I Want Wedding Champagne!

For All The Ladies-In-Waiting: A Reprise

2012-01-23T07:30:00.004-05:00

*We interrupt this wedding planning extravaganza to bring you this heartfelt message*

As I have posted before, I have been personally struggling with my own relationship for quite some time now, feeling the frustrations many a hopeful girlfriend has felt, waiting for the love of their lives to tell them they are their one-and-only as well.

With such a prolonged troubled state, I wasn't sure if everything was going to go alright, and it looked like for a while my sanity and patience would run out before my boyfriend would be given the chance to feel comfortable proposing.

Well on the millionth night I was thinking about the matter, lying awake in bed, I was yearning for the relationship we once had a couple years ago, happy, relaxed, wandering our way through college...

I thought about the possible mistake of moving in with him, thinking that it gave me so much stress because I thought it was such a BIG DEAL. Because in a sense, yes, it was a BIG DEAL, but not as much as I made it out to be.

Suddenly I felt pressures to be a "wife", a strong and put-together woman that would be worth marrying, partly because I thought that was the logical progression of things, partly in order to try to persuade him to see that proposing "made sense" and was the proper path for us.

The problem is, I was more of a mess at that time than I have EVER been, and failure to live up to my high standards was everywhere. As time went on and no ring came, I felt more uneasy about trying to fill a wife's shoes without any promise that I would ever truly be one.

Basically I couldn't relax around him anymore, which lead to daily stress and tension between us, which I have no idea how he put with...

But suddenly a thought came to me..."Why does it have to be husband and wife living together? Why can't he just be my roommate that happens to be my boyfriend?"

*pause*

My heartrate lowered, my mind stopped racing, and a large weight was lifted from my shoulders.

I realized I missed just being his girlfriend.

It all seemed so easy now, I thought "I can do this, I was good at the girlfriend thing." XD And now, even though it will still take time to truly be comfortable and happy again, I can enjoy my boyfriend more and more instead of fearing his rejection 24/7. And things are good.

I don't know if I'll have him as a husband, but I'm 100% sure I have his heart 100% as a boyfriend.

I figure all the stress that it has caused me has made me WANT to wait for marriage, made me realize I am more scared about the responsibilities of being a wife than I thought, and made me realize I do trust my boyfriend's judgement for when a "right" time would be. (He's pretty smart, he'll figure it out. :) )

Will the fears of measuring up to "wife standards" still be with me if he proposes? Yes.

But if one day he thinks I can do it, then I can give it a try. <3

How to Plan a Wedding in Two Weeks: Other Important Necessities

2012-01-21T07:30:00.006-05:00

Miss Boa's big three, (venue, dress, and photographer,) were decided upon in a crazy short amount of time! This is one determined bride, lol.

But a few things were still needed...

1) Someone to marry them and make it official
2) Someone to get the party started at the reception
3) Something to eat for dessert
4) Something to invite the guests

The Officiant:

Finding an officiant in short notice was becoming similar to her photographer search, many were booked already and were simply out of the running by default! D:

One of the groomsmen mentioned a family member of his officiated weddings, Miss Boa had met him before and for a while was considering him to officiate, but she still had pending potentials at the time that she found on WeddingWire.

Finally, she received a reply that one of the potential officiants was free! She ending up going with D and J Ministry. They only book one wedding per day, and the ceremony and rehearsal cost $250.

Most important part of the wedding, (the actual marriage): check!

The DJ:

Miss Boa really lucked out on this one, because she used one of the best things in the wedding industry---a friendor!

A friendor is an awesome friend who does something wedding-related and is willing to help you out on your special day! Usually at a lovely, discounted friends-and-family-only price, lol.

After discussing the details with said friend from Blackrrock Sound Solutions, an outdoor ceremony and indoor reception, he suggested that two separate systems be set up: one for the indoor party and one for the outdoors, so Miss Boa's carefully selected ceremony music could be played and so the ceremony could be heard clearly by all guests!

Always a tragedy when the most beautiful vows are spoken yet no one can hear them!

Usually this would have cost quite a pretty penny, given that Blackrrock Sound would need double the amount of equipment to make the event work, not to mention an extra employee to help with setup... But Miss Boa was given the wonderful offer of half the price of the whole package! :D

And this, my friends, is why friendors ROCK!

(Miss Boa plans to tip her pal handsomely for his generosity and hard work. :) )

The Cake:

Miss Boa know where she was getting her cake long before getting engaged!

The sweet confections of Dessert Deli has enchanted many a female in the Western NY area, including me! *sighs*

Their cakes are luscious and decadent, not to mention just plain gorgeous:

Some tasty cakes being offered this month that I have yet to sink my teeth into... *drool*
Miss Boa's favorite has always been their red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting.

So naturally she ordered a red velvet tiered cake, with alternating ivory and dark brown tiers. (fillings to be decided later) It will be decorated with climbing branches dotted with delicate teal cherry blossoms.

I haven't seen the design, but it will probably look something like this, except in the proper colors:

Ooooo, ahhhh! So pretty. :)

And there's an extra bonus too! If you get your wedding cake through them, you get 10% off all future cakes and cookies for life. o.0 So much cake...so little time! XD

The Invitations:

Getting her invitations was simple enough, due to the fact that they were the only thing she needed to purchase to obtain her fabulous wedding planner! As long as she purchased the invitations through her, Miss Boa would receive her guidance and assistance.

And surprisingly, there was a wide selection of price points, she ending up spending only $2 per invite for a invite/envelope/RSVP suite in her wedding colors!

Affordable invitations without the agony of printing, cutting, pasting, stamping, etc. over 100+ pieces of paper?! Sounds like a good deal to me!

She does plan on saving money on calligraphy by printing out the envelope addresses on her own. Very smart, I approve. :)

She mentioned that the design was hard to describe, so I guess I'll have to wait until I help her with addressing the envelopes...

So by the time the holidays ended, Miss Boa managed to scratch off the following wedding to-do items:

-Wedding planner
-Venue
-Ceremony Site
-Food
-Rentals (included with venue package)
-Wedding dress
-Photographer
-Officiant
-DJ
-Cake
-Invitations

Whew! Makes me tired just looking at it! XD

A big round of applause please to Miss Boa!

She has done something I know I could never do, haha.

How to Plan a Wedding in Two Weeks: The Photographer

2012-01-15T07:30:00.004-05:00

You can't have all this wonderful eye candy of a venue and a dress without someone to capture it! A photographer was desperately in order!

The Photographer:

The search for a photographer started out bleak. (i.e. Expensive!)

Her planner wanted her to hire the best of the best, Ayres Photography.

And you have to admit, their photos are amazing...

All photos copyright of Ayres Photography.
But not their $4,000 price tag... o.0

To be fair, Miss Boa realized that the package her planner was suggesting to her was much more than she needed--12 hours of coverage and a (rather pricey) wedding album was not necessary! The engagement photo shoot, however, was going to stay!

Still, $3,000 for their 8 hour package wasn't exactly affordable either...so the search continued!

The pricing of Kaz Photography appealed to her instantly, and the photos were just as eye catching!

All photos copyright of Kaz Photography.
The Premier Plus package sounded perfect, 8 hours of wedding coverage, a DVD of all images with copyright release, $100 print credit, and an engagement shoot for $2,450!

Sadly, Kaz Photography was booked for the day of her wedding :( So Miss Boa went on to the next contenders...

Since I may oogle at wedding photos that show up on my facebook feed from time to time, :P , I suggested Tess Moran Photography because those photos really stuck out in my wedding-crazed mind!

Great photographs...

All photos copyright of Tess Moran Photography.
...with packages that start at $3,000. Darn it! Nevermind then I told her, keep looking!

While finding photographs of the reception rooms in Templeton Landing, Miss Boa discovered Knight Studio Photography.

She liked their style of photography:

All photos copyright of Knight Studio Photography.
Their pricing was alright starting at $2,500, however to include the engagement photo shoot she wanted, the price would have to rise to $2,850.

Plus this company was also booked for her wedding date. XP

Needless to say she was starting to worry a bit about booking a photographer in time!

Determined to find someone who would fit their budget and schedule, Miss Boa did a very, very through search, considering eight other various photographers, all starting at $3K for what she wanted.

Till she found Robin Fox Photography!

*cue heavens parting*

All photos copyright of Robin Fox Photography.
Photographs that take your breath away, 10 hours of wedding coverage, DVD of images with copyright, 5-10 prints, an engagement session AND a wedding album for a grand total of $2,150.

o.0

I almost didn't want to tell you about this photographer so maybe Robin Fox would still be up-and-coming (and thus still affordable,) by the time I get married! XD

Being available for Miss Boa's special day, it was settled! The photographer was booked!

There still were some big elements still missing from Miss Boa's wedding, find out which next post!

Weddingbee is IMPOSSIBLE to Catch Up To

2012-01-11T07:30:00.007-05:00

EDIT: Okay so Weddingbee hasn't updated their "Miss Bloggers" list yet. XD It appears that there has been a Miss Boa Constrictor since the start of the month! (How strange, at the same time pretty much XD) I've updated the post to reflect that!

As a random detour, I have been reading Weddingbee posts in chronological order in my free time to catch up with all the lovely Bees that I had abandoned last summer for my sanity and wedding-less peace of mind.

(What? You gotta read them in order!)

S-L-O-W-L-Y but surely I got to the end of August, and realized they already had a boa constrictor icon:

XD

That's what I get for coming up with a new icon before I knew what existed!

Good thing it's "Miss Boa" and not "Miss Boa Constrictor"! Plus I like my icon better, tee hee.

