Fresh + Modern Wedding Inspiration | Wedding Blog with Real Weddings, Wedding Inspiration Boards, Bridal Fashion, DIY Projects, Signature Cocktails, and More
Polly Conway, our craftonista, is back this week with colorific place card holders that really pack a punch. Made out of clay, these vibrant gems are fun and easy to make.
Supplies
Polymer clay (I used the Fimo brand.)
X-Acto knife
Cardstock
Scissors
Calligraphy pen
Baking tray or aluminum foil
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat oven to 275 degrees (or follow the instructions on your polymer clay packaging). Using your hands, roll clay into approximately 1-inch balls.
Step 2: Place the ball on a flat surface. Applying even pressure, begin to slice off sections, creating clean facets. Keep slicing until the gem takes shape. (If you don’t like the shape, squish the gem right back into a ball and start over!) Leaving a large facet on the bottom ensures that the gem will stand up nicely on its own.
Tip: If the clay becomes too pliable and difficult to work with, place it in the fridge for a few minutes. This really helps!
Step 3: Using the X-Acto knife, cut a slot down the middle of each gem, only about halfway through. This is where you’ll slide your place card, so make sure it’s large enough to hold it.
Step 4: Gently place gems on a baking tray or piece of aluminum foil, then bake for 15-30 minutes, depending on the brand of clay you’re using. While they’re baking, cut some card stock into geometric shapes and write your guests’ names on each one.
Step 5: Remove the gems from the oven and let them cool. Slip the place card into the slot, and you’re done!
Held at West Chester’s Faunbrook Bed and Breakfast, a charming nineteenth-century manor situated on two acres filled with stately oak and chestnut trees, Dana and Nick’s wedding was truly a do-it-yourself extravaganza. Every last detail was handmade, from the heart-shaped birdseed favors to the colorful suspended pom-poms, each one painstakingly constructed from hundreds of coffee filters. Using dollar-store moss, Dana crafted woodsy initials to adorn the brick walls of Faunbrook’s wraparound porch. The abundant hydrangeas that lined both the ceremony aisle and the venue’s winding walkways came from the father of the bride’s lovingly tended garden, where Dana used to pick flowers as a little girl, fashioning them into makeshift bouquets for make-believe weddings. “Dana was the driving creative force behind the event, and her family helped execute every part,” said the couple’s photographer, Julie Melton of Philadelphia-based Sweetwater Portraits. “Dana and Nick’s wedding was such an intimate affair. It was truly inspired.”
When it comes to do-it-yourself weddings, more and more brides are upping the craft ante by dreaming up or recreating elaborate projects that hardly look homemade. These complex creations can be terrifyingly unnerving to the Sunday crafter who wants a little piece of the wedding crafting action, so today’s tutorial offers a comfortable middle ground. Etched glass has an appearance of sophistication, but mastering the technique of simple glass etching is actually quite doable. Our resident crafter, Polly Conway, is here to show you how to jazz up ordinary glassware using this centuries-old art form.
Etched glass is a perennial wedding favorite; it’s classy, personalized, and . . . totally doable at home! Glass etching is kind of intimidating (and a little bit dangerous), but it’s so worth the extra effort. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be amazed at how professional and, dare I say, beautiful your etched pieces will look. Wedding-wise, you can etch champagne flutes, candle holders, pint glasses, Mason jars, mirrors, and more, creating unique heirloom glassware. If it’s glass, you can etch it! And it’s versatile; go for a classic Victorian look or something more modern, such as the look we achieved by using simple geometric shapes.
Supplies needed:
1. Glass (Use an old jar for your first try.)
2. Etching cream
3. Contact paper
4. Wooden popsicle stick
5. Painter’s tape
6. Rubbing alcohol
7. Rubber gloves
8. Stencils
9. Scissors
Step 1: Clean glass surface with alcohol. If the glass is dirty or smudged, the etching process won’t work.
Step 2: Choose your stencil image and trace it onto a piece of contact paper. For beginners, it’s easier to etch a larger area without too many details. Fun options include letters, stripes, polka dots, or hand-cut geometric shapes. Reminder: The area that gets etched is the part that’s exposed, so cut your stencils accordingly. You can cut out your own letters and shapes with the contact paper, but you can also usepre-cut alphabet stickers for ease.
Step 3: Peel and stick contact paper stencil onto the glass. Press around the edges to make sure it’s secure, adding painter’s tape on all sides. Swipe area to be etched with alcohol again in case of fingerprints. (This stuff can be fussy!)
Step 4: Put on gloves. (Etching cream is crazy toxic: If it can change the properties of glass, you don’t want it on your skin. See packaging for more safety details.) With popsicle stick, spread an even layer of etching cream onto the area you want etched. Wait 3-5 minutes, then spread the cream around again, moving any crystals to create the most even finish. Leave cream on for a total of 5-10 minutes.
Step 5: With gloves still on, rinse cream off with warm water. Remove stickers and tape. Dry glass. A frosted image should remain!
Boldly printed fabrics are all the rage on the wedding scene these days, whether they’re used to make custom linens, such as decorative pillows and dinner napkins, or fashioned into colorful confetti and treat bags like these playful, winsome creations crafted by Polly Conway, connoisseur of all things cute. Novice sewers and the craftily challenged, fear not—this project is as easy as pie, and there’s a sew-free option for those like me who break into a cold sweat whenever they come within sight of a sewing machine. Here’s Polly with the step-by-step tutorial.
There’s a wealth of fabric out there right now, from the beautiful to the whimsical. You can easily incorporate some of these fun fabrics into your wedding décor! Afraid of sewing machines? This is an incredibly simple beginners’ sewing project that will boost your confidence: simple confetti or favor bags tied with ribbon and finished off with a rustic-looking zigzag edge thanks to a staple pair of pinking shears. Hear me out: All you have to do is sew five—count ’em, five—straight lines. You can do it! And if you don’t have a machine, I’ve included a super-easy version that looks just as good.
Supplies needed:
1. Cotton fabric (Two of my favorite online shops, Fabricworm and Superbuzzy, should keep you browsing for hours!)
2. Sewing machine
3. Matching thread
4. Pinking shears
5. Pins
6. Scissors
7. Grosgrain ribbon
Step 1: Cut 2 4″x 5″ rectangles from your chosen fabric with regular scissors. With the right sides facing together, stitch along three sides. You now have a bag! Next, you’ll give it a flat bottom.
Step 2: Pinch one side of the bottom edge of the bag flat and pin it across at about 1″. Pin other side, then stitch across each side. You’ll now have two triangles that you can snip off along with any stray threads.
Step 3: Turn the bag right-side out. Using the pinking shears, cut carefully across the top for a charming finished edge.
Step 4: Fill with Jordan almonds, lavender buds, or rice, and tie with a matching ribbon.
Super-easy no-sew version: Cut a 10″ circle with pinking shears. Place the bag’s contents in the middle and bring all the sides up, wonton-style. Tightly tie your ribbon, and you’re done!
