R P Scissors Blog

Flower Arranging Birthday Party Featured on Style Me Pretty

Ara recently styled a cocktail and flower arranging Birthday Party that was being thrown by Gabriella New York. Guests were greeted with delicious champagne and cheese platters. Rountree Flowers was on hand to teach a class at this fabulous feminine party! Check out some images below...

The cake was made by Lael Cakes -- doesn't it go perfectly with our party?

We used vintage teacups as vases for the flowers, however any and all types of glasses, cups, and bottles found in your home can be used to create a unique and fabulous arrangement!

The finished products were beautiful! Each guest took home their teacup arrangement in a personalized box. The beautiful photography was captured by Moss + Isaac and the birthday cake was made by Lael Cakes. 

Visit Style Me Pretty to view the full post on our fabulous Birthday Party!

xFrances

Thanksgiving Decor Ideas Featured on the Food Network

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, Ara shares styling tips with the Food Network for fun and easy to re-create centerpieces that are both grown-up and kid friendly!

 

Re-use wine bottles as candle holders and fill them with rice, grain and spices for a hearty look.

Cake stands filled with fruit, squash and gords paint the perfect holiday picture.

 

Using "non traditional" colors adds a bold statement to your Thanksgiving table.

Clilck here to view all of Ara's creative ideas for your centerpieces.

 

Ara also provided inspiration for your kids table!

This crayon table runner provides a fun way for kids to play while they wait for dinner.

Squash boats and vases, and ice cream cone cornucopias add a delicious touch!

To view more kid friendly table fun click here.

All photography by Marshall Troy for the Food Network.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

xFrances

 

Ara Shares Easy DIY Ideas for Decorating this Fall!

Ara was asked by LearnVest to come up with easy and inexpensive ideas for decorating this Fall. Here are some  great ideas to help inspire you this Autumn!

        

Check out the video below to learn how to bibbidi-bobbidi-boo a regular orange pumpkin into a glam metallic piece of art. The video will also show you how to easily create fall leaf bobeches and candle stick holders using old wine bottles. With these easy tips you will even be able to impress the most magical fairy godmother this Fall.

 

To see the article and video on LearnVest click here. 

 

 Keep Calm and Style On,

Zach

Ara Interviewed on Oxygen for Summer Party Tips!

The Oxygen Network asked our own Ara Farnam to be a guest on their "All About" series with Tiffany Smith to talk about clever ideas for summer parties.

Check out the clip to see Ara's advice on how to quickly and easily make it look like you spent days planning your party, when it was actually so easy to put together with one strong color used throughout.  

Click here to see the vignette:

Oxygen All About Summer Parties

Enjoy the rest of summer!

WeDo Event at Brooklyn Winery

For those who don't know, I founded a wedding industry networking group, called WeDo, with photographer Kelly Guenther.  Check out some pics from an event I styled for the group below!

The event was held at Brooklyn Winery.  A really cool venue for those who have not been yet.  Each month WeDo hosts a networking event where different members show off their services.  April was my turn and you can see my display below.

And yes, I did spray paint all of those wine bottles!

All pictures courtesy of Kristy May Photography

Clearly we were going with a wine theme at the Brooklyn Winery.  We brought in the fun poppy WeDo colors to brighten up the space, the tapers to add a little drama, and the fabric chandeliers to add some some whimsy.  It was a great event, and if you are looking for some great NYC wedding vendors, check out WeDo!

xoxo, Ara

Cool Summer Desserts

You have booked your perfect summer wedding and are looking forward to your big day with beautiful weather. Although some like it hot.. we have collected some sweet dessert ideas that will keep guests cool all while looking fabulous!

 

Ice cream sundae bar courtesy of: Eat, Drink, Chic

 DIY sundae courtesy of: Eat, Drink, Chic

Ice cream station courtesy of: 100 Layer Cake

Hand passed ice cream courtesy of: Merci New York

Root beer floats with retro straws courtesy of: I Love SW Mag

Make your own root beer floats courtesy of: Celebrations at the Home Blog

Sweet rendition of ice cream sandwiches courtesy of: Tartelette Blog & Indulgy

Citrus sorbet bellini courtesy of: My Recipes

French and citrus sorbet martinis courtesy of: Cooking Light & Everyday Celebrating

Gourmet popsicles courtesy of: Wed Candy

Hand passed popsicles courtesy of: Snippet & Ink

Bride and groom with popsicles courtesy of: Nessak Photography

xoxo, Jordyn

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Gatsby Meets Breakfast at Tiffany's Inspired Wedding

We were ecstatic to see Euree + Daniel's elegant wedding featured on Style Me Pretty earlier this week! The adorable couple and all the little details made this wedding so magical!

xo, hannah

To see the full post, click here.

