2010 June | Intimate Weddings - Small Wedding Blog - DIY Wedding Ideas for Small and Intimate Weddings

Real Weddings: Reisha and Scott’s Destination Wedding in Scotland

June 30, 2010 by Christina

Reisha 33, & Scott, 33

Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom

Wedding Date: October 10, 2009

Number of Guests: 28

Wedding Cost: $22,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: Balgonie Castle

Wedding Reception Location: Balgonie Castle

vintage getaway car in scotland

vintage car in scotland wedding

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

We wanted to have a destination wedding {the couple is from the U.S.} and the destination we chose immediately limited the number of guests that would be able to attend. We really just wanted our closest friends and family there so that we would be able to enjoy everyone and those in attendance would be able to get to know those people which they didn’t know.

owl_ringbearer_web

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Destination Weddings |

Getting Married in Scotland

June 29, 2010 by Christina

By Jennifer Cox

Scotland is a country with a picturesque landscape that provides an idyllic setting for exchanging vows. However, before you hop on a plane bound for the Edinburgh, there are certain guidelines you need to follow.

Most importantly, you need to fill out all the necessary documents – this includes a Form M10 (Marriage Notice Application) as well as a form with witness details. You will need to contact the local registrar where the marriage will take place – they will help you arrange for a civil or religious ceremony (depending on what you and your partner want), choose a day and time, and find out about necessary fees you’ll have to pay. A list of all local registration officers and approved places in Scotland can be found at the GROSLocate. Filled-out forms need to be submitted 4-6 weeks before the wedding. One of you might be asked to appear in person at the registrar’s office before the marriage. You may also be asked to show a valid passport and you will both need to show them your birth certificate.

The registrar will then create a Marriage Schedule – no wedding in Scotland can proceed without it. You and your spouse will sign the Marriage Schedule (with a black fountain pen, no less) following your wedding and return it to the registrar in no longer than three days after the wedding so that the marriage can be registered.

Other rules of marriage in Scotland include:

- both parties must be at least 16 years old

- you are unmarried

- you are not related

- you are of different sexes (same-sex marriages are not recognized in Scotland)

Once you’ve met all the formal regulations you can book the bagpiper and say your I dos!

Photo: Martin Pettinger Photography

Jennifer Cox is a Montreal based freelance journalist who loves everything from weddings to foodie news, photography & candy!

Filed Under: Destination Weddings |

Castle Wedding in North Carolina: Castle Ladyhawke Enchanting Wedding Venue

June 28, 2010 by Christina

castle ladyhawke wedding

Dreaming of a castle wedding, but don’t want to travel abroad to say ‘I do’?

North Carolina’s Castle Ladyhawke is an authentic reproduction of a Scottish border castle. Its sprawling 60 acres surrounded by panoramic mountain views will create a magical backdrop for you and your ‘prince’ (as well as all your guests).

The venue, which overlooks the Tuckasegee River Valley, only books one event a day, so when you have your wedding at the Castle Ladyhawke you can enjoy all the facility’s majestic amenities to yourself – the on-site catering services, the expansive lawns and gardens, the Great Room for the ceremony (situated in the entrance of the castle), the master bridal suite, the pub, and so much more.

castle ladyhawke

castle ladyhawke wedding

castle ladyhawke ceremony

castlel ladyhawk wedding

The facility’s helpful and experienced staff has helped couples create their dream wedding for years, and they can bring your wedding vision to life, from “once upon a time” to “happily ever after.”

The picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains are an ideal setting for a beautiful wedding, but what will really put things over the top is exchanging vows at the Castle Ladyhawke. Your guests will be talking about your castle wedding for years to come!

For more info go to weddings at Castle Ladyhawke.

outdoor wedding at castle ladyhawke

castle ladyhawke bride

Photo Three, Four, Five, Seven: Aaron Imaging; Photo Six: Nick Breedlove Photography

Sponsored Post

Filed Under: Sponsored Posts |

Unique Wedding Venues: Castle Weddings Week

June 27, 2010 by Christina

dove release wedding

Love the idea of a castle wedding? You’ll love this week’s blog posts!

Tomorrow we’re going to let you know about a fantastic castle wedding venue located in the southern U.S.

If a castle wedding in Scotland is more your style, make sure you check out Tuesday’s blog post by writer Jennifer Cox. Jenn is going to tell you all about the rules and regs for having a destination wedding in Scotland.