If you follow the wedding blogging scene, you’ve probably already been inundated with more Valentine’s Day inspiration than you can healthily handle, but we couldn’t resist adding a dash of our own sweetness into the mix. We think old Saint Valentine, who was imprisoned for performing secret weddings, would approve. This charmingly simple craft, created by the always-inspiring Polly Conway, is a cinch to make and can easily be adapted for wedding décor purposes.
How better to celebrate Valentine’s Day than with that traditional bit of lace: the paper doily! Here’s a way to add a bit of delicate color to these inexpensive treats; you’ll want to hang this banner year-round. You can also use these doilies as they were meant to be used—underneath cookies, cupcakes, or cocktails on the special day!
Supplies needed:
1.Paper doilies
2. Heart or other themed stamp
3. Ink pad
4. Watercolors
5. Paintbrush
6. Baker’s twine
Step 1: Stamp each doily and let dry for a minute or two.
Step 2: Begin painting a doily with a single shade, adding less water for saturated color or lots for a light wash. Just go for it! Watercolors are very forgiving. Alternate with two or three different colors. The doilies will be pretty damp at this point; let them dry for at least 20 minutes.
Step 3: Once the doilies are dry, weave a length of baker’s twine through the doilies’ top holes. Repeat until you have a banner! Hang with washi tape or pins.
You’ve probably seen rusty old skeleton keys turn up at quite a few vintage-themed weddings. Given their symbolism and their beautifully ornate look, with the tops, or bows, featuring Gothic trefoils, quatrefoils, and other intriguing shapes, they’re an unsurprisingly popular wedding décor item. Today, our crafty girl, Polly Conway, has given these antique icons a modern makeover using acrylic paint and washi tape for a fun, updated twist on the trend. Here’s Polly with all the colorful details.
Keys! They’re a classic, symbolic piece of wedding décor. I wanted to create a modern, versatile take on the skeleton key by combining two of my favorite trends: washi tape and neon. These bold keys can adorn favors, hang from floral arrangements, or be used as color-coded escort cards. Read on for this super-simple how-to!
Step 1: Decide which parts of the keys you’d like to paint. Paint a thin layer on each and let dry for 10-15 minutes. Repeat until the color you want is achieved. One or two layers will create a distressed look, while three or four will give a more uniform color. (Waiting for the paint to dry is by far the hardest part of this project.)
Step 2: Wrap a length of washi tape around the body of the key, sticking it together to create a little flag. Tear ends of tape, or use scissors to snip simple designs.
Step 3: Almost done! The painted and taped keys already look great as is, but depending on your needs, you can add more detail by attaching them to kraft paper tags with baker’s twine or stamping words directly onto the washi tape tags.
The recessional toss will likely be among the most memorable—and most photo op–worthy–moments of your wedding, so make sure that your guests shower you in style. These fun and colorful confetti bag templates, created for our lovely readers by graphic designer extraordinaire Susan Brand, are guaranteed to make your first walk as husband and wife a little bit more . . . confettilicious!
Supplies needed:
1. Template printed on letter-size paper
2. Scissors
3. Double-sided tape
4. Confetti of your choice
5. Sewing machine
Instructions:
1. Print and cut out your template with scissors or a craft knife. Stick the double-sided tape to the area shown (at the top).
2. Roll the paper into a tube and fasten with double-sided tape.
3. Sew the two sides in alternate directions on the dotted line. Remember to insert the confetti before closing all the sides!
Download:
Please note that the download includes five different color palette options. Click on the link directly below to download all five color palette options.
Color palette preview. Use the link above to download all five color palette options.
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Editor’s note: These photos and artworks are copyrighted material. They are intended solely for personal use and not for republication, distribution, sale, preparation of derivative works, or any other non-personal use. If you’d like to blog about this post, feel free to share the photos (with a proper credit line and a link back to this post), but please do not distribute these downloadable PDFs on your site or anywhere else. Thank you!
A décor element that’s enjoyed a place in wedding ceremonies for centuries, the humble wreath has meaning and longevity. Our craft expert, Polly, put a delightful spin on the traditional floral version with these colorful and crafty creations, which make wonderful use of yarn and felt. Here’s our girl to share today’s doable do-it-yourself project.
These charming wreaths are a crafty classic that will fit right into your DIY wedding! Styrofoam wreaths come in all sizes, so they’re versatile depending on your wedding needs. You can make a bunch of small wreaths to adorn chair backs or the ends of church pews, or you can make a few big ones to decorate doors and windows. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can even make memorable wreath favors!
Supplies needed:
1. Styrofoam wreath (available at your local craft store in all sizes)
2. Yarn in contrasting colors
3. Moss
4. Spun cotton mushrooms (I get mine here!), feathers, felt, or other décor
5. Hot glue gun
Step 1: Wind up a ball of yarn that will fit through the wreath’s center. Tie yarn in a knot around the wreath and begin wrapping tightly. Keep wrapping! This part is a little tedious and takes a while, but it’s kind of relaxing once you get into the groove.
Step 2: When you’re ready to change colors, tie the original yarn color off and begin with the new color in the same way. You can snip the tails of yarn or wrap around them. Keep going until the entire wreath is covered in yarn.
Step 3: If you like a simple, clean look, you can stop here! These wreaths look lovely on their own, but you can add easy felt flowers for added flair. Google “felt flower tutorial,” and you’ll find oodles of varieties, or check out the felt poppy tutorial right here on Limn & Lovely! Figure out what kind of décor fits in with your wedding theme, and lay out a little grouping of decorations. Using the glue gun, stick ‘em on there. You can also use pins to attach décor to the wreath; they’ll disappear into the yarn.
Step 4: Tie a ribbon around the wreath for hanging. You’re done!
Today’s guest post comes from Stephanie of Wedding Party, which has developed an amazing free app for iPhones and Androids that allows your friends and family to more actively participate in the joy of your wedding by enabling them to easily capture and share all the fun, candid moments from the day—the ones that might easily be missed by your photographer! Here, Stephanie shares a simple and sparkly DIY photo project that’s easy on the eyes—and the wallet!
Photos are a great way to add a personal touch to your décor and to share memories with your friends and family. There are tons of unique and easy ways to incorporate photos into your wedding celebration, and one of my favorite ways is with photo placeholders!
Finding your spot at a wedding reception can often be a chaotic experience. However, this can be solved easily (and gorgeously!) with a photo placeholder for each guest. I was so inspired by this Thanksgiving-themed placeholder from Photojojo that I decided to adapt the concept to make it suitable for weddings. Photojojo used pumpkins for their placeholders, but of course, those are seasonal and not for everyone’s wedding! I put my own twist on the idea by using a small glass bottle filled with glitter instead. Not only will these photo placeholders brighten up your wedding reception, they’ll also make it easy for guests to find their seating assignment. Plus, they take about five minutes to make—a definite bonus when you’re a DIY bride crunched for time!
What you’ll need:
A photo
Cardstock
Glue
Scissors
A ruler
A paperclip
A small glass bottle with a corked stopper (I got mine at Michaels for a dollar!)
Glitter!
Step 1: Trace and cut out a square of cardstock on which to mount your photo. Use a ruler to measure and trace a large enough square of cardstock.
Step 2: Cut out the square of cardstock. With a glue stick, apply glue to the back of your photo and mount it on the cardstock.
