Member Feature: Robot In Bloom

Like any bride, you have an idea how you want your wedding to look- especially the flowers. Today's feature is on Offbeat Etsy Weddings Team Member RobotinBloom, whose specialty (and we mean SPECIALTY) is handmade paper flowers.

Now, paper flowers have a HUGE benefit over flowers from a florist:

1. They don't have to be kept in water (or cooled), and will not wilt
2. You can keep them forever
3. Many look so realistic, nobody would ever know (unless you wanted them to)
4. All the stress of working with a florist is completely gone- you can have full control over how it looks, and availability
5. You're no longer limited to the range of typical flower colors
6. You don't have to worry about your favorite flower being in season, or the prices for them!

I think in situations like this, a picture is worth a thousand words:

This Pink Swan bouquet is lively and bright- just the thing for a summer bride, or your bridesmaids!

And this Peony Daisy bouquet has a gorgeous, bright cascade of flowers down the front- it's hard to believe it's paper!

This Custom Paper Flower bouquet has such a retro feel, it would go well at any offbeat bride's event.

This Bridesmaid Bouquet has just the right colors for a summer or fall wedding.

She does gorgeous custom work, and comes highly recommended by her previous customers! Swing by her shop today, and try not to drool all over the flowers- remember, they're paper!

Eco DIY Family Friendly Wedding

Elizabeth and Joshua Goldapp decided to have a wedding to match who they are; fun loving, Eco-conscious, and family oriented.  Elizabeth’s advice to couples is to remember that the day is about you as a couple.  Your guests will appreciate a customized representation of who you are.  The amount you spend is not a representation of your commitment or love for each other.    Elizabeth and Joshua took this to heart and you can see it in all of the fine details of their amazing day.

The couple was married close to home by Elizabeth’s little brother (ordained online) at the Pinecone Amphitheater of the 4H Center in Madrid Iowa.  They chose this location because their money would go to a local organization they feel should be supported.  The Goldapp’s have been Wal-Mart free for more than five years and typically buy local and independent.  If they couldn’t buy local then they specifically purchased for the reduced impact on the environment or from an Etsy.com shop.  See the list at the end.   The BBQ dinner meat, cupcakes and flowers were all locally purchased.  They purchased an invitation template from Empapers on Etsy.com and had it printed locally on recycled paper.  Mason jars that decorated the tables came from freecycle.org a free classified site, where every item is free/given away.  Elizabeth’s beautiful diamond wedding ring was a deliberate ethical Eco friendly choice.   Her wedding dress is organic cotton and bamboo by Isadora.  Each option chosen for this wedding clearly represented how much the Goldapps respect the local economy and the environment.

Responsibility aside, fun certainly reigned at this wedding too.  An overall casual feel surrounds the guests with name tags (because seriously who knows everyone at a wedding), picnic style dining, paper lanterns, butcher block paper covered tables (with crayons for drawing of course), and to top it off matching Chuck Taylor shoes for the Bride and Groom.  Come comfortable was a clear instruction to the guests.  Sounds like my kind of wedding!  The favors were inspired directly by the bride and groom.  He has a passion for guitars.  She is covered in tattoos.  Each guest was given a custom guitar pick from www.steveclayton.com and a temporary tattoo.  Too cute!  I think their guests had a blast.  If they didn’t well…that’s their fault.

All the fun was for one reason; to bring the loved ones of Elizabeth and Joshua together to celebrate this union.  When Elizabeth was writing her wedding details to me I don’t think she realized how much her family was included.  It was especially touching to see that traditional family recipes were cooked and shared at the wedding.  Lefse for Elizabeth’s side and peanut butter balls for Joshua’s side.   I loved her explaining why her flower girl received a bubble gun instead of flowers.  (Extreme shyness Elizabeth thought could be thawed with the toy)  There was so much kindness and tons of thoughtful consideration to the comfort of those around her.  (Anybody notice the golf cart in the pics ?– easier travel for the Grandparents)  Tragically Elizabeth lost her father two years prior in Afghanistan.  She did an entire table of memorial photographs to allow even those missing to be a part of her and Joshua’s day.  These special touches are what make a wedding a day to remember.

Thank you to the Goldapps for telling us about your Eco DIY Family Friendly wedding story.  A special thank you to Chris Fowler and Michelle Boettcher for being ‘free’ photographers for a day.

