Eco-Vintage Weddings

Our Wedding: Wedding Shoes – Part II!

Remember my lamentations about wedding shoes? Well, I think I’ve found a swoon-worthy alternative for trendy sky-high shoes:  Etsy seller OxfordHeaven!

OxfordHeaven crafts fun refashioned & vintage shoes & accessories for your closet. From Rachael, the brains behind OxfordHeaven:  I always think it is unfair that little girls have amazingly fun little shoes, so grown-up girls need something pretty in their lives, too.

I’ve already requested my custom pair of shoes – low heels/wedges in a sunshine yellow color! I can’t wait to work with Rachael on customizing my wedding shoes.

Check out more delightful beauties on OxfordHeaven’s Flickr page!

[All photos courtesy of OxfordHeaven on Etsy]

Our Wedding: Bouquet Inspiration!

I’ve started to focus a little more on wedding flowers within the past week, and I’ve decided that I would like to use real flowers for my bouquet. After making this inspiration board (below), I’m even more excited about my bouquet!

Aren’t these flowers beautiful?! But with no flower market in sight here in Sioux Falls (apart from the farmer’s market, where we might try to get flowers for my bridesmaids), I think it might be best if I bring this inspiration board to a local florist to explain what I’m looking for in my bouquet. Maybe it will be possible for us to pick up loose flowers a day or so before our wedding, and for me and my mother to try to arrange them ourselves?

I am looking forward to starting this process!

[Inspiration board made via Style Me Pretty's Style Circle]

Showcase Wednesday: Target Finds!

Happy Wednesday, readers! Today I wanted to take a break from DIY goodness to share with you a few recent vintage-inspired finds, available to you at one of my favorite stores, Target. You can also order these items online at www.target.com.

First up – women’s clothing! I’ve been oogling at these little black dresses – wouldn’t these little numbers be perfect for a formal rehearsal dinner, or even for a bridesmaid dress?

Or, if you’re looking for a fun, colorful dress to don at your bridal shower (or for your engagement shoot!), take a look at these fab frocks:

I am seriously coveting that yellow burst of sunshine in the middle; how perfect would that be for a wedding shower!

The best part about Target is that it’s a one-stop shop for EVERYTHING; click here to peruse what Target has to offer for clutches, killer shoes and jewelry.

As an added bonus, if you’re blessed to have a small frame, check out these vintage-inspired dresses that just hit the juniors section at Target:

Thanks for taking a quick little shopping trip with me – click here to access Target’s online marketplace.

[All photos from Target.com]

Our Wedding: Cootie Catchers!

Good Tuesday morning, readers! Today I’m showcasing another DIY project that I’ve finished for our wedding this July – cootie catcher favors!

I originally saw this project on Vintage Glam Weddings, a site of vintage goodness that’s now under the moniker of Ruffled (which, if you haven’t checked it out, shame on you!). I always used to play with these when I was in grade school, and I felt like it including these little lovelies would be a fun throwback to my childhood!

As a twist on the traditional cootie catcher, instead of using numbers and colors, my groom and I came up with a few facts of trivia about us as a couple and us as individuals. To keep this project eco-friendly, we plan to print these on recycled paper.

Here’s the finished product:

Click here to download the template for cootie catchers on Ruffled.

Click here for instructions on how to fold cootie catchers via The Daring Book for Girls.

[Photo: The Daring Book for Girls]

Green Monday: Martha Stewart Natural Cleaning Products!

Good morning all!

Last week I received an email from the Martha Stewart camp announcing the premier of Martha Stewart Clean, “a new line of natural cleaners that are effective, responsible and safe for your family, the home and the environment.”

According to the press release, each Martha Stewart Clean product:

- Contains 99+% plant- and mineral-based ingredients

- Leaves your home smelling fresh and clean, using no artificial perfumes or strong chemical odors

- Uses no added preservatives or artificial colors

- Is certified by the EPA’s Design for Environment program as a best-in-class product with safer formulation

Martha Stewart Clean products are available at your area Home Depot, or online here.

NOTE: This post is not sponsored by the above company, individual, service or product line.

[Photo: Martha Stewart Clean]

Green Friday: HiFi Weddings!

Happy Friday, readers! Today I wanted to bring to your attention a WONDERFUL resource for all of you brides and grooms who are looking to make your own musical mixes for your wedding reception. Hi-Fi Weddings provides artist and song listings for the music lovers to use for their special day!

