Wedding Style Ideas for a Classic Bride

Simple shapes, elegant details and timeless style choices, these are hallmarks of a classic wedding. Add the personal touch of handmade and a classic wedding can be truly stunning. Here are 5 style ideas from the Etsy Wedding Team to create a classic style wedding.

Less is more. For classic style look for simple shapes and a few meaningful details, such as an elegant headband or a veil with beautiful trim. {handmade by www.sibodesigns.etsy.com}



Update Tradition. Classic style is rooted in traditional choices. But that doesn’t mean you can’t add some spice. Even pearls can be updated to make them your own. {handmade by www.maylui.etsy.com}


Timeless style. Ignore the trendy or super modern for styles, patterns, shapes and colors that may still be popular 5 or 10 years from now. {handmade by www.PostInvitations.etsy.com}



Finishing details. What also makes classic style timeless is the use of elegant details. Look for lovely lace, beading, gems, ribbons and other details to make your wedding pieces shine. {handmade by www.YANDEBRIDAL.etsy.com}



Classic Patterns. Damasks, florals and toiles are wonderful ways to add texture and interest to your wedding, while staying in the classic style. {handmade by www.abbeyandizziedesigns.etsy.com}

Browse the Etsy Wedding Team members on the left for more handmade style for classic weddings.

The Gift of Wedding Style

Wedding designs are often beautiful and stunning. You can actually bring that style into the everyday with gifts for your loved ones. Certain wedding items can easily make wonderful holiday and birthday presents. Here are 5 ideas for handmade wedding designs that would make special gifts.

Jewelry. Wedding necklaces, bracelets and earrings range from simple and elegant to dramatic. So in addition to evening wear, some items will be wonderful everyday jewelry. {handmade by www.handmadebydiana.etsy.com}



For the Home. Many reception items, such as servers and table accessories, can actually be unique pieces for special occasion and everyday use. {handmade by www.Beadz2Pleaz.etsy.com}



Personal Stationery. Add the names of family and friends for beautiful and cherished notes and cards. {handmade by www.GlitzyEvents.etsy.com}


Clothing. Bridal and bridesmaid accessories, such as purses and shawls, are classic gifts with added style. {handmade by www.TickledPinkKnits.etsy.com}


Hair Accessories. Beautiful handcrafted designs for hair make unexpected and special gifts. {handmade by www.TessaKim.etsy.com}

Browse the Etsy Wedding Team artists on the left for more unique handmade wedding designs.

Wedding Style Ideas for the Eclectic Bride

If you aren’t tied to the traditional, the modern or the classic, then you may be a bride with eclectic tastes, pulling design ideas from many places, styles and time periods. To make it all work together, look to unify different design styles by color, shape or texture.

Here are some handmade ideas from the Etsy Wedding Team that can easily fit in an eclectic or funky wedding design.


Hair. If you are looking for something simple, yet beautiful, flowers are a great idea for hair. {handmade by www.AmoreBride.etsy.com}


Invitations. With layered invitations you can express your tastes with contrasting patterns and motifs. Just tie it together by color or mood and you’re safe to be bold and still stylish. {handmade by www.justpeachypaperie.etsy.com}


Jewelry. In an eclectic style wedding, antique jewelry pieces work well even with a very modern decor or dress. In fact, using elements from other time periods will give your wedding more of a unique feeling. {handmade by www.handmadebydiana.etsy.com}


Reception. You don’t have to use a traditional guest book to capture the thoughts and memories of your friends and family. Think about different materials and formats. {handmade by www.cutthecakedesigns.etsy.com}


Special Touch. Highlight your signature style by using an untraditional piece for a traditional part of your wedding, such as a unique flower girl basket. {handmade by www.MackensleyDesigns.etsy.com}

Find more special touches for eclectic weddings by browsing the Etsy Wedding Team artisans on the left.

How to Choose the Right Invitations

Before guests see your dress and reception space, they see your invitation. So invitations are your chance to give guests a sneak peak of the wedding you are planning.

In addition to increasing your choices, handmade invitations signal the care and thought behind your wedding. Here are some other things to consider as you are deciding on invitations.


