{It’s in the Details} Guestbook Alternative: Fingerprint Tree

DIY, stationery, wedding

I’ve seen many guestbook variations and alternatives that I think are great:  recipe cards, using typewriters, quilts, postcards, guestbooks made with engagement photos of the couple or a book where guests take polaroids of themselves and write messages next to their photo.  There are so many fun reasons not to use a boring guestbook these days.  I think my favorite idea is one I just saw last week on a real wedding feature on Green Wedding Shoes.

What an original idea and neat piece of art to hang in your home after the wedding!  You could even do this idea, and then let guests write you messages on notecards and keep them in a special place in your home if you want more than a signature and ‘leaf’ fingerprint.  This idea is especially great if you are having an outdoorsy wedding or are incorporating nature into your decor. 

{DIY} Hot Cocoa & Marshmallows Gift or Wedding Favor

DIY, wedding, winter

I’m a big fan of DIY projects and personalizing your wedding.  I saved my favorite DIY projects featured on other wedding blogs and want to share one of them with you today…Hot Cocoa & Marshmallows!  Originally featured here on Style Me Pretty and done by Kathleen of Twig and Thistle, this project is another great wedding favor for a fall or winter wedding or cute addition to out-of-town bags for guests.  It would also make a great regular party favor or hostess gift!

Go to the full post on Style Me Pretty for instructions!

You could simplify this as much as you need to.  If you can’t sew or don’t have a sewing machine (I don’t, but this project makes me wish I did!) you could always find small craft paper bags and print labels to put on the outside, you can use regular marshmallows, etc.  There are two more DIY projects that can be done in combination with this one that I’m planning to feature in the coming weeks.  Until then, happy crafting!

Simple Saturday

vintage, wedding

Sometimes I see a single photograph that I just love or am completely inspired by.  In an effort to dislocate my laptop from my lap on the weekends and spend more time having fun with my husband, I am going to start posting one every Saturday in lieu of a full post.  They might be photos a friend has taken, or that I took myself, or that I have found from one of my favorite blogs.  Today I am posting one of my favorite photos from one of my favorite photgraphers.

Photo by Elizabeth Messina via her blog, Kiss the Groom.

{Inspiration Board} Vineyard Chic

florals, inspiration boards, rustic, vintage, wedding

Style Me Pretty featured a wedding yesterday that literally knocked my socks off.  Photographed by Jose Villa and infused with a vintage chic style that I love, this might be the prettiest wedding I have seen in quite a while!  I just had to share my favorite details…

Photos by Jose Villa via Style Me Pretty.  See the full feature here.
I mean, look at those chandeliers!  And the florals.  I’m in love! 

{Inspiration Board} Floral Fancy

florals, inspiration boards, rustic, vintage, wedding

As we all suffer through winter (which in LA means non-stop rain) and wish for spring, I thought a feature on florals would help us all through.  I love lush, feminine florals.  I love single stems in a container.  I love using vintage or unexpected pieces as containers.  I love garden roses.  I love peonies.  Here are some of my favorite wedding florals to help you dream of spring:

Pretty pretty paper!

rustic, stationery, vintage, wedding

I just had to share a blog post that combines two blogs that I love.  Nole from Oh So Beautiful Paper was the guest blogger yesterday at The Bride’s Cafe.  Nole’s wedding was a source of inspiration for me when planning my wedding (check it out here…it is absolute perfection), and her blog always features pretty paper, stationery, and invitations, which are some of my favorite things.  Below are Nole’s words of wisdom regarding Save the Dates and  photos of the ideas she shared.  To see the full feature on The Bride’s Cafe, go here.

From Nole:

1. Set the tone with your Save the Dates. Aside from the invitations themselves, Save the Dates are the first insight that your guests will have into your wedding. Since Save the Dates are usually sent out pretty early in the wedding planning process, chances are most brides and grooms won’t have all the details figured out when the Save the Dates are mailed out, but hopefully you have a sense of the style of wedding that you’re planning. Here are a few ideas:

Photo by Max Wanger
Photo by Olivia Leigh
Design by Simplesong
I really love all three of these.  How great would the hanky Save the Dates be for a vintage styled wedding or bride, especially for a smaller guest list?  I wish I had thought of it…
The keys are great because you can incorporate them into your wedding in so many different ways…and they just happen to be one of the elements I used throughout my own wedding.
There is something so simple and chic about silhouettes!  They could also be incorporated throughout your wedding.  A great example of that can be found here and here, in a wedding featured on Style Me Pretty.
One other Save the Date idea I absolutely love is another I found on Nole’s blog.  I love the initials carved into the tree (maybe I am biased since they are mine and my husband’s initials).
I think every bride should send Save the Dates because they are fun and a great way to showcase your style and personality.  Even if your budget is tight, there are lots of places, especially on Etsy, where you can find very affordable Save the Dates.  I got mine from Tilde Designs on Etsy, and not only were they very affordable, but they were lovely!