Card Box by Amanda of VintageGlam

You may remember Amanda from her inspiring wedding that I featured back in March. She has started her own blog, VintageGlam, and if you haven't seen it yet, be sure to stop by and check it out. She's got tons of great DIY projects and downloadable templates, along with all kinds of ideas for your wedding. Today we're lucky enough to have her stop by and share a project with us - a pretty box for guests to leave cards and notes at your wedding.


Step 1: Sand the box entirely.

Step 2: Spray paint or stain your box.

Step 3: Cut a 10"x14" rectangle of a foam sheet (you can also trace the box on the foam). With a x acto knife, cut a slit of 1/4"x6".

Step 4: Cover the foam with fabric. Flip ip upside down and trace the slit with a sharpie (suggestion: when tracing, just make one straight line. I tried cutting a perfect rectangular slit on the fabric the first try around and it didn't work because the fabric stretched out).


Step 5: Using adhesive spray, glue the fabric onto the foam board. Cut small chips of foam board and place in the slit until it dries. This will make sure the fabric covering the slit will stick to the foam. I also found out that red polished nails won't work well with spray adhesive (my nail polish started to rub on the fabric). So ladies, make sure you remove your nail polish before working on this project! (I had to learn the hard way, unfortunately.)

Step 6: Measure the thickness of the edge of the box. This will be the slack needed to secure the top of the cardbox.

Step 7: Make a frame with the smaller rectangle

Step 8: Cut 4 strips of fabric. They don't need to be perfectly cut as they will the covering only the edges of the frame. Glue the strips of fabric around the frame. Make sure the edges are not bulky, otherwise it won't fit in the box.


Step 9: After both pieces are dried, glue them together. This is the trickiest part because they have to be aligned in order to fit (see photo of the finished top, above). Measure twice to glue it once!


Step 10: (Disregard the floral tape in this photo...you won't need it.) Snip the stems off two fabric flowers of your choice. Cut a 5"x5" piece of fabric from leftovers. Fold in half. Draw a leaf shape on one side and cut.


Step 11: Cut a wire slightly longer than your leaf. Place the wire on the right side of the fabric and sew.




Step 12: With a hot glue gun, glue the flowers and the leaves onto the card box top.



Thanks so much to Amanda for stopping by to share this project with us! Be sure to take a look at her blog, VintageGlam, for more ideas and inspiration.

Centerpiece from Chelsea Fuss

Hi all! I am on an airplane today, but we have the lovely and talented Chelsea Fuss from one of my all-time favorite blogs, {frolic!}, here to share a fruit and floral autumn centerpiece that you can do yourself.


1. Gather containers from your kitchen and from friends and family. Choose a variety (3 heights, 3 finishes) but make sure there is a little bit of repetition. Here, I've chosen white bowls from my kitchen (from Crate & Barrel and Target), vintage milk bottles (from my mother's collection) and little china plates (from my grandmother). This will save on cost. Plus, all the containers can be returned to their owners filled with gorgeous blossoms or yummy fruit.

2. Find a friend with a dahlia garden (I was lucky enough to be able to cut armloads from a friend's garden right before they were ready to dig up the tubers). If you don't have a friend with a garden, dahlias in season will still be quite inexpensive at a local farm. Here, I cut only the ones that looked pretty to me and only within the same color family blush, apricot, and coral. Stick to one color per container.

3. For the roundy moundy arrangements, gather 3 or 4 blossoms in your hand and cut them very short. Sit them all together in one half of the container and make sure they are resting on the rim and then add another two or three groupings. They will hold each other up. (you can also use foam, frogs, or grids if you prefer those methods).


4. For the taller arrangements, I chose a less dense flower (single-petaled dahlia) to let it all breathe a little. Stick one or two stems in those (I have no rules about height, just clip the stem until it looks good to you). Make sure you have some that are the same for repetition's sake.

