Jessica & Ryan
Wedding Invitations:Making wedding invitations was a huge task, but the invitations turned out better that anything I could have bought in a store. For the invitations, we printed the information on yellow glitter velum, which resembled sand, then layered that page on top of sunset-colored mango and pink cardstock which was edged with wave scissors to resemble the ocean. We tied the pages together at the top with mango-colored raffia. A hibiscus paper punch in the lower corner made them seem even more tropical.
Wedding Programs: Since I had a lot of paper supplies left-over from the bridesmaid’s invitations and the wedding invitations, I decided to use the same idea for wedding programs. I kept it simple, just printing out the information in landscape on yellow paper, folding it to resemble a book, and tying mango raffia around the seam. I completed the program with a monogramed stamp on the back in mango-colored ink.
Placecards: Bamboo grows naturally down here in South Florida, and really represents our tropical surroundings. I found two inch pieces of bamboo with a slit in the top to function as placecard holders online. I borrowed a huge shallow
bamboo tray, filled it with sand from the beach, then set-up the bamboo placecard holders in the sand so each guest could find their name and table assignment.
Wedding Favors: Going to concerts and listening to music together has been a great part of Ryan’s and my relationship. We wanted to share our favorite songs and bands with our guests, so we burned each guest a CD of meaningful songs. CD labels were created with our picture and printed on CD label templates. We put the finished product in a white paper CD jacket, which we tied with mango raffia and added a flower bloom.
Centerpieces: Our friend/florist came up the creative idea to have terrariums for our centerpieces. In glass globes, she added sand, some small shells and stones, and a mango calla lily, which was our flower for the wedding. They were simple but left a gorgeous statement.
Gift Baskets: We ordered personalized bags with our names and the date, then filled them with sample sized toiletries from my mom’s Organics and More shop, local foods and drinks, and necessities for the weekend like sunscreen and bugspray, complete with a welcome letter printed up on the same yellow paper we’d been using
DIY WEDDINGS |
diyweddingsmag.com
for our other paper projects. When the guests arrived at the hotel front desk to check in to their room, they were greeted with a welcome gift.
What advice do you have for other brides? I strongly encourage all brides to tap into hidden resources. Chances are, we all have friends and family members with hobbies, talents, skills, and professions that could in some way be integrated into planning a wedding. And there isn’t anyone who wants you to be happier on your wedding day than those same loved ones. Talk to them in advance and ask them if they’d be willing to pitch in. Once you start asking, you’ll be graciously surprised by what people are willing to do for you. Ryan and I couldn’t have been luckier when it came to people willing to step-up and help out. Every little bit helps, just make sure to show your gratitude by doing something just as nice for them in return. I thought my wedding was beautiful and looking back I wouldn’t change a thing. But what really stands out to me is how the entire day came together not by hired random professionals, but by friends and family who wanted nothing more than to help out. And that’s what made it the most beautiful of all.
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