Step 3: Write your guest’s name and his or her table number on the back of the cardstock.
Step 4: Take the outside prong of the paperclip and straighten it out so that you can stick the end into the stopper.
Step 5: Fill the glass bottle with glitter! It was easy enough for me to pour the glitter directly into the bottle, but you may need to make a paper funnel to minimize glitter spillage. Step 6: Put the stopper on the glass bottle, with the paper clip stuck on the top. Clip your photo to the top (bent end) of the paper clip. Your photo should stay, and—voila!—you now have a pretty placeholder!
If you’re guest list is too long to make a photo placeholder for everyone, these work great for bridal showers or bridesmaid brunches, and they make cute keepsakes. We hope that you try this idea out and let us know what you think! Would you make these placeholders for your special event?
To learn more about Wedding Party’s fabulous app, visit their website here, or stop by their daily blog for inspiration, tips, DIY projects, and more!
When it comes to wedding details, there are few things we love more than an adorable handmade cake topper. Although this little bauble may seem like a trivial element, it’s kind of like the Magi’s star atop a Christmas tree—a little bit of magic happens the moment it’s shifted into place, and a tree just isn’t a Christmas tree without it. Created by Polly Conway, our crafty girl extraordinaire, with the cute-minded bride in mind, these retro-inspired pinecone toppers have a little seasonal sparkle and are the perfect finishing touch for a homespun—think spackled buttercream—winter wedding cake. Here’s Polly with all the details.
I fell in love with spun cotton a few years ago when I thrifted some incredibly detailed Christmas ornaments, painstakingly crafted from simple supplies like crepe paper, pipe cleaners, and yarn. They were so sweet, and their little faces had so much personality! I wanted to see if I could replicate that retro look on my own, and after some experimenting, I’m sharing my process with you in the form of bride ‘n’ groom cake toppers. Again, these little friends can double as favors or table décor; heck, you could make one for each member of the bridal party!
Supplies needed:
1. Spun cotton balls (Get any size here, and have fun browsing the other gorgeous millinery treats!)
2. Pinecones
3. Felt-tip pens
4. Hot glue gun
5. Craft glue
6. Various supplies like pipe cleaners, crepe paper, yarn, German glass glitter, millinery flowers, or dollhouse miniatures
7. Wood or cardboard base
Step 1: Hair! To create glitter hair, spread craft glue around a spun cotton ball (the head), then dip into a tray of glitter. Let dry. For yarn hair, add glue, then gently drape pieces of yarn onto the head. Let dry. You can trim later.
Step 2: With the hot glue gun, attach the spun cotton balls to each pinecone, creating a head and body.
Step 3: Use felt-tip pens to add features to the face. Keep it simple: two black dots for eyes, a small red line for the mouth, and a little pink blush if desired. You can also add freckles or lashes if you’re feeling ambitious.
Step 4: Wrap a length of pipe cleaner around the neck to create arms. Bend as needed. You can also add legs with the glue gun.
Step 5: With glue gun, attach figures to the base. Now you can give your bride and groom some character and create a little scene using your extras. Have fun!
Designed for dressing up rustic jars of homemade chocolate chip pancake mix, these cozy, gingham-patterned gift tag and lid label templates, compliments of Susan Brand Graphic Design, are our homey little holiday gift to you. Sweetly simple, this tasty mix, sure to bring back childhood memories of comforting pancake breakfasts, would make a delightful wedding favor, bridal shower gift, or stocking stuffer. We’ve included the recipe, of course, and detailed instructions for whipping up a batch of light, fluffy, chocolatey pancakes can be found on the back of each tag.
To make the mix:
Fill a 1/2-liter French canning jar with 1 cup of self-raising flour, 1/4 cup of sugar, a pinch of salt, and 50 grams of chocolate chips.
Preview (not for download):
Instructions:
Print out on medium-weight paper and cut out around edges. Use a hole punch to create holes in the gift tags as indicated on the templates. Use lengths of twine to tie tags to jars. Secure each circular label to each lid with a few dabs of glue.
Editor’s note: These photos and artworks are copyrighted material. They are intended solely for personal use and not for republication, distribution, sale, preparation of derivative works, or any other non-personal use. If you’d like to blog about this post, feel free to share the photos (with a proper credit line and a link back to this post), but please do not distribute these downloadable PDFs on your site or anywhere else. Thank you!
In creating today’s DIY project, Polly drew inspiration from one of our recent mood boards: Icelandic Poppy. Although poppies are extraordinarily beautiful, they can be hard to come by, and they’re not exactly cheap, so we decided to make a more economical alternative using one of the craft world’s most versatile materials: fun and funky felt! Here’s Polly to fill you in on all the DIY details.
Having grown up in California, I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for the poppy. It’s the state flower, and my parents’ front yard fills with them every year. They’re such a delicate but vibrant flower, and when I saw Limn & Lovely’s Icelandic Poppy mood board, I was struck by poppy love and wanted to replicate that heavenly bouquet immediately. Using simple supplies such as felt and yarn, I tried to mimic the wintry beauty that poppies bring! You can make a whole flower in just a few minutes; these felt poppies are great for bouquets, of course, but can also easily be made into boutonnieres, pins, or hair clips. Have fun!
Supplies needed:
1. Felt (Regular ol’ felt is inexpensive and works great, but you can upgrade to a wool blend for more vibrant colors and a gorgeous texture.)
2. Paper for template
3. Green floral stems
4. Floral tape in green or brown
5. Black or yellow eyelash yarn
6. Scissors
7. Thread
8. Needle
Step 1: Create your petal template using printer paper or another type of thin paper. There are lots of printable options; I used these and also made a few of my own. You can freehand some uneven circles and some lumpy bow-tie shapes; honestly, the less perfect they are, the more they’ll look like real poppies once they get stitched together. Try a few combinations and see what you like best. Pin the template to your felt and cut out a bunch of petals.
Step 2: Stack two smaller petals on top of the large round one. Then wrap a 5-10″ length of eyelash yarn around your finger. This will create the middle (the stigma, if you wanna get technical) of the bloom. Slide it off and place it in the middle of the flower.
Step 3: Thread the needle and tie a knot at the end. Grab all the petals and bring your needle up through the middle, including all layers. Bring it back down, stitching to secure the yarn to the petals. Do this a few more times, then tie the thread off and snip ends.
Step 4: You now have a flower! To give it some shape, stitch a circle around the back, then pull it tight and tie a knot. Arrange the petals.
Step 5: Snip two small slits in the back of the flower, then loop a wire stem through, twisting to tighten. Wrap with floral wire.
Sometimes, a wedding simply melts our hearts the moment we see it, and this is one of those weddings. Captured by the exceptionally talented Katie Nesbitt with a fresh eye for sweet moments and pretty details, Amanda and Jordan’s nuptials epitomize laid-back elegance.
