Q: Hello, firstly I want to let you know how much I enjoy reading your blog. The ideas you give are not only practical but extremely beautiful. And your inspiration boards are pure eye candy, LOVE THEM! LOVE THEM! LOVE THEM!

Anyway, my question is how can I incorporate vintage heirloom jewelry into my very modern, clean lined and simple wedding. A few years ago I inherited some very ornate necklaces, earrings and brooches from my grandmother’s estate. I really would love to be able to wear at least one of the pieces but they are just too large and fussy and seem to overpower my simple clean lined dress.

Do you have any ideas on how I can incorporate one or two pieces into my wedding day without actually wearing them?

 A: Hi Gaylene,

This is a great question. We hear from many brides facing the same dilemma — They want to incorporate a treasured heirloom into their contemporary wedding scheme but are worried the piece will look too forced and out of place.

You want to make sure the beloved piece, especially a piece that belonged to a loved one who has passed on, receives a special place and purpose on your special day.

Two great ways to repurpose vintage jewelry is by using them as decoration on a wedding cake or in a bouquet.

(First photo)This photo from Consumed by Cake’s (flickr.com) shows how you can integrate a somewhat ornate vintage brooch into a very simple contemporary wedding cake. I think the look is simply stunning and visually interesting. 

(Second Photo)I love the bouquet in this photo by Mary Dougherty Photography. It appears the bouquet was designed around the brooch taking its queues from the colors in the piece itself.

(Third Photo)This pretty little bouquet was handmade by Etsy artisan Hair Bow Wonderworld.

Following my post I received numerous email messages from readers inquiring about ideas for recycled, reusable signs. Well, here are a few ideas I came up with– unique signs that can be incorporated into either your home décor or garden after the wedding. 

When trying to come up with unique sign ideas for your wedding, consider your hobbies — things you and your future hubby enjoy together. If you enjoy outdoor activities such as canoeing, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing or surfing perhaps consider using vintage oars, skis, snow shoes or snow / surf boards as signs.

If you have a shabby chic wedding theme, look for beautiful vintage distressed white picture frames. A search of local antique and secondhand stores or garage sales should render some fabulous finds. If you can’t find white frames paint them yourself with eco friendly milk paint. Don’t worry if you can’t find matching frames, using mismatched frames painted in the same color adds to the shabby chic charm.

Look for old garden chairs, gates or sections of picket fencing. With a fresh coat of paint, tired and weathered wood products quickly spring back to life. These items would look absolutely stunning in your garden after the wedding day.

Other items to consider are:
Vintage cupboard doors
 Small vintage doors
 Antique window frames
 Old plank flooring
Child’s chalkboard easel
Corkboard with notes tacked on
Vibrantly painted garden chair topped with pillows embroidered with bride & grooms names
Tie line between two trees or fence posts;  using laundry pegs hang crisp white sheets or pillow shams embroidered with bride & grooms names
Hand pennant flags with signs attached

Do you have some more great signage ideas or pictures to share with us? We’d love to see them. Post your ideas under comments or send them to info[at]myecochicwedding.com.

These hardy seedlings from Arbor Day Foundation are a wonderful eco friendly wedding favor that will live on for generations as a reminder of your commitment to each other.

Available in a wide variety of species, each seedling comes beautifully packaged in these unique poly tubes made from 50% post consumer content.

Customize the labels to blend in seamlessly with your reception decor using Arbor Day Foundations online customization tool.

Once your guests have planted their trees, they can recycle the tubes or better yet, create bird feeders out of them by following the easy-to-follow instructions below.

Click here for Bird Feed Instructions.

You slip into the dress and zip it up; you inspect yourself in the mirror and to your horror, there are white streaks on the dress. It seems no matter how long you wait or how carefully you slip into the dress the dreaded streaks are always there. Enter Tuck Inz.

These little wonders are the perfect dress saver for both you and your bridesmaids on your wedding day.

Tuck these soft pads over the underarm area of your garment and apply your deodorant. Continue to beautify yourself and just before you are ready to leave, remove the pads. Tuck Inz prevents white stains by allowing the deodorant to dry and absorbing the excess.

Best thing about these pads, they are washable and reusable.

