landlocked bride™ | midwest + mountain west wedding inspiration

plan a modern wedding in the middle of the country

Any brides out there having a backyard or outdoor soiree? Well, not that I have your attention, let me tell you something: You need to do this. Right now.  How romantic is the set-up with the tree? Not only will it give off a great radiant and romantic light, but there is something so charming about it.

Image courtesy of i am blessed

Wedding signs are clearly a new trend.  You’ll find them all over Style Me Pretty and other wedding blogs, so it’s no surprise that there are a million different variations on them.  I found this one thanks to Cyd over at The Sweetest Occasion.  Since I work at a design company, I have developed a love for typography.  I already have a sad (or crazy, however you look at it) obsession with fonts, so it should be no surprise that I love this sign.  And, I realize, most of what I feature on this blog I love, but I wouldn’t feature it if I didn’t love it!

The sign was made using nails and string. I really do remember doing something similar to this in elementary school, but we didn’t exactly make letters. I’m pretty sure we made something simile like a circle. We were still figuring out our cursive lettering, so I think sticking to shapes was a safe bet.

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The yellow string really pops on this sign, plus, it is definitely something unique and classic enough that could be hung in the home after the wedding. A great way to remind you of your wedding day.

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All images courtesy of Kyle Read via The Sweetest Occasion

If you weren’t already aware, I can be somewhat of a huge eco-friendly nerd.  Not sure where it started, but I do know it has rubbed off on my Mom, and am hoping to share a bit of it with the wedding industry.  Incorporating eco-friendly and green concepts into a wedding may seem hard.  And, to some, it may seem like a fad, but I think it’s easy to incorporate just a few small elements.  And, small they may be, but they can make a difference.

And, the first and one of the easiest? Reuse old vases, do not go out and buy new ones.  In fact, may venues actually have a surplus of vases from previous brides (so ask!).  Other ways to find vases? Visit garage sales, eBay and even Craigslist (I’ve mentioned this before).   Chances are you’ll save a few bucks, too!

Images courtesy of Earth Friendly Weddings

By finding vases from all over and collecting them, not only are you doing the Earth a favor, but you’ll give your event some depth and character in your design.

(And, on a completely unrelated note, Happy Birthday to my Mom!)

Twinkle lights can seem so elementary when you’re thinking about design.  But, if you really think about it, they can really transform a space into something magical.

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Image courtesy of Hoffer Photography

Now, if you’re going to have a daytime wedding and reception, this obviously wouldn’t work as well. However, twinkle lights can really provide ambiance at night, and when in a darker reception space. Plus, they usually are not very expensive. So, don’t rule them out!

Let’s face it. Not everyone is having a religious ceremony with readings and songs.  So, that begs the question, why have a program?  You see, the Pilot and I go back and forth on this one every day.  My Aunt is performing our ceremony, but we are not having any readings or songs, no unity candle and nothing involving other people in a family/circle of friends.  The only purpose our program would serve would be to let our guests know who our attendants are.

Part of the eco-friendly in me doesn’t want to have programs printed just so all of our guests know who my Maid of Honor is and so on.  But the other half of me is worried about the guests who may not know our friends well enough to know who they are.

So, while the Pilot and I continue to go back and forth, I’m sharing this.  A fun little idea, if you’d rather not have programs printed, but are looking for a way to share the information with your guests.

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Image courtesy of StudioThisIs via With This Ring Blog

Obviously, the chalkboard would need to fit in with the look and feel of your wedding.  But opt to do something different by having a sign created with your program information, or you can draw up a chalkboard like this one.

If you are still hooked on the idea of having programs printed, but do not want to print one for every guests, here are a few tips:

1.  Only print half as many as the number of guests you are expecting.  More often than not, guests do not all take one.

2. Only print one for each female guests.  Honestly, the guys usually do not care all that much about the details of the ceremony, but you know us ladies do!

3.  Have them printed front and back to save on paper costs.

4.  Have them double up as something else, like hand-held fans, if your ceremony is outdoors.

What sort of program idea did you come up with?

I always love when I can find a creative decor idea from a couple.  Sometimes we all get caught up in the idea of just using flowers (which there is absolutely nothing wrong with).

This particular couple hung about 40 different glass ornaments above the table.  In the dim holiday light, over candles, they really sparkle, and add an element of wonder to the celebration.

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Images courtesy of Anna Sawin Photography via Style Me Pretty

The takeaway?  Don’t forget that you can hang things over tables, too!

With Christmas this week, and my leaving for Florida on Wednesday, posting will be a bit light.

Anyway….

Feast your eyes on this beautiful set up!  The lighting is gorgeous, and the venue is quaint and cozy. The chandeliers and candelabras were a fantastic way for them to dress up the space and create that vintage feel.

vintage rustic romantic wedding reception

chandeliers hanging in rustic barn

Images courtesy of Susan Stripling Photography via Green Wedding Shoes

It should be no secret that I love balloons (see: Engagement Photos).

So, of course I love the look of this ceremony decor.  What I love even more is the fact that the balloons are all at different heights.  Gives the space (well, outdoor space) character and depth.

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Image courtesy of Oh, Darling! Photography via The Sweetest Occasion

A big “thank you” to Martha Stewart for this one.  Not only is this a great way to recycle old magazines, but it is great a for holiday decor or for wedding decor.

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Image courtesy of Amy Atlas

You can spray them in festive colors like the gold and silver above, or do colors that coordinate with your wedding.  And, because I’m a lover of almost all things Martha Stewart, I had to share with you the steps on how to make them!  You can also visit the Martha Stewart site for a video tutorial.

Tools and Materials

Old magazines of any size
Gold, silver, or clear spray paint
Glitter in desired colors
Bone folder (optional)

Magazine Trees How-To:

1. Open magazine and bend to break spine.

2. Fold individual page from top right corner to inside seam. Fold same page from bottom right edge to gutter.

3. Fold bottom triangle of each additional magazine page up, making the bottom of the tree flat. Then, fold top of all pages down to form tree shape.

4. Spray-paint folded tree desired color. Immediately sprinkle glitter over wet paint. Let dry.

Tip: Use a bone folder to smooth paper edges if desired.

Happy Holidays!

(Directions from the Martha Stewart website)

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Image courtesy of DomestiFluff

This guy (or gal), would be a great addition to your wedding decor (or holiday decor).  Plus, it’s a simple process to make (much likes the ribbon wreath).  All you really need is a styrofoam wreath form, felt, straight pins and a few other small crafty items.

All of the step-by-step instructions can be found on the DomestiFluff site.

They wreath (or wreathes) would be great in door entry-ways.  Smaller versions would be good for the aisle at the ceremony.  The list goes on.

If you end up crafting one of these, let me know how it goes.  And, send pics!  I’d love to share it with the readers!