As Covid-19 strips us of our normal life, I am choosing to continue full steam ahead with my October 2020 wedding planning. Although I am well aware that we face many bigger problems related to covid-19 than cancellations of weddings and celebrations, it doesn’t hurt any less that these events we have been planning for months or years may look and feel different than we envisioned. That said, I’m sharing some details that I already have worked out because I am utterly obsessed with the direction my vision is going! Enjoy!
The Bridesmaids Dresses:
*Copper Velvet Convertible Dress: here
I promised my bridesmaids that whatever dress I chose would be less than $100. I spoke too soon because I soon after came across the gorgeous Jenny Yoo velvet bridesmaids gowns that stole my heart…. and also cost close to $300. Another problem, the rusty color I wanted my girls to wear was near impossible to find. Now, cue Etsy. I was able to find this beautiful Copper velvet dress for less than $80 and it converts to several different styles to suit each girls preference. It also comes with a strapless bandeau in the matching fabric for additional coverage, if desired. This seller has tons of colors and incredibly, 3 different tones of rust. The color I picked was Copper because it was the perfect browny-rust. The other two rust tons leaned too orange and too red for my preference.
The Centerpieces:
*Gold Glass Lantern Set: here
*Floral Embossed Chargers: here
*Crystal Wine Goblet: here
*Amber Votive Candle Holders: here
I’ve always loved the luxe look of the geometric lantern trend at weddings. I knew I wanted that for myself in additional to floral centerpieces. Although these lanterns are not the cheapest choice, I know that I will easily be able to resell them to make some money back. In order to cut costs, a little less than half of my tables will have these as centerpieces. The other tables will be low floral arrangements and high ones as well. I think mixing different centerpieces creates a really interesting, high end look. I’m also mixing in some extremely inexpensive pieces to pull the whole look together. My guests definitely won’t be able to tell that the gold floral embossed chargers and faceted glass goblets are both from the Dollar Tree. I think both items pair well to create a formal dining experience. Lastly, as a nod to my rusty-toned theme, I’ll be using inexpensive amber votive candle holders to create that gorgeous golden glow.
The Flowers:
*Peach Preserved Roses: here
*Beige Preserved Roses: here
*Taupey-Nude Preserved Roses: here
*Red Preserved Roses: here
*Pink Preserved Roses: here
*Pampas Grass: here
*Similar Autumn Eucalyptus Leaves Mix: here
*Dried Pink Protea: here
*Dried Orange Dyandra: here
Are you wondering how I am able to have a fresh floral piece already made 6 months in advance? No, none of this is artificial, either! I am using dried and preserved floral to create some of my smaller floral decorations. My wedding florals will definitely not be 100% dried/preserved, but with the innovation of preserved roses and the trend of dried florals right now in wedding design, I was easily able to create a trendy floral piece that requires no water and can be made well in advance! The other benefit? No harm to the environment done here with these natural florals!
YES, those roses ARE real and NOT in water! I was so excited for them to come in when I ordered them to see what they are all about. They look and feel like fresh, cut from the bush roses (just a tad stiffer) and they lasts for months, if not years when you care for them properly. Admittedly, they are kinda very expensive and it wouldn’t make sense to do my whole wedding with them, but I thought it was reasonable to order a few of them to create some smaller decor so that I could get it done in advance. I am going to be doing all my other wedding flowers fresh myself (yep I’m crazy) the day before my wedding, so I’m sure I’ll be incredibly happy to not have to do any extra work on the smaller floral pieces like this one!
I’m also using pampas grass, which is a huge trend in weddings right now. This stuff is amazing because its huge and fluffy and will take up a lot of space in your floral design. The best part of all though is that you can most likely find it on the side of the road near drainage ditches for free! Typically, the kind of pampas you see online is a California variety that produces long, whispy, light colored plumes. The variety that I found here in NW Ohio produces shorter, incredibly fluffy plumes in a brown color which matches my rust theme even better.
I was also able to find some “greenery” in bunches at the craft stores for very cheap. There are tons of options, whether you are looking for a fresh green look or a more autumnal color palette like the rust/burgundy leaves that I chose for myself. Target also carries some dried tropicals like the pink Protea and the yellowy-orange Dyandra. Some good sources for preserved florals besides the craft stores and target are Afloral and Etsy too!
So, are you carrying on with your wedding and event planning during this time of crisis? I am praying for the health and safety of everyone and hope that we will resume to normalcy, even if its a new normal, sooner rather than later. Take care of yourself and take care of others ❤
Eclectic Kristen 