SIMPLY WED: Natalie & Reid

I am so excited to share this wedding with you guys for a few reasons! First, this wedding was probably our most DIY, handmade and green wedding we have had! The bridal party arrived in Beaufort, SC a week before the wedding to start prepping for Natalie & Reid's big day. All of the decor was found at local thrift stores, and nothing was brought in since it was a destination wedding. They used fabric, doilies, and an old book to make the most adorable handmade decorations I have ever seen! I think my favorite had to be the cake topper made out of ripped out pages of a book. The bridal party even did all of the floral arrangements, bouquets, and floral crown while in town. The wedding was catered by Thrive and was entirely vegan. Two friends of the couple made the partially/mostly vegan cake the day of the wedding. I loved how it turned out! And it was absolutely delicious!!! The ceremony took place at Fort Fremont in the woods and was truly magical. The couple read heartfelt vows to each other that were enough to make Layla and I both tear up. I think one of my favorite parts of their wedding day was how after the couple walked out of the ceremony they just took off and went on a stroll down to the beach! Afterwards, the reception took place at Charles Street Gallery in Beaufort where their were handmade decorations everywhere! I absolutely loved it!! It was very sweet because the owners gifted the bride and groom with a painting from their gallery. I am sure the bride and groom will treasure that for a long time! Also, read more about their wedding on Pierogi Picnic, one of Natalie's bridesmaids' blogs! 

The second reason why this is a special wedding for me to share is because I actually took all of the photographs seen below. Natalie & Reid didn't want a professional photographer but there were plenty of people snapping images for the couple. I tried to capture every last detail of their big day because I was loving all the DIY and handmade details! I have to say that I never truly appreciated the work a photographer does as much as I do now... it was very fun but not easy in the least bit!!! Anyway, I hope you enjoy!!! And congratulations to Natalie & Reid!

{Vendor Guide} Photography: Simply Savannah Events // Ceremony Location: Fort Fremont // Reception Location: Charles Street Gallery // Caterer: Thrive A Carry Out Cafe // Cake: Friends of the Couple // Decor: DIY by Bridesmaids

{Bright Idea Thursday} SIMPLY DIY: Handmade Favors

We recently had a wedding where the bride and groom had handmade vanilla extract and honey for the favors for the guests! I love this idea for 3 reasons:

1. It's personal and I am the kind of person that thinks anything personal is more special than store bought.

2. If you are clever enough it can be something they can use & we are all about being green. 

3. This is something you and your fiance can bond over and enjoy time together doing.

So here is some inspiration for some DIY handmade favors! What is your favorite idea? Would you and your fiance consider doing this?? I know if it were my man he would absolutely love the idea of making some homemade beer for guests!!! But I personally wouldn't mind some homemade chocolate hazelnut spread, but then again maybe not a bright idea because knowing me I'd probably end up eating it all myself. :) Happy Thursday!

{Photo Credits} Hot Chocolate & Baileys via Sam Richardson // Candle via Ruffled // Honey via Style Me Pretty, photography by Serendipity Corner // Chocolate Hazelnut Spread via Ruffled // "I Do" Brew via Style Me Pretty, photography by Dan Stephenson // Wooden Coasters via Ruffled // Sugar via I Love Farm Weddings // Teacup Planter via Ruffled //Vanilla via Style Me Pretty, photography by Lemon Fresh

CHOOSE GREEN

CHOOSE GREEN: There are so many fun and unique ideas out there for designing a wonderful wedding or event that won’t create a huge carbon imprint on our world, while still being organic and beautiful. A green event is simply a way in which you can make choices that limit the negative impact to the planet. A green event doesn’t have to mean compromising your dream or having no style. Whether you want to incorporate local wines, serve a completely organic menu, wear an organic wedding dress, use Eco-friendly invitations, or photographers, there are many perfect options for you.

Does my event need to be 100% green? 

That is up to you! It can be a little or a lot, because every aspect of your event can be greener.

Each one of the 2.5 million weddings this year in the United States will produce an average of 62 tons of carbon dioxide and 400-600 lbs of garbage. That's a lot of waste! If every engaged couple made just one small green choice, which would be 2.5 million greener choices a year and that is an amazing impact! 

- According to the Green Bride Guide's research

Sharing the love of green on my blog at: http://simplysavannahevents.blogspot.com/p/green.html

GREEN IDEAS:

     

☛ Donate your flowers: Hospice Savannah, St. Joseph's/Candler Hospital, Memorial University Medical Center, Ronald Mc Donald House of Savannah, Buckingham South in Savannah- Retirement Community, Union Mission Inc. Savannah, GA-shelter for men women and families

☛ Support local companies for your guest favors or welcome baskets (see my unique gift ideas on my blog at: http://simplysavannahevents.blogspot.com/p/vendors.html )

☛ Support Etsy vendors, the world's most vibrant handmade marketplace – ask me about my list of unique wedding artists including: refurbished ties and bow ties, cake toppers, banners, accessories, and more 

☛ Hire local Savannah recycling company, Footprint to set up and pick up your recycling at your event

☛ Don’t give guests favors, instead donate the money to your charity of choice:

https://www.idofoundation.org/ 

https://www.justgive.org 

http://www.globalgiving.org/

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/ 

http://www.redcross.org/ 

Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

☛ Green favors – small plants if they live locally or infused seed favors that can be planted, biodegradable confetti, 100% latex balloons that are biodegradable vs. plastic balloons (bad for the ocean & ocean animals), canvas totes, bamboo, organic chocolate, and I have more!

☛ Have your ceremony and reception at the same location to cut on transportation

☛ Choose a Green Certified Reception or Botanical Garden

Richmond Hill City Center

Savannah Botanical Garden

Bamboo Farm & Coastal Garden

Hunter Cattle Co.

☛ Use Eco-friendly invitations, or just have the save-the-dates be a post card to cut on postage and paper

☛ Choose an organic caterer like Thrive

☛ Choose an Eco-friendly florist: Urban Poppy or A to Zinnias

☛ Have Eco-friendly gift registry items: even Target has great Eco-friendly options now or shop these online stores: http://www.plateswithpurpose.com/ or http://www.dwellsmart.com/ or http://www.branchhome.com/

☛ Use horse drawn carriages or pedi cabs to move your bridal party from one location to the next, if near by

I'll keep them coming don't worry! So what GREEN choices will you make for your wedding?

{Vendor Spotlight} Footprint Savannah Recycling

Each one of the 2.5 million weddings this year in the United States will produce an average of 400-600 lbs of garbage. That's a lot of waste! If every engaged couple made just one small green choice, which would be 2.5 million greener choices a year and that is an amazing impact! - According to the Green Bride Guide's research

I would love to extend the option of recycling at my clients events! Read about Savannah's local recycling company, Footprint Savannah Recycling and consider adding them to your vendor list for your events. We have created a partnership and hope more brides & grooms hire their services. Their mission: to reduce the amount of commercial waste that ends up in our local landfills and offer conscientious companies the chance to reduce their overall environmental footprint.

What can you recycle at your event?

Glass Bottles
Aluminum Cans & Foil (no food)
Steel Cans
Tin Cans

Plastic, including PET Bottles and Grocery Bags

They recycle even more items for businesses, read more on their website.

Footprint Savannah Recycling

Info@FootprintSavannah.com

912.713.3577

http://www.FootprintSavannah.com