Custom Bottle Stoppers

Create custom bottle stoppers with pretty found knobs. Simply adhere the knobs to corks for instant vintage glamour!
Photo: Martha Stewart

Vintage Lace Bouquet

Still in need of a "something old" for your wedding day? Consider wrapping your bouquet with vintage lace for a feminine, romantic look. 

Photos: Green Wedding Shoes

Vintage Bouquet Wrap

Before your next visit with your florist, consider browsing online vendors such as Etsy for sparkly vintage belts. The belts, which can be found in a variety of colors and prices, are a stylish way to wrap a bouquet.
Photo: Once Wed

Mismatched Candlesticks

Who says table accents have to perfectly match in order to create a sense of design coherency? An assortment of found candlesticks (scour garage sales, flea markets and the like for inexpensive finds) look chic when paired with elegant tapers in a neutral hue. 

Photo: Martha Stewart

Gothic Glamour

Add a touch of gothic glamour to your table setting by substituting traditional vases with vintage pharmacy bottles. Online vendors, such as Etsy, carry an eclectic assortment of the bottles at fair prices (we love the bottles adorned with French script, see below).

Photos: Etsy & Ruffled

Lovely Lace

Nothing says “wedding” like layers of lace. When planning the décor for your homemade wedding be sure to browse consignment shops for scraps of vintage lace. Consider trimming table edges or the edges of your cake stand with this elegant accent. Looking for another option? Thick strips of vintage lace will serve as unexpected “hangers” from which you can drape small glass candleholders.

Photos: Austin Wedding Blog

Nostalgic Ornaments

Put old seed packets to good use this holiday by transforming them into colorful eco-friendly ornaments. Don’t have any lying around? Look to online retailers and local botanical gardens for vintage seed packets that contain unique heirloom seeds (as well as beautifully nostalgic artwork). Come January consider putting the packets aside until the warm weather months when the seeds can be added to your garden.

Photo: Martha Stewart

Silver and Gold

Beat the winter blues this year with an eco-chic bouquet made from silver, gold and ivory-hued vintage brooches. After your ceremony set the bouquet in a festive vase to display with your holiday décor.

Photo: Emmaline Bride

Bandana Table Setting

The next time you're cleaning out closets and dresser drawers be sure to hold onto vintage scarves and gently worn bandanas. Brightly colored bandanas are a smart way to add bursts of color to a tabletop. Spread the washed and ironed bandanas down the center of your table to serve as a fun and colorful table runner. For kid-friendly favors consider wrapping small candies or toys in the jewel-toned bandanas. Because of their basic square shape, reused bandanas can also be used as festive cloth napkins.
Photo: Bridesmaid

Tavin Bridal Collection

In a world of one-time-use fashion, we so love finding solid vintage apparel resources that carry pieces well worth a second wear. L.A.’s Tavin Boutique recently added a Bridal Collection to their already eclectic selection of vintage apparel and accessories. Each of Tavin’s vintage bridal gowns are priced under $1,000, making the decision to purchase vintage not only an environmental choice, but a financial choice as well.

In addition to their new bridal collection, Tavin also carries a number of breezy, bohemian-inspired dresses that are perfect honeymoon pieces.

Tavin is currently offering Something Green readers 10% off their new bridal collection, so be sure to take some time to browse their beautiful vintage pieces and make mention of the fact that you first found them on Something Green!

Photos:

Tavin Boutique

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

       

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

Button Cards

Dress up a set of simple cloth napkins with pretty button cards. The cards, which can be found at secondhand shops, garage sales, or, as in the case of my family, nearly any drawer in my grandmother’s home, are the perfect size to serve as feminine, vintage-inspired napkin “rings.” Simply punch holes on either side of the card, lace some ribbon or twine through each hole and loosely tie on the underside of each napkin.

Photo: Country Living

Vintage Guestbook

Over the past two weeks, I’ve come across typewriters in three entirely separate circumstances (which, you have to admit, is a little strange nowadays). The first time was while skimming the pages of Etsy, when I found an amazing aqua typewriter that I had to talk myself out of purchasing. The second time was last weekend while I was browsing through a consignment shop and found a (cracked) green typewriter that I considered picking up and placing on a shelf somewhere in my office. The third time was while I walked past a designer home furnishings store and noticed a brand new typewriter (fashioned to look significantly older than it actually was) staring me in the face. Of course, all of this got me thinking…

Photo: Great Wedding Finds

In lieu of a traditional guestbook, give new life to a vintage typewriter (which, as you can see from my experiences, apparently isn’t so hard to find), and allow your guests to type notes to you and your partner on your wedding day. Not only will this provide your guests with a seriously fun and unexpected icebreaker, but it will provide you with unique, vintage-inspired messages that can later be framed and hung around your home to be enjoyed for years to come. 

Wrap It Up

Wrap your gifts up right by using smart boxes made of recycled materials. Afraid that things will look a bit too, well, brown? Purchase spools of beautiful vintage ribbon to help tie some color and some style onto all of your packages. While you’re at it, why stop with just gifts? Consider using vintage ribbon to decorate your bouquets, centerpieces and, in the case of weddings, your aisle, too.

Photo: Martha Stewart

Vintage Glamour

Vendor: Timeless Vixen

When it comes to the most important element of any fabulous party, for me, it always comes down to one thing: the perfect outfit. Whether you are attending/hosting a wedding, a cocktail party or a luncheon, special occasions, in my opinion, nearly always call for a special party dress (or at the very least, a special accessory). Timeless Vixen boasts an amazing assortment of vintage dresses, many of which have a fun, flirty 1950’s feel and yet manage to come across as modern at the same time. Like most vintage clothing retailers, their prices vary, according to each piece. For those with thin wallets, browse their adorable and affordable day dresses. For those looking to splurge, view their gorgeous evening and wedding dresses. Either way, you are bound to end up with something completely unique, completely beautiful and completely green.

Vintage Jewelry Bouquets

Photo Credit: Peacock Feathers Events

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I am (to the jealousy of many girlfriends) the daughter of a florist. As such, I am often unimpressed by many floral arrangements and centerpieces since I have been surrounded by them for, literally, my entire life. Having said that, I am always on the lookout for creative floral options.

Any jewelry lover or trend setter will be inspired by these bouquets, which are crafted entirely from vintage jewelry and brooches. Reusing and recycling aside, these bouquets are completely glamorous – from the shimmering crystals to the striking jewel-toned petals – and will serve as the perfect pop of color set against the backdrop of any white gown.

Vintage Wedding Dresses

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Vintage Wedding Dresses

Check out this great article about how to find the perfect vintage wedding dress (with some cute photos, too!).

Vintage Teacups and Glassware

 

 

Mismatched teacups and vintage glassware make unexpected receptacles for floating candles and loose flowers. At your next bridal shower, baby shower, birthday party or other small event, give new life to these gently worn items, which can easily be picked up at a yard sale, a thrift store or on eBay. The individual patterns on each cup and the shades of each glass may vary; however, picking glasses and/or cups from the same color family (for instance, various shades of blue glass or only teacups that feature red-hued patterns) will bring continuity. Scatter the cups or glasses across your tabletop. Then, drop a tea light, a floating candle or a single striking flower, such as a peony, into each cup or glass to create a simple, quick and shabby chic (and also green) setting.