Planning a Winter Wedding

 Winter brides and grooms have oh so many options when it comes to their wedding celebrations!

The Dress

Depending on what part of the world you’re in, a winter wedding gown can be strapless or sleeved, full-skirted or fitted, or anything in between. Traditional winter gowns are often made of luxe, heavy fabrics designed to envelop the bride as she treks through a winter wonderland.  Think sparkle and gorgeous embellishments!

 

  

The Décor

Traditional winter white or holiday-themed décor is always an option, but so are alternate color palettes that include rich colors like navy, charcoal,  or hues of red. Décor that features tons of beautiful crystals or accents of silver or gold can create an ethereal winter setting. Beautiful white florals against any of these colors are just beautiful!

 

 The Menu

Winter weddings are perfect for those decadent comfort foods that we don’t feel as guilty about eating during the winter months. Acclaimed caterer Main Event Catering offers menu items such as Black Truffled Purple Peruvian Potato Soup and White Truffle Whipped Mashed Potatoes as options for winter wedding celebrations. Yum!

 

Regardless of your winter wedding style, start and end your celebration with a warm cocktail, and have a fab time!

Photo Credits (from top)

Maggie Conley Photography via Brides Magazine

Ian Mitchinson via Junebug Weddings

Twin Lens Images via  Junebug Weddings

Elizabeth Messina Weddings via Junebug Weddings

Preston Bailey

Pinterest

 

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Great things come in small packages!

 

Some of the best gifts come in tiny packages and boxes.  Decadent chocolates, herbal teas, engagement
rings…

Kids don’t exactly come in packages, but they are indeed small (at least for awhile!) and for those of us who are fortunate enough to have
them in our lives, they are certainly gifts. If you have children attending your wedding, creating a gift just forthem is a super cool way to make them feel special AND to provide a little distraction. We said they were special, but that doesn’t mean always quiet!

Our fave eco-kid expert Stephanie Frazier Grimm of Couture Parties returns in this issue with creative and simple DIY projects for yourlittle guests that will hold their attention while you say “I do” and during the reception while Mommy and Daddy get in a few spins on the dance floor!

Grab your box of craft supplies (or run to your local arts store) and let’s get creative!

 

 

 

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5 Ways to Have a White Pumpkin Wedding

White is the new orange, as farmers in squash-rich states like Illinois have increased white pumpkin production by 600% over the last few years (CBS). With white serving as a popular neutral color in modern home decor, it’s no surprise that the Casper, Ghost and Lumina pumpkin varieties have begun showing up on doorsteps more and more each year. And it’s lucky for today’s Fall bride because now she can enjoy her Autumn-themed, seasonally-inspired wedding without giving up her traditional white and ivory shades. If you’re an eco-minded bride having a standard white wedding, this might just be the anchor you’ve been looking for to tie your seasonal theme into your classic color palette. Here are a few tips on how to make it work for you:

1. Carve out and clean several white pumpkins and convert them into vases to be used in your decor and even as centerpieces. Fill with flowers, fruit, dried leaves from your lawn, hay or any other seasonal filler you can gather.

2. Design a rustic display of white pumpkins, leaves, flowers, wine bottles, wooden crates and other decorative pieces in the corners of your reception room or on various tables throughout the hall.

3. Recruit an artistic friend to carve out your bride and groom initials into your white pumpkins and turn them into bright jack-o-lanterns to showcase throughout your space.

4.  Use mini white pumpkins for favors and even carve slits into the top to convert them into place setting holders. They can also be used to display your menu on each guest table or identify various desserts on your sweet table.

5.  Have your chef or caterer create miniature white pumpkin pie tarts from locally grown white pumpkins…yummy!

Guest blogger, Katherine DalPra of Green Diva eco jewelry

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5 Ways to Use Heirloom Baubles in Your Bridal Accessories

I’m not going to lie, I am absolutely smitten with vintage brooches. They are a staple in my jewelry line and I’ve used them to craft other custom accessories for my brides as well. I adore the character and intricacy they add to any outfit or accessory and love the fact that I’m reducing consumption when I use them. Plus, it’s simply intriguing to think of the unknown history that comes with them…you just never know the untold story that lives in the spirit of an antique bauble, such as this.