5. Lastly, pile seasonal fruits on china plates and intermix with the flower arrangements.

6. I've placed my centerpiece on a beautiful mango-colored raw silk runner. It helps to reinforce the color story and add texture. If you are a talented seamstress or have a friend or family member who sews, I suggest making colorful runners. Then you can just rent plain, floor-length linens for underneath. Or, better yet use rustic farm tables.

A huge thank you to Chelsea for stopping by today and sharing your creativity with us! If you're in the Portland area and are looking for someone to design your next party (or wedding!), then Chelsea's your girl - she is now taking on small events for 2009. You can read all about it here, and check out her portfolio here.

Guest Blogger: Jordan from Oh Happy Day!

The first blog I ever stumbled across about two years ago was Oh Happy Day. Well, I guess that's not entirely true - I had seen others, but until finding Jordan's delightful blog, I was never actually interested in reading one. Oh how times have changed, and today Jordan was sweet enough to share a bit from her own wedding...

I'm so happy to be guest blogging here at Snippet & Ink {my favorite wedding blog}. Kathryn asked me to share a few photos from my wedding day. My own wedding was so stressful that to be honest I didn't enjoy much of it. If I did it over again I would keep it much more simple and delegate, delegate, delegate! Here are a few things we did that I was happy with and worked out well.

Rather than having a wedding cake we had a spread of cakes and cupcakes and petit fours. These were made by Carlucci's Bakery. I gave them pictures of how I wanted them to decorate the cakes. They were all displayed on a large collection of milk glass cake plates I had amassed.



Before Izzes were distributed nationally, you could only get them in Colorado. After I spent a few months in Vail, Colorado they became my favorite drinks. So I special ordered several cases in from Colorado and served them on ice. Everybody loved them and they felt sort of exotic.



Our outdoor wedding was rained out so there weren't as many photos as I would've liked of our actual wedding day. A few months afterwards we hired Aubrey Trinnaman, a talented photographer, to take some photos. I am so glad we did this. We have so many great shots of both of us {and my dress} that we wouldn't have otherwise.



There were hundreds of balloons leftover from the wedding luncheon {it was an outdoor picnic before the rain moved it indoors}. At the reception all the kids took them outside and let them off. It was impromptu but it was one of my favorite details about that day.



Thank you so much to Jordan for sharing these darling details! Oh Happy Day is such a charming blog, with a fitting name as it never fails to give me a little smile - you should definitely check it out!

Guest Blogger: Sasha from Sparkliatti, Part 2

Sometimes it’s okay not to take your wedding too seriously…a case in point is Deanna & Julian.

{photos by Anna Kilbridge}

Don’t get me wrong, they wanted their wedding to be stylish and beautiful but they wanted to have a great time doing it. Having a mostly artistic crowd for their wedding, they chose a vineyard with amazing views in the Russian River area of the Northern California Wine Country.

But what Deanna did that was different than most brides is that she made sure she had an amazing, fun experience that day in addition to providing her guests with the same. Deanna loved being in her wedding gown and her images reflect the fun she had romping around in the vineyards.

Further, we created a photo op wall with frames & wallpaper which was similar to the damask printed table linens. This photo op wall was staffed by a dedicated photographer and the guests (and vendors) had a super fun time in the wall taking images. What I loved most about that wall was that it actually looked like the wall of your house with family photos hung in a variety of frames – but it was alive with the guests from the wedding. So fun.

Everything about the wedding reflected the mix of the vintage glamorous with rustic. By utilizing different shapes in the bouquets, flower girl kissing ball and centerpieces we were able to keep it interesting. They also chose not to serve cake but instead do a variety of pies including the groom’s favorite, Concord Grape pie.

Thank you to Sasha for sharing these beautiful weddings with us! And if you haven't already, you should definitely stop by Sasha Souza Events and Sparkliatti for more gorgeous and creative inspiration!

Guest Blogger: Sasha from Sparkliatti, Part 1

Today we are lucky enough to have Sasha Souza of Sasha Souza Events stop by and share with us a little about wedding planning and some of her favorite weddings! Not only is she an incredibly creative event planner, but she also recently started her own blog, Sparkliatti, where she shares gorgeous photos and planning tips. If you haven't already, be sure to stop by and check it out.