The bride and groom decided to tie the knot on the one-year anniversary of their engagement; Jordan popped the question during a sun-drenched September picnic at one of the couple’s favorite wineries in Charlottesville, Virginia. After much thought, the two selected the historic Chapel of the Centurion as their ceremony venue. Located at Fort Monroe, a decommissioned military base that was built in the 1850s, it is a striking little church with original Louis Comfort Tiffany stained glass windows. “We loved the sort-of vintage, small-town feel that the chapel gave us,” Amanda said. “And our guests had to cross a moat to get there!”
The reception was held nearby in the scenic backyard of the groom’s family home. Amanda wanted the event to have an invitingly warm, homespun feel, so she undertook the task of making many of the details herself, from cheerful billy button boutonnières to a charming bird’s nest cake topper. On the night she met Jordan, they had explored haunted houses in her hometown together, and she had acquired an old metal lantern during the excursion. This she displayed on a table that was dedicated to old photographs of family members—both those who were present in body and those who were present in spirit only.
The rain that arrived unwelcome on Amanda and Jordan’s wedding day proved to be a happy misfortune. “One great unexpected perk of a rainy day is the amazing lighting that the rainclouds provide,” Amanda said. “I could not be happier with how our wedding photos turned out. Our photographer, Katie Nesbitt, quickly became a close friend during the wedding planning process . . . I am so thankful to have had someone so great on our side!”
Q + A with Amanda
What’s your love story? How did you meet, fall in love, and get engaged?
Jordan and I met through a mutual friend when I was home from college in 2007. That night, we explored “haunted houses” in my hometown, then started chatting a few days later via MySpace (yes, really!). Once I was back home for the summer, Jordan and I dated very casually and then lost touch for a year. (If you ask him, I blew him off!) The next fall, we reconnected and went out for sushi and a movie as our second “first date.” A week later, we were officially boyfriend and girlfriend and never turned back.
We are a very non-traditional couple, and Jordan moved into my apartment after only six months of serious dating. He moved in as a “short-term” fix to a housing hiccup and then never left! Over the next two and a half years, we moved to a different city once and to different apartments twice, finally landing in Richmond, Virginia. We got engaged on our third anniversary during a sunny September picnic at one of our favorite wineries near Charlottesville.
How did you choose your venue?
We figured out very quickly that our engagement anniversary fell on a Saturday, and we set our wedding date for that day, September 29, 2012. We struggled with choosing our venue; we couldn’t decide between a funky, historical venue in our new home of Richmond and something closer to our family and friends on the peninsula. After months of deliberation, my then future in-laws offered us the use of their backyard for our reception. Their home, yard, and view are so lovely that we couldn’t say no! Our ceremony was held at the Chapel of the Centurion, which is located at Fort Monroe, a decommissioned army base that was built in the 1850s. We loved the sort-of vintage, small-town feel that the chapel gave us. And our guests had to cross a moat to get there!
What was the most difficult part of the planning process?
The thing that I had the most difficulty with during the planning process was developing a vision! There were so many amazing wedding blogs, Pinterest boards, and helpful friends offering advice that I felt lost for quite a while. I love all things vintage and antique, so I knew that I wanted a touch of the old during our special day. I also knew that we wanted things to be simple so that everyone could enjoy our day together.
Can you tell us a little bit about the details of your wedding and your sources of inspiration?
We were working with a budget, and instead of only inviting 50 guests and enjoying an elaborate sit-down meal with full catering, we decided to invite all the people who are most important to us and serve them desserts and cocktails! We each chose a signature cocktail (mine was a French 75, Jordan’s was an Irish whiskey and cider cocktail) that we served along with beer and wine. Our desserts included French macarons, whoopie pies, homemade cookies, lemon and raspberry bars, and cheesecake. I am the wedding coordinator at a bake shop near Richmond, so we had to serve cupcakes in all of our favorite flavors!
I hunted for vintage items, such as a suitcase from the 1960s to hold cards and gifts and old wooden drawers to house our wedding favors. We dedicated an entire table to old photographs of family members—those who were present on our wedding day, and those who were there only in spirit. On that same table, we placed an old metal lantern—something that I had found on the very first night we met in those haunted houses! I love all things DIY, and I tried to incorporate small handmade touches. I hand-lettered a banner that we hung out front to welcome guests, made the men’s boutonnières, and put together our wedding cake topper. (Yep, I put a bird on it.)
It ended up raining on our wedding weekend, and as upset as I was about having to tweak my initial vision, we went with our plan B, and everything was perfect. One great unexpected perk of a rainy day is the amazing lighting that the rainclouds provide. I could not be happier with our wedding photos. Our photographer, Katie Nesbitt, quickly became a close friend during the wedding planning process, and she earned the title “friendographer.” I am so thankful to have had someone so great on our side!
What kind of advice would you offer to future brides?
If I could give any advice to future brides, the two main pieces would be: 1) Figure out your direction, and then stop looking. 2) Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
Part of my wedding planning difficulty stemmed from having “too many options.” I kept browsing, researching, and scouring bridal magazines, only to drive myself (as well as Jordan and our mothers) crazy. I can absolutely see the value in appointing a day-of coordinator (or a mistress of ceremonies if you have a close family friend willing to do so). There are so many last-minute questions and decisions that you will be grateful to have someone there to help!
I felt overwhelmingly loved during our entire wedding weekend. I was not nervous about marrying Jordan—that was something I had been ready to do for quite a while. We had family and friends who traveled from places as far away as Florida and New Jersey to celebrate with us, and that was a really amazing gift. We had three perfect days of celebrating, and I hope every bride feels as loved as I did.
The use of Mason jars is one wedding trend that we have yet to grow tired of. As far as we can tell, the budget friendliness and versatility of these humble canning containers will keep them in the wedding game for years to come. Since they make an appearance at so many weddings, however, the trick is dreaming up an original way to use them. It tickles us pink when someone comes up with an idea for breathing new life into a tried-and-true trend, and our crafty girl, Polly, has done just that with her enviable embroidery skills. Fear not; they’re easy to learn!
Hand embroidery is one of the traditional crafts that’s been transformed by the current crop of DIY enthusiasts! While it may seem intricate and intimidating, embroidery doesn’t have to be hard. It’s easy to learn a few basic stitches that look pretty darn impressive, and you can use your newfound skills to adorn anything from napkins to gift tags. I like this project because it’s super inexpensive; embroidery is a wonderfully low-cost craft (thread still costs 39¢!), and the result is a totally adorable and customizable accoutrement for your cozy outdoor wedding.
Supplies needed:
1. Canvas fabric
2. Embroidery thread
3. Embroidery needle
4. Mason jars or vases
5. Scissors
6. Pencil
Step 1: Cut a strip of canvas about an inch wide and as long as you need to tie around your jar or vase.
Step 2: With a light pencil, draw or trace the image you’d like to embroider. For this project, keep it simple! You can freehand a heart, initials, a flower, or anything else you want to represent the new couple. (There are also lots of simple patterns online; Sublime Stitching or Wild Olive are great resources for chic and modern images.) Don’t be scared of imperfection; embroidery is a homey, rustic-looking art anyway.
Step 3: Thread your needle and tie a knot at the end. Begin stitching. I like to use the backstitch, one of the easiest embroidery stitches, which is great for outlining. It’s basically a series of even up-and-down stitches; here’s a little extra instruction on the details.