~~At least no bride has claimed that moniker yet, but still~~ I apologize in advance to anyone who gets confused. :P

So recap:

Miss Boa = my awesome engaged friend
Miss Boa Constrictor = one very lucky duck who ~~will someday be~~ is blogging for Weddingbee

Got it? Good :)

Now let's hope there's no "Miss Boa" the fashion accessory in existence XD

How to Plan a Wedding in Two Weeks: The Dress

2012-01-07T07:25:00.003-05:00

While searching for the all important venue, Miss Boa went to track down a very important wedding purchase--

The Dress:

Now, to start off, I have been sworn to secrecy on the dress. Sorry guys!

(But, I'll be sure to post the stunning beauty the day after the wedding! XD)

What I can tell you, is the process Miss Boa went through to find the dress in just two appointments!

She first went to Alfred Angelo to give herself a general idea of what she was looking for.
She quickly confirmed that she didn't like over-the-top, billowy ballgowns...

Pretty, but not for Miss Boa
...but became a bit confused about what she did like, and who can blame her?! There are a LOT of gorgeous dresses out there!

The very next day, she went to Victoria's Bridal Shoppe, which was highly recommended, and by the end of our appointment, we could see why!

The women there were very friendly and warm, and after a few dresses they understood what Miss Boa was looking for. They pulled something that was just perfect for her!

The fog of confusion was lifted and the dress was purchased!

Next item on the to-do list...the photographer!

How to Plan a Wedding in Two Weeks: The Venue

2012-01-04T07:25:00.000-05:00

Miss Boa got engaged in December, and set her sights on a summer 2012 wedding. She knew this did not leave her with much time, but with finals and projects coming due, wedding planning was simply not in the cards yet.

But, once the last page of classwork was complete, she set her sights on getting this wedding show on the road! (And onto vendors' calendars!)

The first things she went to tackle:

1) The venue
2) The dress
3) The photographer

The Venue:

Miss Boa and her finance's search for a Buffalo, NY venue evolved as they conducted their search, at first they were going for a sophisticated reception locale and an outdoor ceremony.

They visited the Delaware Mansion first.

They didn't like it.

While the building was charming, the interior was not their style. They didn't like that the dance floor was separate from the banquet room, and the couple could only have a sweetheart table, so this diminished the fun atmosphere they were looking for.

Tie in the high price tag and no tasting of the food beforehand...this venue was out!

Next was the Niagara Country Club:

Miss Boa loved the outdoor location for the ceremony, the look of the reception rooms, and the stunning view of the grounds! The price was reasonable and the food was good, BUT...

...they needed a sponsor from the Country Club in order to have their wedding there.

Apparently, not knowing too many golfers, :p their search continued...

Next stop on their venue travels--Pearl Street Grill and Brewery:

This one stood out from the other choices due to its more modern atmosphere. Plus the building had tons of character, outdoor patio space, and really tasty food!

But by this point Miss Boa snagged herself a wedding planner for a steal! (Cost of invitations through the planner plus $50/hour for day-of coordination! o.0) And with some discussion she and her finance decided that one location for their ceremony and reception was best for them and their guests.

And Pearl Street simply did not have a large enough ceremony space.

Her planner suggested Templeton Landing for their next consideration:

The venue was on the waterfront of downtown Buffalo, and had fabulous views of the water and pier!

A large dance floor was the center of the room, bringing in a cozy and mingling type of environment. The decor was tasteful with gorgeous chandeliers and stone facade on the walls.

The ceremony would be done by the water on the neighboring grounds:

Not to mention it had a really cute outdoor patio:

Then include reasonable pricing and great food, and it was clear. Miss Boa declared that this was it! She would get married at Templeton Landing!

(Can you believe she viewed all these venues in a 1 week timespan?!?)

Now she would cross her fingers, pray for good weather, and move quickly on to the next step: the dress!

Introducing... Miss Boa!

2011-12-31T11:00:00.002-05:00

Since I am a Weddingbee fanatic, I will like to refer to my engaged friend in the proper Weddingbee style, not only because it's crazy fun, :D but also because it helps protect her identity and all that jazz.

She will now be referred to as Miss Boa! (the snake not the feather accessory XD)
(Yes, Miss Boa, I know this is probably a cobra or something, but it was the cutest snake drawing I could find! XD)

Why Miss Boa? Well, Miss Boa is an animal lover, to say the least. She has studied animals extensively during her undergrad career, tended to exotic animals during her trip to Africa, and owns about a dozen different snakes! (Plus a couple rabbits, a lizard or two, a scorpion, a dog, and probably some other pets that I'm forgetting!)

So it made perfect sense that the ring her finace proposed to her with, (which was custom made by the way), was a coil of two snakes surrounding the diamond!!! And the heads are anatomically correct boa snake heads.

That way I could choose "Miss Boa" without insulting her other snakes! XD

Well, now that I have a proper way to reference her, this is the scoop on Miss Boa's wedding plans:

Basically, due to elderly parents, Miss Boa wants to get hitched this summer, leaving about 7 months to plan the whole shindig.

Now add graduate school to the mix and you have a crazy few months of wedding planning! o.0

Good thing she has a VERY enthusiastic (i.e. wedding-crazed) bridal party to help her plan out all the details!

One bridesmaid is getting married this summer as well, another bridesmaid just finished a previous bridesmaid experience, and the man of honor (yes, man of honor), has been studying up on weddings and how to be a proper right hand man for the bride! :D

And ME, (yea for being a bridesmaid!!!) just a crazy girl who is once again focused on weddings! XD

And so, armed with gathered wedding knowledge and advice pouring in from all fronts, Miss Boa prepares for wedding bliss!

ONWARD HO!

And Without Further Ado...

2011-12-30T12:55:00.003-05:00

...the blog posts shall start again!

I am sooo sorry for not posting sooner, but due to the holidays and the fact that I was having the boyfriend's parents over for Christmas, (Yea relationship progress! lol), I did not have much time to dedicate to reviving the blog.

But I also didn't have much material to work with until now, my lovely engaged friend needed time to develop a basic framework for her wedding!

(And also give me permission to blog about her wedding adventures, lol.)

So now that the basics are in place, let's begin!

<3

Blowing Off the Cobwebs

2011-12-04T02:02:00.003-05:00

Hello old friends.

It's so strange to be back. It's like I'm looking back into a past life.

But I have good news. A close friend of mine is engaged!!! :D

And you know what that means...

THE BLOG IS BACK IN BUSINESS!!!

Farewell For Now

2011-06-25T04:16:00.005-04:00

As much as it pains me to write this (since I just started getting decent followers and views!) I just cannot focus on weddings right now, for the sake of my relationship.

I've already put enough mushy-feeling stuff about how being a lady-in-waiting stinks, XD so I'll put in a nutshell:

Focusing on weddings right now, and hoping for my own, will probably make me so upset with my boyfriend that I will leave.

Woah, you might be thinking, what a crazy emotional woman. But this is 2+ years of buildup that I didn't think would last this long.

So I have to deal with it by trying to shift my viewpoint to encourage a healthy environment for a relationship. Which doesn't involve looking at dozens of gorgeous weddings every single day. XD

So until my one friend gets engaged, (since having someone else's wedding to focus on and put energy into is just fine, it has nothing to do with my relationship) I have to stop writing entirely. You guys probably saw this coming from my sad month of not posting, but I think you deserve a written confirmation.

I'm apologize to my readers, but I hope to start up again in a few months. (Hey, who knows? Maybe it will be a week! XD)

Sorry to be a Debbie Downer :( but I hope that when I do come back, it will be full speed ahead! :D

Good luck with all your happy endings,

<3 Sarah

Bridal Writer's Block...

2011-06-14T22:00:00.000-04:00

So as one could probably tell, I'm a bit uninspired lately in wedding-blog-land. :P

With the realization that I won't be engaged any time soon, with my research reaching the extent of it's reach, and wedding blogs that show, while still gorgeous, breath-taking, and exciting, weddings that I basically already seen.

Being completely immersed in weddings does have it's drawbacks XD

Don't get me wrong, I love many, many elements of all these lovely celebrations, but there's nothing "new" to discover lately, I have seen too many aspects. All lovely variations of good, solid, fun ideas.

Such as:

Mini food!
Photobooth!
Grooms cake!
Unique toppers!
Flip flops favors!
Pashmina favors!
Colored shoes!
Purse bouquets!
Hair flowers!
Unique chair decor!
Non-floral centerpieces!
Cupcakes!
Mood lighting!
Magnet Save-the-Dates!
Hanging ceremony decor!
Creative send-offs!
Unique guestbooks!
Escort cards as favors!
Unique napkin settings!
Chargers!
Signature drinks!

(you get the idea)

All lovely, but I am fairly well-informed of them now. Being unable to pick and choose what variations would work for me just makes everything so...inapplicable to me. Does that make sense? Poor readers, lol.

At least I can say I'm aware of all my options! XD

(Once I get motivation to write, I'll start looking through said list and figuring out what I haven't discussed on the blog yet! Just because I've seen doesn't mean you have :) Thanks for bearing with me!)

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

2011-06-01T06:00:00.000-04:00

Just for fun, (because I haven't had a real fun post in a while,) I'd thought I'd post some of the more interesting folders in my wedding inspiration stash:

(Btw storing photos like this does not help you figure out where you got all that lovely inspiration from... XP, but if anyone knows please message me or comment and I'll add the link in right away!)

Small Food Touches -

Who wouldn't want to eat veggies when they're served in such a cute manner?! :D

These lace drink umbrellas are just. too. adorable!

My mom will probably kill me for putting up extremely fancy jello shots, but they're so different I can't resist! XD

Lighting and Candles -

I love how just putting the hanging lanterns in a line not only makes a statement, but decorates the high ceilings so well!

