Green Post: Reusable Decor
Written by Sara on December 7, 2009 – 10:05 am -
Good morning, all! I hope you’re coming back from a relaxing, wintery weekend – we had SO MUCH FUN at our engagement shoot yesterday; thank you to all of you who left suggestions for me on how to “winterize” my dress! I can’t wait to see (and then show you all!) our pictures.
Today’s post is a hybrid of sorts, combining the usual “Green Post” theme with an “Our Wedding” feature.
My mother collects birdhouses of all shapes and sizes. In the home that I grew up in, my mother showcases her collection of these birdhouses atop various overhangs in our formal living room and kitchen. I’ve always loved how completely diverse her birdhouses are, and would often admire them as a young girl. I love how a weathered birdcage would sit next to a mossy birdhouse on one side and a refined church birdhouse on the other.
Before Jordan and I were even engaged, we knew that our wedding would not be the typical affair, partly because we’re not mainstream people (both of us are fascinated by imaginary worlds of television and fiction), but mostly because of money. We (smartly) did not want to dive head first into the big ‘D’ (debt) to afford letterpress invitations or chocolate fountains.
So, after Jordan and I were engaged, I began diving into wedding blog after wedding blog, trying to find a theme or motif that inspired me. I came across Olive You Deerly relatively early in my search, and I fell in love with the floral/birds’ nest fascinator that she wore in her hair. I love the imagery of lovebirds, and after a little more brainstorming, I thought back to my mother’s birdhouse collection. Why couldn’t we utilize her wonderful collection for our reception centerpieces? From there, I began Google searching everything “rustic” and “bird-themed,” and after a few months, I now have a honed vision on the main theme of our wedding: lovebirds with a touch of rustic elements, heavy on the vintage.
The point of my story is this: instead of purchasing (or renting!) tall clear vases, mirror squares, candleholders, etc. for our centerpieces, we’re utilizing reusable decor and found items. By showcasing my mother’s birdhouse collection, we’re being budget-friendly AND eco-friendly (no waste!). I feel like learning this lesson early in my wedding planning has not only helped me to accomplish a honed vision, but has also contributed significantly to our desire not to go into debt or contribute to mass waste. As an added bonus, I feel very satisfied that we’re honoring my mother by including her collection of birdhouses. Utilizing her collection also gives our wedding personality – how many weddings have you attended where birdhouses sit center stage?
Do any of your family members have collections
that you could utilize in your own wedding?
Photo: www.bymyhands.com
Tags: birdcage, birdhouses, Google, lovebirds, Olive You Deerly, reusable wedding decor
Posted in Budget Weddings, Decor, Eco-Chic, Our Wedding | 3 Comments »