Here’s what Hi-Fi Weddings creator Ashley has to say about her brain child: Here at Hi-Fi Weddings, we understand the importance of music at your wedding. From the song that you walk down the aisle to, until the very last dance we invite you to share your wedding playlist…or to gather ideas from other like-minded brides and grooms. And while we love music of all sounds and notes, we’d like to focus on those that want their wedding mix to be less “Top 40″ and more of music that is true to the soul.

From lovely wedding showcases to endless lists of wedding-perfect tunes, Hi-Fi Weddings is a resource that any DIY-obsessed bride and groom, or any music lover, for that matter, can afford to avoid!

Have a great weekend!

Our Wedding: DIY Projects Update!

Happy Tuesday, readers! I hope today is happy for you – Tuesdays are usually happy for me: any day is better than Monday in my book!

With approximately five months until the wedding, I wanted to give you all a glimpse into what I’ve accomplished these past few weeks. I’ve hit the wedding planning hard, and I’m very proud of what projects I’ve started and finished! Many thanks to my wonderful friends and family for their help, as well as my future husband – I couldn’t do any of this without you!

- I’ve lined envelopes for our Save the Date cards and for the invitations for my bachelorette party (which will most likely be in June).
- I’ve made invitations for my bachelorette party, which I’ll be showcasing for you all tomorrow!
- Our Save the Date cards are nearly complete; I am VERY happy with the finished product, and I can’t wait to show the fruits of our efforts to you all next week!
- We’ve downloaded templates for our rehearsal dinner invitations and for our gift opening invitations; all we need are the details, and they’ll be ready to print!
- I’ve made little “favors” of sorts for our wedding; I’m anxious to show these to you near the end of February!
- We’ve taken profile photos of our entire wedding party, and I’m almost ready to talk with Jordan about what I’m concepting for our wedding ceremony programs.
- I’ve purchased large rectangles of styrofoam, which I will adorn with moss and turn into monograms that will hang by ribbon on the church doors!
- I’ve purchased two large bags of fabric pom poms; I am currently researching making DIY paper cones full of pom poms that our ushers will pass out to guests after our ceremony. I love these little pom poms!
- I purchased my flower fascinator from Etsy, and I can’t wait until it arrives!
- I purchased lace trim to use when making my throw-away garter.
- I’m in the beginning stages of making a few special items for my bridesmaids, including a very exciting purchase of gifts from Etsy! No more for now, can’t take the chance that I’d ruin the surprise!
- I’m in talks with a wonderful Etsy artist about making dresses for our flower girls; I’m a few decisions away from nailing down exactly what we’re looking for!
- My mother and I made a trip to a few area fabric stores last week, and I think we’ve found the fabric that we’ll use to make napkins for our wedding reception. I can’t wait to get this fabric purchased and get started on making these eco-friendly goodies!
- I have added a base coat of cream paint to 15 wooden letter “G’s” (these will be part of our centerpieces); they look great, and I can’t wait to add more treatments to these letters!
- J and I have FINALLY nailed down a design for our wedding invitations; now, all we need to do is add the text to the invitation, and then we can begin working on the supplemental materials for our invitations!

Whew! Looking at this list, I feel SO proud of all of the work we’ve started and finished.

What projects are YOU currently working on for your wedding?

Green Friday: Guest Post – Dream Green Weddings!

Happy Friday, readers! Today we are lucky enough to feature a guest post from Heather at Dream Green Weddings, a super-chic online marketplace of eco-conscious wedding and/or gifting goods (and a lovely blog, too!)

Heather’s bringing you 10 easy ways to “greenify” your wedding. Take it away, Heather!

Congratulations! By reading this post on the wonderful Eco-Vintage Weddings blog, you are already a step ahead on your journey to planning a greener wedding. By making just a few eco-friendly choices, you can truly make a difference in the impact your wedding has on our environment.  

Here are 10 ways to help reduce waste, save energy, conserve resources and decrease carbon emissions produced by your wedding. Remember, this is not an “all or nothing” concept. If you can incorporate all 10, fantastic! But if you can only do one or two, every little bit helps. Here we go . . .

1. For invitations, choose from tree free papers, letterpress, 100% PCW recycled paper, seeded invitations, and look for vegetable or soy-based inks.

2. Look for favors that are made from organic, sustainable or recycled materials, or even handmade. Other eco-friendly options include tree favors that your guests can plant in your honor. Seeded wedding favors are a beautiful and renewable option. Bamboo favors are symbolic of good luck, and are good for the earth.

