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Alternative Wedding Centerpieces

Make your tables the talk of the town!

Something monumental happened this past week. No, we’re not talking about Thanksgiving, or Black Friday, or the Patriots losing their undefeated record (yuck)…Mary Kate Olsen got married! Yes, one half of “Michelle Tanner” is now a wife. If that doesn’t make you feel old, then I don’t know what will! I’ll be honest, the Olsen twins have never been fashion icons for me personally, so while I wasn’t scrambling to get a peek at her dress, I did have an urge to find out as much about her wedding as possible. Mary Kate is the perfect mix of eccentric, cool, and modern, so I just knew she’d do something unique. The thing that I read about her wedding that stuck out the most? Apparently she and her new husband decorated with cigarettes. We’re not kidding; cigarettes in lieu of centerpieces. While I haven’t seen photographic proof yet, I’m sure we’re not talking about limp, sad packs sitting around, but more like Waterford crystal filled with thin cigarettes and maybe even those long, vintage holders. As chic as I’m sure they made it, this idea still gave me pause. What do you think? Either way, it got me to thinking about ways to decorate a wedding besides the classic flowers (which we’re not knocking, we love ‘em). Here are some fab ideas we found:

Antiques – For a unique, vintage look, consider mixed antiques in the center of your tables. Think crystal salt and pepper shakers, mismatched china, even a clock. The sky’s the limit! Warning: this will take some time and/or money, but it can also be looked at as an investment. Sure, you can hire a decorator to gather pieces for you, but if you take the time to go antique hunting on your own and collect items over time, you get the keep the beauties after the big day! Better yet, talk to your relatives about donating some of their pieces to the cause. They’re sure to be touched, and it gives your décor a personal (and cost effective) touch!

A clock, bottle stopper, salt and pepper shakers and an hourglass; who knew these seemingly random items could make such a gorge centerpiece! Photo credit to Canvas and Canopy Designs courtesy of Bridal Guide

A clock, bottle stopper, salt and pepper shakers and an hourglass; who knew these seemingly random items could make such a gorge centerpiece! Photo credit to Canvas and Canopy Designs courtesy of Bridal Guide

Books – Carrie Bradshaw chose the library for her wedding to Big, so that their love story could start where all the classic love stories were held. While their “big” day didn’t go as planned, it is a nice thought! “Carrie” that over to your own wedding by making love stories your centerpieces! Take some books from your own home, ask those closest to you to donate their favorite love story, and give your library card a workout. Now that’s the definition of easy, affordable, and unique décor!

Add a little lace and burlap and these books are wedding ready! Photo credit to Shelley Coar Photography courtesy of Hostess with the Mostess' blog

Add a little lace and burlap and these books are wedding ready! Photo credit to Shelley Coar Photography courtesy of Hostess with the Mostess’ blog

Edible Arrangements – If you still want to get that natural look and feel but want to do something different than flowers, why not herbs? They give a pop of color just like flowers do, and most even give the room a great smell like flowers do. If you want to add more color than just green, though, fruit is another great option. Now, just make sure that dinner is served on time so that your guests don’t have to resort to eating your décor!

A clean, chic centerpiece that looks good enough to eat! Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

A clean, chic centerpiece that looks good enough to eat! Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

Sports Weddings

Hit a home run on your big day!

It’s safe to say that everyone in New England has had sports on the brain this week. You may have heard about a little game called the Super Bowl…that we won. No big deal. Working in a bridal shop, of course we got to thinking about how to “marry” a love of sports with a love of pretty weddings. After some research, we found that there are actually a ton of (non-cheesy) ways to incorporate sports into your big day. Here are some of our favorites:

1) Table Numbers – Even Martha Stewart loves a good sports themed fete! We found these creative table assignments (photo courtesy of Liz Banfield) on her site. The calligraphy and rich stationery are appropriate for an elegant affair, while the text provides a fun twist! This particular table (or dugout!) was for the bride’s family. Adorable!

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2) Cake Topper – In general, your cake topper is a great place to pop some personality into your big day. It’s relatively easy and inexpensive to customize the perfect set for you and your fiance! Do some research (we love Etsy for homemade, affordable toppers) and you can find some gems, like this clothespin style topper; it’s rustic, adorable and full of personality! If this couple can survive baseball season on opposite sides of the Sox-Yankees feud, they can handle anything!

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3) Make an entrance – Of course you can always come running in with a jersey over your respective suit/gown, but we love the idea of you and your fiance running through the a football-like banner even more! How fun would that be?! It would definitely get your party started off right and is sure to be something that your guests have never seen before!

Thanks bridalguide.com for this photo courtesy of Joshua McCoy Photography!

Thanks bridalguide.com for this photo courtesy of Joshua McCoy Photography!

4) Sporty Snacks – Let your guests know that you sleep, breathe and EAT sports! Bring in some classic sports snacks later in the night and your guests will be doing the wave just for you 🙂 Peanuts, popcorn, hot dogs…the possibilities are endless (and tasty)!

Big shout out to southernweddings.com for this shot courtesy of Mykkah Photography

Big shout out to southernweddings.com for this shot courtesy of Mykkah Photography

Bottom line, your wedding should be a reflection of you! So, if you love sports, bring that to your big day! We think the crowd will be cheering for you 🙂 GO PATS!!!