And you won’t want to miss Wednesday and Thursday’s posts; we’ll be highlighting two fantastic real destination weddings in Scotland by Scottish wedding photographer Margaret McAtier.

Photo: Sneak peek of Reisha and Scott’s destination wedding in Scotland shot by Margaret McAtier.

Filed Under: Destination Weddings, Wedding Venues |

Happy Friday!

June 25, 2010 by Christina

watercolor bride illustration

I love the watercolor illustrations of Nicole Wong. I am lucky to have one of her original ACEO’s in my collection. This one is still for sale.

Happy Friday!!

Filed Under: Unique Wedding Finds |

Be Yourself

June 24, 2010 by Christina

To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting. ~e.e. cummings

There’s a lot of pressure out there in blogland to live up to a certain aesthetic ideal when it comes to weddings. And sometimes all of these pretty images can cast a spell. Pretty soon you don’t know if the wedding you’re creating is something that you really want – or something you’ve been seduced into having.

I encourage you to think about your wedding. Find a quiet space and reflect on the things that matter to you. How can you incorporate the things that make you UNIQUE as a couple?

Darin and I will be celebrating nine years this year. We planned our Big Day before wedding blogs existed. Hence, we weren’t subjected to thousands of images of picture perfect weddings, which in a way, was a blessing. We had our own blank canvas. The elements in our wedding truly came from the heart.

We DIYed (there was no term DIY wedding back then!) just about everything but the food and music. My sister in law made the invitations. She also helped me, my mother and maid of honour make the bouquets and centerpieces. I made handmade soap and CD’s for wedding favors.

We chose a venue that had the most meaning to us (our backyard) and we had live Scottish and Irish bands because we love Celtic music. Our getaway car was a vintage rolls because we loved the idea of an old car. That was before vintage was the biggest buzzword going.

We did not feel pressure to live up to the latest, greatest real wedding. Our wedding was authentically us.

There are many great things about wedding blogs. They are a source of great information and inspiration. They can save brides time, money and headaches. But they can also hypnotize.

Stay awake on your wedding journey. Enjoy the sights along the way, but stay true to your own path.

Filed Under: Wedding Planning |

The Gatsby Summer Afternoon

June 23, 2010 by Christina

gatsby theme wedding

One of my favourite books in high school was F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.

The Great Gatsby is more than a great story – it offers a fascinating glimpse into the roaring twenties and prohibition era – which make it an incredible source of inspiration for a vintage wedding!

As I was searching for images on The Great Gatsby themed weddings to share with you, I stumbled up the Art Deco Society of Oakland, Calfornia. Every year for the past 26 years the society has hosted the Gatsby Summer Afternoon, an event that pretty much blew my mind. I swear I would travel across the country to experience it just once!

“The Gatsby Summer Afternoon lets several hundred aficionados of the 1920s and 30s step back to a time when elegance was a way of life and the Charleston and fox trot were all the rage.This is not a spectator event. From 1-6pm the panoramic Dunsmuir {an 1899 neoclassical revival mansion} front lawn becomes a stage on which all participants picnic, dance and sip champagne, reminiscent of a scene from The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s famous novel of 1925 …. With everyone attending this event in period fashions, the effect is stunning! Many guests bring period-perfect picnics, with settings from elaborate spreads, complete with silver, crystal, linens and china, to simple wicker baskets on vintage print tablecloths.”

Can you imagine?

As one participate wrote:

“People take this day seriously. Quite damn seriously. I like to think of this day as Burning Man for those who bathe and prefer a strong cocktail over sand and hallucinogens,” says Mena, whose experience is featured on Nested.

In fact, if you read Mena’s story, preparing a picnic for the Gatbsy Summer Afternoon didn’t sound all that much different from planning a small, outdoor wedding reception. Here are some photos from her picnic:

{Below: She purchased authentic vintage soda labels on Etsy, and filled her own bottles with beverages that matched the labels.}

vintage soft drink labels

gatsby summer afternoon

great gatsby summer afternoon

Hmm… I wonder if they’ve had any weddings on site at the Gatsby Summer Afternoon?

