Handcrafted Weddings: Over 100 Projects & Ideas for Personalizing Your Wedding [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

~ The Editors of Creative Publishing international (Author) "Designed to complement the gowns, perfect accessories ate both affordable and easy to make..." (more)
Key Phrases: liquid fray preventer, gathering row, horsehair braid (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Perhaps the best-looking and most complete guide to creating wedding accessories, Handcrafted Weddings demonstrates that you can achieve exactly the wedding look you want for less than the store-bought price, and you need only a modicum of crafting experience to accomplish most of it. Organized by theme, the five sections detail projects involving stationery, bridal party accessories, ceremony accents, reception decor, and memorabilia. In addition to dozens of beautiful traditional creations, there are wonderful touches of whimsy, such as the gold-accented white sneakers and baseball cap that the bride can swap for the formal veil and shoes at reception time; the card holder constructed from a white mailbox adorned with pine branches and papier-mâché birds; the mirror-tile centerpieces that double the effect of candlelight; or the fairy-tale fantasy of a twig arbor (surprisingly simple: anchor branches in buckets and swath in tulle and twinkle lights). There are so many eye-catching ideas that the hardest part may be choosing which ones to make or finding the time to do them all. --Amy Handy

From Booklist

With the typical wedding estimated at $19,000, it is no wonder that this book will quickly find an eager and appreciative audience. And even those readers with allergies to sewing machines will find projects that speak to nostalgia, individualism, and, yes, savings. The more than 100 ideas are more than amply illustrated, including step-by-step photographs whenever necessary and possible variations. Appealing mainly to brides-to-be are the accessories (veils, headpieces, and decorated shoes and gloves); ceremony and reception accents, from corsages to slipcovered chairs; stationery (to stencil or emboss or die cut?); and memorabilia, such as frames, photo albums, and even a showdown box. Too bad dollar comparisons weren't made between store bought and handmade, though. Barbara Jacobs

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 189 pages
• Publisher: Creative Publishing International; illustrated edition edition (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865731772
• ISBN-13: 978-0865731776
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #898,657 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A disappointing purchase, July 17, 2000

By A Customer

Inspite of the book's relatively good reviews, I found that it covered my expectations not at all well. Everything was too much. The stationery examples were too elaborate, the accessories were too old-fashioned and of a poor taste, the colors were mismatched, the bouquets were too fancy and poor at the same time for a wedding in style, the memorabilia section was nothing nice and special as well. Fortunately, I have purchased two more books. I will keep this book for a very few reasons, that I feel I have to state them: the stationery gave me ideas for other invitations, the twig ball on page 91 gave me an idea of how to use pot pourrie, the twig arbor on page 123 is fantastic for Christmas and the directions of how to make a wreath at the "Staging a reception" section. I really don't want to be bad, but I was really, really disappointed.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for the DIY bride, a wealth of inspiration!, April 3, 2000

By	P. Penkert "cinderella_68" (Southern California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is perhaps the most elegant Do-It-Yourself wedding accessory/decoration/floral book I have EVER seen. (And I own a lot of them...lol) It has lots of step-by-step photos and a very complete project list. Also at the end of every project, it shows variations of that project, so that you can truly personalize these items for your wedding. The floral chapter is wonderful in and of itself. There is a beautiful ribbon embroidery heart-shaped ring pillow which I plan to make as an accent pillow for my bedroom...it is too pretty! Whether you will be DIY out of budget considerations, or would just like to personalize your wedding with some extra special handcrafted touches, or surprise a bride-to-be with a special gift of your love, this is the book you will want to have!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars No budget handcrafting, August 30, 2002

By	T. Miller "snomom" (McCall, ID USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A beautifully illustrated book with great instructions, but I found most projects were created with no budget in mind. When I think handcrafted I think of saving money on the project, I didn't think that was the case with this book. Great traditional ideas and instructions for decorating from cakes to veils but not with a small budget in mind. Well worth buying if you are looking for the personal touch of doing it yourself without being on much of a budget.