Indie Wedding Guide

Outdoor Wedding Series - All in a Nest

If you are planning an outdoor wedding, maybe it's time to think outside the box. That's what today's company does. They take you outdoors and create beautiful accessories that are truly unique. That's what I love most about independent companies, they dare to be different.

Mosey Handmade is a company formed around the ideas of reconstructed, recycled and re-loved.

If you are planning a garden wedding Mosey Handmade makes an adorable line of "nest accessories" These nesting birds in yellows would be a perfect adornment as a cake topper.

These Groom Boutonnières are so whimsical, I love that they are created with vintage millinery supplies, real acorns and acorn tops, wool roving and real moss.

Head over to Mosey for these delightful accessories "all in a nest".

- Gabreial Wyatt, Vintage Indie

KT Jean Designs - Indie Alternative Wedding Dress

It is possible to find a dress that's not mass produced that has an even bigger "wow" factor. Today's Indie Alternative pick is from the ever so talented Katie Jean Walker of KT Jean Designs.

I fell in love with the chic designs and luscious layers of fabrics used to create this stunning custom spaghetti strap wedding dress. The price 900.00 for this exact dress, (other fabrics, variations may reflect price).

Looking to go with a classic black and white theme? This Black Vintage Slip Dress would coordinate beautifully for your bridesmaids with the above dress and can be custom sized.

I spoke a little further with Katie Jean about her business and what it means to her to be an independent designer.

Being an independent designer means first of all, I get to be home with my little boy Caden. He is so fun and I am happy I get to be with him so much. It also means that I get to be creative, do what I love, and make my own rules! ( Well, I work with brides a lot so it is really their rules I go by ;-), but I have a say in what I create and I get to put my style into everything I make. That is so cool to me! I am getting paid to do my hobby and other people actually like what I make, so I think I found my niche!

What kinds of items and service do you offer that the larger companies don't?

The service that I think I offer is my time. I spend a lot of time with each person talking about details to get exactly what they want. We discuss styles, fabrics, lengths, colors, and the list just goes on! Each of these dresses is completely one-of-a-kind because I make it to each persons preferences. As well as me spending a lot of time with people to make their piece perfect, I save them a lot of time and money in the long run. Since I create each piece using their measurements, there should be no need for serious alterations. I know that many large companies fit everyone into their sizes, but I don't have sizes, I make your dress "you sized". I have been wanting to expand my collection, but I am so busy with custom orders of the dresses I already feature! New stuff will be coming soon though!


Here are a couple of other things about me: I try to use vintage and recycled fabrics as much as possible, The first wedding dress I made was in January and since then I have had close to 50 orders.

Be sure to catch KT Jean Designs at her newly launched website kt jean:: Couture Design

Designer View - Kristin of Sweeter Than Me Bridal

Recently I spoke with indie  jewelry designer Kristin Friesen of Sweeter Than Me Bridal to discuss  what it means to her to be an  independent business and designer.

What does it mean to you to be an independent jewelry designer?

To me, being an indie designer of any kind means self sufficiency. Sharing my work with others is a secondary (and equally wonderful) perk of making jewelry. For me, I love the fact that I can make virtually anything I see. If I see a necklace on a girl on the street and I want it, I go home and make one. I love being able to look in my closet and design the perfect pair of earrings to go with any given outfit. Jewelry is a luxury that many people cannot usually afford, myself included, and I love the fact that I can make a little something special for myself at a fraction of the cost. Another thing that is really special for me is seeing my pieces in real life. For example, I was at my in-law's house a week or so ago and I saw my mother-in-law wearing a pair of earrings I gave her. It means so much to me seeing people really use and appreciate the things I design, it makes me so happy. This is why I create.
                                 

What kinds of jewelry and service do you offer that the larger companies don't?

Well, the real difference between buying handmade and buying commercially produced items is the level of personal service you receive. There is a lot of competition in the world of handmade jewelry and I do my best to set myself apart, but the thing that sets me apart the most is my consistent excellent customer service. I really pride myself on my level of customer service, I am always 100% committed to the satisfaction of my customers and I think customer relationships are extremely important. (And I haven't had a single unhappy customer so far!)
                                       
    Another big difference is this ability to customize. Large companies offer certain styles and if you don't like them, well then tough. If you don't like my styles, well then we work together to create something you do like. I am always up for doing custom work because I know how hard it can be to find that thing that's "just right". This is especially true for brides. You have that very specific necklace in your mind but you just can't seem to find it anywhere! It can be overwhelming trying to shop for jewelry and intimidating to ask a seller directly for help. Keep in mind that indie designers are real people just like you, who would love to help solve your problem. I am always so honored when women ask me to design their jewelry, and I truly enjoy helping them to create their perfect piece.

All of the pieces at Sweeter Than Me Bridal can be customized and tailored to fit the needs of any bride. Many pieces are shown in white/pearl/silver as an example but can be made in gold, ivory, or any other color to match chosen wedding colors for brides or bridesmaids.

- Gabreial Wyatt, Vintage Indie

Outdoor Wedding Series - Garden Themed Accessories

If your plan is to go with a garden style themed wedding consider these handmade accessories that will last for years to come rather than flowers that may dwindle within a few days.

Believe it or not but the gorgeous creation to your left is a small handmade botanical handbag with fabric leaves, & flower petals from The Other Sister.

The best part? These creations can be custom made to fit the color scheme of your wedding. You will be amazed at the flexibility that the designers give you for creating the perfect addition to your wedding.

Visit The Other Sister for their stunning line of botanical handbags, journals and more.