First Photo: Gatsby themed wedding shot by Josh Goleman; Second, Third, Forth Photo: Nested

Filed Under: Theme Weddings, vintage wedding |

DIY Bath and Beauty Products

June 22, 2010 by Christina

dessert buffet wedding

There is a closet in my house that is filled from top to bottom with essential oils. Grapefruit, lemongrass, patchouli, lavender, mint, tangerine are just a few of the intoxicating scents that fill the shelves.

I used to be a soapmaker – and although I don’t have time to indulge in this hobby anymore, I still love homemade bath and body products.

When I stumbled on Nonpareil and found a bunch of delicious downloads and recipes for homemade beauty products, I knew I would have to share! These would be lovely for a wedding shower!

As for me? I think it’s high time for me to crack open those oils and have some fun in the ‘lab’!

Enjoy!

Filed Under: DIY Misc., DIY Wedding |

Real Weddings: Ulrika & Emil’s Small Swedish Wedding

June 21, 2010 by Christina

Ulrika, 34 & Emil, 34

Öregrund, a small picturesque town in Sweden.

Wedding Date: May 20, 2010

Number of Guests: 10 (Emil’s parents, sister and partner, Ulrika’s mother, father and wife, brother and Emil and Ulrika’s two sons Axel and Isak).

Wedding Cost: $12,000 USD

Wedding Ceremony Location: Öregrunds kyrka

Wedding Reception Location: Hotel Floras Trädgård, Öregrund

sweden wedding

swedish wedding

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

We chose an intimate wedding for different reasons. At first we felt different about how big the wedding should be. Ulrika wanted a bigger wedding and Emil preferred a small one. Afterward, Ulrika felt very lucky that they went for a small wedding. It was so great! Small, perfect and one of the happiest days in our lives. Another reason why we chose an intimate wedding was the lack of time to arrange a big wedding. With two small kids, a house and full time jobs it’s difficult to find the extra time.

intimate wedding in sweden

wedding guests swedish wedding [Read more...]

Filed Under: Real Weddings |

Happy Father’s Day Dad!

June 20, 2010 by Christina

fathers day

When I was in my twenties and living at home I remember my dad buying me a heart-shaped box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day. It was his way of cheering me up about not having a boyfriend. That’s the kind of stuff my dad did.

He was – and is – an expert at making people feel better.

When I was a kid he always managed to get me to stop crying. No matter how big my sobs. In my tumultuous teens, after break ups with boyfriends or quarrels with friends, my dad could always console me. I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that I knew he deeply cared about me. No matter what.

But it’s also his cheery disposition. My dad radiates cheerfulness. He doesn’t do grumpy.

There are two other special dads in my life; my father-in-law and my husband. They’re amazing men, and exceptional fathers. I am so fortunate to have these guys in my life – and so are my two daughters.

Here’s to you wonderful dads of the world! I hope you know how much you are loved!

Photo: Pinning the boutonniere on my day on my wedding day, September 1, 2001. (Was it really that long ago!)

Filed Under: About IntimateWeddings.com |

DIY Place Cards from Doilies

June 17, 2010 by Christina

name card

I love this idea from Martha Stewart! Simply write your guests names on doilies and place a clear plate over them. Clever! If you’ve got a thing for doilies, don’t forget to check out the doiley cupcake wrappers and doiley envelopes.

Photo: Martha Stewart via Emmaline Bride

Filed Under: DIY Escort Cards & Table Numbers, DIY Wedding |

Banana Crumb Muffins Recipe: Numero Uno Indeed!

June 16, 2010 by Christina

banana crumb muffins

There is a reason that this recipe for Banana Crumb Muffins is the #1 recipe on Allrecipes.com. There is a reason that out of more than 5,000 reviews, it has five stars.

One word: divine.

I have made these muffins MANY times! They are pure buttery, sugary, bananafanafofana bliss – especially with a cup of tea. My girls and my husband LOVE them too.

They’re so good, I think I will immortalize the recipe as an illustration for They Draw and Cook once order in my recently flooded art room is restored. (Thankfully our insurance is covering the new floor!)

What does this have to do with weddings? Nothing. It’s all about sharing a damn good recipe with my readers. And you scoring some MAJOR brownie points with your man.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 bananas mashed

3/4 cup white sugar

1 egg lightly beaten

1/3 cup butter, melted

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon butter (at room temp.)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Lightly grease ten muffin cups, or use cupcake liners.

In a large bowl mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat together banana, sugar, egg and melted butter.

banana streusel muffins