Table Centres
To complete our vintage DIY crafty look, we designed unique table centres for each table. We compiled all sorts of neat vintage things from flea markets, antique shops, and our families’ basements, and with the help of my talented wedding party, arranged each table with a unique look!
Bridesmaid Dresses!
When it came to bridesmaid dresses, there was only one thing I knew - I DID NOT want the girls to match. I think there is nothing crueller than trying to force one style to look attractive on 6 different bodies. I had so many ideas- I wanted multiple styles, multiple colours, but I didn’t want it to look messy. Nothing out there was unique enough and I was getting frustrated.
When I came across the infinity wrap dress, I knew I had found it - a dress that could be worn in an infinite number of styles. Unfortunately it was super expensive and came in super limited colours.
Lucky for me, my bridesmaid Nancy is a seamstress extrordinare! We chose a beautiful stretch satin, which was far more formal and pretty than the original jersey cotton model. I also chose two colours - burnt orange and plum. After we had finally tracked down the fabrics, it was time for Nancy and I to get busy!! What a lot of work, making so many dresses, but I LOVED the result! So did the girls- they got to wear it their own way, even changing between the ceremony and reception, and best of all it cost under $50!
Handmade Wedding Favours
When it came to favours, there were a few things that were really important to me. For one, they had to be “green.” Not only did I want eco-friendly, but I wanted something that people could keep and enjoy. I started with the idea of seedlings - little trees that people could take home and plant. It seemed like a great decoration, and very symbolic.
I knew that many people did not have anywhere to plant a tree, however, so I decided on flowers and bushes that could be kept in a pot. I chose butterfly bushes, which were purple, and golden spirea.
I needed a way to display and distribute the trees - this is when I thought of the wine glasses. I handpainted our initials on each glass. For presentation, we wrapped the roots of the plants with burlap, and placed them in the glass. I had thank-you tags printed with planting instructions on the back, and these were tied around the burlap with twine. The result was beautiful, and looked great on the tables. I was super proud of this idea! The total cost was very manageable. The glasses were less than a dollar each at Ikea, and the plants came to about $1.50 each. The twine, burlap, and paint were all quite cheap. The only real cost was my time - painting those glasses took forever!!! I watched many a hockey game over the edge of a wine glass that season!
DIY Table Cards
These name tags were super cute and easy to make. I started with a pad of scrapbook paper, and cut little flags out of different patterned pages. Next I cut strips off of a spool of lace, slightly shorter than the flag. I wrote the names and table on sticky back label paper, which I then simply stuck on the lace. I finished the look with a button, hot glued on.
To display the cards, we strung twine across two old windows that my mum or dad had, and pinned the cards with wooden clothespins. I loved the finished product!
DIY Project - Handmade bouquet!
I wanted a unique bouquet, and something that would last forever. I decided to combine my wedding colours and my favourite pastime (knitting) to create something new. I knitted a number of my favourite flowers - daisies, lilies, and forgetmeknots - and then incorporated feathers and pins. I loved the result!
UNIQUE DECORATION IDEAS - LIGHTING!
An inexpensive way to make a huge impact on any room is to consider lighting. We used lighting both at the reception and the ceremony.
We had the benefit of an advanced lighting system at our ceremony, because it was in a theatre. We used the cyc, coloured gels, and a special order gobo to create a custom look.
For our reception we rented lighting from a nearby theatrical and film rental location. We saved on money by doing the setup ourselves. The coloured gels were key to getting the look I wanted!
CELEBRATION OF MARRIAGE
Kasey Dunn & Brandon Stewart
Saturday, August 27, 2011 – 6:30 PM
Galt Little Theatre, Cambridge, Ontario
Prelude
Processional
Affirmation of Family
“Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible — the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family.” Kasey and Brandon have felt supported and affirmed by their parents throughout their lives. On this very special occasion, Kasey and Brandon would like to begin by acknowledging their parents and thanking them for all the years of support and effort that they have given them. Kasey and Brandon would like to give their parents these flowers as a way of honouring them and thanking them for all they have done.
Opening Words
Welcome friends and family and thank you for joining Kasey and Brandon on this very special day! My name is Evan Garst and I am an Officiant with Kettle Creek Weddings. I also wish to thank Kasey and Brandon for inviting me to officiate at their wedding ceremony.
