Elegant And Budget Friendly

A Wedding Etsy Treasury

2009-06-17T14:56:00.002-05:00

For more information about each section just click here

A beautiful hair piece

2009-04-09T15:40:00.002-05:00

I came across these lovely hair pins from Royal Princess and I just had to get one. Mine is a deep sapphire blue but they have lots of lovely colors.

They're real roses that are preserved. The petals are flexible and the colors you get when the light bounces off them are exquisite. Here are just a few examples:If you're less of a rose fan and more into feathers they also have a really cool fascinator sample especially for any peacock fans:

Go check them out. I can't wait to show off my little beauty.

Easter clothes for the wedding

2009-04-02T09:41:00.004-05:00

Easter is a great time to go looking for dresses for the flower girls and suits and shirts for the ring bearers.

Here's just a sampling of the dresses from Target all under $25:

The boys have some cute stuff too. Easter is perfect to pick up an entire vest, shirt and pants combo for under $25:
So if you know what colors you want you may want to check out some local retailers or department stores to see what they have in stock because once summer comes all those cute shirts and dresses will be gone.

Colored Crinoline almost DIY

2009-03-23T14:12:00.006-05:00

Have you seen some of those gorgeous pictures of brides rockin' different bright colors under their white wedding dress to give a little pop?

Always wanted to have dyed crinoline but are afraid that you'll mess it up?

Here comes 2 Bird Stone. For the low price of $17 they'll take your crinoline and dye it one of a multitude of colors. Just look at these options:I love the ranges they have, especially the greens and blues.

I've tried my hands at dying a few things in the past and for the cost of dye and then cleaning products to remove the mess you made, $17 is a wonderful deal and worth the piece of mind knowing you have a gorgeous even pop of color on your wedding day without blue fingers.

Another wedding painting

2009-03-13T11:08:00.002-05:00

Big thanks to Rachel and her displaying the painting a made of her wedding dress on her blog (I'd offer you a fruit basket if I actually knew any fruit that was edible at this time of year).

Kelly from My Island Wedding saw it and contacted me. She wanted not just her dress but also one of her husbands tux and then she asked for something I was a touch hesitant on.

She wanted to include a picture of their dog Madchen who had sadly passed on recently. I've only attempted two doggie paintings so far, one looked okay and the other failed spectacularly (hence why you've never seen it). But I really wanted to try.

There has never been a time in my life that I didn't have a dog that was my best bud and I know they always have a little special place in your heart.

So I sat down and through a slight anti-histamine fog (damn trees, stop breeding) somehow I got this beautiful painting out and am still a bit floored that I painted it.

I guess this means I may just be able to paint puppies too. Yay!

I hope you enjoy and love it a lot Kelly. I know I already do.

If you would like your own here is an option for a scene like above with both the dress and tux, and here is one for just the dress. Puppies in there are completely optional.

Hand Painted Invitations

2009-03-11T14:02:00.003-05:00

Recently, I stumbled across these gorgeous wedding invitations that are hand painted (using my favorite medium, acrylic) and are only about $4-$6 a piece from Paintings by Sharon.

Each invitation has the image painted on not scanned and printed off and she does all the assembling. Just look at some of these amazing options.
I really love these little blue birds, and the RSVPs have adorable nests on them.
Who wouldn't want to send each guest their own little piece of art.

She also does really adorable maps as well. Wouldn't that make a cute Save the Date?

Paper prettier than the real thing

2009-03-10T11:51:00.002-05:00

Looking for something a touch different to carry down the aisle, have your bridesmaids or groomsmen carry/wear, or just to decorate with?

How about a paper rose from La Fleur De Papier?

I really love the long stem roses and at $5.50 each they're incredibly elegant and also economical to carry down the aisle.

You can even have her customize your own bouquet with whatever colors you want.

And each flower has a dash of rose oil added to give a beautiful scent.

They're all so delicate and beautiful they'd make a wonderful addition to a wedding, plus you can keep them for years to come.

Painting of your wedding dress

2009-03-06T09:25:00.000-06:00

Time for that announcement I promised I'd make today (it's a good one, I swear).

For those of you that have been reading for a long time you know that early on in my painting spree I sat down and painted out not only my wedding dress but also my husbands tux. Okay so I can't paint people (it's the hands and noses, if we didn't have hands and noses I'd be golden) but I have a good eye for fabrics and clothing.

I really like my two paintings and I got to thinking, maybe someone else would also like a little painting of their own dress. In fact I've already done two of the more prominent wedding blog-o-sphere newlyweds.

