Birch is all over the wedding scene these days. I love birch because it reminds me of the north. It reminds me of quiet lakes, canoes, deep forests and cottage campfires.

Birch fits in perfectly with a white winter wedding. Here are a few ways to beautify with birch:

Hanging birch cones filled with fresh flowers.

Birch vases make for stunning centerpieces.

They look lovely grouped together.

Birch can also be used for your dessert table.

What about birch place cards?

A birch-inspired wedding cake.

Birch branches form a dramatic, yet simple backdrop.

Birch-inspired wedding invitations.

Photo One: Mary Claire Crow; Photo Two: Style Me Pretty; Photo Three:QWeddings.com; Photo Four: Pockets of Hope; Photo Five and Six: The Sweetest Occasion; Photo Seven: This Fine Day; Photo Eight: Wedding Bee; Photo Nine: Things are Better with  a Parrot; Photo Ten: Oh So Beautiful Paper; Photo Eleven: Wedding Paper Divas

Paper lanterns are one of the most effective and economical ways to add  ‘wow’ to a tent or outdoor space. Whether you’re going for a whimsical look or something more sophisticated, Luna Bazaar has a huge variety of paper lantern styles in 50 colors.

Paper lanterns look amazing grouped together in single colors and shapes like this:

You can also liven things up by mixing them up:

Or adding patterns: {source}

Luna Bazaar also has an awesome selection of parasols. In fact, they have 100 parasol styles in over 30 colors! {source}

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Luna Bazaar offers other wedding decor items, like hand fans, votive holders, string light lanterns, glass vases and even this playful Mexican party banner:

Check out their great selection of wedding decor at LunaBazaar.com.

Sponsored Post.

Bluephoto Wedding Photography did an amazing job capturing this beautiful l’il outdoor ceremony on the misty East Cuesta Ridge in California. The photographer also shot a video of the ceremony, which you can view at the bottom of this blog post. It’s definitely worth checking out!

BTW, Megan’s stunning bouquet was made with flowers from her garden and other gardens in her neighborhood.

Megan, 41, & Mark, 45

San Luis Obispo, California

Wedding Date: October 6, 2010

Number of Guests: Bride, Groom, Officiant, Photographer, Witness (5)

Wedding Cost: Dress & shoes for bride & groom $400 (The photographer shot this wedding for free. He didn’t tell them he wasn’t going to charge them. He didn’t let them pay him in the end. How cool is that!)

Wedding Ceremony Location: East Cuesta Grade above Hwy 101 North of San Luis Obispo

Wedding Reception Location: We gave the family full reign to throw whatever kind of party they wanted at a later date.  This way we got what we wanted (an intimate wedding) and they get what they need (a party).

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

For us getting married is a very personal experience. I wanted to focus on what was important, which was each other.  A wedding with more people adds outside expectations and becomes about your guests as well.

What are some the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

Mostly gaining the respect of our families in doing it this way.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

It was all or none – so that was easy.

Did you have any issues with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

We just stuck to our guns on having a small ceremony.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

The weather made a 180 degree change from the previous day, so it was cold and rainy which made it adventurous and memorable.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

There was no stress. It felt as though no matter what happened, it was how it was supposed to be.  Our perfect sunset location turned into a wedding with a dynamic backdrop with clouds coming in and out.  Of course our officiant jumping up and down after was pretty darn fun as well. (Check out the video below for footage!)

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

It’s an unforgettable day that you want to remember, so focus on what’s important to you and leave the typical expectations out of it.  Also, get the best photographer you can find because it’s worth it.

Vendors:

Photography: Bluephoto Wedding Photography

Megan and Mark – Wedding Story from www.bluephoto.biz on Vimeo.

Looking for last minute appetizer ideas for your New Year’s Party?

Try these cream cheese penguins. They’re a hoot. (They’d also be perfect for a bridal shower.)

Happy 2011 to all!  Congrats to all of the newly engaged. Hope to see you around here often in the upcoming months!

Ever thought of a pine cone theme? Pine cones can be one of the most economical ways to decorate for a wedding. If you happen to live in an area with pine trees, they’re free for the taking. If not, you can purchase them from dollar stores and craft stores.

Here are some inspiring ways to decorate with pine cones:

Check out this amazing winter wedding cake from Martha Stewart!

Another version of this cake from Cake Central.

Learn how to make your own pine cone garland.

Pine cone bouts.

Pine cone escort cards from At First Swoon.

Pine cone door decor.

Pine cone bouquet.

More pine cone bouquets.

And again.

Pine cone chair ribbons. Love this!

Decorate your table with pine cone miniature trees. (Photo: Good Housekeeping)

Favor packages decorated with pine cones.