As someone who’s always had a closet full of craft supplies, I love well-done DIY wedding decor, favors and accessories. I’m not talking about draping tulle and fake flowers over doorways and tables, but the kind of things that Ms. Sparrow and Derek produce… something unique and sweet that expresses your personality and skill. Over the last year or so, I’ve literally spent hours thinking of little DIY touches that we could surprise and delight our guests with.
Now, this becomes a problem for several reasons:
1. I have an allergy to amateur-looking DIY. I have extremely high standards for what I produce, especially if other people are likely, much less intended, to see it. This means that I won’t even attempt half of the projects I’ve come up with because I hate not doing something well.
2. I’ve cut out a lot of fussy things that sometimes go along with weddings. For instance, we’re not having assigned seating, so there’s no need for escort cards or table numbers. There won’t be any ring pillows or unity candles or aisle decorations (aside from some pots of rust-orange mums on the pathway around the pond). Our table decorations will be minimal as well– the bridesmaids’ bouquets, the same pots of mums from the pathway, and some candles. Although I like the idea of a ceremony and reception that are free of fussiness, less decoration means less opportunity for DIY.
3. Both for financial and environmental reasons (which I’ll cover more in another post), I really want to avoid making or giving out things that will only be used once. If I could, I’d have all the decorations and favors be things that would last the rest of our lives, but instead I’m okay with cutting down on decorations and giving out things that are intended to be reused.
Which brings me to the actual favors we’ve decided to give out– live tree seedlings. My parents planted a weeping willow around the time they got married, and an evergreen when my brother was born, so it’s something of a family tradition. I love the idea of giving something that can last as long as a human life, and something that will benefit the planet for all of those many years… and how can you beat a tree for symbolizing growth over time?
The seedlings would look best with something wrapped around the soil plug, and the site has all kinds of wrappings available, but none of them are really my style (to be honest, they all look a little Oriental Trading Company to me). So I’ve decided to just get the seedlings in the half-bags and make a bag of my own to hold each one.
I can crochet at a beginner-to-intermediate level, so I immediately thought it would be cool to crochet little drawstring bags to hold the trees (I’m thinking something like this, in less blech-worthy colors). We could pin a note to each one with a message of thanks and planting instructions for the seedlings. My only hesitation is that I’m afraid the bags are too small for guests to reuse them in any meaningful way. They’d be a perfect sachet size, but seriously, who uses sachets anymore? They’d hold a cell phone, but nobody keeps their cell phone in a little bag, right? (Okay, maybe grandmas do, but I don’t think grandmas really USE their cell phones.)
What do you guys think? Would you be able to find a use for them? If not, should I just scrap the idea of a bag for the seedlings altogether?
Stay tuned for my other DIY ideas– I’ll be anxious to hear your thoughts!
you’d be surprised about the phone-in-a-bag thing. People are into it. Lynn keeps hers in a little phone-kimono that she’s had for about 3 years now. I would love for someone to crochet her a new one, but so far no one has offered…
I like the little bag idea too. Some people do still use those sorts of things for cell phones. I’d use something like that to keep jewelery in, or as a little change purse. Or I’d use it as wrapping for another gift sometime (in that “appreciative and good-for-the-environment regifting” sort of way, not the “trying-to-get-rid-of-it-because-I-don’t-like-it” regifting sort of way).
Another idea for something reusable to wrap the them in: handkerchiefs. Like, actual washable hankies of the nose-blowing variety. They’re really nice to have, and it could kinda work with the tree thing… could include a little note about using it instead of tissues, and think of all the trees people would save, etc. Just a thought.
Ah! Just the kind of thoughts I was looking for, ladies! I’m feeling better already. (As you can tell, I have a tendency to overthink these things!)
Emily Kate, what colors does Lynn like? I’d be happy to make her a little bag- I can’t promise it’ll be perfect, but I could use the practice.
Mandy, I really like the regifting idea- maybe we can put it on the note…
I love the seedlings idea. I have also seen really cute matchbox favors where each matchstick is a plantable herb or flower.
In terms of the satchels, my great-aunt used to make me lavender bags for my underwear drawer about that size. And how doesn’t like nice smelling underwear?
However how many of these do you have to crochet? Just make sure you leave yoruself enough time, cause at least with my knitting things take way longer than I think and I end up working at 4 am the night before.
Ms. Sparrow, I always underestimate my projects too! I have to make 60, but I’ve already cranked five out, and my mom has offered to help, so hopefully I’ll be okay as long as I keep working on it through the six months before the wedding. I decided to attach a tri-color granny square to each one to dress them up a bit, which means a little extra work, but I think they look really sweet. I’ll post an entry with pictures soon!
I had orginially planned on knitting the napkin rings, but I gave that one up a long time ago. Good luck to you and I cannot wait to see them. I hope you have some crafty friends so they appreciate all of the corchet work.