The first was of Jenna's Evelyn based upon one of millions of gorgeous pictures she had from her wedding.

This picture of her painting was actually taken by That Wife herself as I have no skills at taking pictures of my own paintings. They always look so much better in real life.She wanted some emphasis put on the brooch and I really am still a touch gobsmacked at how it turned out. Maybe I should get some pins so I can paint angels on them or something.

My other newlywed painting was of Rachel's dress from Girl Learning Along the Way. I worked to capture the fullness of her skirt and also to show how light and airy it was. I love the color purple she picked for the background too, it really set the whole thing off.

So what does all that have to do with you? Why I am offering the same deal to anyone else who wants their own wedding dress painting at my store on etsy. For just $15 I'd paint a small painting keepsake of your wedding dress.

But for all of you my, blogger friends, I offer a better deal. If you'd like your own painting, I'll give you a $5 reduction and only charge you for the cost of supplies and shipping.

If that's still too much, you can get your own wedding dress painting for a whole $5 (so basically shipping price) by mentioning my Etsy store on your own blog in a post.

I don't have to do just wedding dresses either. I could do say a mothers dress as a present, or a series of bridesmaids dresses, or another idea I've had is to do both the tux and dress dancing together. The background is completely customizable as well.

And for all of you who are still waiting on your own wedding, don't worry I'll keep this deal open.

So, totally crazy idea or not?

Ring around the Neck

2009-01-14T13:27:00.002-06:00

These made the wedding blog rounds a while back, but Cyberoptix Tie Lab has come out with some cool new ties (I really like the wood one). They're all silk, handscreened and cost about $30.
These would make --if not to be in the wedding-- really cool groomsmen gifts. Or even for the fathers if they are into some of the cool options.

Flowers in your hair

2009-01-09T15:05:00.003-06:00

Want to wear a real flower in your hair but worried about it dying and wilting too quickly?

Why not check out Bela Brazilian Designs

They have preserved real flowers and incorporated them into designs for jewelry as well as headbands and hair pins. If you really want a rare or very exotic flower that is hard to find during your wedding this could be a cool idea and you could wear it years after your wedding.

A Ringbearer's bowl?

2009-01-06T14:56:00.003-06:00

Not so crazy about the idea of having a ringbearer carrying down an overpriced pillow?

How about a bowl instead? It's sure to get more reuse after the wedding than a tiny pillow.

This wooden bowl is handcrafted and costs a whole $15

More in the mood for something on the wild side? This porcelain bowl with a green and black motif costs $30

This adorable heart shaped bowl comes in at $20.

Want something a bit smaller but also personalized? How about this small ring bowl for $15?

Or for the ultimate in personalization you and your fiance could visit a Paint Yourself Silly type store and make your own little ring bowl painted together. My hubby and I had a ton of fun one Valentines day making our special wizard bowl (it's very important as it holds all our stamps now).

Flower girl dresses, Target Style

2008-12-19T14:10:00.002-06:00

I'm not a big fan of dresses that cost over $150 for a bridesmaid much less one for a 5 year old that is more than likely going to get into something sticky 2 seconds after pictures are done and outgrow the thing a week after the wedding.

So for my wedding we went a bit more non traditional route and found the flower girls dress for a whole $15. Where, I hear you asking. Why at Target of course.

This is just a sampling of the dresses the have. If you're having a more wintry or darker hued wedding wouldn't one of these just look amazing and best of all every one of them is under $25.

As Regal as Purple

2008-12-18T14:23:00.000-06:00

1 Lavendar Earrings $19 2. Lavendar Necklace $40 3. Lavendar Bracelet $20
4. Deep Purple $28 5. Amethyst Comb $48 6. Light bracelet $32
7. Purple Earrings $28 8. Burgandy Pearls $44 9.Gold crystal $40
10. Rose Hair pin $8 11. Copper pearl ring $18 12. Wild Berries hair pin $35

The birthday cake

2008-12-17T08:00:00.002-06:00

This weekend for me was spend creating the best birthday cake a 4 year old farm kid can possibly imagine. I have a few tricks up my sleeve after 1 year of doing some cake decorating (though I did very few cakes during that time). Most of all, don't be afraid to try something. Oh and watch Ace of Cakes on a regular basis. They are super creative.