This photo alone makes me wonder about a winery wedding XD

My favorite paper luminaries...they look damn good for DIY!

Small Touches -

I so love these fancy and elegant paper scrolls!

You see the soft and pretty floral centerpiece on the table. What do I see? "OMG those are the cutest napkins ever!!!" XD

I don't consider myself whimsical...but I really like these cute banners! <3

Hope you enjoyed!

The One, The Only...Boldt Castle

2011-05-22T11:15:00.002-04:00

So I figured I might as well give you the lowdown of the castle I have mentioned, the lovely Boldt Castle!

A gorgeous castle surrounded by pretty gardens on a heart-shaped island in the Thousand Islands area!

Lovely, isn't it?!

It wasn't always that way. The castle was built by George C. Boldt for his wife Louise as a labor of love, but unfortunately mid-construction she passed away. Heartbroken, Boldt abandoned the project and the castle.

Years later in 1977, renovations began to take place and now a good part of the castle is back to, or greater than, its former glory and open to the public. There are still many parts of the castle left to work on, and as time passes more and more areas of the castle are completed.

Weddings here are a bit structured to say the least. You can only have the wedding outside at the gazebo, (if raining on the veranda) but since the rental fee is basically just admission fees to the castle, (and a new $150 "reservation fee" XP) all attending can view the castle if they like.

What to expect for a wedding at Boldt Castle:

First and foremost, it is on an island, so the biggest thing is getting your guests, your bridal party, your decorations, your officiant, your musicians, etc. across the water to your ceremony! Fortunately Uncle Sam Boat Tours does group sales for its shuttle, so you can decide to either pay for your guest tickets or just reserve a block of tickets for them.

You have a limit of 150 people in attendance, including the officiant, musicians, photographer, etc. and you have an hour and a half for setup, the ceremony, and cleanup of the site. Not much time to work with, but I assume you can have photos taken onsite before or after the ceremony without much fuss, since it is a public attraction after all!

They say the staircase in the castle is not available for photos, but I would definitely try to make a special request...

Every ceremony comes with a changing/waiting room for the bride and bridesmaids, all ceremony chairs, a portable address system, and a free wedding rehearsal for the wedding party.

Costs for a ceremony is $7 per adult, $4.50 per young child for all attending, (again, officiant, musicians, photographer, etc. included), and a $150 reservation fee.

You cannot have a reception on the island, unfortunately, but if you're really set on having your reception at a castle, Singer Castle might be more up your alley!

I will probably do a review for Singer Castle sometime, but personally I like the grounds of Boldt Castle more. However if it can hold a decent number of people for a seated dinner then I may consider it Thousand Island reception option #5! XD

So yes, while the castle is pretty, it's no bargain in my opinion. If I have 100 guests, that's $850 just for the ceremony site... XP At least viewing the rest of the castle will give my guests something to do before the reception??? *shrugs*

But it is a castle...such a pretty, pretty castle XD

Old Navy $1 Flip Flop Sale!

2011-05-20T06:28:00.005-04:00

Hey readers!

Now everyone can buy $1 flip flops at Old Navy this Saturday, May 21st! :D :D :D

There's a limit of 5 per person, so bring your family and friends to help you collect enough lovelies for your reception!

Good luck ladies!!!

Old Navy Flip Flop Presale!

2011-05-14T00:20:00.003-04:00

Hey readers,

Just letting you know if you have an Old Navy credit card, (or any of your family or friends...), you can take part in the Old Navy $1 flip flop sale going on tomorrow only, Saturday the 14th!

There's a limit of 5 per customer, and it's only in-store, but get a crew going with you and you should have a decent stock of them before the real crowds come!

Good luck!

Craigslist Is A Bride's Best Friend

2011-05-11T10:30:00.003-04:00

I know...craigslist...

The borderline between awesome and shady, great deals and spammers, because no one knows who's really on the other end...

But craigslist is so your friend if you know how to use it!

Just the other day I was doing my regular craigslist search for awesomeness, (because I could still use a few furniture items for the house and whatnot,) I found an ad for eiffel tower vases.

(Which did not come up when I searched for "wedding" and was in the household items section, so look in all sections to find potential hidden gems!)

Being obsessed with weddings, :) I couldn't help myself and viewed the listing.

" 20" Eiffel Tower Clear Glass Vases - $60:

20" Clear Glass Eiffel Tower Vases in excellent conidition.
Used once will silk flowers, no water has ever been in them.
Make great centerpieces for weddings and special events.
Have weighty base for stability.
Have 29 vases."

29 vases...for $60?!?!

I thought it was too good to be true.

So I quickly sent an email to the seller, (always put your first name only in the email to make things more personable and less spam-ish, without giving away your complete identity,) asking if they still were available and confirming that all 29 vases were in fact jointly priced for $60...and she said yes, all for $60, and left a phone number.

OMG MY JAW DROPPED TO THE FLOOR!

or rather, dropped to the table XDThat works out to be $2.07 per 20" vase!!!

I. could. not. pass. this. deal. up.

I called right away, and scheduled the pickup at a large store plaza that was (generally) a midpoint between where we both worked. Great! A public area so I know I won't get mugged! XD

Usually I take someone with me just in case of shifty situations, (and I probably should have taken someone with me anyways,) but a public place is a much safer bet than a private residence. Never go to a private residence alone!

The seller was in fact the mother of the bride who used the vases, and the nicest woman ever!

She chatted with me about her daughter's wedding, told me what her centerpieces were like, asked what I was using them for, (to make things straightforward I told her I was planning on using them for my own wedding...telling her about my blog and hopes and dreams would have been TMI for a stranger! XD)

Meanwhile I had to keep myself from blurting out "OMG these are so cheap, do you know these things sell for at least $5 everywhere else?!?"

Then she helped me load up the car, I paid her the $60 in cash, (most sellers will not deal with anything besides cash for small purchases,) wished me well, and was off!

And now, I have 29 crazy-cheap 20" high eiffel tower vases, ready for unexpected increases of guests and centerpieces, proud and triumphant!!!

Whee!So in conclusion,

Craigslist is AWESOME!

Great Accessories Sale on Groupon!

2011-05-09T09:45:00.003-04:00

Hey my lovely readers, do you have your accessories for your wedding day ensemble yet?

Well I would highly recommend looking at Send the Trend, which has a Groupon deal going on now for 3 accessories for $30!

This is a great deal considering every accessory is priced at $29.99 to begin with! :D

Just watch out for the monthly accessories service...if you sign up for it they will charge you $29.99 a month unless you tell the site to "skip a month" before the 5th of the month. Now I don't know about you, but I would forget to do this...frequently. XP But it is just an option for you after purchasing the 3 accessories, so as long as you opt out, there should be no problems!

Here are some of my recommendations:

If you mother wants pearls, but your a bit more of a modern girl, this Mallory Opalescent Cage Cuff seems to be a wonderful compromise! Classic yet fun, and a great way to bring some bling to your look!

There were so many earrings that I loved, but I have to say these two were my favorites--

Again, another fun play on pearls, modern pearl earring clusters!

And some classic crystal earrings that are so wonderfully elegant!

If you have a more casual look, or want a very understated necklace, this Virginia Love Necklace is just too cute to pass up!

Also, this headband seems to have enough sparkle for a wedding hairpiece, yet is understated, for those who would rather nix the tiara!

So as you can see, Send the Trend seems to cater to a variety of tastes, I would recommend checking them out--you never know what you'll find!

Happy shopping! <3

(As a side note, Send the Trend and Groupon gave me nothing for doing this post, this is just my thrifty opinion!)

Why I Can't Stand BHLDN

2011-05-06T10:24:00.004-04:00

What did you say? *GASP!* How could you!?

Everyone loves BHLDN! With their lovely vintage style, how could you refuse?!

Well, in my opinion, their prices suck and are horribly high.

Clothes? Fine, let the dresses be overpriced, clothes have always varied greatly in price for no good reason.

But with the new wedding decor line, come on! XP

Paper chargers for $1.70 each?! Really?! You can MAKE these, it doesn't take rocket science to cut out a scalloped circle! (Especially if you own a Cricut...)

Again, paper polka dot garland, 8ft for $18, you could also make this yourself with some metallic paper or foil covered cardboard, and some fishing line.

They even admit this LOVE banner is made of cardboard, not even 2ft in length for $28?! You can make this with cardboard letters, fine glitter, and ribbon. Cardboard is cheap, Dollar Tree sells ribbon, so the most expensive thing here is the glitter. You can buy ultra-fine glitter at Joann Fabrics for $5...

More paper nonsense, Cake-To-Go boxes that they sell unassembled, for $2.50 apiece. Yep, you're paying $2.50 for a piece of paper-covered cardboard with a stupid adhesive strip on it... XP

Paper wrapped votives for $5.67 a piece when you can buy glass votives in bulk and wrap them in patterned paper yourself. Geez...

Selling a FELT leaf garland for $1.16 a foot?! That you can tell is just connected loosely?!

You can buy a 3'x6' piece of felt at Joann Fabrics for $4.99, and cut out the pattern yourself.

The site says it's 3" at its widest, and each piece is either 7.5" or 9" long. So let's say 4" are needed to cut each width of leaf garland on the piece of Joann felt, and you make them all 12" long. You get 54 leaf sections from the piece of felt, and since they're all a foot long you get 54 feet of garland, making each foot cost $0.10 each and a bit of your time!

A $178 9" CAKE TOPPER THAT IS CLEARLY FAKE FLOWERS TIED AROUND A WIRE WREATH WITH A WIRE RIBBON BOW AND SOME WOOD BELLS TIED TO IT!?! PLEASE TELL ME HOW THAT IS $178 TO MAKE?!

