Etsy – Alternative bouquets
At your wedding, your flowers can be a spark of colour amongst a sea of white, the excentuating element of your own personal style or that subtle elegant item that is perfectly understated. The amount of flowers present varies from one wedding to another, however I have not yet been to a wedding where there was not a bouquet of some sort.
Some people are just not into flowers though, so if you are looking for something out of the ordinary for your wedding I am sure you know now that Etsy is a great place to look.
The bower bird style bouquet from The Ritzy Rose with its collection of brooches is an instant family heirloom. It is destined to be put away in a special place and brought out on those rainy days for some time to reminisce.
Beautiful ranunculus handcrafted in paper can be made to suit the colour pallet of your wedding by Sunny and Stumpy and for those on a tight budget, some skill and time to dedicate to the cause, Sunny and Stumpy also have the template listed on their store.
Dusty pinks fabrics and lovely laces are a romantic combination in the modern/vintage style of Cultivar. and another bouquet with a gorgeous balance of modern and vintage can be found in the store of Metallic Bloom, with handmade flowers that are embellished with pearls, vintage jewelry, brooches, beads and crystals.
Natural emu feathers, vintage buttons and fabric magnolias in this piece by Designs of White Willow has a beautiful balance of colours and although it is quite striking, it is by no means overpowering.
The whimsical touch of pinwheels from Rule 42 is so appealing and perfect for the couple looking for that bit of eccentricity to stand out on their day. They also have oversized pinwheels for the bridesmaids and tiny pinwheels for the boys boutonneire, they have thought of everything.
Felt flowers together with a collection of buttons, brooches and chunky stitches gives the bouquet by Miss Jennifer Rae a completely tactile feel.
Photographs from the respective etsy stores
Etsy – Cufflinks
Looking back on my wedding photos I realised the importance of nice cufflinks. While at the time we were quite fussy about the cufflinks we chose I was not fully aware of the ramifications if we had not been able to get what we wanted. You see while they might seem to be a minor detail in the scheme of things, in the end they can be quite apparent in your photographs, which for a lot of people (including myself) are a very big part of the day. You can see Daragh’s cufflink quite clearly in this pic posted as one of my Photo Fridays a few weeks ago.
For this reason my advice is to have something quite simple and while it might seem like a harmless place for future hubby to be a bit wacky, I just don’t think this is the place for little lego men or Star Wars memorabilia. So on one of my regular Etsy searches I came across a lovely range which I offer as my suggestions. Most of these have a silver or brushed metal finish, similar to the ones we had for our wedding but I also think simple wood like the ones from bcrdesigns or subtle colour in the maps from Juanitas would also look lovely.
If it suits your guys personality the steampunk style of the upcycled timepiece cufflinks have a great texture to them, like the ones I have included by Inspired by Elizabeth.
When looking for something on Etsy you can find some lovely one-off items which is great, but can be a pain when searching for a number of the same item for everyone in your bridal party. Just remember Etsy is full of great people who love what they do and want to help you. Most of them are more than willing to make more for you and will do good deals on multiple orders, you just have to ask (and allow enough time).
Wood textured cufflinks by Block Party Press
Carpet of Leaves by Redbike,
Lovely map cufflinks from Jaunitas might represent your history.
Timber cufflinks by brcdesigns would be a contrast to a white shirt but still have an elegant simplicity.
Royal Countess offers personalised your cufflinks with your initials
Steampunk cufflinks by Inspired by Elizabeth
Twigs and Honey
A little while ago I did a post on beautiful bridal hair peices and was drawn in by the lovely creations of Twigs and Honey. Just recently they have come out with a new collection for 2012 and I thought I better share it with you.
This collection has been designed over the past year with love and dedication to each piece. Romance, femininity and charm are themes they focus on at Twigs and Honey and it really comes out in their designs. Their pieces are devine and their new packaging is lovely, I love beautiful packaging.
Images by http://www.twigsandhoney.com/
Moment Junkie
Today Design Mom introduced me to Moment Junkie. A gorgeous blog that collects and shares the best in contemporary wedding photojournalism. The photos are stunning, the subjects are beautiful and the stories are moving. Perusing through the site I was reminded how much I love photography, how much I love weddings and what a privilege it is to be part of someones wedding day in what ever capacity that is.
Bringing you gorgeous photos and beautiful stories daily, Moment Junkie is a nice little pick me up for those days when you forget the world is full of lovely moments and it has that power to remind you of your own.
