Homegrown Wedding

Thrift Store Score!

I think I had some birthday luck at the thrift store the other day.  I went in hoping to find a milk glass vase or two.  I ended up finding four small ones & one large one, but it soon became apparent I would need a cart.  As I went down the plate aisle I could not believe my eyes.  So.  Many.  Pretty.  Plates!!  My thrift store/antique shop mentality kicked in, "Get a cart, quick!  Grab plates before someone else does!"  {side note: there were no people in the aisle at the time}.  I ended up with 22 dinner plates & 64 dessert plates for about $45.  Originally we were just collecting dinner plates, but decided to go for the dessert plates as well.  So the total stands:

Dinner plates: have - 30; need - 175; total left to find - 140 {yikes!}
Dessert plates: have - 65; need - 150 -175; total left to find - 85 - 100

So...we have a ways to go.  Good thing we have a year.  Until the next plate...

Vintage Horse Show Ribbons

{Images via Ritzy Bee & Emerson Merrick}

I am completely inspired by the beautiful colors & possibilities of vintage horse show ribbons.  After seeing the top right photo on Ritzy Bee's Vintage Wednesdays, I knew it was a perfect way to tie our wedding to our location.  Pineland Farms, in addition to being a working dairy farm {mmm, cheese!}, has a state-of-the-art equestrian center.  Each time we visit the farm for a meeting we go see the horses because they are so beautiful.  I had been trying to think of ways to incorporate horses into the theme.  Our over all "theme" for our wedding is, of course, a homegrown wedding on the farm, but there other mini-themes I would like to include in the details - France, birds, horses, etc...I think it would be just lovely to attach a ribbon to each of the bridesmaids' bouquets & my own. 

   
{Image via Ruby Press}

The ribbons seem a bit had to come by on the web {one more thing to add to my daily web searching} so it is a great thing Rich & I have decided to head up to Brimfield in September.  Neither of us have been, which is surprising because it is only an hour away, so we are really excited.  On our list - vintage plates, horse show ribbons, postage stamps, records, & letterpress items {the last two being our own personal indulgences}.  Here's to hopefully being able to cross a few things off the list!   

Going for it

{Images via A Backyard Wedding}

I have thought about it & thought about it some more.  I started to research rentals & thought about it again.  After a long car ride to Maine & back this weekend the decision was made.  We are going to thrift our dinner & dessert plates...& possibly the glasses.  Cutlery is still up in the air.  The decision was made for a few reasons

1.  Aesthetically speaking, we like the vintage, I just-pulled-this-out-of-cupboard, nothing quite matches look. 

2.  Our wedding reception is most likely going to be held under a tent.  Tents are pricey & so is everything that needs to go under it.  If we stick to the plan of only purchasing items that are less then renting them, we are in business.  Plus, after the wedding we can resell what we no longer want.  Cannot do that with a rental...

3.  It is sustainable.  Granted rentals are too, but these will have some character! 

4.  Rich & I love any reason to visit the many Salvation Armies in the area.  Plus it is almost yard/garage sale season.  Perfect!

{Images of Lena Corwin's wedding via MS Weddings}

This is going to take some work, we fully understand.  Free moments will be spent searching for plates.  Days will be spent taking off price stickers & washing them.  It is going to take some thought to figure out what plates will go on what table.  Clean up will be a bit tricky...but can be done.  As you can tell by the photos, other couples have done the same including Lena Corwin, A Backyard Wedding, & Big Sur Wedding. 

So.  We are going for it!