See?!?! WAAAYY overpriced! D:<

I could go on and on and ON with this stupid decor line! D:<

So my lovely readers, please, use BHLDN's decor for inspiration only and try to find the products somewhere else. You will find cheaper alternatives, or you can try making most of them yourself.

But save your precious hard-earned money.

*end of rant*

Guestbook Deal Only Til the 6th!!!

2011-05-04T21:26:00.005-04:00

After seeing an episode of TLC's Extreme Couponing, I was very, very, intrigued...and wondered how I could do that!

So I google it online and I find this nifty coupon site, Hip2Save.

And what is on the latest post?

$40 worth of Paper Coterie products for FREE. Get $40 worth of merchandise, get $40 off, just pay shipping! :D (Click link for the coupon code.)

And Paper Coterie sells guestbooks. 30 page, fully custom, (except for the general design, can change the photos and wording of titles, headings, and text,) hard cover guestbook for $29.99.

So you do need to add another product to get the $40 discount, the cheapest thing they sell are custom 20"x13" posters for $14 that are made from a durable fabric that somehow sticks to the wall! Neat! Not to mention they have some really cool designs, how cute is this heart polaroid design?!

But hurry! This offer only lasts until May 6th!!!

Can I get a woot woot for affordable custom printed products?!? :D

Woot woot!

(As a side note, Hip 2 Save and Paper Coterie gave me nothing for doing this post, this is just my thrifty opinion!)

Another Alert to All Thrifty Brides!!!

2011-05-02T08:54:00.009-04:00

We have more amazing thrify-ness from The Christmas Tree Shop and the Dollar Tree! :D

First, we have The Christmas Tree Shop find, cute and comfy hooded terry wraps for just $8 each, in white, pink, blue, yellow and (I think) black:

These would be a perfect bridesmaids' gift, easy to customize, and a great way to get those cute getting-ready pics!

At the Dollar Tree, they're selling what most brides wait til June for...$1 flip flops!!!

You can get them in black or white designs or in black, dark blue, light blue, pink, purple, or yellow!

No more waiting in line at Old Navy ladies! Get these while they last!

Your welcome.

:)

(As a side note, Dollar Tree and Christmas Tree Shop gave me nothing for doing this post, this is just my thrifty opinion!)

My Review of the Royal Wedding

2011-04-29T10:15:00.005-04:00

What a lovely wedding we saw today. :)

In my opinion, Kate kept things simple, classic and elegant.

She could have gone over the top.
She could have ruffled some feathers being more "modern".

But she didn't! And it was perfect!

I was actually very surprised with her understated elegance.

Her dress:

Very simple and sleek, with a v-neck lace bolero-like top over a strapless neckline, with an (I believe) an a-line skirt and a decent (but not excessive) sized train.

It's modern due to it's simplicity, yet is traditional enough that there's no question it is a Royal Wedding gown.

Her tiara and earrings are gorgeous, but not over the top, and do not demand too much attention, so the focus is on the beautiful bride!

Having her hair half up and curled was perfect for her ensemble as well, very regal, and very pretty in an effortless way.

Her maid of honor:

I was very surprised to see her sister Pippa wearing white! (Or ivory, I cannot tell the difference really! XP) However she does look very lovely in a sleek, trumpet style dress which I believe does have some lace on the sleeves.

I kinda really loved the way the bridesmaid's hair was done, with a bunch of lily of the valley pinned to back of her half-up hairdo. Again, effortlessly pretty!

(and btw those flower girls are A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E.!)

Her flowers:

At first I thought most of her flowers were mainly baby's breath, but with a bit of research I learned it was bunches of lily of the valley! What a high-class touch! Her bouquet consists of lily of the valley, hyacinth, ivy, a sprig of myrtle, and sweet william! (That is just too cute!)

I was very surprised at the size of the bouquet as well, compared to American brides, it is definitely on the small side! Not that it matters, it just wasn't what I expected. Still very romantic!

The ceremony:

Westminster Abbey does not need much decoration, so anything added to this space just adds to the elegance, charm, and awe of the place! Tall trees lining the beginning of the isle is a very modern touch in my opinion, really works with the height of the Abbey, and the rest of the flower arrangements were large, but fairly traditional with white flowers. Kept them straightforward but pretty!

Also the ceremony had a very nice timeline, it was not too long or drawn out, with a lot of audience participation with the hymns. It was very enjoyable to watch.

But the most important thing of all...they look so happy!

I wish the couple much happiness and joy in their new marriage! Congrats you two!

<3

As If You Needed Another Reminder...

2011-04-28T08:51:00.003-04:00

BUT...

...just in case you haven't heard, the Royal Wedding is tomorrow morning!!!

It officially starts at 3am EST, however I found this Guy's Guide to the Royal Wedding to be a very helpful article that will save you some sleep while still enabling you to see all the lovely details. (What? I have a job to go to in the morning! XP)

According to the article, the wedding doesn't officially start until 6am EST, and the previous footage will be guests arriving at Westminster Abbey!

Now I know some people are interested in what the Queen's wearing and whatnot, but can't you see that in the highlights??? I sure can for 3 extra hours of sleep!

So, if you have a 9-5 job like me, go to bed early tonight, turn on the TV at 6am, watch as much as you can before leaving work, then catch the rest of the details throughout the day until your wedding bug is satisfied!

Royal Wedding highlights/thoughts/reflection/complements post to come tomorrow!

I Am A Wedding Schizophrenic.

2011-04-26T13:45:00.001-04:00

Hey guys,

I apologize for the lack of posts lately, but I found myself slightly uninspired (soon to be fixed by the Royal Wedding coming up soon...)

So I decided to organize all that wedding inspiration I have been saving up the past year and place it into neatly organized folders, with the potential to go onto Google Docs so I would have access to my stuff from anywhere!

Once I was done, I wondered where my focus for wedding planning was going, so I opened up each folder and looked at the elements I had...

And I found out something slightly troubling...

I'm a wedding schizophrenic. XD

With each category of wedding planning, the dress, the flowers, the decor, the invitations, I had at least three or more major themes.

Obviously, I'm already confused with the winter vs. summer wedding, and that doesn't help matters.

With winter, I'm showing a more nature-oriented and rustic look:

But the summer one is still having an identity crisis...

I don't know if I want more modern, elegant and sleek look:

Or a detailed, lush, romantic, girly affair:

I seem to approve of both ends of the spectrum! XD

I'm sure this wedding confusion is not going to end for a while, not until I start actually plotting out the nitty gritty details, and a focus starts to appear from my now blurry daydreams...

But until then, I guess being prepared for anything is a good thing, right?!

...right?

XD

Wedding Postage Woes Fixed With the New Forever Stamp!

2011-04-12T15:55:00.002-04:00

Yes, yes, I know. The Forever USPS postage stamps presently have the Liberty Bell on them, and while iconic, probably aren't pretty enough for your colored envelopes and carefully constructed invitations!

But wait! Coming on the 21st, a new breed of Forever Stamps will emerge!

Presenting: the Wedding Roses Forever Stamp!

What does this mean for brides? Or ladies-in-waiting even?

Well, if you buy these lovelies in bulk quantities on the 21st for $0.44 each, then even if you're planning your wedding for 2014, (or waiting another who-knows-how-many years for your sweetheart to propose,) these babies will still coverage your postage on any one ounce letter, (such as your thank you letters and RSVP envelopes,) no matter how much postage goes up in that time period!

As many married women know all too well, postage adds up. With the inflated guest list comes inflated multiples of Save-the-Dates, invitations, RSVP cards, and thank you letters, all of which need postage.

Now, unfortunately I couldn't find any reliable statements out there about using more than one forever stamp for envelopes that weigh more than one ounce. But for the sake of argument let's say you can get away with 2 of them for your Save-the-Dates and invitations.

So you're inviting 100 guests. Right now, the stamps are $0.44. In 2014, pretend the stamp prices have increased to $0.50.

Cost for Forever stamps now = $264
Cost for estimated stamps in 2014 = $300
Total potential saved = $36

Now, $36 in the scheme of the wedding budget may not seem like much, but $36 saved is $36 saved! :D

And we all know that postage prices will continue to rise, given the trends of the past several years.

So the point is, (if you can use two Forever stamps to cover your invitations and Save-the-Dates,) why wouldn't you buy them now?!

One good reason: "The best made plans of mice and men often go awry."

In other words, your intimate 50 person wedding in your mind may escalate to 100 or even more, given family pressures and whatnot. So you purchased only half the amount of stamps you need, and still need to pay extra.

BUT you still are saving some money, if not the amount you originally wanted to.

And if you buy too many for you to ever possibly use? Well now you can send all your letters/bills/etc. for a cheaper price than the present postage costs, and they look pretty to boot! XD

So, I guess this is to say to presently engaged and thrifty women: Buy these on the 21st before postage goes up again!!!

Edit: I have received some great postage information from a reader, and here is the scoop on postage for wedding invitations:

Starting on April 17th:
"1st class, 2 oz - $0.64 (previously $0.61)
1st class, 2 oz - odd size* - $0.84 (previously $0.81)
1st class, 3 oz - $0.84 (previously $0.78)
1st class, 3.5 oz - $1.04 (previously $0.95)
1st class, 4 oz - $1.48 (previously $1.39)
Postcards, 1 oz - $.29 (previously $0.28)"
And the new Forever stamp can be used for 1 oz mailings.

100 Posts People! Break Out the Champagne!

2011-04-11T09:19:00.015-04:00

Oh, My, Goodness, I can't believe I've reached the 100 post mark! I am so proud of this blog and so happy to see I have some people who (apparently) actually read it! XD lol

So I thought I would do something fun for those who do read my blog, and post some oldies but goodies posts that you may have missed due to the newness of my blog at the start, almost one year ago!

