Created by Kristen of Kio Kreations and Kara Schultz, our next Inspired Creations Contest concept is all about timeless, classic, vintage beauty.
Kara and Kristen designed their concept around the theme of “looking to the past and the present”. They created an escort card and guest book display as well as a gorgeous tablescape, each featuring vintage and thrifted cake stands, picture frames, and vases. And bonus for all of us, we have DIY tutorials for all of their wonderful handmade items!
All of the decor flows together wonderfully, and the mix of depression glass, lace, milk glass, and vintage frames create an easy beauty that appeals to me on so many levels. It floods me with memories of my grandmother’s bureau with her vintage silver comb and brush and the lace runner that decorated it, and I must say I’m completely and utterly smitten with it all.
Each escort card was cut across the bottom with decorative scissors to create the illusion of lace. The cards were placed on fabric-lined picture frames, some of which are vintage and others, sanded and spray-painted to fit in with the decor. The escort cards were written with the table number and what the number meant to the couple, instead of “Table 2, cards read “2 adorable pets we have”, to tie back into the couple’s own life and experiences together. This small and personal detail is one of my favorites from the concept.
Photos from parents and grandparents weddings decorate the card vase, a wonderful alternative to the traditional card box. And the innovative guest book idea features handmade paper flowers, which guests write special messages on and pin to a fabric covered corkboard. Flowers and mementos from the day can be added to the board, and voila – a treasured keepsake for the couple’s home.
In addition to milk glass vases, clear glass vases were wrapped with lace and filled with fluffy, romantic flower arrangements.
So how do you create all of this gorgeousness on a final expenditure of $350? By repurposing items, of course! Each of the lovely cake stands, flower arrangements, and picture frames were incorporated into the gorgeous tablescapes. Centerpieces featured peonies, astilbe, ranunculus, spray roses, snapdragons, hydrangea, lisianthus, and garden roses, with foliage of lamb’s ear, variegated pittosporum, and dusty miller.
The cake stands and footed vases added height, while the lace-wrapped votives and fabric-lined frames added dimension and texture.
The Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton, IL was the perfect backdrop for the champagne, gold, and pink color palette.
Carrying the theme of lace through, Kara and Kristen handmade lace flowers to tuck into the bouquet and created a matching fascinator as well!
More gratuitous centerpiece shots – I can’t resist!
Table numbers were made from quilled paper. And how much do you love the pink goblets?
And last but not least, favors of homemade cookies set atop each place setting, wrapped in decorative paper and tied with organza ribbon.
The Chicago-area wedding vendors that contributed to this Inspired Creations Contest concept are:
Floral – Kio Kreations
Photography – Kara Schultz
Venue – Arrowhead Golf Club
I hope you are loving the Inspired Creations Contest submissions as much as I am. Kristen and Kara were kind enough to share DIY templates and tutorials for the lace flowers, cookie wrappers, pearl floral accents, and guest book flowers – check back later today for all of the instructions!
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