Dress: http://www.etsy.com/shop/isadoraclothing

Earrings: http://www.etsy.com/people/spiffingjewelry

Place card holders: http://www.etsy.com/listing/47875767/handcrafted-set-of-12-rustic-place-card

Name tags: http://www.etsy.com/shop/PansyPatchDesigns

Free classified: freecycle.org

Cupcakes: http://amescupcakes.com/

Paper lanterns: www.lunabazaar.com

Guitar picks: http://www.steveclayton.com

Temporary tattoos: http://www.tattoosales.com/

Eco utensils: http://www.ecoproductsstore.com

Table décor/art favors: http://www.etsy.com/shop/horseshoecrab


Krissy
Make Believe'N Wedding Alternatives LLC
www.etsy.com/shop/krissy167

Wedding Bouquet Rollergirl Style

Rollergirl Bouquet from Floricultcha

Amy (Floricultcha) offers brides a non-floral, funky, funny and unique bouquet alternative.  She uses vintage, retro items, ribbons and other embellishments to create one of a kind sculptural wedding bouquets meant for weddings that seek to represent the couple instead of the industry.  Amy is very well educated in sculpture and horticulture and uses this knowledge to create wedding flowers that are considered "art".  She has also worked with live flowers for weddings and often uses that experience when working on new designs.  Amy lives just outside of Boston with a husband that encourages her to fill their home with the wonderful oddities that make her happy.  Her interests have never been mainstream but she appreciates the symbolism behind her flowers and truly hopes that they become cherished heirlooms.  

I asked Amy to tell me why she is unique and what made her feel passion for these non-traditional creations.  This was her fabulous response:

I love seeing all the different themes that are being incorporated into contemporary weddings.  It inspires me to brainstorm non-traditional ideas for bouquets. It's wonderful that the white wedding no longer dominates the world of weddings or that even if a bride chooses a traditional white gown there are more options for adding personal touches. There are additional styles that reflect what they really like or who they really are, rather than trying to fit into to the mainstream. That is like trying to squeeze into a gown that doesn't fit. There are so many different couples and different attitudes about marriage and what it represents.  I also think folks involved in helping with alternative weddings begin to embrace these changes and often find that the changes are more genuine and indicative of the couples' lifestyle or what brought them together in the first place. -Amy-

I couldn't agree more!

To quote Amy, "Who can resist unicorns, rainbows, roller skates, disco balls and hot pink hot pants?".  Me either Amy!  Rollergirl Rocks!!!!!

Wanted Rollergirl searching for your perfect Rollergirl wedding flowers:

The Rollergirl Bouquet sells for $225.00  See Floricultcha for more details and other interesting wedding flower alternatives.

If you are a fellow wedding vendor and wish to be featured on this blog please contact me or convo Swankunderpinnings via Etsy.com

Krissy Cartwright

Make Believe'N Wedding Alternatives LLC

www.makebelieven.com

makebelieven@gmail.com

Wonderful World of Kanzashi

In the west, a traditional wedding is a white affair however in the multi-cultural world that we live in today this is no longer the only option. Recently I was commissioned by a bride to make two hana kanzashi because she was getting married in a kimono.

Hana kanzashi translated from Japanese to English means “flower hair ornaments” and are worn mainly by Maiko (apprentice geiko). However they are also worn on special occasions such as weddings or the “coming of age” ceremony in Japan.

Here is a picture of Maiko Koyoshi wearing a momiji (Maple Leaf) kanzashi.

(copyright Onihide – Flickr)

So which kanzashi did my bride commissioned me to make? In the end she choice to customize Cherry Blossom Crescent and Mellow Pink and the end result was as follow.

I really enjoy fulfilling custom order as it allows me to create kanzashi which I wouldn’t have otherwise made due to storage constraints. Also the thought of creating an item which the bride will treasure makes me very happy.

However for all you brides who are planning a white wedding do not despair since I am able to customize all of my kanzashi designs to suit your colour scheme.

If you are interested in any of my designs then visit my shop.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/kittykanzashi

Wire Art = Amazing Cake Toppers

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61257169/the-dragonfly-and-daylily-wedding-cake  by WeddingsAndWire on Etsy

Sometimes you are smacked with something amazing.  Something you wish you had thought of first or something you wish you could do.  That is how I feel about this artist's work.  Eric from WeddingsAndWire is so creative and original it makes me envious!  These cake toppers blow my mind.  Each one is created to the clients specifications.  Like off the wall?  Super personalized?  Then this is your guy.  Giant birds, fast motorcycles, and bugs are his specialties.