Every spring, our herb garden comes alive with glorious purple blooms. For us, that means our salads are about to get a lot more exciting!

Chive flowers not only add beauty to a garden – they add aesthetic appeal and flavor to salads. One of our favorite uses of chive flowers to make chive infused vinegar. We add the vinegar to everything from green beans to cucumbers to potato salad. Mix with some olive oil, and it makes a delicious salad dressing.

With its gorgeous purple hue, chive vinegar looks lovely in small decanters. Why not make some chive vinegar and herb infused oil to give as favors at your bridal shower or wedding? It’s easy, it’s inexpensive – and it’s got a touch of culinary sophistication that foodies on your guest list will love.

Here’s what you will need to make a one liter jar of vinegar:

• One liter sterilized mason jar with lid (we used the oven-method to sterilize our jars.)
• parchment paper
• 3 – 3.5 cups white wine vinegar
• 3-4 cups of chive blossoms, snipped beneath the head

In a small non-reactive saucepan (stainless steel or copper will work) over low heat, heat vinegar until warm. Do not boil. The warmth of the vinegar will help release the flavor of the chives.

Place washed blooms on a paper towel and gently pat dry.

Stuff sterilized mason jar with the blooms.

Cover the blooms with warm vinegar, making sure blooms are submerged. Let the vinegar cool. If you don’t have a glass lid (our mason jar is vintage, and happened to have a glass lid), place a square of parchment paper over the opening of the jar and screw on the metal top. The parchment paper will prevent the vinegar from coming in contact with the metal lid, which could potentially wreak havoc on your vinegar.  Place the container in a dark, cool spot and let steep for one to two weeks minimum. When the vinegar is ready, strain it through a fine sieve or cheese cloth and pour into a sterilized glass decanter. The vinegar will last up to six months.

Before you dazzle your guests with your walk down the aisle, expect a few oohs and ahhhs from the crowd as your flower girl makes her descent down the aisle. With her adorable dress and beaming smile, she’ll surely melt some hearts.

To rev up the cute factor even more, Etsy has a plethora of flower girl hair accessories. We’ve found 12, ranging from bohemian princess crowns to gorgeous Swarovski crystal head pieces, that we think you will love!

For a woodland princess look, this beautiful rose and wooden crown by LittleLadyAccessory is the perfect choice.

With a gorgeous pop of color, this flower headband by thehoneycomb is a great option for your flower girl.

Dazzled with jewels, we love this stunning, 1920s inspired crystal-ornate headband by HarpersChicCloset.

Boho brides will love this colorful and playful piece by LittleLadyAccessory. Any little one would look so adorable in this headpiece.

If you’re looking for a more subtle accessory, then look no further than these sweet pastel-colored flower clips by VictoriasClass.

For a true princess look, this absolutely adorable nature-inspired crown by LittleLadyAccessory is the perfect choice.

For something a bit more understated than the previous crowns, gillygray has designed this adorable flower clip for your flower girl.

Braiding in pink, purple, and green, we love this fairy-inspired crown by thehoneycomb.

Another more classic style, this jeweled headband by Pizzazzies will be a timeless choice for any flower girl.

Bold flowered, and gorgeous green accents make this flower crown by Kamipapa an absolute winner.

Most dramatic of all, this beautiful jeweled halo crown by EdenLuxeBridal is sure to steal the show.

Finally, this woodsy braided branch look by weddingflowercrown is the perfect look for a laid back, intimate wedding.

*This post contains Etsy affiliate links

Britney and Adam’s wedding style is timeless and simple. We love Britney’s tea length dress and her glittering aqua shoes, as well as Adam’s dapper blue jacket, plaid bow tie and suspenders.

The couple was married at the lovely High Church in Brisbane, Australia surrounded by 40 of their nearest and dearest.

Thanks to Kate Taylor from Quince & Mulberry Studios for the beautiful photos!

Britney, 28 & Adam, 29

Location: Fortitude Valley and Brisbane City

Wedding Date: October 3, 2015

Number of Guests: 40

Wedding Cost: $15,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: High Church, Fortitude Valley

Wedding Reception Location: Lennon’s Restaurant – Next Hotel, Brisbane City

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

Adam and I decided that we wanted to have a fun, relaxed wedding with our closest friends and family. We wanted to be able to do everything the way we wanted rather than sticking to all the normal traditions. 

What are some the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

We found that most of the typical wedding reception venues were too large or had high minimum spends which we would not have been able to meet with our guest list. We found that when we started to think outside the box there were quite a few places that cater for smaller guest lists.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list? 

Once we decided to have an intimate wedding we found it quite easy to keep the numbers down. We just kept the guests to friends and family that we caught up with often and didn’t feel obliged to invite extended family that we rarely see just because they were family.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

It would have to be entering High Church and seeing each other, both Adam and I were very nervous leading up to the ceremony but all of that disappeared as soon as we saw each other. It felt as though it was just the two of us and we didn’t have a room full of people watching.

What were the highlights of the reception?

The highlight of the reception was getting to celebrate such an amazing day with all of our closest friends and family. We invited all our guests to join in our first dance which was a lot of fun.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

The best thing about having an intimate wedding was that we were able to relax, be ourselves and enjoy our night. We had time to talk to all of our guests as well as spend time with each other.

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

Think outside the box when it comes to venues, there are a lot of options for smaller wedding parties such as private rooms in restaurants.

