10 Ways to use Vintage Keys at your Wedding

Matching keys laid out in rows on a white table, complete with tea stained name cards tied with blush pink ribbon for a romantic feel…

{Photo by Katie Headley via United With Love}

♥ An assortment of mismatched keys of all sizes presented in a less structured manner, hanging from pins attached to a distressed wooden door frame for an eclectic and rustic look…

{Julie Harmsen via The Wedding Chicks via Elizabeth Anne Designs}

Here are 10 creative ways of incoporating keys into your wedding:

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1} On the wedding cake ~ such a beautiful touch. It makes a simple cake that little bit more special and memorable.

2} Use a key motif on your wedding stationary {this is a much cheaper option compared to sourcing real keys}.

3} I LOVE these unique key boutionarres ~ such rustic, vintage, quirky charm. The speckled feathers are the perfect finishing touch!

4} Save the date luggage labels attached to real skeleton keys ~ this would look beautiful pinned on guests’ notice boards.

5} A beautiful vintage key attached to the bouquet {and what a bouquet I might add!}

6} Key stamp for DIY place cards and stationary or use on napkins/cd cases and anything else that can be printed on.

7} I’ve been lusting after this secret garden key necklace from Alex Monroe for months. It’s just so whimsical ~ with the added bonus that the four leaf clover emblem will bring the bride good luck!

One of my favourite ways of incorporating keys has to be ‘advice keys’ where guests share what they think is the key to a happy marriage…

Here are two ways to incorporate this idea:

8} The first is as by having a display of keys ~ in this case a charming vintage typewriter surrounded by vintage keys, explaining that guests are to write their advice on the notes provided and hang their notes {and keys} on the door.

9} Or, as in this second set of photos, guests could hang the cards with small keys onto a tree. Similar to a wishing a tree but a tree of wisdom/advice!

{Photo by Larissa Cleveland via Style Me Pretty}

{Photography by Larissa Cleveland via Style Me Pretty}

10} Another unique way to use keys is for this darling DIY project by Emmaline Bride:

How wonderful! Go check out the DIY tutorial here.

Bonus ideas:

♥ You could have key cuff-links for the groomsmen, keys strung along the backs of chairs on ribbons, cupcakes topped with edible keys, key-ring gifts for the bridal party.

♥ You could add a fun, competitive element to the day with a locked ‘treasure chest’ on display or as centre pieces on the tables ~ guests each have key favours but only one unlocks the treasure chest full of candy {or any other treasures you’d like to include}. Maybe an idea for the kid’s table?

♥ If you are looking for keys to incorporate into your big day, Etsy is a great place to start. Check out Time & Materials for sets of small and large brass keys at reasonable prices. Scouring vintage shops and speaking to your local locksmith are other options too.

So, will you be incorporating keys into your wedding day?

Can you think of any other ways to incorporate them into weddings? I’d love to hear your suggestions!

Article found on Weddingawker.com from Bridalmusings.com

Quote of the Week

Photo Found on WeddingGawker.com

"All love that has not friendship for its base, is like a mansion built upon sand"

Author Unknown

Things I Love

Here are some pictures I found on Pinterest that I love. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did and they give you some inspiration.

A creative backdrop for a vintage/country/graden wedding

This Dessert Bar is Amazing!

The flowers and frames are great in this photo

I loved the sign on this chair! Do I hear a project.



Kara Jackson & Jeff Laybourne Wedding

Look for Photo's by Eternal Expression Soon!

Photography: Eternal Expressions

Coordinator: Lasting Memories Event Planning

Placecard Inspiration from The Party Dress

I saw this and loved it!!



Traditional Bridal Showers

The tradition of a bridal shower originated in Holland. How this legend came about? A young Dutch girl fell in love with a poor miller, who had spent his life helping those needier than himself.

This resulted in little offerings to his awaited bride when they were ready to be married. When the young lady told her father she planned on marrying the miller, he was totally outraged and forbade the marriage. The father being totally against his daughter’s marriage, refused to give her the customary bridal dowry….hoping she would change her mind and wait for a better suited man with higher statures.

