The Good Beginning

By Beth Helmstetter Events

5 BIG WEDDING IDEAS YOU SHOULD GET IN ON THIS SEASON

With fall comes cool, crisp weather and gorgeous greenery, which is the perfect recipe for a seasonal wedding. Autumn not only sets a pretty scene, but its earthy color schemes also make for beautiful paper goods and fashions. When you are trying to decide when you want to celebrate your big day, you cannot go wrong with fall. We have listed five big wedding ideas that we think you should get in on this season. Let’s get started!

1. New Age Bohemian

There something really charming about a barn wedding. Whether it is an old barn or one that has been newly built, a barn wedding is filled with charm. For the past seasons, the rustic look is being flavored with DIY-style floral arrangements and casual food. For 2018 fall, bohemian will be the new rustic. It is a look that is somewhat relaxed and at the same time a bit more elevated than the down-home rustic feel.

2. Fall Foliage

A garden wedding looks romantic, and fresh flowers make all the difference. For people who love flowers, this is for them. Transforming aisles into garden beds will look extremely beautiful by using potted plants in your ceremony décor. You can wrap the pots in silk fabrics to hide the pot and create a beautiful look that will blend with the natural environment and will be pleasing to the eye. Plus, potted plants are a much more sustainable option when it comes to decorating your day! 

3. Deep Hues And Black Accents

When we talk about the colors on a wedding, Light and airy colors, including blush, peach, and mint, have been popular for a while. When it comes to 2018 fall weddings, a slightly deeper color palette is what will look trendy. More vibrant and more dramatic hues like burgundy and edgy black accents will look amazing in the floral arrangement. Gold and copper also have been in demand for some time now, and we will maybe start to see a little more silver and chrome as well.

4. Lighting

Lighting at a wedding is the most critical detail and makes all the difference. Your wedding lighting demands not only your attention but an attention to detail as well. You can create a combination of hanging bulbs, large and small, and wrap the lengths of stringed lights around trees. Glass candles can be decorated with glittered rims that will give off a soft glow. Put amber candles on the tables to give off a warmer glow, creating a romantic autumnal ambiance.

5. Ruffled Cakes

If you want to rock a rustic look for your wedding cake which also gives off traditional vibes, then ruffled cakes will offer the best blend of both. With ivory icing and classic flowers will give off the perfect relaxed, ruffle effect.

Fall in love with these wedding ideas and make your event more beautiful and memorable. Want more? 

photo credit: Alexandra Grace Photography | Carlo Weiss | Ashley Cook Photography | Nicole Berrett Photography | Susie Marie Photography

About the Author || Kristal Bean is a Southern California-based writer and sometimes guitarist. In her free time, she homeschools, works out and listens to live music. She regularly posts at Green Light Booking.

FAIR TRADE WELCOME BAGS FROM THE LITTLE MARKET

If you haven’t checked out The Little Market, it’s a must. Filled with so many products that empower women artisans through the world, this lil company makes it super easy to give something beautiful while making an impact. We are especially loving these Fair Trade Burlap bags which happen to be available for all of the top wedding destinations from Aspen to Hawaii to Jackson Hole and more.

Each purchase supports Corre Jute. Corr Jute empowers destitute, rural women in Bangladesh through handicraft production. The women artisans, who are mostly illiterate, make beautiful handicrafts with local materials during free time between household activities. Corr Jute not only creates market access, but also provides job training and develops leadership skills. The women are able to supplement their marginal family income, contributing towards better living conditions.

FESTIVE HOLIDAY COCKTAILS THAT CHANGE THE WORLD WITH ONE HOPE WINE

If you don’t know of One Hope Wine, you’re missing out. We covered them in more detail here, but this little label is changing the world one glass at a time. With a huge percentage of their profits funding many charitable initiatives, to date, their foundation has fed 1,592,189 meals to children in poverty, provided 95,161 with life changing medications, provided clean drinking water to 42,238 and so much more. You can read all of their very impressive stats here. Oh yeah, and it’s delicious to boot. So, obviously, their wine can just be enjoyed straight up, but also, if you want to get a bit more creative this holiday season, their blog has a variety of holiday inspired cocktails that everyone can stand behind. Here’s three of our personal favorites for the season! And if you’re in need of the perfect foods to pair with these cocktails, you’re in luck, as you can find lots of delicious recipes on the One Hope blog. 

MULLED SANGRIA 

Ingredients:

ONEHOPE Merlot
1/2 c. ONEHOPE 29Twelve Dessert Wine
1 Vanilla Pod
3 Cinnamon Sticks
1/2 Lemon, Sliced
1 tsp. Cloves
1 tsp. Fresh Ginger

Preparation:

Mix ingredients into a medium pot
and bring to simmer for 15 minutes.
Turn off heat and serve immediately.

HARVEST PUNCH

The first is this Harvest Punch, made with ONEHOPE Riesling.

Ingredients:

ONEHOPE Riesling
Ginger Beer
Apple Cider
Mandarin Vodka
Sliced Apples & Pears

Preparation:
Mix ingredients into large carafe, stir and serve!

SOLSTICE SPARKLER

 

Ingredients:

ONEHOPE Italian Prosecco
Vanilla Syrup
Whipped Cream
Rosemary Sprig for Garnish

Preparation:

In a champagne flute, add vanilla
syrup and fill with Prosecco. Then,
top with whipped cream and garnish
with rosemary.