Wedding Photography: Amanda K Photography / Venue: The Metropolitan Building / Caterer: Naturally Delicious / Liquor: Heights Chateau / Wedding Videographer: Kiss The Bride Films / Day-of Event Design: Rock Paper Scissors Events / DJ: Menyu / Invitations: Angel B Lee / Wedding Dress: Jenny Packhamvia Designer Loft / Reception Dress: Alice and Olivia via Net A Porter / Veil: Etsy, The Bride / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Hair + Make-up: vickyC5 / Flowers: Eutopia NYC

Fairytale Inspired Dinner Party at Gabriella New York

We were so excited to see the lovely dinner party we styled for Gabriella New York on Merci New York! We created an intimate fairytale themed event to play off of the gorgeous bridal salon.

To see more pics, click on over to Merci New York.

xo, hannah

Host: Gabriella New York Bridal Salon / Event Design: Rock Paper Scissors Events / Floral Design: Rountree Flowers / Invitations and Paper Goods: Lela New York / Lighting: Stortz Lighting / Catering: The Little Owl / Wines by: Chandon / Rentals: Taylor Creative and Party Rentals LTD / Photography: Trent Bailey Photography / Video: Hello Super 8 / Entertainment: 12th Night Music

Using Pumpkins as Reception Decor

There are plenty of festive ways to enhance a fall wedding.  Below are a plethora of options available for using pumpkins as a prop, from centerpieces to escort cards.

 

Leaves add a classy fall feel

Painting the pumpkins white is perfect for the occasion

Monogram pumpkins are a wonderful way to show off the new initial for your new last name

 

Mini pumpkin escort card holders... adorable

Who needs Mr. and Mrs. chair signs with a look like this

 

This makes a perfect centerpiece or focal point on a cake table

Want a vintage feel? Add lace to a pumpkin for a nostalgic flashback

 

xoxo, Jordyn

Infuse Your Wedding with Vintage Wallpaper

Want an inexpensive way to add a little vintage to your wedding? Here are a few ideas using wallpaper to dress up your wedding with some old fashioned flair.

Be ready to get DIY inspired!

Aren't those place cards adorable?!   Via Project Wedding

Add another personal touch to your table by making napkin ring holders   via Martha Stewart Weddings

 

I have fallen in love with these unique, feminine patterns! See how 100 Layer Cake created these vintage inspired invites.

Add texture to your table with pinwheel table numbers   via Ruffled

A wedding isn't complete without a photo both! See how you and your vintage wallpaper can create one. No skills required! via Ruffled

 

Have fun! Elyse xoxo

Romantic Vintage Inspiration at The Metropolitan Building

We were so lucky to work with some amazing vendors on this photo shoot produced by the lovely blog Aisle Candy and the photographer KT Merry.  The full post was on Style Me Pretty, and here is a sampling.

 

 

 

If you want to see even more, head on over to Style Me Pretty!

The inspiration came from BHLDN's new line of wedding dresses.  From there we decided to do a super soft, romantic, vintage inspired shoot that was 100% pretty.  We shot at the Metropolitan Building, which is a super cool venue out in Long Island City, and we used all of the tableware from Anthropology.

I had the bright idea to do a sequin lined aisle, which came out beautifully, but word to the wise, you need a billion sequins to get a cool effect, and a good vacuum to pick them all up later!

I brought in some of my very favorite vendors to collaborate on this, including kat flower, Preston & Olivia, Nine Cakes and Love Jenna Calligraphy.  The absolutely freaking amazing photography was done by KT Merry, who I feel truly lucky to have worked with.  We also did a DIY project based on the favors in this shoot, which we'll feature next!

Location: The Metropolitan Building in Long Island City  (http://www.metropolitanbuilding.com/)
Photographer: KT Merry (http://www.ktmerry.com)
Hair: Takahide Tokuyama for Patrick Melville Salon  (http://takahidetokuyama.com/)
Makeup: Hiro Yonemoto for MAKE UP FOR EVER (http://www.hiroshiyonemoto.com) 
Models: Click Models (http://www.clickmodel.com/click-nyc.php)
Dresses: BHLDN (http://www.bhldn.com) and a few others from Gabriella New York (http://www.gabriellanewyork.com/)
Hair Accessories: Preston and Olivia (http://www.prestonandolivia.com), Jennifer Behr (http://www.jenniferbehr.com/) and Jannie Baltzer (http://janniebaltzer.com/)
Jewelry: BHLDN (http://www.bhldn.com)
Flowers: KatFlower  (http://katflower.blogspot.com/)
Cake and macarons: Nine Cakes (http://www.ninecakes.com)
Event design and styling: Rock Paper Scissors Events (http://www.rpscissors.com)
Calligraphy: Love Jenna (http://lovejennacalligraphy.com/)
All tableware: Anthropologie (http://www.anthropologie.com)

 
 
 

Cherry Blossom Season

Here we are again -- that beautiful, fleeting time when we emerge from the grayness of winter, and are greeted with with lovely pink sakura (Japanese flowering cherry trees). Spring is here!

