DIY projects are all the rage nowadays, so of course we decided to incorporate one into our  Secret of the Seven Hills photo shoot. This one utilizes vintage books for table numbers, which turn into quite the beautiful keepsake! Many thanks to Lauren for designing this spectacularly beautiful DIY project for our brides. Look for the full spread of photos on page 27 of clutch, the bride’s guide to have and to hold. Oh, and the adorable couple in the DIY photos is none other than Lauren herself with her beau, Jared! So cute. 

Before we start, here is a photo of the finished product taken by Jeremiah of Stone Blue Productions.

These next photos were taken by Lauren. Enjoy!

Step 1: Buy a vintage book at an antique/thrift store. The price depends; we got ours for $4.

Step 2: Now trace the outline of a circle onto the center of the front cover as a reference guide for where your numbers will be. Do this with a pencil so you can erase the marks afterwards. To create a perfect circle use a cup or bowl that matches the size circle you need.

Step 3: Mark with a pencil where you want the numbers to be. Use the dabber to evenly distribute ink onto the number stamps you bought, and very carefully stamp them onto the book cover.

Step 4: Once the numbers are dry, erase the pencil markings from the cover.

Step 5: For an extra cute factor, use the same color ink and stamp the words ‘I do’ onto either the back cover or the front page. Another option is stamping the groom and bride’s names or last name. If you don’t want to use words, get a pretty wildflower stamp or something of your preference to decorate the back cover. There is freedom in this project to personalize the book however you like.

Step 6: Use the black photo corners and adhere them to the front inside cover and back inside cover. Then place photos of the bride and groom in them to personalize it even more. You will want to measure the pictures and properly mark the book before adhering the corners.

Step 7: Glue some of the first 10 pages together so that when you set the book upright, the pages will not spread out so much but stay put so the wedding guests can view the pictures and stamp work.

Step 8: Measure the center part of the clock face and mark it with a pencil. Very carefully put a small dot of super glue on your mark and press down the bigger of the two clock hands. After, super glue as necessary to adhere the shorter hand. Press down firmly until dry.

 Now set the book upright and admire your handiwork!

Our actual DIY photos were taken by Lauren, and below enjoy some photos from our actual shoot taken by Jeremiah of Stone Blue Productions. 

And here is a sneak peek of our “Frank Hardy”… tune in next Monday for more photos of our sensational couple!

What a darling project! Feel free to set different times for each table… Table 1:00, Table 1:30 and so on depending on how many tables you have. I love this idea, which provides uniqueness for any wedding… especially one themed with books or clocks. Enjoy, and thank you again, Lauren!

Friends can be made in many ways, but I enjoy the fact that I have many friends that I have never even met. How is that so? Well, through avenues such as Facebook and Twitter, I have had the opportunity to converse with those who have like interests, which is the case here. I would like for you to meet Nina B, who is a blogger and has the blog “Good Skin Day“. Have fun reading how some details can have more than one use, and thank you, Nina, for this great guest posting!

Double-Duty Details

We all swoon over pretty details while planning our weddings, but all of those details add up—in price and DIY hours, if you are into that sort of thing. So here is a list of a few wedding details that do double—and triple!—duty.

The Ceremony Program/Time Killer
I do not know about you, but I appreciate programs, especially when I do not know anyone at the wedding and everyone is spaced out (physically, not mentally; though I guess both can make sense) in the pews (or benches or chairs or pillows). So, I was thrilled when I came across this little gem from—where else?—Martha.

It is a Celtic version of astrology that allows guests to look up personality traits by birthday. Trees play a part in this distraction, so an addition like this one to your program (or menu) is perfect for a garden wedding or the marriage of two tree-huggers.

The Dress
I love poring through bridal blogs and magazines looking at the new styles and trends in wedding gowns and accessories. So while this may not be much of a tip (it is more me taking advantage of my soapbox), I would like to encourage brides to select a dress that is appropriate for the ceremony AND reception.

