Creative Save-the-Date postcards

Other cute ideas from Martha S:

DIY Hair

Martha Stewart offers some pretty cute DIY wedding hair styles:
http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/photogallery/diy-wedding-updos

I like this one lots!

The Official Event Schedule

So, we've settled on the few important details:
Locations - Check!
Caterer - Check!
Flowers - We're planning on using potted plants as centerpieces, with a few bouquets here and there.
Dress - Check!
Shoes (very important!) - Check!

Instead of holding the ceremony at the reception site (or even nearby), we're going to have the best of both worlds! We're going to hit City Hall on Friday (celebrating the night away with a small group of friends and relatives), then having an early evening reception on Saturday. This way, we can extend the festivities and set up the reception site at our leisure Saturday morning. A nice, relaxed and fun wedding. A little traditional, a little non-conventional - like us.

Here's my rundown:

Woodsy Cake

I LOVE this idea... If only we were having a cake...

Coffee Bag Favors

How cute are these?

Music

So, we're going through with the iPod DJ idea opposed to hiring a DJ or band. Super cheap, right? Only thing is, now we have to wear the DJ hats as well.

HOW ON EARTH CAN WE SORT THROUGH ALL OF THE AMAZING MUSIC IN THE UNIVERSE AND CREATE A SINGLE, 4-HOUR PLAYLIST?????

I can't tell you how many times I've heard a great song and thought, 'Wow! That would be great for a wedding!' Did I jot them down?? NO! Where are those great songs now???

Luckily, I have hifiweddings.com and my brother, who's a musical genius. Still, it's a daunting task.

Here are a few songs on MY list:
"Three More Days" - Ray LaMontagne
"Sweet Pea" - Amos Lee

Sashes!

1. DIY from 100 Layer Cake:

DIY Photobooth Props

Alternative Bachelorette Party/Bridal Shower

I've been reading about alternatives to the traditional bachelorette party. You know, the "drink-all-night-Vegas-clubbing-boa-wearing" craziness that so many partake in.

Well, some of the alternatives have included wine tasting trips, spa days, cooking classes, chocolate tastings, craft days and so forth.

I also thought this could be fun for the bachelorette or bridal shower!

http://www.theprettyblog.com/2010/12/cookie-exchange-party-diy/

It's a cookie exchange party, with cute recipe cards (and cookie eating, of course!) The one featured on The Pretty Blog is for Christmas, but imagine something similar for a bachelorette or bridal shower. There could be other desserts, wine, a traveling massage therapist, a pedicurist, girly flicks...

Placemats for Kids' Table

So, I saw these at Anthropologie and Paper Source:

(For $24)

If you're following The Pretty Blog, however, you can download these comparable placemats... for free.

Invites: stitchings

I like how a few invites and save-the-dates I've seen had stitching. It's a detail that is small but really charming...

(from DesignWorkLife)

Collage Invites

This is yet another example of an awesome invite... Now, how do I incorporate this into my invite design? Hmmm....

(From YouAreMyFave)

DIY Desserts!

I REALLY want to do a DIY dessert table! Super cheap! Super personal! Super cute! Super time-consuming (I know)! Maybe it's a crazy idea... Maybe I'll be so busy with my other wedding DIY's that making desserts will make me want to cry... But I love the idea of this:

NonPareil Magazine featured a recipe for French Macarons in one of their publications. The recipe came from Bakerella.com, which is pretty fantabulous (an adjective I recently picked up from one of my students!). What I love is that they feature step-by-step pictures of the baking process!
Feast your eyes:

Latest Wedding Style Guide!

I previewed the latest Wedding Style Guide (and oh how nice it looks)!

More Splendid Details~

This site is AMAZING! http://www.olivemannashop.com/

LOVE LOVE LOVE this site!

How amazing would these baggies be for the dessert favor table? It's $12 for 50 small bags.

Lovely twill ribbon! ($6 for 5 yards)

How adorable! ($6 for 5 hearts)

I LOVE magnetic buttons! (Pricey at $7 for 3, but a GREAT DIY)

Bridal Accessories

How cute is this site?
 http://www.beegeebride.com/

Invite Frenzy!

So, DIY is pretty much how I'm doing everything for the wedding, including the invites. Problem is, I'm seeing too many invites I like! I'm finding myself trying to incorporate as many ideas as possible, which simply won't do. So, how do I choose from all of the amazing ideas I've seen? AGH!

BTW, here are a few more ideas I've found:

(From Green Wedding Shoes)

(See the invite directly below. This lovely invite is from 100 Layer Cake's Blue Label vendor, Cheer Up Cherup)

Plantable Love Note

So cute!
http://www.designspongeonline.com/2011/02/diy-project-simones-plantable-love-note.html

DIY plantable paper

DesignSponge has really detailed instructions for making your own plantable paper:

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2011/03/diy-project-seeded-paper-pouches.html

Invites: Play on Words

So, I've noticed that a lot of invites are featuring a lot of text while playing with different fonts and sizes

(This is from Magpie Paper Works)

I like this, although it doesn't fit with my original idea. It's a simple, cheap way to make invites to look interesting.

New Favorite Store!

This is probably my new favorite online store! (Thanks, Ruffled's Blue Label!)

They sell SO many things I've wanted to make - at great prices!

They sell tags...

They sell #10 envelopes...

They sell the scratcher stickers!

 

They've got baker's twine (Who doesn't love baker's twine?)...

This is a MUST-SEE for any DIY crafter!

Green and White wedding

Pretty pictures from greenweddingshoes:

Simple and yet so beautiful! I love the lace...

Adorable Favor from Ruffled

How cool would this be as a favor? Seriously, would it be cool?

This...

becomes this...

Plus, if you add magnets to the back (as shown below), it would be good for the fridge, no?

Adorable wedding!

I LOVE this wedding! From the programs that look like vintage books to the chandelier disco ball to the s-shaped cookies! So cute!!!

http://www.100layercake.com/blog/archives/12140

Lovely little shop

How perfect is this for a dessert and/or kids' table?
http://shopsweetlulu.bigcartel.com/

Bridal shower idea!

How cute is this?!

http://greenweddingshoes.com/bridal-shower-party-ideas/

And once again with the Sofia bubbly!

Dessert table - rustic style!

Me likey.... (find more here.)

Sofia Blanc de Blancs... in a can?

I've been seeing these a lot at different weddings:

(Pic above from 100 Layer Cake)

From an article at MSNBC:

"The cans are meant to appeal to what Martin has described as a "Sex in the City" crowd: sophisticated female city-dwellers, from just over drinking age up to their mid-30s.  It's a different audience than most wine drinkers. 

Like many wineries, Niebaum-Coppola has been looking for ways to attract younger drinkers who may still have a beer-and-shots preference left over from their college days, or those who have gravitated to punchy drinks like vodka with Red Bull.  Initial marketing was word-of-mouth, Martin said, but the national release will include print ads in buzz-generating magazines like Paper and Surface.Thus the can is upscale but not snooty: almost a fashion accessory, and an excellent sell to twentysomethings hoping to look a bit more grown-up and refined without being seen as stodgy wine drinkers like, say, their parents. The winery wants a small, loyal following that appreciates sparkling wine as an affordable treat more often than once a year."

Has anyone tried this before?

Beautiful Table Decor from 100 Layer Cake

See more here!

I've found my bridal twin!!!

Feast your eyes on what I consider to be EXACTLY-PERFECT-EVERYTHING-I-COULD-EVER-WANT!
(Thank Buddha for Ruffled!)