Cherry blossoms in Washington, DC

Cherry blossoms have been showing up in wedding decor for years, for obvious reasons. Here are a few of my favorite applications of the cherry blossom theme:

Martha Stewart Weddings

Martha Stewart Weddings

Martha Stewart Weddings

Claire Pettibone

100 Layer Cake

Once Wed - Cherry blossom/Reem Acra photo shoot

Love the look of cherry blossom branches, but can't afford the real thing? Check out Martha's tutorial on making your own here. *Note: No disrespect to Martha, but I find this project works better with crepe paper like this than with tissue paper. 

Even if you're not looking to incorporate cherry blossoms into your wedding decor, be sure to check out the festivals happening right now at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and in Branch Brook Park in Newark, NJ. 

Happy spring!

xo - emily

Wedding Crashers Brooklyn Wedding Fair

This past weekend we had the pleasure of transforming the entryway for the Brooklyn Based Wedding Crashers fair. The fair was a blast.  FULL of fantastic vendors, and a truly fun day.  See the transformation here!

BEFORE.  Photo by my lovely intern Lindsay Rodabaugh.

AFTER.  Photo by Lindsay Rodabaugh

So just three hours, over 100 paper garlands, and death-defying-acts-on-a-ladder later, we had created this vibrant and cheery entryway.  We were tasked to make an impact with the entryway design.  And so we did.  Here are pictures of the process as well as some beautiful detail shots. The entryway design was made immensely better by flowers from Blossom and Branch.

Above three set-up images by Lindsay Rodabaugh.

And here is end result!

 

The three images above are courtesy of the fabulous Kristina Hill Photography.

The above two photographs are from Lindsay Rodabaugh.

These last two photos are from the talented florist Sarah from Blossom and Branch.

Seriously a fantastic day, a great event, and I am so grateful to have been involved!

 

Great Find for Packaging Details!

Happy New Year and congratulations to all of you who are recently engaged! We are so excited for what 2011 brings, and so thankful for all of your support in 2010.  Let's start the year off with a great resource for all of you: Olive Manna.

How great are these colored clothespins?  So perfect for displaying pictures or escort cards at your wedding reception.  Olive Manna is a fabulous vendor who has their own online shop, plus a Wedzu shop.  They make darling vintage inspired packaging accessories that will make your wedding look so crafty, without a whole lot of effort.  

Adorable pennant stickers to make cute tags for favors, straws, or envelopes.

Their baker's twine comes in a variety of colors, and they offer it in spools of 240 yards for under $20.  Let's just note that I have paid $1 a yard for a similar product here at a ubiquitous NYC craft store.  No more!

Perfect sized cardboard favor boxes.  

To enjoy these plus many more products, go and check out Olive Manna.  So easy and so cute!

 

The Little Things: Card Boxes

Last week, we looked at shawl baskets as a cute reception detail. This week, we take a peek at some super cute card boxes, another opportunity to do something fun and creative! 

Personally we are loving the suitcase cardbox...

Source: Just Chic Events

Maybe with the addition of a cheeky sign...

Source: Wedding Chicks

Another approach is the classic birdcage...

Source: Style Me Pretty

Even more subtle is this super chic little vignette. Enjoy! Xoxo, Alex

Source: Style Me Pretty

 

 

Decorative Tape

How many of you caught this cute idea for decorative tape uses in Brides magazine this month?

So cute and so easy.  Decorative tape is exactly what it sounds like, pretty tape.  You can stick some pretty tape on your centerpiece vases to spice up plain glass, and you don't have to be as ambitious as the picture above to make it look fabulous.  Even just one, two or three rows done horizontally around a round vase would look great.  You can use it on candles like the example above for a very inexpensive custom look.  The candles that they are featuring I swear I have seen at Ikea and they cost $5 for a bijillion. 

Also you could use it on your paperie.  Such a cute accent to your programs, menus, escort cards, etc.  Print these items at home, add a little decorative tape, and you are good to go!  

I rounded up some sellers of these fantastic decorative tapes to make life easy for you:

This tape is from Kawaii Tape on Etsy.  Check out their shop for this plus many more styles and patterns.

Kawaii Goodies on Etsy has great Japanese Washi tape, but ALSO has fabulous fabric tape like the cute polka dots above.  Check out their shop for more selection.  

And finally there is a website called www.cutetape.com, that not surprisingly sells cute tape like the one above.

