Head of the Class - A Wedding Theme

Just came across this Back to School themed DIY wedding. This couple are long since married but sometimes you just stumbled across the most amazing inspirations and MUST share!

Look at these super cute Save the Dates!

The place cards were made to look like pads of paper with buttons declaring their love for their favorite subject. To see more of her cute ideas click here.

Rustic Chic - Inspired Decor Part II

As promised... more rustic chic and things to do with crocheted lace and old wood.

The beautiful wedding sign bottom center is from Etsy seller thebackporcheshop. The handmade lanterns and ring pillow are featured on Kacie and Brandons wedding at SnippetandInk.

Don't forget to keep that rustic theme working for your accessories too. These beautiful earrings from Etsy seller WhiteOwl are fabulous. As is this purse from Sewlola, both make perfect bridesmaids accessories.

Love this wedding collage from Kissthegroom featuring a handmade sign made of wood blocks.

More things to do with wooden blocks.

               Left: Found via Weddingbee Center and Right: found via Etsy

Your rustic decor is only limited by your imaginition and the number of trees in your back yard.

Rustic Chic - Inspired Decor

I was in the backyard this weekend taking stock of the winter damage. We lost of lot of trees from the heavy winter snow and I was just thinking we'd just cut them up for firewood but it seems like such a waste. I thought what else can be done with these trees. Hmm...well take a look:

This DIY project from Once Wed  is an amazing and surprisingly easy project! So simple but elegant and F-R-E-E. All you need is a saw and a trip to the backyard!

Log buttons from Design Sponge. What a great thing to do with the larger branches from those fallen trees. They are super cute tied to wedding favors or wedding programs. Click here for instructions on how to make them.

Branches, branches and more branches. Who know you could make sticks look so pretty!

And so very, very glamorous. For DIY instructions to make a gorgeous crystal tree like this one featured at The knot click here.

 

This is probably tapping out most folks skill level with a saw or soldering iron so while not exactly on the DIY list it still remains a wonderful example of what to do with all that wood. These custom made invites featured at GreenWedding Shoes are printed on sheets of walnut wood. 

Still got that saw handy? This amazing table runner featured at 100 Layer Cake is yes, you guessed it... a piece of wood. If not too handy, you can have wood cut to size for you at your local hardware store. Add other rustic elements like all the acorns you can also find in the yard, mix it up with vintage lace and crochet wrapped votives and don't forget Grandma's silver teapot.  

Check out Rustic Chic Part II ...more things to do with crochet

Three Ringed Circus - A Big Fun Wedding

Maybe it’s the last vestiges of winter oh so slowly giving way to Spring that has me craving sweet iced tea, my deck without snow and warm summer evenings. Or maybe it’s all the work I’ve been doing lately that is making me desperate for fun and a change of scene. Whatever it is, it won't go away.

What I need is bright, happy color, mixed with comfort foods and lots of laughter. So I created this carnival themed inspiration board to take my sun starved, fun deficient wintry self to a happy, sunny, warm day at the carnival.

Love the vintage looking kissing both on the left, and the vintage popcorn bags from Etsy seller Heyyoyo . All fun, but elegantly crafted! Of course, you cannot forget about the photobooth!

For an old school photo booth I like PartyBooths. Our Labor of Love’s Smilebooth has an interactive version. Guests take their own photos and then they pop up right away on a LCD screen and at $1.00 each for a 4 x 6 it's super affordable.

Just don't forget to set up a table with fun props like fake beards and handle bar mustaches (aka the Bearded Lady and the Strong Man), and fake snakes, top hats, even red clown noses and wigs for great photo ops. Hire a Magician, or Tarot Card reader to give fun fortunes. Check Party Pop to find someone in your area.

I love the use of vintage tickets for games and favor tags. The Ruffled Blog has Free Carnival Printables which make great accessories! Don't forget to keep the theme going with your menus, programs and invitatons!

Love these vintage styled invites from Milkmaid Press

These cuties are mine :)

Really the idea is to incorporate as much fun as possible and to have a ball!

Branding your Wedding

Most brides will instinctively stamp their unique brand on their event by choosing a color palette which they incorporate throughout the event (bridesmaids dresses, flowers, linens, etc.) I argue why not take that a step further and trully make your event remarkable.

When most people think of branding, they think of the corporate logos like the Mac's apple ... worldwide recognizeable icons that represent a brand name. Well the same thought process and purpose of a business brand can be applied to your wedding and with a whole more gusto!

The trick is to use a single motif or icon, which your guests will associate specifically with your wedding. It's not just about a color combination - that sets a tone. The best way to tie events together is to use your chosen motif or icon throughout entire wedding.

A wedding motif or icon works the same way a business logo does – it’s a unique signature that can be placed or printed on multiple items, giving each item a unifying look or brand. The most traditional use is a monogram but the options are endless. Think unique!

Start with your save the dates and invitations, which is your guests first glimpse of what you have in store. The style of your brand should reflect the style of your wedding: whether casual or traditional, whimiscal, rustic or modern and should be personal to you and your groom. When guests arrive at the ceremony, they can be greeted with  programs displaying your unique brand. Your brand depending on what it is can also be incorporated into your flowers, your dresses, and your pew decor, even your isle runner! At the reception, your brand can be used prominately on place cards, menus, the cake, favors and even cut into vinyl to be used on the dance floor or mirrors around the room, even the guest bathrooms.

Here is a great example of a branded wedding. This bride is using my Lucky Charm motif design to continue her Irish inspired wedding. The motifs will be incorporated into every aspect of her wedding, creating her own personal brand.

Sweet Tea Southern Style

I came across Olde Savannah Southern Style Sweet Tea today at World Market. Now I am from the South so anything called sweet tea has my name written all over it. So I ham fisted a bottle and headed home. Now it's not for the faint hearted. It's syrupy and sticky sweet exactly the way sweet tea should be. A long, tall glass of ice cold sweet tea is the perfect compliment to warm afternoon. I loved the label on the bottle and played with it some. I thought it'd make a really great invite or program.

Southerners has always been known for their gracious hospitality. There are plantation homes across the South that welcome you exchange your vows under 100 year old trees and against backdrops of charm, grace, and history.

The key to a Southern style wedding is keeping it simple and making sure there's plenty to go around.

Table Centerpieces - Cheap, Chic and Easy

Here are some easy to make table centerpieces that won't break the bank.

How simple yet striking is this for a table?

A bit more complicated but beautiful and still managable. We have tons of shells collected from beach vacations. See if you can collect them from or with family and friends for an added bonus.

Glass footed bowels filled with nothing but babys breath. If some states this stuff grows wild and F-R-E-E along the road. 

That's fresh sod cut into a circle and banded with a ribbon. Add place cards and a small bouquet in the center. Be super creative and consider more natural elements like driftwood or stones with special sayings in the middle.

A living centerpiece includes sweet hyacinth, pink and yellow primola in a metal basket lined with green moss. Consider pansies too. Home Depot, Lowes and Walmart are excellent sources for these great flowers. Guests can take them home afterward to be planted in their gardens!

Glass containers of varying heights filled with black rocks and single blooms and stems. See how full the table looks but how few flowers you actually used. 

Lots of tea light candles and low slung bowls filled with water and floating candles and single blooms. Tea lights and holders can be bought extremely inexpensively. For added drama place the footed bowls on wooden blocks you paint yourself to match your decor or old books for a funkier vibe.

Simple clear vase filled with roses, curly willow and ivy place on a led light base. Stunning.