Vendors: 

Photography: Quince & Mulberry Studios  

Ceremony:  High Church 

Styling & Coordination: Stella 

Celebrant:  Oliver Thomson

Hair:  Grace Forman

Make-Up: The Ballerina Bride

Reception: Next Hotel

Photo Booth: The Photo Booth Collective

Bride’s Dress:  The Babushka Ballerina

Groom’s Suit: Jacket- Wil Valor & Pants- Jack London

Flowers: Flower Lovers

We’re not sure if it gets any more intimate than committing your life to someone surrounded by just 20 of your immediate family members, at an altar that your father built with his own two hands. Well, that’s exactly what Hali and Brandon did.  On the deck of Hail’s parents’ home in Clemson, South Carolina, the two of them had a small, heartfelt ceremony that couldn’t have been more perfect.

Big thanks to Sophie Brendle for sharing these gorgeous images with us!

Hali, 22 & Brandon, 27

Location: Clemson, SC

Wedding Date: August 15, 2015

Number of Guests: 25

Wedding Cost: $7,500

Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: On the back deck of bride’s parents’ house on Lake Hartwell, Clemson.

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

From the time I was a little girl, I always thought I wanted a traditional, large wedding with all of the trappings. When marriage talks first began, I began planning an outdoor wedding of 100-150 people complete with a $7,500 venue. At some point, I jokingly mentioned eloping to my then fiancé. The closer we got to marriage, the more real the possibility of an elopement became. We landed on having a civil ceremony and having a symbolic ceremony on the beach during our then planned honeymoon to Mexico. My father then expressed to me that he wished we would have a wedding that they could be a part of and that if we were concerned about cost, that they would help us out. We then went back to the “drawing table” and I pieced together the beautiful, intimate wedding you see here. At the end of the day, this small wedding with just our immediate families was perfect for my husband and I. We were able to share this amazing day with those we care about dearly and they were able to celebrate with us as we took this next step.

What are some the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

I would say that perhaps the most obvious challenge was deciding to have a small guest list. However, it also took a lot of the emotion out of it. Once we decided to have only immediate family, we did not have to deal with what friends we could or could not invite due to guest list constraints. We drew the line at immediate family and that saved us a lot of issues. The other challenges were small, but namely, I would say having the wedding at my parents’ house put some stress on them when making preparations to have guests. My mom and dad were amazing– my dad refinished our deck and built our “altar” and my mom labored away making the house “magazine clean” for company.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

Again, I think having a small wedding eliminates a lot of the emotion involved in drafting a guest list that bigger weddings might wrestle with. When your guest list is only comprised of immediate family, it really simplifies the decision making and takes emotion out of the equation.

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

We did have some people invite themselves or ask if others could come. We addressed those requests by expressing our sincere wish that we could have everyone we loved in attendance, but by drawing the line at family, that was our standard reply and we stuck to that.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

The highlights of the ceremony…hmmm. I would have to say first locking eyes with each other as I walked down the “aisle.” Aside from that, I would say the excitement of being pronounced “man and wife” after our very short ceremony (~7 min).

What were the highlights of the reception?

Our reception was very laid back and felt like a family reunion– but much more fun! We simply rearranged the chairs into a circle, grabbed some brunch–shrimp and grits, stuffed french toast, fruit salad, mimosas & coffee–and celebrated with those closest to us.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

The best thing about having an intimate wedding was that it felt like a celebration of our relationship and not a party we were throwing for our guests’ sake and enjoyment. We really wanted to take all of the “fluff” out of the day and keep the focus on our love and the joining of two lives.

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

I would say stay true to your personalities. Do not worry about catering to the whims of those around you. They mean well, but at the end of the day, a wedding should be about the two people joining into the sacred union of marriage–not spending a small fortune to throw a good party for everyone else. Don’t let societal standards and expectations of today’s weddings dictate YOUR special day.

Vendors:

Florist: Aimee Cromer

Caterer: Sullivan’s Metropolitan Grill

Photography: Sophie Brendle

Bride’s Hair & Makeup: Megan Richards

Grooms Suit: J Crew and Jack Threads

Shoes: Steve Madden

Brides Dress: BHLDN, by Badgley Mischka

Shoes: Steve Madden

Earrings: Erickson Beamon

Mints? Check. Bobby Pins? Check. Tissue? Check. Lipstick? Check. Mirror? Check. Now that you’ve got even the little things covered for your big day, you’ll need a place to store them all. Enter the clutch. Not only is a clutch practical, it can add a unique touch to your ensemble.  If you’re a bride on the hunt for the perfect clutch, look no further; we’ve found 10 from Etsy that we love!

For a hint of color and personality in a sophisticated package, we suggest this sequined navy clutch from DavieandChiyo.

Another box clutch option that is a bit more girly and subtle is this blush box clutch from DavieandChiyo.

Nothing fits a vintage wedding theme more perfectly than this cream, feather, and rhinestone clutch from MiaVonMinksWedding.

Having a hard time finding a clutch that fits your wedding day style? Why not customize your own? These custom made clutches from oatmeallacedesign give you exactly what you want.

Nothing says springtime like floral prints. This print is so versatile you are bound to find a style of floral to fit your theme. For the sophisticated bride looking for something understated this blush floral clutch from SheetaDesign would work beautifully!

This personalized photo clutch from ANGEEW lets you include a photo of you and your soon to be husband inside the clutch! This awesome idea will have everyone talking.

Clutches make fabulous bridesmaid gifts. This set of identical clutches from allisajacob can be personalized so that everyone goes home with their own!

The quintessential bridal themes come together in this ivory, lace, and rhinestone clutch from ANGEEW.

Sequins are a fun way to bring a bit of girly glitz to your wedding outfit, but if you aren’t crazy about having it as part of your dress why not incorporate it into your accessories with this rose gold sequin clutch from DavieandChiyo.

If elegance is what you are after, we recommend this peacock brocade clutch by JustPeacockEv.

*This post includes Etsy Affiliate links