- Gabreial
Vintage Indie

Clara French Ceramiques

It was love at first site when I came across Clara French Ceramiques. I immediately dove in to find more about their exquisite line.

"Clara French is a local artisan run studio creating exquisite handcrafted wedding cake plates and pedestal cake stands for a limited number of weddings each year."

Truly intriguing, Clara French Ceramiques is a team of two sisters Micaela Willis and Bethany Woll. This duo created Clara French, to honor their great great grandmother. A nineteenth century painter, Clara French was the first female artist in their family.

If you are looking for something truly personal, Clara French offers personalized cake plates for every guest. They can work with the color scheme of your wedding with their custom glazing process.

My most favorite part of Clara French is that they offer rent-able pieces. Micaela says, "Renting provides the products/services brides need at a discount and places limited stress on the  environment.  Instead of remaking a product we 'reuse' it, recycling at  it's best!  Also, I think renting is a great option for budget conscious brides, they can 'borrow' a cake stand to create a lavish, colorful center piece at a fraction of it's cost.

Fall in love with Clara French just as I have. Click on the file below for ordering info and more.
Download order_2008_clara_french_ceramics.pdf

- Gabreial
Vintage Indie

Gabreial's Indie Alternatives - Recycled Gifts by CDChilds

Recycled wine bottles turned into delightful cheese boards make fabulous housewarming gifts for the bride and groom.

C.D. Childs the designer behind these delightful creations uses wine bottles in various colors, and copper wire perfect for hanging. Be sure to check out the Cobalt Blue (more rare of the colors) in their shop, and request a custom  special order.

- Gabreial
Vintage Indie

A Toast to our Sponsor - Charming Sam

Vintage Indie & Eco-Chic Weddings would like to send a "toast" to our indie sponsor Charming Sam. We are thrilled to have a fabulous indie jewelery,art and ephemera store   with us to celebrate Indie Weddings Month!

Large numbers of brides have been making the leap from big box retailers to the unique offerings of independent designers. These socially conscious shoppers make purchases that do more than adorn their bodies. They choose jewelry and accessories that are extensions of their creative spirits, and they want designs that are unique and inspired.

Charming Sam Studio offers a full collection of earrings, bracelets, and necklaces for brides and bridal parties that match the vibrancy of the ladies who purchase them. From the whimsy of rare stones woven into earrings to the incorporation of antique watch findings and other unusual gems, Charming Sam's goal is to create designs that celebrate life’s travels.

Please visit the Charming Sam Studio Web site at www.charmingsam.com to view the entire collection of jewelry designs. And a special bonus for Vintage Indie readers, enter code VINTAGE during checkout for a 30% discount on your entire purchase.

A Toast to our Sponsor - Flying Needle Gallery

Vintage Indie & Eco-Chic Weddings would like to send a "toast" to our indie sponsor Flying Needle Gallery. We are thrilled to have a fabulous indie store with us to celebrate Indie Weddings Month!

From luxurious velvet wraps for bridesmaids or the bride, or even their mothers, customized to match their gowns – to an assortment of scarves as bridesmaids gifts, FlyingNeedleGallery creates limited edition and one-of-a-kind accessories.  A favorite is the burnout velvet “Mistral” scarf, finished with charms ( using heart charms, or charms bearing messages like ‘love’) – or cloisonné beads that create a bejeweled finish.









For the reception – or as a gift for the home – the Colorchiefs™ line caters to custom orders, offering unique selections of coordinated dinner and cocktail napkins, for a truly unique touch.  Whether a theme or a color scheme is chosen, this is a great way to pull your decorating motif together, and be green at the same time.  And if you’re looking for finishing home touches, we create pillows that will make you just dive onto that couch.


Coupon code for Indie Weddings: INDIEWED   for 20% off all orders valid though 6/30/08

A Desiger's Story - Find an Independent Designer by, Bonzie

FIND AN INDEPENDENT DESIGNER
Bonzie is a fashion and wedding dress designer in Southern Ireland. She was kind enough to share her passion and process with us in celebration of Indie Weddings Month. This is part four in a series written from Bonzie's point of view.

My designs feature a distinctly romantic edge as a result of the old raw materials used to create them. This is another mean of staying eco friendly while creating your wedding look. A bride can is spend some time searching thrift stores for old vintage dresses tat might be remade into something just for them.

 

There are many vintage gems waiting to be discovered and can be easily updated to a modern fit or customized and embellished to create a unique wedding dress. It is quite easy to find the perfect independent designer to help you create your look.

With the Internet, there is a great community of independent designers developing online over recent years, making this resource a very easy one to avail of for your special day! There is every reason nowadays for a bride to subscribe to the eco-friendly brigade while still maintaining something wonderfully couture that has been handmade with love.

To see more of Bonzie's line head over to her lovely shop.
{All contributed content/photos in this feature © Bonzie Please do not copy or redistribute without permission}.

Gabreial's Indie Alternatives - Palomas Nest

I can't tell you how many wonderful independent companies are out there for weddings. Supporting local artists in your home town and going to the root of where the item was created really gives each special detail of your wedding the meaning it truly deserves in your heart.

Paloma's Nest really breaks tradition in a new and very chic way, with their  " To Have and To Hold" ring bowl. Each bowl is hand crafted and hand stamped with a message.

It serves it's purpose as the important vessel for your wedding rings during the ceremony and can be used again and again in your new home together. Re-purpose it to hold your rings in a safe place or string it up for your 1st tree together.

Gabreial
Vintage Indie