Highlight Your Food Choices by Using Colorful and Unique Vegetables

Photos courtesy of  TheBearFootShaman  at Etsy

 As an Etsy addict and a DIY bride, when I came across an Etsy store, TheBearFootShaman I saw a way to marry my love of gardening with gorgeous food presentation for a wedding or shower.  At TheBearFootShaman they have heirloom seeds for sale for absolutely gorgeous vegetables! Take the time to browse the store for vegetables to brighten your wedding day food selections. Even if you aren't serving the food cooked, some of these would make a great part of a crudite or chesse display.

My favorite is the Five Colors Swiss Chard. These colorful plants are almost impossible not to grow! They will grow in places where there isn't enough sun or too much sun as well as where the soil grade is poor. You can cook them like spinach for a colorful side, after all, why serve ho-hum green beans with almonds when you can highlight your plates with gorgeous vegetables?

Purple Cauliflower from Sicily photo courtesy of: TheBearFootShaman's Store on Etsy.com

 This gorgeous purple cauliflower is a great accent vegetable or perfect for hors d'oeuvres. Use it as a dip bowl by hollowing it out. Surround it with cheeses. The options are endless. And not to be a killjoy but it's also good for you!

The Bearfootshaman offers additional seeds from other heirloom varieties, so head on over. Even if you aren't planning a wedding the seed choices will jazz up dinner any night of the week. Visit TheBearFootShaman for lots of other choices like pear shaped tomatoes, chocolate color peppers and more!

Birdsnest Flower Baskets

Photo Courtesy of http://www.saveoncrafts.com/

You too can make this designer-look birdsnest bouquet. Just go to http://saveoncrafts.com/ under the heading: Weddung DIY Decorations for directions as well as the products you need to purchase to make these for your bridal party. It's simple, you can order everything you need from them (except fresh flowers), and you can put everything together ahead of time just adding the flowers on the day of your wedding. I highly recomment this craft site for both your wedding DIY projects and any other projects, they're prices are great and the service in phenomonal. Have fun!

Envelope Template If You Are Making Your Own Invitations

Photo courtesy of http://www.spoonsisters.com/

If you are creative or crafty you're probably making your own invitations.  But you still need envelopes.  This template, available for only $16.95 from http://www.spoonsisters.com/ makes envelopes simple and easy.  It allows you to create envelopes that measure: 4.5 inches W x 6.4 inches W; the template measures 7.8 inches W x 11 inches H, W x 0.1 inches thickness. It is an International Standard Size, Format: C6 and suitable for content format: A6 (or A4 folded in half twice).  If you invitation is an different size you should be able to adapt the template fairly easily. Because it's made of wood it will last so you can use it for other projects after your wedding (maybe some creative thank you notes?).

For The Bride Who Loves The Unusual or Offbeat

All Photos courtesy of Refinerii at Etsy.com

Etsy seller Refinerii offers the bride who is looking for an unusual option for flowers a custom aluminum bouquet decorated with your choice of Swarovski Austrian crystals, fresh-water or crystal pearls, glass beads, vintage rhinestones, etc.  You can color coordinate your bouquet with the rest of your wedding if you want something other than just white or crystal.  Not for the faint of heart but perfect for the bride who wants something just a little bit different or who wants a bouquet that lasts.  Refinerii suggests repurposing your bouquet as a Christmas tree topper.  Nothing like getting more bang for your buck!

Saving Money on Your Flowers

                                                      Photo courtesy of Designs by Ahn

At a recent bridal show I talked to a bride who passed on this tip. She bought her flowers in the Flower District in NYC. The public aren't allowed in early enough to get the top notch blooms but you can still get great flowers if you go later in the morning. She reported spending $200. for her flowers which included her vases and supplies to arrange her flowers and make bouquets, some rented candelabras, and a combination of roses, dahlias, irises, sunflowers and greenery/fillers. Roses can often be purchased for under ten dollars for a bunch of 25! So check your city and find out where the florists buy their stock.

Another great option is to buy your flowers at a wholesale club like BJs or Costco. Check out their web sites for prices and availability or stop in and talk to the manager in the store. Why pay florist prices if you can cut out the charges they add for the flowers?