So go out and get crafty with this super easy DIY project. xoxo, Ara

Free Templates: Save the Date, Invitation and Signage, oh my!

Amazing resource: The Wedding Chicks.  Isn't this Save the Date the cutest ever?

Ok guys.  You may know of the Wedding Chicks because they have a great blog, but has everyone taken the time to peruse all of their awesome FREE wedding paperie templates?  We are talking the works here.  Save the date templates, bride and groom signage, monograms, even invitation suites.  They will even do slight customizations for free with your name and wedding date so that you don't have to fuss around with the templates, and they'll email you a printable jpeg so you are good to go.  

 

These are their free Mad Men Save the Dates?  Hello, cuteness.

Go and check out the Wedding Chicks for some truly great free templates.

And we have a fun surprise for you!  We have a giveaway from one of our favorites, Printable Press, coming up for you tomorrow.  

 They are giving away one of their absolutely darling Save the Date templates, customized with your personal information.  We'll announce the give-away tomorrow, and you can enter all week long until Friday at 8pm EST/5pm PST.

100 Layer Cake Site Is Up!

The "coming soon" sign has been replaced with a fully functional and totally fabulous new wedding site.

100 Layer Cake is up and running!  It has TONS of great wedding resources, like a marketplace where you can buy and sell cool items for your wedding, a great DIY resource with tons of instructions and free templates, and a vendor section where you can browse great local vendors (including us!).

Check out some of the items being sold on the site, for generally VERY good prices:

And the fabulous DIY section:

Enjoy!  Way to go 100 Layer Cake ladies!

 

The Little Things: Shawl Baskets

With the winter season having officially arrived, ways to keep warm are always on the brain. One cute and easy touch to add to your reception is a basket of pashminas or shawls for your guests. And of course its also yet another opportunity for a personal touch! 

You can match the basket to your colors...

Source: Jasmine Star

Keep it simple with pretty ribbons...

Source: Style Me Pretty

 

Find a great holder like this vintage suitcase...

Source: Rock Paper Scissors Blog

 

Or personalize your own adorable tags...

Source: Weddingbee

 

Mrs. Apple Cider of Weddingbee has provided a tutorial here for those very tags! Thanks Mrs. Cider! Keep warm everyone!

Fun Reception Ideas: Cigar Bar!

Boucher Photography

From photo booths to candy buffets, it seems everyone is looking for that special touch that will put their reception over the top. One unique idea is to have a cigar bar. Many companies provide this service, bringing in the cigars and often a cigar roller as well, or you can DIY by simply putting out cigars, cutters and matches. This is a great opportunity to create a super cute vignette with signs, old fashioned cigar boxes and custom matchbooks. You could even create custom labels for the cigars themselves with your wedding date on them!

Kristin Vining

You could DIY signs...

Left: Ritzy Bee, Right: Style Me Pretty

Order custom matchbooks...

The Studio B Photography

Even better? The amazing photos guaranteed to ensue, like this right shot...

KKBloom

and these fantastic bride and groom shots could not be more fun! Enjoy!  xoxo, Alex

Left: Marie A Rummer Photography, Right: Coastal Cigars

 

Photobooth Prop Resources

Looking for super cute props for your photobooth? We found some great ones to share with you.

You can grab these and more at the Whiskerworks Etsy shop

Or Ruffled has a fantastic FREE template for these great felt DIY mustache props

Check out these fun smile props from Smitten Sticks on Etsy

Go to Hello Lucky for these great chalkboard talkbubbles

LOVE these adorable chalkboard talkbubbles in fun shapes from Shabby Chalks Etsy shop

Have fun with your photobooth props, and send us pics of some of your favorites! xo, Ara

Other Wedding Festivities Part III: The Bridesmaid's Luncheon

A gerber daisy inspired bridesmaid luncheon

Clockwise from top left: Perfect Wedding Guide, Cheerupcherup, Google, ModCloth, Carrie's Cakes, Martha Stewart

Welcome back to the “Other Parties” series going on this week on Scissors brought to you by our lovely intern Alex. Every bride knows that outside the main event are a seemingly endless list of parties that either build up to or wind down from the wedding itself. So far we've looked at the engagement party and the wedding shower, and today we're looking at the more elusive bridesmaid's luncheon.

While everyone knows what a Rehearsal Dinner and a Wedding Shower are, a Bridesmaid’s Luncheon is not always given for modern weddings. Those who do chose to carry on this tradition will be rewarded with a warm and personal event perfect for kicking off a wedding weekend.