Now that vintage-inspired weddings are all the rage, vintage brooches have become the ideal accent piece to glam up your bridal attire. If you are the proud owner of a special brooch handed down to you by mom or grandma, I’ve got a few ideas up my sleeve to help get your creative juices flowing on how to integrate it into your wedding day look. Or, if you’re not the crafty type…or afraid of what might happen if we put a glue gun in your hands…feel free to contact a designer you trust to take on the job for you. Once you have the idea, the rest is just logistics.

1. Feathered Hairpieces: Small, lightweight brooches and intricate crystal buttons can become the perfect focal point in a feathered bridal hairpiece, if done right. It’s a little tricky…especially if you’re not the best with patterns, planning, messy feathers and glue guns…so you might want to leave this to the experts. Still, if you can work with a designer, the end result is amazing! I just recently created a gorgeous custom feathered hair piece for one of my brides and polished it off with a stunning rhinestone brooch given to her by her late grandmother. It was by far one of the most beautiful hair pieces I’ve ever seen and, in my opinion, it was the brooch that made it all come together!

2. Clutches: If you’re looking for an easy way to glam up your clutch for the night, then shiny, sparkly buttons and brooches may be just the answer. If you’re using a soft, flexible clutch that is fabric-based, you can easily pin or sew onto your purse your favorite antique bauble and add an extra touch of personality to your handbag. Again, if you’re not the diy type, there are plenty of talented designers who would love to take on a custom project like this one!

3. Bridal Jewelry: Design your bridal jewelry around your vintage brooch. Whether it’s a bracelet or necklace, antique brooches make the most fabulous pendants and will give you that instant WOW look in your accessories. Trust me, with the right brooch, your bridal jewelry will not be overlooked. Here are a few limited edition designs in our current vintage collection to give you some ideas for how you can incorporate your brooch into the design.

4. Need a ring pillow? Select a collection of antique buttons which are somewhat similar in style and reflect the design of your wedding. Design a custom mini-pillow using reclaimed fabrics (which can also be an heirloom) and create a pin cushion pattern using your special buttons. Each indent throughout your pattern will feature a different sentimental button of your choosing and be a symbol of your personal history as well as your future.

5. Shoe Clips: Have a small pair of matching rhinestone clip-on earrings? If you’re sitting on a gorgeous set of brooch-like pave vintage clip-ons and aren’t sure what to do with them, just think below the ankle! Convert them into your own custom stiletto jewels by clipping them onto the front of your heels. This simple trick will turn a plain set of pumps from drab to glam in no time.

Guest Blogger, Katherine DalPra of Green Diva  vintage wedding jewelry

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Pamper Your Ladies with a Practical Eco Bridesmaid Gift

Although I’m partial to jewelry (naturally), it is certainly not the only fab gift you can give to your favorite girls. Going green means minimizing “stuff”…it means buying higher quality so you need less of it. And it  also means celebrating the experience of life, not just the “things” that come with it.

That’s why a fitting gift for your ladies is also a practical one. Since your girls are likely planning to get pampered and dolled up for your big day, why not cover the cost of one of their salon services? Instead of dropping $50-300 on bridesmaid jewelry, engraved jewelry boxes or other traditional gifts, treat them to a pedicure, manicure or massage a few days before the wedding.

You can even make it a girls night out and have the entire bridal party there to enjoy one last hurrah before you walk down the aisle, like one of my good friends in Tennessee is doing. It’s the perfect excuse to be with your ladies and is a really practical gift they can appreciate! It will save them the cost of a service they’d likely have done anyway and will also be a fond memory they will carry with them.

ECO TIP: If possible, try to find an eco salon near you that practices natural beauty using non-toxic, organic herbs, essential oils and elements that received a low rating on the Skin Deep Database.  Not only is this healthier and greener, it will prevent any of your special ladies from having an unwelcome breakout from toxic exposure right before your big day.

Guest blogger, Katherine DalPra of Green Diva eco bridal jewelry

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