For five to ten years after college, a strange phenomenon occurs. What used to be Spring, Summer, and Fall becomes one large season – Wedding Season! For some, this season comes with a plethora of wedding-related activities: engagement parties, showers, bachelorettes… You get the idea. Walk into any party store and you will find at least one full aisle dedicated to these events. However, if you’re anything like me, this aisle never seems to have what you’re looking for. For many, this can be solved by looking on Etsy. For some, crafting is the only solution. In honor of the beginning of this fabulous season (this post was written on a flight to a wedding, in fact), I thought I would share some fun ideas to give a little TLC to any wedding celebration.
BRIDE-TO-BE SASH
There are plenty of ways to put all eyes on the bride-to-be at a bachelorette party – tiaras, shirts, sashes – the possibilities are endless! A bride-to-be sash is one of the most popular bachelorette accessories, but it can be difficult to find the perfect one. The solution? Make one! Sashes are fairly easy to make, and starting from scratch allows you to choose everything from the fabric to the decorative accents. Use burlap and lace to create a rustic chic sash for a weekend of wine tasting, or glitz it up with rhinestones and satin for a weekend in Vegas!
PAINTED WINE GLASS
At most bachelorette parties, there are bound to be games or activities that involve a beverage of choice for the bride-to-be. Painted wine glasses make great bachelorette gifts, and they are functional, too! Incorporate the bride’s wedding colors, wedding date, or even the silhouette of her dress (if you’ve seen it) to add a personal touch.
COWBOY HAT
Whether you are tearing it up in Nashville or line dancing at your local country bar, a veiled white cowboy hat can be the perfect addition to the bride-to-be’s décor. Use tulle to attach a veil to the hat, and decorate away! For this hat, I used burlap and lace ribbon as a hat band, and added stick-on letters and pearls to a painted wooden cutout for some extra pizzazz.
CHALKBOARDS
With both the bride and groom present, the newlywed game can be quite entertaining. Add a personal touch to the game by decorating chalkboards to match the theme of the celebration. For this Nashville bash, I used burlap ribbon, twine, and pearls to give the chalkboards a rustic chic look. If you’re feeling really crafty, you can even decorate erasers to match. Don’t forget the chalk!
MASON JAR JUGS
To ensure the bride and groom are adequately “hydrated” during the festivities, serve their beverage of choice in personalized mason jars (large, plastic jugs in this case). As a base for the décor, I wrapped pieces of wide burlap ribbon around the jugs, attaching them with Velcro strips so they could be removed for washing. Fabric letters, twine, lace, and pearls were the perfect decorative accents to jazz up the jars. Let the games begin!
WEDDING DAY EMERGENCY KIT
After months of bridal festivities, you’ve made it to the main event. Your friend and bride-to-be is getting married! A wedding day emergency kit can be a cute gift for the bride and her bridesmaids on her wedding day, and it can also come in handy should a zipper emergency or makeup mishap arise!