Wedding Photos Tell the Tale

Sometimes you see a photo after the wedding that moves you and I can honestly say that is how I feel about two of the images on this collage.


{photos by Sherman Chu}

The photo of the bride getting her last dusting of powder and the photo of the rain both make me feel different things. The photo of the bride is ethereal and I think it may be one of the single most beautiful images ever taken of a bride at one of our events. The photo of the rain makes my spleen hurt. With 40 mile an hour winds, rain on the INSIDE of our tents, 200 guests in a small ceremony room while it pours rain outside and only 10 hours to setup three tents and the wedding – this is a wedding that at the end of the day makes you wonder how EXACTLY you do the job.

But in the end, when you see the photos after the fact it makes you start to forget the nuts and bolts of putting together the party and live inside it all over again. With tones of ocean blue/purple/orchid green/cocoa brown the wedding turned out more spectacular than had we originally planned, more cozy, more intimate and much more special.

We strive for each event to be a personal reflection of our clients’ taste and style and this wedding was no exception right down to the tower of miniature chocolate bundt cakes served on green tea cookies, the amuse bouche of warm spiced butternut squash soup with crème fraiche, and the draped arbor over the head table – we will not repeat these together in the future because this wedding belonged to Sherry & Patrick.

Guest Blogger: Meg from A Practical Wedding, Part 3

• Your venue drives your budget. Your venue may not be your biggest ticket item, but it will determine what time of day your wedding takes place, and most importantly what contracts you are or are not locked into. We lucked out when we found a beautiful venue that was affordable because it was owned by Parks and Recreation. The best part about the venue wasn't the cost though, it was the fact that it gave us flexibility on catering, and allowed us to bring our own alcohol. We nabbed this venue by doing a lot of research, and being willing to plan a year and a half in advance (a venue that great books up early!) Look at venues off the beaten track. Anything that caters to The Wedding Crowd might end up costing you a small fortune. They are selling you a Perfect Day, and “perfection,” has a price. In the case of weddings its price is usually your sanity and a down payment on a small house. Which brings me to my next point:

• Ditch the quest for perfection. Forget every detail being perfect. Instead, use things like inspiration boards to figure out what you want the feeling of your day to be. A laid back barbeque? An elegant candlelit supper? Great. Figure out your vibe, and then make your decisions ones that will help you create that vibe – a casual short wedding dress, or a big ball gown – fried chicken, or sumptuous grilled asparagus. But remember, the picking the colors of your invites is really fun, but not worth stressing or overspending over. As for us, we’ve settled on “simple garden party” as our vibe, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Do I love planning the cool details? You bet. But by focusing more on the feeling of the day, I’m able to let the small stuff stay small stuff.

• And finally, and most importantly, remember that this day is about emerging married. It’s about celebrating sharing the rest of your life with your spouse. So start now, share the planning process with them, and enjoy it. The wedding is short, what counts is the journey.


I’ll be out there with you, trying to figure out smart, beautiful, budget savvy choices. I’ll see you at A Practical Wedding. Together we can do this thing! I want to give a huge thank you to Kathryn for letting me write these posts for you today, and for all you Snippet & Ink readers for having me. I’ve been a fan of Snippet & Ink for quite a while, and I never dreamed that one day I’d be guest posting here, a place I know I can find beauty every single morning.

Thank you so much to Meg for sharing some of your insight into staying sane during the wedding planning process! Be sure to stop by her blog for more of A Practical Wedding.

Guest Blogger: Meg from A Practical Wedding, Part 2

• My first, and most important wedding planning tip is this: before you think about anything else, decide what you value as a couple, and how you want that to be reflected in your wedding. Think of this as your wedding mission statement. My fiancé and I knew that as social and family oriented people, we wanted to be able to have all of our friends and families in attendance. We wanted a day that felt somewhat modest, not wildly extravagant. We wanted to hold our wedding in The Bay Area, where we live, but we wanted to not make things too inconvenient for our guests. And last but not least, we wanted to have a wild celebration after the wedding. Since we started the process knowing these things were our core values, we have been able to come back to them every time we had to make a hard decision.

