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Along with strong writing/grammatical skills, a keen sense of aesthetics is also required.

You will be required to come up with your own ideas, as well as create content based on assigned topics. Our style is fun and conversational. We want someone who can write compelling content and awesome headlines.

Posts may include: Real Weddings, Etsy Posts, Sponsored Posts and DIY projects.

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A wedding bouquet without flowers? Is that even possible? Yes it is!

Flowerless bouquets are interesting, unique and often a cost effective alternative to traditional wedding florals. Want proof? Here are 12 fantastic flowerless bouquets from Etsy.

Some brides go for single flower bouquets for a more streamlined look. This romantic, single flower blush bouquet by Mlleartsy is a beautiful example of the appeal of one “flower” instead of many.

You don’t need to go overboard on your bouquet. A small bouquet like this fabric ivory sola flower bouquet by TheSunnyBee is a simple, elegant choice. This one is made from wood, dried flowers, pearls and burlap.

This gorgeous bouquet by CraftingByKnight made from maps will be sure to turn heads!

This bouquet from TheCuckoosBoutique is made from paper and dried flowers.

This button and felt bouquet by MissJenniferRae will be a wonderful keepsake from your wedding.

Bouquets can even be made out of newsprint, comic books, wrapping paper or old books, like this book bouquet by TheHappyLibrarian. This bouquet would make any librarian or wordsmith happy.

Felt bouquets are such a gorgeous alternative to traditional flowers! We LOVE this bouquet by Muncle Fred Art!

Another benefit of flowerless bouquets is you can add as much sparkle as you want. Check out the bling on this fuchsia brooch bouquet by JArendsDesign.

Think how “green” you are going with your wedding by not using flowers. It is an option that is much better for the environment than having to import flowers. This handmade wedding bouquet by CarolinaRosaDesigns does use some preserved flowers, however most of the bouquet is made of sola craft flowers.

Your bridesmaids will also love bouquets they can have as keepsakes, such as this felt button bouquet by CharlieLaurieDesigns.

Another gorgeous felt bouquet. This one is by SugarSnapBoutique.

Another benefit of flowerless bouquets is you can customize colors, size and look to match your wedding, which is hard to do sometimes with flowers. This blue and green paper flower bouquet by lillesyster is a conversation piece that will have everyone talking,

*This post includes Etsy Affiliate links.

It’s hard to believe that it’s the end of 2015 and that this is the last real wedding we will be posting this year! We’re going out with a bang, featuring a drop dead gorgeous intimate wedding that will have you seriously considering a small guest list. From now on, when we think of the quintessential fall wedding, we will think of Dane and Danielle!

On a beautiful Sunday, these two lovebirds committed their lives to one another amidst the fall splendor of Blue Ridge, Georgia.  Like many of the couples featured here, Danielle and Dane preferred simplicity over extravagance, so a small outdoor ceremony suited them perfectly.

Big thanks to W&E Photographie for sharing your beautiful images with us.

Danielle, 27 & Dane, 30

Location: Blue Ridge, Georgia

Wedding Date: October 25, 2015

Number of Guests: 25

Wedding Cost:  $7,000 (including travel and cabins)

Wedding Ceremony Location: Toccoa River in Blue Ridge, Georiga

 Wedding Reception Location: We chose to have a family dinner the night before at a local restaurant in Blue Ridge.

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

I have always pictured my wedding surrounded by fall beauty and loved ones and knew a small wedding is what I wanted. I’m more of an introvert and Dane is an extrovert, so we definitely had to compromise and in the end we both knew we did not want an extravagant wedding, we wanted something simple – for our wedding to be focused on us and God and to be surrounded by the people we love. 

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

Dane and I live in a small town in west Texas and wanted to have a destination wedding. We chose Blue Ridge because of the fall beauty we found through pictures. This was also a halfway point for both our families – mine residing in Texas and his mostly residing in Virginia. Our struggle was we both did not want to pay for a venue – we wanted something unique and not your typical “wedding venue”. My mom and I visited Blue Ridge in July in hopes of finding a place for Dane and I to be married but what we found most of were places we loved that were all private property. So we headed back to Texas not knowing where we would be married (yes, I was little stressed!) Dane and I knew our wedding vision would work out just fine – we would find a spot once we arrived in October. It wasn’t until the day before our wedding that we chose the river setting as our “venue” and we couldn’t have been happier!  

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list? 

We knew it would be easier on our family and friends if we said only immediate family would be attending our wedding.

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

A few family/friends were disappointed they were not going to be at our wedding but most were happy that we were doing what we wanted and not trying to please other people. 

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

I have never seen fall change since I have always lived in Texas. So when we arrived in Blue Ridge, Georgia I was amazed at how beautiful it was – it was just like the pictures I have always seen. Over the weekend the leaves were rapidly changing colors and come Sunday morning, we had orange, yellow and red trees EVERYWHERE. It was gorgeous. The drive to our river location was on a winding road surrounded by huge trees covered in fall colors. We had visited the spot by the river the day before and the trees were changing colors but by Sunday afternoon the trees were definitely at its peak. It was everything I had envisioned and more. Our photographers did such an amazing job capturing our wedding and all the fall beauty that surrounded.  

What were the highlights of the reception?

We chose to have a small dinner the night before our wedding. It was probably one of the best decisions we decided to make because we did not feel rushed after our wedding – we were able to drive around with our photographers and take beautiful pictures for over an hour. That was by far our favorite part! After pictures, we headed back to our cabins to change and family was there waiting to see us off for our honeymoon! 

