Search results (tags) for: "handmade wedding series"

Handmade Weddings: The Sales Results, Happily Ever After

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:00:00 -0000

We chose handmade weddings as a month-long series for a lot of reasons: There are tons of different aspects of a wedding that can be handmade, the styles are almost infinite, and there are tons of fabulous wedding items on Etsy. That's all great, but we also wanted to see whether or not an in-depth series would be useful for buyers and sellers. Well, the results are in for the wedding series and I must say, we’re suitably impressed: We ran the series for four weeks and business in the wedding category grew 57% vs. the previous four weeks!

A huge thank you goes out to Etsy sellers who decided to give the Weddings Category a shot, as well as the sellers who contributed their stories and expertise, including littlethings1, MagicIsland, solidio, ruralabandon, fubabee, beadifulthings, shoofly, citydirt, sewphisticate, mosey, LadybugSF, PetereneDesign, hobocampcrafts, LoucheLab, maryink, esdesigns, liskidder, gurlygirl, pistachiopress, vintagethisretrothat, RaeGun, creationsbylonni, moontreepress, KisforCalligraphy, Thomasina, confections, onesmallstar, pinklilypress, skyfiregraphics.

We also owe a big thanks to our guest bloggers who drove so much new traffic to the Storque and people's shops (you can find a list of them here).

Thanks again to everyone who participated in the series and we’ll work on more ways to spread the word about buying handmade!

Check out our new Featured Column, Earth Tones, all eco-friendly stuff in honor of Earth Day.

Handmade Weddings: Thank You!

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:13:00 -0000

Here's a big thanks to all the bloggers and Etsians that contributed to the Handmade Wedding Series! If you can believe it, there are many topics we didn't have time to cover this go-around, but we'll just have to save them for the next wedding series.

So have fun on your honeymoon and don't forget to write your thank you notes to your friends and families!

Handmade Weddings: A Last-Minute Article about My Last-Minute Wedding

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:20:00 -0000

One last real wedding to sneak into the Handmade Wedding Series!

We were married last September in Virginia but procrastinated almost everything until maybe a month beforehand. Together we were working about 10,000 hours a week at Etsy and I was wearily navigating my way through the first trimester of pregnancy.

Inwardly, I was positive that if I ignored planning my wedding hard enough, a wedding fairy godmother would swoop down in a magical monsoon of glitter shimmer tulle and take care of everything for us somehow.

That actually did not happen. But, I am here to tell you that it is okay to have a wedding by the total seat of your pants. A really great wedding, even.

This is my husband, Peter. He also works for Etsy.

Like any little girl, I had always vaguely daydreamed of what my my wedding dress would someday look like. I did not daydream myself five and 1/2 months pregnant, however. We had gotten engaged in January and then just became a little too impatient. So, I designed and made my own super beautiful knocked-up wedding dress with a ton of help from Beni of Burdastyle. When I say "help" I actually mean that she sewed the entire dress for me while I whined about how difficult it all was. I have a phobia of sewing patterns and hadn't even attempted to make anything from one since Girl Scouts in 1986. It was a totally harrowing and last-minute experience and I actually used a stapler to hem it and handsewed the snaps in our hotel room the morning before the ceremony, but it cost me $80 and I still sort of resembled the ballerina princess fairy I knew I was inside.

Burdastyle is this clever website where you can download and print patterns and get sewing help and all kinds of other essential things for making your own fashion. Had Alchemy been around on Etsy last year I probably would have gone down that road and saved poor Beni from having to deal with me, though. A dress that hides, yet accentuates, a baby bump is definitely a custom request.

We got married in the Japanese Garden of Maymont Park in Richmond, Virginia. Next to a waterfall. How ridiculous is that? The best part was I had never seen the place in my life and chose it on blind faith when the date was nearing and we had no location in mind. The week before the wedding I kept saying, Don't we need to get some flowers or something to, you know, decorate it?

And then when I finally saw it, it was like, Oh, duh, it's an insanely beautiful unicorniverse paradise already! Because it was outside next to a waterfall. Lesson learned: you can avoid the hassle of choosing flowers and stuff if you just hold the whole thing outdoors where it's lovely.

If you are trying to plan a wedding from five states away and not do anything except occasionally glance at the calendar and panic, then you'll definitely need a friend to coordinate it all for you. We had Almitra, who coordinates things for a living and was able to swiftly handle all of our crises. She found us a cake (made by a really sweet lady in central Virginia) and a caterer (an old friend of hers who owns a restaurant in Richmond) and a couple cases of champagne, all amidst me crying on the telephone about how tiredly pregnant I was and sending her IMs like PLS HELP EVERYTHING IS A SHAMBLES I AM CRYING.

Neither Pete nor I have a family minister or church and we were at a loss for an officiant who could legally marry us. Eventually we gave up on the legal part and convinced our friend Brooks to do the honors as he was "our most stately friend" and we thought he could convincingly lead the ceremony.

We actually got legally married a month and a half later at the City Clerk Office here in Brooklyn. Friends, if you're crunched for time, take my advice and just fake it.

Pete wrote our vows the night before the rehearsal and I bobby-pinned them into a vintage copy of Treasure Island. We googled wedding vows and then added a really long Rilke quote to pad it. The ceremony still only was about two minutes long because we were all very nervous and spoke too fast.

But the best part of our wedding was the reception.

We held a reception at our friend's, well, cement lot in Southside Richmond. It's called The Bike Lot, and a bunch of folks we know rent garage space to work on bikes or mopeds or whatever else out there, they have a bunch of homemade ramps and the whole space is covered in beautiful graffiti. So we basically invited everyone we knew to come and have a big sweaty drunken dance party barbeque with us.

Everyone had a really great time. Pictured above on the left are Pete's sister and brother, in the latter stage of drunkeness.

