Fallowgiving: Burlap in the Fall

This is the first project in the Fallowgiving projects to get my home SEASON ready so my holiday decor can last longer. Why not decorate to last Mid Sept-Nov? With busy lives, it seems to be all I have time for.

(Do you get as excited as I do for Halloween and Thanksgiving? I always want to decorate too early. Now I can!)

I love decorating with burlap. It looks so natural and raw and reminds me of harvesting bags which leads me to FALL, ya'll.

I picked the word HARVEST because I felt it is a word that connects 
more to the season then the holiday.

Want to make your own fallowgiving pendant? 
Look below.

STEP 1
First you need to make sure you gather all your supplies.
   Supply list:
               Burlap
              Scissors
              Permanent Marker
              Ribbon
              Hot glue gun
              Pendant Template (See below)

 Save and print the template below for a cutting guide to getting identical pendant flags. 

It creates a 3x3 flag.

STEP 2
Cut out the burlap flags. One for each letter you want to spell.

STEP 3
Find a font you want to use on the computer. I choose Capitals. I liked a traditional thick font.

STEP 4

After you find your font you want to use, tape your flag to the screen and trace the letter with your permanent marker. 

(I loved using my computer screen so I didn't waste any extra paper. Just be careful not to write on your screen)

 STEP 5

Once you're done outlining your letters, it's time to fill it in. Make sure you do this on scrap paper you don't mind the marker bleeding through on.

STEP 6

This step is additional if you want a more rough look. (Which I did!) Now that your little flags are almost done you just take the flag in your hands and pull on the edges. Like you are gently ripping the edges. It loosens the weave of the burlap and gives the flag a rougher look.

STEP 8

Once your flags are ready. Just hot glue the flags to the ribbon. With burlap, I just used 1 dot on each upper corner, and one dot of glue in the middle/top. Because burlap is a loose weave, I didn't want a lot of glue to show through. 

And TA-DA! You are all ready for your 3 seasons pendant banner that can be used from mid Sept-Nov. Pair it with a pumpkin and now we are talking.

   

I also did the exact same thing to create a burlap pillow slip cover with the leftover fabric. 

(Check back in a few weeks on how to make a SUPER easy pillow slipcovers. You'll feel like a total seamstress once you try them. I use them all the time for weddings to give them personal touches)

Cute, generic and oh so simple. 

Looking at it makes me excited for all the fun in the season ahead.

Shab to Fab Wingback Reupholstered

I have a complex. I see something online and think, I can do that! I want to try! 

RIGHT... THIS... MINUTE... 

And I can't do anything until I do it. I get really determined sometimes.  :)

So, when I saw all the awesome wing back chairs being redone, I wanted to try my hand at it. 

I found this beauty at my local DI for $30.

The below chart from  Little Green Notebook let me know how much I'd need for my little chair.

 

(Totally worth Pinning to look back at later!)

I got 5 1/2 yards of gray velvet and cording for the piping. 

I didn't take any 'during the process' pictures. I will tell you though: my fingers were sore, the living room was covered in staples, and I broke 1 needle on my sewing machine going through so many layers of velvet. 

(I'd drape myself in velvet if it were socially acceptable.)  

I'd think twice about doing another, but I loved the end product!

(I love before and after pictures!)

This is going to look great at a gray, eggplant and white/ivory wedding coming up!

 

 Mr. Bentley wanted to get in on the picture taking.

If you feel like you want to take this kind of project too, jump onto Remodelaholic. 

She has a step-by-step on how she did it.  

Or why go through the hassle. If you are in Southern Utah, you can rent it for your wedding for $15! 

(Keep posted, many more rental furniture items to be posted soon!)

Happy Planning!

Real Weddings: Lighting Up the Night

This was  such an adorable bride and groom and I just loved working with her and her mom. It was a drizzly reception night in St. George, Utah, but that didn't get any spirits down at the reception. They had lots of dancing and great food all night!

 

 

Something fun about their wedding is that there was lots of mood lighting, from the centerpiece that lit up, the paper lanterns with their own individual lights to the sparkler send off.

 

Thanks Rachelle and Brad for letting Middle Aisle be apart of your big day! 

Make sure you check out these talented vendors involved!

Planning and Decor: Middle Aisle

Photographer: Flourish Photography

Floral: Bloomers

Catering: Dave Mcfadden

Cake: Oh So Sweet

Venue: Opera House

Fun Summer Wedding Idea

Wouldn't this be such a fun summer wedding?

I've recently pick up two new dusty turquoise wing back chairs and think they would be so adorable in this fun summer setting. Lemons, lemonade stand, lounge, and milk glasses. Adorable!

What do you think?

-Happy Planning

Introducing the NEWEST little member of Middle Aisle

Photo by One Memory at a Time

I'm going to get a little personal for a minute because I am absolutely infatuated with this little guy. After 9 months of being preggo, doing weddings, being at expo shows, etc (Did you see that crazy girl with the giant belly waddling around? Yup, Hi, that was me :) Well, the little man has finally come!

This is my sweet little Baby J.

It's amazing how having something so sweet in your arms makes things coming into focus in your life and see the big picture. He has given me a renewed excitement for weddings. After all, first comes love, then comes marriage.... and well you know the rest. ;)

It's amazing to create weddings that start a new chapter in a couples lives. There will be so many beautiful days ahead of them and I'm grateful I get to be apart of one of them.

Lots of love and happy planning!

Classic Red, Black & White Wedding

Your classic red, black and white wedding will always be classic combination in weddings colors. This is an adorable example of a wedding we did at Astoria this past month in those colors. The bride and groom were great to work with and it was fun to get to do a wedding over at the new venue Astoria. 

 

The aisle was lined with red rose petals and glass cylinders with rose petals and floating candles. 

