Archive for the ‘DIY’ Category

Becca & Blain’s Wedding in Stowe, Vermont

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

Becca & Blain are a VT couple whose style I love!  They love wine & they love their dogs and both were represented beautifully in their June wedding at Stowehof.  Their easy-going, leave-it-to-the-professionals approach made my job so much fun…And a color palette of coppery oranges and lemon yellows with pops of peach is just what the drizzly day called for. 

Their adorable table numbers featuring their dogs, Salinger & Dallas, are probably my favorite detail, although the custom corks with their logo which held the escort cards were pretty darn DIY savvy.  I usually start with something floral, but check out their pooches who posed in various locations around Vermont!

Onto flowers…The bridesmaids wore lemon yellow and their bouquets included (top row) leonidas roses, yellow spray roses, white freesia, orange ranunculus, peach gerberas & roses, yarrow & oregano.   The bride carried white peonies, sweet peas, leonidas & peach roses, yellow freesia, ranunculus, yarrow & oregano.  Bottom left is the front of her bouquet, right is the back (aka the bride’s view!). 

The place cards were displayed in customized corks.  They asked their guests to write a wine recommendation on the corks & then gave them corkscrews to take home. 

The casual, country inspired centerpieces included snapdragons, freesia, roses, fresh oregano, sweet peas, spray roses, gerberas, dahlias and ranunculus in mason jars.  I love the linens.

A groomsman posed so I could get a shot of his tie…the groom wore a bow-tie.

Here’s another glimpse at the table numbers.  They really are too cute.  Clever couple!

So clever in fact, that they made a key so folks would know where in VT the pics were taken.  These dogs got around!  They were at the State House, Magic Hat, Mad River Glen, VT Teddy Bear Factory, Church Street, Snow Farm Vineyard, Ben & Jerry’s…to name a few!

The bride & groom were not afraid of a little rain.  We set up for their ceremony in a drizzle.

Congratulations to Becca & Blain! (and Salinger and Dallas, too!)  Best wishes to both of you and good luck getting through all those new wines you are going to have to try!  It was great working with you…I love when a couple gives me the freedom to just do my thing!  I am sure your fabulous DIY details will inspire other Vermont couples.

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Wonderland Inspired Party Details

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

One of the most frequent compliments I’ve received about my work lately from friends, brides and colleagues have been on my work with paper flowers when I helped the lovely & talented Daria Bishop with an Alice In Wonderland inspired “Mad Hatter Tea Party” for her daughter’s 12th birthday party in May.  Of all things, paper flowers!! 

As you can see from her blog post (by clicking here) it was a complete and utterly adorable success.  It was a lot of fun to help with, too!  There are lots of fabulous pictures on Daria’s blog, but below are a few shots of the tabletop I swiped (Thanks, Daria!!) to give you a little taste & whet your whistle! 

The hot pink blossoms in the bottles are boronia and I love the antique keys tied to their necks!  You have to love the amazing cupcakes from Vermont Sweet Tooth.  Amazing cupcakes!  I think Daria did a fabulous job and she can throw me a party anytime!

sum122010_04

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Alice in Wonderland Inspired Wedding

Monday, March 22nd, 2010
White Rabbit

Image via Wikipedia

We finally saw Alice In Wonderland this weekend and all I can say is WOW!  I feel much more muchier.  I simply could not have enjoyed it more and once again Tim Burton made Johnny Depp into a lovably mad character!…well, Hatter in this case.  The best part of the movie in my opinion is the fact that Alice turns out to be an entrepreneur!  I was loving every minute of this 3-D adventure–I love just about anything where flowers are personified–but, I could not stop thinking about how to transform some classic Alice elements into a Wonderland inspired wedding!

Invitations announce ”Don’t be late for this very important date or it’s off with your head!”  Little tags on the cocktail glasses that read, “drink me” would be the first must-have details for me, which obviously means that one would serve either an appetizer (perhaps a puffed pastry or finger sandwich) or dessert (like these cupcakes in mis-matched tea cups) or petite fours that read, “eat me”.  Cocktails would be accompanied by croquette on the lawn!

Guests are welcomed at the reception by a large chess board with red roses that hold the seating cards on a table lined with mini-boxwood hedges.  In lieu of a guest book a large top hat with a satin sash collects well wishes for the newly weds with a skeleton key and a pocket watch displayed by its side as a nod to the beloved white rabbit.  In honor of the Queen of Hearts tables are numbered with playing cards in the most loving suit of all, the hearts, of course. 

