One of the reasons my wedding was so special to me and unique to my guests was because of all the personal touches Steve and I did. We spent lots of time during the year of our engagement preparing and creating crafts and constructing projects together. I wanted to show some of our inspiration we used as well as what we came up with in the end.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Centerpieces
Inspiration
Ours
Our theme was “Rustic Woodland” These went perfectly and were easy to make. We collected Mason jars from garage sales and craigslist. Then filled them with bird seed and white votive candles we purchased in bulk from ebay. Tied a random amount with ribbon also purchased in bulk from ebay. Then set randomly on rounds with moss we collected from the back yard , along with twigs, greens and flowers from Pike Place Market. Some also had twig bird nests that we purchased from Save- on -Crafts
Cake stands
Inspiration
Ours
Using some of the larger rounds left over from the centerpieces we glued the rounds to bases and lacquered the top.
Moss letters
Inpiration
Ours
I wanted to do something special for the girls I asked to be in our wedding. Rather than just asking them to be a part of the day I made them each a special card and sent it to them in the mail. I used accessories I had in my craft box and paper from the scrapbooking store. Then envelopes all had rub on transfer details to tie them together
We bought oversized letters made out of cardboard from the craft store and used spray adhesive to attach fresh moss we gathered from the yard. I attached ribbon loops to the back to hang on barn doors.
Chalk board Menu Signs
Inspiration
Ours
Using old picture frame I painted white and an old window we sprayed the glass with black chalk board paint. Took about 8 coats. Then used them to write our dinner and bar menus on.
Bathroom baskets
Inspiration
Ours
I bought some inexpensive fabric boxes from Big Lots. I glued brown ribbon horizontally around them and using a template online printed out the signs attached to the front. Then I filled the boxes will all things you may need for emergencies.
Wood signs
Inspiration
Ours
Using scrap wood from my parents old deck, Dad cut to size the wood pieces for the signs. We then drilled holes in each piece and strung them with wire which we attached to a post to stick in the ground. My aunt Joan hand painted all the lettering on them for me. Some were cut at angles to use as arrows and other rectangular. We used them around the venue grounds as well as on the main roads near by to direct guests to the venue.
Will you be my bridesmaid?
Inspiration
Ours
I wanted to do something special for the girls I asked to be in our wedding. Rather than just asking them to be a part of the day I made them each a special card and sent it to them in the mail. I used accessories I had in my craft box and paper from the scrapbooking store. Then envelopes all had rub on transfer details to tie them togetherMy Hair flowers
Inspiration
Ours
I only wore my veil for the ceremony so I wanted something in my hair after I took it off. I used scraps of lace and vintage tulle that I had bought on Etsy 3 years prior. I hand sewed rhinestones on to add some sparkle and then attached them to bare hair clips.
Bridesmaids Hair flowers
Inspiration
Ours
Along with the jewelry I purchased for the bridesmaids to wear I also made hair flowers. I used vintage French tulle and silk flowers I purchased of Etsy. I had stitched them together with vintage rhinestone details and then glued them onto a swatch of felt that I stitched to a hair clip.
Grooms mens ties
Inspiration
Ours
We decided to get custom ties made for the groomsmen as our gift to them. Steve came up with the design and we submitted it to a vendor or etsy. It was then screen printed on micro fiber ties for us.
Flowers & bouquets
Inspiration
Ours
Flowers were one of the least important details to me. I didn’t want to spend much money in this area. A week before the wedding I went to Pike place and ordered 12 bouquets of flowers in green and white. The day before the wedding a few bridesmaids and I picked them up along with a few multicolored dahlia bouquets for centerpieces. We split apart the green and white bouquets and wrapped them ourselves. I used 2 different types of ribbon and crystal pin I purchased off Sav- on Crafts.
Chapel
Inspiration
Ours
The ceremony was outside but we wanted a way to make it seem more unique and intimate. Steve built the wood structures out of scrap wood and we assembled it on site
Cookie buffet
Inspiration
Ours
I feel like the candy buffet at weddings is overdone. I read an article in the New York times about the customary cookie buffets at Italian weddings. I am Italian, I was sold. I started collecting vessels and apothecary jars from thrift stores and discount stores like Marshalls and TJ Maxx. All of our family members and friends chipped in and made 100 cookies each of their own choice. We set them out at the reception with take out boxes for guest to fill as a favor to take home
Vintage table clothes
Inspiration
Inspiration
Ours
I didn’t want to use all white linens from our rental company so my mom and aunt collected vintage table clothes that we layered them on the sweetheart table, cake table, cookie buffet and sign in station. They added a little bit of whimsy and a lot of color to the venue.
Signature cocktails
Inspiration
Inspiration
Ours
Along with the beer, wine and alcohol we served we wanted a few premixed specialty drinks for our guests. We purchased these glass decanters from Costco and had 3 signature alcoholic drinks in them for cocktail hour. I love how they look with the fruit floating in them
People seem to think if you DIY it’s a great way to save money. I have found that isn’t always the case. Some projects will probably cost more to make than to buy, not to mention the time and effort you put into it. So you should enjoy doing it & take pride in the accomplishment of the final product. Sometimes that is a bigger pay off than saving a few bucks.
I love all your little signs. They tied everything together so well!
Forwarding on your family cookie bar to a friend!
I love this! You had an adorable wedding! Love the pictures that were taken, too.