-My in-depth analysis of the feasibility of an iPod reception:

-My detailed tutorial of how to make your very own DIY wedding bouquet!

-Valuable tips I learned from attending a friend's wedding!

-Anyone who knows me knows I love cake, so here are the best ways to top your lovely cake or cupcakes, and all the lovely choices you have for the sweet confection!

-Thousand Island brides, don't despair! Here's my Thousand Island venue search series! First, Second, Third, and Fourth posts!

-Some great rules to plan and live by.

-The cost of renting versus the cost buying your own!

-And of course, my David Tutera - My Fair Wedding Phantom series! See all posts here!

Dishing for Dana: Help Another Thrifty Bride in Need!

2011-04-09T09:27:00.006-04:00

Okay you guys, the creator of one of my favorite thrifty wedding blogs - The Broke-Ass Bride: Dana LaRue, needs our help!!!

If you read her blog, (which you so should anyways!) you have seen that poor Dana has had surgery after surgery, for rare and frustrating autoimmune diseases, (yes plural! D:) she has been dealing with the pass several years.

Even though her illness was the very reason she started the blog, the costs of her medical expenses are becoming too great, and in order to keep the The Broke-Ass Bride blog up and running for future thrifty and money-smart brides, she needs our help!

She even giving her contributors something in return...good yummy comfort food recipes!

I know, I know, you're not rolling in the dough either. But you don't even need to send cash!

Dana's looking for blog promotions of her fundraiser, recipes for the book, help with the site or book development, all for wonderful acknowledgment in the recipe book and a link on her site, which is viewed by hundreds, if not thousands, of brides!!!

Not only would you be helping a Broke-Ass Bride in need, but you would also be promoting your blog, site or business!

All information can be found here and here.

I will donate actual monies once I get my first paycheck, but at least I can spread the word!!!

For All The Ladies-In-Waiting

2011-04-08T16:25:00.004-04:00

Okay, for once I'm going to get personal here.

Sure I talk about all the pretty, touchable stuff that is involved with a wedding, but rarely do I talk about what it's all about, what it all revolves around...two people declaring their love and their lives for one another.

Why? It's simply because my relationship has not reached that level yet.

But now I'm going to write about what I do know: what it's like to be a lady-in-waiting, as those in the wedding blogosphere call us.

We are the hopefuls lurking on the forums and blogs, hoping that the information and prettiness we absorb will soon be needed.

We are the ones who may be distracting ourselves from our annoyances with the waiting stage.

We are the ones ~~horribly bashing into the brains of~~ hinting to our boyfriends that we want something more in our lives.

But why are we so determined to get to the married stage?

It's different for every couple, but for me, I think a lot of it may be peer pressure.

It can be hard to be in a long term relationship these days. Traditional views are still very widely accepted, so you're probably hearing from your mother, your siblings, any other female in your family, and maybe some of your friends, that they can't believe you don't have a ring on your finger already!

At times when I'm comfortable with my relationship, the constant comments get to me, and I start doubting myself and my decisions. Then I start over-analyzing my relationship and wonder if I should cut my losses and get out of this dead-end relationship with no proposal while I can! (Yeah, I get kinda crazy sometimes.)

Moving in with your significant other doesn't help matters. For one who doesn't have a thick skin, moving in with your significant other can be quite embarrassing. Suddenly your entire family knows your shacking up with your boyfriend, sans ring. XP

It's hard. Speaking to your grandmother about your relationship suddenly seems very daunting, and I kinda avoid the subject as much as I can with them.

But it is a smart thing to do these days, just because if you can't live with your boyfriend, how are you going to handle marriage?! It's almost a necessary evil with relationships these days. On a positive note, usually this type of situation is financially beneficial for both parties, which is one of the big reasons why I moved in and why I'm not planning on moving out.

While talking to my boyfriend, (yet again,) about the proposal thing, he brought up a good point about why we should wait, (as much as I didn't want to admit that he was right XD).

Right now I just got out of school, just started my first full time job, and to be honest, I'm kinda picking up the pieces of my life left behind by the earthquake called a Master's program.

In other words, personally, I'm a mess. I don't like who I am right now, and for a while I just felt too overwhelmed to do anything about it.

This blog has been the only hobby I've had just because it is based on the Internet, which could go with me no matter what I was doing in my crazy life. It was so easy to work on and invest time in. It was free to do as well. And I have greatly enjoyed it.

But I realize now I need to focus a little more on my real, offline life and a little less on wedding-fantasy-land.

So yeah, I spilled out my guts on the Internet, oh no, let the regrets start flowing! Just kidding.

I may ease up on the wedding stuff for a little while...but I'll be waiting for one of my friends to get officially engaged *cough,cough*Anne*cough,cough* so I can start the mayhem all over again ;)

<3

Where, Oh Where, Should the Reception Be? Part 4

2011-03-29T16:00:00.006-04:00

Thank goodness for the internet. More and more establishments are going digital on the World Wide Web, and Thousand Island wedding venues are no exception! So here's a Thousand Islands venue update:

Another venue has come into the running, Riley's by the River!

Despite not having many photos of the establishment online, it is a new restaurant, which means decor-wise it is leaps and bounds ahead of all other Thousand Island venues that I have found online.

I finally had the guts to start emailing some of these more mysterious venues, and quickly after I inquired about having a large event at the restaurant, I got a very helpful response!

The whole restaurant can hold up to 130 people, and has a lounge area as well. (Need to check out this lounge area one day, sounds promising!)

You cannot reserve the whole place in the busy season, Memorial Day through Labor Day, but I would plan on having the wedding in early to mid May to hopefully have nice weather without dying of heat stroke, so that shouldn't be a problem. XD

This place is part of the Captain Thomas's Resort, and they have another floating restaurant called Capt's Landing. However, getting photos of the interior of this place is even harder than Riley's, and from the outside I feel it may be a little to "rustic" for my tastes.

Their email response even had a buffet menu and beverage price sheet attached! Even though I'm set on a served dinner, I'm sure something can be worked out.

Based off of the information I received, here is a review of Riley's as a venue possibility:

Riley's By The River -

Cost for a buffet dinner with rolls, salad, 3 entrees, 2 side dishes, dessert, and coffee = $21.95 per person
Total for 100 guests = $2195
7.75% sales tax = $170
18% gratuity = $395
Food subtotal = $2,760

3 hours full open bar = $23.50 per person
Total for 100 guests = $2350
7.75% sales tax = $182
18% gratuity = $423
Bar subtotal = $2,955

Grand total for 100 guests = $5,715

Since this is a buffet menu, the choices are very basic, good standbys but nothing too fancy. I'm sure once we tweak the menu a bit the price per person will increase, but at least it's a decent starting point.

Pros:
-most updated restaurant in the Thousand Islands!
-therefore the decor is much more pleasing
-therefore it has character!
-it comes with tables, chairs, linens, etc.
-waterfront views of the pier and harbor!
-has a lounge area
-can rent the entire restaurant in the slow season
-for the moment it's cheaper than the other choices
-I can transport all guests to and from the castle for $850

Cons:
-little information or photos online
-no views of the castle
-only a three hour limit on the open bar
-even though it is part of a resort, the rooms are pretty lacking

Realistically? This is probably one of my top choices now! :D

And it's always good to have more choices!

Rosette Madness!

2011-03-28T15:30:00.005-04:00

Whew! That whole My Fair Wedding series was a doozy! Sorry about the lack of posts, home improvement projects are keeping me busy now! :D Now we're back to our normally scheduled wedding prettiness! :D

Spring has officially sprung! :D

Even though it takes a while in chilly Buffalo to actually believe it, all last week we were blessed with wonderfully warm, sunny weather!

Call me fickle but my purple, flowery, summer wedding vision is sounding better and better each day! XD So I figure I"ll talk about my summer plans for the Thousand Islands wedding in the spring and summer, and shift focus to my Buffalo winter wedding plans in the fall and winter. Then I'll always be relevant to the season! lol

Another reason for wishing for warmer wedding days and the great outdoors? The wonderful, romantic, addicting trend of rosettes!

I. Love. Them. I WANT THEM!!!

These better still be around when I get engaged, XD because I don't know if I can live without them!!!

These big, beautiful flowers are popping up everywhere in fashion lately:

On wedding dresses:

*drool*This is a stunning prom dress from Sherri Hill, style 2223, covered in rosettes and comes in white! However be careful with most prom/bridal sites online, many of them have a no return policy or a ridiculous restocking fee...

On shoes:

These grey suede heels are from Forever 21 and are just $25.80! So cute!

On purses:

This cute little number is a pink rose clutch going for $29.50 at Bag Madness. Yes, the only color they're selling is pink, but if that's your thing, grab one for the spring season!

On hair accessories:

This cute little hair pin is from Etsy! Brydferth sells many pretty and delicate rosette accessories, and this bobby pin for $12 is just one of the many she sells.

And also making a stunning appearance in other wedding aspects too!

On cakes:

This cake is from I Am Baker, and it's SO FRIGGING ADORABLE! I can't wait to make something like this when I actually have company over! lol You can find the tutorial here! :D

On table runners:

This runner is from an Etsy seller, floratouch, and sells the most beautiful runners I have ever seen! Yes they are pricey at $18 each, :( but they are beautiful! *sighs*

Dear rosettes,

Please be so frigging popular that you are still around in a couple years...or at least let me get an "out-of-style" rosette wedding dress for a killer price! :D Love ya always,

Sarah

How to Get A Phantom Wedding Like David Tutera's My Fair Wedding: Budget

2011-03-18T10:00:00.001-04:00

Okay, you finally finished putting together your own David Tutera - My Fair Wedding: Phantom of the Opera wedding! :D Woot!