• Next up, figure out how much money you have to spend, and give yourself a budget. Write it down. On paper. I'd even suggest that you pin it up somewhere you will see it everyday, or carry it with you. I keep mine under my computer keyboard at work. I’ve talked to some brides who are making thrifty weddings happen without official budget, and I’m really impressed. But I think for most of us mere mortals a physical budget is helpful. Every time a $5,000 wedding dress tempts me (and it happens to all of us) I pull out the budget. When I think about where I would have to cut to spend that much on a dress, I very quickly decide that as lovely as those 4 yards of lace were, they were not that lovely.

Guest Blogger: Meg from A Practical Wedding, Part 1

I am so excited to have Meg from A Practical Wedding guest blogging today! If you don't already, you absolutely must add her blog to your list of daily reads - she provides funny, practical advice and commentary on the whole wedding planning process. If you ever feel like you need a break from the insanity that the wedding industry often encourages, stop by A Practical Wedding for a dose of humor and reality. Take it away, Meg!

When Kathryn asked me to write a guest post, I thought I should probably stick to what I know best, and give some tips on planning a practical wedding. My fiancé and I are planning our wedding for August of 2009 in the San Francisco Bay Area, so I also thought I’d share a little about our planning process as well. You might be asking yourself, “What is a practical wedding?” The simplest answer is that a practical wedding is a wedding that doesn’t stress you out and doesn’t make you broke. I know, I know! That’s a lot to ask in the world of weddings. But I’m firmly convinced that if we collectively take a deep breath and focus on what really matters: the marriage and having our friends and loved ones celebrate with us, we can make it happen. We can pull together a practical wedding on a reasonable budget, with class and style. I have to believe that, because planning a wedding on any sort of budget is tough in San Francisco!



I’ll be sharing my favorite wedding planning tips throughout the day, as well as some photos from simple stylish weddings that inspire me, so check back. Please leave your practical wedding tips in the comments.

Guest Blogger: Alison from Alison Events, Part 2

Here is one great example from a client who was married last weekend that I think was the most amazing set of personal vows I have ever heard....


{photo by Thayer Allyson Gowdy}

I promise to love you earnestly,
with passion and enthusiasm.
I promise my loyalty and that I will stay by your side
through hard times as well as the good.
I promise to work with you to reach your goals.
I promise to be patient with our differences
and to remember that they imbue our relationship
with resilience, strength and humor.
I promise to keep our relationship fresh and lively
and to always remember that you are my lover
and my beloved.
I promise to do what I can to stay healthy and fit
in body and mind so that I may age gracefully
by your side.
I promise to help create a home that is welcoming,
inclusive, spirited and inspiring.
I promise to cherish your children and their families as my own.
I promise to love you all the days of my life and to be with you in spirit even after I die.


{photo by Jesse Leake}

A huge thank you to Alison for guest blogging today! I know you're all as excited as I am to see her book when it comes out in February of next year. But, in the meantime, be sure to check out Alison Events for more inspiration, as well as their blog, which is full of beautiful photos and practical tips.

Guest Blogger: Alison from Alison Events, Part 1

Today's guest blogger is the talented Alison Hotchkiss of Alison Events, and I've even been lucky enough to feature some of her beautiful weddings here on Snippet & Ink. I was so excited when she agreed to write a guest post for this week, sharing an excerpt from her upcoming book, to be released by Chronicle Books in February 2009. In this passage, she shares some tips about writing your own wedding vows...


