Project Wedding Blog

This little DIY favor project is so bright + fun!Why not give your guests colorful fortune cookies, with an auspicious reading inside?

Learn how to make them {here}.

Photographs and Project Styling by Victoria Hudgins.

Tags: bright, colorful, DIY, fortune cookie favors.

By: Jordan Ferney

Wooden utensils are a pretty detail when you need disposable flatware. They have a look that is a little more substantial than plastic. In this easy project we added a fun detail by drilling a small hole at the end of the utensil and adding a ribbon flag. This would be perfect for a shower or even for a casual wedding or dessert bar. It is a very easy project, we did the whole thing in about 25 minutes.

Materials Needed: Power Drill, Wooden Flatware, Ribbon

Holding a stack of wooden flatware tightly together, drill a hole at the end.
Tie short ribbons on the ends to make them a little more festive.

Voilá!

Happy DIY Wednesday

♥

Photos & Project Styling by Jordan Ferney

Tags: dessert table, disposable flatware, DIY, festive, ice cream table, ribbons, wooden flatware.

Today, a little handmade prettiness from the heartland.

Josh and Heather married in Oakland, Iowa this past October.  It’s not often that we feature weddings from Iowa… Not for any reason of course, we just don’t hear much from the Iowan folks… so it’s such a treat to have come across this gem of a wedding, photographed by our friends Jonny and Michelle of Paper Antler.

The bride is an artist and she created nearly all of the cute little details and things shown below!  She-so kindly- sent over all of her DIY instructions too, so that you can see how she pieced everything together!

DIY Whimsical Signs
Supplies: Old wood (both flat & in stick form), paint, wood glue.
Paint a white background almost to edges on flat wood. When dry, add letters (J + H) or words
(Wedding with an arrow or Just Married or Mr. & Mrs.) using a bright color (I used teal). Glue stick to
sign with wood glue and allow it to dry. Dig hole and secure in ground or nail signs to trees.

DIY Invitations
Supplies: Card stock, bird punch, edge punch, silver thread, computer, RSVP template, glue stick.
Print invitation information on card stock for RSVP cards and wedding invites. Punch edges to give them a classy, professional look (I used Martha Steward brand for edges and the birds). Punch out 2 birds on
invites. Wrap thread around top of invites. Add a fun scrapbook paper under the bird cutout using a glue stick. I made postal stamps using my artwork (bird-themed) at Zazzle.com- easy and affordable.

DIY Happy Tears Table
Supplies: Old table, old picture frame, paper, hankies, sweet little bin, spray paint.
Find an old table, sand it down and spray paint it a color you like (I used robin’s egg blue). Make a sign
that says, “Happy Tears, Please Take One” and frame it. Arranged old and new hankies in a bin you
enjoy and place on table for guests to use during the ceremony.

DIY Treats Table
Supplies: Old-fashioned or favorite candies and treats, vintage bowls, decorative take-away bags, cloth.
Collect candy and treats (I made white/dark chocolate covered apples) and arrange them neatly in vintage, decorative dishes. Cover table with a vibrant cloth. Have guests take away candy using fun bags. If you
desire, make a fun sign to hang above table (mine said, ‘sweets’  and I used leftover paper and glue).

How lucky we are to get a peek into this DIY maven’s planning process.. Thanks, Heather!

All the best to You and Josh!

Photographs by Paper Antler Photography

Ceremony & Reception Site: Big Grove Country Inn

Paper Goods & Décor by the bride- Heather McDonald- of Wildflowers & Grace

See her etsy shop too!

From the Bride: Riding home on the airplane from San Juan, Puerto Rico, I was elated after accepting Josh’s sweet proposal to me in a garita at Castillo de San Cristóbal, a fortress built by the Spanish in 1783. We opened up my journal that I take everywhere and penned our autumn, vintage-themed wedding, “Elegantly Antique.”

We excitedly planned October 8th, 2011 and hoped this wedding would be enchanting- boy was it ever! We wanted to showcase who we are as people while making everyone who would attend feel relaxed and at home.  Joshua is a brilliant writer and I am an artist who finds creating to be my therapy, so much so that I am studying to be an art therapist; we had ideas aplenty. We put our love-struck minds together and let our creative energies flow in hopes of making the vision of our dream wedding a reality. We scoured many antique shops in Wisconsin, where I am from and in Nebraska, where Josh is from, collecting trinkets and unique finds until we ran out of space to store them. I was busy designing wedding invitations, wedding programs and much of the décor that would grace the wedding site.

We stumbled upon an adorably perfect, four acre, rustic Iowan wedding site which included a Bed and Breakfast, a 100 year old chapel, a one-room school, a quaint reception hall, horseshoes and a merry-go-round, and an outdoor patio with a fire pit and scenic cornfields as far as these excited eyes could see.

