I think it's safe to say that every bride at some point buys a spool of ribbon for some wedding related project.  Ribbon is so versatile and comes in any color and pattern, plus it's super easy to manipulate and transform into something beautiful.  Here are some ideas that I've gathered for ways we can use ribbons to make beautiful wedding decorations!

Writing a message out in loopy swoopy cursive with ribbon!

Working with any wedding rental company, you will find a variety of hurricane vases available for rental for on the relatively inexpensive side of the spectrum of rental rates.  Sometimes you can get them for under $10 a piece!  For a while, just about everyone in the world did the same thing with their hurricane vases - slapped a candle in them, put them on a shiny mirror, and called it a day.  This is a lovely look, but you may want your centerpieces to stand out a bit more.  Today, we're taking a look to see how we can use hurricane vases in a variety of different creative centerpieces by adding in some other elements...

Exhibit A - Wrapping burlap around the glass.  Personalize with your initials.

Exhibit B - Using textured items to fill and create a base for the candle - beans, seeds, etc.

Exhibit C - Fruits are so colorful and smell nice too!  

Exhibit D - More fruits...this time cranberries!  

Exhibit E - Add a wreath around the hurricane.  In this case ruffled burlap was used.  

So don't stop at what the rental companies have.  They will get you the vases, and that is your starting point.  Based on your tastes and overall design for your wedding, your hurricane vases can be turned into something unique and wonderful!

While I like to linger on the web for limitless hours, when I'm in the real world, I try to maximize my time and get the biggest bang for my buck.  If you've ever been in a time crunched situation, cough-cough - wedding planning, then you can relate.  I love DIY projects.  Even more love goes to DIY projects that can get done in one sitting!  Simple steps and power-tool free, these wedding DIY projects might just be right for you...

How about this tutorial which is set up to make a rouched tree skirt but could easily be modified to make a base layer of lovely rouched fabric for your centerpieces?  Just slap some candles and/or flowers on top, et voila!  Your guests have something pretty to look at while they toast you.

Or how about this pretty little idea for a bridal or wedding party headpiece.  All it takes is some grosgrain ribbon, spray starch, and a hot glue gun!  Wahoo!

This idea rocks my little world...take any kind of glass container, line it with tissue paper, pop in a battery operated tea light and presto!  Beautiful lighting!

There you have it - three totally easy, totally cheap, totally beautiful ideas to make your wedding decor shine with some craftiness on your part!  So enlist the help of a friend or family member, and get cracking!  What other DIY projects have you created for your wedding? 

I think we're long over due for a little Etsy eye-candy!  If you have never visited Etsy before, you should stop by immediately but only if you have a multi-hour block to devote to happily skipping from one stop to the next which will all be filled with delightful handmade and vintage items, THOUSANDS of which could potentially be of use to you in your wedding decor, attire, gifts, accessories, etc!  Don't try and spend ten minutes on there...it won't work.  And if you're thinking, "Yeah, right.  This lady doesn't know what she's talking about.  I can do whatever," then just go ahead and try.  I love a good chance to say, "I told you so."  :)

Okay, so here are some more shops that have been either suggested to me or that I've stumbled upon that make my heart go pitter-patter for various reasons.  I hope they make you smile too!

First off we have Choosing You, a shop devoted to moss covered monograms and other shapes.  How cool would these be on your guest book table or hanging by your altar??

     

  

And now something for the men.  These cufflinks from Pink Top Hat would be such a great gift for the groom or the groomsmen!

     

Check out these darling necklaces from designer Rachel D.  These would look so pretty either with a bridal gown, a rehearsal dinner dress, or even everyday wear...

     

This next shop features the ultimate in bling bridal accessories.  Whether you like Paris Hilton or not, she's been spotted wearing items from Kristen Kuehn Designs. 

     

Even your drinks and favors can be tied up in a neat little package when you stop by Fort and Field's shop where you can find cute little bags, straws, and string!

     

Burlap, I believe, is one of life's most underestimated fabrics.  While great for potato sacks, it can be a wonderful texture to add to your wedding palette, and Funky Shique is just such a shop that can help you do this.  Check these fun things out:

     

And finally, here's a link to a shop that specializes in a current hot trend in wedding decor: blue tinted mason jars.  These old canning jars used to be thrown away but have recently been recognized in value for their potential to be vases, candle holders, aisle markers, etc.  Take a look at what Matt Laura Jones offers:

     

So there you have it!  I hope you've enjoyed this snapshot of what Etsy has to offer all of us wedding related people.  What other finds have you found?  What makes your heart go pitter patter?  And we aren't limited by Etsy; share all of your favorite places to find your wedding do-dads!

Last night, my fiance floored me by suggesting that we spend our Saturday afternoon going out to Walcott to peruse the annual community-wide garage sale event.  As a smart and capable gal, I thought to myself, "Self, there has to be a catch here."  There undoubtedly was some boat or truck or tool set or golf related item that he knew would be out there.  Buuuuuuuuuuuut, I took the bait.

So we got up a little early and headed out to Walcott (aka "Walk-It" as my good friend Rip likes to call it...probably because you can easily walk from one end to the other during the garage sale day...), and beat the crowd that was beginning to surge into this little community.  After a couple of garage sales full of nothing but baby stuff, I started to see some interesting things...interesting wedding things...  You know me, I got turned on and started to come up with wedding decor vignettes at each new garage sale.  

I've probably shared in the past, that we are heading towards a bit of a vintage themed wedding...not heavy vintage...just light vintage...  That probably only makes sense to me.  Hmmm...maybe timeless might be a better term.  Anyhoo, I love seeing pictures of weddings where they have incorporated a mixture of lines and vases, and everything looks relaxed and comfortable...nostalgic.  I'm rambling.  Again...  

I ended up being the only one of us who bought anything.  Wait, I take that back.  Midway through our morning, my fiance spotted the pork chop sandwich slash bake sale at the church and wanted to stop for some munchies.  THAT must be why he wanted to come all the way out here...  

I ended up with an amazing assortment of stuff...

A few vintage linens:

Some vintage canning jars which will serve as candleholders:

This awesome work caddy that might hold napkins or condiments at the bar:

A lovely assortment of milk glass vases and compotes:

And my favorite, this adorable old fan... I don't know what we will do with it, but for $1, I had to have it!

Even though my fiance was there for the food and I was there for the goodies, we had an added element of fun spending a gorgeous day outside talking to all the people who had come out for garage saleling. Everyone had a story to tell, and I'm excited that we are going to incorporate somethings old into our wedding day. Soon we will have a story of our own to tell...

Oh, that was so cheesy...

So, spill it. What unexpected amazing "something olds" have you found? Or somethings new, borrowed, or blue?