Step 4: When you’re done stitching, cut your thread. Tie the strip of canvas onto a Mason jar or vase, and you’ve got a special table centerpiece that can double as a take-home for some lucky guests.
Everyone loves getting something pretty in the mail, something shiny and bright and sent with love tucked in among the piles of angry-looking bills and obnoxious junk mail. A wedding provides the perfect opportunity to fill your loved ones’ mailboxes with lots of mood-lifting prettiness, so why not try your hand at making your own envelopes instead of settling for the generic store-bought kind? It’s easy, we promise! Here’s the lovely Polly to show you how.
If you’re getting married, you’re going to need a lot of envelopes. You’ve got save the dates, bridal shower invites, bachelorette party invites, the actual wedding invitation itself, thank-yous—it’s quite a list! If you feel like going the extra mile, making your own envelopes is pretty darn easy and super satistfying, and it gives you the power to create the exact patterns and color combinations of your dreams!
Supplies needed:
1. Scrapbooking paper/card stock in colors of your choice
2. Envelope and liner templates (I got mine at Paper Source (they’re sturdy and reusable), but you can also download your own templates and print ‘em out.)
3. Bone folder or letter opener
4. Double-sided tape or glue stick
5. Scissors
6. Scalloped scissors (optional)
7. Pen or pencil
Step 1: Trace lightly around the envelope template with your pen or pencil. Keep the template in place.
Step 2: With the bone folder or other non-sharp device, score (press hard along) the paper where you’ll be folding it later. This will make the folding easier and ensure that your envelope will look extra tidy. Cut.
Step 3: Trace around the envelope liner template and cut out. You can use scalloped scissors to give the liner a softer and more detailed look. Place inside the unfolded envelope, then, when you see where you want it to be, add some double-sided tape or glue and stick it.
Step 4: Add tape to the appropriate areas of the envelope itself and fold it into its final shape. Everything should stick nicely, and you now have a lovely handmade envelope!
If you don’t have an endless wedding budget (and most brides don’t), chances are that your favors are going to be simple, and the packages in which they come are going to be even simpler. But, hey, sometimes simple is better. Leonardo da Vinci, Lao Tzu, and Henry David Thoreau all thought so. The most well-liked favors often have two things in common: 1) they’re homey, and 2) they’re edible. Popular choices for pretty packaging of goodies (for instance, coffee beans or homemade confections) include stamped muslin bags, which have the kind of rustically charming look that’s overtaken the wedding world, and stamped glassine bags, which have an old-timey-candy-shop feel. Etsy is awash with them, but why not add a level of personalization by making your own? Here’s the ever-fabulous Polly to show you how. Instead of black ink, as is typically used, she opted for jewel-toned colors, and we are digging the results.
A good set of alphabet stamps is a great investment for any wedding crafter; prices range from $1 (pro tip: I seem to always find them in the dollar bins at Michael’s) to around $30, and there are tons of fonts and styles to choose from. As far as regular stamps go, it’s wild out there! Gone are the days of grannny-style duckies with bows; today’s stamps are actually . . . cool! There’s a stamp for every occasion, from mustaches to matryoshkas to the chic gems I used here. You’re bound to find at least a few that will match your theme (there are a lot of stamps out there) or just add a little flair. This tutorial shows you how to quickly transform some plain old muslin bags into totally personalized gifts!
Supplies needed:
1. Muslin bags (you can find these in bulk on Etsy)
2. Stamp pads
3. Small pieces of cardboard or heavy paper
4. Practice paper
5. Alphabet stamps
6. Accent stamps
Step 1: With your practice sheet of paper, play around with the stamps! It takes a bit of practice to figure out things like placement and pressure, and this is a good place to make some mistakes. It’s also a good time to test your colors; you’ll want to be sure the shade of the stamp pad is true before you stamp the bags. Experiment with varying levels of pressure and amounts of ink for different results; lots of ink and a hard press will cause the stamp’s edges to show for a more rustic look.
Step 2: Place a small piece of cardboard or heavy paper inside your first muslin bag. This will keep the ink from seeping through to the other side.
Step 3: Start stamping! When you’re done, let dry for about 30 minutes and then flip to stamp the other side if you want.
Step 4: Fill with goodies! These would also work well for a shower or rehearsal dinner!
We hardly know where to begin in describing the sheer wonderfulness of this Down Under bushland wedding, which took place at the Kangaroo Valley Bush Retreat in Kangaroo Valley, a valley that stretches along the Kangaroo River in the Illawarra region of New South Wales. Incorporating Moroccan touches and traditional Jewish wedding rituals, Leanne and Dave’s day was so full of loveliness that squeezing it into one post has proven to be an almost impossible feat. We could gush on and on about each and every detail—the breathtaking outdoor church nestled inside a rock cavity; the fantastic florals, which were arranged by the bride’s grandmother and included dusty pink proteas mixed with baby’s breath; the bride’s to-die-for custom gown, designed by the bride and handmade from French lace and silk georgette; the perfectly mismatched bridesmaid dresses in earthy shades of rust and brown; the criminally cute critters; the DIY goodness at every corner; and the awe-inspiring setting with its lush, native flora, including cabbage-tree palms, bird’s nest ferns, and sclerophyll forests.
Oh, did we tell you that a trampoline makes an appearance? We’d bet a pretty penny that this couple is going to be single-handedly responsible for starting a trampolining-in-wedding-attire trend! And we can’t leave out a mention of their unbeatable first dance, a lively jive choreographed by the bride herself. Suffice it to say that these two tore up the dance floor, and they have the most incredible series of dance shots—and an off-the-charts awesome Cinemotive video, which we’ve included for your viewing pleasure—to prove it!
Leanne and Dave’s phenomenal photographer, Lara Hotz, captured every poignant moment, telling their magnificent love story through her lens and offering a true sense of who they are as a couple. Both spontaneous and sophisticated, the dynamic imagery is pure magic.
All in all, we’d say that this wedding is one for the books!
FROM THE BRIDE
Dave and I met at Macquarie University, where we studied law. Although we were both in other relationships when we first met, we came together in our final year and have enjoyed a beautiful relationship filled with love, adventure, travel, growth, and friendship ever since. We got engaged in September 2011, when David surprised me with a trip to Fiji. His proposal was relaxed, fun, and beautiful—just like our wedding day!
After browsing for wedding dresses, I knew that I wasn’t going to find the right dress for the right price in any store. Instead, I sketched a design of the dress I had in my mind and bought beautiful pieces of French lace and silk georgette to serve as sample swatches for the skirt and details. I found a fabulous dressmaker to bring my vision to life. She did a wonderful job and was such a pleasure to work with. The dress was just as I had imagined it, and I felt comfortable and beautiful in it all day and night long. For the ceremony, I wore a plain, cathedral-length veil. My earrings were my something borrowed; belonging to my grandmother, they were gorgeous large pearl studs with ornate gold borders.
The girls who served as my bridesmaids are each unique and gorgeous. I wanted them to feel comfortable, and I wanted their dresses to represent their personalities. I also wanted them to be able to wear and enjoy their dresses after the wedding. They wore breezy maxi dresses and flats to suit the relaxed bush setting and Moroccan influences of the wedding. I chose a rust color palette, and the girls worked together to find their dresses. Gold headbands from Witchery completed their look.
