wedding — pleasure in simple things

Tag: wedding

botanical wedding details

July

For a botanical themed wedding held in the woods by a lake, I had a blast coming up with some fun little details to carry the vibe! Here are a few you may want to incorporate into your own event!

Beautiful paper products are always a must for any event I plan, and this wedding was no exception! I think a “hashtag card” should be a standard these days with social media having such a strong presence at a wedding. Creating something similar to a business card, but using the couple’s hashtag is a beautiful way to spread the word!

For this wedding, I created two different cards using illustrations on the front and the hashtag on the back. A fashion illustrator created two different designs for me at a very reasonable price. (You can use her too, by emailing inquiries to AlexaMackDesigns@gmail.com). One depicted the couple from behind and the other was an illustration of the gazebo where the couple was married. I used them to create square, heavyweight cards with rounded corners that I ordered online using Moo.

Another great paper product for a wedding is the recipe for the couple’s signature drink. In this case, the recipe cards were added to the couple’s hotel welcome boxes (Kraft paper boxes were used in place of bags) as well as provided at the bar (near the birch bark straws). This idea can also be incorporated into thank you cards if the drink proves a big hit at the wedding!

Personalized napkins are not new for weddings, but including ‘factoids’ about the couple is so much more personal than just printing them with initials. I created 6 different designs that included how the couple met and other interesting personal stories about them. These are simple to create online on Wedding Paper Divas. (I waited for a big sale and personalized to my liking.)

Doing away with a typical centerpiece by a florist opens up a whole new way of thinking for bridal tables! Why not create your own! Using a beautiful potted planting or designing a terrarium is fun to create and adds a personal touch to a celebration.

For this event, I got together with a few special friends (who happen to have huge green thumbs!) to build my terrarium vision…perfect for a botanical theme! The table numbers were written on rocks inside the terrariums and fairy lights were also added. Lanterns I purchased from HomeGoods were used for the vessels and plants were purchased from local nurseries, as well as Trader Joe’s. Event planners, take note: If you need reasonably priced plants for centerpieces, think of your local Trader Joe’s as a source…the flower department at the store could not be more helpful when ordering in bulk, and the pricing can’t be beat!

Plenty of moss, rocks, and organic materials added to the botanical vibe at the venue. Rocks ordered at Home Depot were used as escort cards. Table numbers were written on the underside of the rocks so the guests could reuse the beautifully lettered rocks as paperweights or decorative objects after the wedding. (If you want someone to do lettering for you, check out Sam Epstein Design on Etsy!) Fresh plantings in pretty containers joined the table arrangement of ‘escort rocks’ as well as tiny fairy lights, pretty votives (Jamali Garden), and a lighted moss wreath on a beautiful gray silk ribbon (Silk & Willow). A lantern was used for gifts of cards.

The favors. arranged on the salad plates. were small tin camp cups filled with gray-toned candy beach stones ordered from Stonewall Kitchen. A gray grosgrain ribbon, in keeping with the wedding accent color, (The bridesmaids wore gray Vera Wang dresses.) adorned the cup handles.

I hope you found some of the details at this botanical themed wedding inspiring…I will share photos at the venue in an upcoming post! If you need any ideas for your own celebration, shoot me an email – I’d be happy to help you brainstorm some ideas to personalize your own celebration!

mens bathroom basket at botanical wedding

The women’s room wasn’t the only bathroom to get attention – the men’s room had a necessity basket on-theme as well!

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

6 comments » | diy, food & festivities, garden, inspiration

something old, something borrowed

July

When a wedding dress has been used for two generations and isn’t in good enough shape to sustain a third, how can it be incorporated into a third-generation wedding?

This was a recent project for me. I accomplished this beautifully with help from my ‘go to’ for sewing projects – Ralph & Martha!

The idea was to use the bride’s grandmother’s vintage dress to create a special piece to use in her wedding. The dress had been worn by the bride’s grandmother as well as the bride’s mom and aunt. Determined to help the bride use the dress in a special way, my collaboration with Ralph & Martha resulted in a heart constructed from the grandmother’s wedding dress. Special care was given to use some of the trim – the bride’s favorite part of her grandmother’s dress.

The crowning detail was the inclusion of the three wedding dates embroidered onto the finished piece – the bride’s grandmother’s wedding date, the bride’s mother’s wedding date, and the bride’s wedding date. Attaching the heart to her dress, the bride ensured her grandmother’s dress was worn by all three generations!

The heart (something old) was attached to the dress with a diamond pin the bride’s grandfather gave her grandmother (something borrowed) before they were married. Now deceased, the bride’s grandfather was remembered in a special way on her wedding day with the addition of the pin.

Isn’t this a beautiful remembrance for a beautiful day! After the wedding, the heart can be framed as a lasting keepsake.

I hope this has inspired you in some way to create a special remembrance of your own!

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie xo

4 comments » | diy, inspiration, style

a vermont wedding

October

This was the year of special weddings for me. You may remember I shared a spring spectacular overlooking the ocean at Castle Hill in Newport, Rhode Island and a summer mansion wedding in a garden in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Today, I am sharing with you the finale of my magnificent weddings this year – a fall foliage stunner at Top Notch Resort in Stowe, Vermont.

The wedding day was a little overcast and there were a few raindrops. But, this wedding needed a little rain and a few clouds – the brilliance of the couple, in addition to the brilliance of the surroundings, was almost too much to take – I don’t think we could have handled full sun!