While totally optional, more and more brides are bringing back the luncheon, most commonly hosted by the bride in honor of her bridesmaids and close female relatives as a thank you for all they have done for the big day. It can be hosted anytime, though it is usually held the day before the wedding, when everyone is in town and the key players have likely taken off work for the rehearsal dinner. It’s the perfect excuse to meet up and spend quality time with the important players before the madness of the rehearsal and wedding begin. This is also a great time to give your bridesmaid’s gifts, if you feel they are too personal to present at a large rehearsal dinner.

At Rock Paper Scissors we picture an unabashedly feminine affair where the bride and her girls gather after a morning of blissful pre-wedding manicures and pedicures. Using simple gerber daisies as inspiration, we found great paper products to get your girls excited about the party before it begins. Then, keep the day affordable using bud vases with single stems for centerpieces and cupcakes to feed your sweet tooth.

Rock Paper Scissors Twist: For such a small and intimate event, forgo traditional place cards and instead create a photo place card. Find small 2 x 3” frames and instead of writing the name of the person, find a photo of the bride and the guest together. Print in black and white and voila! Place card, personal touch and party favor all in one.

Paper Flower Tutorial

We are beyond thrilled to be on the lovely Merci blog today!  You can check out the whole post, shot by the talented Lauren Gabrielle, on Merci here, and we wanted to share with you the paper flower how-to.  The overblown, large paper flowers added SO much interest to our table, and are not too difficult to make since we made a template for you and have given you step by step directions below!

 

Supplies needed: templates, 24" x 36" thick paper, pipe cleaners, scissors, pencil, hole punch, double sided tape.

The template for the largest flower, labeled "one," requires two pieces of 8 1/2" x 11" paper, so first step is to print out all of the templates, second is to tape the "one" template together. Now trace the templates on your 24" x 36" piece of paper.  We have also included a template to show you how to maximize your piece of paper.

Cut out each shape, and then cute a 1" to 1 1/2" slit in the bottom of each petal.  You are cutting this slit so that you can "boat" the flowers by folding them and giving them a more structured shape.

Now that you have cut the slit, attach a piece of double stick tape to one or both sides of the slit, and bring one side over the other to create tension in the paper ("boating" the flowers).  Next punch holes about 1" up from the bottom of each petal.  For the larger petals, punch a hole about 2" in from the sides.  For the small petals, you will be punching closer to the edge.

Start by putting together the innermost smallest petals.  You will make two bunches of three petals each for the smallest petals.  Use the pipe cleaner to attach the petals by looping through two pieces of pipe cleaner and then twisting them on the back.  Make one bunch tighter than the other with no space between the petals to serve as your innermost bunch.

Then take the smaller, tighter bunch and put it through the one with a little more spacing to create one joint flower.  Twist the pipe cleaner in the back to secure.

Making the middle and largest petals is very similar.  Use two pieces of pipe cleaner to secure the petals as shown above, leaving a center hole so that you can attach each new layer.  For the largest flower petals, you may need to twist two pieces of pipe cleaner together to make a longer piece.  



Put the small bunch you already put together inside of the medium bunch, attach the pipe cleaners by twisting. Do the same now with the medium bunch and put them throw the large bunch, twist pipe cleaners as needed.  We kept our pipe cleaners long so that we could use them to manipulate and stand the flowers, but feel free to cut them  after twisting if they are getting in the way.



And here are the finished flowers!  The instructions are the same for all shapes, and it looks best to mix up your shapes, colors and sizes slightly to get an effect like this:

Here are the templates for your downloading pleasure:

Download RPSPointedFlowerTemplate   Download RPSRoundedFlowerTemplate   Download RPSScallopFlowerTemplate



Credits: Top and bottom photo by Lauren Gabrielle, How-to photos by Alexandra Baackes

etsy vendor spotlight!

If you're a DIY bride, sometimes the most difficult task is finding the right resources to fit your aesthetic.. especially when you're looking for all those details to not cost you an arm and a leg. While most etsy vendors feature handmade products that you can purchase as-is, some vendors cater to those can-do brides who are looking for the right pieces to make their own crafts. Knot & Bow is a fantastic resource for those crafty elements that really tie together your escort cards, table numbers, gift bags, etc. Of course it helps that their own aesthetic is so adorable! 

I love those kraft-paper stickers-- they'd be great for sealing favors or labeling your tables! And those mini-clothespins are perfect for hanging escort cards. Swing by Knot & Bow and get inspired to get your hands dirty in some fun wedding crafts. 

xoxo, Molly

 

Vintage Book Theme Brooklyn Wedding

So excited to finally share all of the gorgeous details from Cameron and Marcella's book and travel themed wedding. We've been waiting for the cute ladies over at Wedding Chicks to feature it, which you can check out here, and now we can share all the fun here as well! The fantastic pair married at the truly breathtaking Palm House at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.  Since the bride is a teacher and the groom loves to read, we started with a book theme, and then quickly added in a travel element since the couple are big travelers as well.  Each table had a stack of vintage books that the couple collected over a few months that served as a favor for each guest.  The books also served as great (and inexpensive) visual interest that created layers and textures and different heights for the candles and gorgeous flowers by Amy at Seaport Flowers.  Each table was named after a destination that the couple had traveled to together, and the groom happens to be an amazing photographer and he created beautiful postcards for each place setting.  And the photography by Ohana Photographers really hit this one out of the park.