For the ceremony, David wore a chocolate brown three-piece suit by Jack London, a custom shirt by Corazon Bespoke, and a taupe tie and pocket square. For the reception, he took the three-piece off, rolled up his sleeves, and changed into brown leather braces for a more relaxed look and feel that allowed him to party comfortably into the wee hours of the morning.
The groomsmen wore grey Marcs pants, and each had a shirt made by Corazon Bespoke. Each shirt was slightly different in design, giving the guys a touch of individuality and lending a more relaxed overall look.
Our wedding was a weekend celebration in Kangaroo Valley. It was held at the Kangaroo Valley Bush Retreat, which accommodates 88 guests in cabins and features a gorgeous, peaceful outdoor church called the Bush Cathedral; a breathtaking observation deck with views overlooking the valley; and a cozy reception barn with a fireplace. It also has a unique spiral bonfire area, which we used to host a BBQ on the Friday night before the wedding.
We hosted as many of our friends on the property as possible. Family and parents’ friends stayed in nearby accommodations in Kangaroo Valley. This worked out extremely well, as we had exclusive use of the property for the weekend, and the wedding reception lasted for an epic 12 hours. Dave and I and headed to bed at 5 a.m., leaving our remaining friends to party.
The BBQ on Friday was a relaxed affair, with punch, salads, and a BBQ buffet available to guests as they arrived into town. As the sun set and the mist settled over the valley, the music and the bonfire created a festive, cozy atmosphere in which guests mingled, ate, drank, and celebrated into the night. It was a beautiful way to welcome the weekend and to introduce guests to one another.
Our ceremony was held in the Bush Cathedral, the Kangaroo Valley Bush Retreat’s outdoor church. After a month of watching the weather station forecast a weekend of storms, we were lucky enough to have three glorious autumn days. The afternoon sun streamed through the trees, creating a magical atmosphere for our 3 p.m. ceremony. Our guests were welcomed into the Bush Cathedral with a choice of elderflower lemonade or ginger mint juleps. The drinks were served in recycled glass jars that our family and friends tirelessly collected during the months leading up to the wedding. Guests provided the flowers that made up my bouquet and a floral arrangement for the ceremony.
The bridesmaids entered to Neil Young’s “Dance, Dance, Dance.” I walked down the aisle with my parents, Debbie and Ken, to “First Day of My Life” by Bright Eyes. “Love Love Love” by Avalanche City was our recessional song.
As the wedding was an interfaith wedding, we wanted to incorporate elements of Jewish traditions. We were married under a chuppah, or wedding canopy, which we made ourselves from large bamboo poles that were hand-painted with a band of “tribal” patterns in earthy colors. We kept our ceremony short and sweet—only 15 minutes long—but it captured all the love, traditions, and sentiments that we had hoped to incorporate. It was a relaxed and moving ceremony, enjoyed by the two of us and our guests alike.
Following the ceremony, Dave and I went off to take photographs while our guests enjoyed canapés and champagne on the observation deck and Mother Nature put on a glorious sunset. We provided an open mic, and many of our musically inclined friends took the opportunity to each play a few tunes to entertain the crowd. As the sun set, guests made their way to the reception area.
To kick off the reception, we had a traditional hora, a Jewish celebration dance. This was followed by a short dance set, which created an instant party atmosphere that lasted the rest of the night! Dinner was served family style and had a Moroccan theme. Entrées consisted of a gourmet antipasti platter and organic berry sourdough. The main course included beef tagine, spicy trout, and Moroccan-spiced vegetables along with a selection of salads, including couscous and fattoush. For dessert, my mother and her friend created a to-die-for homemade confectionery bar that included candied nuts, chocolate truffles, merengues, Rocky Road squares, coconut ice, Baci biscuits, and more.
Guests were seated at a combination of long banquet-style tables and smaller tables. The table names—“Love,” “Live,” “Dance,” “Relax,” “Play,” “Imagine,” and “Laugh”—were painted on thick pieces of raw bark. The table décor included Moroccan lanterns, tea lights, and centerpieces consisting of proteas and baby’s breath. The marquee featured two giant Moroccan lanterns.
I choreographed our wedding dance, a fun jive to “Rip It Up” by Little Richard. It included our entire bridal party and our siblings. It was a huge hit and suited the relaxed festivities of the night perfectly.
A highlight of the night was Dave’s speech and performance, which brought the crowd to tears, cheers, and laughter. His speech took the crowd on the journey of our relationship, incorporating sentimental songs from The Beautiful Girls and David Francey, as well as a beautiful song that he had written specifically for the night called “Treasure You.” He ended the speech with a rock rendition of “I’ll Do Anything” from the musical Oliver.
We were so fortunate to have family members who were both willing and able to devote hours of work to the preparation of the wedding. They helped to keep costs down and also added the unique touches that made the celebration so personal and comfortable for everyone. The tireless hours of work that they put into the preparation of the wedding (and into the cleanup of the wedding) is a wedding gift to beat all others!
The most important thing I think is to be present and to enjoy the day as much as possible. Keep things simple and truly reflective of you as a couple. The power and magic of your relationship will shine through and will be what you and your guests remember about your wedding celebration, provided that you are able to stay relaxed and enjoy the day. Be creative and think outside the box to save money while still creating a special and unique event.
We chose a venue that did not have a curfew, allowing us to celebrate with our guests for as long as we pleased. I recommend this for those who like to party! Also, wherever possible, make an effort to consider the comfort of your guests. We were very aware that our guests had traveled to celebrate the weekend with us, so providing a BBQ and a farewell brunch was an important way for us to thank them for their efforts. Other touches included beverages at the ceremony and blankets at the BBQ and reception, as it can get quite cool in the evenings in the Valley.
All decorations, including the wood table signs, wedding chuppah, invitations, menus, blankets, and photo booth, were homemade by the bride and members of the bride’s family.
We’re delighted to share the homespun goodness that Polly’s wonderfully crafty brain came up with this week. On a one-to-ten scale of adorableness, this needle-felted garland is a solid eleven. And even though we’re a solid negative eleven on a one-to-ten scale of craftiness, we’re still seriously tempted to give this a shot. Here’s Polly to show you how it’s done!
Wool imparts a homey feeling to everything it touches. If you want your wedding to have a little added warmth, needle-felted accessories are a simple way to accomplish this goal! You don’t have to know how to knit or crochet to work with wool; wool roving is like a pre-yarn. It’s just a big ball of wooly fluff! It’s also inexpensive and easy to work with once you get the hang of it. Felting needles are a little scary at first (they’re sharp!), but I’ve witnessed so many people get hooked on felting because it’s incredibly versatile; you can make some really nice gifts and accessories with this skill. In the wedding realm alone, there are endless possibilities: needle-felted flowers, ring pillows/bowls, place card holders, boutonnieres, and, in the how-to below, fun garlands in your wedding colors!
