DIY Keepsakes Featuring Your Wedding Song

The first dance at your wedding is a special part of your big day. Whether it was picked out days before your wedding or early on in your relationship, this song is significant. Whenever you hear your song played on the radio or you find yourself humming the lyrics, you will think back to that romantic first dance on your wedding day. This song holds a special place in most couple's hearts and there are ways for you to create a memorable keepsake that showcases it.

After the wedding day you can make a soundtrack to your wedding that includes your first dance song. While this is always nice, it's not exactly original and there are only so many times that you will listen to it. Why not take your wedding song and turn it into a piece of art or decoration that you can use in your home and look at every day!

From the Wit and Whistle Blog comes this uniquely adorable idea for a decorative pillow that features song lyrics or a special quote. We suggest highlighting some of the most important words from your wedding song on this quaint and comfortable piece. Read through the words to your song and pick the chorus or certain lines from the song that mean the most to you and your honey. This project is totally DIY and quite inexpensive to execute. All you need is a premade pillowcase (or you can easily make your own). Grab a ruler, pencil, letter stencil and fabric marker and you are all set to create this one of a kind piece. You can use the ruler to lightly pencil straight lines across your pillow (make sure to test a scrap of fabric first to see if pencil will erase on it). Then use your stencil to pencil in the lyrics. Remove the stencil and use the fabric marker to fill in the letter outlines. Choose any color you like for the wording but black is always a safe choice and really gives off a crisp professional look. Check out the step by step instructions for this pillow project at the Wit and Whistle Blog.

Our second keepsake idea comes from The Scout & Nimble Blog. While our first keepsake showcased the lyrics to your wedding song, this stunning piece displays the musical notation. There is something about the way that musical notes float across a page that make them a work of art all in themselves. This majestic piece will look lovely displayed in your home and makes for a great conversation piece when guests are over. For this easy project all you will need to do is locate the sheet music for your song. If you don't already have it you can order it online or even print the sheet music form certain websites at home. Follow the instructions at Scout & Nimble for directions on how to piece your music sheets together to form a piece large enough to frame. You can also take your sheet music to a printer and have them enlarge it to the desired size you want. You can distress the printed sheet to give it an aged or antique look if desired. Then find the perfect frame and you are finished! This sentimental work of art will hang in your home for many years to come!

These wonderful keepsake ideas would make the perfect wedding anniversary gift for your spouse (and yourself).

Six Ways to Make the Most of Your Honeymoon

Planning your honeymoon? We've come up with a list of  six small ways to make the most of your honeymoon.

Try Something New. What better way to start your new life together than by going on an adventure? Trying new things together is also a great way to cement your bond, creating unforgetable moments that only the two of you share.

Do Nothing for A Day. Set aside part of your honeymoon to just relax. Order breakfast and stay in bed watching a favorite movie. After that, you can head to the beach to sunbathe or to the nearest spa for a couples massage. You deserve some R&R after all the stress of planning a wedding. This down time also allows you to focus purely on your new spouse without any distractions.

Keep Everything. Bring along little plastic bags and envelopes or a small keepsake box to tuck in little mementos from each day. These could be small things like a cocktail napkin from a restaurant, the ticket stubs to a show, or even a bar of soap from your hotel. Later these small things will bring all the memories of your honeymoon rushing back. You will be so glad you took the time to create these keepsakes.

Don't Answer Your Phone. Unless you are a parent, there is no reason why you need to keep tabs on anyone back at home. Work, friends, and family can all wait. It is a good idea to keep your phone with you in case of emergency, but just let calls roll to voicemail and save texts to be answered later. This one little act lets your significant other know that you are willing to put them first. There is also something refreshing about being alone together in a new place, with no connection to the outside world.

Take A Lot of Photos. Take pictures everywhere you go on your honeymoon. Don't be too shy to ask strangers to snap a photo of the two of you as well. You will treasure these honeymoon photos for the rest of your lives. You may take other vacations together, but you only have one honeymoon!

Get Organized. While you want to relax and let go of all your stress during your honeymoon, you also have to get all your ducks in a row in order to do this. Make sure you have all your passports, tickets, maps, and reservations easily accessible. Also make sure you bring along enough money and budget it wisely during your stay. If you button down these details beforehand, it will be smooth sailing for the rest of your trip!

Happy Honeymooning!

