When I say that Handmade Weddings by Chronicle Books is the coolest handmade wedding project guide I’ve ever seen, I mean that sincerely. It’s AMAZING. I know what so many of you are thinking: “I want a beautiful wedding, but I don’t have the bucks to do it.” Well, you don’t need as much money as you think. If you use Handmade Weddings . . . if you take the time for some planning . . . and if you get a little help from friends and family, you can have the wedding of your dreams on a budget. I’m drawn to the whole idea of an upscale crafty wedding because it’s so much more personal; and I never realized that crafty could look so elegant. Here are my five favorite things about this book.
1. Weddings are organized by themes. Whether you are Retro Homespun or Modern Classic, there is a style for you in Handmade Weddings. Several of the themes appeal to me, and I’m guessing they will to you as well. Not only that, but there are many projects under each theme. This is not a small book – there’s a little something for everyone.
2. Color palettes. I love putting together colors, but then again, I also have a brightly striped sock collection. So I probably shouldn’t ever put together a wedding palette. Luckily, each theme has a color palette, and they are all gorgeous. You will not end up with burgundy and gold bridesmaids dresses to match your decor.
3. The projects are attainable. I don’t know about you, but I’m not into making 17-tier cupcake stands with a special saw and nail gun. It’s not going to happen. What will happen is painting, gluing and even a little bit of sewing. I promise that you can do everything in this book, and the instructions are clear (with drawings). There’s also a budget listed for each project.
4. The projects are unique. Were I to get married today, I wouldn’t want a cookie cutter wedding. I like unusual and interesting things, and I think most women want their wedding to be the same. If you are interested in a wedding craft project book, then you likely want to customize. Handmade Weddings will help you go a little non-traditional.
5. The felt boutonnieres. These are so, so cute. I have a secret, which is that I’m going to make these for myself – for bags, for t-shirts, for every single piece of my wardrobe. I also love the embellishments on the pillow too. I can see so many of these projects being applicable not just for weddings, but for parties and even for everyday life.
With much sadness, I’m giving one of you my only copy of Handmade Weddings. So you have to use it. Here are my standard issue rules:
1. Comment on THIS blog entry. Say anything you would like!
2. Only one entry per person.
3. Contest will close this Wednesday, February 23rd at midnight (EST).
4. PLEASE leave your e-mail address if it’s not attached in Blogger – I need some way to reach you.
Full contest disclosure here.
Last week’s winner of the Curiosities and Mod Podge giveaway was ishtianna.
Blogger who loves the color blue and sock monkeys. You can find me in public easily— I'm wearing glasses and lots of stripes.
this is cool hope i win
l.i.z.a@sbcglobal.net
How cool! I’d love to win this!
Great blog you have! Would so love to win this book.
OMG THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS! EVen if I dpn’t win I will be picking this up. I wanted to get married in October last year and was planning the typical cookie cutter wedding and had to give it the cabash because of 1. Price and 2. it is just not ME! My fiance and I are super crafty people anyway and it just suits us to do a DIY/Handmade wedding. We’re qwerky individuals too so it will definitely ROCK. I hope I win, this book sounds Awesome! We hope to have our wedding finally next year in October.
This would be so perfect! I just got engaged on January 25th and the planning terrifies me because it’s SO. MUCH. MONEY! I’d love for the majority of my wedding to be crafty, but I have no idea where to begin! I’d love, love, love this book!
OH MY GOODNESS! I would be doing a MAJOR happy dance. My daughter is getting married n July and I have been searching high and low for ideas and ways to put this thing together. I am praying for to be the winner winner chicken dinner!
I would LOVE this book! I’ve been wedding planning for friends like crazy lately…and hope to be planning my own soon! It would certainly come in handy!
This book looks amazing! I love the bride and groom cake topper! I will checking this book out at the bookstore even if I don’t win. Thanks for sharing
dyleon2@gmail.com
This looks like an amazing book. I’m hoping to get married this year and this would really help.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Megan
TerraBella01 AT gmail DOT com
craftydolphin.blogspot.com
With 4 daughters, I would love to win this book. Heck I have 4 sons too. Who knows only 2 out of the 8 are married. I would love to have this book and wear it out on these kids. Get them off our payroll. Tee Hee!
Please put my name in the hat!