I especially loved the branch ceremony pieces by Bloomers. Such a simple design with such a big impact.

The food was done by Katering Koncepts. The whole staff was great about helping with everything they could and making sure everything stayed stocked and fresh. I just love working with them.

One of the most adorable and unique things at Astoria are the pastry cases. These pastry cases had cupcakes, brownie bites and ice cream for ice cream sundaes.  Guests got to come to the cases, pick what they want, and get served like a cupcake/ice cream parlor.

I absolutely love signage at weddings. I believe it is a necessary at every wedding event. Whether it is your names, menu's or the itinerary for the night. It creates such a uniformed look without a large expense. This wedding was so easy to incorporate signage everywhere that matched their invites. 

The cake was done by Bridal Cakes by Yvonne. It was two different flavors and alternated between square and round layers.

The ballroom at Astoria.

The parlor at Astoria.

Candy bar in the parlor by the Grooms cousin.

 

Kory and Aurora saying their "I Do's."

Kory & Aurora, It was so much fun to get to know you both and your families! The whole day was so much fun and we loved being able to be apart of your special day. We wish you the best in your life together!

Ultimate Wedding Showcase: this Saturday!!

We are making our debut this upcoming weekend at the

Ultimate Wedding Showcase in St. George Utah.

January 23, 2010

at the Dixie Convention Center in St. George

10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

 

 

 I feel like a child at Christmas! I am so excited.

This is such a great event for brides to be, mothers of brides to be, or even just a girls afternoon out with some friends. Come stop by and see our booth on the first row and let us know you saw our blog post.

We are giving away prizes, treats, great information and lots of wedding inspiration. :)

There are such trend setting wedding vendors in Southern Utah, this is an great event to come see even if you aren't planning on getting married anytime soon. It is just fun to see all the over the top booths.

Hope to see you there!

The Costly Truth

I am constantly record wedding shows on my tivo and watch them into the wee hours of the night. My poor husband sometimes has to drag me away to get me to go to bed.

One of my favorites is David Tutera's My Fair Wedding. I have only one problem with it... They don't tell you how much it would actually cost to do it yourself! Some of the things he has done for these couples belong on Platinum Weddings. (yet another tivo'd show)

So I thought it would be interesting to take a beautiful wedding tablescape and break it all down into costs. I think sometimes we forget how fast things add up, even if the set up seems a little simpler like the picture below.

This isn't a wedding I have done, so it could cost alot different. Heck, for all I know this person borrowed all their china and grew the flowers on their porch. :) But if you are to do this tablescape in Southern Utah here is the price you would be looking at.

Isn't the drop ceiling breathe taking? This is an event done by La Partie Events in Cali. They do AMAZING work, make sure you check them out.

If done in Southern Utah:

(8) Chivarli chairs w/ Pads: $110.00- ($13.75 each)-rented

(1) 5' round table: $7.95-rented

(1) 120 Round Ivory Table Cloth: $12.95-rented

(8) Ivory Napkins (w/ folding): $20.00-rented

(8) Dinnerware place settings: $25.20- ($3.15 each setting)-rented

(8) Wine and Water Goblets: $4.00- (.50 each)-rented

(3) small centerpieces (peonies, roses and hydranga) in glass vases: $150

Sprinkled Rose Petals: $7.00

(6) Votives: $3.00 - (.50 each)-rented

(8) Menu Card (full color) w/ designer: $24.00- ($3 each)

Table Number $5.00

Total: $371.11

per table for 8 people

Now times that by how many tables you'll need.

Being the Best Bridesmaid you Can Be

Photography by Shellee Draper with Photography by Shellee

Shellee is one of the sweetest and one of the funnest people to work with! When I asked her if she would be willing to submit photos with months article about bridesmaids for Perfect Weddings in The Spectrum, she went above and beyond. Thanks Shellee for these adorable pictures!  They made the article come alive.

What to Expect if you are a Bridesmaid

It is considered an honor to be asked to be a bridesmaid for a friend or sister's big day. Remember though, this honor does not come without responsibilities.

Bridesmaids are like a bride's ladies in waiting. They need to be ready to dry a tear, hold a hand and fill in when necessary. They are the support and shoulder to lean on for the bride.

Bridesmaids may be asked to fill in at appointments with the bride when the groom is not available, help with design ideas or just help take some stress off the bride. Do not assume you will need to assist in all things, but be ready in case you are needed.

A large responsibility of the bridesmaids is to throw the bridal shower and bachelorette party. The matron of honor is usually the head of this event, but relies on all the bridesmaids to help create a good time and ease the financial burden of paying for the parties.

The dreaded bridesmaid dress is also the responsibility of the bridesmaids to purchase for being in the wedding party. Occasionally, the bride will pay for this cost, but traditionally it is the bridesmaids that pay for the dress and shoes the bride has picked.

It is common for all bridesmaids to be in the wedding ceremony, and to precede the bride before her walk down the middle aisle. A bridesmaid will need to be at the rehearsal and dinner party to know what she will be doing for the ceremony.

Common types of ceremonies seen in Southern Utah are Latter-day Saint temple ceremonies. In this case, it is the bridesmaids responsibility to coordinate with the florist to ensure the bride has her bouquet for pictures as soon as she exits the temple, and to bring the bouquet back to the florist for touchups immediately after so it looks good for the reception.

At the reception, a bridesmaid may be asked to participate in the receiving line to greet guests, direct traffic flow, have guests sign the guest book, or even receive the different vendors before the bride arrives. A bridesmaid is expected to be there the whole time to participate and encourage the party if needed.

As the bridesmaid, the most important thing to remember is to be a good friend. After all, that is why you were asked to be a bridesmaid in the first place.