Wedding style and colors? One useful thing about handmade invitations is that you can usually customize the design to match your wedding colors. That frees you up to focus on style and other things. Consider the tone and your personal design sense. Are you creating a super modern, vintage or casual and fun wedding day? Choose a wedding invitation style to match. {Handmade by www.EllasPaper.etsy.com}



Lots of enclosures? Destination weddings and weddings with many out of town guests often have lots of enclosures: response, direction, accommodation and reception cards. Pocketfolders, boxes, ribbon ties and self-contained booklets are great ways to keep everything together. Invitation designs in Etsy can often be customized for the look you want. {Handmade by www.BGDesignstudio.etsy.com}



Unified look? You can think of your invitation (and even save the date) as the start of your wedding style. So if a unified look is important to you, consider re-using elements like a monogram or a motif on your reception stationery as well (placecards, table numbers, menus, etc). Or have your invitation designer create the rest of your reception pieces. {Handmade by www.taylortt2.etsy.com}


Are you making a statement? There’s so much diversity in invitations these days, that your choice can be a true reflection of you. Do you want an eco-friendly wedding? Luxe? Unique? Un-wedding? Whatever you want your wedding to say about you, look for invitation details, styles or production methods to help you say it. {Handmade by www.KembaCelebrations.etsy.com}


Is there a theme? You can develop a theme from something you love, a time period, your cultural heritage or where you are getting married. Whether it be beach, travel, winter wonderland or something else, there’s probably a handmade invitation design to help you celebrate it. {Handmade by www.anaderoux.etsy.com}

For more inviting invitations, browse the Etsy Wedding Team designers on the left.

Tips for Stylish Handmade Receptions

How do you make your reception special for you and your guests? Here are 5 tips for using handmade touches to dress up your wedding reception:


Match your placecards. Placecards really set the tone for your reception style. They are often the first things that guests see when they enter your reception space. So for knockout style, choose knockout placecards. And make sure your placecards match the rest of your reception decor. {handmade by www.ruffhouseart.etsy.com}



Go big and bold. For a statement, a few big, bold signature pieces will stand out more than lots of smaller table items. Statement pieces can be in your entryway, used as centerpieces or sprinkled throughout your space. {handmade by www.thefunkyshack.etsy.com}



Make special tables special. For head or couple tables you can do something extra nice… especially since there’s only one! Choose extra pieces or more detailed versions of your regular table designs to make them memorable. {handmade by www.michaelangela.etsy.com}



Present your favors. Because guests take them home, favors can be thought of as the embodiment of your reception. So for favors, think about what you want your guests to remember. Is it the vintage style? A glamorous location? The intimate feeling? Whatever it is, make sure your favor presentation and gift match. {handmade by www.littlebirdieboutique.etsy.com}




Don’t forget the details. It’s the little touches that really pull your look together. These can be useful items, like wine or water bottles, or purely decorative and fun. Personalized or unexpected details will add a special sparkle to your tables. {handmade by www.BesoDesigns.etsy.com}

Need more reception ideas? Browse the Etsy Wedding Team shops on the left. Have more ideas to add? Please share them in comments.

Modern Whimsy: An Interview with Cheerupcherup

Today's interview is with the talented Alaina of Cheerupcherup. She brings charm and her sense of modern style to play when creating spontanious stationary for brides from all over.

Where are you located?

Columbus, Ohio

Tell us a little about yourself.

I love bright colors and can never seem to get away from using them, not only in my designs, butin pretty much everything I do. My kitchen is bright green, my laundry room is bright orange, and my office is purple… and I’m pretty much wearing a different colored pair of shoes everyday. I make wedding invitations in my spare time, and I work full time as a graphic artist.

What special things do you create for weddings?

I design and make wedding invitations, and other important wedding paper goods.

Who or what sparked your interest in making wedding-related items?

Good question. My best answer is that weddings are so much FUN.

What is a little known fact, or something unique about your work that is interesting?

I am obsessed (maybe a little OCD) with the way the envelopes HAVE to match the invitation PERFECTLY…. I’m not sure if that is interesting or not.

If you are married, what’s the one thing you wish you had for your wedding that you didn’t?

Wish we had hired a professional photographer, instead of having a friend do it.

What is your favorite wedding song?

“True Companion” by Marc Cohn

What is your favorite part of the wedding journey?

Cake tasting!

What advice can you share for all the brides getting married this year?

Don’t be afraid to spend the extra money on something you really love. It’s worth it. You only get married once (hopefully)

What is your perfect honeymoon spot?

Italy

If you could pick anyone famous that would purchase your items for their wedding, who would they be?

Oprah?

If you could choose 1 item from your shop that you wish every bride could have, what would it be?

I’m not sure, but my calendar save-the-date is very popular, and is really versatile and can work for any wedding because the color possibilities are endless.

Links where we can find out more about your work:

www.flickr.com/cheerupherup or http://whimsicalbliss.blogspot.com

Pretty Stationary for Beautiful People: An Interview with Fubabee

Today's featured artist is Lisa of Fubabee, a very talented graphics designer who uses her professional experience to make beautiful invitations and stationary to fit any bride's unique personality.

