Centerpieces

Image source: Jettingtothewedding.com

Nothing makes a party like a piñata. When I was a kid, I begged my parents for a piñata for my birthday party. I couldn’t imagine anything more fun: an awesome cartoon-like character you get to smash with a bat until candy flies out. It’s every kid’s dream. Scratch that: it’s every human being’s dream! My parents came through. They brought me to a party store and let me have my pick. There were piñatas of every size and shape, from giant ice cream cones to Daffy Duck. I chose spider man (I was a comic book nerd even then) and delighted in helping my dad hang him from the tree in our front yard. Last year I went to my best friend’s wedding expecting something stuffy and serious. Instead, she had a homemade moose piñata! She said it was my gigantic spider man piñata birthday party...

Image source: Eventsbytammy.blogspot.com

I realize I may be in the minority but I loved high school. It was a time full of excited learning; great friends; opportunities for creative exploration; and a feeling of power, like I could take over the world. I loved college too. I met my husband in a Russian history class. How romantic, right? For us, school and learning are synonymous with happiness, intellectual stimulation, and boundless excitement. I wish we’d thought of giving our wedding a school-related theme! The world of education has a definite aesthetic. Classrooms are unmistakable as classrooms and yet, there’s a lot of versatility there. You can choose contemporary decorations, like white boards and computers, or go classic with heavy wooden furniture, chalkboards, big old maps, and books. Here are some ideas.

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Image source: Snippetandink.com

Rose petals are the quintessential wedding accent. They’re vibrant and beautiful—soft and so alive. The rose is the universal symbol of love. Here are some creative ways to incorporate organic, eco-friendly rose petals into your wedding décor.

1. Strewn Down the Aisle

Image source: Italianlakeswedding.com

The rose petal-covered aisle is an image out of a fairy tale. The walk down the aisle is traditional and ceremonial: the transition from your parent’s child to your husband’s wife. Cushion your footsteps with bright flowers to symbolize your commitment and your love....

Image source: Saweddings.com

For many brides-to-be, a wedding has been a lifelong dream. I used to fantasize about my wedding all the time—the Cinderella dress, the opulent feast, the glowing candles peeking from a crystal chandelier, the white horse, the doves—but my fantasy was about as close to reality as a ride on a unicorn. For one thing, I wasn’t thinking about being environmentally conscious when I was ten years old. For another, I didn’t understand how complicated it can be to plan such a large and expensive event. Fortunately for me, I wasn’t too invested in the fantasy. I found it reasonably easy to compromise the Cinderella dress for a sustainable silk gown (it helped that the gown was spectacularly beautiful!) Instead of crystal...

Image source: Izzyandthebean.com

Vintage vinyl has been enjoying a resurgence in the digital age. Digital downloads just aren’t as satisfying as holding the object in your hands. Who wants to look at album art on a screen? And while many bands are releasing their music on brand new vinyl or plastic records, the old ones are still available in inexpensive abundance. A few weeks ago I went to a yard sale and bought fifty records for five dollars, and this isn’t unusual. Many thrift stores sell amazing vintage records by the crateful. For the music-loving couple, vintage vinyl is a classic, inexpensive, and readily available wedding object. It’s a great theme on its own or as part of a larger arts-themed celebration.

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