 

For the escort cards, those are standard air mail envelopes run through a printer.  Cute, fabulous and budget friendly!

A detail of the beautiful postcards made by the groom.

And it gets even better.  The couple printed a note on the back of each city giving travel tips and favorite memories from each city visited.  

 

 

All photography by Ohana Photographers.  Flowers by Seaport Flowers. Venue The Palm House at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.  Event design by us ;) Rock Paper Scissors Events

DIY Paper Table Runners

Hello cuteness!  100 Layer Cake has a fantastic DIY project over on their blog that they made for their Hitched event.  The event itself deserves a serious perusal, and below are a couple of pics to show you the runner.  So clever.  For the details on how to make this, visit 100 Layer Cake here.

 

Images from 100 Layer Cake tutorial.

Vintage Inspired Bridal Shower

Wow, holy bridal shower!  I came across this amazingly cute bridal shower on Wedding Chics, and it has so many sweet vintage touches from the clothespin letters and notes to the thread and button decorated mason jars.  Props and styling were done by Jeni from found {vintage rentals} , who specializes in vintage prop rentals so the gorgeous outcome is really no surprise.  To see the full event photos, click back to Wedding Chics here.

 Clothespin letters, vintage book chandelier - oh my!

LOVE the thread with the buttons.  So doable, so cute.

Clothespin vintage shutters?  Yes please.  

All of the lovely photography was done by Kaysha Weiner.  

Cute + Creative Reception Photo Display

Hi!  Another great find for an idea of how to display photos of you and your fiance, your family, childhood photos, etc, at your wedding reception.  Hanging ribbon like this would be a piece of cake, and you could adhere it with a pretty straight pin and double stick tape.  A DIY project pretty much anyone could handle!  Part of what makes this interesting is the different size photographs and the alternating ribbon color, so don't be afraid to mix things up.

 Photo by Cunnigham Photo Artists, via Style Me Pretty

Wine Bottle Table Numbers

Simple.  Chic.  Love.  If you are looking for uncluttered, clean and simple decor, filling your tables with elegantly labeled wine bottles is the way to go.  Look at how few flowers they used, and how great it looks.  The patterned table runner and blue vases add a bit of pop so it is far from boring, but the overall look is very clean and spare. And it's budget friendly to  boot.  Perfect.

Creative wedding table number idea from Martha Stewart Weddings 

Chic Reception Photo Display

Love this.  So elegant.  And best of all easy.  A great idea for displaying photos at your wedding in a beautiful, creative way.

Photography by Aruna B Photography via Style Me Pretty

 

Creative Centerpieces

I wanted to share with you one of my favorite weddings from over at Style Me Pretty.  The wedding is modern, chic, fun and playful with some great ideas that we can dissect and use for a little style lesson.  Part of what makes this wedding both interesting and modern is the bold color palette: black, yellow and white.  Using black in your palette will absolutely up your sophistication quotient quite a bit.  Think about black and white, black and pink, black and orange, etc, and all have a beautiful, chic association.  Notice a couple of other things: there are no flowers and each centerpiece is different.  Each table has has unique props, and they kept it cohesive by using all the same color palette.  The varying centerpieces gave her reception a super stylish feel, and gives us inspiration for what to use as centerpiece objects.  See how she used lamps, boxes, candles, books and glass jars?  So clever and so chic.  I am absolutely inspired by this stylish wedding.  To see the images from the entire wedding, go to Style Me Pretty.

 

 

Boxes wrapped in decorative paper and ribbons - so easy and so cute.

Love the fabric wrapped lampshades.  So clever!

The books are simple and cool - and easy to do yourself.

And this is seriously my favorite favor at the moment.  So playful and cute and unexpected.

Photography by White Haute Photography and Ohana Photographers.  Styling by the bride and Just Chic Events.  All images via Style Me Pretty. 
 
 

 

Great Blog For The Bride With Little Time: Dog n' Bird

For those of you who are too busy to read every wedding blog out there, but don't want to miss out on any of the cool ideas being shared, Dog n' Bird is an awesome resource for a very well edited selection of the most interesting ideas from all the blogs and websites - from tiny ones you've never heard of to the big names.  Bird (as the author is known) seems to literally scour the internet to bring you the ideas that almost certainly would have fallen off your radar without her research.   And you definitely want her finds to be on your radar.  This is one of my favorite ideas currently on her site, but definitely go check it out because she has some really good stuff on there.  

