As more and more couples adopt DIY lifestyles, wedding trends have followed suit. Putting your hand-made touch on the big day often means money saved and materials re-used or rethought. Especially innovative weddings have inspired bouquets made from second-hand brooches, centerpieces crafted out of old teacups, homegrown flowers, reusable tablecloths and even handmade jams and soaps as party favors.

Perhaps the most memorable feature of a wedding is the actual spot the ceremony takes place — often under an arbor or canopy. (At least this is where the most photos are taken!) And here, the DIY movement has flourished with the help of bamboo.

With an almost unlimited scope of designs, bamboo arbors act as a canvas upon which couples can build their own signature styles. A simple, easy-to-build arbor can be customized and adorned with just about anything — fabric, flowers, shells, lanterns, branches, and the list goes on.  Best of all, once all the rice has been thrown and the wedding guests have journeyed home, bamboo arbors can be relocated to the backyard where they make excellent trellises for grape vines and ivy!

Check out what some recently-married couples did with their bamboo arbors…

A beach wedding using only bamboo poles, roses, single bloom lilies and some white muslin -- inexpensive yet romantic and classic.

Same setting with a more modern look using white parasols (later held by the bridesmaids), palm fronds and minimalist white banners. Other bamboo elements include a lectern and riser made of bamboo slats and walkway of bamboo fencing.

This Balinese-inspired bamboo canopy is the perfect example of how the same basic structure can be dressed up for even the most elaborate affairs.

Bamboo poles are a great option for destination weddings because they are easy to assemble and complement (rather than overshadow) the natural beauty of the ceremony site.

Even understated arbors can be simply and classically customized with your wedding colors.

This flowing, coral-themed bamboo arbor is accented with hanging pearls and naturally includes the rest of the wedding party.

Like Miss Congeniality in a beauty pageant, sometimes the crowd darling falls just short of the crown.

Although the top prizes in our March Project of the Month Contest went to completely worthy contestants, the project that attracted the most Facebook chatter didn’t snag an award — this time around. However, the sleek bamboo plywood vanity did inspire just a few of the following comments…

“Clean look with a great taste, I love it!”
“My husband and I are designing a remodel of our small bathroom. This inspires us!”
“I wish I had this one!”
“It takes a talented person to create something as beautiful! Thumbs up!!!”

And as it turns out, Federico Serrao has just given us a small hint of his mastery with bamboo plywood.

The lead craftsman of Serrao Cabinets and Design is a third generation woodworker, upholding the fine carpentry skills his family has been practicing in Naples, Italy since the 19th century. Serrao’s grandfather, who he is named for, specialized in finestra Napoletane, a rare window design, as well as high-end furniture which he made with his own hand-crafted tools. Recounting his grandfather’s talent, Serrao says, “Using a meticulous wax finish, he made one of-a-kind pieces designed to last forever. Now these antiques are worth fortunes!”

One would think that with all this old-school tradition in his lineage Serrao Cabinets would be the last place to find avant-garde design and new green building materials. But you’d be wrong.

The re-imagined curves of his bamboo plywood vanity and fresh aesthetic are anything but old-world.  While celebrating the techniques of his ancestors, Serrao has jumped into modernity with both feet, adding renewable materials to his arsenal. After all, a project doesn’t always need a spot in a museum to make it art… or to get people talking.

See more of Serrao’s designs here.

At Cali Bamboo we work hard and play hard… meaning on Monday morning there’s often an employee who’s just made the drive back from Las Vegas. During a recent Vegas story-swapping session, two of our own realized they’d both happened upon the same store in the swanky Mandalay Bay shopping center. Of all the glitz the Strip has to offer, this store stands out for one major reason — bamboo.

Cariloha Bamboo is a literal bamboo extravaganza where the woody grass is celebrated in all its forms. The chain specializes in apparel and bed linens made from super-soft bamboo fabric but also offers bamboo jewelry, home decor, handbags, cutting boards and more. The bamboo fibers in their clothing actually keep the wearer drier and 3 degrees cooler than cotton. This is a nice perk considering many Cariloha stores are dotted throughout the Caribbean on Grand Cayman, St. Lucia, Puerto Rico and other hot, tropical getaways.

The store itself is designed to educate shoppers on the wonders of bamboo. “Did You Know” bamboo facts adorn the walls, and there’s even an interactive mural where visitors can measure and compare their own height to the fastest growing plant in the world (some species grow 4 feet in a day!).

And what bamboo clothing shop would be complete without a bamboo floor? Sure enough, the majority of Cariloha stores (there are 18 around the globe and more opening all the time) feature Cali Bamboo’s organic mocha bamboo floors.

“Because Cariloha is all about bamboo-based clothing, bedding and bath goods, it made all the sense in the world to have Cali Bamboo flooring in our Cariloha stores,” said Sabrina Westbrook, Cariloha Store Designer. “We think it ultimately adds more green to our store’s bottom line.”

So whether it’s the shirt on your back or the floor beneath your feet, bamboo’s sustainability is growing more accessible and stylish by the day. Time to join the revolution!

Find the Cariloha store nearest you (or your next vacation destination!) here.

Watch Video: The Reef Rayley team sends us a custom knife set and has a few things to say about Cali Bamboo.

Last week we had the pleasure of showcasing a long-time Cali customer who has been pushing the boundaries of bamboo plywood creativity.

You may remember Jayson Orkins from the bamboo kiteboard he entered in our project of the month contest back in March 2010. Turns out, Jayson’s passion for kiteboarding would sail him straight into a promising business partnership. Years back, while competing in a 60-mile kiteboard race from Florida to the Bahamas, he met fellow competitor H Trimble. The two became buddies, and when H had his son Jayson presented the new dad with a hand-crafted knife made with Cali Bamboo plywood. The knife was so impressive the two friends decided to start a business together, and in 2010 Reef Rayley was formed.

Laura displays our new Reef Rayley bamboo knife set.

Today Reef Rayley presents a whole array of cutlery and cutting boards made from different exotic woods and ceramic blades. Jayson still makes each piece by hand, using traditional fine wood-working techniques. In fact, that’s one reason Cali Bamboo plywood is so perfect. Because kitchenware gets so much use, quality and durability is paramount. Jayson had experimented with an array of other plywoods before determining Cali Bamboo’s product to be the best. The extreme density of the bamboo translates to a solid knife handle without any gaps or soft spots.

The Cali Bamboo team can personally testify to the quality of Reef Rayley products — last week we received a custom-engraved set! Click the video to check it out and meet Jayson and H.