Etsy - All Things Handmade

Ok, so you're probably asking yourself "What exactly is Etsy?"...well, I'm here to tell you all about this great website! Etsy is an online store where you can buy and sell all things that are handmade. Everything from holiday decor to items for your wedding...you name it, and chances are you'll probably find it on Etsy. If you haven't come across this great website already, then you're in for a real treat!

Photo above is courtesy of Etsy and is a personalized monogram isle runner - $60.00

Etsy Find :: Stylish Handmade Clutches

If you follow this blog, then you probably already know about my obsession with Etsy! Incase you are unfamiliar with the wonderful world of Etsy, it's an online store where you can buy and sell all things that are handmade. Definitely a must-see for any bride! Occasionally I will blog about my "Etsy Finds" - things that I stumble upon and absolutely have to share with our readers! Today I wanted to share these stylish handmade clutches from Davie and Chiyo. All of their clutches are handmade with only the finest fabrics from all over the world. I've shared a few of my favorite clutches {seen above} from their collection. Head on over to their Etsy store to see all of the wonderful clutches they have to choose from!

Photos courtesy of Davie & Chiyo.

Etsy Find :: Handmade Jewelry

Recently I took part in the Southern Weddings Christmas Ornament Swap, and was assigned to a lovely jewelry maker named Adrienne. Adrienne owns a handmade jewelry company called Destination Diva based out of Wilmington, DE. Adrienne's jewelry is original, unique, and best of all, handmade. When I looked through her collection I knew I wanted to feature her work on the blog. Her jewelry would make a great holiday gift for your bridesmaids. Adrienne has so graciously extended a special Holiday promotion to our readers. Head on over to her Etsy shop for 40% off (use coupon code: holiday40).

Below are some of Adrienne's favorites from her collection. 

For more information regarding Destination Diva check out all of their sites below:

Website :: http://destinationdiva.vpweb.com
Blog :: http://destinationdivajewelry.blogspot.com
Etsy Shop :: http://www.etsy.com/people/DestinationDiva

Happy Holidays!

Etsy Find :: Rustic Engraved Keepsake Chest

It's been awhile since I've done an 'Etsy Find' post, so I thought today would be fitting to post one of my favorite recent rustic finds (wow, say that 3x fast!). The shop responsible for this adorable keepsake chest is Bragging Bags. I have to say, this may be one of my favorite Etsy shops ever. If you're having a rustic/woodland themed wedding, then this is definitely a shop you won't want to miss - SO many fun engraved items available for purchase! Check out all of the details for the chest here, and then check out the rest of the personalized items here. 

Tip :: Use this keepsake chest as your card box, then display in your home as a decorative piece. 

Photo credit :: Morgan Hill Designs.

Etsy Find: Wedding Direction Signs

I've always been a huge fan of Etsy, but lately I think I have a small obsession with it! I absolutely adore these hand painted wedding direction signs for outdoor weddings. Not only are these signs cute + creative, but also very helpful when your guests are making their way through your venue. The seller, Funkifolkart also makes personalized direction signs that include bride + groom names along with wedding dates. Check out all of her items for sale, here.

Photo courtesy of Etsy :: Wedding Direction Sign :: $29.99

Etsy Find: Thank You Signs

So, I'm sure many of you have seen the popular "thank you signs" that couples pose with in a photo and then print on their thank you notes after the wedding. Well, last night one of my summer brides was asking me how she can get one of these for her wedding. We talked about making one, but then soon realized that it's probably way more trouble than it's worth. So, this afternoon I found this adorable thank you sign on Etsy for only $14.00. Not bad for a hand written calligraphy sign that is sure to put a smile on your guests' faces when they open up their thank you note!

Photo courtesy of Etsy :: 'Thank You' Calligraphy 14' x 18' Sign :: $14.00

Etsy Find :: Custom Illustrated Save the Dates

One of our 2012 brides recently sent this Etsy find to us, since she is considering using these for her save-the-dates. Umm, one word...ADORABLE! We won't say who sent this to us quite yet, since she hasn't even sent them out, but we just had to share this fun idea! I see a lot of different styles of save-the-dates, but these I have yet to see. I love that it's a custom drawing of the bride & groom AND you can even include your pet(s) for free!

Check out the Etsy listing for more details.

Etsy Find :: Floral Hair Pieces

Floral headbands are definitely a must-have accessory this spring and add the perfect touch of style for the vintage inspired wedding. I'm a firm believer in looking to the fashion industry for wedding inspiration if you want to stay ahead of what's next in the wedding industry {more on this topic later}. In the mean time, if you'd like to try out one of these stylish floral headbands, check out Pbb Flowers on Etsy. She offers a variety of floral hair pieces at extremely reasonable prices!

Photo courtesy of Pbb Flowers via Etsy.

Unique Guestbook Idea :: Wood Wedding Puzzle

Kudos to my awesome assistant, Meghan, for sending me this fun guestbook idea she found on Etsy. Meghan and I both share a love for unique wedding elements - we're suckers for anything fun and original! Since this puzzle obviously meets both of those criteria, I had to share. 

