multi-tasking table numbers.

I like to multi-task. Even when it comes to centerpieces. Every table at the wedding will have three centerpieces; the outer two being purple vases filled with green and white hydrangea, and one centerpiece in the center (umm redundant much?) comprised of a green wine bottle with a single purple dahlia. So every table needs a green wine bottle. What else does every table need? A table number, of course. So rather than creating more work for myself, I decided to multi-task and combine the two!

I think I've mentioned before that I'm rather thrifty (or "cheap" if you'd prefer) especially when it comes to things I'll never use again. Centerpieces fall into that category. For the middle centerpiece we wanted a certain type of green wine bottle that has a unique shape... and also happens to house one of our favorite wines! So instead of buying a bunch of wine just to get the bottles (although that may have been more fun), we asked a local restaurant that sells this type of wine if they would keep the empty bottles! We're picking up the final bottles this week. They've saved over 40 of them for us. And it cost us ZERO dollars. How's that for thrifty?

Now that we have our wine bottle centerpieces, I've been working on how to make the bottles function as table numbers as well. I looked to Miss Joey's post for inspiration and decided to use the same flourish pattern we've been using throughout the paper goods to liven them up a little. I put together a quick prototype to see what they would look like.

Not terrible, but definitely not perfect either. For the real thing I'll add white cardstock behind the number to make it easier to read, and I'll probably use words rather than actual numbers to make it look a little fancier.

As always, a question for the group... do you think the gold label on the upper portion of the bottle needs to be removed?

Has anyone else considered making their centerpieces do double duty?

balloons and ric-rac.

How cool is this idea for escort cards from Once Wed? They would be perfect for a modern wedding.


The pink ric-rac is such a sweet detail. I am amazed at some of the things people come up with to use for wedding decor. I think this same idea could be applied to centerpieces too. Such a simple (and cheap!) DIY project that would make a big impact!

thank you.

Thank you EAD for posting pictures of this gorgeous wedding, and letting me know that single dahlias and mums in vases can look elegant!
This arrangement is very pretty as well...maybe I can get Adam to make some wooden boxes. Really, any excuse to use a power tool is fine with him.
Photos by whitebox weddings via Elizabeth Anne Designs.

craspedia.

One alternative color scheme I considered for a long time was gray and yellow. It is just so modern and elegant. While looking for branches for our wishing tree tonight, I came upon this flower called the craspedia. While they don't look like your typical flower, I think they would be the perfect element to add to a simple and modern gray and yellow wedding.

Inspiration boards from only the best -- Snippet & Ink. Craspedia from Nettleton Hollow.

weekend recap part two.

Thankfully, Sunday was a much more successful day than Saturday. First, Adam and I went through our engagement pictures and decided on a picture to use for our engagement announcement. We worked on cropping the picture and filled out the paperwork so all we'd have to do was print the picture and put it in the mail. Next, I went to look for fabric to use to make our own ties for the groomsmen if all else fails. I didn't find any, but I did find the stuff for one other project I needed to work on. Sorry, that one is still a secret!

When I got home I realized that the flowers that Adam had bought me last week were getting to be at the end of their prime, so I took them out of the vase and made a mock-up of what my bouquet would look like. It turned out I didn't have enough of the mums (I'm pretty sure they are mums not dahlias) to make a bouquet big enough, but it gave me a general idea.

The flowers also look pretty in the purple vases we bought at the dollar store. We bought 100 of them! It's hard to tell from the picture but the vases are purple. I think we'll probably put green and white hydrangeas in these vases rather than the mums or dahlias.

For the taller centerpieces, we'll be using Mamertino wine bottles. I'm thinking we'll remove the labels, but I'm not sure yet. The flowers in this vase will probably be dahlias or mums. I didn't want to pull the leaves off the flower and ruin it, but we'd probably take them off for the final arrangements. It looks kind of weird with the leaves sticking out.Some of the wedding elements grouped together. They won't be arranged this way for the wedding but it helps show how the colors will work together.
After playing florist for a little while, it was time to make dinner. Since Adam won our bowling bet the night before, I had to make chili. He ended up helping with it which was nice and while we waited for it to simmer I worked on my "secret project" while Adam researched honeymoon possibilities. We ate dinner and then went to the gym. When I came home I did the last thing on my to do list for the weekend... made red velvet cupcakes! And let me tell you they were pretty delicious. Definitely on the list of possibilities for the wedding.

Sunday was a busy day but I felt a little less stressed out after getting so much accomplished! Yay for productive days!

All photos are my own.

an excuse to drink wine?

I saw these vases yesterday after finding a new blog (well new to me, at least) called VintageGlam.

Here are a few reasons why I like them:

1. They will work with simple flower arrangements (think 1-3 stems of one type of flower).

2. The green ones would go perfectly with our color scheme.

3. I can make them myself!

4. It's a way to recycle old wine bottles.

5. They are made out of wine bottles... a good excuse to drink more wine?

I happen to love wine. I also happen to have a favorite wine that comes in a olive green wine bottle. Coincidence? I think not.