Color Inspiration: Pinks!

The ever popular wedding color: PINK! See these photos for some pink inspiration

Not only cute but a nice DIY centerpiece. And the napking are just fabric cut and stiched quick on the edges

I love the glamour of these. Use them in a grouping as a centerpiece, or on cocktail tables

Blush pink- check! Cute Bow- Check! Comfy Shape- Check! A perfect bridesmaid dress

Brooch bouquets are all the rage- this one is available online: Etsy shop: SolBijuo, ($350.00)

It's pink! It's ombre! And it has a cute flower. How super modern and chic

Budget Brides: Here's your keys to budgeting

I promised plenty of budget bride ideas, because I consider myself a "budget bride".
Lately, I have been reading articles that are "ways to save on your big day" but I think the suggestions are annoying.

Here are the top 3:

Have your wedding on a weekday.
Don't do any flowers
Have a friend DJ or do your photos

Here is why, even if you are a budget bride- NONE of those will work

1. No one wants to go to your wedding on a Wednesday night, after work
2. No flowers? We're women
3. A Friend DJ? Ok... Ipods are great, and speaker systems are great. Who is announcing your first dance? Or that you are cutting the cake? You? The Groom? 
Non- professional photos? Ut uh. Your " friend" all of a sudden is dancing and you have no photos of certain elements of your wedding.


Here are some tips for the budget bride that doesn't want to budge on the look or feel of her event:

1. Hold your wedding on an "off" time like a Sunday afternoon, or a Friday evening. When people are still more apt to make it, but it is less expensive.

For example: A Saturday night wedding at the Glen Manor runs $7500 for a rental. Friday is $5500!!

2.Opt to skip on "some flowers".
-Use candles or lanterns on some tables.
-Have the florist create a few "wow" centerpieces, then use greens and a few florals on other tables.
-Spend money on your bouquet- it will be the focus of MANY photos, opt to do smaller bouquets- or corsages for your girls.... a single stem even.
-Also, don't rule out places like Whole Foods- brides have been known to get beautiful flowers there for a fraction of the cost.

3. Hire a DJ, but ask if they have another member of their team that DJ's for less.
-Call around for tons of estimates.
- Tell them you really want to book them but have a strict budget. Say they charge $1100 for the night and you want to stick to $950-- tell them that!! They want your business, and in these times, need it. If they don't lower the price, they might throw in something like a slide show, or an extra 1/2 hr of playing time for free.

The same goes with photographers. There are tons of professionals that are just "starting" out, but are actually trained and went to school for photography. You are better with someone like this, than a friend that has a good camera! 
-Or ask a photographer you love but is out of your price range for perhaps a recommendation of someone less expensive (this worked great for us).
-Finally, if you love a photographers work- but can't afford their 10 hr package. Think about a smaller 6 hr package. They can still get all the best moments- but just won't be there at the end of the night to catch the sweaty crowd doing the Macarena.

Finally, with all vendors. Be wary of an upsell. Sure the look of a pintuck satin linen is beautiful, but is  it worth the money? Your cotton pintuck linen looks just as good- and likely, your guests won't even know!

Countdown Till' Vera Release 2 days!!

So a few weeks ago I received an email from DB stating that there is a "pre release" event on February 10th!!

It's just around the corner- two days away until I can get my hands on/touch/feel/embrace/love etc a White by Vera dress at DB.

Some photos are below of the entire line. You can see them on David's Bridal.com now under "Vera Wang-White"

I got an invite for the preview day a few weeks back- so if you are interested in attending just call your local store to find out if they have them coming in on the 10th and tell them you'd like to join in the madness too!

Here are some photos from the DB collection:

ps. I'd also like to mention that one of the above dresses is a STRONG contender for what I may wear on my wedding day :)

xoxo

Banner Love- This week's DIY

This week's DIY is actually something I am going to throw together real soon. As soon as I get my hands on some burlap and string to do so.


I absolutely love these banners and while I think they are adorable for weddings- I also think they will look great used on our engagement shoot (see tomorrow for more engagement shoot inspiration).

You can grab these for around $20 on Etsy, but the entire thing would cost you under $5 to make-- and a little patience and a rainy/snowy winter afternoon....

Basically you need:

Burlap (tan or white (if you can find white-- I've had no success)

Felt or Fabric Scraps

Large knitting thread and knitting needle

Large Grosgrain or other type of sturdy ribbon (about 2 yards depending on the length of your banner)

Once I do it I will put in a full tutorial. But It basically goes like this:

• Cut the burlap into enough triangles or squares as your need.
• Sew on some fabric cut into a square, heart, circle, whatever
•  With the knitting thread (if you want it to have a contrasting effect pick a lighter or darker thread: I like the look of the red fabric and white stitching).
• Hand sew the fabric on.
• Cut out the letters in felt, Glue gun em' on.
• Use a fabric pen to jazz it up.
• Take the whole thing and glue it to the ribbon.

I know,that sounds easy right? Well, it is. It might not be 100% at the quality of the Etsy sellers.. .well I'll be honest its not. But I guarantee it will look cute and hold up long enough for you to use it in wedding photos, hang it on a doorway, on a fence, or on the back of your car.... and serve its purpose :)

I'll post pics once I get going!!

Wedding Savings: Ordering from Wholesalers

I promised some budget tips along the way, so here's a big one I've learned: Order Wholesale.


When I think of wholesale I think of huge packs of cereal, but think about it with 100+ guests you are a wholesale contender.


There are an abundance of stateside shops online like Save-on-Crafts, but there is also the ability to reach out and hit up our overseas friends. One big giant: MadeinChina.com. You can find everything on there from paper fans and tins to pack favors in-- to.. .wait for it... wedding dresses! If you are more daring than I am, consider ordering a wedding dress. They have the same styles as the big chains-- for a fraction of the price. In fact, many of the companies overseas are the ones producing the dresses for the big "name" wedding dress companies-- so you might be getting a dress that is from their very order!


One hint: Watch for price breaks. When ordering wholesale you're likely to get a price break at a certain quantity. So if you have 125 guests and you want to order 125 items-- price out ordering 150-- it may be cheaper since you hit the next price tier.


Happy Bargain hunting!

Obsession of the Day

Here is an obsession today. I have been talking about doing Moss covered letters except with White Hydrangeas to match my decor and put them on the outside of my church doors and at the reception venue doors....

Today I came across this photo:

I'm obsessed with these!!

So soon you will see a post for DIY letters..  but these I intend on doing a tutorial for!! Whoo hoo

Decor Decor

So when I started looking for inspiration, I went right to decor and flowers. And Loving flowers as much as I do, I get enthralled at looking at the pictures of them. But when I came across this centerpiece I thought it was great. Simple. understated. fancy. cute. all my fav.things.





Love how simple yet elegant this looks...
all photos courtesy of the knot.

 

Love this! (this photo courtesy Belle Mer)...

These inspired me, but I think they are too much effort to DIY becuase of the time it will take the morning of.

My Fav. Place setting. These are my colors. Love!