Thank you,
Shelley
Oh my goodness! This is a dream come true for DIY brides–myself included!
Oh, amazing, amazing!! We eloped but are planning a vow renewal with all the bells and whistles soon. But we are on a budget. This will be perfect!!
cherronmacdonald @ gmail.com
I knew I was interested in Handmade Weddings, but this review nailed it for me! I’m helping my cousin with her wedding and I’ll be planning my own soon.
My son is getting married in a few months and I would love to pick out some of these things to do for his wedding.
Awesome book!! Thanks so much for allowing us a chance to win!
What a great book! I would love to win it!
oh you are so super sweet!
i plan on getting married next year… if we can wait that long that is hahahaaa
Would love to win this! What a great book… Just got engaged on Valentine’s Day, so it’s time to start planning!
I had lots of DIY at my wedding 4 years ago, and I like to think it still looked “upscale.”
Now my little bro is getting married (yay! another sister for me!), and they’ve asked me to help out… would love some fun, fresh ideas… like those I would get if I won this book! ; )
Thanks for the great giveaway!
carolina at carolinamoore dot com
I just got engaged, and am working on a budget. I was hoping to do a lot myself. This book would be perfect!!
Lesley
irishrose15_00@yahoo.com
Oh wow, my son-in-law is a non-traditonal minister and loves to perform weddings. My daughter is almost always involved in the details. I’ll give it to her when I WIN.
Awesome book! I would love this! Can’t wait to plan and make everything for my own wedding some day
This is such a great giveaway! Thanks for the chance!
I love this – it would have been perfect for my wedding and now it’s perfect for my sister’s wedding! I would love to win it! Pick me! Pick Me!
gambill.amanda at gmail dot com
This is so cute! I would love to win this! My best friend from my childhood is getting married in October!
How fun! I haven’t been able to settle on a theme, it would be great to get ideas!
One of my best friends is planning her wedding right now and I would love to be able to help her using this book. And hopefully be able to use it myself someday soon too
j.spicer07@gmail.com
wow that sounds really cool. I am not planning on getting married anytime soon if ever, but i think it would be great for creating birthday things for my daughter or my son to be. i love taking thinks and putting my own twist on them to make them work for my situations. just in case you need it my e-mail is fmsshepperd@gmail.com
I’m helping a friend plan her daughter’s wedding right now, definitely a diy event. This would be perfect!
What a fabulous book! I can see what you mean about using the ideas for everyday use.
Thanks for the chance to win.
with 4 younger sisters I KNOW this will get used quickly! I can’t believe I didn’t hear about this book sooner. and why wasn’t it around when I got married 5 years ago?!?!
I have 9 younger siblings who are not married yet and would love to win this to help plan when the time comes!
How awesome!!
chelsea{dot}dorn@yahoo{dot}com
I would definitely use this. Next year inshallah! Thanks, love your blog.
monicaraqs at gmail dot com
What a fantastic book! I have a friend doing a DIY reception and this would be great! Thanks for the chance!
I would love to add this to my library. It is such a beautiful book! And not just for weddings either! THanks for the giveaway!
Sandra
smr1980@ gmail.com
This book looks really neat! I’m starting to look at wedding ideas and I think this one would be perfect to start with.
This book sounds like a real treasure to have. My mom, best friend and sister are all getting married in the coming year and I am helping all of them cut costs by making things, this would be a great thing to win!
My best friend is getting married and shes relying on me to make it cute on a budget. I Could totally use this book!
Looks like a great book!! My daughter is getting married next year…she wants something very simple and inexpensive!
I love the felt boutonnieres. They are so beautiful. Wish I could make some!
Would love to win this for my son and his girlfriend, who are getting married next fall. Thanks for the opportunity and thanks for sacrificing your only copy.
Please enter me in your contest for the wedding idea book giveaway. It looks like a great book. Thank you.
mushy_2008@yahoo.com
Should I win I can send you my Texas address. Have a blessed day.
Linda
What an awesome book! I have a few friends who are considering marriage that would love this book!
I would love to have this book! Ahh I’m so excited just thinking about it. :] Thanks for this great giveaway!
The projects in this book look awesome! I would love to win this book!
sberrian[at]juno[dot]com
The book looks fantastic! Thanks for a great giveaway.
karieford{at}gmail{dot}com
This book looks fantastic! Thanks for sharing!