Despite her father's disapproval, the young lady decided to risk the hardship of poverty and marry her true love. Without a dowry, the couple had very little to their names and was nearly penniless. Upon hearing the couple’s dilemma, the community came to their aid to show appreciation for the miller’s kindness to others over the years.

With the help of many kind townspeople, the groom's friends joined together and "showered" the new bride with necessities for the couple's home. Thanks to their kindness, the bride acquired what her father had denied her - everything she needed to set up a new home.

A beautiful tradition grew from the townspeople's generosity and continued for decades. Over time the old-fashioned dowry, a young woman customarily received from her family to set up her home, grew into a bridal shower given by her "family of friends." Gift giving was not common until the late 19th century. Back then early bridal showers were focused on strengthening the bride's friendship with her peers, offering moral support, and helping her plan for her marriage.

Early bridal showers tended to be much more intimate than modern showers. Unlike today's showers, the first bridal showers only included guests who were very close friends or relatives. It was only women who were invited.

Twentieth-Century Bridal Showers

Today there are many variations of bridal showers.

Hosting Couple Showers - Men have become much more involved in the wedding process. With more couples paying for their own weddings, the groom doesn't want to feel left out of the pre-wedding festivities. Having men present makes the whole thing much more relaxed. You see less of the traditions such as bouquets and hats made from the bows and ribbons. And the showers are more often held at the couple's favorite hangouts such as a restaurant or a bar, or even at a friend's house for brunch. The friends or family planning the showers have become tuned in to this. As the guest arrives at the bridal shower, have him or her fill an entry in an address book, which will act as the "sign-in" book. At the end of the shower, the bride has all the addresses and phone numbers she needs!

• Activity Centered Shower For Women Only - Women are now experiencing other bridal shower methods. A popular activity has become spending a day at the spa. Often the bridal party does this. Everyone attending the shower is signed up for two or three spa services. The organizer reserves a space at the spa so that everyone can eat lunch together and exchange gifts. Sometimes the guests pitch in together to pay for the bride's services, as their shower gift for her.
• Shower at the Office - Offices have become friendlier places over the years and with the growing brotherliness, it's become more common to host bridal showers for co-workers. We are seeing more nowadays showers being extended to the groom, not just to the women in the office. Of course, given the more professional nature of the environment, the do's and the don'ts for office showers are a bit different from family and home showers.

Organizing Tips:

• Get management approval if you plan to host the shower in the office, instead of in a restaurant.
• Check with honoree's supervisor to make sure employee will be available at the planned time.
• Try to schedule the shower during lunchtime when it is easiest for employees to take a break.
• Keep the event to under an hour.
• If it will be held in the office, you can have everyone contribute an appetizer or salad to the refreshments, or you can collect money for purchased refreshments such as a deli tray.
• Attendees can purchase their own gifts, or contribute to a combined gift.
• If you work in a large corporation, your guest list should be limited to honoree's department and close friends in other areas of the company.
• If financial contributions are on the low side, then limit the food to a cake served and festive party goods.
• It may be difficult to choose an appropriate gift. It's often hard to know what a co-worker needs or has already purchased for the expected new home. In that case a gift certificate to a favorite department store or catalog is a good choice.
• Keep decorations simple, you may not have much time for setup. A cluster of festive, helium balloons and a banner honoring the guest of honor will help to set the party mood. Add the appropriate party goods, and you've probably done as much as you can in an office setting.
• Alcohol is inappropriate in an office setting. Serve a non-alcoholic punch instead.

The event is usually held within two months of the wedding, up to two weeks before the big day. (It is considered poor etiquette to invite guests to the shower who have not been invited to the wedding.)

The principal reason for a bridal shower is that it's a nice occasion for close family and friends of the bride to spend relaxed time with her before the big wedding day. It's a time for sharing funny stories, for relatives to give advice to the bride, and for friends to show their support.

By Karen Caruso
http://www.bridalangel.com/
Article found at: WedAlert.com

David Moore & Jennifer McDonald "A Family Affair"

Last Weekend,  I was fortunate to attend my cousins wedding at Troon Vineyard in Grants Pass. The wedding was beautiful and I had a great time spending time with both sides of the family. Long time friends. Here are some pictures that I took. They were lucky to have Jessica Doddington from Capturing Essence as their Photographer. I am sure their pcitures will be amazing.