C USTOMIZE YOUR WEDDIN G

By Lex Lazarewicz

The wedding cup project came about out of foolishness, climate change and the desire most people have to incorporate the things that matter most to them into their wedding. Foolish because creating 200 cups is a massive first project to take on while working full time, planning a wedding and starting a business.

Climate change came into play because we wanted to reduce how much trash we produced. We wanted to stay away from plastic bottles of bubbles or other party favors that might end up in a landfill. So along with compostable flatware and plates, I made each guest a unique cup to use at the wedding and to take home as a gift. I used three types of clay and countless glaze combinations, cup shapes and styles.

Starting a ceramics company was my dream job, and the year of our engagement was the year we decided to go for it and set up Buttermilk Ceramics. Incorporating pottery into the wedding was a no-brainer for me because I got to share something I’m passionate about with every person I know and love. It was fascinating to see which style or color people gravitated to as they scanned the table of cups. It was also extremely encouraging to get nothing but positive feedback and find out the next morning that people were hoarding cups to take home to their families.

We put a lot of ourselves into our wedding, and looking back, there isn’t a single thing I would change. Our friends and family helped us sew linen tablecloths, design floral arrangements and build tables, and my husband made 20 unique cutting boards, also hoarded by loved ones. But what do people remember the most? Wedding cups. To this day, friends and family will tell me about the wedding mug they use every day, and then we get to reminisce about one of the best days of my life. If you’re interested in a totally unique touch at your wedding, reach out to me through my website, buttermilkceramics.com, and follow me on Instagram: @buttermilk_ceramics.