Rustic Country Wedding Decorations

I am a huge fan of crafts and DIY projects but I will be the first to admit that I really not that crafty. I always have great wedding DIY ideas but the execution part of the projects are a little difficult for me so with that said I am so thrilled to show off a DIY project that I think even I could do. Thanks to our friend Veronica Sheaffer, wedding gown designer and blogger we have a beautiful rustic wedding DIY project that I think will add a stunning addition to your ceremony location. I was drawn to this project because I often hear from brides who are looking for an idea to help create a focal point at their ceremony location and I this project is the perfect answer. Do you have a DIY project that you think our readers would like to know about? Send me and email or share it with us on our Facebook page or twitter page. See more DIY projects.

I’m pretty sure the first time I saw the Easter Lily altar from Martha Stewart my heart stopped beating for a second. I had been searching for a ceremony backdrop with a 1930s look and that altar was so sculptural and had such a great deco feel to it – I HAD TO HAVE IT. Unfortunately a couple hundred fresh Easter Lilies are not within our budget nor are they even available in late June for our wedding. So I went with artificial lilies, and although they are definitely not as fragrant, they still look seriously awesome.

The cheapest flowers I could find were bought by the bush, which meant a lot of time spent stripping the flowers and leaves from their plastic stems and then removing the stamens. The flowers then had holes running through the centers – perfect for stringing onto wire.

To make our 7 ft tall x 4 ft wide altar, I used:
- Approximately 450 artificial lilies
- Two 3 ft long wooden dowel rods
- Bendable wire
- 4 ft long leaf garland
- Masking tape

The process is actually super simple. Make an “O” at the end of a length of wire and drop your first lily on, bell side down. Then crimp and twist the wire so that the bottom of the next lily will just graze the top of the first. Add another lily and so on until you’ve reached your desired length. Wrap the top of your wire around a dowel rod and begin on the next wire. I also added leaves from the lily bushes for a little extra color. Keep working with the dowel rods separately and vary the length of wire. When both dowel rods are filled, tape them together to achieve the width of your altar. The flowers will then overlap, creating great depth. The leaf garland is great for camouflaging the dowel rods – simply attach with wire.credits – This DIY project, idea, photos and instructions are courtesy of Veronica Sheaffer & My Hands Made It

I love a good DIY rustic wedding project and this one may be one of my favorites, admittedly, I am not very craft but I do love looking at rustic wedding DIY project ideas! This wonderful DIY project is the brain child of our friend Veronica Sheaffer, wedding dress design and blogger. You remember some of my other post featuring this incredibly talented woman in which I showcased her complete bridal collection, her “To Catch A Thief” inspired dress as well as her Fabric Bouquet DIY and Paint Chip Place Card DIY. Today’s DIY project is one that would look stunning hanging the trees at an outdoor ceremony or would add some country sweetness to a bridal shower!

For each lantern you will need:

-          2 identical doilies with scalloped edges
-          Straight pins, if necessary
-          Needle
-          Thread
-          Scissors
-          1 skein embroidery floss
-          1 metal ring
-          1 yd of ribbon (1” wide or smaller)
-          Craft pliers
-          Sugar starch (see recipe below)

Step One: Dip one doily into the sugar starch – completely coating the entire surface of the doily.  Spread onto an upside-down mixing bowl, being careful to keep the doily centered and even.  Tip: cover the bowl in plastic wrap first for easier clean-up. If your doily is wider than the bowl, crimp the doily to fit, using pins to keep in place.

Step Two: Once the doily is completely dry (could take 1 – 2 days), remove from the bowl – the doily will keep the rounded shape. Repeat Steps One and Two with the second doily.

Step Three: With a needle and thread, stitch together both doily “bowls”, matching scalloped edges, creating a globe.

Step Four: Weave the ribbon in and out of the gaps created by the scalloped edges of the doilies.  Cut away any excess ribbon, stitch ends together and shift the ribbon slightly so your ends are hidden inside of the doily globe.

Step Five: To create a tassel, cut about 6” of embroidery floss from the skein.  Wrap the length of floss about 1” from the top of the skein a few times and knot.  Cut across the bottom of the skein and fluff the ends.  With the craft pliers, slightly pry open the metal ring – insert into the looped end of your tassel and around a thread in the bottom of your doily globe.  Close the metal ring with the pliers.

Step Six: With scissors, cut a circle in the bottom of one doily “bowl”.  Hang with string or wire.

End result -  doily lanterns!

Sugar Starch Recipe

Ingredients:

- 1/4 cup water
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar

Mix water and sugar in a small pan. Stir the mixture over low heat (do not boil) until clear and smooth. Remove pan from heat, and let mixture cool.

Thanks to Veronica Sheaffer for letting us share this great rustic wedding DIY project.
credits – This DIY project, idea, photos and instructions are courtesy of Veronica Sheaffer & My Hands Made It