{ritzy bee blog}

vintage wednesdays

Since we are still in that back-to-school mood, thought it would be fun to show how fun vintage books can make a fabulous wedding detail. We've used them for centerpieces as wedding to add height to small containers of flowers...such a great, timeless look!

 

Wrap in bundles with raffia or twine to make book stacks via Ritzy Bee Events

 

Consider giving your favorite books as "favors" via Martha Stewart Weddings

 Stack them up for a centerpiece via Once Wed

 

Make your table numbers out of them too Bird & Banner via Once Wed

bella figura sample sale

Be sure to check out the great sample sale Bella Figura is running. Now thru Aug 31 you can get samples of their invites for $1 {they are usually $5} and all proceeds will go to the America Forests foundation! We love Bella Figura since they are a very green & eco- concsious company!

vintage wednesdays

Last week we started talking about what fun finding {affordable} vintage decor and prop elements can be! This week's inspiration comes from a casual summer day...

{Photo credits: Kate Headley Photography}

We love these croquet sets we spotted for just a few dollars...they provide not only great entertainment and photos at weddings, but they provide a fun splash of color too. We love the idea of using two mallets crossed as wedding decor...and even for a fun wall decoration at home post wedding!

{board via Green Wedding Shoes blog}

smock it to me

We adore Smock...from their letterpress designs...to the staff...to their signature eco-friendly bamboo paper...they are a-m-a-z-i-n-g. Here are their latest wedding invite designs...loving the calligraphy fonts!

introducing vintage wednesdays

Do you ever wonder where people get inspiration for vintage decor items that can be used for weddings, events & even for your own home? Inspired by some of our recent weddings, we thought it would be fun to partner with our friend Kate Headley to talk about and show items in the coming weeks anyone can find and incorporate with a little creativity...and very little cash!

Searching for these items is relatively easy once you get your mind in gear...all it takes is some patience and an eye to find that fun item...

{Photo credit: Kate Headley}

We spotted this older bicycle for just a few dollars at a flea local market...all it needs is a little basket on the front and it can be used for some fun wedding or engagement photo shots...

 

{Photo board credits: Green Wedding Shoes blog}

From flea markets and thrift stores...to antique shops...there is always something "new" waiting. We also personally love how finding thrifted items can also be green too - buying something previously used is always a bonus!

bee nice to our earth

It probably goes without saying we have a fondness for bee's around here...and we are so happy Anthropologie has taken up the cause to save the bees as their Earth Day initiative!!!

Many of you have probably heard about the bizarre phenomenon of disappearing honeybees {colony collapse disorder} and how it is believed pesticides and even cell phone signals are responsible for this...very scary since bee's are critical to the survival of flowers, plants...and OUR food!

Hurry over to Anthropologie to see what the buzz is all about and how you can help!

We thought we'd share some of the amazing little displays from their stores too...such inspiration for our hive...err, office! Many of the props were made from recycled products too...

{Photo credits: Anthropologie}

weddings + earth

Happy Earth Day! We know many of you out there are now more than ever looking for ways to help stay green while planning your wedding...without sacrificing style and fun. Here are just a few SIMPLE tips to consider when planning your wedding that can help off-set your wedding's impact on Mother Earth.

1. Have your invitations printed on 100% recycled paper and ask for soy based inks. Most invitations & designers offer one or both options.

2. Ask for locally grown, organic ingredients from your caterer. Make sure they both compost and recycle!

3. Skip on unnecessary lighting. Use soy or beeswax candles only.

4. Read the Green Bride's Guide for other ideas on how to plan green!

5. Ask for locally grown flowers, free of pesticides. Use trees or other potted plants that can be replanted.

6. Look and consider wedding vendors that are making a stride at supporting the green movement - and that really mean business.

7. If you don't already, check out the wedding eco-friendly blog Earth Friendly Weddings for great daily ideas & tips on how to add sustainable elements to your wedding planning...and be sure to enter this great contest to win lots of fabulous green things!

 

{Photo credits: 1 Duet Weddings, 2+6 Brides.com, 3 Marie Labbancz via The Bride's Cafe, 4+5 Martha Stewart}

Engaged! {behind the scenes}

Lots of fun today at the Engaged! Magazine event at the Willard Hotel in Washington, DC and got to see a lot of our favorite local DC wedding friends too! Here's a little peek...

Clinton Kelly from TLC's What Not to Wear was the guest speaker and covered fashion topics for not only the bride on her big day but also the groom, mother's of the bride and the wedding party. His favorite wedding fashion look? Wedding dresses with some color...like in Vera Wang's Fall 09 collection...

Clinton is just as adorable in person as on TV...here he is with {from left} Lisa Schulz, fabulous owner and event planner from The Posh Planner, me and Holly Heider Chapple the talented owner and designer of Holly Heider Chapple Flowers. Be sure to check out the What Not to Wear wedding guide here!

We love the ballroom of the Willard...gorgeous...and even better the Willard is one of the top {green} hotel's in DC, recognized and awarded for it's sustainability. On top of that we love it's rich history AND it's pretty darn cool when your next door neighbor is the White House!

Some of our other friend's at the event were Stephanie Ascari from Cleverly Candid Photography...Stephanie shared some images from a wedding she photographed in beautiful Middleburg, Virginia last spring that Holly Heider Chapple Flowers did the florals for...

Our good friend's from The Dandelion Patch and Laura Auer from Wish Special Events at their fun display. Heidi from The Dandelion Patch let us know about a great event they are holding on Sunday, March 22 from 3 - 5 pm in Vienna, Virginia...

Tea with wedding etiquette expert Anna Post {great-granddaughter of Emily Post}. Anna will be talking about wedding etiquette and the event registration is $60 per person, including an autographed book from. Space is limited...register to attend by emailing lindsay@thedandelionpatch.com. Hope to see you there!

periwinkle bloom

We were so happy when Tyler over at perwinkle bloom sent over an email letting us see some of the latest {and ADORABLE} additions to her online children's clothing shop...

Tyler created periwinkle bloom to contribute thoughtful design dedicated to the idea that less is indeed more. Their 100% organic cotton collection is homegrown and handsewn in the U.S. and created with care in small editions. They often use reclaimed bits of vintage fabric and notions to nurture the idea of 'hand-me-downs' and work closely with a local atelier to ensure meticulous detail that is fresh yet embraces the idea of life recycled. Subdued hues, generous fit and lush textures echo the carefree nature of a child and are hallmarks of their designs which we just can't get enough of!

we love this...

We were excited when we found out our friend Amanda over at Vintage Glam Blog has added a GREAT feature to her blog and we hope you will all run over and check it out. She has introduced a wedding flea market where brides can browse ads locally and potentially save money {and the world} by cutting shipping costs on used wedding items such as candles and vases. Best of all it's a FREE classified listing! What a fabulous place for you former brides to list those 200 votive holders you will never use again.

Look for some {ritzy bee} items on there soon too...our office is full of things we can't wait to list here!