EAMES & ETHICAL: A STYLED WEDDING SHOOT

We’re back with another guest post from maker and storyteller, Praise Santos of ComePlum Photography! For those of you who haven’t heard of her yet, she is a San Francisco based photographer that we have a MAJOR crush on.  Please hop over to her site, ComePlum, and soak up all the beauty of her photography that creates more awareness around the Ethical Weddings movement. But in the meantime, we’re excited to have her share this Ethical Styled Shoot inspired by the movers and shakers of the Mid-Century Modern aesthetic, Charles and Ray Eames. Check out the original post here.

I get excited about a lot of things (Tuesdays, all the fake National Instagram holidays, the rumor of Miss Frizzle and the Magic School Bus making a come back, etc.), but the one thing that really gets me up in the morning? A generation of people who want to make a positive difference in the world through their wedding day. This is Ethical Weddings.

Allow me to break down the buzzword of ethical (which is in the same pool party as sustainable, impactful, conscious, etc.): Ethical Weddings collaborate with ethical vendors (local, small business or vendors that donate their time, product, or profit), incorporate ethical products (thrifted, up-cycled, fair trade, charitable, or from a social enterprise), donate to a good cause in lieu of gifts, and/or appreciate the environment by reducing waste in innovative ways.

And the groovy part?
There are a many, many ways to make one’s wedding day ethical, to make it an investment back into a community and the environment instead of simply consuming it!

Who wouldn’t want that? I see all your digital hands raised!

But, I get it, we barely know where to start sometimes.

So, I’ve collaborated with some of the most talented makers and creatives to put together this styled-shoot to help you dream of what an Ethical Wedding could look like.

Inspired by the movers and shakers of the Mid-Century Modern aesthetic, Charles and Ray Eames, this shoot has splashes of the 1950s and 1960s sprinkled throughout and highlights sustainable, impactful, and hellah cool products and vendors.

Grab a drink, enjoy, and show my fellow creatives some love!

Photographer/Creative Director

Praise Santos | http://www.comeplum.com

Planning

Liza Bourkard | http://www.studiodbi.com

Models

Stacey Ann De Leon | http://www.staceyannloves.com 

Hair & Makeup

Floral Design

Styling

Apparel

Kali Made Garments | http://www.kalimade.com/
Celia Grace Wedding Dresses | https://www.celia-grace.com/

Venue

Props

Accessories

Catering

Beverage & Dessert

Sutherland Distilling | http://sutherlanddistilling.com/

MINIMALIST WEDDING DETAILS

Minimalist wedding details are HOT right now and we are totally feeling that less is more vibe. Because let’s be honest, the focus should be on your love as a couple instead of hidden behind that giant centerpiece or buried under those seven layers of tulle on your dress. But, we get it, as a bride there are certain aspects of your wedding that you want to stand out – like the stunning floral backdrop that you just HAVE to have or the extravagant photobooth set-up to make long-lasting memories. Remember: just because you are choosing to go with minimalist details, doesn’t mean that you can’t put your own personal touch on your big day. Here are 5 inspiring ways you can incorporate the minimalist trend into your own wedding style.

1 | WEDDING DRESS

Say YES to a fair-trade wedding dress! We’ve had a crush on Celia Grace for as long as we can remember and that’s definitely not going to change anytime soon. The delicate details in her designs will certainly turn heads when you walk down the aisle. Plus, they donate a school uniform to a child in need in Cambodia for each dress sold through a local nonprofit partner. How cool is that?!

2 | CEREMONY DECOR

We are HUGE fans of DIY decor and this garland from Design Love Fest is simply stunning. Sometimes it really is the little things that make a beautiful ceremony. You can use this garland for your escort cards, to hang your favors or even display your wedding menu. By creating a day that is all about you, the options truly are endless.

3 | BOUQUET

Doesn’t picking all your own wedding flowers seem kind of fun? Just imagine frolicking through a field of wild flowers on the morning of your wedding day, handpicking your favorites to add to your bouquet. It’s no secret that the cost of wedding flowers really adds up and then there’s the question of what to do with them after the event. By picking your own flowers or carrying single stems, you’ll be cutting back on both the cost and waste while still looking fabulous.

4 | CAKE

We’re not going to say that dessert is the MOST important part of your wedding, but it’s pretty high up there. If you have a baker or a wannabe baker in your family then now is the time to start sucking up to them and telling them how much you *love* their signature recipes. A homemade cake on your wedding day is the perfect way to get exactly what you want without having to deal with a 6-tiered buttercream cake that will undoubtedly go to waste. Even better, have a mini bake-off where your favorite family bakers each bring a pie to create a dessert table with options. Everyone loves option!

5 | TABLE DECOR

There is a lot that goes into setting the scene for your reception dinner; the menu planning, the seating charts, the type of dinner service. By choosing a minimalist table setting, your guests will be able to enjoy their food without being too overwhelmed by which utensil to use for what. You can keep it classy by choosing a color scheme that matches your wedding colors and really only decorating the table with the bare essentials.

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for even more wedding features, travel inspiration, charity awareness and ethical education!

PHOTO CREDIT // CELIA GRACE | DESIGN LOVE FEST | JESSICA SIMONS PHOTOGRAPHY | ARTFUL DESPERADO | LOVE MAEGAN