As far as flowers go I see centerpieces inspired by the Queen’s gardens featuring red roses atop a chess board patterned container or table runner.  The bride should most certainly carry a bouquet featuring white blooms with a blue butterfly accent and if she’s a true Alice enthusiast she’d wear a blue sash as well.  The groom might opt for a hat pin in his lapel instead of a flower and may even sport a “mad hat” of his own!  

This is an event where a homemade photo booth would be so apropos with props including whimsical hats in various shapes & sizes, hearts galore and Cheshire cat smiles.  To finish the evening an eclectic dessert buffet featuring heart-shaped raspberry tarts, cupcakes, biscuits and mis-matched tea pots & cups.  For a DIY touch various family members & friends could bake their favorite sweet treat…and bring a tea pot!  Favors for this whimsy inspired affair could include kaleidoscopes (a looking glass of sorts) or artisan teas! 

I want to plan this wedding, buy a fancy hat and then attend it!  What would you add to a Wonderland inspired event?  

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Invitation tips from Kate Youlen of That’s Inviting

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Kate Youlen of That’s Inviting thinks invitations are so much fun and she tells couples to think about the style of the invitation as it relates to the mood they are trying to set with their event.  “I love sitting with brides/couples and pouring through paper and ribbon samples, putting together the perfect combination for that couple,” she said.  Working with brides who are not local to Vermont is also fun, although it may take a bit more time as swatches are sent back and forth to get the perfect combination.  

Since your invitation can set the tone for your event it deserves a little attention.  According to Kate some couples don’t think about their invitation as really being an extension of their wedding because they are created so far in advance of the event.  She believes that invitation suites do not have to break the bank, but a quality invitation helps your guests get excited about the event you are planning.  Invitation suites often include additional enclosures informing guests of activities in the area, weekend events that may be associated with the wedding itself, directions, and accommodation & dining suggestions.  Kate finds couples sending out invitations as early as six or more months before their wedding, depending on how far their guests have to travel, whether it’s a holiday weekend, and the size of their reception venue.

As opposed to the very formal, black & white engraved invitations of the past, invitations are now very colorful and very unique.  Couples are not afraid to choose bold colors and make a statement with their invitations.  As a graphic designer Kate can assist with all of your invitation needs including menus, favor tags and signage (like the Candy Bar sign below)!  Visit Kate’s website to find out more about how That’s Inviting can help make your wedding more inviting!  Here are a few sample photos of her creations…I love the Wildflower Seed Packet favors in the bottom left hand picture (I did the flowers for that wedding so I may be biased, but I LOVE them!).

 

DIY Tips from Kate:  Be unique…Search for high quality/thick paper for your invitations. If you can’t print on the thick paper, print on a lighter sheet and layer them. Layers can add a pop of color, or simply frame your invitation.  Keep in mind that making your wedding invitations may seem fun at first, but be very realistic about your abilities and your time.

I’d like to thank Kate for sharing her advice!  Do you have any invitation questions or issues you need help with?

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Simple centerpiece–DIY

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

The holidays may be over, but that doesn’t mean you are going to stop entertaining!  This super simple centerpiece is made up of 3 white roses, 1 stem of lisianthus and a few touches of cedar, berzilia and leucodendron.  By cutting the stems short & placing the flowers down inside the vase (and putting a cute little top on it!) the look is transformed from a mere $15 bouquet to an interesting tabletop piece.  You can do it with or without the cloche…it’s pretty sweet without the top, too!  Add 1/2″ of water to your vase or display them without water (they should last 2-3 hours easily) and then re-cut the stems & place in jam jars or bud vases to enjoy after the party.  Tip:  Use open roses to get the most out of each bloom.

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DIY Favor-Chive blossom vinegar

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009
When it comes to details I think that personalization is key.  When you’re planning DIY projects for your wedding I think simplicity is essential.  For our Vermont wedding in August of 2003 (which was highly DIY!) I made a sunlight infused chive blossom vinegar for our favors and I think it is a great, easy way to personalize something for your guests.  I learned to make it when I worked for Clay Brook Farm, an organic farm in Jericho, cutting flowers and making bouquets 7 or 8 years ago.  It is perfect for use as a dressing or marinade, it makes a mean cucumber salad and it adds a pretty pink color to your table when it’s bottled!  You may even want to share any left-over vinegar with your caterer and serve it on a salad or side dish at your wedding or rehearsal dinner.  You can make it several months ahead of time so there’s no last-minute work and you can easily substitute different herbs (like purple basil, lemon basil, or any other herb you fancy) for the chive blossoms if you’d like. 
 