My best friend Luke had pulled a wedding band together for me and managed a few superb covers of songs by Jawbreaker and the Misfits, among others. We had two other friends play records and our first dance was to We Built This City by Starship.

Etsy customer support expert Lori Weaver joined in with vocals at one point. I think this was a Gorilla Biscuits song.

And for days afterwards, Pete's motto was "If you can't skate at your own wedding, when can you skate?"

Here is the top of our melted cake. The cake toppers were a gift from Pete's mom and dad. They had accidentally dropped and broken the foot off the bride figurine at an antique shop, and had been forced by the shop owner to buy them. Pete's mom glued the foot back on and mailed them to us as a gag, but I sort of loved their weird Precious Momentsesque charm.

Our friends had decorated the Bike Lot with a zillion paper airplanes and not much else, which was totally sweet and beautiful. Someone had found a tandem bicycle and tied cans and such to the back, and at the end of the day we rode off together while everyone flung glitter and the contents of their cups at us. And we lived happily ever after. The end!

Wedding Gift Guide | Wedding Category | Wedding Showcase | Handmade Wedding Series

Etsy Finds: A Gift from Groom to Bride

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:37:00 -0000

I have to admit that I had no idea that I was supposed to buy my bride a gift for our wedding — wasn’t marrying me enough? (No.) Thankfully for me, my father pulled me aside and told me that I needed to get a gift and that it was a great opportunity to add another memory to the wedding.

My first instinct was to go with something that commemorated our engagement, but, in truth, it wasn’t very memorable. I ended up buying my wife something she asked for (a watch), which is always a good plan. If I were doing it today, I think I’d write a poem and work with deliasthompson to customize this bracelet.

Need a daily fix of Etsy Finds? Sign up for the Etsy Finds e-mail! Conveniently delivered to your inbox on the daily!

Wedding Gift Guide | Wedding Category | Wedding Showcase | Handmade Wedding Series

Handmade Weddings: Almost there...Crucial Last Minute Details!

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 05:19:00 -0000

As we wrap up the Handmade Wedding Series, littlethings1 reminds us about some of those little details that will make your whole wedding come together!

The date is nearing, the chapel is booked, caterer is set, and the bridal party has been chosen. Hopefully you've stuck to your budget.

Many brides are now looking for a personal touch to add to their wedding celebrations by having custom and handmade details, as a way to show your own personal touch. Perhaps you've been DIYing some decorations, but trust me, you don’t want to be hot-gluing things the day before the wedding! The most important thing you can do is to have everything completed for your wedding day several weeks in advance, and to plan everything so your wedding day is stress free from last minute details! If you're running out of time and want to get some handmade items, do a search on Etsy.com for one of a kind handcrafted decorations to purchase for a one of a kind statement. A few custom ideas are:

engraved or hand painted votive holders:

cjoglasswareandgifts

flower-girl baskets:
BrassPaperclip adapts vintage doilies into baskets:

Or have her carry a pomander by EverythingButTheRing!

Here's a classic one from foreveryoursflowers:

ring bearer pillows:
EasterYu's dear ones with birdies

Sophisticated silk one by ShopBub

Another fresh option from tinarie21

cake toppers:

custom ones by tikiarnold

Whimsical topper by simplysweetbydawn

melabo's artistic squirrel and groom topper

Don't forget the pesky "something blue":

earrings by JenniferRydinDesigns

GarterLady

Having personalized bridal party gifts can show your bridesmaids and groomsmen that their support is truly appreciated. A few of the most common gifts include personalized watches, jewelry, flasks, and money clips. Some more original ideas include such things as one of a kind gifts suited for the individual; you can use Alchemy for custom orders. Here's an article with some tips for groomsmen gifts, and also this post about bridesmaid gifts.

Last, but not least, don’t neglect one of the most important items: thank you cards. A sweet note with a hand written appreciation of the gift received.

by dutchdoor

by woodenapples

Have a fabulous wedding day!!

Wedding Gift Guide | Wedding Category | Wedding Showcase | Handmade Wedding Series

Handmade Wedding Series: Inside Tips from Wedding Photographer MagicIsland

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 03:14:00 -0000

MagicIsland makes a living as a wedding photographer in North Carolina. She shares some tips with the Handmade Wedding Series on how to find the right photographer for your nuptials.

Can you introduce yourself and tell me about your experiences as a photographer?
My names Mary Haggerty, I have a photography shop on Ocracoke Island in North Carolina called Ocracoke Photo (and two shops here on Etsy: MagicIsland and Photo America). I have worked as a photojournalist for more than 14 years and have been a freelance photographer for The New York Times. I have also been a portrait, wedding and Fine Art Photographer. I have had my photographs exhibited in galleries and museums. So, I have a good deal of background as a photographer. My wedding photography reflects my background as a wedding / portrait photographer, fine artist, and photojournalist.

Many artists and crafters have friends who take cool photos. I imagine they could do a pretty good job snapping some great shots. But I wonder if they would be able to cover all the angles? Why not have a friend who likes to photograph be your photographer? Why hire a professional?
The most important thing to consider if you want to guarantee that your photos will be wonderful is to hire a professional. Hire someone with experience. I can’t stress this enough. Consider photography first. It’s what you will have to keep (besides your spouse) after the wedding is over. It’s what will be sitting on your mantle and bookshelf and in your album for the rest of your life. Photographs are the treasures you’ll share with your friends and relatives and maybe your children. It’s a record of your love.

Asking a friend to photograph your wedding can be very tricky. There's a lot of pressure involved in photographing a wedding. Your friend and designated photographer won't get to enjoy themselves as a guest. So, what you might want to do is ask a friend who knows how to take photographs to take pictures for an hour or so before the wedding or during the ceremony and a few after of the bride and groom and some family, but not all day. If it's a local wedding and off season, sometimes I'll go out for and hour or two for a bride. You might find a professional willing to do that.

