Tag: lifestyle

Crafty Wedding Ideas

Published on by Bridgett King, Wedding OfficiantLeave a comment

Valentine’s Day has come and gone, flowers are blooming, and the spring sunshine seems to be adding a bit of cheer to the day. With summer now on its way, many happily engaged couples are beginning to plan for their wedding ceremonies. If you are a bride, groom or an online minister, take a look at the following crafty wedding ideas for flowers, decorations, and party favors.

DIY Flowers

While fresh flowers and luscious bouquets can add elegance and beauty to your wedding, you may be able to save a lot of money by building your own flower decorations using silk or paper flowers. If you would like to try creating your own bouquets or decorations, you might want to start stocking up on the following materials:

  • Green floral tape
  • Crepe paper in a variety of colors
  • Floral stem wire
  • Flower and leaf templates
  • Craft glue

You can find a great number of ideas and templates for these flowers on the Internet or in magazines, as paper flowers are becoming very popular! You might find it helpful to start experimenting with different designs before you choose your style. Then you can have flower-making parties with your friends and family so you can make all your flower decorations in advance. By saving money on floral decorations, you may be able to splurge just a bit on the bridal bouquet and groom’s boutonnière.

Mason Jar Center Pieces

Mason jars have become inexpensive components of many crafty wedding ideas as well. You can find these at antique shops or local retailers for very affordable prices. You can tie ribbon around them and place small candles inside to create simple but lovely centerpieces. You can also paint them with glitter, cover them in lace, or place hand cut flowers inside them to create joyful and easy table decorations. You may even find it romantic to glue pieces of sheet music from your own wedding song onto the inside or outside of the jars and adorn them with vintage buttons or small silk flowers.

Party Favors

If you would like your guests to leave your wedding with small party favors of their own, why not send them home with one or two of the following:

  • A small jar of local honey tied up with ribbon and a personalized stamp
  • A small bag tied with ribbon containing the ingredients to make S’mores
  • A mixed CD of songs played at your wedding
  • A small bag of chocolates attached to a card that you and your fiance can sign and say thanks for coming

You do not have to spend much money to create personalized and fun party favors for your guests. Some couples even let their guests take home flowers and centerpieces in order to minimize clean up and storage of these materials.

These crafty wedding ideas offer just a small taste of the many affordable, delightful, and simple ways to decorate, celebrate, and remember your wedding.

A Guide for Planning an Intimate Wedding

Published on by Bridgett King, Wedding OfficiantLeave a comment

Grand, extravagant weddings get a lot of attention on social media, but there are so many other ways to get married. Intimate weddings have become a popular choice for couples seeking a more personal and meaningful celebration. If you choose an intimate or small wedding, you will have the chance to get creative while focusing on your love and those who are closest to you. This guide has all the info you need to plan the perfect intimate wedding.

Crafting Your Vision

Because you don’t have to follow any prescribed big-wedding traditions, your vision will mean everything when planning a small wedding event. You’ll have to start with big-picture concepts that both you and your partner agree on. Do you want a rustic outdoor celebration, an elegant indoor affair, or something entirely different? Consider the season, location, and overall atmosphere that resonates with both of you. Your vision will serve as the foundation for all your wedding decisions.

Deciding on Your Guest List

Unlike larger weddings, you will need to limit your guest list if you want to achieve the perfect intimate wedding. If you have a large family with many extended branches, you’ll have to pick and choose who to invite. Alternatively, you could keep one aspect of your wedding intimate, such as the ceremony, but still hold a large-scale reception for all the other family members.

If your dream is to have a small wedding, you will need to communicate your vision and desires to the people you care about. You might find that the people who love you are a lot more understanding than you expected.

Choosing a Location

Choosing a location can help you curate your vision for an intimate wedding. If you go for a destination wedding that is far from home, you will find that fewer people choose to attend, which will automatically limit your guest list. On the other hand, you can opt for venues closer to home such as a local beach, park, or your own backyard. The venue needs to align with your vision and accommodate you and your guests comfortably. Intimate weddings often take place in smaller, more unique locations, such as a charming garden, a cozy barn, or a historic inn.

Personalizing Your Ceremony and Reception

Intimate weddings offer the perfect opportunity to infuse your personality into every aspect of the celebration. Consider having a friend or family member officiate your wedding or invite a non-denominational minister. During the ceremony, you can read your own vows and involve close friends and family in special roles. This gives you an opportunity to share your unique love story and highlight what makes your relationship special.

For the reception, you can get as involved or be as hands-off as you want. It’s not uncommon for intimate receptions to take place at a restaurant or family member’s home. These options often relieve financial and logistical stress but might feel too disconnected from your vision. In that case, exploring catering options for small groups might be the way to go.

Capturing the Moments

Every wedding is a collection of moments that tell the story of your love. With an intimate wedding, you have the advantage of spending quality time with your guests, which creates more opportunities for candid and meaningful moments. Hire a photographer and videographer who specialize in capturing the essence of small, intimate gatherings, or ask friends and family members to step in with their own devices and share the photos and videos with you online.

Organizing an intimate wedding allows you to prioritize what truly matters: your love and the people you hold dear. Embrace the intimacy of the occasion and savor each memory. Remember that your wedding day can be as unique as your love story, and it can be whatever you want it to be.