Tara Lynn Scheidet Custom Wedding Gowns

Personalization is the NEW LUXE in weddings!
From your one-of-a-kind, designed only for you wedding gown....to your thoughtfully planned, highly personalized wedding reception.
These Custom Designed, Environmentally Beautiful Wedding Gowns by
Tara Lynn Scheidet are made using hemp with satin and silks, organic cottons, and silk chiffon.

Beautiful Butterflies are thoughtfully appliquéd on this enchanting Bridal Gown.
Tara Lynn truly enjoys getting to know her clients as she creates a gown specially for them.
If you would like to have Tara Lynn design a gown for you...contact her at www.taralynnstudio.com, and go to her contact page.
The sketches below give you a hint of what Tara Lynn is working on now.

Zinnia

Terra

Meadow

Floret

To view Tara Lynn's entire line of wedding gowns go to www.taralynnstudio.com.

She has so many beautiful designs, I wish I could post them all.

To view even more of her environmentally beautiful designs go see www.earthbitch.com.

Carol

Napkin Folding: A "Do Good" Idea for the DIY Green Bride

The brides I work with often rent all of the linens needed for their wedding reception.  I think this is a very good idea, especially when your reception will be quite large.
Renting is a 'Do Good" option, because the linens you rent have already been manufactured, they have most likely already been used again and again, and will be used a good bit after your wedding. Think reduce, re-use, recycle.
Here are a few tips to consider when selecting your linens.
 Rent only linens made of natural fibers.  I truly prefer cotton or linen.  Just say "no" to polyester.  It's rough next to the skin and most unattractive in appearance.
Ask for linens without heavy starch.  Linen looks beautiful when it is a bit rumpled, and cotton just gets too heavy and stiff when starched.
Finally, add a little bit of wedding decor to the napkin fold: a sweet flower, or a sprig of foliage, or any tidbit that relates back to your wedding theme.  Of course, a little place card or a menu is always appropriate.
It's hard to imagine that something as simple as napkin folding can help you become a "Green Bride," but, please consider this:  napkin folding is free, it doesn't change the amount of linen produced, and it doesn't add one item into our environment.  It is really a matter of your own personal creativity and desire to add your personal stamp to one of the details that makes your wedding unique.
I didn't make these folds up myself, I have read and practiced how to fold napkins from a book I purchased a few years ago titled, "Napkins with a Twist," by David Stark.
Think how clever you will be when you show the caterer your preferred napkin fold for your reception service.

This is a Pocket Fold.  This is a very simple fold.  I'm certain that your caterer is familiar with this fold, and
will gladly help with this presentation.  You are able to place any wedding decor item you like into this fold.

See how easy it is to place an object into this fold.  Think of any object that would relate back to your wedding-then ask your caterer to tuck that item into this napkin fold.

This is called the Single Flower Fold.  Again, a very simple fold.  Just supply the flower and a bit of ribbon, and ask your caterer to tie the ribbon to the top of the napkin and tuck the flower into the ribbon.  

If you would like detailed instructions on either of these napkin folds, email me: wedology@yahoo.com, and I will gladly send you the step-by-step instructions.  There are a lot of beautiful napkin folds to consider when planning your wedding reception.  Choose the napkin fold and decor that truly best represents you and your personal style.

Carol

Recycling Wine Corks: A Do Good idea for the DIY Green Bride

I truly enjoy finding new ways to use common objects we all have around our homes for weddings.  So, instead of throwing your wine bottle stoppers in with the trash (or recycling), try reusing them for your wedding reception decor.  The cork you pull out of your wine bottle actually comes from a cork tree.  It's called a Cork Oak Tree.  The sustainability of this product and the easy recycling of cork products are important aspects of cork, and this industry is generally regarded as environmentally friendly.

Wine Cork Table Number Holder

To make this table number holder simply cut a slit into the top of the cork with a sharp knife.  I find that you have to saw back and forth a bit.  Make the cut deep enough for the sign to fit snuggly, then slide the table sign into the slit.  I tried to use this at an outdoor wedding I was working on this past year and it did not work.

Thankfully I tested it on a trip out to the venue, where I discovered that the wind knocks the cork over easily.  So, to be safe, I would suggest only using this sign holder indoors.  If you want a little extra security, place a small piece of double sided tape on the bottom.

Wine Cork Place Card Holder

This idea works just as well for your place card holders.  I think more importantly, this idea works if you and your soon-to-be husband love wine, or your wedding and reception is being held at a winery, or in any type of natural setting. I think the back story of why you have selected to display particular objects as decor for your wedding and reception is more important than the objects themselves.  So,  in telling your story, if this is an idea that works-fabulous!  Start saving your corks, and ask your friends to save their corks as well.  After your wedding you can find even more uses for your wine corks.  But, that is for another post.
Warmest regards,

C

Consider a Vineyard for your Wedding & Reception

This past weekend Harry and I took a short trip thru the Alabama Wine Trail. I wanted to get a few new ideas for wedding and reception locations to offer my brides. There are several reasons why vineyards are a good choice for weddings and receptions:
1. Very cost effective. These venues offer a lot of bang for your buck.
2. Beautiful, scenic, rural settings. If you like natural surroundings and prefer an outdoor wedding-these venues are perfect for you.
3. This one is obvious-but, alcohol is permitted. If you hold your wedding at a church location, but want to offer cocktails at your reception-a winery is perfect.
4. They offer a charming, relaxed atmosphere for your special day.

There are 7 vineyards in Alabama that are part of the Wine Trail. We visited 3.
The first stop for us was at Ozan Vineyard & Cellars, located in Calera, Alabama. This vineyard is lovely. With very nice accomodations for a wedding and reception. They have a wine tasting room, and offer a boxed lunch and free wine tastings on Saturdays. This is a great way to preview a site. Everyone was nice and friendly, and they can accomodate about 100 guests comfortably. http://www.ozanwine.com/.
Our second stop was at a much smaller vineyard named Vizzini Farms Winery, located in Calera, Alabama. They also offer free wine tastings-plus tours of the winery. I found the staff there to be pleasant, helpful and knowledgable about events. This venue is a bit smaller than the others, and I would suggest using this winery for parties or very small weddings or receptions. http://www.vizzinifarmswinery.com/.
Our last stop for the day was at Morgan Creek Vineyards, located in Harpersville, Alabama. This winery is the most beautifully landscaped. A bit of a fairytale feeling as you approach. They have thought thru the details-and it shows. We tasted wine, toured the winery, and had a great time. This venue is perfect for a wedding and reception. Everyone there is nice, knowledgable and service oriented. http://www.morgancreekvineyard.com/.

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