Have you ever wondered how trends get started and why some take hold like wildfire and others fade off into obscurity? The easy answer is this, the fashion industry drives trends that influence almost every market you can imagine including weddings. And long story short, fashion insiders like designers and celebrities basically tell the rest of the world, “hey this hot”. 

The people we see on TV, in movies, social circles, and on the web are leading drivers of trends and statisticians and marketers help guide where the investment dollars will go. The vested trends get the window (or virtual window) and shelf space which means it becomes what have most access to. The long and short of it (or rather epically simplified version) celebrity combined with industry = trend. Let’s be honest, who didn’t fall in love with Texas couple Chip and Joanna that brought us the romantic world of rustic farmhouse décor? 

Boiled down this means for a DIY couple; trends = limits. It’s not easy to create your own look when most affordable choices all look the same. Paige and I decided we would take on the challenge of a white, rustic wedding without using any of the design staples that are presently flooding Pinterest, Instagram and retailers. 

1.) Your Vase

I am a glutton for clean lines and sophisticated design, so my first change is replacing bulky mason jars with Dollar Tree vases. This swap is about a $0.20 increase in cost per vase. Then add river rocks, fairy lights and florals for a romantic and simple centerpiece. 

2.) Ditch the Wood

My second swap is replacing the wood stump with a sprawling nature scape of greenery and polished river rock complimented by votive candles. Good news, this swap will save you big dollars! 9” rustic wood centerpieces are about $8.00 each compared to the nature scape, which is $1.00 for the bag of rock, $1.00 for greenery, and $1.00 for votive candles ($3.00 total). 

3.) Place Settings

Next up, I like add classics to the table by including a charger or china. For this setting we did both, to keep it chic and affordable stick with just the charger plate. These can be found online or at the Dollar Store for $1.00 an under. 

4.) Have Some Fun

Swap bland for bold when it comes to your napkins! Whether you have a wood finished table or tablecloth your napkins are the easiest way to add a pop of color without breaking the bank or risking a dangerous mistake. Every color in the rainbow looks beautiful with white and natural colors. Add orange, emerald green, hot pink, cranberry red, sapphire blue. Get creative with a pocket fold placing your flatware in the fold and centering it on the plate for buffet service or charger for sit down.

5.) Florals

For our mock event I chose eucalyptus as my primary green and ivory roses. By doing so the eucalyptus is complimented by the silver accents (flatware and charger) creating a romantic, summer feel. Taking this same look, you can swap the eucalyptus for cedar or juniper to create a rich winter vide that would look beautiful with gold.  

It can be so easy to get wrapped up in current trends especially when Pinterest, target, and instagram are all pushing the same designs and styles. But there are simple ways to stay in trend while also making some unique changes. If you ever get stuck or feel overwhelmed in the design process reach out to a trusted design team. We offer wedding designs as low as $250! Or, stay tuned for our next DIY mock event where we will be bringing on the color!