Here’s what you’ll need: 
  • 4 clean 5-gallon buckets
  • Glass bottles in a size & shape you like for each guest (I think 8-12 oz. sizes are nice).
  • Lots and lots of chive blossoms (you will probably want to fill each bucket at least 1/2-3/4 of the way with blossoms or herbs).  You might consider growing the herbs yourself or picking them yourself at a local farm (or at least a local farmstand!).
  • White vinegar.  The amount you’ll need depends upon the size of the bottles you select and the number of guests you have.  There are 128 oz. in a gallon so if you multiply the total number of bottles you’ll need by the number of ounces each one holds and divide it by 128 you’ll have your answer.  For example if you have 100 guests and you select 10 oz. bottles you will need about 8 gallons of vinegar to fill the bottles.
  • Plastic wrap to put over the top of the 5-gallon buckets.
  • Large rubber bands or string to secure the plastic wrap to the bucket.
  • Customized tags with your names, wedding date, description of sunlight infused vinegar, uses, etc.
  • Raffia or ribbon to tie tags to bottles.
  • A hole punch and…
  • Sunshine!  1-2 days/afternoons worth should do it.

Steps:

  1. Fill 2 clean 5-gallon buckets 1/2-3/4 of the way with chive blossom or herb of your choice.
  2. Pour vinegar over the top of the blossoms until each bucket has approximately the same amount.
  3. Cover with plastic wrap (you can do more than 1 layer) and secure with rubber bands or string.
  4. Place in full sun for 1-2 days to allow the vinegar to heat up.  Try not to leave it out in the rain!  Use a spoon to check the progress of the vinegar (ie. it’s color and flavor).
  5. When vinegar reaches the desired color/flavor you can remove the plastic wrap and strain the chive blossoms out of the vinegar by pouring it through a cheese cloth into another clean 5-gallon bucket.  (You can attach the cheese cloth to the bucket you are pouring from or the one you are pouring into depending on your set-up.)
  6. You can immediately bottle your vinegar now or store it for several months until you are ready.  You should first sterilize your glass bottles with boiling water and then use a funnel to ladle the vinegar into each bottle being careful to fill to the same line on each bottle.  Cap the bottles, add your tag and voila!  You have a sunlight infused vinegar for your guests that you made yourself!  Easy.  
Chive blossom vinegar photo: Karen Pike

Chive blossom vinegar at my wedding (photo: Karen Pike)

If you want an easy DIY project that delivers a personalized feeling this is definitely one to try.  If you do try it, I’d love to hear how it turns out!

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Super Simple Winter Centerpieces

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

I love the smell of fresh cut pine on my table at Christmas, but for the duration of the holiday season you could try one of these super simple centerpieces.  You can make them up weeks before the holiday and they last all winter long.  Add candles for a warm holiday look.  These can be a great look for a coffee table or as an accent in any room.  Tip:  Add some cinnamon oil to the cinnamon sticks or pinecones for a Christmasy fragrance.  You can apply the oil with a Q-tip and allow to dry on a newspaper overnight.  It’s important to allow the oil to be absorbed for several hours to avoid getting oil on everything they touch! 

Pinecones, pomegranates & mini silver ornaments

Pinecones, pomegranates & mini silver ornaments

You will need:  A 6-8″ square or cylindrical vase, 5-10 pinecones depending on their size, 6-10 pomegranates (you could use apples or oranges, too) and a few silver balls, bells or ornaments.
To make:   If using a square vase start by filling the corners and then working your way into the center of the vase with pomegranates and pinecones.  Alternate the pinecones, pomegranates and ornaments to fill the vase to the brim.  For taller vases you can do multiple layers.
 
 
Pinecones, gravalia, cinnamon sticks and silver balls

Pinecones, gravalia, cinnamon sticks and silver balls

You will need:  Glass vase 6-8″ diameter, 6-10 cinnamon sticks broken into 1-2″ pieces, 6-8 pinecones, 12 mini silver ornaments (or 4 regular size), and 4 pieces of gravalia leaves spray painted gold.
To make:  Fill the bottom of the vase with 1-2″ of cinnamon sticks and line the outside edge of the vase with gold leaves.  Add the pinecones and ornaments by alternating and working in a circular pattern.  Finish by tucking a few pieces of gold gravalia out of the top of the pinecones.   