But how much money did you end up spending on your fancy shindig?

The way I have been estimating the prices for this Phantom wedding was either giving the precise cost of each item, or if there were multiple options, giving the cheapest and most expensive range of each item, such as full rose floral centerpieces vs. carnation and rose floral centerpieces.

However, for this post, to make it easier to see the price differences of going for the cheaper alternative versus the more expensive ones, I will do two different budget breakdowns: one for the cheapest venue and all the more affordable alternatives, and one for the most expensive venue and all the more extravagant alternatives.

Budget break down for the super thrifty:

Reception:
Location Fees: free with food and drink purchase
Food: $1495
Drinks: $1375
Linens: $646.20
Cake: $198.48
Gratuities: $517
Decorations (other than floral): $84.98
Total: $4,316.66

Attire:
Dress: $159.98 (ebay is usually made-to-order, so no alternations should be needed)
Tuxedo: free with groomsmen rentals
Total: $159.98

Music:
String Quartet for Ceremony: greatly varies
Total: $+?

Miscellaneous:
Taxes: $251
Total: $251

Floral/Decorations:
Bouquets, Boutonnieres, and Corsages: $307.69
Reception Flowers: $603.81
Table Centerpieces: $253.23
Candles: $73.94
Lighting: $192
Total: $1,430.67

Gifts:
Wedding Favors: $78.51
Total: $78.51

Total spent: $6,236.82+

Budget breakdown for the budget-minded with some splurges:

Reception:
Location, Food, Drinks: $4895
Linens: $847.10
Cake: $376.88
Gratuities: $832
Decorations (other than floral): $174.99
Total: $7,125.97

Attire:
Dress: $350 (ebay is usually made-to-order, so no alternations should be needed)
Tuxedo: free with groomsmen rentals
Total: $350

Music:
String Quartet for Ceremony: greatly varies
Total: $+?

Miscellaneous:
Taxes: $428
Total: $428

Floral/Decorations:
Bouquets, Boutonnieres, and Corsages: $307.69
Reception Flowers: $754.81
Table Centerpieces: $253.23
Candles: $73.94
Lighting: $172
Total: $1,561.67

Gifts:
Wedding Favors: $153.17
Total: $153.17

Total spent: $9,618.81+

BUT!

Take into account, this includes half of the things you will need for a wedding. I will try to list the missing items with an estimated price. I do not know what it will cost you exactly! I am only trying to help estimate the budget. When in doubt, I always estimate higher. It's better to prepare for more rather than less.

This does not include the following:

-Photographer = $1500+
-Photo Album = $20+
-Prints = $100+
-Videographer = greatly varies
-DJ = $500+
-Officiant = $350
-Marriage License = $40 for NY state
-Ceremony fees = greatly varies
-Ceremony decor = $100+
-Save-the-Dates = $80+
-Invitations = $175+
-Thank You Cards = $30+
-Stamps = $176
-Programs = $50+
-Guest Book = $25+
-Escort Cards = $20+
-Wedding Rings = $800+
-Transportation for couple and bridal party = $400+
-Bridal Accessories = $95+
-Hair Stylist = $80+
-Makeup Artist = $40+
-Day-Of Coordinator = $400+
-Gifts = greatly varies
-Tips = $500+
-Rehearsal Dinner = greatly varies
-Hotel Stay for Wedding Night = $200+

Estimated missing subtotal = $5,681+

So adding this to the two subtotals, we get...

Total Estimate for Phantom of the Opera Wedding = $11,917.82+ - $15,299.81+

I feel that this disproves the myth that you have to spend a crapton of money to have a really fancy looking affair. It takes a lot of hard work and research to keep costs down, but it will all work out in the end!

So don't feel discouraged and stay thrifty, my friends! <3

How to Get A Phantom Wedding Like David Tutera's My Fair Wedding: All The Details

2011-03-17T11:00:00.002-04:00

Okay, so you're almost there!

You booked the perfect venue, set up the lighting, gathered the linens for the tables, did a test run for your DIY rose bouquets, assembled the floral centerpieces, ordered the cake, picked out your bridesmaid dresses, picked out your wedding dress, AND purchased the favors, it's now time to tie up loose ends!

Step 10: Take care of the rest of the details.

This is a compilation of all the other elements that make a wedding like the My Fair Wedding - Phantom of the Opera wedding that really didn't have enough work or detail to get its own post.

The Guys:

Have them look like the dashing Phantom himself by renting traditional black tuxes. Usually you can get a deal of a free groom's tux if you rent tuxes for the whole bridal party at once! I have always loved guys in red, however any combination of white, black and red for vests, shirts, or ties will work for this wedding!

Cost for groom's tux: free!

The Ceremony Site:

Any church will work wonderfully for this type of wedding, especially one that is a little more ornate and decorated. Hopefully they already have some candelabras for your use for the altar, and perhaps more candles can line the aisle, with some red rose petals of course.

If you are not a religious couple, then look for a romantic, very decorated space that won't need too much extra decor to make it fit in with the Phantom theme.

Cost for ceremony site: varies

A ceremony site is so personal, there are countless ways you could go with the site and the decor. If you are smart with your choices this shouldn't break the bank.

The Music:

A string quartet (or trio) for the ceremony is almost a must. However, musicians can get very expensive, even for short amounts of time.

I recommend either finding a local college music group or doing auditions at the local colleges in your area to look for affordable string musicians. These students are looking for any sort of extra cash, so as long as you are reasonable and take their travel expenses into account, you should find a more than capable group to work with.

Try to make a contract with them (I don't know the true details of creating a contract between two people that don't have a literal company, perhaps try to involve the college? Hmmm...I'll have to look into that) that has either a backup plan, a statement of reimbursement, or no payment at all if for some reason someone in the group cannot attend. Some students have very changeable schedules.

Also be sure to be clear on the dress of the students. Try not to be too unreasonable and ask them to purchase suits or rent expensive tuxes, their budgets are very limited. (If you're dealing with an actual organized band, this may be easier.) It will be easier on all parties to request something along the lines of formal wear, button down shirts and slacks for the guys, nice blouse and slacks/long skirt for the girls, you get the picture.

Cost for music: varies

The First Dance:

What made the dance floor so cool in the My Fair Wedding episode was that it had fog! How fitting is that for the Phantom?! This can be done by purchasing fog machines and placing them in optimized spots on the dance floor.

After Halloween sales are your best friend in this situation. I'll give you the pricing now, however they will be much cheaper once the Halloween madness is over for the year.

The quality of the fog machine your purchase will determine how many you need or how much you need to fiddle with them the day of. With some limited research, I found that the run of the mill fog machine will not give you that low-lying fog-floor effect without making your own makeshift cooling device. You could either look at the eHow fog chiller tutorial, or you could just accept that $200 is okay amount to spend on a proper fog machine and materials to save yourself that one extra DIY project.

Here is an affordable low-lying fog machine from Spirit Halloween for $64.99, it is sold out right now but may be back in stock in time for the Halloween season.

This will take any standard fog machine fluid, Spirit Halloween sells a gallon for $19.99.

A more expensive fog machine for $150 on Amazon is the Mister Kool low-lying fog machine. This is given a very good description on the Got Fog? website, it seems to be exactly what you want for a wedding, with easy setup, standard materials needed, and even a remote timer!

This machine takes Kool Fog, and a gallon of this will cost you $24.99 on Amazon.

A money and time saving tip is to start the fog machine shortly before your first dance, (to build up the fog,) and then just run the machine until the fog runs out. If you're doing this on your own, you don't want to have to keep running to the machine to refill on fluid or ice. If you insist on having fog the whole night, have a dedicated person supervising the machine to make sure things are running smoothly.

Also be sure to place them where no one can trip over any power cords or kick the machines! If there is a DJ booth that is a great place to place them, otherwise you would have to look at your venue to figure out the best placement. Also watch out for strong air conditioning vents or fans that could redirect the fog's flow.

Cost for fog machine: $84.98 - $174.99

Grand total for all details: $84.98+ - $174.99+

Now, the final evaluation: How much does a David Tutera wedding really cost you? Find out next post!

How to Get A Phantom Wedding Like David Tutera's My Fair Wedding: Favors

2011-03-16T10:15:00.008-04:00

After trying to wrap up the David Tutera - My Fair Wedding series in just one more post, I realized that one of the items did have enough information and choices to warrant its very own post, so here it is!

Step 9: Purchase favors.

Two words: masquerade masks!

This was a really fun element in David Tutera's Phantom of the Opera vision, and including this is more affordable than you think.

All your guests can have black masks like these half masks from Oriental Trading Company, 24 for just $3.49!!!

Show off your bridal party by giving them these very stylish but still very affordable feather masks, 12 for just $19.99!

If you don't want your bridal party to be as flashy, then these lacy lovelies from Crafta will work just as nicely! Each mask starts at $1.99 each and goes down to $1.59 each when you buy 6 or more!

The groomsmen are more difficult, just because there aren't as many formal mens masks that don't cost a bundle.

These black masks from Crafta go nicely with the gold lace masks, and are still affordable at $1.99 each, $1.59 each when you buy 6 or more. However, they do not go nicely with the black and white feather masks.

However, these black and silver masks from Amazon will work very well with the black and white feather masks! And for $4.63 each, they're not too shabby pricewise.

You can have a lot more fun with your mask and your groom's mask. Make sure you stand out from the crowd! One of my favorite masks for a groom would have to be this one from House of Masquerades for $17.95. Very formal Phantom :)

Another great mask is this black and gold one on Amazon for $9.99. Very classic!