Want something a little more personal than the standard (and outdated) promise to "love, honor and obey?" Couples who have a non-traditional wedding usually decide that non-traditional vows are in order, as well. Plus, writing your vows adds a nice, personal touch to the ceremony. Here are some tips for penning the perfect vows:

- If you're having a religious ceremony, talk to your officiant to see if there are any rules or restrictions you should be aware of.
- Decide whether you want to sit down together and write one set of vows that you'll both say, or work separately to create different vows.
- Traditional vows can be a great place to start. Look for a structure you like, then add the personal touches that make them your own.
- Be personal, but not too personal, and avoid being cutesy or suggestive. Picture watching the videotape of your wedding on your five- or ten-year anniversary (perhaps alongside your children!). Will you be embarrassed or proud?
- Try reading your vows out loud. You can also tape record them and listen to them played back. This will give you a better idea of how your words will come across than reading them on paper will.
- Make sure there are no awkward sentences you'll stumble over on your big day; if you're having difficulty with a particular passage, edit it for readability.
- Practice your vows, but think twice about trying to memorize them. Vows are something you don't want to blank out on. Either read them from a slip of paper or repeat them after your officiant.
- There are lots of great examples of wedding vows in books and on the Internet that you can use as inspiration. Feel free to borrow wording or structures that you like.


Stop by later for a great example of some personal vows.

Guest Blogger: Martha from Nibs, Part 5

Extra Snippet #4: Victorian Nightgown
A sweet Victorian nightgown for the honeymoon - from J. Peterman.



Thank you so much to Martha for guest blogging today! Be sure to stop by Nibs for even more wonderful inspiration, and check in tomorrow for our next inspiring guest blogger.

Guest Blogger: Martha from Nibs, Part 4

Extra Snippet #3: Victorian Modern from Etsy
Etsy is a great resource for anything handcrafted. I found a few more fun things that would tie in with the Victorian Modern theme. Take a look...


1. Victorian rose ring by Sea Unicorn.


2. Victorian-inspired earrings crafted from old buttons, by Allie's Adornments.


3. A brooch with an image of a Victorian sofa! Made by Tilly Bloom.


4. Another brooch, this one inspired by the Gibson girl.


5. A pretty invitation suite by Enfin, la voila!


6. Made to order capelet - perfect for the Victorian bride.


7. A beautiful "scarflette" - to keep the evening chill at bay.

All of these you can find at Etsy!

Guest Blogger: Martha from Nibs, Part 3

Extra Snippet #2: Lace Bowl
You can use a fun lace bowl handcrafted of stainless steel as centerpieces for a Victorian Modern wedding. Available from MoMA Design Store.

Guest Blogger: Martha from Nibs, Part 2

Extra Snippet #1: Black Lace Dresses
Want lace? Try these lovely but edgy dresses from Akira Isogawa via shiny squirrel.

Guest Blogger: Martha from Nibs, Part 1

Hi all! I hope you enjoyed last week's real wedding extravaganza! I'm still out of town, but I've asked some of my favorite bloggers to take over for me this week. Today, let me introduce Martha from Nibs. I think Martha may have been my very first reader - she certainly left me one of my first comments - and ever since then she has proven to be a source of constant encouragement and inspiration. She also has her own delightful blog, Nibs, where she posts whatever is inspiring her at the moment. From weddings to gardens to arts and crafts, you will find things on Nibs that you really won't see on any other blogs. If you haven't already, you should definitely add it to your list of daily reads. Today she shares her take on a Victorian Modern inspired wedding...

Victorian and Modern may seem too dissimilar but are in fact a wonderful combination- each enhancing the other! This wedding calls for Victorian architecture - perhaps a gothic church for the ceremony or a beautiful Queen Anne style home with a 'gingerbread' front porch for the reception. Go ahead and use lace but offset its sweetness with black.


first row: repurposed vintage tea set done in black by misiak, cut paper lace from brookerpie (via design carousel), corset and hat at jana star, slip by morgane le fay
second row: floral arrangement from domino, peter fox boots, victorian gingerbread trimmed porch from flickr
third row: black lace shawl by megan park, banquet from artfool, striped shirt/blacksuit/bow tie at moschino (via nibs)

Throughout the day I will post extra photographs inspired by the Victorian Modern inspiration board. Be sure to stop back in to see them!