Backyard Wedding Ideas Inspiration Board

Most people think that the best thing about a backyard wedding is the price. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. The best things about a backyard wedding are; the intimacy, the gorgeous decorations, the fun and the food. When planning your backyard wedding consider using rustic decoration and signs to greet your family and friends as they arrive. Use the outdoors to create your backdrop for the ceremony. What is more beautiful than Mother Nature herself? Fill mason jars or vintage watering cans with wild flowers or loose bouquets to create stunning center pieces for your reception tables. Serve a buffet style meal with all the fixings and fresh lemonade and ice tea to cool your guest down on a hot summer day. Of course don't forget about dessert. Homemade cakes and cupcakes would make the perfect dessert for your guest and be the most fitting for your fabulous backyard wedding.

 Photo Credits: The Wedding of my Dream Blog, marthastewartweddings.com, modern keepsake and The Natural Wedding Company.

Fun Flower Girl Fashion for Some of Your Youngest Wedding Attendants

Most little girls are beyond excited when they learn that they have been selected as the flower girl in a wedding.  With pretty dresses and fun accessories, what little girl wouldn't want a chance to be princess for a day?  Usually a flower girl is between the ages of three and eight, and is a member of the bride or groom's family, or perhaps the daughter of a close friend.  When it comes to her dress and accessories, you can choose whatever will go best with your wedding, but you may want to ask her input so that she is all smiles on your wedding day.

Besides the duties of your flower girl, you will want to consider what type of dress and jewelry she will wear.  She is not limited to wearing a miniature replica of your dress.  Tutus have become popular, as well as off-white tea-length dresses.  There are also many other looks which you can find on Etsy, in a bridal salon, or even in department stores.  

Photo Credits:  Pomander Balls, Green Dress with Unique Print, Tutu, Rosette Dress, A-Line Traditional Dress, Nude-Colored Dress

Whichever look you decide on, you may decide to give your flower girl a jewelry set or other accessory to match her dress as a gift for being in your wedding.  You can find jewelry and other flower girl gifts here.  Another option to dress up your little wedding attendant is a flower hair wreath.  They can be made with the flowers you are using throughout your wedding day, and are so adorable.

Photo Credits:  Flower Girl in Pearls, Pearl Necklace, Personalized Locket, Ivy and White Rose Hair Wreath, Bright Yellow Flower Hair Accessory, Simple Headband 

As far as other items for her flower girl duties go, there are a lot of great trends right now.  Traditionally, a flower girl will carry a basket of flower petals, but recently there have been many other flower girl accessories becoming popular.  Pomander balls, beautiful balls of flowers, often replace flower baskets if the bride does not want petals to be dropped in the aisle.  A few other options are Signs announcing the bride's presence, bubbles, or one of our favorites - ribbon wands!  We have even seen weddings where the flower girl will walk the couple's dog down the aisle.

Photo Credits:  Large Flower Ribbon Wand, Here Comes the Bride Sign

Charcoal Grey + Raspberry - A Wedding Color Story

The bright palette of hot pink and orange takes a modern twist when grounded with the neutral color of charcoal grey.  We love the idea of adding in this darker shade to bring a sense of sophistication to an ordinarily whimsical color scheme. 

When putting together this palette, don't be afraid to take advantage of the different shades of pink and orange to add depth and texture to your florals, table centerpieces, and decor.  Adding in lighter shades of pink and pops of marigold and yellow will bring your look from homemade to custom made.

Photo Credits: Grey and Pink Wedding, Photo booth prop, Streamers, Margaritas, and Shepards hook, Orange Balloon Centerpiece, Striped Wedding Invitation, Chair back and table setting, Wedding Dress with Lanterns, Groomsmen

Unique and Unusual Wedding Cakes

Wedding cakes are more than just dessert. They are one of the most memorable parts of your reception. Couples have always chosen cakes that had a certain "wow" factor, but lately it seems like brides and grooms are looking for a completely custom cake that is as unforgettable as it is beautiful and delicious.  Cake artists are rising to the challenge and creating gorgeous confectionary masterpieces that are unique and sometimes a little unusual. We've chosen some of our favorite cakes that are distinctive yet still dazzling. We also broke them down into a few different themes that have recently caught our eye.

Inspired by Art

Lovers of fine art will appreciate these wedding cakes inspired by famous works of art from the likes of Van Gogh and Gustav Klimt.

Image Credits: Starry Night from Rosesen, Tiffany from Maggie Austin Cake, Gustav Klimt from Finishing Touch

Colorful Confections
Gone are the days of the pure white or ivory wedding cake. A pop of color is what brides want to see these days, even if it is just in a small decorative touch like the patterned bunting on the cake below.