For you, the elegant bride, I have some lovely white, over-the-top, high feather options! :D

The first, a lovely design from Crafta for $15.99:

The second, a very similar, but cheaper, option from Mardi Gras Beads and Supplies for $9.90:

If you want something a little different, try this mask from Party City for $19.99:

And if you want to splurge a bit on yourself, there's this lovely for $50 from Success Creations:

Photo copyright by Success Creations
All these masks should be on sticks and have any strings or ties removed, just for ease of use. You would have spent way too much effort getting your makeup right to endanger it by plastering a mask on your face! (And I'm sure the other ladies at your wedding will feel the same way!)

Where to get the sticks? A fantastic place to buy them in bulk is at CraftParts.com! You can get 100 1/4" diameter, 36" long dowels for $22! Give them a quick coat of paint, then hot glue or epoxy them onto the masks!

Total cost for favors: $78.51 - $153.17

Now (seriously) on to Step 10: All the Little Details!

Your Comments Are Awesome!

2011-03-14T15:52:00.002-04:00

OMG!

I was so used to not getting many comments on my posts, and going crazy trying to get a job, that I didn't realize so many awesome readers were posting comments! You guys rock!

I like to respond to most comments, mostly to say thank you!

So sorry for the delayed responses and thank you's!

I need to start checking my blog email more often XD

<3

How to Get A Phantom Wedding Like David Tutera's My Fair Wedding: Wedding Dress

2011-03-13T10:15:00.003-04:00

(Sorry for the delay in posting, I just got a new job, so there was a lot of agonizing waiting and stress beforehand! XP)

Now that your ladies are all pretty, it's time for the bride to find a gorgeous dress!

Step 8: Find a wedding dress.

Now, I'll be honest, the wedding dress David Tutera picked for this Phantom bride was a pretty classic, elegant ballgown. Nothing that was too couture or out there, which makes it really easy to find a nice dress that fits the Phantom wedding.

Again, I'm going to look for dresses from the always-affordable ebay, to insure that any bride can purchase one for herself!

(Obviously, this isn't a full, complete list of any sort, given how many dresses exist out there! It is just a few that caught my eye!)

If you want generally the same feel as the TV show, you need similar pickups in the front of the dress, like this ballgown for $179:

or even this more classic a-line dress for $175:

The next two ballgowns are soo romantic, they fit in just perfectly, especially the dress with the lovely gold coloring! *ack I die!*

A delicately pretty ballgown for $159.98:

And a detailed gold ballgown for $179:

If you're the kind to want to completely become Christine Daae, then this era-fitting ballgown for $350 is just the thing you need:

This one just reminds me of the dress Christine wears when she's singing "Think of Me" onstage, a romantic floral ballgown for $168:

Finally, if you want a more modern twist on the Phantom, then this statement dress for $188 is just the thing:

*drool* So many pretty ballgowns, so little time! XD

Cost for wedding dress = $159.98 - $350

On to the final installment of the David Tutera - My Fair Wedding series, Step 9: All the Little Details!

The Wedding Everyone Is Talking About...

2011-03-07T10:02:00.004-05:00

I guess it would be kinda silly not to post about one of the most anticipated weddings of this year--Kate and William's Royal Wedding.

I have to say I am very interested in this and will be watching, my mom always had an interest in Princess Diana so I'm curious to see what her son's wedding day will be like.

I can't help but wonder though, how Kate, I mean "Catherine", is handling all the publicity and public opinions about their big day.

I first saw it on Martha Stewart The Bride's Guide... "If I were Kate, I would/should choose a classic wedding dress, with clean lines..." Well, you're not Kate. Why are you choosing something for her? She seems very capable of choosing herself!

I have to say, I love her style too :)I've also seen opinions on all sorts of aspects of their wedding, how their cake should look, what flowers she should have, how many people the couple should be allowed to invite?!, etc, and it's just seems so strange to me.

Perhaps it's just due to the fact that I'm not really engaged yet and that every bride goes through this...but I'm sure Kate's on a bigger scale than most of us. :)

I mean a future mother-in-law is one thing, but the Queen of England is most definitely another! o.0 I can see how Kate could be easily pushed aside to make room for what a royal wedding "should be".

Gorgeous for Diana...but most likely not for Kate...I'm not saying they are a weak couple and won't make their voice known when they want to, I just hope Kate, (and William too!) get the things they want most on their wedding day.

And that's my two cents :)

How to Get A Phantom Wedding Like David Tutera's My Fair Wedding: Bridesmaid Dresses

2011-03-01T12:45:00.002-05:00

Now that you have your cake set, you need to dress your lovely ladies for the occasion!

Step 7: Find bridesmaid dresses.

Sung Boutique did the bridesmaid dresses for the Phantom of the Opera wedding, and posted the exact styles they give the bride as choices in the show.

You can buy the exact styles, however each one will cost you at least $200 each... XP

So I'll list each dress with it's price and then list some more affordable alternatives I found.

Dress 1: Black Lace Prom Dress on sale for $192:

Affordable alternatives:

-Roberta Jacquard Gown from the BonTon, $98:

Yes, it is not as fancy looking as the original, but it does have a bit more going for it than a regular, trumpet style bridesmaid dress. It has a pretty flower pattern, elegant style, and with the little bits of ruching on the top, it should look decent on all your bridesmaids.

-Black Evening Gown from Formal Gallery, found by Sears, $149:

Now while it's only $43 less than the original, this has the same sort of dramatic playfulness and texture the Sung dress has! I kinda love this dress, very elegant and romantic and just plain gorgeous!

Dress 2: Black Gold Lace Sequin Evening Dress on sale for $248:

Affordable alternative:

-Black Prom Evening Gown from Formal Gallery, found by Sears, $139:

Being such a unique dress, I was so happy to find something quite similar to the original! Also being the most expensive of the three dresses, I was happy to find a dramatic yet romantic gown for over $100 less! Woot.

Dress 3: Wine Strapless Tafetta Evening Gown for $196:

A dramatic wine strapless tafetta evening gown used for some of the bridesmaids in David Tutera's My Fair Wedding Phantom of the Opera episode." />Affordable alternatives:

-Satin Bandage Gown with Crystal Pin from Amazon, $79.99:

This is very, very similar to the original, simple, elegant lines with a touch of bling. The only thing this dress is missing is the true trumpet silhouette, however with that gorgeous ruching I feel that will not be missed :)

-Strapless Ball Gown from Amazon, $93:

This does not have the same bling as the original, however the silhouette of the dress is very similar. Very elegant, perhaps a bit too detailed, but for $93 each, this will make your maids' wallets much happier.

Once you ordered the dresses, accessorize your maids with pearl necklaces and earrings, and you're all set! Don't worry about getting real pearls, your maids *shouldn't* mind and it will help everyone save money!

Cost for bridesmaid dresses and accessories = varies

I put varies because the cost of bridesmaid attire for the bride will be a personal choice. You may pay for their dresses, or may chip in a set amount for each maid. You may give them their accessories as gifts, or just one special component. You may have other ideas for bridesmaid gifts. So this is really entirely up to you.

Now that your bridesmaids are all pretty, it's your turn! We go on to Step 8: The bride's dress!!!

An Affordable Wedding Book Every Bride MUST Have

2011-03-01T09:00:00.004-05:00

Okay, I checked out the 9th edition of Bridal Bargains from my local library,

(Great money saving tip: Check out as many recent wedding books and magazines you can from your local library for free!)read only up to page 40, and I am already thoroughly convinced that I will buy the newest edition if I ever get engaged.

This. book. is. gold.

It's down-to-earth, tells you like it is, no fuss, no games. If you have any intentions on saving money on your wedding budget, YOU MUST HAVE THIS BOOK! Read the whole thing, and then carry it around with you everywhere!

These authors really know what they're talking about, and they mention all the little things that even I wouldn't have thought of, but are fundamentally important, such as using a credit card for all your wedding purchases to protect your investment. Apparently most credit card purchases above $50 or more within certain restrictions are protected by law. I didn't know this, probably due to my lack of a real generic credit card :P But that's another story XD

They also will help you debunk lots of myths the Wedding Industrial Complex wants you to believe in order to help their bottom line. It's harsh but it's true! It will tell you what to avoid and where to go for lots of lovely wedding necessities.

In other words, it's awesome!

But enough of me blabbing about the book's content, go read for yourself!

(Perhaps I should put a disclaimer after each of these almost-an-advertisement posts, no one is paying me for any endorsements you find in my blog, (sadly, lol) this is just my personal, albeit strong, opinion. XD)

My Struggle With the Kilt

2011-02-24T08:30:00.002-05:00

This is probably the one area that the bridal-blogland has thoroughly brainwashed me: handsome groomsmen assembles.

Whether it is dashing tuxes:

Or fabulous colored suits:

Or cute matching ties:

Or fun argyle socks:

Or even suspenders:

All these photos capture my heart, and I start envisioning my man and how handsome he would look in a gray suit...

But every once in a while, I am reminded of my significant other's Scottish heritage, and he reminds that if he's ever getting married, :P he's going to be married in a kilt. XP

In a leg-barring kilt:

*sob* *sob* *sob*

I'm sorry for all the Scottish lassies or those who love men in kilts, but I am simply not a fan.

Perhaps it's because they show off men's legs, and I really think they look kinda strange, lol. Men shouldn't have ankles, Ken dolls taught me men's calves should just melt into feet, right...right?!

