Just because it's slightly rough and ready, doesn't make burlap any less chic. In fact, it's its naive rusticity that makes it this season's fabric of choice for eco-chic weddings. Made from vegetable fibres, it's often used to make sacks to transport coffee beans, and it's these bags that are super-easy to recyle into gorgeous accessories and favours. Perfect for a couple keen to be green on their big day. Don't miss the special offers for Before the Big Day readers - details below the pics.
Rustic Elegance
Is there anything more romantic than getting married in a forest? Happy couple Henry and Isby picked a gorgeous rustic-elegance theme for their big day, and fabulous photographer Jessamyn Harris was there to record every little detail. My most inspirational spots have to be the CD favours (perfect for the drive home), the bold orange napkins and the personalised beer bottles. And I love Isby's gorgeous backless dress, and the seed pearls studding her hair - so pretty!
**If you love getting inspiration from Real Weddings then click here for more**
Woodland Whimsy
If you're feeling inspired by Eco-Chic Week, why not adopt an entire woodland theme for your big day? Offer your guests a romantic, Midsummer Night's Dream experience, by using rustic accessories and favours, sourced from the natural world. From feathered buttonholes, to mossy ring nests and birchwood vases, many of these accents can be collected on a countryside walk. Cheap and eco-chic! One of my favourite shops for nature-inspired bits-and-pieces, is Pomp and Plumage, {see pics below), who are offering 15% off on any order from today until April 1st {fab!}. Just mention Before the Big Day in your "message to seller". And don't miss the other special offers for Before the Big Day readers - details below the pics.
Product Credits {from top left}- Ring Cushion: April Hilier Designs, Personalised Sign: Funki Folk Art, Vine Crown: Which Goose, {from middle left} Birch Vases: Bettula, Feather Fascinator: Ginger and Tonic, {from bottom left} Love Sign: Katie Leigh Designs, Birch & Moss Ring Cushion: April Hilier Designs, Moss I Do Letters: Choosing You, Wedding Gown: Sarah Stevens, Tiny Twig Hairpins: Woodland Belle, Leaf Earrings: Briguys Girls, Guinevere Veil: Gardens of Whimsy, Vintage Table Number: Marty Stew
We ♥ Offers
10% off Katie Leigh Designs (with code 10off)
10% off Woodland Belle & Funki Folk Art
Love Birds
One of the oldest wedding traditions, the wedding toss symbolizes good luck, fertility and prosperity. Whether it's confetti, rice or sugared almonds {ouch!}, you're going to want someone to throw something into the air as you celebrate your marriage. Personally I'm going for bubbles, but for the truly eco-chic bride, the best option is birdseed - as long as your bridesmaids aren't beak-phobic.... And if you're going for a love-bird theme at your big day, why not reflect it in your favours, with these cute birdseed letters and hearts. Nature Favors are even offering 10% off your purchases with the code Big Day - what's not to like?
Simply Wood
There's something fabulously tactile about wood favours, and if they're made out of off-cuts that would normally go straight in the bin, they're eco-friendly as well. Perfect for a forest wedding, or one where you want to bring the outside, inside. My particular favourite is the wooden tag Save the Dates. Recyclable as bookmarks, they're the definition of eco-chic.
Finger Print Tree
This is one of the best ideas I've come across for a long time. It's the brainchild of Hilary and Josh, who celebrated their own wedding in October in California. They made their vows under a huge oak tree, and to continue the theme, decided to create a finger print tree as a commemorative guest book. The idea was such a huge hit, that they now sell peronalised empty trees on their Etsy shop, so you can buy them for your big day. Check out their inspirational wedding photos on the fab wedding blog Green Wedding Shoes.
Website for the Weak
This gorgeous website is fresh from the south of France, stuffed full of chic home accessories. In La Pomme you'll find unique home décor items, like embroidered pillows, hand-stamped lavender sachets, and plush fruit toys for grown-ups. Designer, Apol Lejano-Massebieau, is big on making her work low-impact on the environment, and she recyles vintage linen, cotton and lace in her work. Perfect for wedding presents or favours and Mother's Day gifts, her site is well worth a visit. Check out her blog too!
Animal Farm
This wedding is a true inspiration for those of you getting married in the winter, but want to say your vows in natural light. Allison and Charlie made the most of a beautiful February day, hosting their reception in a clear marquee, surrounded by a magical indoor 'forest' of silver birch and blossom. Both Allison and Charlie are keen animal-lovers, and actual creatures played a huge part in the theming of this big day. From baby chicks, to birds-eggs and donkeys plus Allison's white horse, this wedding was totally at one with the natural world. I'm loving Allison's style - her stunning dress and fake-fur-lined boots go to show that you don't have to compromise on cool if you're getting married in the cold. Huge thanks to Our Labour of Love for these exquisite photos.
Flowering Love
To celebrate the start of spring, the return of sunshine and the flowering of the daffodils on my roof terrace, I hereby announce that this week shall be Eco-Chic Wedding Week. Which means I'll be featuring a different eco-favour a day, plus any eco-weddings I can find. To kick us off, here are some fabulous flowering favours and an invitation, all made out of seed-embedded paper. Perfect for a garden wedding, these tags, boxes and pellets will grow your guests living memories of your big day. There's also all sorts of anologies with flowering love, but that's a bit too soppy for a Monday morning, even if it is sunny.
{from bottom left} Plantable Favour Boxes: Jenearjen, Thank You Seed Cards: Backward Prints, Plantable Seed Tags: Jenearjen, {second picture} Invitation: Artful Beginnings