Southern Plantation Inspiration

Southern Plantation Inspiration by caitlin.l on Polyvore.com

North Woods Lodge Inspiration

North Woods Lodge Inspiration by caitlin.l on Polyvore.com

Amber Inspired Ranch Wedding

I am a huge fan of anything and all things amber! I just love the color! So after catching a glimpse of this gorgeous wedding and fabulous centerpieces, amber of course, I knew I had to share!

I love the use of patio umbrellas over the ceremony site! Not only are they functional but they bring a

touch of design beauty that I cannot help but swoon over!

Amber glass wear can be found at just about any antique store or flea market. A perfect combo, budget-savvy and beautiful!

Compliments:
Photography: Jose Villa Photography
Source: Once Wed
Venue: Holman Ranch

DIY Redneck Wine Glass

 If you share the same love for mason jars that I do, I guarantee this budget-savvy DIY is a necessary addition to your bridal "To-Do" list! Not only is it a great conversation piece, but guests can screw on the mason jar lid in between sips to avoid spills on the dance floor! Seriously, how great is this?!

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"Redneck" Wine Glass

What you will need:

Mason jar
Candle stick
E-6000 glue
Twine

Instructions:

Simply, use E-6000 to glue the base of the candle stick to the bottom of a mason jar and let dry.

Tip:  I suggest using twine to keep the lid attached to jar.

Lastly fill with beer, sweet tea, wine or some moonshine... cheers!

Birch Bark DIY

I can't help but get a little giddy every time I see some birch bark decor! The rustic simplicity of the bark next to literally any flower or ambiance of a candle is truly breathtaking. So with the birch bark trend on the rise, vases and other decor pieces can be purchased just about anywhere! But as a budget-savvy bride the cost for these items can sometimes do a little damage to the honeymoon fund.  Thankfully due to the flexibility of birch bark it also makes an awesome DIY, give this a try:

     Birch Bark Vase DIY

Things you will need:

Tape measure
Cylinder (Try using soup cans, paint cans, etc..)
Birch bark
Scissors
Hot glue and hot glue gun
Twine

Birch Bark Tips

• Where to get birch bark:
• If birch bark is native to your area, I suggest taking a stroll with your fiance on a local hiking trial.  Tons of birch can be found on a forests floor! You may also grab some of the loose bark off of the trees, but let me repeat only the LOOSE bark.  It will cause damage to the tree by leaving big bald patches on the trunk, and we don't want to do that! For a less scenic alternative, sheets and logs of birch bark can also be purchased online from various sites.
• Care for your birch bark:
• Birch bark can carry dust and some small bugs. Generally this is nothing to worry about, but if the bark will be near food I suggest dunking the loose bark pieces in a bowl of water and a cap full of bleach.  Be sure to let the bark dry before gluing.

• The aging of bark:
• Birch bark eventually will dry out and crack.  To extend the life of your bark, soak in a mixture of 3 parts water to 1 part Acrylic Matt Medium for 1 hour and let dry before assembly.

• Instructions: (Using a sheet of birch bark)

  1) Measure the height and circumference of cylinder with a tape measure. 
  
  

  2) Using scissors, cut the bark using the measured dimensions but make the length of the bark 2-inches longer than the measured circumference which will allow for overlapping.  
  
  

  3) Apply hot glue to the outside of cylinder. Then, press the birch bark on the glue against the back the cylinder.  
  
  

  4) With the excess length, overlap and glue down.  
  
  

  5) Hold the cylinder in the palms of both hands until the glue dries to ensure the bark stays in place. 
  
  
  6) Next, wrap a few coils of twine around to bark to keep in place and allowing the glue more time to dry. 
  
  
  7) Finally, leave twine in place or remove depending on preference. Add water, flowers, or candle and enjoy! 
  
  
  

  

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  Note: If using loose bark, simply glue the strips to cylinder and let dry!
  
  

  

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  Birch Bark Votive DIY

  
  

  Things you will need:
  

  
  

  Birch bark logs

  Circular drill and bit 

  
  

  Instructions:
  

  1) Based upon the dimensions each votive, drill into the end of each birch bark log.

  
  

  2) Add votive, light and enjoy! 

  
  

  

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  Tip: To personalize vase or votive, use an x-acto knife to carve personalization into bark.

  
  

  

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Welcome Gifts

Plans seem to be finally starting to come together for my big day! About time right?! There has been much talk of a destination wedding but no previous steps taken to move forward with a decision! This is mainly due to my parents and their concern for guests and traveling.  Being a Minnesota girl marrying a boy from North Carolina, our wedding will be a destination for one of our friends and families either way!  So what's a girl to do?! I received some great advice that has helped me with the decision; "As a bride you cannot please everyone. The people that truly matter and care about you and your groom will make the effort to attend and show their support. No matter the cost or distance."  So after taking into account this wise advice, we have decided to go for our destination wedding outside of Nashville, Tennessee! Woo-hoo!