Anyway on with the story. I baked the cake last weekend actually. I allowed it to cool and got rid of some areas where there was some excess cake, such as between the wheels (which were all but connected). I then did a skim layer of frosting (mostly so I wouldn't get crumbs in the rest of the icing when I did the actual decoration). After this I promptly stuck the cake in the freezer until Saturday morning when the mess began. Ok, I lied, the mess actually began on Friday when I made the icing and blended the coloring into the icing.

Coloring icing is a challenge, especially if you want vivid colors. I used gel icing colors, but it still took a LOT, especially the green and black. Hint: go easy on the yellow though, it does not take NEARLY as much.

I stirred for a while and then decided to create the engine compartment. This was a real challenge. Although most people wouldn't care, my husband is a Technician at John Deere and felt that I had to do everything to a tee. I failed, but I really liked the engine (recreated from a blurry picture found on google). I also realized from that picture that the cab corners should have been black, but I wasn't about to scape the frosting at that time.

Well, after about 2 hours of frosting and starring and starring some more, this is what I came up with:

The "dirt" around the tractor is a mixture of oreos and graham crackers that I smashed in my food processor. I got the idea from watching Ace of Cakes about 1 week before when they were creating a sandcastle cake and using graham cracker for sand.

Lesson for the day: "Try it, it may work!"

Yellow as a Daisy

2008-12-16T13:42:00.002-06:00

1. Earrings $16 2. Butterfly Necklace $38 3. Teardrop earrings $16

4. Golden Bracelet $30 5. Paisley Pendant $68 6. Tulle Hair comb $20

7. Drop Earrings $23 8. Jeweled Comb $15 9. Pearl Necklace $72

10. Flower Earrings $10 11. Freshwater Pearls $38 12.Daisy Ring $7

Green to envy

2008-12-15T10:09:00.003-06:00

1. Rose earrings 2. Green Apple earrings $14 3. Heart glass Necklace $32

4. Leaf Earrings $27 5. Daisy Pendant $16 6. Peredot ring $50

7. Green comb $48 8. Ivory & Sage $10 9. Hair vine $26

10. Julia Necklace $46 11. Sea Sparkle Necklace $32 12. Green Bracelet $36

For the daring bride

2008-12-12T10:40:00.003-06:00

Some red jewelry options:

1. Crystal Earrings $20 2. Cranberry bracelet $30. 3. Ruby Crystal Pendant $19

4. Hair Comb $16 5. Musical Earrings $12 6. Fascinator $20

7. Pearl set $45 8. Love pendant $30 9. Garnet De'esse $35

10. Siam Earrings $14 11. Floral Choker $35 12. Red berry tiara $35

Something Blue-Jewelry

2008-12-11T10:42:00.005-06:00

If you're looking for a little color on your wedding day but still want to have a white dress why not try it in some jewelry. I'm going to create different boards for all the colors of jewelry options. First one is my favorite color, blue.

1. Blue earrings $14 2. Necklace $30 3. Blue skies earrings $46

4. Earrings with Mother of Pearl $16 5. Sapphire earrings $16 6. Dainty bracelet $27

7. Blue Skies Necklace $18 8. Necklace and Earring set $34 9. Hawaii Titanium Ring $125

10. Pearl Bracelet $25 11. Triple pearl Necklace $45 12. Crystal Bracelet $24

Eco-budget-friendly: Part 1 - In general

2008-12-10T11:07:00.003-06:00

This is the first of a series about how you can plan an eco-friendly wedding that won't break the bank.

First, I must dispel the myth that eco-friendly X means tacking an additional cost to X: in fact, I'll argue that if you're paying more, you're not doing it right!

Simplicity is inherently eco-friendly. It usually takes a small army of bakers to make a cake, for instance. Factor in all the gas burned by each of their cars coming in to work that morning/afternoon to make your cake, the heat of the building in which the cake was made, etc and you start seeing some real eco-savings if you decide to make your own cake (or have it made by a friend/family member who will be coming to the wedding anyway).

Instead of going through one of those green wedding sites and ordering orga/loca/etc invitations, buy recycled paper, and have it printed with a refillable ink cartridge.

For favors and centerpieces, buy things that can be reused. Don't buy 100 tiny cardboard boxes, tie them in bits of ribbon, and fill them with individually wrapped candies - all things which create a lot of waste - instead give each of your guest a small packet of seed in a tiny pot, or even a magnet they can use for many years.

Try to reduce the waste of your wedding by doing small things. Order a keg or two of beer for your guests instead of having an open bar where they purchase individual bottles. If possible, use the hall's linens and cloth napkins, which they will clean and re-use. Rent tuxes instead of buying them. Buy a used wedding dress, take care of it, and then resell it on eBay or Craigslist.