What do you need to know about printing, albums, and negatives/digital files?
Have in mind what you’d like as a finished product. There are all styles of wedding albums and this truly depends on your personal style and how creative you are.

I think most photographers now use digital cameras. I wouldn't say digital is better than negatives, just easier. So if your photographer shoots film, that’s fine; labs usually transfer file onto CDs too. A lot of my weddings are destination weddings so my couples are in town for a week or so. Because I shoot digital, this way they can select their photos the next day in my shop, I print in house and they have all their photos to take home along with their album. There are also many options for having a traditional book professionally bound: this is very expensive and takes 8 weeks to get your book finished. Ask your photographer what products and services they offer. They may offer things like in house printing, canvas prints and custom framing.

I've been working with Etsy seller decklededgebindery on some handmade albums.

What are the price ranges?
This is hard to say, price ranges are so different from place to place and also determined by the experience of the photographer. I think you could get a photographer for $500... or $30,000. My wedding packages start at $1,250 and that includes an album.

What are the different styles? Seems like there's photojournalistic style and then on the other hand, traditional wedding photographer style?
Photojournalist style is very popular. A lot of my brides come to me knowing my background as a photojournalist, they almost always tell me that's what they want, until I remind them they may also want some posed family photos, and yes, they usually do want a few of these also. I would say a mix of traditional and photojournalist styles work well together.
Make sure you like the photographer's style and that it fits your personal taste. Take a good look at their photographs.

What should you look for in a black and white photo, say? vs color? Any tips?
I shoot all my weddings in digital color files. Any digital files can be made into black and white prints. I really like the look of classic Black and White. Usually my couples use a mixture of color and black and white in their albums.

In what situation would you need an assistant?
I don't use an assistant but if you're having a wedding with over 200 guest or a big affair you might want to find a photographer with an assistant.

What's the deal with getting a photographer if you're doing a destination wedding?
Most of my weddings on the Island are destination weddings. Hiring a local provider is a good choice. You could look online or call the local Chamber of Commerce or check the county website; they all have wedding provider information. If you know any locals ask them for referrals. It's best to go visit your destination spot and make appointments to meet with all the wedding providers you're interested in. I also supply couples with local information on music and food, flowers, and lodging provider suggestions if they ask! If you find a band or florist you get along with, ask them what photographer they would recommend. If you can't visit and you find a photographer online you'd like to hire, you can ask them for phone numbers of couples whose weddings they've done and that would talk with you. This is very helpful. Alternatively, you could also hire a wedding planner.

One more note about destination weddings: you'll also want to find out about wedding license requirements and also things like getting permits you might need. If your wedding is here at the beach or at our historic lighthouse you need to get a permit from the National Park Service. So, ask about these things too!

Where is a good place to start looking for photographer in one's area? Are there websites or organizations you can recommend?
If you're looking for photographers in your own area, asking friends for referrals is a good idea; ask if you can see their wedding albums.

I suggest a face to face meeting with potential photographers. Do you feel comfortable with them? Most people aren’t used to being in front of a camera for a whole day. So, it’s best to find a photographer that you feel at ease with, your photos will look more natural. I think that's very important. If you can't meet with them a phone call is good and if you need more information, ask for referrals and phone numbers from couples who have hired this photographer. They can tell you not only how good their photos are but also what it was like to work with the photographer.

Further Resources:
Ocracoke Photo: www.OcracokePhoto.com
Ocracoke Island’s website: www.Ocracokevillage.com
Pirate ship wedding cruise: www.schoonerwindfall.com
Outer Banks wedding guide: www.outerbanksweddingguide.com

Wedding Gift Guide | Wedding Category | Wedding Showcase | Handmade Wedding Series

Handmade Weddings: Choosing the Perfect Wedding Album & Guest Book

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 20:36:00 -0000

As we near the end of the Handmade Wedding Series, it's time to think about preserving all of the memories. Thanks to solidio for her great ideas on guest and scrap books!

Of all the things you buy for your wedding, you only get to keep a few. The cake gets eaten and the flowers fade, but the guest book and the album for your photos are items that you will have forever.

There are probably as many options available for handmade books and albums as there are Etsy sellers, so I narrowed it to two key decisions you need to make when choosing a book or album.

Decision one: The Cover
I like to think of the cover as the personality of the book. It’s the first thing you see, and is also a tactile element of the book. Remember that the guest book should look good in your wedding and also in your home. So choose a cover you like! It doesn’t have to match your wedding perfectly, but should blend in with your theme. If you are having red roses at your wedding, but your home décor doesn’t have much red in it, keep that in mind.

Cover materials range from silk to wood to leather to paper to metal and a variety of oddball materials. There are advantages and disadvantages to each – and each has it's own feel to it. This is truly a personal choice, and my best advice is to search the options out there, and if you have an idea for a cover, find someone that works in those materials and ask them if they can make a book or album for you.

Take a look a these —

Nina Judin Books' Leather with copper details:

Pamela Tang's Silk:

Decision two: Binding Type
The binding is important for two reasons — it affects the way the book lies on the table, and affects the ability to add pages to a book. (I’ll be talking more about functionality and style in this article, not techniques or terminology. I’m not a bookbinder!)

One type of binding used for albums is called post-binding, and it is commonly used in scrapbooking. This type of binding allows you to add or subtract pages by unscrewing the posts that hold the pages together. You can then add, subtract or move pages, and screw it all together again. The pages of the book do not lay flat, but they do tend to stay open while you are looking at them. You can usually find pages to add at your local craft store, and they are very easy to use with photos. These books often have standard page sizes, like 12x12, 8x8 or 8x10. This binding is a logical choice for an album, but could also be filled with blank pages for a guest book.