I know it is hard to decide. I know it is easy to justify two gowns when one is for walking (down the aisle) and the other is for dancing … and when you are in wedding spending mode, that somehow justifies purchases that you would never, ever make in “real life.”

But …

Given that the reception dress trend is getting more and more accepted — nay, coveted, I just want to put the alternative on the table and let you know that it is not a necessity. Maybe think about the possibility of extending or upgrading your honeymoon instead of buying a second dress. Then everybody wins.

And finally …

The Escort Card/Favor/Centerpiece Alternative (for real)
I wanted something simple and sweet for a reception luncheon at a historic restaurant. Modifying an idea from a friend’s wedding over the summer, this is what I came up with:

• Instead of table numbers, each table is named after a flower (for example, instead of Table 1, it is the Orchid Table).
• Each setting at the Orchid Table has a cup and saucer, with a big orchid resting inside (or a bouquet of little ones).
• The handle of the cup has a tag that says whatever you want it to say. The guest’s name, thank you, your names and the date, your monogram … etc.

This works especially well for long tables (instead of round ones) because there will be two lines of blooms running down the table — no need for a centerpiece! AND your guests can take home their flower and cup and saucer!

The beauty of this idea is that you can put any degree of effort (or money) into it as you like. You can go antiquing and get a different cup and saucer for each guest to fit their personality or the vibe of the table; you can buy mugs in bulk from IKEA; you can hand paint each cup with a message; you can use a florist or get them wholesale online .. it is up to you!

The best part of double-duty details? You get to cross more than one item off your to-do list at the same time. I suggest you try these ideas, or even come up with some of your own.

Thank you again, Nina! I love guest postings, so if any of you have ideas, just send me an email at jennifer@hillcitybride.com.

Here it is as promised … the DIY instructions for the pears from the editorial photo shoot (as promised in the Lynchburg Living issue). They are a tad bit labor intensive, but what else can you expect for royalty?? The box would be stunning with just a place card inside, and the pears could also stand alone as a wedding favor.

Enjoy a few sneak peek photos from the table setting from our Napoleon and Josephine styled shoot, and more photos of The Dining Reception are scheduled to be on the blog on March 18th.

A special thanks goes out to Sabrena Deal of S Carter Studios for thinking outside of the box (couldn’t resist) and using her talents to bring us a gorgeous DIY. She is a photographer in addition to being creative as you will see below.

Here are Sabrena’s instructions for the favors …

Supplies for one favor: 1 pear, chocolate icing, icing bag with small icing tip, 1 can gold spray paint, 1 can spray polyurethane, one small wooden box with hinged lid, silver ribbon, silver foil paper, hot glue gun

Step 1: Coat the wooden box with polyerethane, and let it dry.

Step 2: Coat the box with 2 coats of gold spray paint.

Step 3: Cut thin strips of silver foil, and glue them to the bottom half of the box on all three sides

Step 4: Using hot glue, glue ribbon to inside of box to create “nest” effect

Step 5: Set the pear inside.

Step 6: Using the icing, icing bag and tip, gently squeeze chocolate frosting onto pear in desired monogram!

Thank you, Sabrena, for coming up with something timeless and beautiful. To view the photographic talents of S Carter Studios, just click here.

Many thanks also to Jeremiah Guelzo of Stone Blue Productions for all of the stunning images from our shoot. Love Is in the Air made the calligraphy place cards, RS Exclusive styled the table, and Interiors by Moyanne furnished several of the items on the table along with providing the table itself!

For more looks at our editorial photo shoot along with a full schedule of postings, just click here.

One thing I love doing is focusing on a project … not just any project, but ones that highlight and showcase the talents and strengths of the vendors of Hill City Bride. As a bonus, the HCB family is so much fun and SO full of talent, that any endeavors are way more fun than I ever thought possible. Such is the case with our editorial photo shoot.