Fun idea, no?  Reuse your glass jars from grocery store items and turn them into pretty candle holders.  Image via Dog n' Bird.  Original citation and instructions on Gingerbread Snowflakes via Wedding Inspro.

And you know I love crafty projects, so that is why this idea called out to me, but it's not all glue-guns and corner punches over there.  Go check it out: Dog n' Bird

 

Adorable Budget Dessert Table

Just spotted this absolutely darling thrown-together-from-stuff-at-home dessert table over on Bride Scouts (via It's a Jaime Thing).  Mmm-kay, so this blogger may have really cute stuff already at home which is slightly unfair for the rest of us, but still love the ideas here!  This would be great for a bridal shower or a smaller wedding, and you probably have at least some items already at home that you could use, and the treats she suggests are completely standard grocery store fare, so check out her post for some very steal-worthy ideas.

 

Images via Bride Scouts

Fan Programs With Games!

Wow. am I impressed with the cleverness and craftiness of Della Stella as seen in her feature on Intimate Weddings blog.  Check out these program fans.  Not only are they great because they do the double duty of keeping your guests cool at your outdoor wedding and providing the ceremony information, they also have games to entertain your guests before your ceremony starts!  SO adorable, right?  The full instructions can be found on the Intimate Weddings blog, and aside from coming up with clever games for your guests (this bride had mad libs, fill in the blank, and word search), is very easy to construct.  I'm wondering (because I live in Manhattan and have limited access to power tools) if you couldn't get away with securing the tied ribbon with a strong glue for the pencil.  Might be worth a try if you are also sans drill.  

 

  All images by Della Stella as seen on Intimate Weddings

Modern chic centerpieces

As I was perusing 100 Layer Cake, I saw this really interesting idea for a clean, simple, modern centerpiece that I had to share.  Guest blogger Yes, Please details how to make the railroad tie blocks, which does require someone who is handy,  but doesn't seem too bad to tackle on your own.  As an alternative that would be slightly easier to achieve without power tools, how about a base of a clear glass low rectangular vase filled with small sand colored pebbles?  Then place the succulent and Billy Balls as per the image.  For instructions on how to make the centerpieces pictured, go to 100 Layer Cake.

 

Unbelievable Homemade Invitations

Whoa.  Did you guys all see this DIY homemade wedding invitation feature on Style Me Pretty?  Um yeah, the bride made them, and they are awesome and while I am sure that a lot of blood, sweat and tears went into it, the end result is sooo fabulous and inspiring.  Say you're slightly (or ok a lot less) crafty, this is still a great inspiration for a vintage glam and fun start to your wedding that you could seek out from a stationer or graphic designer.  Check out the full feature here on Style Me Pretty.

  

Great Idea: Using Fruit As Decor Accents

Using fruit as decoration is a simple way to add some texture and interest to your tablescape in an inexpensive way.  Fruit has been making its way into centerpieces, and it can also be used very effectively as pretty accent pieces.   Used in different ways, fruit can transcend a country casual vibe and be quite chic.  See the picture below of a pomegranate used as a name card.  

Image from Apartment Therapy, original source Sunset Magazine

A lime with this very stylish font creates a modern and sleek name card as well.

Image from Instyle Weddings Winter 2006

Or some peaches simply scattered on a beautiful table runner with some potted lavender can also be incredibly chic in a rustic setting.

Image from Instyle Weddings Fall 2008

 

 And Martha has a great how-to on her website to create these very elegant, and very inexpensive, pear favors.

    For the how-to, visit Martha Stewart Weddings

 

Stunning Invites by Printable Press

Ok, so I had heard of Printable Press before.  I knew they had a great concept about semi-customizing a layout for one of their invitation sets with your wording, and then sending you the PDF for you to print at home or locally.  But then I actually went on their website, and WOW, I have drunk the Kool-Aid and now I am totally head over heels in love.  Their design work is awesome!!!  Yes, three exclamation points worth of awesome.  This is not a sponsored post.  I don't even do those.  I just really think that their design work is fantastic, their concept is so accessible, and they seem like such good people.  Seriously, do yourself a favor and check out their website here, and below are a few of my favorites, from the many, many cool designs that they have:

 

All images from the Printable Press website.  Yup, love them!    