A cool post-bound example from Sleeping Forest Studios:

The other type of binding is constructed in a variety of ways, but has the common trait of looking like a book – it lies flat on the table and you cannot add pages to it. These are your typical journals or sketchbooks. They sometimes use beautiful knot patterns, and can have an exposed or covered spine. This type of book would be a logical choice for a guest book, but can also be used as an album. You will need to attach your photos directly to the paper with photo tabs or adhesive.

Here's a great example from LaPaperie:

Other terrific options —
You can find an Etsy seller like jennysbooks and ask her to make a custom cover for a traditional guest book or album that you already have. Here's an example of one of her covers:

You can also find an Etsy seller (the one below is from scrapbooks) make a custom wedding scrapbook for you:

In the end, there are two major choices with albums and guest books: cover materials and binding. There are many options to fit just about any taste, or you can take this opportunity to get a custom book designed to your taste through Alchemy. Many artisans/crafters will take the time to walk you through what choices they have and go over options with you. Keep in mind that a custom book could take 6-8 weeks to make, so order early! And enjoy the process.

Wedding Gift Guide | Wedding Category | Wedding Showcase | Handmade Wedding Series

Handmade Weddings: Thoughtful Gifts for Your Wedding Party with ruralabandon

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:18:00 -0000

And now a word of advice from the woman that so often has to hold her tongue — the bridesmaid! ruralabandon tells the Handmade Wedding Series the Dos and Don'ts of another wedding tradition: thank you gifts for your bridesmaids.

Brides have enough to think about when planning a wedding. Seriously, although I'm ashamed to admit it, I’ve seen that show Bridezillas! Not everyone has the funds to hire a wedding planner, and those who do still seem to agonize over every little aspect. So take some advice from a seasoned bridesmaid about one detail: the bridemaids’ gifts. Here are some simple Do’s and Don’ts to help any bride pick the perfect gifts:

Thank them in style with these beautiful letterpress tags by FullCirclePress.

DON’T give gifts that only work when matching the dress – think about this one. Is it really a gift when you are buying something to match a dress the person is likely to never wear again? This type of gift says "I don’t trust you to wear appropriate accessories with the dress I picked out."

DO give gifts that match the person – think about each individual and buy accordingly. Is there a memory you share? An inside joke? Buy something that will really touch their heart or make them chuckle.

Make her smile and remember all those trips to the ladies room together with this Ladies Room Necklace by rotorcaps.

DON’T give manicures and pedicures before the big day – they can take care of that. (And don’t worry, they won’t come to the wedding with florescent yellow nail polish.) Although according to a recent Storque article, neon IS making a comeback.

DO give personalized bath and body gifts – think of the person’s favorite scents, colors and personality, and buy accordingly. For example, if the person is into natural products, why not give them a gift basket with organic bath and body items?

This Aloha Gift Set by soapboxhawaii is perfect for the bridesmaid that longs for sand between her toes.

DON’T buy a t-shirt, tank top, or sweat suit with BRIDESMAID written across it. Britney did this, and we all saw how that turned out!

DO buy something they can use long after the wedding – whether it be a nice pair of earrings or a special purse, make sure it is something they will use and cherish.

Think about sending a special message with a practical gift. Check out this pocket mirror by dcdesigns.

DON’T buy each person the same gift – this screams sale at Big Lots! You chose your attendants because they share a special place in your life, so personalize things a bit. This doesn’t mean monogramming a key chain either.

This bridesmaid prayer candle by gagavida will let your bridesmaids know that the dresses could have been way worse!

When it comes to gift giving one thing always rings true: the best gifts have a personal touch. The good thing about buying handmade is the intrinsic value of a personal touch. You can even use Alchemy to do custom, personalized orders. So, 'SHOP ON!' Brides and Bridezillas…a gift from Etsy will probably make them forget all about that horrible dress you made them wear.

Wishing all the lovely brides a beautiful wedding day and a wonderful life filled with love and joy! Oh…and one more thing…I am sure your bridesmaids' dresses are smashing.

Wedding Gift Guide | Wedding Category | Wedding Showcase | Handmade Wedding Series

Handmade Weddings: Natural Grooming Tips from GreenUnion

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:37:00 -0000

Whether you're getting married or are simply looking for some beauty tips to make you look and feel great, look no further! From her passion for creating gorgeous, stylish and sustainable celebrations, Rosie Ames founded eco-friendly wedding website GreenUnion just over a year ago. The inspiration for GreenUnion came from her interest in ethical issues and understanding that, while couples are less interested in excessive over-spending and over-consumption, smaller more hand made events are becoming increasingly popular. In her spare time she grows flowers in her cutting garden, plants trees, keeps hens in the back yard and walks the Devon moors and windy beaches.

It's a well known fact that every couple looks radiant on their wedding day, but if you feel you can't rely on your own sheer happiness alone to ensure total radiance, here are some natural, organic, and ethical alternatives to give you a boost on your big day.

We suggest the very first step to all natural beauty is to take care of your overall health and well being in the run up to the big day. This applies to brides and grooms equally.

Munch away at a balanced, healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, drink lots of water (be green, avoid bottled water and tap into faucet water which is perfectly good for you) and reduce your intake of alcohol and caffeine. Do plenty of exercise like walking or swimming, preferably in the fresh air, and get lots of sleep. This will help keep your body, skin and hair in tip top condition.

Uplifting flower essences like Valerian from Summersea are a valuable and dynamic tool, helping to focus your emotions and develop your full potential.

Their effects are wide ranging, life affirming and changing. Use them to inspire, support and empower you during this major rite of passage. They'll help you maintain your health and combat pre-wedding stress.

