Centerpiece Mock-Up

Remember these?
Well, I can't even tell you how many hours I slaved over these coffee filter roses. Then we moved and the box was stored in a closet for a couple months. Yesterday I pulled out the box to mock-up the centerpiece and all the flowers were smashed. They are very light so they couldn't have smashed each other. I don't know how it happened, but it wasn't good. I was able to salvage just barely enough for our centerpieces.

In addition to the paper roses the centerpieces include these crazy (and borderline tacky, let's be honest) copper leaves/sticks and candles atop mirror tiles from Ikea.

(ignore the plastic wrap left on the mirrors)

I am pretty happy with the outcome. It is warm and cozy and has that handmade feeling I love. The tables we are using are rectangular 6 person tables with big cushy chairs. So that alone will give the reception an intimate feel, plus scarves and candle light --mmmmmmm.

As far as cost goes I wanted to keep each centerpiece around $10, but with a decrease in the number of tables we have the individual cost went up a couple dollars. The flowers cost about $30 total, the copper sparkle plants were about $30 total, the mirrors were $1.20 each and the candles were $7/table. Making each centerpiece cost about $12.20.

Now as long as the candles don't burn down to the mirror and catch the flowers on fire and burn down Pittsburgh, we'll be in good shape! hrm.

Are you going for a fresh flower alternative for your centerpieces?

Photo Projects: Table Numbers & Guest "Book"

A while back I asked the hive for suggestions on how to incorporate our herd of animals into the wedding. Many of you suggested doing something with the table numbers, so I did.
I purchased 2-sided frames from the dollar store and used my photo printer to create the images. On one side is just a photo of either Rooney, Harrison, Onyx or Zazu.
And on the back is the name of said pet and the number. This was a surprisingly quick and easy project, especially with the help of Momma P.

Next we have our photo guestbook. I had grand ideas for the guestbook, possibly a sketch book. In the end we decided to go with a photo people can sign around to keep things simple. The logistics of something so complicated and possibly messy as a guest book were just too much to worry about. We put it in the frame and removed the glass. We are having a rather small shindig (70 guests) so there should be plenty of room to sign.

Are you incorporating photos into some of the details of your wedding?

Mailbox Card Box

Beyond the copper in our wedding, Mr. Pineapple and I really love the use of copper in other elements in our home. Someday we are going to be billionaires and have copper all throughout our fabulous kitchen. When it came to the card box I thought it would be cool to use a copper mailbox that we could then use for real mail. Once I began searching though, reality hit, copper mailboxes are crazy expensive. So, I made one for $15.

As you can see, I used an inexpensive black metal mailbox and copper metallic spray paint. The paint actually covered pretty nicely. I used many many very light layers to make sure there were no drips.

There was one mishap during the painting process. After I painted the back and walked away, it blew over and got newspaper stuck to it and I couldn't get it off. I spray painted over it and hopefully no one will look at the back of the box. :)
Card box. Check!

Our coordinator is going to put the card box out of site once all the guests have arrived so we do not have to worry about any sticky fingers.

What are you using as a card box?

Read more >> Options >>

Lounge Seating

One of my favorite current wedding trends is lounge seating for the reception. It can be rather pricey, but the look so so modern and casual. You can rent lounge furniture and pillows that match your wedding. The rental company will then drop off, set up and break down the lounge.

Here are some of my favorite shots:

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How cool would it be to use these Living Stones by Smarin Design?! I have no idea if there are any rental companies with these, but if you have the money, why not get them for your wedding and keep them for your home?
Are you having lounge seating at your wedding reception?

Non-Floral Bouquets

You all gave some great suggestions for non-floral centerpieces, you're creativity never ceases to amaze. When I read Hana Schank's "A More Perfect Union" she said that in her research that she could not find the origin of the floral bridal bouquet. In my own search to figure out why we carry clusters of flowers (aka Googling up a storm) I found a few possible explanations. The one that makes the most sense to me is that brides carried flowers to cover up any unpleasant odors that came from not showering regularly. Since most modern brides will indeed shower on their wedding day, I think alternative bouquets are a wonderful way to show some personality.

Here are some my favorites:

Clay:
This is my favorite fresh flower alternative. (Which pretty much goes without saying since this is a photo of my mock-up bouquet.) I love the idea of carrying this work of art down the aisle knowing that someone crafted each flower with love. Diane of DK Designs Hawaii is a wonderful clay flower artist and I cannot rave more about her work.

Beads:

{by Etsy seller Bead Flora Jewels}

Custom beaded bouquets may not save you any money, but they are wonderfully personal and of course will last a lifetime.

Button and Felt:

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These hand-crafted button and felt bouquets would be wonderful for a casual, crafty bride. They are so cute. (Cute as a button in fact! Yeah, I went there)

Feathers:

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Peacock feathers have become more and more popular for wedding centerpieces, but also look wonderful as the main player in a bouquet. This bouquet is definitely a great alternative for the budget bride.

Muff:

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A fur or faux fur muff would be lovely for a winter wedding. I love this look vintage, chic and oh so cozy.

Paper:

{by Etsy seller Lala Laurie}

This paper and feather bouquet is so soft and so romantic. I love when paper flowers are used in a way that makes them look like paper instead of making them look "real."

Parasol:

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Parasols or umbrellas are a great way to give you and your bridesmaids something lovely to hold, especially for an outdoor spring or summer wedding. (They are practical too!)

Herbs:

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Herb bouquets make a wonderful alternative for brides who want a fresh rustic bouquet without the expense.

Ornaments (and paper):

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How fun are these bouquets?! The bride made her bouquet out of Christmas ornaments and her bridesmaids bouquets were made out of paper. (Also, don't her bridesmaids look great - and coordinated - in their different dresses?)

Will you be carrying a non-floral bouquet?

Non-Floral Centerpieces

Using flowers as centerpieces is something that many (most?) brides assume is a given. It doesn't have to be. We all know how expensive flowers can be and of course they only live for a short time. Nothing can replace the look and ambiance of fresh flowers, but there are some alternatives that will make your tables just as spectacular. Here are some ideas I was considering when I realized that fresh flowers were not going to be able to fit into our budget:

Candles:
This is probably the most common flower alternative. I love the soft light given off by candles and they are simply romantic. The problem I encountered was cost. I had a hard time finding the quality and quantity (plus holders of some sort) I would need to make an impact, without spending more than flowers may have cost. Eventually, I found a great deal on pillar candles at Ikea.

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Fruit:
Often fresh fruits are paired with flowers in centerpieces, but they hold up pretty well on their own too. These would be especially fun for a summer or outdoor wedding.

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Plants/Rocks/Mother Nature:
If you still want the look of life and nature in your centerpieces there are many options that wont break the bank.

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Wedding Favors:
If you are going to have them on the table anyway, why not make wedding favors work double duty?

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{from etsy seller: daisys and dots}

Photos:
Here is another chance to do something with those engagement photos taking up space on your hard drive. Or maybe better yet, photos of family weddings, childhood snap shots or show case your furry friends.

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Are you using non-floral centerpieces? What are some of your favorite ideas?