Elizabeth Demos - Vintage Wedding Style: More than 25 Simple Projects and Endless Inspiration for Designing Your Big Day

MORE THAN 25 SIMPLE PROJECTS AND
ENDLESS INSPIRATION FOR DESIGNING YOUR BIG DAY

Elizabeth Demos

Text copyright 2012 by Elizabeth Demos.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

constitutes a continuation of the copyright page.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available.

ISBN 978-1-4521-2403-2

Designed by Kristen Hewitt

Additional editing by Janice Shay

Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream, Inc. Dremel is a registered trademark of Robert Bosch Tool Corporation. eBay is a registered trademark of eBay Inc. Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc. Herms Paris is a registered trademark of Herms International. Rice Krispies is a registered trademark of Kellogg Company Corp. X-ACTO is a registered trademark of Elmers Products, Inc. Zuber is a registered trademark of Manufacture de Papiers Peints Zuber et Cie Corp.

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THE BEST WEDDINGS TELL STORIES stories of a bride and a groom, family, friends, and the heirlooms and memories of generations before them. When I first meet with clients, the initial conversation is often filled with dreams of how they imagine their wedding day. I take a lot of notes, ask and answer many questions, and look at scores of photos, all the while obtaining insight into their storytheir family history, special traditions they want to include, and their taste. I share my love of vintage with all of my couples and help them incorporate vintage elements into their event.

Wedding inspiration is everywhere, but for me it is firmly rooted in the past. Im a big believer in incorporating vintage treasures into our lives in new and modern ways. I adore the layered qualitythe magical feeling of old meets newthat antique and vintage pieces bring to an event. Im an old-fashioned girl in a modern world, and refreshing traditions is my expertise. Vintage wedding style, as I define it, is not the exact replication of a specific era. Instead, it incorporates some details from an era or a time and refreshes and updates them to make a wedding truly unique. The couples featured in this book appreciated historical references, antiques, and vintage goodsand each achieved a vintage style that was just right for them.

Youll see a Gatsby revival wedding that was inspired by the feeling of a leisurely afternoon in celebration; a circus-themed wedding that captures youthful and colorful memories of the circus; and an Airstream elopement that proves you can include style into even the smallest affair. Each wedding story offers inspiring photos, styling ideas, helpful tips, and DIY projects so you can replicate some of the details on your own. You will find creative ideas for everything from save-the-date cards to cake stands to party favors. I explain how to edit your ideas (a very important step!) and how to navigate common problems such as out-of-the-way locations, weather concerns, and budget. I also include a range of color palettes, inventive uses for old objects, and creative ways to help you discover your own personal wedding style. At the back, I share my favorite shops and resources where you can find the items and materials used in these weddings. I hope you feel motivated to check out the nearest flea market, estate sale, or antique shop to hunt for pieces that will make your event unique and memorable.

My favorite weddings are those that are true expressions of the couple, tell a story, and seamlessly marry the past and present. How do you envision your wedding day?

RELAXING, INTIMATE, HISTORIC sometimes the idea for a wedding starts with how you want it to feel, rather than how it will look. For this wedding, the couple had very strong ideas about the mood they wanted to establish. They wanted their friends to be relaxed and enjoy the day, and they wanted the feel of a private mansion wedding. They imagined an outdoor venue that was both gracious and intimate, but casual enough that everyone could have fun. I understood the couples vision for a day of celebration grounded in a much earlierand simplerway of life.

Their needs brought to mind F. Scott Fitzgeralds descriptions of lawn parties at historic old mansions by the seaslow, easy days filled with champagne and band music. Everything about this wedding at Sapelo Island off the Georgia coast had the feel of an updated scene from The Great Gatsby. The atmosphere of that era was what I wanted to help them achieve.

The venue, Sapelo Island, can only be reached by ferry, which runs on a limited schedule. That ensured privacy for the days events. The island boasts one inna lovely old plantation home, the Reynolds Mansion. The many descendants of the islands first inhabitants populate the island and maintain its historic feel. The leaves of beautiful, ancient oaks rustle in the breeze off the ocean, and the well-appointed grounds of the home draw guests outdoors to talk, read, and relax.

If you worry about other guests at a hotel intruding on your wedding party, privacy may be as important to you as it was for this couple. Think about finding an estate, a farm, or a private home where you can be assured that your dayor weekendis for you and your guests, and no one else. Of course, privacy comes at a price and requires certain considerations. We were unable to find a florist who would deliver to the island. Vendors would only deliver to the ferry departure dock on the mainland. So we had to bring all the flowersand everything else that would normally be deliveredand arrange them on-site. I dont suggest doing your own wedding flowers, unless you have someone you really trust to style the floral arrangements the day before or the day of the wedding. Making your own bouquet, corsages, and boutonnieres is time-consuming, and you will want to focus on other things.

When you take on a project yourself, enlist an army of family members and friends to help, as we did. We put people to work carrying truckloads of flowers, boxes, and other items. Planning an event for a remote locale such as this requires that you be super organized and keep lists of everything you need to bring in. For shipping or transporting materials to your site, you want to use, if possible, nonbreakable items and choose lightweight decorationsyoull save a bundle on shipping costs. Before you load up on a lot of breakable things, see what your location can offer. If something is broken in transit, you may not be able to get a replacement.