Friday, September 28, 2012

DIY Program Fans

 
 
I love seeing fans at outdoor ceremonies. They double as favors and they keep your guests cool. Lately, I've been seeing a lot of fans with programs printed on them. That's like killing...3 birds with one stone! I've noticed that some sites sell them for a RIDICULOUS amount. I'm going to show you how to make super inexpensive program fans!
 
 
You will need; heavy cardstock, a paper trimmer, a corner punch, jumbo craft sticks and a hot glue gun.
 
You can type up your program on Microsoft Word or use a free printable website.
 
These are just a few sites that have beautiful wedding printables.

  • Print up your programs on the cardstock. Make sure to adjust your printer options for the best printing results.
  • Cut each program to the desired size.
  • Punch each corner to give it a professional touch. *If your punch starts to get dull and won't work, punch some aluminum & good as new!*
  • Hot glue the jumbo craft sticks to the back of the cardstock & you're all done
You can add your own creative flair; tie ribbons around the craft sticks, glue rhinestones to the program, etc.

Good luck & Happy Crafting! :)
 


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Wednesday, September 26, 2012

5 Things You Don't Need at Your Wedding That Can Save You A Lot!


There is an amazing amount of waste after a wedding night comes to an end. Couples spend money on things because they think they HAVE to. I always tell my brides that- this is their love story, they can write their own rules! The top 5 things that I see couples spending a lot of money on, that can be an extra expense & wasteful are;

Favors.  Half of your guests will forget to take them & the other half of your guests will throw them away. Don't get me wrong, if your budget is limitless, favors can be such fun to design! If you find yourself not wanting to waste money, favors are a good thing to cut!

Serving coffee with cake. Paying your caterer to supply coffee with cake is a huge expense. I remember the first time I learned how much is charged for 5 gallons of coffee, I nearly choked! Guests won't notice the difference if it isn't served.

Paper. After cleaning up after a wedding, the amount of paper thrown away is alarming! It's also expensive ordering menus, personalized beverage napkins, escort cards, etc. Paper costs are necessary, but an abundance can be costly & wasteful.

A Champagne toast is very expensive. Most venues/caterers charge per glass which can REALLY add up. If you are having a full open bar, you can opt. for a drink toast instead.

Save the Date cards. If you are having a destination wedding or a large portion of your family lives out of town, you're going to have to bite the bullet and send them out. Otherwise, it really isn't necessary and the typical 3 months notice of your upcoming nuptials is plenty accommodating.

I hope this helps! I'll follow up with a post on what you should spend money on! :)

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Monday, September 24, 2012

Fall Wedding Flowers

Happy Fall! For those of you getting married this fall, or planning a wedding for next fall, you might be interested to know what flowers are in season. Choosing in season flowers can save you A TON of money!
 
 
Fall Wedding Flowers:
 
  • Roses
  • Gerbera Daisies
  • Hydrangea
  • Irises
  • Delphinium
  • Amaryllis
  • Carnations
  • Viburnum
  • Narcissus
  •  

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Monday, September 10, 2012

Anniversary gifts


Happy Anniversary to my amazing, devoted husband. This first year of marriage has been a whirlwind. I never thought I'd find a love like this. I look forward to that love growing with each passing year.

 
1st Anniversary Gift: Paper
2nd: Cotton
3rd: Leather
4th: Linen, silk, fruit, flowers
5th: Wood
6th: Iron, sugar
7th: Wool, copper
8th: Bronze, salt
9th: Pottery, copper
10th: Tin/Aluminum
11th: Steel
12th: Silk, fine linen
13th: Lace
14th: Ivory
15th: Crystal
20th: Chine
25th: Silver
30th: Pearl
35th: Coral, jade
40th: Ruby
45th: Sapphire
50th: Golden
55th: Emerald
60th: Diamond
 

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Friday, September 7, 2012

Little Miss Chatterbox Party

My niece is turning 8 this October. She has been begging her mom for a Little Miss Chatterbox party. My sister called me for some advice. She had looked online & wouldn't you know,  the Little Miss Chatterbox party supplies were discontinued. My lucky day!! :) Aunt Jessie to the rescue! I googled images of Little Miss Chatterbox & found the perfect one on www.wikipedia.com . Next step was to go to the www.weddingchicks.com . I printed up the cutest Ombre invitation suite. I added a few little touches & VIOLA!

 
I Purchased the card stock, ribbon, punch & adhesive rhinestones at Michael's. I found the envelopes at Staples. 
 
I'll post more pictures after her party. I really hope she enjoys her own personalized Little Miss Chatterbox party! :)


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Wednesday, September 5, 2012

10 Ways to Save BIG on You Wedding Day


1. Find a venue that allows you to bring in your own alcohol and mixers!
 This could save $$$$. Clip coupons and buy all your refreshments when your local grocery store is having great deals.

2. Choose flowers that are in season and affordabley priced.
 You may love peonies, but they're expensive and only available during late Winter and Spring. An affordable alternative that is available all year long are garden roses! When bunched together, they can look very similar. Your florist will know these little tricks of the trade to save you!

3.  Avoid pricey stationery.
 Letterpress and beveled edges on your invitation suites can really add up. I've seen some couples spend $2k on stationery alone. This is all well and good if you can afford it, and it can really set the tone for a black tie affair. Chances are though, if you're on #3 on ways to save money, you're like most people that are on a budget. Craft stores even offer invitations you can print up on your computer and assemble yourself(you can even bribe your bridesmaids to help out)! There are also tons of fun websites you can download FREE invitations from!
www.weddingchicks.com  www.marthastewartweddings.com  100layercake.com

4. Have a  stage cake.
 Those intricate designs made of fondant and gum paste can look amazing, but they can really break the bank. A lot of couples have their baker design their cake on Styrofoam and the caterer actually serves cake from a sheet cake. Your guests are none the wiser!

 5. Table cakes!
 Again, cakes are pricey, as are flowers. You can serve table cakes at each table. They double as centerpieces and dessert. Everyone helps themselves and it's a nice way for guests to interact.

6. Food stations
 Rather than the traditional plated dinner, have a mashed potato bar or macaroni n cheese bar. The possibilities are endless. You have to keep in mind two things ; the type of food served needs to be inexpensive (pastas, potatoes, etc.) and the less servers, the less expensive. The most costly thing for food and beverage is labor!

7. Have a backyard potluck.
 If your venue allows it, potlucks can save you thousands. The most popular types of venues that this idea is feasible are backyards, barns, and ranches. A lot of venues require that every vendor brought in, must be licenced and insured (including caterer). Then there are the larger, more grand venues that don't even allow outside caterers.

8. Used recycled objects as decor.
This requires some creativity. I'll post more on DIY vases later, but think of those empty wine bottles, salsa jars, etc. Don't go out and buy a bunch of decor if you can help it. A lot of florists charge to rent out their vases for centerpieces.

9. Cut the guest list!!
 Just ask yourself, "Is it more important to have 200 guests that I don't hardly keep in touch with or to have more of what I want in my wedding, with less people?" If you are particular on what you want to have at your wedding, and don't want to compromise the quality of your big day, I suggest cutting the list. Trust me, people understand! Most people have been in your shoes.

10. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
 Is Grandma famous for her chocolate chip oatmeal cookies? Ask if she'd be willing to prepare them as favors for guests. If your Maid of Honour is great with computers, ask if she could print up the menus & programs. I don't suggest barking orders at your friends and family, but you'd be surprised how much they'd love to help you if asked in the correct manner.

Good luck & happy planning!!! :)
 

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