First off, how beautiful is this!

Image courtsey of Country Living

I found this DIY project on Re-Nest last week and couldn't wait to share it with you!  This is so fun, easy and creative!  I mean first off, whose mother doesn't have about a hundred of these lying around somewhere....well, maybe that is just my mother but I swear doilies are fairly common.  If you and your mother don't have some then you can bet your grandma probably does! :)  Growing up in my house, the funny thing about doilies and lace was that we had so many of them (a drawer full mind you) and that is exactly where they sat... in the drawer.  Sure they came out for special occasions but it was few and far between. Well, had I known about this DIY project when I got married I would have put them to good use! 

I love the idea of draping it over a vase you already have.  It is so simple and yet so elegant. This would compliment the decor at any vintage wedding but I also love the idea of putting it on a table next to your guest book!  Another great way to incorporate this into your wedding decor is to use it as a centerpiece.  The doily is so intricate that you would actually want very simple and minimal flowers in order to showcase the piece.  This would probably save you a lot of money on centerpieces as a result!  If you are interested in this DIY project, head on over to Re-Nest for the full DIY tutorial here.

If you are trying to think of ways to be more green with your wedding using potted plants instead of cut flowers in your décor is a less expensive and more sustainable choice. However, many couples worry about the style aspect of potted plants, especially because they tend to come in terra cotta pots.  While terra cotta pots are not necessary that stylish by themselves, look at all the things you can do with them!  I love these ideas because they allow you to get more creative and showcase more of your style and personality.

 Tie ribbons around the terra cotta pot

Paint them to give them a vintage feel

Surround them in birch or decorate with twine and other plants

Paint them plainly and still look how goregous they are with the right plant

Images courtsey of Country Ribbon, Catherine Lyons, Mrs Jones Painted Finishes, Accent they Party, Wedding Bee, The Knot and Northern Hollow

Addressing your wedding invitations can be one of the most daunting tasks as a bride; especially if don't have the best handwriting like me! :)  It is obviously easiest to hire a calligrapher but unfortunately that doesn't always fall within the budget.  So save yourself some money and DIY!  I found "Calligraphy for Beginners" on Project Wedding today and it seems like the perfect solution.  One thing to note is that this will most likely require a lot of patience if you want to get it right.

According to this DIY tutorial you will need the following supplies (totaling $10)

1. Speedball Oblique Copperplate Pen Holder $1.89 each
2. Pointed Nib like Gillott 404 $.76 each
3. Calligraphy Ink or Goache-watered down $8
   
4. Practice Envelopes or paper

For the detailed tutorial read the article here.  Good luck and please share if you end up trying it out!

images courtsey of Project Wedding

Monica and I are currently planning a green wedding reception in Seattle with a strict budget.  We have been exploring various eco-friendly centerpiece and favor ideas and I just can't let go of the idea of using herbs! The groom comes from a large Italian family and they will be serving Italian food to all their guests. Herb and moss centerpieces seem like the perfect fit for this reception given their low cost and compliment to the Italian food.  These images have been inspiring me. What do you think? We would love to know your thoughts!

You can even have a living moss ring pillow!

Images courtsey of Hip Hostess, Intimate Wedding, Snippet and Ink, Harrison Events,

In the Now Weddings, Amelia Occasions, Wedding Number Three,

Main Wedding Photographer and Kaboodle

I came across this story yesterday and thought it was too good not to share with everyone.  Peter and Andrea, a Spokane couple are currently planning a modest, community centered wedding full of DIY decorations, potluck food, homebrew and assistance from family and friends with flowers and photography.  Their plan? To do their entire wedding for $4,000 by recycling 400,000 aluminum cans and saving approximately 50 tons of CO2!

I LOVE THIS!

What an amazing way to "save the environment and throw a killer party at the same time" as they state on their own website.  They will be collecting the cans themselves and are also accepting "can donations" which you can learn more about here. They started their website on December 7, 2009 and have already attracted tons of press from all over the country. I can't wait to watch this story unfold and Emerald Weddings will definitely be making a "can donation" to assist them with their cause!

Peter and Andrea and their cans