Ideas For My Dream Wedding (Part 3)

The OOT/Guest Bags!

One of the wonderful things about planning to get married somewhere unconventional (like a farm) is that we can have something unconventional (like camping) as part of our special day.  In truth, this was Josh's idea, but I love it.  It's not, like, roughing it camping.  It's, like, modern, poop-in-a-toilet camping, which I can totally handle.  How awesome would it be to get married in the morning (or a few days before), followed by brunch, a break for some killer photos, and then reception festivities, food, music, and later end the day with a bon fire, s'mores, and bedtime stories?  I cannot picture a more ideal wedding for Josh and myself.  All this excitement got me thinking about favors... what would I want to provide for OOTers and guests that are staying over and camping with us?  I'm been dreaming up a few things:

B.T. McElrath is a local chocolate company we love.  We are particularly fond of their Salty Dog dark chocolate bar... it has caramel and sea salt!  So yummy.  I thought these gourmet bars would make for some interesting s'mores with...

Sweet & Sara's Vanilla Marshmallows (vegan).  Melt in your mouth goodness!

The chocolate and marshmallows should go pretty well with these organic Honey Grahams.

And aren't these cast iron "Twig" Skewers so cute?  What better to roast the marshmallows with?

Josh and I make some pretty mean popcorn.  I even figured out a way to make not-bad-for-you kettle corn!  So maybe we can include a box of each in the bags.  I found these super cute Circus Popcorn Boxes at Bake It Pretty.  Otherwise... do they still make JiffyPop? That might be fun, too... although decidedly less healthy...

Vita CoCo Coconut water is super yummy, and it's basically nature's Gatorade.  It'll be a good idea to have this on hand to keep us all hydrated.

And it'll all go in this ECOBAGS® Organic Cotton Canvas Tote.  Who couldn't use another tote bag?  We would probably get it screen printed (or screen print them ourselves) with something cool and Shelby-and-Josh-got-married related!

I also think we'll provide homemade preserves, biscuits, and of course grillables for our carnivorous and vegan friends alike.  What else could go in this bag?

Ideas For My Dream Wedding (Part 1)

Okay, so I really want to get married outside in the morning on a farm in the summer.  I want the reception to be outdoors during the afternoon and into the evening.  Josh, my FFI (future future intended) suggested that we also invite our wedding party and close friends to camp over night.  Now we are really getting somewhere!  The last few weeks my mind has been a-buzz with all the pretty ideas I'd want to use for our special day/weekend. I decided to make this post for inspiration.

Firstly, I absolutely love old, blue canning jars.  I'd want these everywhere, on every table as a vase, place-setting skewer holder, etc.  Love them.  The only problem is finding them is difficult, and paying for them is expensive.  During a Google search for "blue canning jars" I was delighted to find a tutorial on how to make your own blue jars out of regular old canning jars!  I also want to use the regular glass canning jars as glasses. Hey, at least I already own one blue jar!

Something else I love are vintage cake stands.  These will come in handy, especially since instead of a wedding cake I want to have a table full of baked goodies... cupcakes, macaroons, cookies, you name it!  This cake stand I found in FBvintage's Etsy shop.  So cute!  I want them in all coordinating colors to match my (as of yet undetermined) color scheme.

What better accessory for a cake stand (besides a cake) than beautiful contained cupcakes?  This is where Bake It Pretty will come in handy.  This is a one stop online shop chock full of fabulously fun finds for all your baking needs.  Cups, liners, molds... and also another things I'll desperately want to provide my guests with...

Bakery boxes and other containers from Bake It Pretty!  I want to have such an abundant supply of treats that we'll want -nay, need! - guest's to help us out a little, and bring some home for later.

So, since I don't want a cake... I want to find a cake topper that can fit on a cupcake or separate bride and groom ones to fit on two cupcakes.  I do have these super cute green lovebirds salt and pepper shakers that I've been thinking about using... as long as they fit in with the color scheme.  But I do like this cake topper to the left, from WeddingStar.  It's even more appropriate because Jessie does this awesome thing called The Un-Booth, and she has a frame that can be used as a prop... could this be a sign??

I really love all the colors from this Playful Vineyard Wedding featured on Once Wed, photographs by Our Labor of Love Photography.

This wedding on Snippet & Ink is incredible.  Definitely the vibe I want to capture.  And how cute are those handmade corsages and boutonnieres the bride made?  Find more pictures of the couple on Loved despite great faults.

I love this DIY pinwheel tutorial on Style Me Pretty.  Such a great idea!

I definitely want to get a custom silhouette done of each of us, have them framed, and hang them somewhere in the reception.

I've pretty much decided to get my dress off of Etsy when the time comes.  Check out this beautiful gem of a dress I found on there!

These Fabric Flower Garlands are super cute.  I want them all over at my wedding!