If you practice what we preach, then using a natural or organic facial moisturiser and body lotion on the build up to your big day, feeding your skin precious nutrients and oils, will be all you'll need to radiate that natural beauty to the world.

Look out for organic skincare products that are free from artificial colors, fragrances, parabens, petrochemicals and phthalates. Try Pai Skincare or Spiezia Organics or check out these fantastic products on Etsy from ArtSpot:

Makeup Magic
Make sure you try new products and shades well before the wedding day, espcially if you have sensitive skin. Once you've found something that suits you, stick to it and don't make the mistake of trying new products or colours on the day, it could end in tears. Askmemakeup on Youtube has some helpful tips in her series of videos:

Your skin will be extra wonderfully radiant if you don't wear any makeup for a week before the wedding and keep your skin moisturised. On the day, apply makeup to a well moisturised base and keep your colors natural. Have a lip gloss handy for touching up throughout the day. If you're not sure about doing your own makeup, let Orglamic create a beautiful bridal look with natural, organic cosmetics or ask a makeup artist to use your own natural products.

Everyone's asking about mineral makeup — it’s pretty good for you and your skin, but choose wisely and always try them out before committing yourself. Everyone's skin is different and every bride's after a different look: experiment because practice makes perfect. On Etsy you can get samples from Lollibomb:

And you can get reuseable makeup pads from antoinettes on Etsy:

In case you've never used mineral makeup find out how on Youtube:

Here's a handy hint: when getting ready on the day, wear something which buttons all the way up so you don't end up mussing your hair and splotching your makeup when it's time to get into that dress!

Healthy Hair
With a balanced diet and heaps of exercise, your hair will have no choice but to shine out naturally. Having it trimmed regularly (every six weeks, even if you're growing it, or less if it's a crop) will get your hair into peak condition. If you're thinking of coloring it yourself, think again, and have it done professionally at least 3 months before the big event, just in case you hate the result and need to take alternative action!

Whether you're having your hair styled professionally or doing it yourself, it's a great idea to experiment with your style. Try out different accessories like a veil, fascinator (such as the one above from myrakim) or flowers in plenty of time and once you've made your decision, stick to it on the day (see the post in this series about Do-ing it up with Veils and Hair Accessories).

Happy Hands

Your hands will be on show on your wedding day, so a little attention won't go amiss. Lots of moisturising on the run up to the big day and a pampering manicure always hits the spot. Pictured above is GudonyaToo's all natural hand and nail scrub for a little exfoliation. Here's some cuticle crisis cream from parrotfeathers:

Etsy has some gorgeous manicure sets which would also make great bridesmaid's gifts. This one is from sparetimecrafts:

A good buff will make most hands sparkle, but if you plan to polish, check out a kinder product than those on the average high street (or for the US-readers, convenience store?), like Suncoat's water based nail polish.

Good Grooming
While their brides are pampering themselves for the big day, grooms may feel a bit of pressure to devote a little time and effort getting into shape themselves!

Follow to a good diet and exercise regime, choose products that work for your skin and moisturise regularly and thoroughly. A well groomed head may require a bit of application, but make sure your hair is squeeky clean. Here's some natural shampoo from SoapStore:

You might want to take some time to experiment with some styling products till you find one that suits your hair and then 'stick' to it. Doesn't hurt to have a sibling, friend, or your partner check you out and give you their honest opinions!

On the wedding day, have a good shave, shower and moisturise well, smooth down the bed head.

Tamarasherbes's Shaving Lotion for Men

HeidisHandmades's Shaving Soap Mug & Brush

And don't forget the natural deoderant by SpaTherapy.

Then you should be fit to climb into your outfit looking like a million dollars!

Further Resources:
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
Chemical Safe Skincare
Womens Environmental Network - 'Ending the Cosmetics Cover-up'
American Botanical Council

Wedding Gift Guide | Wedding Category | Wedding Showcase | Handmade Wedding Series

Handmade Weddings: A Designer's Guide by fubabee

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:19:00 -0000

When fubabee — an Etsy seller and wedding designer — offered to give the Handmade Wedding Series some tips, how could we resist?

When it comes to designing weddings, the biggest challenge I've come across as a wedding designer is balancing budget concerns with desires for unique expression. Not all of us have the resources to throw lavish events. But, with a little creativity and some handmade finesse (which you all possess), designing the look and feel of your reception is as easy as figuring out what's beautiful and tasteful to you.

For today's couples, there are an overwhelming number of choices when it comes to decorating their reception. One search online will yield a seemingly countless number of options that the couple can choose from. However, just because there is so much variety out there, doesn't mean you need to do any of it, especially if these choices don't represent you or your partner in any way.

Thinking Outside the (Favor) Box
The most memorable receptions I've attended were the ones that had the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) feel behind it. These receptions were steeped with homemade touches that bespoke of the couple's personal style.

Because handmade weddings infuse the personalities of the couple in imaginative ways, the atmosphere is more intimate, which creates a more inviting environment for family and friends celebrating your marriage.

So how do you create a look that is reflects your style and at the same time doesn’t break the bank? While there is no hard and fast rule, there are a few simple guidelines that will make your wedding a true celebration of you.

Keep it Simple
Whether it is a certain color or a theme, having one or two elements that are repeated throughout will create a wonderful stage in the reception area.

[photo by fubabee.etsy.com]

Light the Way
Lanterns provide excellent mood lighting and create an entirely different feel depending on the type used.

[photo courtesy of Huiwen Lu (www.xanga.com/huiwen), photo by somethingblue.com]

Perform Double- (or Even Triple-) Duty
Add in elements that can be used for more than one thing. Fan programs will keep the guests cool and informed. Potted plants double as aisle liners and table décor, and can be given to guests as favors.