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

We were able to enjoy our wedding and spend time with family and not have to worry about putting on a show for tons of guests. We were also able to save a lot of money and use more money for our honeymoon, the photographers we wanted – and it allowed our families to have a beautiful vacation in the mountains of Blue Ridge, Georgia.  

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

We say go for it! You will not regret it. You will enjoy spending time with family, be less stressed and be happy you actually had the wedding you have always dreamed of! There will be people who are upset that they are not invited to the wedding but the people who love and care for you the most will understand and be happy you’re having the wedding you truly want.

Vendors:

Wedding Dress: Bella’s Bridal (Lubbock, Texas)

Grooms Clothes: Men’s Warehouse

Photography: W&E Photographie

Flowers: Ellijay Florist & Gifts

Accommodations: My Mountain Cabin Rentals 

Officiant: Rev Heinz Kloeter

With some guidance, a little bit of skill and some creativity, you can make almost anything. More couples now are skipping the jewelry store and making or designing their own wedding bands. In an afternoon or over a few sessions, a wedding band workshop will teach the know how of how to solder, smooth and refine your own piece of gold. While some couples are going the DIY route, others just want something that doesn’t look like every other wedding band out there. It is a wedding trend that is truly putting DIY into something you will wear for the rest of your life. Here are a few ways you can get creative to make your own wedding bands:

1. Wedding band workshop

If you’re confident in your skills, you could make a wedding band at home with your own equipment. For a little help and studio space included, search for a jewelry studio nearby such as TheQuarterworkshop.com,which offers wedding band workshops. Depending on the package, you pay for the materials and instruction and a few hours later emerge with your own handmade wedding band. It is also a fun activity to bond with as a couple. And you can say you made your own wedding band with your own hands.

2. Custom design

Although a wedding band workshop doesn’t require advanced goldsmith skills, you may be more comfortable having someone else make a ring for you. The designs in the store may not be to your liking, so have a jeweler start from scratch with what you want. Consult with them on materials, sizing, designs and color. Many jewelry stores will also let you “build” what you want online or in person, and help you create something as you go.

3. Incorporate your own materials

Another way to add meaning to your wedding bands is to incorporate something special into your design. Say for example you have a piece of heirloom jewellery, your grandmother’s old wedding ring or a piece of gold you have been holding on to. Bring it to a wedding band workshop and learn how to incorporate the piece into the final product. Keep in mind, these skills might be a bit more advanced than beginner’s ring workshops. Alternatively, take it to a designer or jewelry store and have them melt it into the wedding rings you have picked out.

4. Add engravings, jewels or embellishments

You can still add your own pieces of flair to wedding bands from a store or online shop. Ask for a custom engraving on the inside or outside of the ring with your names and wedding date. Add your birthstone or different colors of gold into the design. Although the DIY route is only recommended if you’re confident in your abilities, you could also stamp your initials into a wedding band yourself with a letter stamping kit.

5. Go for something completely different

There are so many different styles out there now from twisted to textured to contoured that it is easy to find something that is your own even if you’re buying the rings. For couples who decide on a wedding ring workshop, there is no official rule that says you have to go for the traditional gold bands. Try a neat kind of metal, using vintage jewelry as the materials or go for something completely non-traditional, such as wood, titanium, tungsten or iridium. For rare materials, try searching online or contacting specialized goldsmiths. 

Photo one: jewelerysilversmithingclasses.bigcartel.com; Photo two:apracticalwedding.com; Photo four: burnettsboards.com

If you’re planning a winter wedding, you will love these 12 unique and fun ideas from Etsy.

A ‘save the date’ creates a first impression for your nuptials. If you’re looking to send something with a holiday vibe, we suggest these printable Christmas save the date cards from plpapers.

A winter wedding doesn’t have to be all about the holidays. This snowflake wedding cake topper from ThePinkOwlDesigns keeps the winter theme, but in a more minimalist fashion.

An adorable way to add some fun into your decorations is this white felt snow ball wedding garland from Fairyfolk. This garland adds winter whimsy to your day.

If you’re looking for a holiday wreath to adorn the church door, this fresh Christmas wreath from FlowersbyBreige is perfect.

Looking for something more romantic? What about this heart shaped wreath from WildRidgeDesign?

The smell of the holiday season is captured in this rustic, cinnamon stick candle from StillWaterCandles. These candles are a chic accent that will enhance any part of your day.

We love these gold and silver pine cone necklaces from cravejewelrydesigns!

A simple way to bring your winter theme together is with the cake topper like this snowflake topper from ChicagoFactoryDesign. The snowflake is simple and elegant, but also sparkly and fun.

Looking for something a little more rustic? We recommend this pine cone cake topper with a custom banner from PotterandButler? It’s woodsy and playful without being too over the top.

When it comes time to choose your invitations, you’ve got a lot of options for a winter wedding. Whether your theme is rustic and boho or sophisticated and minimalist we suggest these pine cone and fir wedding invitations from PaperHeartCompany.

Your groom and his groomsmen would look very festive (as well as totally dashing!) wearing these nature inspired, button hole boutonnieres from whichgoose.

We are crushing big on these custom, tree print, wooden save the date magnets from RedCloudBoutique. These fun little guys can also double as wedding favors as well!

*This post includes Etsy Affiliate links