing the wish cards where your guests will write words of wisdom! You can tie in the design of your invitations, place cards and menu cards, or go for something completely unique. Here are some ideas for your “jar”:
Be sure to click on the thumbnail to see the full-sized version!
1: Birdcage from Anthropologie Home | 2: Crate & Barrel | 3&4 Pottery Barn
Having a fall inspired wedding? What about a pumpkin for your collector, or even some fun hollowed out gourdes.
Be sure to click on the thumbnail to see the full-sized version!
Image from Better Homes and Gardens, but thanks to Jamie for posting it on her blog.
Brown & Green Bridal Shower: The Nitty Gritty
I love weddings and I equally love to plan smaller, more casual and intimate affairs. When our clients approached us with their décor ideas for a brown and green shower, we ran with it and really made every penny go as far as we could. With a little preparation, creativity, and persistence, you can come up with equally beautiful and affordable tablescapes for your next event. I wanted to share with you where we purchased all of our vases, crafting items & supplies. I also wanted to give you a step-by-step tutorial on how we pulled all these small details together which I’ll follow up with tomorrow.
But first, our shopping list:
8 chunky square votive candle holders
$1.97 ea, Wal-Mart
5 Tall, thin vases
$1 ea, The Dollar Store
3 Tall and chunky mosaic vases
$1 ea, The Dollar Store
4 round, traditional vases (not pictured)
1 ea, The Dollar Store
4 packages (two per pack) of 7 inch & 9 inch tissue “bells” (for the kitschy factor!)
$1 ea, The Dollar Store
6 packages of tissue paper in brown, green & hot pink (8 sheets per pack)
$2.29, Wal-Mart
3 packages of stick-on crystal embellishments
$2.29 ea, Martha Stewart Crafts
3 Rolls of ribbon (thick brown, brown/white polka dot, thin green)
$2.97 ea, Wal-Mart
1 Roll of cooking twine
Free, because we don’t cook!
80 stems of fresh assorted mini gerbera daisies
$79.80 (with overnight international shipping!) farmstogo.com
Grand Total: $135 (give or take some cents)
Items used but already owned by us:
Stampin’ Up! Engagement Stamp Set with rubber stamps and ink pads
Cardstock for tags
Hole puncher
Floral wire
Wire Cutter
Circular paper cutter
Fabric glue
Tealights
Not bad, right? The key to beautiful and affordable décor is to shop around for the best bargain. I recommend looking in the stores we’ve mentioned, plus places like Home Goods, The Christmas Tree Shops, Ocean State Job Lot, Big Lots, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Target, Michaels, Joann Fabrics, and your local discount store. These are all wonderful resources and you can sometimes find the “find of a lifetime!”
Shopping for discounted flowers can also be really difficult. To be sure that you order the correct amount of flowers, do a trial run of your centerpiece beforehand. It’s always good to have some extra blooms on hand, as the shipping process tends to eliminate a few beauties from the bunch. Also, if you are ordering the flowers yourself, make sure they are delivered no more than two days before your event (unless otherwise specified by the floral company). You want to make sure that the flowers you’ve chosen are at the peak of their blooming cycle and are as fresh as can be (no one likes half-dead flowers!) If your floral budget is limited you can do what we did – tie the blooms together to mimic a bouquet. I think it’s just as elegant as a lush and full arrangement.
Tomorrow I’ll provide you with some tutorials on how to take all the ingredients we’ve purchased and turn them into our décor!
Part of the Brown & Green Shower series
- Brown & Green Bridal Shower
- Brown & Green Bridal Shower: The Nitty Gritty
Brown & Green Bridal Shower
This weekend I was super busy with an awesome event, where I got to really exercise my creativity and frugality for a relaxed and casual bridal shower. It was a lot of fun and we were able to do ALL the décor for under $200! Tomorrow I’ll give you the details on how we kept costs so low, and where you can get all these amazing items. Check out our pictures below, and be sure to click on the thumbnails for a larger version!
The Tablescapes
All the tables were adorned with a variety of chunky vases filled with white and yellow Gerbera Daisies that we hand wrapped in twine to give an elegant bouquet effect.
The Details
The yard was adorned with tissue paper “pom-poms” (or tissue flowers, if you prefer) that we hand made. They were all jeweled with small crystals for an added bit of bling, which ended up looking like dew on the petals! All the vessels were wrapped in ribbon in brown, brown & white polka dot, and green. We also made the brides monogram and incorperated it into the tablescapes with some twine and ribbon. I especially love the “mr. & mrs.” we created out of card stock and stamps from Stampin’ Up!
Part of the Brown & Green Shower series
- Brown & Green Bridal Shower
- Brown & Green Bridal Shower: The Nitty Gritty