How does it work, you ask? First, display your puzzle face down (puzzle can either be assembled or disassembled - whichever you prefer). Your guests then sign the back of the puzzle pieces (each puzzle piece has space for a name and a short message). After the guest signs their puzzle piece, they flip over their piece and put it in place. After all of your guests have signed the puzzle pieces, you will have a completed puzzle that can serve as a wedding memento for years to come. Cute, huh? 

For more information regarding the puzzle, head on over to Etsy.

Etsy Find :: His & Her Names Rustic Wedding Sign

Another fab Etsy find today...his & her name signs! I'm still a big fan of the wooden directional signs we often see at outdoor weddings, but I really love this unique spin on them. Not having an outdoor wedding, but obsessed with these signs? This his & her name sign can be used anywhere - opt for a few park photos in between your ceremony and reception and you now have the perfect photo op with your sign!

For more details including purchasing information, click here. 

Wooden Doll Cake Toppers

Adorable, right?! This wooden doll cake topper is from our August 28th wedding of Marisa & Daniel. I love the modern twist of these toppers. These doll cake toppers are available on Etsy, and can be customized to match your exact personality and style (you can even include your pets!). 

To see all of the cake toppers that are available head on over to Etsy. 

Photo courtesy of Craig Photography. 

Moss Wedding Decor Inspiration

Several of our previous clients have incorporated moss into their wedding design, and I absolutely love it! Something about the rustic, natural look of it makes me think of growing up in the South. Moss is really quite simple, yet incredibly versatile. I never get tired of seeing those moss covered initials either. Seriously. I love them! Since moss is fairly easy to work with (and readily available), it's also the perfect ingredient for the DIY bride too. 

Tip :: Artificial and preserved moss can typically be found in most craft stores, but if you are looking to order it for a large DIY project, contact your florist to see if they can order it at a discounted bulk rate.

Photo credit # 1 :: The Wedding Chicks

Photo credit # 2 :: Spotted Leopard Etsy Shop

Photo credit # 3 :: Spotted Leopard Etsy Shop

Photo credit # 4 :: Wedding Dress Blog

Photo credit # 5 :: Elizabeth Anne Designs 

Etsy Find :: Knitted Cozies

This is totally unrelated to weddings, but these knitted cozies were just too cute to pass up this morning! Enjoying a delicious cup of coffee or hot chocolate with one of these cozies wrapped around a "to go" cup would be the perfect way to start a busy day! These cozies are also available for mugs. Head on over to Etsy to check out KnitStorm's entire shop of handmade cozies!

Hopefully everyone who was effected by the massive mid-Atlantic snow storm (aka Snowmageddon) over the weekend is staying safe, and warm!

Real Weddings 2010 :: Marisa & Daniel 08.28.10 {Part 2}

We're finally getting caught up on posting our 2010 weddings...can you tell we've been a little busy lately?! ;) Today we're bringing you Part 2 of Marisa & Daniel's eco-friendly chic wedding. For more on Marisa & Daniel's wedding, including Part 1 of their big day, click here, here, and here. 

Incase you couldn't already tell from their ceremony, Marisa & Daniel chose to incorporate small details throughout their day that made big impacts on their guests, and also made for some great photos. Many of their details were done D-I-Y, and for those that weren't D-I-Y projects, Marisa enlisted the help of the fabulous world of Etsy. Everything from the handmade window seating chart, burlap table runners, wooden flower boxes, and even the color palette were all carefully planned to create the complete look Marisa was going for. 

Marisa & Daniel's reception was held in the always beautiful Outdoor Garden of Phipps Conservatory. Upon arrival to Phipps, guests enjoyed cocktails and hors' devours in front of the fountain and mingled throughout the gorgeous garden area. Following cocktail hour, guests were escorted up to the outdoor tent area, where the reception was set to take place. They were greeted by a handwritten window pane seating chart, an interactive wedding tree guestbook, and the gorgeous table views shown above. Trust me when I tell you there were a lot of "ooh's" and "ahh's" by the ladies. The decor and overall ambiance were a big hit with their guests (and vendors)! Guests enjoyed a delicious gourmet meal thanks to the fabulous staff of Rania's Catering (one of my favorite caterers to work with in all of Pittsburgh). Following dinner, guests were treated to scrumptious cupcakes from Dozen Bakeshop. After a few toasts and scheduled dances, guests hit the dance floor with the help of Pittsburgh DJ Co., who kept the dance floor packed all night long! 

It was definitely a night to remember! Congratulations again, Marisa & Daniel! 

The Wedding Team

Wedding Planner Simply Perfect Weddings
Ceremony Venue Mellon Park
Reception Venue Phipps Conservatory
Photographer Craig Photography
Caterer Rania's Catering
Cupcakes Dozen Bakeshop
Florist Mocha Rose Floral Design
Entertainment Pittsburgh DJ Co.
Hair & Makeup Pretty Hair Salon 
Rentals All Occasions Party Rental
Transportation Lenzner Coach Lines

All photos courtesy of Craig Photography. 

I <3 these!

Since discovering the wonderful world of Etsy late last year, I have been addicted ever since! I frequently browse the site every few days and stumbled upon this lovely hot pink and black damask invitation set this afternoon. The invitation is designed by Social Circles Design, LLC and each set is priced at $5.25. For more information about what is included in each invitation set, click here.