This is a definite bridal dressing room must-have.

Over the last couple of years I have heard this warning repeated by many reception venue managers. With all the excitement and number of people, both familiar and unfamiliar, filling the reception hall money boxes can easily disappear undetected.

Here are a few things you can do to protect yourself:

1. Designate one person to be in charge of the card and money box. Most weddings will have a greeter(s) sitting at a table next to the entrance where they encourage guests to sign a guest book, hand out seating cards and direct guests to the gift table. The greeter would be the ideal person to keep an eye on the box.

Place the box at the front table with the greeter. Once all the guests have arrived the greeter can relocate the box to a secure location.

2. If unattended, position the card and money box in an area that is highly visible and away from any exits. Boxes located unattended at the entrance to the venue is an easy target for strangers walking by.

One location to consider would be close to the head table where most of the focus will be.

3. Build or purchase a pedestal that the box can be properly secured to with a locked.

4. Another option which we think is simply adorable is purchasing a beautiful card and money box that looks like an actual gift box. The box, when placed on the gift table, will blend it beautifully and not stand out as a money box.

Check out these fabulous eco friendly boxes from Estilo Weddings. Made from recycled cotton, these handmade boxes are as sturdy as wooden boxes and can be customized to match your wedding colors and flowers.

Personalized crossword puzzles are a great way to entertain your guests as they arrive at your wedding reception or bridal shower.

Imagine a puzzle customized for you with words such as:

- The place you first met.
- What the bride wanted to be growing up.
- What the groom wanted to be growing up.
- What is the groom’s favorite sport?
- Where did the groom propose?
- etc.

These unique puzzles make a great trivia game to see how well your friends and family know you.

So where can you get a crossword puzzle created for you? Talk to the folks over at Blow Flower Designs. They will custom design a puzzle to match your wedding colors and theme.

Check out their affordable packages:

Package One
They design your crossword puzzle using the words you provide.
The electronic file is sent to you and you print your puzzles at home.
Cost: $75

Package Two
They design your crossword puzzle using the words you provide.
They print your puzzles on eco friendly paper.
Cost: Varies based on quantity and size of paper selected.

Contact the helpful customer service reps at sales[at]blowflowerdesigns.com for more information.

Photo from the Martha Stewart site.

This amazingly talented artist creates some of the most unique, memorable and stunning wedding DIY accessories I’ve ever come across and generously shares the instructions with all her readers.

One great example is this easy to make Tree Pedestal Cake Stand. See instructional photos below.

1. Select undented cans of similar sizes. Thoroughly clean and remove labels and any residual glue.

2. Fasten ribbon or raffia around the can mid way down.

3. Fill with water and your choice of flowers.

Don’t forget to recycle the cans after the wedding.

Note: Photographer Unknown. If this is your photograph, please let us know so we can provide you with the proper photo credit.

As a woman and a self proclaimed “Chocoholic”, I am convinced there is no problem that chocolate cannot fix. Well, it may not help me with the problem of getting back into my old size six jeans, but it can help save our endangered species.

By purchasing these delicious all-natural and fairly traded chocolate wedding favors from Endangered Species Chocolate, you can help save species, conserve habitats and honor human life. Endangered Species Chocolate donates 10 percent of their net profits to environmental organizations that work to help endangered species and their habitats.

Each zippered favor pouch, made from natural jute, comes with three all-natural milk or dark chocolate treats. These durable and reusable pouches, measuring 3.5” x 3.5”, can be customized to match your wedding theme and colors by attaching ribbon to the zipper pull.

The cost of $2.50 each is a steal considering you receive three chocolates per pouch.

We think these soda bottles from Jones Soda are absolutely adorable. Jones Soda will customize the bottle labels with your photo and message, all you have to do is select your flavor. Choose from their wide assortment of flavors to coordinate perfectly with your wedding color scheme.

Looking for a great combination for a Blue and White/Silver wedding, how about Blue Bubblegum which offers a vibrant blue color; maybe mix that with the clear Cream Soda. You could alternate the colors by seat or by table.

This is a wedding favor your guests are sure to appreciate.

Don’t forget to recycle the bottles.

Get your Personalized Jones Soda by clicking here >>