Memorial Day BBQs

Happy Memorial Day! If you're planning a BBQ today, be sure to read our April guest post on the Eco Luxe Life about planning a green summer BBQ!

Enjoy!
Photos: Eco Luxe Life via Martha Stewart

Local Flowers

In many communities, Memorial Day weekend marks the official start of the summer season. With this, farmers’ markets across the nation begin to open and/or expand for the warm weather months. This weekend, be inspired by the lovely Aussie couple (featured below) who incorporated beautiful and totally unique locally grown flowers into their nuptials. Go browse your local market or a nearby farm to explore the various varieties of local flowers that are in season in your area.

Photos: 100 Layer Cake

Cork Trivets

Affordable, eco-friendly serving ware if only a few sips away! Consider saving your used corks and repurposing them into trivets that are both stylish and sturdy enough to protect your countertops. The cork trivets will be fun accents for a wine and cheese party or a casual dinner.

Photo: Martha Stewart

Moss Decorations from Dream Green Weddings

From centerpieces to accents, moss is making its way mainstream. In particular, a new collection of moss-covered eco decorations from Dream Green Weddings has caught our attention. The collection includes a variety of accents, including door wreath letters, table numbers and cake toppers among other beautiful items. But what we really love is that the collection does not sacrifice its eco values for great style. These moss-covered decorations are handmade in Georgia (U.S.A) using real moss and other natural materials. They’ve arrived just in time for elegant late Spring/Summer outdoor and garden-inspired parties.

Photos: Dream Green Weddings and Mulberry Photo

Cork Place Card Holders

Drinking wine can provide you with more than healthy antioxidants. It can also provide you with recycled resources that are perfect for DIY party décor. Using a sharp knife, slice off the rounded edge of one side of each cork in order to create a flat surface. On the opposite side of each cork, carefully slice a straight, narrow line. Wedge place cards into the corks for easy eco-friendly place card holders.

Photo: Project Wedding

A Cup of Joe

Instead of a candy bar, consider ending your next party with an eco coffee bar. Select a variety of organic and fair-trade coffees as well as small sweets for guests to enjoy on the ride home. Additionally, replace disposable cups with BPA-free reusable travel mugs, which can also double as favors.

Photo: Wedding Chicks

Sunny Day Vintage

From functional to funky, one of our new favorite Etsy shops, Sunny Day Vintage, carries a unique assortment of vintage home décor, kitchenware and serving pieces that are party-ready! They’re a great resource for interesting barware, quirky trays and unexpected accents, such as the washboards and stationary embosser pictured below.

Photos: Sunny Day Vintage via Etsy

       

Chalkboard Jelly Jars

With a bit of chalkboard paint, a collection of jelly (or other food) jars and some creativity, quirky, summer-ready vases are just a few steps away. Simply clean the jars with warm, soapy water and leave them out overnight to dry. Apply the chalkboard paint in a label-like square or create a banner that wraps around each jar. Once the paint is fully dry, decorate the jars with cheerful greetings or with guests’ names.

Photos: Once Wed

Bookity

Bibliophiles everywhere will absolutely adore our new favorite Etsy vendor, Bookity. Bookity specializes in beautiful handmade decorative items for book lovers. Their Etsy store features charming ornaments, garland and confetti all crafted from the pages of recycled books. The perfect compliment for any green, DIY-inspired affair!

Photos: Bookity via Etsy

Sashay Magazine

We are totally flattered to be featured in the current issue of Sashay magazine! Please be sure to check out the article! 

Homemade Garland

Garlands and flags are having a bit of a moment recently and for good reason. These adorably quirky throwback decorations are the perfect way to convey a message or to add a pop of color to any setting. DIY flags and garlands can easily be crafted from scraps of paper, wallpaper or fabric. Looking for something more inspired? Take a cue from the photos below, which feature flags crafted from the pages of a Jane Austen novel as well as letters cut from sheets of music.

Photos: Emmaline Bride

Vintage Hankies

Touching vows. A memorable dance. The perfect speech. Many events lend to a trail of happy tears. Help your guests dry their eyes with vintage hankies. Organize small baskets or boxes of the hankies within easy reach to help your guests dry their eyes whenever needed (in the picture below, a small note reads “keep your eyes dry & your heart warm [please take one]”).

Photo: Once Wed

Natural Aisle Runner

Consider this: if every wedding in the U.S. this year were to be decorated with a disposable aisle runner, there would be enough aisle runners to circle the globe twice when laid end to end. Instead of using a paper runner, create a thick blanket of color with rose petals. In addition to being fragrant, the petals can easily be composted after your ceremony, thus creating next to zero waste.

Photo: Martha Stewart

Mother’s Day

It’s true: nearly every Mother’s Day, I find myself left a bit teary as I think about how sincerely grateful I am to have such a beautiful, supportive and inspiring woman as a mother. This year, my mom and I are packing up our favorite sunglasses and paperbacks and heading down to Miami for a little R&R. However, if you’re planning a girls-only brunch this weekend (as my mom and I usually do), here are a few mom-friendly, low-impact centerpiece ideas to inspire your Mother’s Day brunch.

Photos: Martha Stewart & Rachel Ray

Reclaimed Inspiration

Eco inspiration is all around us. In produce bins. Hidden in the back of our closets. And, as seen in the pictures below, right on the walls of our homes. Follow the stylish paths of these hostesses who used reclaimed picture frames, windows and even doors to add a dose of design to their soirees.

Photos: Green Weddings Shoes and Snippet & Ink