This wedding was such a blast to work on! With a very clear idea in mind of what the venue looked like and top priorities Rebecca wanted for the event I was able to start designing some key elements.
Wildflowers, pinks and purples, as well as a general feel of late spring pastures with bees and butterflies inspired all of these pieces for the ceremony and reception in Ohio!
Concept
Talk about a venue! This lovely barn is actually over 100 years old and features gorgeous large beams and served as the reception area after a lovely outdoor ceremony. Here we wanted to elevate the pasture aesthetic and focus on upcycling what we could to create a story for the festivities. Rebecca was flexible with colors so we were able to bring in a wide range of shades and hues that all complemented both the scenery and the couple!
Elements & Details
Rebecca is passionate about the environment so on top of using a bunch of florals and floral colors we emphasized using and reusing items that would typically get tossed after such a big party.
To start off with we outlined some décor that the venue itself was lacking though they did offer a massive catalogue of items that we also incorporated (because it does truly make so much sense to rent specific items that will never have another use but to have at a wedding).
Here is what we settled on focusing our attention on:
- Signage
- Memorial Plate
- Bees & Butterflies
- Favors
Signage
First and foremost having all appropriate information easily available to the guests was key to a smooth and successful celebration.
To start off, a schedule of the evening’s event was necessary. I took the outline that came with the invitation and created a larger scale design that would be mounted on a galvanized steel background. We kept it simple with just a time, label, and an icon that visualized the activity.
Next we tackled a sign that brought to attention all the dessert choices of the evening! Rebecca is a baker and options were super important to display. I took extra care to add small details to the board like hand illustrated visuals and a cute floral divider.
Plus I had the chance to create a custom drink sign! We wanted a ‘his’ and ‘hers’ without using that specific verbiage. So on the mother of the bride’s request we went with ‘mr’ and ‘mrs’ and highlighted the favorite drinks of each. It was such a hit and Rebecca uses the sign, without the drink cards, to this day.
Memorial Plate
Honoring family members who have passed is an important part of many weddings. I was so proud of this custom eco solution for Rebecca. And it all started with a thrifted plate! Knowing the general theme of the night I was able to do a deep dive and find the perfect quote to encompass a table full of loved ones photos. I maintained the color scheme and added a whole splash of color to remember the life and love of the relationships the couple had with each and every person they were commemorating.
Bees & Butterflies
This small decoration made such a big impact over the course of the evening. Not only did these lil bugs make their way into the flower arrangements that lined the aisle but also the table runners during dinner and atop the gorgeous cake I had the honor of arranging flowers on top of.
I started with a base of recycled soda cans! Okay, some were energy drinks and some were also hard seltzers but all were upcycled none the less. I was able to cut each can down to a sheet and run it through my die-cut machine to die cut a variety of sized bees, butterflies, and flowers. I was then able to create the designs in each by running a portion through with an embossing folder to create a bunch of extra dimension.
All in all these came out exactly if not better than I imagined and I was able to repurpose all of them afterward to complete a full circle of environmentally friendly touches!
Favors
Rebecca knew from the start the favors would be a mix of small craft honey jars and raspberry jellies. How cute, right?! But both needed customization and a little elevation so to speak.
To start I knew adding a label with the couples names and a personalized thank you would be super important. True to my own nature I added a punny twist to each and absolutely loved the outcome. And so did Rebecca!
To spruce the whole presentation up I added stamped bees to the honey and raspberries to the jam. Sealed the top with a loose knit burlap, tied with twine, and added an adorable tiny honey comb to the honey jars. We were able to achieve so much personality in such a small and convenient package that really spoke to the entire event!