Make Your Own Table Runner

A table runner makes all the difference in the world.  Seriously.  It add so much visual interest by bringing in an additional color or texture to your table that you can go with a smaller, less impactful (read, maybe less expensive) centerpiece.  Abby over at Style Me Pretty featured a great how-to on a table runner, that you should check out here.  I have to admit that I am intimidated by sewing machines since the last time I used one was Home Ec circa 1992, but I am really itching to get one now.  See how fabulous and easy that must be to make?  See how the table decor really is so simple, but the table runner gives it visual interest and looks fabulous?

 For complete instructions visit Style Me Pretty, photo via Style Me Pretty by Carrie Patterson

Just to prove my point about table runners, see more fabulous ones below:

Image from Martha Stewart Weddings Fall 2008

Image from Martha Stewart Weddings Fall 2006

Image from Martha Stewart Weddings Summer 2009     

Free Save the Date Template from Wedding Chicks

Ok, so I am kind of on a DIY kick at the moment.  But I just love when I come across beautiful, free, easy projects like this one from the Wedding Chicks.  They have made it so easy for you to print this totally gorgeous Save the Date from your home computer and get a completely professional result.  Click here to download the template from them.

Image from the Wedding Chicks.

Save the Date?  Check.  Done.

DIY Menu Project

Guest Blogger Mimi from Mika 78 had a super creative, lovely project on 100 Layer Cake the other day that I loved so much I just had to point you all to it.  She gives amazingly detailed instructions, and the end result is so worth a weekend of crafting!  Click here for the instructions on 100 Layer Cake.  This will add so much visual interest to a plain table that you could certainly save money by going with a much less ornate centerpiece if you invest a little time in these colorful menu cards.

Images via 100 Layer Cake  

Summer Wedding Escort Cards

So excited that it is finally March and we are eeking our way towards warmer weather.  I am certainly ready now, which is why I had to post this A-dorable escort card idea from Martha Stewart Weddings.  A DIY craft that really anyone could handle, and it is so stinking cute.  For tips on how to make this yourself, click on the Martha Stewart link above or below.

Image via Martha Stewart Weddings
 

Can it please be summer yet?

Darling Origami Heart Project

I heart this.  This has got to be the cutest DIY heart project, and it has so many potential uses.  Originally designed by Eat Drink Chic, it was posted on Green Wedding Shoes as an extremely clever engagement party invitation.  It could also be used as a note to your sweetheart to be left for him on your wedding day (or any day of the year!), and I could see making the sweetest escort cards out of them.  Picture the hearts hanging from beautiful branches with the guests name on the outside and the table numbers inside.  It would be a delightful and whimsical touch to any wedding. LOVE them!

Images from Eat Drink Chic

And it gets even better.  Eat Drink Chic has posted a free template  you can download plus step by step instructions here

Great Idea: DIY Menu Cards

I love the look of a menu card on each place setting at a table.  It gives additional visual interest to a table and also involves your guests more in the meal.  Martha Stewart has a great templates available for free online for a simple do it yourself project and Once Wed has a SUPER cute DIY menu with instructions on their website.  

 Martha Stewart Weddings Summer 2008

Once Wed 

Great Idea: Wine Bottle Candle Holders

I came across this beautiful, clever idea for wine bottle candle holders as a fabulous centerpiece on the fantastically inspirational blog This is Glamorous.  This would be so easy, inexpensive and beautiful at a wedding for a dramatic centerpiece at a totally reasonable cost.  All you would have to do is to collect white wine bottles (try asking your local wine shop that does tastings if you can have the left over bottles after a few tasting nights, and you'll be all set!), strip them of their labels, buy taper candles to fit, and your beautiful centerpiece is done!  Add a few low level votives and a couple of bud vases for a drop dead gorgeous effect.  You will definitely be seeing this idea in one of my inspirational photo shoots coming up!  Another tip: part of what makes this so effective is the different height candles and the wax dripping on the bottles.  A couple of days before your wedding, assemble your bottles, and light the candles.  Blow a quarter out after 5 minutes, a quarter out after 10 minutes, a quarter after 15, and the last quarter after 20 minutes.  Then your centerpieces will be beautifully "lived in" at your reception.  I would also recommend bringing an extra box of taper candles that your caterer can fill in if you are going to have a long night of dancing.

Photography by Tom Mannion for Elle Decoration via This is Glamorous

Super Crafty, Totally Do-able DIY project from Betsy White

OMG.  Honestly I can't say enough positive things about this DIY project I stumbled across when reading the Betsy White blog, Flights of Fancy.  These favor bags are so cute, look totally professional, and seem like you could actually do it yourself without having to ask Martha Stewart to bail you out.  Here is a picture of the final project and the tools necessary (see, nothing too scary), and go and see for yourself that this project is actually doable with a printer and a hole punch.  Betsy White is so awesome that they give you the template you need for FREE, downloadable from their blog.  How awesome is that?  For the full instructions, visit this link to Flights of Fancy and enjoy!