Being a lover of nature, I found myself drawn to white birch trees, whimsical birds and various shades of goldenrod and aqua. I envisioned a palate of these colors on my bridesmaids and groomsmen as they stood in the charming country chapel.

Josh’s sister was busy making yellow antique rosettes for my maids’ hair and one for me made out of a blue antique flower pin and fabric from Josh’s grandmother’s wedding dress. We gathered old-fashioned candy for our loved ones to nibble on and mason jars to make hanging lanterns out of. The summer flew by as we made paper and pom-pom garland. I printed beautiful framed 4”x6” prints of my artwork to hang from twine with clothespins that would be parting gifts for our guests- to take a small piece of us with them when they went.

The wedding plans started to come together and finally the day arrived. Everything was lovely and even the weather decided to cooperate. My favorite part of the day was the beauty of love bringing all this together, that and, after the ceremony, a vibrant rainbow appeared in the sky over the Iowa corn and we ran out in the misting rain to capture shots of the glorious moment.

Tags: autumn, country, DIY, fall, gold, Iowa, teal, vintage.

By: Victoria Hudgins

These leather key chains are easy to make, affordable and fun! We recommend creating heart shapes for the ladies, while stylish leather tabs will have the guys loving this simple thank you gift.

One. To create the leather key chains you will need to find scrap leather to work with. Craft stores sell scrap leather very cheap (plan to pay about $2 for 3-4 strips of it), or perhaps you could find an out-of- date leather jacket to cut apart?!

Two. Use an exacto knife to design the leather. Give medium pressure to it to create indentions in the leather, like the heart on our tab. This is a nice way to mark the key chains with a heart, monogram or the date. Three. Use a pair of good fabric scissors to cut out your keychains. Hearts for the gals and a simple tab design for the guys is a great combo. You can use a template or just freehand it for an organic look.
Four. Attach the leather pieces to key chain rings (another craft store staple). You can bend the tabs right over and glue into place using hot glue or fabric glue. For the hearts, a small strip of velvet ribbon adds a burst of color.

Make simple tags for the key chains by printing out our merry thank you version, or handwriting your own. Punch a small hole at the top and thread a string to attach your key chain rings.

Project concept and photography by Victoria Hudgins

Tags: DIY, leather keychain favors.

By: Victoria Hudgins

When painted pretty, a humble wooden ball craft supply becomes a show stopper ready to brighten up any reception! Here’s how to make this simple, crafty cake stand.

Materials needed: Wooden balls available at any local craft store (we used 2 inch balls), acrylic paint colors, foam brushes (one per color), wood glue, glass plates.

Step One: Paint each of balls with wood craft paint. Be sure to wear gloves- it’ll get messy!

Step Two: Allow balls to dry overnight and give yourself an extra day to touch up the side that each ball rested on.

Step Three: Combine the balls in formations of your choosing to showcase your desserts. Once you have your formations, use wood glue to adhere. Let dry according to glue directions. We combined five as a base for each cake stand, the second layer had four and the top layer had three. Vary your heights and colors for an appealing display.

Step Four: Top each stand with a glass plate and your dessert! Since our cakes were monochromatic the brightly colored balls looked splendid. If your desserts will be of varied in color, you could easily substitute for a more neutral paint palette.

Step Five: As your desserts are enjoyed, more of the color will show through the plates and the sweet table will look even more whimsical and fun as the night wears on.

Photos and Project Styling by Victoria Hudgins

Tags: cake stand, colorful, DIY.

By: Chelsea Fuss

Orangeries were small greenhouses filled with fruit trees and plants in the 17th century. Can you imagine having a lush table filled with fruit and greens for a winter wedding? Think beyond red and green for Christmas and display these festive centerpieces at your December wedding. The idea would look beautiful for a January wedding too. You could even add some paperwhites and tiny votive candles!

You’ll Need:

Bunches of greens (each table will take about 1/4 of a bunch). The best greens for this are: boxwood, oregonia, myrtle, pittosporum and bay.

A few pounds of oranges or tangerines (preferably with the leaves still on them)

White pitchers, bowls and vases

1 Myrtle topiary in a terra cotta pot

To Re-create this centerpiece:

1. Collect 4-5 white bowls, pitchers and vases per table.

2. Fill with water and casually arrange stems of greens in them.

3. Display in the center of your table with a small myrtle topiary planted in a terra cotta pot.

4. Place a few of the oranges or tangerines directly on the table.

5. Add candles or white flowers for a more formal wedding!

Afterwards, send your guests home with the fruit, greens and plants.

Photos and Project Styling by Chelsea Fuss.

Tags: centerpiece, chelsea fuss, citrus, DIY, orange, orangerie, tabletop.

Dani and John have a love for the great outdoors…

their wedding was centered around mountain fun and the natural beauty of Park City, Utah.

