Intimate Weddings - Small Wedding Venues and Locations - DIY Wedding Ideas

DIY Orange Candles

May 16, 2012 by Christina

Candles – made from oranges? Brilliant, huh?

I love when DIY wedding projects are simple – and this one is as simple as they come! Orange candles add a beautiful botanical touch to garden wedding or party decor. They would look lovely placed in a row on a long table or individually on smaller tables. How do you make them?

* Do NOT leave orange candles unattended for any length of time. Also, make sure the orange is stable so it does not topple over. It is a good idea to place the orange on a dish or saucer. Do not place the candle near anything flammable.

You will need:

A navel orange (they are easier to peel)
a knife
Olive oil or other kind of vegetable oil
Lighter [Read more...]

Eco-Friendly Favors at Tree Beginnings

May 15, 2012 by Christina

Nix the knick knacks and go green for your wedding with tree sapling favors from Tree Beginnings.

I don’t know about you, but I adore the idea of tree saplings as favors. Unlike most favors, a tree is a lasting reminder of your wedding day for both you – and your guests.

At Tree Beginnings, you can choose from tree saplings in a burlap bag, a box or a tree tube. Don’t fancy the idea of saplings? Tree Beginnings has more than 200 eco-friendly favors to choose from including seeds, flower bulbs and a variety of plantable handmade papers.

Tree Beginnings, which operates out of a 100 year old farmhouse near Ithaca, New York, has been selling eco-favors for nearly twenty years – so you can feel confident that you are dealing with a company that has plenty of experience. Check out Tree Beginnings for more info.

Photo One: weddingbeepro.com; Photo Two, Three: thebridallounge.ie

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Real Weddings: Alaina & Greg’s Intimate Wine Country Celebration

May 14, 2012 by Tammie

Alaina and Greg opted for a 50-guest destination wedding in Sonoma, California.

Even though Greg fancied the idea of a big wedding, Alaina convinced him otherwise – and they had no regrets.

“I’ve seen time and time again brides and grooms having to spend so much time welcoming every guest and getting pulled in so many directions that they can barely enjoy themselves. We were able to get up and talk to each one of our guests during our dinner and still had time to sit back down and eat. And we literally had the best night of our lives,” says Alaina.

I love the sunny color scheme and the DIY touches of this intimate barn wedding.

Thanks to photographer Adi Nevo for the lovely photos.

Alaina, 30 & Greg, 32

Sonoma, CA

Wedding Date: June 20, 2011

Number of Guests: 50

Wedding Cost: $33,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: Cornerstone Gardens, Sonoma, CA

Wedding Reception Location: Cornerstone Gardens – Barn

[Read more...]

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Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Crafts: A Review

May 11, 2012 by Christina

If you are planning a DIY wedding, Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Crafts: An A-to-Z Guide with Detailed Instructions and Endless Inspirationis one book you will want to get your crafty little hands on.

Although the book (which weighs more than my cat!) isn’t targeted specifically at brides, it’s chock full of fantastic DIY projects that are entirely customizable to weddings.

Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Crafts contains complete instructions and brief histories for more than 30 techniques, detailed descriptions of the necessary tools and materials, and easy-to-copy templates.

Topics covered include: candlemaking, botanical pressing, decoupage, rubber stamping, and wreath making – among many others.

I have more than a dozen sticky notes throughout the book, marking projects that I want to try.

Like these vintage teacup candles and seashell candles. Would these make adorable wedding or shower favors?

I’m loving these crepe paper flowers. I hope to give these a whirl in the upcoming weeks.

These glitter birds were the inspiration for my ‘glitter’arium.

If you are the crafty type – or are even a wannabe crafter, Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Crafts will ignite your imagination – and just might cause you to enter into a full-blown DIY wedding frenzy.

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Retro-Chairs Add Fun and Whimsy to Wedding Decor

May 10, 2012 by Christina

Can you imagine stumbling on these colorful retro chairs at a yard sale?

Retro chairs are all the rage for both wedding and ceremony seating. They add a fun, whimsical element to retro-inspired weddings. Aside from yard sales, Kijiji, Craigslist or the Habitat Restore are all possible sources for retro chairs.

Here are a few ways that retro chairs are used:

I especially love these ones because they are cushioned!:)

These chairs bring me right back to my school days.

These mismatched vintage lawn chairs are my absolute fave!! I’m sure you could snatch these up at yard sales.

If you stumble on some ugly folding chairs at a yard sale, paint them!

If your wedding is next year – you have lots of time to scour yard sales and thrift shops for wedding chairs. Once you’re done with them you can sell them and recoup your investment.

Photo One: Ruffled; Photo Two: Hindsight Bride; Photo Three:Andrea Reh; Photo Four: BlainPhoto; Photo Five: Hindsight Bride; Photo Six: Weddings Online; Photo Seven: Manuel/MC

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Art You Can Eat

May 9, 2012 by Christina

I don’t know about you, but sometimes my eyes need a break from the pastel vintage haze that is everywhere in weddingland. Don’t get me wrong – my love affair with vintage has not died a sudden death, it’s just that sometimes I crave big, bold, bright, exciting colors. And something new. Different.

Enter Jell-o.

What’s more colorful and synonymous with fun than Jell-o? It’s the perfect combination of kitsch, sugar and jiggle to make it a playful addition to any reception. Or cocktail hour (if you add vodka.)

But the real ‘cool factor’ comes from the random, abstract designs you can create using Jell-o. Each of of these bite sized cubes resembles a mini abstract masterpiece. Move over Picasso!

Want to make ‘em? Here’s the recipe and tutorial: [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Food & Drink, DIY Wedding | 1 Comment

Escondido Wedding Venues: Eco-Awesome Weddings at The Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa

May 8, 2012 by Christina

What’s the best way to go green for your wedding? Choose an eco-friendly venue!

Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa in Escondido, California is big on green weddings. Not only does this historic natural estate offer an 11-acre paradise with orchards and gardens that are completely organic, the venue recycles, composts, conserves, re-purposes and avoids hazardous chemicals including cleaning supplies, pesticides and herbicides.

Another eco-friendly feature of this venue is that allows you have both your ceremony and reception in one place, thereby reducing your (and your guests’!) carbon footprint. Even better is that you can have all your guests stay overnight in one place!

The Wedding Weekend at Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa allows couples to rent the entire property for their wedding (full and exclusive use – no other events) and sleep up to 40 of their guests. Couples can bring in all of their own vendors – or go completely DIY and have family and friends pitch in during the event. (The site has two kitchens – why not enlist friends and family with some of the food prep?)

Want to learn more about eco-friendly weddings at this California wedding venue? Visit Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa.

Photos: Clickery Photography

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Real Weddings: Blair & Judson’s Intimate Paris Elopement

May 7, 2012 by Tammie

Ah, the romance of Paris. A perfect place to run off and get married, don’t you think?

Blair and Judson, who hail from Atlanta, Georgia, invited 16 of their nearest and dearest to their charming Parisian elopement.

“We loved traveling with our best friends, and it was amazing to have all the people we care most about together for a long weekend in my favorite place in the world. Because we were with all the people who love us most, there was no pressure to impress,” says Blair.

Thanks to Kim Petyt from Parisian Events for sharing this wedding with IW, and to Heidi Geldhauser from Our Labor Of Love for the incredible photos!