Handcrafted: The Cure For The Common Wedding

Rainy Days

Since my site and I are having some metaphorical rainy days, I thought I'd find an umbrella to cheer me up a bit. Fox and Prince has custom painted parasols. They have monograms and thank you, and since it is custom, pretty much anything else you'd like a parasol to say. To the photographers out there, it would take very little time at all to use this as a prop while you are taking the other wedding day photographs. Then you could quickly turn them into "Thank You" cards for the happy couple. Send them off to the lab and they'd have them in hand by the time they are ready for their post wedding review.  It would be a nice inexpensive perk for your clients and would wet their appetite for more - win/win.

Handcrafted Sucess Story

Most of the time I write about small mom and pop type shops that are just starting out. I thought it might be nice to take a glimpse at their future. Morgan & Company started 16 years ago as a way to help a new mom spend more time with her new daughter. Now Morgan has a driver's license and Morgan & Company is one of the most complete monogram shops online.

There are a ton of great products in this shop. You can find gifts for your bridesmaids such as jewelry, robes, flip flops, and other fun things to put your monogram on. There are also several really nice things to add to your online registry (if you haven't tried Wishpot yet, I highly recommend it)

I remember seeing an interview with Reese Witherspoon (I think) where she was asked what was the first thing she splurged on when she started making real Hollywood money. She said monogrammed towels. As a kid she thought they were the height of luxury. There is something kind of cool about seeing your new initials in print. Just don't go overboard and cross the line into full blown home decor narcissism.

Couture Cookies

As you have probably figured out by now, my favorite type of favors, as a guest, are ones you can eat. If I am going to receive a gift with someone else's monogram on it I want to be able to bite it or lick it or at the very least get a sugar rush off it. Combine that with my current jones for cookies and you will get to the Gumdrop Cookie Shop (hey that rhymes).

They have some very nice deigns already in their shop including monograms and dainty flowers and hearts. Just in case one of those doesn't suit your fancy, you can send them a jpeg of what you would like and they will put it on your cookies for the same price as their stock images. So, if you have a custom monogram or an unusual color combination you can get cookies to match. In other words you will not be punished for your originality.

Also in this shop you will find cupcake jewelry. These cute little circles can also be customized and would be a great way to dress up any display of cupcakes be it at your wedding or shower.

Redirected

Sometimes on the way to one thing we find something else even better. First I went to Capitola Gal's Etsy shop because of the the cute computer key necklaces. I thought they would make cute bridesmaid gifts especially for those internet couples out there. Then I got tickled thinking of using the Esc or Ctrl keys as a fun gift to the bride. When I went to the main shop page, I saw so much more. I'm a sucker for copper earrings, which were at the very top, but then my eye went to the obviously bridal pieces, only to find Capitola Gal Bridal shop. There is a lot of great things in these two shops and the prices are great for those brides on a budget.

Thanks to Visa

I was watching t.v. the other night and a Visa commercial came on talking about how they help small businesses, and I could have sworn I recognized one of the companies in the commercial. Turns out I was right. It was the ladies from Viv & Ingrid! I am so grateful for the reminder of this small business.

In their wedding section they have taken some of their best creations and tailored them to suit your wedding needs. I LOVE that you can search by color for your bridesmaids, and the bridal jewelry is absolutely fabulous.

 

In addition to the fabulous jewelry you'll find here, there are also other goodies that should not be missed. These little silk monogrammed gift pouches are a great way to wrap up your bridesmaid's gifts. Be sure you click through the non-wedding parts of the site to find other great ideas, such as the makeup bags and the flower hair ties.

July 31, 2008

This morning started one of my favorite annual traditions, back to school shopping. In Georgia, and many other neighboring states, we are having a tax free weekend, which means there is no sales tax on any school supplies, clothing (under a certain amount), or some computer type things. I probably only saved around $7 in total by not having the tax, but every penny really does count. This really isn't wedding related, but I had to share in case I wasn't the only adult who loves to go get new folders, paper, and pens.

On to today's real post. Have you ever looked at a wedding product and thought "How can they get away with charging so much? I could make that for half the price"? Well, that is just what Lydia was thinking when she opened her Etsy shop Brown Ribbon Banners. She offers personalized table and aisle runners, bouquet wraps, and many other items along this line for half the price of many others stores.  Even the giant banner is under $150! You can use a monogram you designed (or had designed for you), or she'll work with you to come up with something. Everything is done in your colors and made to the size you need. She hand paints them using acrylic paints on taffeta giving them a crafted, but not crafty look.

 

Topper Star

I've seen some pretty great monogram cake toppers so it takes something special to stand out to me. Today I found that something special in the Etsy store of Shea Chic Designs. I know the exact girl who is going to look at this picture and want to know where this idea was when she got married (Stacy). This shops says they can handle anything you want. She has ribbons, crystals, and a variety of materials to work with. She'll do one letter like the one pictured, or you can expand that to include your full monogram, or go nuts and use your full names. Since each topper is made for the bride ordering it, you can ask for pretty much anything.  Although it is not my personal taste, I find myself wondering if she could make a monogram in a cheetah print with black feathers. I'm not sure why that image popped in my mind.

Do and Don't Star

Usually when I name my Indie Star of the Week I post a picture of what first drew me to the shop, but today I have to attach a warning to it. Decorative Instincts got my attention with this product.

Isn't it an adorable apron. I just love it. There are two reasons why I almost didn't post it. One, it isn't really "wedding", and two, I didn't want my husband, or any other man, to get the idea that an apron would make a good Valentine's Day gift. Although I love it, and really want it for myself, it is too "little woman"  to be given for Valentine's. *Dear Husband, I know this is confusing. Why would I go on and on about how I would love to get something, only to get mad when you give it to me Valentine's Day? Welcome to marriage. However, if this were given to me on a random day "just because" I would be over the moon.  This is how my girl brain works.

Instead of the apron for Valentine's Day, I would suggest these monogrammed sachets. They would make a great hostess gift at a lingerie shower. You could also add them in to your bridesmaid's gifts. The lavender in the sachet is know for it's calming effect, which could be a great added bonus. 

Metal Works

Metal sculptures are usually cool and modern, but Gauge NYC has added in romance. The obvious choice from them is the monogram cake topper they offer, but I have a few other ideas for you.

A metal shop is not the usual spot to look for wedding ideas, but Gauge has made it obvious.  In addition to the cake toppers, they offer monogram bookends. I would love to see a cake flanked with these using the bride and groom's first initial, and then followed up with the last name initial on top of the cake.

Now here is an idea for a super creative, abstract thinking bride. Is there one word that sums up your relationship? Love, laughter, and fate, jump to my mind. Instead of basing your wedding around a color or theme, be daring and sum it up with a word. Have Gauge NYC sculpt that word for your cake, buffet table, or some other imaginative place. It is amazing how focusing on something so specific can shape the rest of the event.

 

I would love to see pictures of how you work metal into your wedding. Send me ideas. Send me pictures. I love hearing from you.

Tagging Your Wedding

Reception halls are usually cold and impersonal on purpose, it gives each person who uses it a chance to decorate it any way they want. The only things that are off limits are the walls and the floor, until now. Wonderful Graffiti Wedding has a product that takes all decorating limits off.

These are gorgeous and 100% removable. There is a step by step demonstration showing how to install them, so you have an idea of what you are doing before you even place your order. Don't worry if you aren't the DIY kind, you can arrange for someone to come and install it for you.

Custom quotes and designs are no problem for Wonderful Graffiti. There are so many creative ideas on their site. I know you will be inspired.