Here is their story in photos by Gideon Photography

(love that b&w shot… so sexy, don’t you think?!)

The tall pines of Deer Valley Ski Resort provided the backdrop for the outdoor ceremony.  Dani and her bridesmaids carried a palette of wildflowers.  The picturesque ceremony was followed by dinner, drinks and dancing across the lawn at the Empire Canyon Lodge.  Natural, wild florals, mixed with vibrant shades of blue and pink decorated the lively evening. 

For the honeymoon, this adventurous couple headed out to Idaho and Wyoming for a whitewater rafting trip down the snake river… what fun!  Congratulations Dani and John!

Photos by Gideon Photography

Invitations by Sami Rose and Rachel Deitsch

Bridal Gown by Nicole Miller

Bride’s Hair by David Colvin

Bridesmaid’s Dresses by Urban Outfitters

Ceremony & Reception at Deer Valley Resort

Flowers by Branches Floral

DJ: High Mountain Music

Photobooth by Shutterbooth

Cake by Martin’s Fine Desserts

Jeweler: Lulu Frost

Videography by Kale Fitch Productions

Tags: DIY, fall, jimmy gideon, mountain wedding, rustic, wildflowers.

By: Chelsea Fuss

Here’s a blast of color to brighten your fall day! Consider making your own bridesmaid bouquets with the help of friends and family! Here’s our floral recipe and DIY instructions, including those to make a clever waterproof travel pack so the bouquets can stay fresh.

Materials:                                                                   Flower Recipe:
scissors                                                                      10 Stems of Variegated Greens like Boxwood or Myrtle
clippers                                                                       5 Stems of lilac or other filler (butterfly bush or privet)
ribbon                                                                         5 Stems of sweet pea
twine                                                                           5 Stems of anemone (roses, daisies or mums work too)
vase                                                                            5 Stems of ranunculus
water
buckets
freezer paper or heavy duty celophane

How to Make a Travel Pack:
1. Cut a square of freezer paper or heavy duty cellophone, about twice as big as your bouquet.
2. We scalloped the edges with a scalloped edge ruler and an X-acto knife but this is optional.
3. Place your bouquet pointed toward a corner of the wrapping.
4. Gather the edges around the center of the bouquet and tie with string. (It may be helpful to have another person here).
5. Hold the wrapped bouquet upright underneath a faucet and let the water run into the bottom of the package.
6. It is helpful to have a bag or box to transport the wrapped bouquet in.

If you’ve found your inner florist, and you’re itching for more, check out these other bouquet tutorials!

Farmer’s Market Bouquet

Fall Wildflower & Herb

Garden Rose

Pretty Lilacs

Tulips

Photos and Project Styling by Chelsea Fuss

Tags: bridesmaid bouquet, bright, chelsea fuss, DIY, lilac, ranunculus, waterproof bouquet travel pack.

By: Victoria Hudgins

Custom favors can be pricey, but just a few pieces of candy are suddenly a little treasure in these handmade favor bags. Made from hardened fabric, they keep their pretty form no matter what the shape of the gift inside. Materials needed: fabric in an 8 inch square for each bag, 2 inch balloons, liquid fabric stiffener, coordinating thread and something special to fill the bags with.Step One: Cut the fabric to size, blow up the balloons (one per bag) and tie a string around the end of each balloon.Step Two: Dredge the fabric length completely in the fabric stiffener, be sure the entire piece is covered.Step Three: Cover the balloon and hang to dry overnight.Step Four: Once the fabric is completely dry, between 24-48 hours, gently pop the balloon underneath and remove it from the hardened mold. Trim any fabric edges that go beyond the top of the bag shape.Step Five: Stuff each bag with candy or small favors and include a note of thanks. Tie the bags with a coordinating thread!

Photos and Styling by Victoria Hudgins

xoxo

Tags: DIY, Striped favor bags.

By: Victoria Hudgins

Looking for a way to finish off your favors? Make these easy paper favor ties, which give a custom touch to the package. They can be designed in any color and any length you need. Add them to a clear cookie bag or a sturdy paper bag to carry your wedding style right on through to your favors. Since you are working with paper you have the added benefit of being able to stamp or write a ‘thank you’ directly on to the ties.

Materials: Scrapbook paper in the colors of your choice (each piece will make about 6 completed ties), skinny floral wire, and hot glue.

Step One: Using a paper cutter (or a very steady hand), cut the paper into strips. You will need two matching strips for every tie.
Step Two: Cut the floral wire to appx. 1 inch shorter then the size of your paper strips.
Step Three: Run a thin line of hot glue down the inside of a strip and quickly place the floral wire straight onto it. Cover with the matching piece.
Step Four: Trim the ends of the paper as needed and tie around each bag to close off.

Project styling and photography by Victoria Hudgins

Tags: DIY, favor packaging.