Project Wedding Blog

I am excited about getting married, I really am … let me just say that first! I feel lucky and happy and all of that wonderful stuff. What I am struggling with (still) is the many opinions about the day, the night and how the event should be. I want the reception to be fun, like a big celebration without  mr. dj sort of orchestrating the night. I am not doing the bouquet toss … or the multiple mandatory dances. Well, maybe.

It seems some family members are not too thrilled about my free spiritedness about the event, and they are happy to let me know about it. My comeback these days? Simple: ”It’s MY wedding.” That is the point of this post. I have already conceded many different points ( and originally wanted a really small affair). So stick to your guns ladies and remember, it is YOUR day. Celebrate it the way YOU want to. Wear whatever you want to. Have the event wherever you please. Cheers!

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If you haven’t heard, we’ve got a great, green giveaway this week!  One Project Wedding reader will win 100 Herb Favor Boxes from Dream Green Weddings (a $350 value)!  These are fun, eco-friendly gifts for your guests, so head on over to enter…!

Photos by Lisa Warninger; see more here.

Tags: Dream Green Weddings Herb Favor Box Giveaway.

I came across the cutest engagement photos from Hello Studios..!  Cami and Eric love to bake together, so it was a perfect idea to capture them doing what they do best…sigh…

Tags: baking, engagement photos, Hello Studios.

Heather, also known on PW as GardenBride08, had a beautiful pink and green garden wedding that I absolutely love. Don’t the pictures just scream summer? It makes me think of laughter and light hearted fun.

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When Maryjane from Weddingbee sent over her very cute City Hall wedding pictures, I absolutely adored the sweet simplicity of their day and the thought that went into it…. and they only spent about $1000 start to finish! Scroll down to take a peek and read their story!

‘D. and I first met when we both started working in the same department in 2007. One reason we became such fast friends? We went to highschool in the same small Minnesota town! We had similar interests and simply clicked. A year after our meeting, we were dating. And a year after that, we were engaged!

After the engagement though, we hit a wall. D. and I are both rather private, introverted people, and the idea of a big wedding (in which all eyes would be upon us) was terrifying. We had a couple of
discussions in which we mulled over possible guest-lists, dates and locations, but we kept coming back to one sentiment: “I wish we could just go to city hall.”

D. is the oldest of his mother’s sons. I’m the only child. Moms are generally not OK with their first or only-borns running off and getting married without them. So we compromised. We decided we would go to city hall, but we’d bring our immediate family along with us.

I am an unstoppable planning machine, and I hit the ground running. I decided to stick with a budget under $1000. We were saving to buy a home, and we also wanted to take a fabulous honeymoon. Our clothing, paper products, and other materials were all either purchased on clearance sales, or online with several coupon codes. I was a bargain-hunting maniac during this time. Our cake was made by a family friend (and it was absolutely delicious). And other than that? We did not have a lot of other expenses. Since there were only seven guests at our wedding, we had a nice dinner in lieu of a traditional wedding reception. We had budgeted to pay for the dinner, but a family member offered to pick up the tab (and we graciously accepted).

We loved our wedding because it was so tailored to us. We did nearly everything ourselves, only hiring out for photography and our cake.  We spent an amount of money we were comfortable spending, and only did the things we were comfortable doing. The day was private, personal, memorable, brief and refreshing.

Our wedding may not be the matchy-matchy or shabby-chic wedding of Martha’s dreams.   But it was designed with a lot of thought, love, and care. It’s our wedding, and I loved it.  Most importantly, I hope it inspires future brides out there to realize that there can a happy medium between elopement and a
100+ person weekend-extravaganza.’

A special thanks to Maryjane for sharing about the day!  Photos by  Shawna Noel Photography .

Tags: $1000 wedding, city hall wedding, courthouse wedding.

Why is everything mini just so adorable? Mini pups, mini pies, mini cupcakes, the minicooper! Mini wedding cakes are creeping up everywhere, and I really love the idea of mini cakes as centerpieces … if you can swing it and are having a smaller type wedding! These yellow and white cakes, made with love by i am baker, are the best of all worlds! You can have a variety of flavor and styles.

Images: I am baker

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I am so in awe of event guru Ashley Meaders, who is all about unique and festive details as she creates lovely environments for weddings, events, etc.  I know you have seen her work … here are some of my favorite projects and ideas for you to be inspired by, including this adorable cake topper, amazing garland and lights decor, fabric flowers and one incredible fabric swing!

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As I sat last night putting together my wedding invites ( for 120!) I thought … what happened to my original idea of an intimate wedding? This wedding, shot exquisitely by Kate Headley, is just heavenly to me. I love that all the guests were at one table and it just all seems so peaceful. Plus - they included their dog in the pics, which always reels me right in! It all took place at the Inn at Perry Cabin in Maryland.

Images courtesy: Kate Headley

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If you haven’t seen the new Twigs & Honey collection yet…you must.  It is so, so lovely…

And if you haven’t seen the Twigs & Honey headpiece giveaway that we are running this week… don’t miss your chance to win one of Myra’s gorgeous creations!

So sweet. I want to be a girl that wears flowers in her hair….. : )

Tags: giveaway, headpiece, Twigs & Honey.

I just love the bright fun color palette mixed with the bride’s vintage attire. Now this looks like a really fun bride in a fun boisterous party.

Photographer Elizabeth Lloyd shared some details of the day…

This beautiful wedding of Monica and Chris was held on the beaches of Mexico. The fun details were all pieced together by the incredibly creative bride, Monica. The teal and red color combination, Mexican details, and DIY style complimented her gorgeous vintage attire in a very eclectic way!

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