3. If decorating with candles, be sure to select candles that are made from natural soy or 100% beeswax. Avoid using paraffin candles as they are made from petroleum (which can increase the CO2 level in the atmosphere).

4. When you are considering gifts for the wedding party and special guests, look for Fair Trade organizations that provide fair wages and create safer working conditions for people in developing countries. Jewelry is hand-made and usually with eco-friendly materials!

5. Pick a location that is close to home to save on carbon emissions. Try to have your ceremony and reception at the same location to avoid additional transportation requirements and to reduce carbon emissions.

6. Look for local, eco-conscious caterers who offer organic menus, and use locally-grown foods from local farmers. Ask them to deliver the leftovers to a charity.

7. Avoid flowers that are imported, as they are generally grown with toxic chemicals and pesticides. Insist on locally grown flowers that are in season, and/or organically grown flowers.

8. Consider beautiful vintage wedding dresses, or new wedding dresses made from organic materials such as recycled/organic cotton, hemp or silk.

9. Support green businesses by looking for vendors who are environmentally and socially responsible.

10. Extend your green theme to your honeymoon. Many luxury hotels and resorts are now practicing sustainable hospitality. There’s a helpful travel “green” guide at http://ecotourism.org.

Big thanks to Heather Teague from Dream Green Weddings; head on over to her site for more easy ways to make your wedding green!

[Photos: Courtesy of Heather at Dream Green Weddings]

Showcase Wednesday: Untamed Petals

Good Wednesday morning! Today I’d like to showcase yet another Etsy seller, Untamed Petals.

Untamed Petals‘ shop is full of vintage-inspired accessories, from headbands to hair fascinators to sashes and belts.

If, like me, your idea of bridal attire is not the traditional tulle gown with a long cathedral veil, you’ll fall in love with Untamed Petals‘ shop.

Here’s a few of my favorite pieces from her shop:

As featured on Green Wedding Shoes last week, this super cute, large floral headband made its debut in an anniversary shoot featuring Green Wedding Shoes’ Jen and her hubby (which, if you haven’t checked this feature out yet, you MUST; Part I here, Part II here).

If you do like the look of a traditional bridal tiara or headband, this piece is a play on tradition. I love the way this double-banded headband looks on this short-haired model; how beautiful!

If I decide to change the look of my wedding gown in any way, it would be to add this belt. I just LOVE the way it looks on the featured dress in the photo, and I think it would look just as lovely on my wedding gown.

Click here to access Untamed Petals’ shop on Etsy!

[Photo credits: All photos via Untamed Petals on Etsy; second photo taken by Caroline Tran]

Showcase Wednesday: 101 in 1001

Happy Wednesday, readers!

Today I wanted to take a break from all things weddings and tell you all about a program that offers a twist on New Year’s resolutions.

I’ve always been a big fan of creating New Year’s resolutions, but, like a lot of people, I can never seem to keep them all.

Have you heard of 101 in 1001, invented by the Day Zero Project? I originally heard about this goals-oriented program from Peach & Pearl, who is nine mere months away from finishing her 101 in 1001.

Here’s what the Day Zero Project says is the intention of the 101 in 1001 project:

The Challenge:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past – frequently simple challenges such as New Year’s resolutions or a ‘Bucket List’. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips, study semesters, or outdoor activities.

So, when I heard about this program, I instantly became excited. 2.75 years to complete my goals? YES!

I’m in the midst of compiling my list of goals in hopes of starting my own 101 in 1001 on February 1. Here’s a few of my goals:

Take a trip overseas.

Go on a mission trip.

Get into graduate school.

Spend an entire day at the spa.

Cut bangs into my hair…again.

Get married!

Participate in pre-marital counseling.

Learn how to make one type of fish, and make this meal for Jordan.

Take Wyatt the dog on a walk every day for one entire month.

Read Pride & Prejudice.

Watch “Animal House.”

Have a marathon movie-watching session of all of the “Lord of the Rings” series with Jordan.

Make every effort to recycle.

Volunteer at least once on behalf of disadvantaged kids.

Go on a camping trip with Jordan and Wyatt the dog.

Conduct and record an interview with my Dad about his life.

Participate in the “Drive-Thru Difference,” or, in other words, pay for someone’s order behind me in the drive-thru.

Do at least six DIY projects per year.

See the Backstreet Boys in concert…again.

What are your goals for the New Year?

[Photo Credit: The Alexander Group]