We all know asking friends and family to travel is a lot to ask! So I plan to make sure everyone that makes such effort knows how much we appreciate them by making "Welcome/Thank-you" gift bags for each guest. 

I also recommend this to any bride planning a destination wedding or with out of town guests.  I know it will require a small portion of the wedding budget but in the end it is truly worth it.  People that are willing to spend the money to travel deserve some special recognition!

The best part is that it is an easy DIY and can be adjusted accordingly to any budget!

Recommended Items:

• Gift bag, basket, box, or mini suitcase
• Welcome/Thank-you card
• Wedding weekend itinerary
• Map and local area information/recommendations
• Restaurant information
• Area activities
• Nearby facilities (Drug stores, Grocery and convenience, etc.)
• Water bottles
• Snacks

Depending on the location and theme of your wedding, get creative! If you're getting married on the beach include sunscreen, a beach towel, or flip flops. For a wine country wedding include a bottle of local wine. Maybe a movie credit for the hotel room and microwavable popcorn. If the bride and groom are from different places, highlight the coming together of these two states by including something like Minnesota wild rice and North Carolina BBQ sauce!

Optional items:

• Tolietrie Items
• Mints
• A game or activity
• Slippers/Robe
• Local coffee shop gift card

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Rustic Barn Wood Inspiration

Rustic Barn Wood Inspiration by caitlin.l on Polyvore.com

Prairie Berry Wine

I must admit that I am a girl that enjoys a tall glass of cold beer over a glass of wine, a country girl at heart that's for sure! So it will come as a surprise to any of you that know me, when I say I found a wine that I actually enjoy! Scratch that... LOVE!

 One of my best girls invited me over for some pizza, wine, and wedding planning. Without fail I volunteered to pick up some Coors Light. I know they say don't judge a book by it's cover, but upon arrival and catching a glimpse of the wine I decided that something with such a rustic-chic label was worth me trying. Long story short, I am hooked and without a doubt will be using this wine for my southern inspired rustic-chic wedding!

The delcious wine is from Prairie Berry Winery and offers more than 15 affordable grape, fruit and honey wines all made at their South Dakota location. Each bottle offers a unique rustic-chic label, perfect for any and all rustic-chic weddings! Prairie Berry ships their wine to numerous states, so be sure to check out their site for more information.

Check out this unique and easy DIY alternative to seating cards:

Attach a name list to each bottle with a table number. Guests will then have the opportunity to take the bottle with them to their designated table and ultimately start enjoying the wine!

Pixel Cowboy Wedding Video

For some reason I cannot help shedding a few tears every time I see a wedding video. Especially the moment when the bride and groom see each other for the first time and during the reading of the vows! HELLO waterworks! Well thanks to this post from fabulous Green Wedding Shoes, I couldn't hold back much/if any of my emotions this time either! I may be the only one that has an emotional break down every time I see a sweet wedding moment but I am confident that your heartstrings are sure be tugged after watching this amazing video!

Check it out: Pixel Cowboy Wedding

Compliments:
Source: Green Wedding Shoes
Video: Elysium Productions

La Vieja Tun Tun Jewelry

I love all things beautiful and unique. So naturally when it comes to my own and bridesmaids jewelry I am looking for statement pieces that are just that!

Recently, I discovered the Etsy shop LaViejaTunTun that offers a collection of jewelry and hair accessories that I am absolutely swooning over! Classic, beautiful, elegant and sure to make a statement! Looks like I found my jewelry now all I need is the dress ;)

Check out more gorgeous pieces from LaVieja Tun Tun here!

Country-Chic Inspiration

Country-Chic Wedding Inspiration by caitlin.l on Polyvore.com

French Country Wedding

Hello gorgeous brides! I am back from my mini-vacay/wedding weekend in beautiful California! I have so many pictures and wedding stories to share with you all but in the meantime, I can't wait any longer to share this truly remarkable French country inspired wedding! The photos by Clayton Austin are jaw dropping, enjoy!

Words from the Bride on inspiration:  "Oh so much inspiration! I owe a lot to the fantastic beauty of the oak tree and the artistry of the French. My husband and I studied French in college and it’s magic is found in all the intricacies of our wedding. We are cafe lovers and incorporated a coffee bar. I bought a French desk and incorporated French into many of the other details. All but a few of the centerpieces were French tea boxes and I chose to use dried flowers instead of fresh, as inspired by the dried flowers in many French country homes. Lavender has always represented hope for me, so that was a starting point for the flowers as well.  As a visual artist, I got really carried away by painting reserved signs for the tables, along with other signs throughout, and art to go on a wall a friend built."

Compliments:
Photography: Clayton Austin
Venue: Oak Tree Manor
Source: Green Wedding Shoes