[photo courtesy of Marcie aka izzybelledesigns.etsy.com, photo by Evin Krehbiel (www.evinphotography.com)]

[photo by fubabee.etsy.com]

Go Au Naturel
Fruits, pebbles and other natural elements make wonderful settings and add to the personalized, handmade feel of your reception.

[Table top zen gardens from Nicole aka nicherndesigns.etsy.com ]

Be Your Own Florist
Arrange your own flowers to suit your tastes. Doing what works for you puts a custom-made stamp on your festivity.

[Angela aka papermanagerie aka papermanagerie.etsy.com recruited her cousin do the flowers]

Reduce, Reuse, Rejoice!
Celebrate in an eco-friendly way by collecting tins and jars for floral arrangements and guest favors. Choose invitations that are made of recycled paper. Consider purchasing a vintage wedding dress (or prom dress)!

[Dana aka thomasina.etsy.com found a vintage prom dress for the occasion (Check out her post in this series!)]

By keeping these simple guidelines in mind, you can make certain that your wedding shines with uniqueness without breaking the bank. Best of all, by consciously incorporating these aspects into your celebration, you will ensure that handmade weddings become a long-standing tradition, one that you and your guests will truly enjoy.

Wedding Gift Guide | Wedding Category | Wedding Showcase | Handmade Wedding Series

Handmade Weddings: Do-ing it up with Veils and Hair Accessories

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:18:00 -0000

Beautiful hairdos are another opportunity for expressing style in your Handmade Wedding. beadifulthings, who specializes in making hair pieces, gives us the skinny on some handmade hair options. She started making jewelry after quitting her job to have a family. She "was sitting home all day with nothing to do, going quietly nuts. When my husband came home from work, my exciting news for him would be that I cleaned out the dishwasher. I took a beading class at a local shop and was instantly hooked." She started doing custom work for brides after she realized the beaded vines she was doing "could translate into a hair piece or tiara and the flowers could be worked on to hair pins." She's been keeping an eye out for a variety of styles for hair accessories ever since.

Ever looked at old photos of weddings? Anyone who’s been in a wedding party back in, say, 1986 can tell you…what’s in today won’t necessarily be in tomorrow. My sister made us wear black Laura Ashley dresses with poufy sleeves and a large pink floral pattern. The hair was even worse: she had her hairdresser give me a Bride of Frankenstein ‘do and stick a floral arrangement in it.

As much as you want to save yourself the likelihood of looking back at your own wedding photos a decade later and blanching, you’ve got to be true to yourself and go for the style that’s you. Enter Etsy. There’s no cookie-cutter bridal “look” on Etsy. There’s something for everyone here. What’s your pleasure?

We've seen a trend lately on Etsy — fascinators and short veils:
Such as this one by myrakim:

Firefly Enlightened
As you can see from the number of RESERVED listings, she's quite a busy bee with her custom orders these days!

And these by cassiopia:

Tulle Short Veil with Mini Silk Flowers

White or Ivory French Russian Netting BIRDCAGE CAGE VEIL by SomethingBoldVeils

These retro style ones by annabronwyn:

Fleur Fatale- Real Orchid and Keishi Pearl Fascinator
She can do custom ones with white netting too.

topsyturvydesign:

This one by TheTailorsChest which doubles as a lapel ornament:

Only A Rose Fascinator

Feathery and flowers from begurple:

Feeling Frisky Beaded Feather Flower Fascinator

and Noxenlux:

Peacock Feather Fascinator

Go full on glamour with a tiara:

Autumn Tiara by Pavoreal

Phoenix Rising Tiara

by BlueMarmalade

gurlygirl's sterling tiara:

Hugely different styling possibilities between these glorious pieces. See more tiaras here.

Or keep it simple with a flower hair pin (perfect for a garden wedding):

Recycled Poppy Bobby Pin by foundling

White Petals by Mikiye

You have to consider your hair type when shopping for a hair piece. Obviously, hair pins aren't going to work with short hair, but bobby pins might! Click here for more pins.

Hair vines are incredibly versatile hair ornaments:

Madreselva Hairvine by Pavoreal

Looking for a vintage or retro feel?
The possibilities are endless:

Victorian Wedding set by OriginalsByLynette

Vintage Bridal - Brass Filigree and Swarovski Pearl Hair Pins by beadifulthings

This one by BiancaSnow looks like a vintage find out of your cool grandmother's attic:

Spring Green Leaves

Rockabilly and burlesque glam:
mini top hats by joeireedhats:

Classic hats and headpieces:
Headpieces that have a Princess Grace feel by graceartandantiques:

and by littlehats:

Classic Pillbox Hat

I see this beauty going to the courthouse accompanied by a smart suit a la Marilyn Monroe:

Jaqueline by katieburley

Traditional clips are another option for longer hair:
Feeling preppy, Muffy? This is for you:

Blushing Bride Barrette by pvcreations

Feeling like a true classic? Veils are the way to go:
JeanMarieNY offers this veil:

Circle Veil with Satin Trim

The most traditional and classic look is the cathedral veil. Here's one by primrosebride:

Double Tier Cathedral Veil

and an orgainic, raw silk one by BlueSkyBridal:

My favorite story is the vine I made for a bride in France. She was having a true handmade wedding in that she was making her own dress, her jewelry was made for her by a close friend, and she commissioned me to make her hair vine. Throughout all this, she kept a blog that kept everyone informed of her latest developments (and there were quite a few; she ended up making herself two dresses!). I was also, of course, pretty proud of myself for attracting a French customer; after all, don't they say that the French have impeccable taste?

I think the best thing to pair with a veil is a tiara or comb (combs come in sizes from 3/4 of an inch to 5 inches). They're both sturdy enough to keep a veil in place.