I Like You

One of the possible perks of having a non-denominational wedding is that we could say whatever we wanted for our vows.  I got to thinking recently about the children's book I Like You by Sandol Stoddard Warburg.  I had given this book to Josh on our first anniversary because, well, it just fits.  And years later it still fits.  I think each of us picking our favorite parts out of this to say as our vows would be sweet.   What do you think?

I Like You by Sandol Stoddard Warburg:

I like you and I know why.
I like you because you are a good person to like.
I like you because when I tell you something special, you know it's special
And you remember it a long, long time.
You say, Remember when you told me something special
And both of us remember


When I think something is important
you think it's important too
We have good ideas
When I say something funny, you laugh
I think I'm funny and you think I'm funny too
Hah-hah!
I like you because you know where I'm ticklish
And you don't tickle me there except just a little tiny bit sometimes
But if you do, then I know where to tickle you too
You know how to be silly
That's why I like you
Boy are you ever silly
I never met anybody sillier than me till I met you
I like you because you know when it's time to stop being silly
Maybe day after tomorrow
Maybe never
Too late, it's a quarter past silly
Sometimes we don't say a word
We snurkle under fences
We spy secret places
If I am a goofus on the roofus hollering my head off
You are one too
If I pretend I am drowning, you pretend you are saving me
If I am getting ready to pop a paper bag,
then you are getting ready to jump
HOORAY


That's because you really like me
You really like me, don't you
And I really like you back
And you like me back and I like you back
And that's the way we keep on going every day


If you go away, then I go away too
or if I stay home, you send me a postcard
You don't just say Well see you around sometime, bye
I like you a lot because of that
If I go away, I send you a postcard too
And I like you because if we go away together
And if we are in Grand Central Station
And if I get lost
Then you are the one that is yelling for me


And I like you because when I am feeling sad
You don't always cheer me up right away
Sometimes it is better to be sad
You can't stand the others being so googly and gaggly every single minute
You want to think about things
It takes time


I like you because if I am mad at you
Then you are mad at me too
It's awful when the other person isn't
They are so nice and hoo-hoo you could just about punch them in the nose


I like you because if I think I am going to throw up
then you are really sorry
You don't just pretend you are busy looking at the birdies and all that
You say, maybe it was something you ate
You say, the same thing happened to me one time
And the same thing did


If you find two four-leaf clovers, you give me one
If I find four, I give you two
If we only find three, we keep on looking
Sometimes we have good luck, and sometimes we don't


If I break my arm, and if you break your arm too
Then it's fun to have a broken arm
I tell you about mine, you tell me about yours
We are both sorry
We write our names and draw pictures
We show everybody and they wish they had a broken arm too


I like you because I don't know why but
Everything that happens is nicer with you
I can't remember when I didn't like you
It must have been lonesome then


I like you because because because
I forget why I like you but I do
So many reasons
On the 4th of July I like you because it's the 4th of July
On the fifth of July, I like you too
If you and I had some drums and some horns and some horses
If we had some hats and some flags and some fire engines
We could be a HOLIDAY
We could be a CELEBRATION
We could be a WHOLE PARADE
See what I mean?


Even if it was the 999th of July
Even if it was August
Even if it was way down at the bottom of November
Even if it was no place particular in January
I would go on choosing you
And you would go on choosing me
Over and over again
That's how it would happen every time
I don't know why
I guess I don't know why I really like you
Why do I like you
I guess I just like you
I guess I just like you because I like you.

DIY Wedding: More Ideas

Okay, I promise I'm not a Martha Stewart junky!  She just has some really pretty ideas. Although I am not yet engaged, I like thinking about what my dream wedding would be like. I'm the creative, hands-on type. And since I have all this time to think about, and look forward to my wedding, I have plenty of time to squirrel away ideas for the future. A DIY wedding sounds right up my alley.  I've always enjoyed creating things, and what better way to celebrate a unique relationship than with personalized, hand-made decorations?

I think my dream wedding would be outside, at a friends' farm, in the summer. Just something about all the fresh air and greenery sounds dreamy. I would want the ceremony and reception to both take place there, with the ceremony in the late morning, followed by brunch, and then the festivities! Lots of our friends are in bands, so we are thinking a low-key music "festival" would be fun. We'd have a late afternoon/early evening meal spread of our favorite foods, and bite-size treats for dessert.  And I want it all captured by Jessie and Kris.  They take the most beautiful photos.  You have to go check out their portfolio.  You may now commence the swooning.

DIY Wedding: Poms

I'm all about DIY wedding ideas. One thing I really like are those pretty tissue pom-poms. They can be used for so many different things! And the colors can be completely customized to match your color scheme.  I found this article on Martha Stewart Weddings about DIY pom-poms and luminarias. Super cute!  All you'll need is tissue paper and 24-gauge white cloth-covered floral wire.

If you don't want to, or can't, make them yourself, you can always support the Etsy community.  Just do an Etsy search for pom-poms!