When the idea first hit me to do a stylized “mock” scaled down wedding, I really did not know what I was getting myself (or the vendors) into, but I appreciate everyone jumping on board and catching the vision. Honestly, everyone was given direction and vision, yet each vendor was also allowed to express their own creative freedom throughout the project. The results, in my opinion, far exceed anything that my mind conjured up.

I hope that you enjoy this glimpse into the behind the scenes of our photo shoot, which was recently featured inside the pages of Lynchburg Living’s annual Hitched issue. To the vendors, I thank each and every one of you … thank you SO much for jumping on board with this project and trusting me with your time and talents.

As a sidebar, I would like to note that our shoot took place in an abandoned building on Church Street in downtown Lynchburg, VA without electricity and with broken out windows. After trying to seal windows and borrowing generators and heaters, we tried to warm the place up, but as you will see if you notice the windows in the video, we had one of the worst weather days … from mist and hail to freezing rain and snow, we had the full range of bad weather, but nothing would stop us from capturing the regal feel of this shoot.

Crediting is underneath the video, and enjoy this first of many looks into the Royal Romance of Napoleon and Josephine.

Hill City Bride shoot from Shaking Hands Productions on Vimeo.

Project Management Team/HCB Vendors

Jennifer Prince – Hill City Bride, Project Coordinator/Art Director

Jeremiah Guelzo – Stone Blue Productions, Photographer/Art Director

Crystal George – Crystal George Studios, Artistic Consultant

Michelle Duncan – Church Street Bridal/elle&anne, Style Consultant

Liz Cook – Sincerely, Liz: Photography, Creative Consultant

Hill City Bride Vendors

Bowen Jewelry Company – jewelry

Celebration – tuxedo

Church Street Bridal – gown, headpieces

Michelle Duncan, elle&anne– headpieces

Interiors by Moyanne – drapes, furnishings, rugs

Jennifer England, La Bella Torta – cake artist

Linda Hall and Mary Love, Love Is in the Air – food, calligraphy

Elisha Dudley, Petal Flower Company – bouquet, boutonniere

Sandra Guelzo, RS Exclusive – table design, decor

Sabrena Deal, S Carter Studios – favors

Brad Bennett, Shaking Hands Productions – cinematography

SPA 4109 – Eyelash Extensions (Joellen Perkins), Hair (Kate Pitera), Makeup (Patty Mattingley), Nails (Jeanine Maxwell)

Models

Gordana Ban – Josephine

Jordan Sorber – Napoleon

Please click here for a full schedule of postings on our editorial photo shoot.

Truly, I can not remember where I found this jewel of a photo, but I just saved it in a little inspiration folder because I adore it! To me, the creative use of something vintage or “found” is so appealing, and I hope that you feel the same way.

I have included the photo along with some simple links to glass etching instructions. I personally have etched glass before, and it is as simple as getting the glass etching compound from a local craft store, picking a font and size for your numbers and doing some crafty work with contact paper and either a cutting knife or scissors. Just remember that you need to protect all of the surfaces of the glass that you do NOT want etched.

You can either use actual vintage mirrors, or if the mirror is broken out, you can replace the mirror with glass cut to the size of the frame. Either way, this makes for a fun keepsake. If you do not want to permanently etch the glass, you purchase non-clear contact paper and cut out and adhere the numbers directly to the surface. Even pretty scrapbook paper would work if it is cut out and the numbers are affixed with nonpermanent glue. The possibilities are endless!!

Have fun with this project, and I hope that it inspires you a little to think creatively with your table numbers!

Check out this glass etching link from about.com by clicking here, and for those of you who like to watch videos, here is a great one on etching from YouTube. Happy etching!

If you want to have someone who can help you add creative touches to your day, why not test out one of our wedding and event planners such as Love Is in the Air, RS Exclusive, At Your Service Events Planner or Ashley Baber Weddings. For more creative ideas, be sure to attend, Bliss, a fine wedding fair … it is coming up in just a few short weeks!