Combs add sparkle to an updo:
Wedding Belles - Swarovski Pearl Czech Glass Bead Hair Comb:

by yours truly, beadifulthings

If you're bold and want to wear a piece of art:
You only get married once (at least, that’s supposed to be the general idea), and unless every day is dress-up day in your world, when else are you going to get a chance to wear something as fabulous as this feathery flower brooch by piperewan:

This birdcage veil from kankalinhats would be fantastic for making a colorful statement in the dead of winter:

Check out BoringSidney's shop. She does custom orders:

Couture Sculptural Headpiece

Not finding exactly what you want? Most sellers love custom orders. Just click through to their Alchemy page to request a custom item. I once had a bride request that I make up a hair vine with a couple of blue Swarovski crystals to take care of that pesky “something blue” on the traditional wedding must-have list. And if you’re a total sweetie, you can send some of your wedding photos back to your hair ornament designer so she can see her creations at work.

Up or down, long or short, there’s something out there that’s just perfect for your hair. Go find it!

And practically speaking, my biggest piece of advice for brides: always do a trial run with your hair dresser before the big day.

Wedding Gift Guide | Wedding Category | Wedding Showcase | Handmade Wedding Series

Handmade Weddings: Eco-friendly Flower Ideas with Maria Finn

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:51:00 -0000

We invited Maria Finn aka citydirt to share some insights into incorporating plants and flowers into your Handmade Weddings. Maria has written about nature for the New York Times and Audobon, and has also published travel books and taught writing to college students. In addition to being an award-winning author, Maria runs a hands-on, eco-friendly gardening company called Prospect & Refuge, and blogs about the experience at CityDirt.net.

Nobody wants to think of herself as a Bridezilla, but all the details can be daunting — especially if you’re someone who considers her or himself eco-sensitive. Are your wedding flowers filled with pesticides that are polluting the rivers and exploiting workers in Colombia? Does rice thrown for good luck really explode in the stomachs of songbirds? Ahhh, the horror of unintended consequences. Etsy has asked me to make these details a little easier. And since you’re here, reading this, I’m assuming you like things creative and a little funky, so let’s make this wedding planning fun.

Carry an elegant bouquet of white calla lilies wrapped in your grandmother’s handkerchief, or mix together chartreuse and romantic sunset roses, both available from Organic Bouquet. (Remember, you’ll need a few days to let them open, so timing is everything here. And there aren't really any organic fillers, so just go outside and pick some ornamental grass or ivy vines and bind them all together with floral tape and then cover that with ribbon.) To find other Fair Trade flowers vendors click transfairusa.org/content/flowers/index.php.

Centerpieces at the reception don’t even need to be flowers. If you’re Buddhists, you can find statues and incense burners; for bird lovers, place botanicraft's bird houses on the table and scatter dried flowers or petals around them.

Terrariums are glass containers filled with tropical or desert eco-systems, and tres chic these days. Here's a good size: vintage Crushed Fruit Jar.

You can create a natural look by adding pieces of driftwood, shells, or pebbles, or you can add a kitschy bride and groom figurine and mulch with turquoise marbles or red lentils if you’d like. These can really keep a conversation flowing at the in-law table. Go to my blog at www.citydirt.net/city_dirt/how_not_to_make_a_terrarium.html on how to make a terrarium—and what to avoid.

You can also use live plants that can be given away to guests or can be replanted in your yard. Small bonsai trees make elegant centerpieces and will live for years — decades even. Scour your local China Town for ones already in ceramic dishes. Add a few of gamiworks's Japanese Candle Votives for a touch of color.
Also, OrganicBouquet.com sells California grapevine bonsai’s — so post nuptials, the Newlyweds can start their own vineyard.

If you must have cut flowers — and often we must — go seasonal or go native. WhatsInBloom sells a planning kit to help you know which flowers are available the month of your wedding. For natives, check out the Local Harvest Site to find wildflower venues near you and support growers of native wildflowers. Native plants are heartier, use less water, require fewer pesticides, and they provide food and shelter for our birds, bees, and butterflies. Although, I must admit, I love lavender.

It’s not a native to my Brooklyn area, but lavender is certainly hard to resist. In the Middle Ages, lavender was considered “the herb of love” and lavender bouquets were given to newly-married couples to bring good luck; as well, sprinkling dried lavender flowers in the home was said to bring peacefulness. So plant some live lavender in reclaimed redwood flowerpots, or ipe boxes — such as the ones I sell in my citydirt shop.

For larger bouquets, mix miniature cascading red roses with lavender. Later, turn these into planted pots on your front porch or replant them into window boxes.

As for what to toss at the bride and groom, I’ve got you covered. At my Etsy store here, I sell native wildflower seeds in hand stamped small envelopes. By tossing these, you’re doing all sorts of great stuff for the environment, and seeds are symbolic; there’s something, well, fertile, so to speak.

For more eco-friendly and DIY wedding tips, see Portovert's post, ecochicwedding's post, Craftmagazine's DIY post, plus many others.

Wedding Gift Guide | Wedding Category | Wedding Showcase | Handmade Wedding Series

Handmade Weddings: an Etsy Wedding with shoofly and scenicartisans

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 17:26:00 -0000

Here's the latest real wedding story in our Handmade Wedding Series, shoofly and scenicartisans.

I'm shoofly on Etsy, the groom is scenicartisans, and we're both artists. We met in the lobby of the Shakespeare Theatre admin offices on my first day at work in 2000. He was the props painter/sculptor and I was the new graphic designer. We come from very different backgrounds and we decided to incorporate elements from our different cultures into our wedding- to do so, we went straight to the people who knew us best for help, our dear friends of course!

I’m a graphic designer, so all of our printed materials had to be perfect.

