Thursday, June 30, 2011

Etsy Find ~ Tree Space Studio

I was searching on Etsy for this week's post and came across these paper products by Tree Space Studio.  They are amazing and each one is unique.  I seriously am obsessed.  I think you guys are going to love these as much as I do.

From the owner, Amy: "I want to be able to create {functional} and accessible artwork for everyday uses, whether it is invitations, packaging for hand-made goods or gift-wrapping-everyday objects that are often disposable, and design them as miniature art pieces, something to treasure and keep because it is just too darn cool. To me, making something beautiful for keeps is the greatest form of sustainability.”

I absolutely love this storybook wedding invite!


Hand-painted Table Place Cards

I love how fun and whimsical these Save-the-Date cards are!



Ticket Stub Save-the-Date Cards - so fun!

For even more examples and options, check out Tree Space Studio's website.  They have some really great stuff.  Everything is beautifully hand-painted meaning you'll have a completely unique product for your wedding.

You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.  Happy shopping!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Semi-Guest Post (from the other half of SOSN) - Personalized Wedding Signs

It dawned on me the other week that our blog has been up and running for over 9 months now and I had yet to write a post.  Ok, actually it was really my sister pointing that out to me and asking if I would write a guest post.  I guess it’s only fair since I am the other half of Something Old, Something New. But let me be clear – I am not a writer, I have never blogged before (although I have enjoyed checking out many of our followers’ blogs!). Now that I’ve set your expectations at the right level, enjoy!

This fall will be the 5 year anniversary of my wedding. In 2006, I married my best friend, had a blast at our wedding and then decided I wanted to do it over, and over, and over again. The result? Something Old, Something New. While working with many brides over the last few years, I absolutely love helping them put together the details that will make up their perfect day. 

One idea (had I thought about this 5 years ago, I would have definitely incorporated this into my wedding) is personalized signs and letter cutouts. Earlier this year, I came across Go Jump in a Lake on Etsy. I absolutely love the rustic nature of their signs and even better, they are local vendors working in North Georgia!  My sister has talked about when she gets married one day, it would probably be at lake where our parents live – how perfect would some of these signs be for an outdoor wedding at the lake??



I especially love these and the idea of incorporating tea light candles with the signs. A great way to create a nice atmosphere as the sun begins to set at an outdoor cocktail hour or reception.



Or, if you have a lot of guests coming from out of town, this DIY sign is perfect (featured previously on our blog).  This sign is so fun and your guests will love being welcomed this way.

If your ceremony and reception are at the same location but spread out a bit, you can do a sign like this one below.  Not only is this a fun detail to add to your wedding decor but it will also help direct guests to the right place.

If a large wooden sign isn’t your thing, how about Mr. & Mrs. Signs, to hang on a wall in the reception, on the Bride and Groom’s chair, or really anywhere? 



Or at a minimum, signs and letters are a great way to create some fun, unique pictures on your wedding day. Here is a favorite photo of mine from one of my friends’ wedding a couple of years ago. If only I had a picture like this from my wedding day!


I’m sure I could find many, many more examples to share but hopefully you get the point. Overall, I think a personalized sign is a great to add a unique touch to any wedding. It could even make a great wedding gift for a close friend or family member!

Monday, June 27, 2011

A Little Something ~ #16

Today's {A Little Something} was found on The Ritzy Bee.

I'm loving these fabric bows on these escort cards.  They're super cute and a simple, cheap DIY!



Happy Monday Y'all!

Friday, June 24, 2011

It's All About the Lace

Is it just me or does it seem like lace is everywhere these days?  It's showing up in clothes, accessories, shoes, decor and so on.  And I'm not going to lie, I absolutely love it!  I think lace is such a great way to make pieces look feminine and fun.  A little lace can go a long way to dress something up.

So, with this trend popping up all over the place I got to thinking how could you incorporate lace into your wedding?  I think you can add lace to just about anywhere you want:


The Dress
Have some lace on your hemline, all over or just as an accent belt.


On your feet
Flats or heels - there's options in all colors.


on the cake
I just love these lace appliques on these cakes.  The grey one is probably my favorite!

in the details
 
You can even use lace in the small details from the napkine rings to the invitations.

No matter how much or how little you want to use lace in your wedding decor, you'll be able to find lots of options.  Have fun using this beaufitul trend!

Pictures via (all start at top left and go clockwise):
Dresses: 1, 2, 3
Shoes: 1, 2, 3, 4,
Cakes: 1, 2, 3, 4
Details: 1, 2, 3, 4

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Etsy Find ~ Posh Bridal Couture

This week I found some amazing, beautiful wedding garters on Etsy.  Which got me thinking about the history of garters (I apologize for the nerd moment here):  The wedding tradition for wearing a garter under your dress began in Europe.  With the tradition today, the groom removes his wife's garter and then tosses it to the single male guests.  According to a superstition, the man who catches the garter will be the next man to get married.  Historically the tradition occurred because it is thought that taking a piece of the bride's wedding day outfit would being good luck.  The custom became a game of sorts as the guests would try to help the bride get out of her wedding day outfit (they accompanied the couple into their room to witness the consummation of the marriage... ummm seriously??)  and grab the garter for good luck.  Since the bride often got hurt or her clothes destroyed and people developed some sense of modesty and privacy, the tradition became what it is today.