Image from http://www.momentjunkie.com
Etsy: Cake Toppers
Another little Etsy search has come up with another stellar list of wedding items, this time it is cake toppers. I think everyone can take some inspiration here, cake toppers don’t need to be reserved purely for weddings, they can be used for any occasion and are lovely keepsakes of the day.
Gone are the days of the stuffy old couples sitting on the top of a four tier cake, your cake is now another way to express your personalities. Here we have the whimsical style of Potter and Butler, Shabby Chic little birds from Gift worldz, the beautiful hand sculpted bride and groom tailored for you from Red Light Studio and although it was a close call, my favourite, the very funky Mahogony typography by Better off Wed.
Images from the respective sellers stores in Ebay
Etsy: bridal hair pieces
After my last little Etsy post about wedding ring boxes - If you like it you should put a ring in it (corny I know, but I couldn’t help myself) I decided to make it a bit of a regular thing. I love searching through the wonders of Etsy and want to share my finds with the world.
Spoilt for choice, it was so much fun perusing Etsy for bridal hair pieces. These are the most beautiful hair pieces I have seen, I am so impressed with the quality, creativity and craftsmanship that has gone into these items. If you are searching for that perfect accessory then I think this is the best place to start, just be careful you don’t get lost.
This is a versatile veil from Fascinating Creations, which can be in different ways to suit your style, but I like it just as it is here.
This is a beautiful piece if you want something other than the traditional white or cream. With some lovely colours, Olive Farm have some items which could go beautifully with in your bridesmaids dresses or that outfit for the races… hmm so many possibilities.
Maybe an elegant vintage item, from Star Foreman, is the one you seek? The vintage section is a lovely place to look around and with often have you considering things you mightn’t have otherwise thought of.
I have saved flapper style headband by Twigs and Honey ’til last. I had trouble picking just one of their items to share with you, so I strongly suggest you have a look at their store. Not only do they make absolutely gorgeous hair pieces, their photography is stunning. I think they are a bit of an inspiration when it comes to Etsy stores.
Wet days and Wellies
In true Melbourne form, just after I write a blog about our spring sunshine, the weather has turned again and given a huge downpour this afternoon. After going for a brief walk with Ava in the sling, both of us wrapped up in our coats and an umbrella over our heads I thought of my love of gumboots (aka wellies) or should I say my desire to have some myself. Walking down my street that had become a river and splashing down my driveway had left me dreched from my calves down – my cons really give me no protection against the wet.
A quick search around the internet retrieved a plethora of result. Spots, stripes, metallics, patterns and plains the choices go on and on but I have managed to get it down to a respectible shortlist.
Of course there are the lovely ones from Ness with their tweed and rubber combo (you know how I love Ness).
Sweet patterned boots from pipduck
And some stylish spots by sherwood Forest from the Welly Warehouse
I even came across some wedding wellies which I am kind of impressed with, they make a lot of sense if you want your photo shoot in the fields on a soggy day and could be quite funky as a feature in your photos too.
If you like it then you should put a ring in it
Sadly when I got married in 2007 I hadn’t really discovered the wonders of Etsy. I really wish I had, it is full of so many beautiful items and opens your eyes to craftsmen worldwide, unique ideas and a range to suit any budget.
One of the little problems it would have solved for me was the issue of the ring box. Personally I am not a fan of ring bearer’s cushions, so I went searching for a lovely, affordable alternative. I wanted a timber box with space for 2 rings and the only ones a came across cost more than I could justify spending. We ended up using a simple box I had recieved from a jeweller making a space for the second ring ourselves. Since browsing through Etsy I have come across some gorgeous alternatives to the old satin, lacey cushion.
This is one I think is lovely but if you like it you better be quick, the seller has sold their business and has just a few left.
The Wedding Folder
I am quite a sentimental person and a hoarder to boot, so when it comes to looking back at my wedding in 2007 I have a lot of things to jog my memory. Of course there are the photos, the video and the dress but with the planning being so extensive and a huge part of my life for 10 or so months, I really enjoy looking back over my planning folder. It is a big folder that I bought from Kikki-k, it has everything in it, I carted it everywhere during that time and slowly added all the details leading up to the big day. I think one of these folders would make a great engagement present for a friend and today it got me thinking of engagement presents in general and how hard it can be to come up with ideas.
I have learnt over the years to keep a list of presents we receive for any event, it is a nice thing to look back on and can give you ideas when you need to get something for someone for a similar event.
A couple of the things that don’t need to be written down for me to remember are my mixing bowls that I received from an old work colleague and the kitchen scales I bought with a voucher we were given from my Uncle and Aunty. I think of the people who gave them to me whenever I am baking.