No matter how full the fall foliage was on display this special October afternoon, nothing could have outshone the beauty of the bride as she made the life-long commitment to marry her best friend.

With this wedding, I celebrated not only the special wedding of my godson, but I also celebrated a special part of my life…a celebration of friendships that made up a big part of my childhood. I am certain the person I have become was strongly influenced by these friendships and the many experiences I shared with these friends as we grew up together.

You know those special lifelong bonds?

With these friends I can pick up just like we left off – literally, without missing a beat! This was demonstrated brilliantly when the groom’s uncle and myself danced the 13 step at the reception – the same dance we had practiced together in his parent’s basement so many, many years ago!

Thank you so much for including me in your special day K & J! Love you D & J!

Thank you for stopping by! Be sure to follow my posts next week for more Vermont fun!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things…like hugging a special friend, Jackie

2 comments » | food & festivities, inspiration, style

an evening full of love… & white flowers

August

Shortly after I contemplated appreciating summer gardens, I had the opportunity to party amidst the breathtaking grounds of the Burr Homestead in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

The beauty of the surroundings was overwhelmingly surpassed by the incredible feeling of love filling this wedding celebration on a hot, summer evening.

My good friend’s daughter was married on this evening, and the vision the bride and her mom had for the venue aesthetics was implemented to perfection by a talented florist.

And, to my delight, the flowers were done in my favorite flower color – white!

I hope these few photos help you share with me the beauty in the details created for this special celebration.

gift from bride's dad pleasure in simple things blog

So special – the tomatoes in the salad course were grown in the garden of the bride’s dad!! :)

Love you Phyllis & Mrs. G.! xo

Thanks for stopping by. Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Comments Off on an evening full of love… & white flowers | food & festivities, garden

99 cent diy table numbers

July

The cost of throwing parties, particularly weddings, has gotten crazy expensive. The good news is that the little details that make events special can definitely be beautifully executed with very little cost. Like my friend Phyllis says “it’s not what you have, but what you make of it.”

These easy DIY table numbers are made from 99 cent plastic – yes, plastic – Ikea photo frames! You may need to spend a little more than 99 cents to create one if spray paint and paint pens aren’t part of your craft supply repertoire. I happen to have both of these items on hand.

You can choose a color spray paint that best matches your party décor, but choose one with a label indicating adhesion to plastic. I like metallic paints because they add an air of elegance to the final product.

Purchase one frame for each party table. Unwrap each frame, removing the two acrylic plastic inserts and place them aside. Spray the 2 pieces of the frame(s) completely with 2-3 light coats of paint, following the directions on the spray paint can.

While the paint is drying, you can add the desired table number to one of the 2 acrylic pieces using a white, (or whatever color you choose), paint pen. Be sure to remove the protective plastic covering the acrylic before you begin. If you aren’t comfortable drawing a number freehand, no worries! Simply print out a number/type style you like from your home computer and trace it! That is the beauty of the acrylic! Once completed, you can put the second piece of acrylic carefully over the painted piece to protect it from scratching.

Lastly, screw the bottom piece of the frame into the top section and slide in the acrylic pieces.

Beautiful, right? These table numbers coordinate well with many different party themes and decors. I hope I have inspired you to give them a try! Of course, you can always use your painted frame to display a photo!

Note: I used Rust-Oleum metallic spray paints in the colors – some photos are in pure gold and some in hammered rosemary. The pure gold is a smooth finish. The Rust-Oleum hammered metallics create a textured paint finish that you can see in my close-up photo above.

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Comments Off on 99 cent diy table numbers | diy, inspiration, style

signature creation

August

I attended a very special wedding this summer when my nephew married a wonderful girl from New Jersey. At the wedding, I drank more than my fair share of the couple’s signature cocktail…D & P Pimm’s Cup.

For today’s Friday field trip, we are taking a trip to Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club in Bedminster, New Jersey (the magnificent wedding venue) where the bartender graciously shared the recipe for this addicting concoction! (All except the recipe for the club’s house made lemonade…I improvised my own on this!)

Pimm’s Cup is a gin based British liqueur, and with its subtle spice and citrus flavor, it is a perfect summer (or, anytime) drink component.

It was the first time I had tasted Pimm’s Cup, but based on the D & P Pimm’s Cup sightings in the wedding photos, I made up for it at the event! Well, I had to properly honor the couple, didn’t I ? ;)

Before I put the drink together for myself at home, I made up my own batch of strawberry basil lemonade.

To make my own, I started by making a simple syrup. I used 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar combined in a saucepan and heated, while stirring constantly, until the sugar dissolved. I put this aside to cool.

I then pureed a cup of strawberries and 2 oz. of fresh lemon juice in a blender on high until smooth, straining it into a pitcher.

To the pitcher, I added 6 oz. of fresh lemon juice, simple syrup to taste (about 1/2 cup), 3 cups cold water, and a cup of fresh basil leaves. I also added a lemon I had leftover – washed it and sliced it up. I stirred this together and refrigerated before using.

This gave me plenty of lemonade to use for making my D & P’s!

For a quicker version, you can always add some strawberry puree and basil leaves to purchased lemonade.

Make up a batch of D & P’s for your end of the summer bash! The recipe is easily adjusted for those under 21 (by eliminating the Pimm’s), so it is a wonderfully refreshing addition to any gathering!

Since I am still soooo excited about the wedding and all my new family, I am sending out official D & P Pimm’s Cup recipe cards to anyone that requests one – simply email or inbox me your address! Enjoy!