We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life’s greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our very best wishes to the words which will unite Kasey and Brandon in marriage. This union is not entered into lightly, but is a simple reflection of their love and commitment to each other.
Affirmation of Guests
Kasey and Brandon have invited all or you here to celebrate with them today because each of you is important to them and have meant so much to them over the years. And so, they would like ask each of you here to continue to offer them your support and love to them. I’m wondering, however, if you would be willing to respond a little differently to this question though. Weddings generally involve a lot of “I do’s” and “I will’s” but not nearly enough cheering and celebrating. So, I’m wondering if we can shake things up a little bit by responding to this question with cheers and celebration. Can we do that? Great! OK!
Will all of you witnessing these vows do everything in your power to uphold Kasey and Brandon in their marriage?
If so, would you give it UP!
Special Reading
Mike Foulds will now come with a special reading. (The Velveteen Rabbit)
Vows - We wrote our Own
Exchanging of the Rings- Ring Warming Ceremony
The couple will now exchange wedding rings as a physical symbol of the vows they have made to one another. Their rings are going to be passed among their wedding party, each person pausing to offer a wish for the couple and for their future together.
These rings are a symbol of the unbroken circle of love. Love freely given has no beginning and no end, no giver and no receiver for each is the giver and each is the receiver. They mark the beginning of a long journey filled with wonder, surprises, laughter, tears, celebration, grief, joy. May these rings glow in reflection of the warmth and love which flow through you today.
Declaration
Kasey and Brandon have made their vows to each other in our presence, and have confirmed their promises by the joining of hands, and the exchange of rings. Therefore, by the authority given me by this province I pronounce that they are now husband and wife.
Kiss
You may kiss and we will celebrate with you.
Love Letter & Wine Box Ceremony
Kasey and Brandon have chosen as a couple to perform a Love Letter & Wine Box ceremony.
This box contains a bottle of wine and two glasses. Both Kasey and Brandon have written a love letter to each other. The letters describe the good qualities they find in one another, the reasons they fell in love, and their reasons for choosing to marry. The letters are sealed in individual envelopes and they have not seen what the other has written. You have created your very own “romantic” time capsule to be opened on your wedding anniversary.
I recommend that you keep the box in a place of honor prominently displayed in your home as a constant reminder of your commitment to each other.
Kasey and Brandon should you ever find your marriage enduring insurmountable hardships, you are to as a couple, open this box, sit and drink the wine together, then separate and read the letters you wrote to one another when you were united as a couple in marriage. By reading these love letters you will reflect upon the reasons you fell in love and chose to marry each other here today.
The hope is, however, that you will never have a reason to open this box. And if this is the case, you are to open this box to share and enjoy on a wedding anniversary of your choosing!
You may now place your letters to one another in the Wine Box.
Sign License
The couple will now sign the marriage license and registry along with their witnesses, and while we are doing that, the wedding party will also be placing gifts and thoughts in the wine box for the couple.
Kasey and Brandon, you may now seal the box
Closing Words / Announcements
On behalf of Kasey and Brandon, I wish to thank you for joining them here today to witness and celebrate their marriage ceremony.
I’d like to draw your attention to a couple of announcements:
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my privilege to present to you the newly wed couple, Kasey and Stewart
Niether Stewart nor I wanted a religious ceremony. We wanted to work with someone who would be open to our unique ideas, but also had experience. This is where Evan from Kettle Creek Weddings came in. He was a pro! We got to completely customize our ceremony, and it turned out perfectly!
Time Capsule Ceremony
We wanted to do something a little different for our ceremony. I had heard of the wine box ceremony, and thought it was interesting, but wanted something that would include our closest friends and family.
We came up with the time capsule ceremony. During the signing of the license, our wedding party and immediate families were asked to place something in the box - it could be a letter, a homemade trinket, or anything that made them think of us. We then included letters to each other and sealed the box up to be opened in ten years!
DIY - Fabric Ribbon Photo Backdrop
Another very simple DIY project. Made from the same fabric as the bunting banner, we tore long strands of faded coloured fabric and lace, and tied them around a wide dowel. We simply fixed the dowel to the top of a cheaply rented arch, and voila! This added visual interest to our ceremony backdrop, and served for a nice photo area at our reception!