Wow! This book looks amazing and sure would help me plan my wedding!
Wow! What a great giveaway, thanks so much for the opportunity. This is an excellent prize!
I always love cute favor ideas and these projects would be good for hosting parties or banquets not just weddings.
Ooh..I’d love this..my sister is getting married in a few months..and I told her I’d help with decorating.
Perfect timing. My oldest daughter is getting married in Sept 2012 and they (and I) don’t have a lot of disposable income for a wedding. They are involved in a pirate reenactment group, so that is their theme.
I just got engaged, in process of closing on a house, and just started crafting!!! I immediately bought every kind of mod podge that Hobby Lobby had, and have been having tons of fun since
Love your site, and from the looks of it, will love the book!!!
Stephanie Becker
tat2me82@yahoo.com
I know someone who would love this book. It’s so great!
I feel like I’m trying to catch the bouquet at the wedding…me me me
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have this book. So many ideas, and inspirations!
kj_poet@yahoo.com
perfect book!! I’m married… but my friends are not!!
great giveaway! I would love to see all the projects in this book.
)
i am DIY-ing my wedding (i have 228 days left eek!) and i need some more inspiration. i would LOVE this book.
One of my best friends is getting married. She’s the one that turned me on to Mod Podge! What better way to say thank you than with this book!
I am right in the midst of planning my JUNE 2011 WEDDING!!! This book would SAVE my life! haha!
it looks like there’s some awesome projects in this book! I love it!
I am getting married in August of 2012. This book would be so amazing for ideas!
ooh! pick me! i’m helping a friend with her wedding, and this would be so much help!
Your sneak peak leaves me wanting more!
Oooh… I’m really excited to see what all is in this book. I’m going to school right now to be a Wedding Planner so this would be a great addition to my books!!
Pick me! Pick me! I’m getting married in November, and I need all the ideas I can get
This would make a great gift for my friends who just got engaged
kate(dot)obrien219(at)gmail(dot)com
Wow! That looks like fun!
You can reach me at delgadokitty@aim.com thanks!
What a fantastic looking book. I am with you, I could see using some of the ideas for all sorts of occasions and everyday pretties..and I would too. =)
ok. gott a good friend getting married soon! gonna forward this one!
So looking forward to devouring this book! Looks like so much fun.
Brandi.Pratt@gmail.com
This giveaway is so exciting! I can’t imagine the great ideas I could get from this book!
Oh I could really use this book, I know its a slim shot, but what the heck ya never know, I may win it..lol
my email is wickedmoonart@gmail.com
I love your blog
This book will be so helpful. Not just for my own wedding(not engaged, but someday), but for others. I am a crafty critter so I plan on having a DIY wedding.
patriotschick@hotmail.com
What an awesome book Amy! Would make a fab addition to my crafty book collection….((hugs))
This book looks amazing! I would love to win it!
LOVE IT! I’m getting married in a little over a year, and now that I have started my planning I realize how expensive getting married is! This book could help cut out some costs by showing me what I could do myself… even if I don’t win, I’m going to go purchase it ASAP! Thanks for showing us such a great item!
I really want this book! It looks awesome!!
I’d love to have this book–such wonderful ideas!!
My sister in-law is getting married and this book would be WONDERFUL to use! Pick me!
courtney.emmett(at)gmail.com
Whenever I think of my wedding, I know it will be a peaceful, backyard, simple day with plenty of handmade decorations and food made by my friends
I would love to have this book to offer inspiration and a color palette!
bekahd1@earthlink.net
This is so great! My sister is getting married and is trying to find cheap decorating ideas for the reception….I can’t wait to tell her about this book!
My best friend is getting married this summer! I can’t wait to start making favors!
hanibee8@hotmail.com
wow, only 5 reasons and the book has drawn me right in – I must find this book!!
Thank you for sharing this with us – this one is a MUST HAVE!!
xoxo
Magoo
I’m definitely having a handmade wedding! These projects look really fun
meadowmonarch(at)gmail.com
I agree- so many things in this book look like they might go well beyond a wedding- BONUS!
I wish I’d had that book when I got married! One of my best friends is getting married in 3 months. Her fiance just lost his job through no fault of his own, she is facing the possibility of losing hers, at least temporarily. I would love to be able to help her put together a handmade wedding.