Martha, Martha, Martha!

Whenever I hear the word "merlot" I think of Martha Stewart. Made-for-TV Martha movie, anyone? Anyone? No? I didn't rent it and watch it last Thanksgiving night, either. Anyway, moving on.

Anyone that's a multi-billionaire for perfecting the art of homemaking AND can get Snoop Dogg on her show to make mashed potatoes is alright in my book. And Martha's wedding website is no exception to her always impeccable taste. It's a goldmine for DIY projects that will add charm to any wedding reception, and Martha does the work for you by providing downloadable templates for these projects on her site. Here are some of my favorites:

Custom Banner:

Courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings


Flag Banner:

Courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings


Luminaria Centerpieces:

Courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings


Fabric Seating Cards:

Courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

So, now you might be wondering, "Well, sure, MARTHA can make these, but what about me?" Well, I'm here to tell you that even this Owl was able to create a custom banner for her wedding. And you know what? It wasn't hard. At all. Time-consuming, maybe, but the efforts paid off when we walked into our reception room to see this waiting for us:


Photo by Catherine Leonard Photography

To view all the template goodness Martha Stewart Weddings has to offer, visit the site here.

Did you use a Martha craft template for your wedding? Send a photo to the Owl at theelegantowl@gmail.com! We would love to feature your DIY projects on the blog!

Stay tuned tomorrow for a beautiful vintage-inspired real wedding feature!

Welcome to The Elegant Owl!

Welcome! Welcome! Gather ‘round, take a seat, take off your coat and stay a while. Today is an exciting day – the official launch of The Elegant Owl, a site that I’ve been itching to share with you all for far too long.

How did we get here? Well, in July of 2008, I was proposed to by a dashing young man, otherwise known as my husband, Mr. Owl (names have been changed to protect the innocent). From that point on, I was submersed into the world of weddings, and subsequently experiencing sensory overload. Color schemes, dinner menus, centerpieces … oh my! It was new, and it was exciting and I just took it all in and felt like I was in my element.

Our wedding has since come and gone, but in the aftermath of the most amazing celebration we’ve ever experienced, I came to realize that the wedding world helped me to find my personal style. In doing that, I was able to create and plan our wedding to reflect us – the quirky, modern, inspired-by-all-things-vintage team that we are. I will always be grateful that we had the opportunity to celebrate our marriage in a way that felt natural and comfortable to both of us.

And now, I truly believe that every bride- and groom-to-be deserves the same! The Elegant Owl is here to inspire brides looking for the perfect way to celebrate their individuality with their soon-to-be husbands (and if we get any grooms here visiting, well, I’ll be darned, I’m doing my job well!). Check back for some of your very own sensory overload that I’ll be delivering to you every day.

For now, I’ll leave you with my and Mr. Owl’s favorite image from our very own wedding:

Photo by Catherine Leonard Photography


Hoot, hoot,

The Elegant Owl