Pretty Wedding Boxes and Flower Wreaths!

Yesterday I was in Hancock's Fabrics looking for fabric and was distracted by the wonderful display of beautiful boxes they have. So, I snapped these pictures with my cell phone. Not only are the boxes pretty, they are on sale for 30% off and range from $5.99 to $29.99.

They are designed for storage but really are too pretty to hide in a closet. But, what I immediately thought of was that they could be used for the Memory Box or Wedding Box ceremony that couples lately find appealing.

They come in solids as well as designs. All different sizes. Some are hinged and some have the lift off lids.

These "suitcase" style boxes would be great for the Memory Box ceremony. It goes like this: "(Bride) and (Groom), I have asked you as a couple, to bring with you a memory box that holds many of the memories you have shared since you first met.  This box contains thoughtful notes that you secretly left for one another, all the monthly anniversary cards that you have given each other since the anniversary of your first date and many other saved memories that you shared together. This represents the foundation of all the years you will have together as a married couple.  Continue to add your memories and cards to this box so that on each of your wedding anniversaries you can open it and be reminded of your wonderful life together.

In addition I have asked each of you to write a letter to one another, expressing your thoughts about all the qualities that you love in each other. A lovingly hand written letter is one of the most romantic and sentimental gestures possible.  This letter will contain the thoughts and emotions you are now experiencing during this very exciting time in your lives.  You have both written your letters and sealed them in secrecy.  Today you will add these letters to this box of memories and will share them with one another upon your first anniversary and continue the tradition for subsequent anniversaries and beyond to reflect upon the reasons that you fell in love and vowed to marry one another on this day."

Another wedding ceremony is called the Wooden Wedding Box ceremony but the box does not have to be wooden. In this ceremony the couple places a bottle of wine and two wine glasses in the box then adds the love letters to it during the ceremony. They are instructed to never open the box until their 25th anniversary (or it could be any anniversary you choose) or: "Should you ever find your marriage encountering serious difficulties, I ask that before you make any irrational decisions, that you both, as a couple, open the box, drink some wine together, and then venture off into separate rooms to read the letters that you wrote to one another when you were united as a couple. By reading these love letters, you will reflect upon the reasons that you fell in love with each other in the first place. The hope here is that there will never be a reason for you to open this box, unless of course, it is for your ____ anniversary!"

Some couples choose not to put the wine and wine glasses in their box but instead put in mementos of their relationship like cards, tickets to events, sea shells and trinkets. Sort of like a time capsule. A lot of couples choose not to mention the part about having trouble in their marriage and just skip that! I can't say that I blame them! 

Hancock's had these pretty flower wreaths that are so colorful and cheerful they made me smile!

They could be centerpieces or some other decor at a wedding with the single flower in the middle.

I am amazed at the quality of artificial flowers these days and how real they look!

 Then there was this big box of pretty ribbon on sale! 

Hancock's also had some hairbands with white and off white fabric flowers on them to be worn like the "fascinator" hats so popular these days. I took a picture to show them to you but I ended up taking a video instead of a still photo and cannot load this onto the blog, unfortunately. But a bride could buy one of the pretty headbands with the wispy fabric flower, add a bit of netting and she would have a gorgeous head piece and veil. I think I will put these on Pinterest too on my Wedding Ideas board. Go see! 

Scotty and Jenn's Fabulous Wedding at the Washington-Duke Inn!

Scotty and Jenn are so happy they found each other and it shows! I loved creating their wonderful ceremony with them. They, like me, love lots of humor and the ceremony was spiked with it, especially their story and their vows to each other. And, it was a treat to work again with Diane Tighe, catering and events manager at the Washington-Duke Inn, who is so creative in choreographing weddings in the round.  All of the weddings I have done there in the past 3 or 4 years have been in the round, a unique seating arrangement in itself, but Diane always thinks of a new and unique way for the wedding party and couple to enter. Keeps the guests on their toes just watching to see what happens next.

Dave, my husband, was drafted to be my roadie and blog photographer this weekend as Marty was on vacation. On Saturday September 10, 2011 (catchy date: 9/10/11) we arrived at the beautiful Washington-Duke Inn from the earlier wedding and checked out the lovely ballroom. Isn't it exquisite? Tre Bella was the florist and did some beautiful centerpieces.