Supplies needed:
1. Wool roving in colors of your choice
2. Felting needles (Clover brand is my favorite.)
3. Felting mat (You can also use a chunk of foam.)
4. Standard needle
5. Thread
6. Optional: wool felt
Step 1: Pull about three inches worth of wool roving from the larger tuft. This should be enough to make a 1″ ball. Roll the fluffy roving in your hand to make an approximate round shape. This is the beginning of your ball.
Step 2: Place the ball you’ve created on top of the felting mat and start poking it with the felting needle. That’s right, poking! Needle felting works because the needles are barbed; the wool catches on the barbs, which tangle it up, creating structure (kinda like back-combing your own hair). As you continue poking evenly around the ball, you’ll notice it getting smaller and harder. This is good!
Step 3: Roll the ball around in your hand a few times to reinforce the shape. Keep poking until you have a perfectly round little ball.
Step 4: Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you have as many balls as you need. (Optional: Cut a strip of wool felt into flag shapes and, using the felting needle, add shapes or initials.) Then thread your regular needle with a length of coordinating thread and begin to string the balls onto it. Evenly place them along the thread, and voila! You have a lovely, funky garland to hang anywhere. I love these as cake toppers, but they also look great across doorways, chair backs, and anywhere that needs a little cozy color!
The Rolls Royce of glitter meets the rustic charm of October foliage in today’s DIY tutorial. Here’s Polly to show you how you can add some autumnal sparkle to your fall wedding using German glass glitter and fallen leaves.
California doesn’t get a lot of extreme seasonal changes, but here in Oakland, we’re lucky to get a bevy of falling autumn leaves from our namesake oak trees. This week, the colors took a turn for the amazing, and I was immediately inspired! I’ve seen lots of wedding projects using fake leaves, but I wanted to make use of the real deal, especially since they’re beautiful, plentiful, and right outside my front door.
German glass glitter is one of my favorite craft supplies; unlike your average preschool-style glitter, it’s made from real glass and adds real class to anything you sprinkle it on. It’s wildly versatile and comes in all colors of the rainbow, so it’s perfect for wedding celebrations! I created a simple way to turn your fallen leaves into sparkling decorations for favor boxes, garlands, or to enhance place settings and tables with a bit of autumn magic.
Step 1: Make sure your leaves are clean and dry. With a popsicle stick or straight from the tube, spread glue on your chosen part of the leaf. You can add glue to just the tips, follow the natural veins or outline of the leaf, or cover the whole thing. It’s up to you!
Step 2: Dip the glue-covered area into the glitter. It should adhere right away, but if you want more to stick, press the leaf down into the glitter and hold. Allow to dry for 30 minutes.
Bonus step: Before gluing and glittering, you can dip the leaves in hot wax for added shine and posterity. (Here’s a more detailed tutorial for the waxing process.)
Step 3: If you like, write a message or draw a picture on each leaf with a pen. Now you’re ready to turn these leaves into tags, flags, table number cards, or whatever your creative mind comes up with!
Originating in Japan, washi tape is the craft world’s new darling, and it’s got plenty of things going for it: prettiness, inexpensiveness, versatility, and ease of use. Made from natural fibers—typically the bark of native Japanese plants, such as the gampi tree, the mitsumata shrub, and the mulberry tree—washi tape is surprisingly strong and comes in an endless variety of patterns and colors. Here’s Polly, our resident crafty girl, to show you how you can prettify your place settings with this modern material!
Washi tape is the hottest new thing in craft supplies since . . . sequins! Seriously, it’s that good. It’s a light, tearable tape that comes in every color and more delightful patterns than you can imagine. Whether you’re looking for polka dots, stripes, or gingham checks, you’ll find a washi tape to match your wedding needs. But what do you do with it? Washi tape is so versatile, it’s almost overwhelming. It’s tape! You stick it on stuff. However, many brides are using it to jazz up their wedding dishes, which is a fab, inexpensive way to give each place setting that extra dash of style. Here’s how to use washi tape for your event.
Supplies needed:
1. Washi tape in colors/patterns of your choice (Japan’s MT brand is the original, but you can find others at Michaels, Target, etc.)
2. Scissors
3. Plain dishes (I used white plates from Ikea.)
4. Hole punch (optional)
Step 1: Make sure your plates are clean and dry. Think about shapes you might want to use; simple stripes in your colors are an easy option, but you can do anything! With a few snips of the scissors, washi tape lends itself quite nicely to geometric shapes, arrows, checkerboards, and banners. You can also use a hole punch to make a series of dots or bubbles.
Step 2: Once you’ve played with the tape a bit, you can start sticking. Washi tape is just strong enough to stick, but it’s also easily peelable if you make a mistake. Each roll includes a lot of tape, so there’s no need to be stingy. Stick the tape to the plate and press down to even out any air bubbles that might occur. If you’re feeling wild, you can even try enhancing your silverware!
Step 3: Enjoy your meal! After the party’s over, the washi tape should peel right off of any surface, so you can send the dishes back with the caterer or reuse them for another occasion.
We’re more than a tad bit obsessed with the DIY goodies that Polly made for us this week: neon-painted sea urchin shells filled with air plants (also known as tillandsia). Despite appearances, these are actually quite easy to make. The pops of acid yellow and punchy ’80s pink lend an edgy, modern, funky feel and complement the myriad intriguing textures and shapes, from the spiny bumps on the shells to the twisting, undulating, and cascading tillandsia leaves. If Andy Warhol and Poseidon threw a dinner party, the centerpieces might look something like this. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist that image!) The great thing about air plants is that they’re cheap and cheerful, as the saying goes, and they last forever, which means that once they’ve accomplished their mission of making your wedding tables happy, you can tote ‘em home and use them to brighten up any drab room. (I’ve managed to kill nearly every poor houseplant—may each one rest in peace—that’s ever had the misfortune of coming into contact with me, but my air plants remain alive and thriving, so that’s definitely a testament to their hardiness.)
Here’s Polly to show you how to make these eye-catching creations!
You don’t have to live on a coast to have some marine touches at your wedding! These sea urchin shells, adorned with bold neon paint and their new air plant inhabitants, are a simple and chic way to show a little ocean love.
Supplies need:
1. Air plants, also known as tillandsia (These can be found at your local garden store for between $1-$5 per plant.)
2. Hot glue gun
3. Sea urchin shells (available in bulk on Etsy)
4. Acrylic paint in the colors of your choice
5. Small paintbrushes
Step 1: With a small brush, paint the urchin shells! Let their natural texture guide you; dots, stripes, and all-over-color really show off their delicate beauty. Experiment! If you’re using bright colors like I did, one coat is enough. Let the paint dry for about 30 minutes.
Step 2: Plug in your glue gun and allow it to heat. In the meantime, pluck any dead or dried-out leaves from the air plants and discard. You can also trim any long roots. Don’t be afraid; air plants are tough little critters and can withstand a lot of handling.
Step 3: Squeeze a bit of glue into the hole of the urchin shell and onto the plant itself if needed. Then place the end of the air plant gently into the hole and hold for a few seconds while the glue dries. You’re done!
These would make great take-home gifts or table decorations; air plants last for ages with a few mists of water per week!