Okay, so enough of a history lesson for today and on the goodies :)  I found Posh Bridal Couture and just love the delicate style of their garters.  They use lace, flowers and brooches to make beautiful bridal accessories. 

 
Love the feathers!  So pretty and unique.

Lady Olivier
Not up for the traditional garter? This black one would be a fun alternative!

One of my favorites!

Perfectly simple with just white floral lace.


This would make a great 'something blue'.

Aren't these all so beautiful?  Be sure to check out Posh Bridal Couture's Etsy shop for more garter selections.  (They also offer headbands and wedding sashes)

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Save-the-Date

Save-the-Dates are the first impression people will get of your wedding and the feel for your big day.  You can go with simple, fancy, vintage, DIY... the possibilities are endless. 

Make sure to send your save-the-date cards at least 6 months in advance of the wedding to give people (especially those from out of town) enough time to plan.  You should always include: the date, location, accommodations and your website if you have one so people have all the details they need.

I think it's important to have fun with your save-the-date cards.  You can give people a little taste of who you are as a couple and get them excited about your upcoming nuptials.

Here are some great options:

DIY Vintage Postcards

Number Ribbon - too cute! 

Punch Tickets

Crossword Puzzle

 Handkerchief - such a unique idea!

Event Tickets

Simple with blocks or color


 Have you ever gotten a unique save-the-date card?

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Summer Days

Happy Summer! 

Today is the first official day of summer.  Although it's been hot in Atlanta for weeks now, it still makes me happy that it is now official.  Summer is one of my favorite times of the year.  There is nothing I love more than weekends at the lake, BBQ's with friends, a picnic in the park, summertime festivals... and on and on.

Exactly how I feel about the beach!

Another wonderful part of summer is lots of weddings.  It's such a happy time of year!  All of these wedding pictures really capture that feel:







Ahhh sweet, sweet summertime.... What is your favorite part of summer?

Monday, June 20, 2011

A Little Something ~ #15

I found today's {A Little Something} while perusing Pinterest.  (It's seriously addicting...)

This bouquet is from a wedding featured on Style Me Pretty.  The bride got inspiration online and decided she wanted to have cotton balls in the bouquet.  Her florist added the cotton with some lace and pink silk flowers and voilà - you have the below.


I think this bouquet is so sweet and pretty ingenious.  A simple and cheap DIY!  What do you guys think?


Friday, June 17, 2011

I wish...

...that I was this girl.  Looks like heaven.


Hope everyone has a wonderful, relaxing weekend!


Thursday, June 16, 2011

Etsy Find - Shine Invitations

This week's Etsy find is Shine Invitations.  I came across this shop earlier this week and just feel in love with all of their fabulous wedding invitation designs.  They  have so many colors (42 options!) and designs to pick from!  They also offer matching accessories (i.e. programs, menus, place cards, etc.) so you can get everything all wrapped up in one package with the same look and feel.

How pretty is this design - this is probably my favorite!










I love the simple elegance of these!

And for a couple of the accessories:





Be sure to check out the Shine Invitations Etsy shop for more designs!  You can also order samples HERE.

Happy Shopping!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Saving that Wedding Budget

Every bride is on a budget (well every non-celebrity, non-royal, non-millionaire bride that is) and is constantly looking for ways to not eat into that budget with every detail of their wedding.  Looking through Martha Stewart Weddings the other day, I found some great tips for cutting costs while still having your dream wedding!

Here are some of the tips mentioned on Martha Stewart Weddings that we've actually used in the past while planning weddings.  These real life examples help show you how easy it can be to cut your wedding planning costs!

Combine your favors and your place cards into one item.  For my sister's wedding we did this and used mini picture frames.  It's a great way to cut costs by not having to splurge on both!

Reuse your bouquets as centerpieces at the reception. The last wedding we planned reused the bouquets as the wedding cake topper and table decor (see above).  It not only saved the couple money on flowers/decor but also ties the ceremony and reception together.  Also, this gives the bride and bridesmaids a place to stash their bouquets after the ceremony and pictures!

Above is a photo from my sister's and my photo shoot a few months ago for our DIY Weddings Magazine feature (shameless self promotion, I know...).  Our friend, Morgan, is a new photographer and did it for no cost.  She's AMAZING folks!!
So, for your wedding think about hiring a new photographer.  There are so many photographers (and for that matter any type of wedding vendor) just starting their careers and will give you a great discount.  If you offer to give them referrals, they'll probably give you even more of a discount.

Brunch Reception
Consider having your wedding in the morning followed by a brunch reception.  July 4th weekend we are planning a wedding like this and I love the idea.  Mimosas and Bloody Mary's for happy hour - yum!  Not only are the food and drinks for a brunch generally cheaper, but wedding venues will also be lower prices in the morning.  And you can escape to the honeymoon even earlier :)

Small Display Cake - Sheet in the Back
Consider having a smaller, ornate wedding cake on display for guests and pictures.  Then have a larger sheet cake in the back for cutting and serving.  Keep it the same flavor and no one will know the difference!  This can really help you save a TON of money.  We did this a few years ago for a wedding and it worked out perfectly.  They had the above cake on display and a larger, plain sheet cake in back for serving to all of the guests.


So as you can see, cutting costs and staying under your budget can be pretty simple!  For more budget saving ideas, view Martha Stewart Weddings - they have some really great tips.