Purchase in-season flowers from a greenhouse, where you can pick them up directly at the location. This way you don't need to have them shipped from far away, which will increase your carbon footprint. Even be bold and use living plants and not flowers - purchase small planters and use ivy, or tiny roseplants, and then give your plants away at the end to your guests. That reduces the waste of all those dead flowers.

I will have individual posts on the items mentioned above in the future - namely, how to make your cake in an affordable and timely fashion, making your own reusable favors and centerpieces for largely eco-friendly materials, and so forth. Stay tuned!

Bridesmaids gift

2008-12-09T16:35:00.000-06:00

They were there for you for the highs and lows of wedding planning. So why not find them something cool?

This cute little bowl is $14 from Elms Studios Online

These delectable cupcakes are actually soap at $4 a piece.

This clutch is only $18 and would make a great makeup travel bag.

And my favorite advice for the reception in pendant form for $6.95

The wedding is over, now what?

2008-12-09T14:00:00.002-06:00

Pictures of course. Once you get your pictures back, you're gonna want to display them. Today (while looking for frames for my office, which has been recently remodeled) I ran across a few really cute frames that are just a bit unique.

This one is from Walmart: I enjoy collage picture frames. They're a great way to show off major events in your life that require more than one picture to tell the story. Weddings are a great example of this, but so are children. With a collage picture frame you can add a picture a year and wind up with something fabulous for his or her high school graduation. This one is from Target:

I found the last couple on etsy. My son loves to go fishing at our cabin in Canada and these two remind me so much of him.

The little boy in the last picture is just too adorable to not post.

Winter Centerpieces

2008-12-08T13:29:00.004-06:00

All of these centerpieces are from Better Homes and Gardens.

Saving money and stress: avoid the pre-wedding diet craze

2008-12-08T08:25:00.002-06:00

The admonitions to slim backs, legs, arms, waists, and what-have-you saturate popular wedding sites, often in the form of Health/Fitness blogs, messageboards, and articles.

As Dr. House said on last week's episode, 'Not many women have the courage to admit that they'd rather be pretty than healthy' (I'm paraphrasing).

The truth is, most of these health/fitness sections have a lot less to do with actual health and actual fitness. They're more about feeding into the anxiety, paranoia, and obsession most brides in America have with weight loss before their wedding. If you don't believe me, check out some of the articles - they're mostly about "targeting" certain body parts for shrinkage, and "looking your best" in various kinds of dresses, and so forth. A quick perusal of the messageboards of these sites shows many disordered eating habits, crash diets, and expensive personal trainers being employed to whittle a body down to fit into too-small dress.

So save your money and save yourself stress:

Don't buy into the obsession with losing X lbs before the big day. If you're concerned for your health in general, embark on a long-term regime, and don't beat yourself up if you don't lose a significant amount of weight. Health and weight are only tenuously correlated: and one often can become healthier through exercise and moderate nutritional modifications not lose a significant amount of weight.
Don't buy into the idea that a thin bride is the only bride that can be pretty. Find the right kind of dress for your unique body type, find a dress that fits at your current weight, and rock it! There are many benefits to this approach: you'll save expensive alterations, the stress of dieting at the same time you're planning a wedding, and possible health issues during the wedding ceremony (many women crash their way into a too-small dress by fasting the day before and day of their wedding. This can lead to fainting spells, irritability, fogginess, etc).
Don't be afraid of being yourself in your wedding photos. Do you really want to look back twenty years later at a person who only somewhat resembled your true body, and beat yourself up that you can't any longer fit into a wedding dress that you barely fit into the day of your wedding?

So save yourself stress and money: avoid the pre-wedding diet craze. Your body, and your wallet, will thank you for it.

Playmobil wedding

2008-12-06T09:16:00.003-06:00

Growing up I was never allowed to play with Legos (too many small pieces I guess) so instead we had to find some entertainment in Playmobil. While not as many free things one can build their people have a lot more detail and come with lots of weird random stuff.

After perusing eBay to see what wedding stuff they offered up I thought I should share. If you or your fiance were into playmobil when you were little these could make a really cute picture on some stationary object (STD's, Invitations, Reception card, Thank You note).

Geeky well wishers

2008-12-05T11:34:00.002-06:00

If you've always wanted a different spin on those little scraps of paper people put out for their friends and family to write well wishes on and are also a huge computer geek why not try putting some of these on a few tables:Both are available here for $5.

