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.

Rethinking Reception Entertainment

Who says your only wedding reception entertainment has to be a DJ/Band and perhaps a photobooth thrown in?! That's right, no one! When thinking of ways to entertain your wedding guests, try thinking out of the box for a change. Do you and your fiance live for nights by the fire? Do you love spending countless summer afternoons playing lawn games? Don't worry if you haven't seen it in a wedding magazine or on a wedding blog, just do what feels right to YOU. Here are a few fun ways you can entertain your guests...outdoors, of course! :) 

Firepit/Camp fire.

Lawn Games - Bean Bag Toss (Cornhole) & Croquet.

Lawn Games - Horseshoes. 

Photo credit # 1 :: Marianne Wilson Photography. 

Photo credit # 2 :: Green Wedding Shoes.  
Photo credit # 3 :: Prepare to Wed.

DIY Churro Bar

One word. Awesome. I seriously cannot even describe how much I love this idea for a wedding. I grew up eating churros. They were literally a staple in my diet as a child. When I think of churros, visions of trips to Disneyland dance in my head. Oh, and incase you were wondering, Disneyland has the best churros ever. Hands down. At least that's what my 5 year old self tells me. When I stumbled upon this DIY Churro Bar, I raced over to the blog so I could post this. 

In a nutshell, here's how it was done: 

1. First, purchase pre-formed (uncooked) churros in bulk. A good place to check out is Costco.
2. Second, set up a toaster oven with directions on how to cook. Two minutes is ideal.

3. Next, set up a roll station with ideal "rolling" ingredients - things like cinnamon sugar, oreo's, nutmeg, etc... Cinnamon sugar is a must-have.

4. Finally, set up a dipping station with various toppings - things like chocolate sauce, caramel, and even ice cream. 

5. Oh, and don't forget direction cards too. You'll need to clue guests in on how to make their churros. Set everything up on a long banquet table, and you're good to go! 

Enjoy! 

Photos courtesy of Carly Taylor via A Subtle Revelry.

Suspended Wedding Decor

One of my favorite trends in the wedding industry right now is suspended decor. I absolutely cannot get enough of it! You can hang virtually anything to match the look and feel of your wedding style. My favorite look right now is hanging decor from trees (more on that later), which works great for outdoor events. Whatever route you decide to go, proper planning is key. Be sure to discuss your wishes for hanging decor well in advance with your venue(s), and decide when these items will be hung. I recommend a test run prior to the wedding day, in order to iron out any kinks that may occur. Remember, hanging decor is not the easiest task in the world, but if you plan ahead of time, you can save yourself a great deal of time and stress in the long run.

Below are a few ideas that I hope inspire you...happy planning! 

Flower bottles.

Hanging frames. 

Chandeliers from trees. Swoon!

Vintage bird cages.

Mason jars. Oh, how I love thee!

Ribbon streamers.

Paper lanterns. 

Photo credit # 1 :: Eat Drink Chic

Photo credit # 2 :: Ruffled Blog   

Photo credit # 3 :: Everything is Better in Heels  
Photo credit # 4 :: Ruffled Blog 
Photo credit # 5 :: Green Wedding Shoes 
Photo credit # 6 :: Chiq Weddings
Photo credit # 7 ::  Wedding Bee

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 

Vintage Book Table Numbers

I'm a sucker for pretty little details, and let's face it, these vintage book table numbers are quite charming. I think they add such an element of interest to the tables that guests are sure to love! After all, it's all in the details, right?

Photo credit # 1 :: The Found Blog

Photo credit # 2 :: 100 Layer Cake
Photo credit # 3 :: Amanda Rae Blog
Photo credit # 4 :: Next Exit Photography via Every Last Detail

Displaying Your Family Photos

Many of our brides & grooms come to us for creative ideas when it comes to displaying old family photos. Often times our clients want to display childhood or parent/grandparent wedding photos, but are looking for a creative way of doing so. We hope these unique ideas inspire you!

Clothespin line. One of my favorites :)

More clothespin line inspiration. 

Mason jar/flower vase. 

Hanging frames from ribbons. 

Photo wall display.

How are you planning to display your old family/childhood photos? We'd love to hear your ideas!

Photo credit # 1 :: Style Me Pretty 
Photo credit # 2 :: Unknown

Photo credit # 3 :: Style Me Pretty 

Photo credit # 4 :: Yasmin Khajavi Photography

Photo credit # 5 :: Bustled Blog 

Skeleton Key Wedding Inspiration

Sometimes, the most simplest of things can make for such interesting displays. Enter...the skeleton key. Little known fact: I am obsessed with skeleton keys. I've had my eye on a Tiffany skeleton key necklace for quite some time now. Hint, hint dear husband of mine ;) Anyways, the skeleton key made a quick appearance on the blog with this creative save-the-date last February, but today I wanted to share some other unique ways you can incorporate the skeleton key into your wedding. I'm sure many of you have seen the skeleton key escort card display (pictured above), but did you know you can also use them in your bouquet, guestbook, and even have skeleton key inspired stationery created? Are you incorporating the skeleton key into your wedding? If so, we want to hear all about it!  

Photo credit #1 :: Kate Headley via Ritzy Bee
Photo credit # 2 :: Diana Marie Photography via Elizabeth Anne Designs  
Photo credit # 3 :: A Gray Blog 
Photo credit # 4 :: Larissa Cleveland via Style Me Pretty  
Photo credit # 5 :: Gabriel Harber Photography via Inspired Bride

Sunday Brunch Weddings

I absolutely LOVE weddings that are held on "off" days and times. Something about switching it up from the typical Friday or Saturday evening excites me. Not only are "off" days/times extremely cost-effective, but you also have more opportunities to set your wedding apart from the rest. Think: Sunday Brunch! Then, think about all of the amazing delicious treats you could serve your guests...pancakes, anyone?! Sunday brunch weddings are becoming a bit more popular than they were in recent years, but they are still not considered mainstream by any means. I've seen Sunday brunch weddings out West and down South, but haven't seen many up here in the Pittsburgh area. I'm just dying to have a couple interested in a Sunday brunch wedding come my way! Any takers?! :) 

More on Sunday brunch weddings coming later this week!

Photo credit # 1 :: One Stylish Bride

Photo credit # 2 :: One Stylish Bride  

Photo credit # 3 :: Green Wedding Shoes  

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.

Tin Can Flower Vases

I'm really loving the tin can look right now. Super fun and never boring, this look is perfect for the bride looking for a fun eco-friendly DIY project. If you like this look but it doesn't quite fit the theme of your wedding, then give these a try for your bridal shower or next dinner party! Bonus points for recycling too! ; ) 

Photo credit # 1 :: Flourish Studio Photography via Ruffled Blog

Photo credit # 2 :: Style Me Pretty via Re-nest.com 

Photo credit # 3 ::  Bleubird Vintage Blog