Where are you located? Brooklyn, NY

Tell us a little about yourself. I’m an art director and graphic designer in the corporate world. Making stationery is my part-time love affair. It’s where I find my balance. If I had a choice I’d delve into the stationery world headfirst since it’s such a gratifying thing. People appreciate the beauty of the creative process, and the uniqueness of what I do. In the corporate world, it’s all about starched, standardized uniformity.

What special things do you create for weddings? I create handmade wedding invitations, note cards, and gift sets.

Who or what sparked your interest in making wedding-related items? The whole wedding invitations designing started back several years ago when a friend asked me to design some response cards for her. It just took off from there.

What is a little known fact, or something unique about your work that is interesting? Each and every single Swarovski crystal is hand adorned using non-toxic, acid-free glue. I must have glued over then thousand crystals to all my cards and invitations just this year alone! It’s almost zen-like when I get into it.

If you are married, what’s the one thing you wish you had for your wedding that you didn’t? I’m not married yet, though we are talking about it. It’s funny because with each wedding we attend as guests, we see something we’d absolutely love to do, or would totally avoid. For instance, one couple had jars of candy set up for favors, and everyone mobbed the area. Definitely not our style. Another couple set up a cookie bar station, which we loved the idea.

What is your favorite wedding song? There’s just so many great ones. Brian McKnight’s Back at One is a great one. You by Tara MacLean is another.

What is your favorite part of the wedding journey? From the outside, I would say it’s the creative planning process of two people. I always love how the brides-to-be light up when they find the perfect invitation that sets the stage for their wedding. Or when they find the perfect escort cards that give their reception that added touch they wanted. It’s a fun discovery to witness.

What advice can you share for all the brides getting married this year? Don’t force anything, be open to possibilities, and let the professionals guide you.

What is your perfect honeymoon spot? We went to the Virgin Islands earlier this year, and were blown away by the beautiful beaches and laid-back atmosphere. We’d definitely visit the Caribbean again. Or anywhere that has crystal blue waters for snorkeling, scuba, kayaking. We’re all about fun beach activities.

If you could pick anyone famous that would purchase your items for their wedding, who would they be? This is a great question. I’d say Angelina Jolie. She has a fun and down-to-earth personality, and would appreciate the fact that the stationery is made of 30-70% post-consumer recycled materials.

If you could choose 1 item from your shop that you wish every bride could have, what would it be? Thank you notes. It’s a must have for everyone.

Links where we can find out more about your work: http://lisafu.info

http://fubabee.wordpress.com

Fine-Lined Design-An Interview with Izzy and the Bean Design and Photography

Our featured artist for the day is Ashley Rippke of Izzy and the Bean Design and Photography. She and her husband create custom wedding stationary and graphics design at prices that won't break your wedding budget. Their beautiful designs and eye-catching colors are certain to have brides saying "I do!"

1. Where are you located?
Corpus Christi, TX

2. Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a full-time graphic designer, with a BFA from Iowa State University. My husband and I are both graphic designers and moved to TX for jobs a year ago with our two baby dachshunds, Izzy and Bean. I love my job, and my newly found obsession with Etsy!

3. What special things do you create for weddings?
I create beautiful, but affordable, custom wedding invitations and stationary.

4. Who or what sparked your interest in making wedding-related items?
When I got married I wanted to design my own invites. But, being a working college student, I wasn’t sure I had the time. So I searched and searched for an invitation to use and never found anything I liked for under $7 a piece…which was not in my budget. I ended up designing my own, and decided a wanted to start a business that gave people a low-stress place to buy professionally designed and printed invitations within their budget.

5. What is a little known fact, or something unique about your work that is interesting?
I work really fast, and if needed can get invites designed, printed, and shipped in about 2 weeks. And for some of my designs I can do really high quality digital prints, instead of the offset I usually use, which is a great way to save a lot of money!

6. If you are married, what’s the one thing you wish you had for your wedding that you didn’t? More knowledge about flowers.

7. What is your favorite wedding song?
Crazy Love, Van Morrison. It was our first dance. J

8. What advice can you share for all the brides getting married this year?
Don’t get stressed. It goes by so fast! So enjoy all of it.

9. What is your perfect honeymoon spot?
Las Vegas! Great food, good entertainment, and super affordable…especially for June weddings.

10. If you could pick anyone famous that would purchase your items for their wedding, who would they be?
Ewan McGregor

11. If you could choose 1 item from your shop that you wish every bride could have, what would it be?
A fully “branded” wedding, in which every piece (invites, programs, menus, table numbers) match the other. It’s a really easy way to bring the whole event together.

12. Links where we can find out more about your work:
Arippke.etsy.com, Rippkedesign.blogspot.com