Music Lover

2008-12-03T10:27:00.002-06:00

These planters would make adorable centerpieces for any music lovers. And wouldn't be too hard to do yourself if you wanted to have the music to your first dance song. Just get the sheet music, adhesive spray it to the planter then cover in acrylic to give a nice sheen.

Not that these are too costly either at just $3.77 a piece. Add some flowers to the real planter and viola a gorgeous centerpiece that is also functional after the wedding.

Some STD Inspiration

2008-12-02T14:49:00.004-06:00

Some of these pictures would just make the most adorable STD's:

The link

Such a gorgeous woodcut, that would be adorably sweet

The link

I love the title of this one "Love Makes us Bloom"

The link

Such a cute start to a love story

El Linksky

Ready to start your home together?

I really want a simple wedding, but....

2008-12-02T08:27:00.000-06:00

My parents want to throw a huge party and invite all their friends and lots of extended family. This is the situation that I dealt with when planning my wedding. My parents had visions of inviting everyone and their dogs to the wedding. The problem is, my mom's side of the family is quite religious and is very set against drinking and such, so we had to figure out how to keep them happy too.

For those of you that are dealing with a similar dilemma, here's what I eventually settled on with my parents:

We had a small, family only wedding (except for those friends who were actually in the wedding and their significant others). Following the ceremony, those that attended the wedding were served food. Those that were not invited to the ceremony were invited to come at a later time, so it also cut costs by quite a bit by not serving as many people supper. Here's a pic of me and my best friend as she was helping me get ready.

Those who came later were welcome to eat the left-over food and have some cake (we did get plenty of cake, but that's a whole other rant). After the food, the reception was exactly what my parents really wanted. I know there's no way I talked to everyone. There was plenty of booze to go around. Everyone had a wonderful time. My bridesmaids didn't allow for too much leftovers as you can see by this picture. We propose this should become a picture that everyone has to take for their wedding because it's just too much fun to take.

As far as my mom's family, they're the type that won't stay out late, so by setting the time for the large reception a bit later, her family was gone by the time the booze came out (at least in large quantities).

So, for those of you dealing with this problem, either you want a small wedding or maybe the tables are turned and you want the big wedding and your parents don't: consider meeting in the middle. It saves tons of money and you've compromised enough to hopefully make everyone happy.

Etsy winter wedding

2008-12-01T10:42:00.005-06:00

As December descends upon us I thought it'd be fun to share some great winter wedding finds from etsy.

1. Snow queen Garter 2. Ring Bearers Pillow 3. Capelet
4.Icy roses headband 5. Snow blossom Earrings 6.Crystal cake topper
7. Flowers in the snow necklace 8. Hair pins 9. Frost Peony hair piece

1. Winter glasses 2.Blue headpiece 3. Bird Cake toppers
4. Snowflake guestbook 5.Snowflake embossed invitations 6. Blue necklace
7. Hair combs for bridal party 8.Snowflake Garter 9. Snow people card
10. Capelet 11. Feathered hair piece 12. Snow bell earrings

A bit off the subject

2008-11-30T18:21:00.002-06:00

Well, I had an interesting experience this weekend. While out shopping on Friday (and yes, it was a bit scary), I ran into a couple girls in the dressing room. That wouldn't have bothered me so much if they hadn't been trying on and showing off the santa-style lingerie.

I'm sure it looked fine; I'm not the type to check out girls in the dressing room so I wasn't looking that close, but when the one said "And I could even wear it to school because it goes past my hips", I lost it. I was laughing hysterically (while trying to remain quiet) as I went on trying on my pants. The next thing I heard was "but how are you going to get it past your grandma?". I mean, seriously, this is a problem.

Has anyone else had an experience like this they'd like to share?

A Thanksgiving Wedding

2008-11-27T11:13:00.000-06:00

For your guests

2008-11-26T10:17:00.003-06:00

Want to give your guests a favor to remember your special day, but don't want to spend a fortune on trinkets? WrapWithUs carries a huge selection of affordable favors, including these (all under $1!).

1. Bath salts 2. Picture frame 3. Rose-shaped candles 4. Cookie cutter set 5. Mint tin 6. Bookmark 7. Keychain 8. Scented candle 9. Bottle stopper

A not so rosy wedding

2008-11-26T07:17:00.000-06:00

No, I'm not saying the wedding went bad, although there were definintely things that could have gone better (i.e. bridesmaid #2). I'm saying I didn't want roses at my wedding because everyone uses roses. I had daisies. I love daisies! They're just a happy flower!