Image Credits: Ombre Hearts from Erica Obrien, Colorful Bunting from 100 Layer Cake, Cubes from Project Wedding

High Romance

Frills, flowers, and a blush of pink are all details we love in this romantic, victorian look. Your hubby-to-be might demand a more masculine version for his groom's cake, but that would be a fun compromise that could only set off the feminine beauty of these ruffled desserts.

Image Credits: Ruffles from The Cake Blog, Roses from Peggy Porschen, Pink Love Letter from Martha Stewart

Playful Cakes

Nontraditional colors and shapes can come together to create a wedding cake that cheerfully defines the personalities of the newlywed couple.

Image Credits: Topsy Turvy from Pink Cake Box, Nautical from Pink Cake Box, Whimsical Cake Tiers from Confetti Cakes

Things We Love - Darling Doily Wedding Decor

When you think of doilies you're probably reminiscing of childhood crafts, homemade Valentines or maybe even grandma's house. Although all these memories are certainly sweet, they don't coincide with the elegance that you are picturing for your wedding. Now don't underestimate the versatility of the doily, for it can be artfully crafted into something of unquestionable beauty. When used tastefully, doilies can look elegant, romantic and even whimsical. Incorporate doilies into the decor at your wedding and prepare to wow guests with each and every darling detail.

Showcasing  doily decor in your wedding is the perfect opportunity to utilize your DIY skills, for most of the above decorations can be created quite simply on your own. Some DIY doily ideas include garland or table runners made from either paper doilies or cloth ones sewn together artistically.  Have your reception dinner menu printed on large paper doilies and set on each guest's dinner plate. Doilies can be displayed pinned to a frame and used as guest escort cards. Doilies can also be formed into beautiful centerpieces, votive holders and hanging lanterns by simply shaping them around balloons or balls and using a little fabric stiffener. Combine doilies with romantic candle light by lining mason jars or paper bags with doilies. The light will shine through and highlight the intricate design of the doily. (Use battery operated votives when using paper bags). If the bride wants to incorporate this theme into every aspect of her wedding she can add some doily flowers to her bouquet or wear a single one in her hair. So if this wedding theme sounds like you, start combing garage sales, antique shops and grandma's closet to collect an assortment of doilies. The more different designs you find the better, for this will add interest to the decor. Click on the links below to find directions to the doily crafts above or further inspiration.

 

Image credits: Doily place setting from Martha Stewart Weddings, Doily garland, Doily wedding dress from Gia Canali Photography, Doily menu by Susan Stripling Photography, Half doily votive holders and mason jars, Round candle floral doily centerpiece, Doily bouquet, Large hanging doily lantern, Doily table runners from Ashley Ann Photography, Doily paper bag lanterns from Martha Stewart Weddings, Doily escort cards from Studio Castillero

Romantic Elizabethan Wedding Dress Inspiration Board

The romance of the Elizabethan era inspires many brides today to look to the past for wedding inspiration. The styles shown in this inspiration board below are truly romantic and perfect for your fairy tale wedding theme.  Elizabethan wedding dresses can be purchased by many dress designers. Most of the dresses below are by Ian Stewart and as you can see he puts a modern twist on a romantic classic. View all styles below to find the perfect dress of your dreams.

Whether you add a modern twist or go with the complete Elizabethan theme, you are sure to leave your guest speechless when you enter the ceremony wearing one of these elizabethan inpired wedding dresses. Good Luck!

Photo Credits: Photo 1: yourvintagewedding.com, Photo 2 & 5: eraofelegance.com, Photos 3,4,6, 8 & 10: weddinginspirasi.com, Photos 7 & 9: romanticthreads.com.

Wedding Reception Tropical Centerpiece Ideas

We are a little obsessed with the latest terrarium trend creeping up in wedding reception decorations.  They have a sort of urban jungle feel that is particularly great for destination weddings and tropical themed centerpieces (especially when styled with bamboo leaves and vibrant florals). 

Inspired by this latest trend, we've put together a few of our favorite tropical centerpiece ideas to spark some inspiration for your own wedding decor.  From vibrant florals and coral to leafy tropical scapes, we hope you will be just as inspired we are!

Photo Credits: Pincushion proteas and succulents, Cupcake tower, Starfish in sand, Coral and hydrangeas, Bird of paradise, Terrarium, Terrarium table setting, Orchids in vases, Sand in vases, Apricot place card, Ceviche in seashell, Bird of paradise and bamboo, Starfish and coral, Bird of paradise in blue gel vase, Calla lilies and grass, Hand fan, Bamboo and roses