We’ve got a Sunday smorgasbord of cute and thrifty ideas for how to ask your besties to be your bridesmaids. Roll up your sleeves, because there are some must-try DIY projects in this bunch! We included some freebies, too, so you might find yourself shrieking with delight.
This adorable handmade accordion kraft booklet, which has such a wonderfully homespun feel, was made by fine art photographer Connie Lyu. (Drop everything now and visit her website, because there’s some serious photo ogling to be had!) We love her idea of including cutely taped-on color strips that represent the wedding colors! Check it out on her beautiful blog, The Paper Dialogues.
We love this “Will you be my bridesmaid?” stamp from stationer Southern Fried Paper. It can be used to stamp hankies (as pictured), cards, or any flat surface. It’s only $38, and you can buy it right here.
If you’re not the kind of girl who wants to scour thrift stores in search of hankies to stamp, you can buy them wrapped up pretty and ready to go from paper and calligraphy studio Allie Ruth. These charmers are a mixture of vintage and reproduction hankies, and each one is tied onto a thick cardstock backing with heat-embossed designs using a lovely satin ribbon. Get your hands on these beauties here.
This is one of our favorites—a wooden spool with a frayed fabric ribbon that unravels to pop the question! See the full tutorial on Bridal Musings, which has a fabulous “Roses and Ribbons” DIY series.
Not a crafty girl? Buy these be-my-bridesmaid spools ($50 for a set of five) from Choosing You. They come tied with a velvet ribbon and adorned with a mini forget-me-not flower.
Plum Pretty Sugar, which makes the the most charming getting-ready robes, collaborated with Rifle Paper Co. to create these darling bridesmaid invitations, which are perfectly mix-and-matched to complement Plum Pretty Sugar’s fabric prints. They’re only $18 for a set of eight!
Does it get any cuter—or more delightfully delicious—than these cupcake-in-a-jar bridesmaid invitations created by Marry This? The best part is that the designs for the linen napkin and jar lid are FREE. You can read the full DIY tutorial and download the printables right here.
These hand-etched keepsake spoons, $6 apiece, from L’Esperance Design are a great way to ask your friends to be a part of your big day.
Get this FREE geometric printable from stationer Love vs. Design!
Add some girly childhood nostalgia to your bridesmaid invitations with these DIY paper-doll cutouts by Anna of Rifle Paper Co. See the full tutorial on Once Wed.
We’re thrilled to introduce the lovely and crafty Polly Conway, Limn & Lovely’s new DIY maven. You can find her on her blog, The Firefly Express (chock-full of crafty musings, fun photos, and kitschy goodness), or at her shop for the cute-minded, Pollyanna Cowgirl, which is making the world a more creative and colorful place one accessory at a time. Without further ado, here’s Polly with this wonderful watercolor tutorial! (Be sure to stop by next week for more crafty creations!)
It only takes a little bit of time to add a lot of color to your wedding! With a few strokes of the brush, you’ll find yourself able to create gorgeous ombre place cards, party picks, tiny banners, and any other paper accessories you might want for your wedding tables. I’m excited to share this tutorial because it’s so simple and creates such a huge impact. If you haven’t picked up a paintbrush since preschool, don’t worry! This is the kind of craft that will renew your faith in your DIY skills! It’s also a great project for a pre-ceremony girls’ night; with some happy helpers, you can get a whole lot done in a few hours.
What you’ll need:
• baker’s twine or embroidery thread
• hot glue gun (The tiny cheapies work just fine!)
• iridescent watercolor paints (I used the Creative Expressions brand, but there are lots of options right now.)
• paintbrush
• toothpicks
• watercolor paper
• calligraphy markers
• scissors
Step 1: Choose the color palette you’d like to use. I picked a handful of warm, sunset-y shades: yellow, pink, and purple. With your brush, add a few droplets of water to each color and wait a few minutes. When you dip your brush into the paint again, you should have a highly pigmented shade to start out with.
Step 2: Paint a line across your sheet of watercolor paper. Then dip the brush in water and paint another next to the first. It should be considerably lighter. Blend a little with the first line. Repeat. Continue diluting until your first color is almost washed out, creating that awesome ombre effect. Now, blend your next color into the first, doing the same thing. It’s up to you regarding how bold or mellow a look you’d like to establish; experiment! There’s really no way to mess this one up. When you’re happy, set the paper aside and let it dry for about 30 minutes.
Step 3: Once the paper is dry, you can begin cutting. Cut a handful of 1” strips. You’ll use these for both the toothpick flags as well as the banners. Make sure you cut each strip in a way that best shows off the watercolor variegations. From here, you can get creative! Snip a “V” into each side of a strip for a super-cute party pick flag shape. With another strip, cut a series of small triangles.
Step 4: Plug in your glue gun. It should take just a few minutes to warm up. (Hot glue warning: It’s great, but you’ve gotta work fast; it dries really fast!) For the party picks, squeeze a dot of glue onto your toothpick and stick it to the back of the paper. That’s it; your party pick is complete! For the banners, cut your desired length of twine and lay it flat on your work surface. Add a line of glue to each of your tiny triangles and squish it gently onto the twine. Let the glue dry for a minute or two and then lift it up off the work surface.
Step 5: You have the option to add words if you like! A high-quality, felt-tip calligraphy pen looks beautiful on top of the watercolors; just make sure that the paint is totally dry before you start writing.
Now that you’ve got the skills, the possibilities are endless. You can add a wash of watercolor to cakes, cupcakes, drinks, place cards, floral arrangements, favors, and more! Pictured are just a few examples.
Well, hello again! My day job as a book editor has been keeping me unusually busy, so I apologize for the brief absence. Speaking of books, I’ve stumbled upon some fabulous ideas for literary-themed weddings, and I thought they were definitely worth sharing, especially since many of them are DIY friendly. Book nerds and bibliophiles, rejoice! Oh, if only I had it to do over . . .
{1}Handmade book page table runner from Better Homes and Gardens via Emmaline Bride {2}Book shelf altar from a shoot photographed by Jessica Claire {3}Literary confetti, £5, from Not on the High Street {4}DIY book page garland from Better Homes and Gardens {5} Hanging book displays from a literary-themed rehearsal dinner photographed by Studio EMP and designed by LVL Events{6} Monogram cutout inside book from a literary-themed rehearsal dinner photographed by Studio EMP and designed by LVL Events{7} Chocolates presented on a torn book page from a literary-themed rehearsal dinner photographed by Studio EMP and designed by LVL Events{8} Tablescape from a literary-themed rehearsal dinner photographed by Studio EMP and designed by LVL Events{9}Centerpiece with book page roses from Better Homes and Gardens
Using tin cans or tea tins for centerpiece vessels can be a boon to your budget, and they’re DIY friendly. We happen to love the fine lettering, ornate graphic elements, and one-of-a-kind, bygone charm of vintage tea tins, while plain old tin cans offer a beautiful blank canvas for all you crafty, creative brides out there. As shown here, they can be spray-painted, wrapped in anaglypta (an embossed, Victorian wallpaper), tied with bandannas, covered in glitter, adorned with lace, you name it!