The other thing that caused me to choose daisies is the thought that I really wanted a green and yellow wedding, not particularly due to John Deere (though my husband would say otherwise). Actually, I just love green and although there are other colors that go well with it, none go as well as yellow.

The plan was that my bridesmaids would wear hunter green and maid of honor would wear yellow, but that went downhill fast because she absolutely could not pull off a yellow dress to save her life, so we decided to go with purple for her dress (from B2), which ended up being my other color. So the only way I got to have my green and yellow wedding was to have yellow flowers, and although yellow roses are by far my favorite flower, I didn't want to have your normal wedding. (Yellow roses are also symbols of friendship, which seemed not quite right also.) Daisies are so happy and so simple, it was just so me. Daisies also seemed more informal, which is me through and throuh.

So if you haven't already gone for the traditional roses, take a look around. Daisies are a wonderful option.

Lastly, I'm going to leave you with this picture. I just thought it was a beautiful picture. I LOVE DAISIES!

Nerdy links

2008-11-25T13:40:00.005-06:00

Guys put up with a lot of the wedding process. They're willing to wear a stuffy tux, stand still while tons of pictures are taken, or heaven help them even wear pink.

So why not encourage to let a little bit of that original nerdy charm shine through with their cuff links. I was seriously tempted by these for my own wedding as my guy adores Legos but he said no (spoil sport).

These are all from Cufflinks and the bottom left is an actual usable pen drive.

And these from The Clay Collection while they all look like earrings with a simple note can be turned into amazing cufflinks.

My favorites are the little BLT sandwich and Tom Servo.

Something old...

2008-11-25T10:21:00.002-06:00

I've spent the majority of my life thinking it would have been so cool to grow up in the 1940s or 50s. The music, the clothes, the cars... what a life! It would be fun to go back just for a day. This thought (and a poster of Audrey Hepburn) inspired my board for today:

1950's Wedding

1. Bridal gown 2. Wedding night lingerie 3. Shoes 4. Record-player cake 5. Fur shawl 6. Cake topper 7. Jewelry 8. Suit 9. Rental jukebox

Grandma would love this!

A Fruitfilled wedding

2008-11-24T13:13:00.002-06:00

This is a great idea for any fall wedding (and I seriously considered for my own for a bit). All you need are a bunch of tea lights, a special tool (though if you are talented a paring knife would work as well) and any fruit of your choice.

It's called a candle carver and you can use it to cut a little top out of anything from apples to pumpkins to even lemons. And then you put in a tea light to give a gorgeous glow for centerpieces.

The only big issue is that you would have to do it the week before the wedding and even then you'd probably want some fruit fresh (or ascorbic acid) to keep the apples looking good.

So if you got a lot of friends willing to help you out and a fall wedding maybe some fruit candles would make a great centerpiece.

Or instead of candles you could put some flowers inside of the apples.

Damask wedding set

2008-11-24T10:29:00.007-06:00

If you're really big into damask or the idea of a black & white wedding here is a sample of some of the places you could showcase damask for a wedding:

A gorgeous black and white damask wedding invitation

The program paper

A little favor box

A damask garter

A damask ring bearers pillow

The guest book

And for a nice final touch, some damask earrings.

Cherry Blossom Invites

2008-11-23T13:26:00.006-06:00

After a cold snap here it has suddenly warmed up to a gorgeous and sunny 50 degrees (practically shorts weather really) putting me in mind of spring and the gorgeous blooming of cherry trees.

Here are some gorgeous invitations for the bride that is madly in love with cherry blossoms:

This simple design is from CricketPrinting at $3.75 a set.

These from SandyPhotoArt are a little bit pricier at $4.50 for a set but I just love the twisted tree on the side.

For something a bit more whimsical check out these invitations from Pink Lilly Press. With this option you can decide how much of the set you want.

Finally if you love the look of cherry blossoms but aren't so big into pink with these invitations from Whimsical Prints there are 26 different color options for the branches.

He's making a list, checking it twice...

2008-11-23T09:04:00.004-06:00

Have you been dreaming of a white (Christmas) wedding? Here are some Christmas themed ideas to add some holiday spirit to your big day.