My parents hired a calligrapher in Lebanon to write our names together in Arabic. I took that and combined it with our names in English. That set the tone for all of our printed material.

Each of the invitations was a handbound booklet made of handmade papers, printed on an inkjet printer, hand trimmed and bound together with ribbon. I used a variety of papers, so each guest's invite was slightly different. I printed everything at home and used My parents, brother and scenicartisans as an assembly line. After many sleepless nights, trimming lessons, and paper cuts, the invitations were done!

For wedding favors we had handmade pouches filled with little Lebanese goodies: chocolates, Jordan almonds, and a blue heart-shaped glass evil eye for good luck. My parents traveled to Damascus where they selected traditional fabrics, and hired artisans to make the pouches.

Magpiedc , a dear friend of ours did all of our flower arrangements. Two days before the wedding we
visited flower warehouses and picked out everything. Lots of lime greens, reds and oranges.
Magpiedc wrapped the stalks in a bonnet that was a gift when I was born for my bouquet.

...And my mom wrapped all the glass vases in ribbons.

Our cake was made by theatre artisan extraordinaire Marie, who's work can be seen on Broadway, the Kennedy Center, the Seattle Opera, yeah, pretty much anywhere! The cake was a giant chocolate truffle. Pure yum. Marie decorated the cake with ribbons, and together with magpiedc, made our awesome cake display.

My wedding dress has quite a history. In Lebanon in 1970, my mom and her designer picked the fabric and pattern piece by
piece and designed the dress together. Shortly after my parents married, they moved from Lebanon to New York City, and the wedding dress stayed at my mom's house in Lebanon. The house was bombed and taken over by squatters, and my mom thought her dress was gone. But a few years ago, she found it crammed in a corner of her childhood closet. She took it to the cleaners, and it came back looking new again.

We're not sure what happened to the original head piece, but Marie ended up constructing a new one for me using the buckle that had been on the front of the dress. Marie had to sew me in to hide the zipper!

Even though I would have loved an outdoor wedding in the woods, we ended up going with a wedding in Downtown DC. We got married on the roof of the Hotel Washington in April of 2004, overlooking the Washington Monument and White House.

Between the ceremony and the reception we snuck away for a break and take fun pictures in the city. Walking around all dressed up was the most surreal thing ever. People wanted to take pictures of us, they asked for our autographs (probably because we looked like rock stars!), cars were honking, the crowds were wild. We could have pretty much done anything we wanted and gotten away with it.

The weather couldn't have been more perfect, and just like any other lovely Saturday in DC, the date happened to fall on a major protest weekend; IMF/World Bank on Saturday, and Code Pink on Sunday.

There was a huge sea of bicycle cops on Freedom Plaza. We asked politely if we could take pictures and next thing you know, I'm sitting on the bike and scenicartisans and I are handcuffed together. I laughed so hard I cried. I’m looking forward to explaining these pictures over and over!

Even the music was handmade! scenicartisans worked with my brother on playlists, and then it was all mixed together and streamed through my brother's ipod. At dinner, we walked in to the theme song from the Muppet Show. Why?, why not? It's time to play the music! It's time to light the lights! That's why!

We pretty much did everything we possibly could do ourselves. If my mom was given the chance, she would have even cooked the whole dinner. She actually did end up making hommos and olive tapenade, and my dad made bagel chips!

Oh how I wish Etsy was alive when we were planning our wedding. I would probably have had letterpress cards, or maybe even gocco printed them all. Yes, I do still think about all the fun things I could have done if only I had my print gocco back then.

Our wedding was four years ago, and then I did exactly what my mom did with her dress, I just packed it all away. Thanks to this Handmade Wedding series, I decided to dust off my albums to re-remember how hand made it all was. And now my mom has you to thank for my wedding pictures she's waited years and years for!

Your wedding only lasts a few hours, and then that's it, all you'll have are the memories. Have fun!

Wedding Gift Guide | Wedding Category | Wedding Showcase | Handmade Wedding Series

Etsy Finds: For the Boys in the Band

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 16:00:00 -0000

Let's face it: while the Handmade Wedding Series has shown us many creative, non-traditional ideas, for the most part, the wedding day is still all about the bride. Somewhere between the proposal and picking out tablecloths that coordinate with the flower girl's sash, the groom-to-be tends to weigh in less and less in the decision making process.

A shame really, because why should the ladies have all the fun? A great place for the guys to get a foot in on the process and show their personalities is with gifts for the groomsmen. What better way to show your appreciation for your "band" of brethren than with these rockin' sterling silver guitar picks by chrisparry? For a few dollars more, you can even have them personalized with their "stage" names.

Need a daily fix of Etsy Finds? Sign up for the Etsy Finds e-mail! Conveniently delivered to your inbox on the daily!

Be sure to check out the other hand-selected rock 'n' roll wedding items featured in the gallery below.

Handmade Weddings: Sexy Bits

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 23:04:00 -0000

Some of you have been asking the Handmade Wedding Series to spice it up a bit. We are happy to oblige with a mix of lingerie and other odds and ends. Bachelorette parties and bridal showers with your friends are a great excuse to ask for some lovely handmade underthings for your unmentionables. Just be forewarned if you're doing a family bridal shower: it's kind of awkward to have your grandma giving you a teddy. Welcome to the world of married womanhood!

For our readers who aren't getting married, well, a lady always can use some more underwear!

This camisole by sleepydarling could be warn as lingerie on a special occasion, but with another camisole under it, it could work as a delicate top.

These corsets by Jacci are "designed for strong, powerful, independent women, and meant to be shown off as outerwear, not as lingerie."

So you can rock these to your Saturday night party. Who needs a wedding?

Wedding Gift Guide | Wedding Category | Wedding Showcase | Handmade Wedding Series