Mason Jar Masterpieces

The simple elegance of a mason jar is not always recognized, but with a little time and a creative touch, you can turn a basic jar into a classy decoration for your wedding. Whether your reception is a summer soiree or a winter wonderland, you will surely be inspired by the gorgeous ideas in this blog.
With so many uses, where should we start? Pair a floating candle with lace or twine for a rustic, romantic feel. A cluster of different sized jars with only a small tea light can replace flower centerpieces and help light your reception venue. These dreamy decorations will make any girl swoon, and remind her of the enchanting wedding she has always dreamed of.

Another cute and practical idea is to use the mason jars as glasses to hold your guests’ choice of drink at the reception. Take this a step further and apply chalkboard contact paper to the jars. You can write the names of your guests and even their table number to direct them to their seats.

As you can see, mason jars can be used for aisle decorations, lighting, drinking glasses, and even place cards. So what are you waiting for? Head over to a local store in the canning section and decorate your heart out! If your wedding is too far away to wait, consider featuring these striking DIY projects at your holiday party.

Image Credits: Floating Tealight Mason Jars,  Candlelight Mason Jar Lighting, Chalkboard Contact Sheets on Mason Jars, Simple Centerpiece, Mason Jar Lemonade, Pink and White Flowers in Hanging Jar, Aisle Decorations, Red and White Centerpiece, Mason Jars with Favor Tags

The Perfect Bridesmaid Gift...A Survival Kit

Personalized Bridesmaid Clutch with Survival Kit

The perfect bridesmaid gift for you to give to your bridesmaids is a survival kit. What is a survival kit you ask? Bridesmaid survival kits are cosmetic bag or small purse filled with the essentials that all ladies need for emergency situations. Most survival kits come with band aids, bobby pins, towelette, sewing kit, breath mints and of course a pack of Kleenex. This is perfect for all those little things that can and will go wrong on an important day. A personalized clutch is a great gift for your bridesmaids and they can use the survival kit for more than just your wedding celebration but for all kinds of special occasions that will come up during her life.

It would also be a fun idea to make your own survival kits if you are the DIY kind of gal. You can buy an inexpensive cosmetic bag or use a personalized bag and add all the essentials to the bags. If you really want to have some fun, make up some survival kits for the groomsmen as well. Here are a few more items other than the ones listed above you may want to add or consider adding to an already made up survival kit:

Personalized Lime Green Quilted Cosmetic Bag

For the Bridesmaids

• Lip Gloss
• Stain Remover Wipes
• Nail File
• Aspirin
• Tampon
• Safety Pins
• Trail Size Hair Spray
• Deodorant

Custom Printed 8 x 5 x 10 Frosted Gift Bags

For the Groomsmen

• Antacid
• Satin Remover Wipes
• Aspirin
• Trail Size Shaving Cream
• Disposable Razor
• Black Socks
• Safety Pins
• Chap Stick
• Deodorant

The above items can also be added to your wedding welcome bags that you are leaving for you hotel guests. This is a fun and inexpensive way to make your guests, bridesmaids and groomsmen feel appreciated and loved. Good Luck!

12 Days of Weddings...Three French Hens

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me... This holiday season we are showcasing must-see wedding ideas for each of the 12 Days of Christmas.  To keep the ball rolling, we are so excited about this third addition to our collection...(drum roll please)...we bring you a french holiday wedding inspired of course by...the 3 french hens.

Combining rustic tones of cranberry, navy blue, and camel, this charming wedding collection blends french country style with the charm of small town farm life.  Come on back next week to see more ideas from our 12 Days of Weddings.

Image Credits:  French hen Christmas card, Engagement photos of couple with hens, French country table setting, Letterpress rooster thank you cards, Violin, French hen favor tags, Rooster table setting, Feather hair fascinator, Wedding dress and groom in suspenders, Burlap and toile table runner.

Bridal Registry Basics - Getting Started

I don’t know about you but setting up a bridal registry sounds like about the most fun ever!  As a newly engaged gal myself and a self-proclaimed shopaholic, I can’t imagine not enjoying compiling a list of all the things that my fiancé and I will need for our new life together. But then I realized I didn’t even know where to begin! While your bridal registry may seem like nothing more than the ultimate shopping list, there needs to be a lot of thought put into it. Before you go crazy with that scanner gun, take a moment to plan, research and get organized. Here is some advice I gathered to aide in beginning your bridal registry, advice I will surely be taking too!

When to get started

Start thinking about your registry right away. This may sound a little premature but once hearing about your engagement, some friends or family may want to get you a gift right away. So to better accommodate everyone’s gift-giving strategy, register for a few items soon after your engagement. Since it may be difficult to decide on all the items for your registry this early, more items can and should be added later on. If you are having an engagement party or bridal shower, make sure to register for gifts at least one month beforehand. This gives guests enough time to shop.

What to register for

It can be an overwhelming task deciding what items to select for your registry. There are probably a lot of things you and your future spouse need to begin your lives together. So it is best to prioritize and stay organized. Before going to the store or browsing online, it may be helpful to make your own list of things you need. Go visit a friend or family member’s fully stocked kitchen/dining room/bathroom/etc. Take a look around at the necessities they have and then jot down any items you don’t yet own but would like for your own place. Having this primary list will make it easier when you visit the store or begin your online registry. Think about daily activities, chores and tasks and the items you will need to complete them. Also think about special occasion items that you may need for holidays or entertaining. Once basic items are taken care of then think of fun items or decorating pieces that will complete your living space.

Now if you and your fiancé already live together and have many of the necessary items needed for everyday living. Think about expanding your registry to include items that are tailored to your hobbies and interests. Consider camping equipment, wine chillers, electronics, or gift cards to Home Depot, Lowe's or Target.

To learn more about creating and managing your bridal registry check out the article The Ultimate Shopping List - Creating Your Bridal Registry by our blogger Mandy (Me!)

Photo Credits: Bridal registry couple

12 Days of Weddings... Two Turtle Doves

It's time for our second installment of this season's 12 Days of Weddings. We all know that on the second day of Christmas, the lover in the song is given two turtle doves. A turtle dove, named for the chortling sound of its call, is a soft grey and brown bird. These lovely little creatures mate for life making them a wonderful symbol of a forever love to use in your holiday wedding motif. We've taken our cue from the rustic colored feathers of this iconic bird and created a brown, caramel, and gray inspiration board for your enjoyment.

Image Credits: Pine Bough Bouquet from Martha Stewart Weddings, Feather Boutonniere from Martha Stewart Weddings, Favor Box from Project Wedding, Feather Place Setting from Country Living, Dove Cookies from Baked Bree, Winter Table from All The Beautiful Things by Loreta, Turtle Dove Mixed Drinks from Hipster Travel Guide, Snow and Pine Wedding Cake from Style Me Pretty, Love Birds Cake Topper from MyWeddingReception Ideas.com