1. Cupcakes 2. Poinsettia tuxedo vest 3. Bouquet with white roses and pine 4. Invitations 5. Customized favors 6. DIY Centerpiece 7. Serving set 8. Festive gowns 9. Cake

Bouquet Charms

2008-11-22T09:08:00.003-06:00

It's pretty popular for brides to decorate their bouquets with cute little charms. For those who want to add their own personal mark to their bouquets why not try using a scrabble pendant:

1. Flower pendant 2. Growing heart 3. Pink Daisy
4. Love birds 5. Golden Horizon 6. Dogwood tree
7. Hot pink heart 8. Goldfish 9. Boy meets girl

These little popular pendants cost anywhere from $2 to $6 and there are so many different artists and ideas that anything you can think of could be used to decorate your flowers.

They're so cheap you could even give them to your bridesmaids to gussy up their own bouquets.

Anniversary band hell

2008-11-21T11:22:00.009-06:00

Well for the last year or so, my husband and I have been on the look out for an anniversary band. I mean, it's not that I don't love my wedding ring, but in my line of work I need something that is more durable. My prongs are already worn on my diamond, so I'm worried about losing it.

I want something simple. Honestly, I don't even care if it has a diamond in it. Actually, I'd just about prefer it not because then I wouldn't be so worried about losing the diamond. When you go looking for an anniversary band, you're likely to come up with one of very few styles such as these: Myself, I like the second one better, but I'd prefer something unique, though maybe not this unique:

I'd kind of like something with a couple of birth stones and more of a plain (somewhat flat) band. Actually, the kind of thing that draws my eyes are mens rings with inset stones. Does anyone out there have a suggestion for me, preferably a relatively cheap suggestion?

Stars in the sky

2008-11-21T09:36:00.004-06:00

If there is one thing to steal wedding ideas from it's Mother Nature. That lady has the most amazing ideas when it comes to blend of colors and mixing of textures.

For this decor we're stealing the night sky, mostly stars and how well a romantic night under them works for a wedding.

This is the super fancy holy crap I don't want to know what it costs idea.

But to make an even more gorgeous night sky all you need are some simple and cheap rope lights (6' for $18):

And then get a mix of cheap blue and purple fabrics (from hancock fabrics).

To put it all together you just have to first drape the rope lights then the fabric from the ceiling and you'll get a gorgeous warm and inviting starry night feel without having to shell out hundreds of dollars.

Funky Centerpieces

2008-11-20T13:08:00.000-06:00

Want to have some major pomp and awe with your centerpieces but can't afford that huge tree in the middle of the table.

How about trying some funky lights instead.

These little glowing cubes are from Save on Crafts and 5 of them cost $15 which can easily fit inside of a cool vase and bring your tables to life.

Or if you are the more creative type you could get some glow wire at 6' for under $20 and create your own lighted spin on the centerpieces. Imagine how cool it could be to take a large fishbowl and wrap the wire around inside of it and top it off with some flowers inside.
If you want a few more color options here they come in orange and fuchsia.

Teal wedding

2008-11-20T11:22:00.002-06:00

A teal wedding inspiration:

Top left: 1. JS teal dress. 2. A wedding in a box from http://www.giasweddingstore.com/ 3. Cake from http://www.tastylayers.com/

4. Cool hat 5. Vintage flower 6.Invitations from Sonjas brides

7. Bubble and teal table 8. Shoes from Amazon.com 9. Silk flowers from Budget Bride

My Inspiration

2008-11-20T11:19:00.002-06:00

It was suggested that I make an inspiration board to showcase my ideas for my own (very distant future) wedding. My favorite color is pink, and I wanted to incorporate that into my special day.

My guy has agreed to the pink and black color scheme with the understanding that he will have to wear no more pink than a simple boutonniere. Here is a look at my inspiration board, followed by a description of the photos.

(From left to right, top to bottom)

1. The invitations are white with a pink peony design in the lower lefthand corner to both introduce the color scheme and showcase one of the flowers to be used on the day of the ceremony.

2. The grooms tux (designed at Men's Wearhouse) will feature a black two-button jacket, and white vest and tie.

3. This cake is decorated with a pin-tuck design, with edible raspberry pearls.

4. The bridesmaid dress is Alfred Angelo, and is available in 55 colors.

5. This engagement/bridal ring is designed by Sirena, and may be found at Brodkeys.

6. The bridal gown is also Alfred Angelo, and is the main inspiration for the entire wedding scheme.

7. The shoes are by Dyeables.

8. The flower girl dress is by (surprise!) Alfred Angelo.

9. The reception centerpiece features the bouquet flowers, as well as some added greenery. It will look very elegant atop black linens, and is tall enough to add levels to the table, but short enough to allow guests to chat across the table.