Bride and Groom's table......in the purple color theme. 2nd Drink Band from Charlotte was just setting up for the reception. 

 

At first glance I did not notice all the writing on this beautiful wedding cake by Cinda's Creative Cakes. Her husband was there to deliver. He told me that he is drafted as the delivery man whenever there are football games on the day and today there were two! The writing all around the middle layer says: Us, Wife, Husband, True Love, Passions, Best Friends, Laughter, Romance, Devotion, Happiness, Hold You Tight, You & Me Together, Embrace, By Your Side and Live. How creative!

Here is Diane Tighe. I just love working with her. I can always count on her coming up with something spectacular and elegant for every wedding that blows me and the guests away. Great job on this one, Diane.

 

Heather Elkin, vocalist, and Jason Fava on guitar played for the entrance of the wedding party. Diane and Jason are working out the cues for the music changes.

Ken with Music& PA Rentals in Greensboro, a friend of the father of the groom, was our DJ for the prelude music and the recessional. He is posing here with Mary Haywood, the back-up photographer. The primary photographers were Emily and Garry from Big Star Studios in Mebane. 

The ceremony took place on the President's Terrace. This is the new area off the new ballroom that was built a few years ago. I have not done a wedding here but I liked the privacy of this area rather than the main patio overlooking the golf course. This was much more secluded and quiet. The ceremony was in the round, of course, Diane's trademark! When the groom's parents had been escorted in, Scotty and I entered together down one of the 6 aisles. 

As each groomsman entered, he passed by Scotty and they shook hands and hugged. I could hear a few murmurings and some soft laughs! 

Then each bridesmaid entered from a different direction and gave Scotty a hug. 

This one, he twirled around!

The parents of the bride entered, untied the ribbon of the rose petaled center aisle, then Jenn entered on her own to join them. 

Scotty's parents and stepparents stood and when the bride and her parents reached the center, Scotty stood with her parents and Jenn stood with his. I asked each set of parents to give their blessing to the union and take their new son or daughter into their hearts as family. Then there were hugs all around and the parents sat down and the couple joined hands in front of me. 

During the ceremony I would at times turn around and speak to the guests behind me. That way they all felt included.

Scotty and Jenn asked Marie, mother of one of our bridesmaids, to read "Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog" by Taylor Mali. It is quite a humorous poem and she did a wonderful job. They told me that Marie and her husband Charles had been together for 36 years and that is the kind of love they look forward to sharing all the years of their lives.

Jenn and Scott had a really good story to tell with lots of humor. The guests really loved it when I said "Who knew that the man of Jenn's dreams would call himself Scottyrock123, love to travel and share her passion for music? And who knew that the woman who would far exceed Scott's idea of his perfect match would refer to herself as MightBeLookin4You, enjoy running, and share his love for trying new restaurants!" I told everyone how, when and where they met and included the story of the unique proposal Scotty dreamed up for Jenn which really did succeed in surprising her and that is not easy to do! 

Scotty told me ahead of time that they had tried his ring on his finger the day before and it would not go past the first knuckle so Jenn would only be able to put it on that far. But, surprise, surprise, Jenn got it all the way on during the ceremony--a good sign and it won't be coming off easily! 

After the rings, we had the Memory Box ceremony. This is a twist on the Wedding Box ceremony. The couple had procured a pretty box and filled it with the thoughtful notes they had secretly left for each other, all the monthly anniversary cards they had given each other since the anniversary of their first date and many other saved memories they shared. They are to continue to add their memories and cards to the box so that on each wedding anniversary they can open it and be reminded of their wonderful life together. In addition, they had each handwritten a letter to one another expressing their thoughts about all the qualities they love in each other, including the thoughts and emotions they were experiencing during this very exciting time in their lives. During the ceremony they placed those letters in the box.

Jenn and Scotty, what a wonderful wedding! I loved every moment of it and love that you thought it went so well too. I know the two of you will be so happy together and have a wonderful marriage! Best wishes always!