Thursday, July 14, 2011

{Bright Idea Thursday} Bamboo, Beaches, and Mountains!

Many people have incorporated bamboo into their wedding themes whether they are at beach or not. There are many ways to use bamboo and here are a select few creative ideas I found. Plus being so close to the ocean I have included some bamboo themed beach ideas. I apologize for the length of this post, since it is probably the longest one I have done, but I LOVE bamboo, beaches, and mountains. So make sure you read all of it! Plus this is going to incorporate my Organic Wednesday and Wedding Location all in one since it's going to be a crazy week for me!

Why bamboo? Did you know that bamboo is actually a grass that grows to a harvest-able height between 3-5 years. Some species grow up to 2 feet per day. After harvesting, bamboo does not require replanting. Bamboo has an extensive root system that continually sends up new shoots, naturally replenishing itself, making it one of the most renewable resources known. Bamboo is durable and sustainable.

Want some bamboo wedding ideas consider these beautiful letterpress beach invitations or these unique beach invitations. I also love the modern bamboo centerpieces with mini twine balls and bamboo screen lanterns. Plus if you are looking for some beach wedding favors click here.

 
Maybe you want to incorporate bamboo into your wedding registry. Westelm.com has many modern options including these gorgeous bowls. Or if you want some bamboo picnic plates that are reusable go online to partycity.com or stop by the store on Abercorn and you will find a whole collection of Eco party supplies. For those of you in the Savannah area there is a wonderful kitchen store, Kitchenware outfitters that can set up a registry for you and you'll find these bamboo serving utensils there. Another Eco-friendly online store to register for bamboo is Ecofriendlygreenthings.com-love this wine rack!!
 
Now if you plan to have your wedding ceremony at a beach, Tybee Island and Hilton Head Island are right outside of Savannah, GA and provide a wonderful location to share this special moment with your friends and family. Make sure you have a permit and consider having police for crowd control, all of which I can help with if you need to hire a wedding coordinator. In the Jewish faith a chuppah is a traditional canopy under which a Jewish couple stand during their wedding ceremony that can be a cloth or sheet, sometimes a tallit, stretched or supported over four poles. So why not create a bamboo chuppah and wrap in white chiffon!! BEAUTIFUL!! Plus I love twine balls! (just hope for a day that is not windy!) 

Although this is not bamboo, I just love this ringbearer pillow from JwrobelStudio on Etsy since it goes well with an Eco-friendly wedding or bamboo rustic theme. It is made of heavy cotton linen and stuffed with an environmentally friendly cotton sliver, has jute piping and then carefully sculpted petals and leaf for the flowers. The bead in the center of each was rescued from a vintage piece of costume jewelry long past its prime. The button that anchors everything on the back is made from a blueberry branch that came from the artist's backyard. 

If your wedding is on the beach and in Georgia during the hot summer weather (like mine) then you will definitely need some fans for your guests!! I actually bought these exact fans for my wedding and was very happy with them and this company: favorsandflowers.com. 
 
Bamboo image by Glynn-Ann Contrascere and Wedding image by Gene Williams Images of Georgia
Maybe you do not prefer a beach wedding ceremony, then another great wedding location would be the Bamboo Farm & Coastal Gardens, which is a 50-acre University of Georgia Cooperative Extension education and demonstration center. They are open to the public free of charge. Visitors are encouraged to sign- in at the Office/Visitor Center and pick up a self-guided tour map and a self-guided tour brochure or one of their individual garden maps: iris - map, cottage garden - map, blackberries & vegetable gardens. There are several gardens and plant collections to visit or you can just walk around and enjoy the green space. Many of the mature trees were planted in the 1930’s by USDA plant collectors. Be sure to read more about the history of this spectacular place on their website here.

 
Off to your honeymoon......To continue on with this bamboo theme, I must digress and share some amazing photos from Brevard, NC. Since my husband and I had an intimate wedding in July and then he left for Iraq in October, we did not have a honeymoon, instead we had a 2 week R & R vacation in August. Being in a military relationship can be complicated when you are trying to plan a wedding especially since my husband had 2 training trips to go on before he left for Iraq and a lot of extra hours put in before they deployed. Looking back on those few months together I am so thankful he is out of the Army now. I understand and appreciate those who have committed themselves to serving our country and the families that sacrifice! But, back to the amazing photos I took while on our vacation!! We went from the Georgia coast to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina for our R&R/Honeymoon and stayed at this spectacular cabin, toured the The Biltmore, hiked the Pisgah National Forest. and enjoyed everything Brevard had to offer!
Looking for a romantic getaway or extended stay in the Southern Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains? It does not get any better than this! Historic Deerwoode, 175 acres of green, sustainable, peaceful serenity and wildlife preserve along the banks of The French Broad River, one of the oldest rivers in the world. Once a summer camp built in 1923 and closed in 1991, Deerwoode has matured into a quiet retreat for adults only. Preserving the vintage, old hardwood structures, many unique old stone fireplaces, and all with lake, river and mountain views, makes Deerwoode truly one of the most ecological and pretty places in North Carolina, and only two miles from downtown Brevard.
Visit Biltmore in Asheville, NC, a National Historic Landmark with America's largest home, gardens, winery, and world-class luxury inn. Their wine is spectacular and the food at the Bistro was amazing!

WHEW! Did you make it to the end of this post!? Congrats and thank you for reading!!

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