10. The simple boutonnieres have 2-3 small rosebuds, and are the only way my groom will wear pink.

11. This unity candle is surrounded by roses and peonies. Fire hazard? Possibly. But it's just so pretty!

12. The groomsmen tux was also designed at The Mens Wearhouse.

13. This bouquet features pink and white roses and peonies. My two favorite flowers! The bridal bouquet will also have black roses incorporated into the mix.

My first rant

2008-11-20T09:33:00.000-06:00

Well today I've got to vent about how picky an eater my husband is. Honestly, I think there's about 10 meals that I can make without treats (that usually end up being promises) that he's not going to eat it. I've never dealt with a picky eater, I'm probably the pickiest eater in my whole family, which means there are a few things that I won't eat: onions, coconut, and peanut butter for example.

My husband will eat nothing green and I'm not kidding. If it has an herb or spice in it that he can see is green, he won't touch it. I made garlic cheese bread the other night to go along with our spagetti. By gosh, he wouldn't eat it because I had put italian seasoning on it.

He's got other little problems too, like he tends to skip meals if there's no one to tell him to eat, which irritates the heck out of me because then he's hungry at suppertime and still doesn't konw what to eat because he's so picky.

Well, that is all for now. Likely, there will be more rants like this (possibly even about picky eaters). Does anyone have suggestions for recipes to feed him?

A Butterfly Wedding

2008-11-20T07:26:00.000-06:00

Really want to have some butterflies at your wedding but can't imagine having to sneak out and trap them all in nets the night before or put butterfly feeders all around the outside of the church?

Why not try 3D Insects?

These gorgeous butterflies can come in many different colors and stick to any surface. But what makes them really neat are you can bend the wings to any angle you want and they're thin enough to flutter in a slight breeze.

Imagine how cool it would be to have butterflies fluttering on an altar or your centerpieces.

Dresses from Sears?

2008-11-19T15:36:00.000-06:00

It's amazing the deals you can find at department stores for bridesmaid dresses: This dress has a lace trim on the bodice while the gathered waist flares into a pleated taffeta skirt. Just perfect for a black tie wedding on a brown suit budget at $80.

For a more muted but still eye popping red this $80 satin dress could blend in well at either a fall or winter wedding.

While this dress is made from a jersy fabric, the colored band at the waist adds a nice little twist on a more classic LBD staple. It also comes in at a whole $70

This beautiful teal dress comes in at a whole $50. I love the little jeweled accent on the bodice and the ruching. Reminds me a lot of my wedding dress.

This cotton dress is an absolute steal at $30, and the color scheme and pattern are so cool I could easily see someone basing an entire wedding off of it.

I hope I've been able to convince you to try checking out some department store sales instead of the bridal salons.

Folding Flops

2008-11-19T14:01:00.000-06:00

As a member of a banquet staff at a high-end country club, I have witnessed first-hand how something as simple as a napkin can make or break the reception decor.

Things to consider when selecting a napkin fold for your wedding include:
Glassware - Will there be wine glasses to tuck a fold into?
Centerpiece - Will it be hidden by a tall fold?
Meal service - Will your salads be pre-set, or can the napkin be centered between silverware?
Menus - Will they be hidden by the napkin, or used to enhance the napkin fold?
Spacing - How many guests will be seated at each table? Will there be room for a more spread-out fold, or should it be simpler and more contained?

Check out this site to view a variety of napkin folds, and be sure to bring up the subject when meeting with your reception coordinator.

A little about me...

2008-11-19T13:39:00.000-06:00

Leslie here. I guess the first thing I should do on here is to introduce myself and tell you a bit about me. I have been married for most of 4 years now. I have a little boy, Brett, that will be 4 years old in less than a month. He's growing up so fast. I'm also expecting another child in May.

If you want to see some pictures of my son, his website is on shutterfly.com.

My experience with wedding planning is short. I did my own, which may have been the world's simplest and cheapest wedding. I don't know the final budget, but I'd have to guess around $2500. My sister recently got married and I helped a bit in the beginning but then slowly throughout the process I seemed to get further and further from the picture. I was supposed to be a personal attendant at her wedding, but wound up doing nothing except helping to take care of her son during the wedding. Oh, and I made sure the kids didn't take off with the toys during the reception. That was a good help, right?

Actually my most recent experience with weddings was for my best friend. I got to be her matron of honor, which was definitely an honor. Her wedding was nearly as simple as mine, but due to a difference in location was probably double the cost.

Well since I can't think of anything else to add, I'll stop here.