These couldn’t be any easier!  You can pick up these items at any craft store or Christmas shop or use holiday items you already have.  Add ornaments, dried orange slices or fresh cedar to change the look up a bit.

 

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DIY Flowers? DON’T!

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

There are several aspects of wedding planning that work for the DIY bride (homemade favors, table numbers, invitations or welcome baskets for example), but in my opinion your flowers should not be on that list.  DIY projects work best if they can be completed in the weeks or months before the wedding date.  Flowers are a time-sensitive element that can only be started a few days before the wedding and must be completed the day prior to the wedding when most brides (and close family members, too!) should be able to focus their attention on out-of-town guests, preparing for the rehearsal dinner and tending to last-minute details that may be unexpected.  And don’t forget the manicure!  You will simply ruin your nails while working to clean and arrange stems bringing new meaning to the idea of having a green thumb! 

Some important things to consider about wedding flowers:

  1. Ordering.  It can be difficult to know how many stems of each flower type will be required to achieve the look you are envisioning.  Some flowers ship more reliably than others and it is important to consider the possibility that certain stems may be damaged upon arrival.  One can easily over-order or under-order the amount of flowers needed.
  2. Space.  Arranging flowers for 15-20 tables, 6 bouquets, and more requires a work area that can accommodate the flower prep, centerpiece containers and allow enough room to work.
  3. Prep.  Fresh flowers require hydration (which can take hours if the flowers are not in water) and the stems must be cleaned (ie. the foliage which falls below the water line or simply looks damaged must be removed).  Each stem requires a fresh cut before arranging.
  4. Skill.  Even if you have some experience working with flowers it can prove to be more complicated than it seems to determine the freshness/quality of each bloom, appropriate height for stems and create a pattern for arrangements on a larger scale.
  5. Time.  This goes hand-in-hand with skill, but the time it takes to clean, prep and arrange can be difficult to predict.  Having enough work space also factors into the time it takes.
  6. Delivery.  Packing arrangements for delivery and transporting them is a huge piece of the floral factor.  Boxing arrangements, packing materials to keep vases from breaking, the size of the vehicle required for transport and on-site set-up needs should all be considered.
  7. Clean-up.  Stems and plastic sleeves will require either composting, recycling or tossing.  This can feel like a job in itself and will also factor into the time consideration.

Aside from the above, the most important reason to re-consider DIY flower designs is the fact that at some point it is nice to be done with your wedding planning.  When you have the right venue, selected your menu, have your rsvp’s in hand and finished your final dress fitting you should be able to breathe easy knowing that you have hired the right vendors to make your day a success.  If “arrange flowers” is on your to-do list you won’t get the benefit of completing your list until the day before or day-of your wedding.  I came to this realization when I was planning my own wedding and am so happy that I decided to hand the floral designs over to a trusted professional who was capable of fulfilling my vision and allowed me to be the bride instead of the florist.

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DIY Wedding Tips

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
  • Stick with projects that can be completed at least 2-3 weeks prior to your wedding—not in the final days or day-of!  Leave the flowers, food and day-of décor to professionals or delegate to people who can handle them for you.

 

  • Respect your own limitations.  Try not to take on projects that are beyond your skill level or may require time you simply don’t have.

 

  • Create simple homemade favors that you can easily do yourself.  Select flower seed packets to place in personalized envelopes that read, “Let love grow”, layer hot-cocoa mix & marshmallows in a mason jar with instructions to, “Add warm milk & shake” or try a sunlight-infused vinegar with purple basil, chive blossoms or herb of your choice and bottle them for a nice marinade or salad dressing.

 

  • Place cards/escort cards are a great place to get creative because it is one of the first things your guests see at the reception.  Design a seating chart on a chalk board or pin cards to a cloth-covered foam board that suits your palette/theme.  Something as simple as a tray filled with dried mung beans, coffee beans, river rocks or crystals can be a nice display when place cards are nestled in them.

 

  • Personalize your table numbers to reflect your wedding theme or personality as a couple.  Frame pictures of the two of you, choose names of places you’ve travelled or hiked, select your favorite song titles, or write about the group at the table (ie. “Wedding Party”, “Old friends”, “NYC”, etc.).

Feel free to share any of your own DIY tips below!

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