Just joking about the Ken doll XD

I have mentioned the possibility last night about wearing pants underneath to hide the hairy awfulness, (although I didn't say the "hide awfulness" part, lol) but he looked at me like I had three heads. XP I also mentioned possibly wearing pants for pictures, and he still looked at me like I had three heads. XP

*sighs* It is it so bad that I want to look at him on our one-day-may-be-existing wedding day and think he looks very handsome?! Because I think he looks handsome anyways :)

But he can make himself look pretty goofy. This is the guy that walked around on our vacation in a speedo and a bright red sunburn. XP (Sunburn was not by choice XD) He did bring normal swim trunks, but I was having so much fun I didn't care about normal photos, lol. And I love him for his free spirit and the fact that he doesn't give a damn what others think.

But would it kill him to not look like a dork when he marries me?! Why not start dying his hair bright colors again while we're at it?!

I'm sorry if I'm over-reacting, but this is just something I'll have to get over I guess. Darn you wedding-blogland!!! XP

How to Get A Phantom Wedding Like David Tutera's My Fair Wedding: Cake

2011-02-23T11:30:00.002-05:00

Step 6: Get a romantic wedding cake.

Okay, let's face it, after DIY-ing the lighting, the linens, the bouquets, and the centerpieces, there is no way in hell we would even want to attempt to pull off the skyscraper of a cake presented in My Fair Wedding - Phantom of the Opera episode:

Yeah...not happening
So what's a budget girl to do?!

There are workarounds.

Looking back at my DIY wedding cake post, I would go with the deconstructed tiered cake in this situation. Why? Because you do not have to mention that your cakes are for a wedding! And partially avoid the Wedding Industrial Complex (WIC).

Photo copyright and courtesy of B. Scott Photography
Wait, what? No really you can! Bear with me.

You look around for some good, reputable, reasonably priced bakeries in your area, and ask for a quote for 4 or 5 round cakes in different sizes. Because it is not a tiered cake or even cupcakes, (which are trendy now so even those will be expensive,) they have no reason to think that it's for a wedding.

If you want to bring your finance with you, just look with him the first time, ask about your options, don't mention the wedding, then leave. Come back on your own a couple weeks later. Even if they remember you, I don't think it would be too problematic, they do want your business after all.

Say it's for a big 50th birthday party, a big fancy gala, a huge family reunion, whatever. If they greatly question your reasons, you probably shouldn't work with them anyways, because they're trying to suck every penny out of you. Look elsewhere.

If you want that true metallic gold look, you will have to pay extra for fondant, because this will be easier to cover with metallic luster. If you can handle having a gold colored cake only, buttercream will be a more budget-friendly option.

The cakes seem to have a lace-like design on the bottom as a border, and possibly minimal design on the sides, small S designs or something like that. This should not induce any extra charges, but check because you never know. The piping isn't that important, it just needs to give the cake some personality so it isn't as plain.

Since you are ordering multiple cakes with minimal decorations, the cost should be less than that of an average wedding cake.

You might be thinking, "But Sarah, that cake is covered with sugar flowers! Every bride knows those are expensive!" And yes, you are right. But the key is to not ask the bakery to do the sugar flowers.

No, I will not say to DIY them. I already gotten a sugar flower kit, and tried to make some myself. My roses aren't half bad, but other flowers? Sad little things. An orchid?! So pitiful. Maybe I can improve my skills later, but without formal training, don't even think about it! XP

You can however, buy them yourself, then just insert them in the cakes the morning of the wedding. A little bit of DIY, but that's the easiest way I can think of, given all the other wedding aspects!

The only place in my opinion to buy your sugar flowers was mentioned in my previous cake decoration post, DiscountSugarFlowers.com!

Here is where you can buy all the pretty and lovely red flowers you would ever need!

Gladiola flower, 3.5in wide, $1.11 eachHibiscus flower, 2.5in wide, $0.72 eachTulip flower, 1.5in wide, $0.78 eachLily flower, 4in wide, $1.11 eachRose flower, 2in wide, $0.72 eachIf these are too red and not enough burgundy for your liking? Then buy some desert plum or red terracotta lust dust for $2.99 a jar, (a powder made for coloring sugar flowers,) and a small quality paintbrush. Dip your dry brush into the powder, tap off excess, and softly brush where you want the color on the flower. The more swipes you put on, the more intense the color.

I gave you a variety of red flowers just because they don't have the exact kind of look as the flowers given on the Phantom cake, (and that luster dust can only go so far color-wise,) so I tried to give the flowers a varied texture.

How many do you need? Well, this is now a bit debatable. Because the Phantom cake is so lush, the number of flowers you need will add up quickly since you want to completely cover the tops of each cake.

The way I estimated the number of flowers you may need is I first calculated the approximate area covered by each flower, then calculated the price per square inch. (Excel helps out a lot with quick calculations.) Then I calculated the area of each tier. Then I divided the area into slices for each flower, cheaper flowers per square inch got a larger slice than more expensive flowers per square inch. In this way I got the cheapest combinations for the cakes, while still having a variety of flowers. Note that I used only half the surface area of the 6" inch cake, leaving room for a cake topper.

Let's say you have a 6", 8", 10", and 12" cakes.

I'll spare you the details, (email me if you do want the spreadsheet!) but you need 24 Gladiola flowers, 31 Hibiscus flowers, 48 roses, 27 tulips and 18 lilies. However, you can only buy them in specified amounts, so you end up buying 27 Gladiolas, 50 Hibiscus, 54 roses, 36 tulips and 18 lilies, costing you a total of $152.88.

Since sugar flowers can last up to a year in a sealed tupperware container, you can buy all your sugar flowers a month or so in advance to take care of breakage issues or color issues before the big day. As long as you can transport them carefully things should work out fine, you probably will have extras anyways. Place the larger flowers on the cake first, then work the smaller flowers around them.

Yes, even buying them yourself is still very expensive, but the labor involved with asking your bakery to make a couple hundred sugar flowers...I'm sure this is the cheaper option, lol.

So what if you don't have $150 lying around for sugar flowers? Reduce their number. It won't look as lush as the Phantom cake, but you will still get the feel. Buy one less box of flowers for each kind of flower, and now the cost is down to $87.93. Buy one box each of flowers, and the cost goes down to $64.95. It's all up to how much you love the original design and how much you are willing to pay to get it.

In order to figure out pricing, I searched online to look for pricing in the Buffalo area. I found two places that posted their prices, Delish! and Dolci Dessert Bakery.

Dolci has a nicer menu since it gives the option of a mini cake that's even smaller, (and cheaper,) than the 6"!

-Mini cake = $11.50
-6" cake = $20.50
-8" cake = $31.50
-10" cake = $47.00

Since we're using smaller cakes, I'm deducting one box from each sugar flower, making the cost of the sugar flowers $87.93.

Total cost for cakes from Dolci Dessert Bakery = $198.43, plus any extra charges for fondant, metallic coating, etc.

From Delish! we can order:

-6" cake = $26
-8" cake = $48
-10" cake = $65
-12" cake = $85

Total cost for cakes from Delish! = $376.88, plus any extra charges for fondant, metallic coating, etc.

Not bad... *sighs* One can only DIY so much, lol.

On to Step 7: Bridesmaid Dresses!

How to Get A Phantom Wedding Like David Tutera's My Fair Wedding: Flower Centerpieces

2011-02-21T15:10:00.012-05:00

We already discussed one part of the Phantom flowers, now on to the more challenging one...

Step 5: Create the centerpieces and complete the table decor.

Oh boy. This may be even harder than trying to figure out affordable linens.

Because it always seems like David Tutera's specialty is over-the-top centerpieces...to put this bluntly there really is no way to reasonably recreate his centerpieces. But you can do something on a smaller scale.

As mentioned in the linen post, the florist Studio Fiore posted some lovely photos of their grand centerpieces...

Large gold urns:

Tall flower stands and candle holders:

All accented with fallen chandeliers, numerous candles, and red rose petals:

We'll tackle the easier elements first.

1) Lots of candle holders

Now I have been trying to tackle this one in my spare time. Candles are a universal design element so I know I can incorporate them into whatever I plan for my own wedding.

In previous posts I have mentioned the Dollar Tree as a great place to search for affordable candle holders, and I have had luck looking in other dollar stores finding wrought iron candle holders as well! You never know what you may find, and be sure to check every couple months to look for newly stocked items.

One site that is really helpful is Crafta! This site takes the cake when it comes to affordable candle holders. Sure, some can look plain, but they can be spray painted to be any color you like, and can be easily decorated!

I found a tall 11.5in wire pillar candle holder for just $2.09 when you buy 12 or more!

And for your taper candles, a shorter but still fitting 7.5in wire taper candle holder also just $2.09 each when you buy 12 or more!

Coat these with some gold spray paint, $4.99 from Joann Fabrics, and you have wonderfully thrifty gold candle holders!

For even more candlelight ambiance, go to Candles DLight and purchase 72 of these amber colored votives with included ivory candles for just $37.99! There are other deals like this online but this site had the cheapest shipping charges as well.

Let's say you need one 14" candle holder and one taper candle holder per guest table, plus 2 of the 14" and 3 of the taper for the head table. Let's say you need 3 cans of spray paint to cover all of those.

Total cost for candle holders = $117.75

2) Lots of candles

In the show they used battery operated candles for safety, however if your venue allows flames onsite, real candles will be cheaper for you. All candles should be in a enclosed candle holder besides the tapered candles, which I don't recommend lighting at all.

The must-have tapered candles can be purchased at the wonderful Dollar Tree, for $0.50 per 10" candle.
For the small taper candles needed for the chandeliers, (mentioned near the end of this post,) go to DiscountCandle.com and get 20 ivory 4" taper candles for $5.65 each!
For pillar candles, try looking at Candles DLight again, 36 count 2"x4.5" ivory pillar candles for just $32.99 plus ship!

We need 15 pillar candles, 3 boxes of small taper candles, 48 taper candles, and the votive candles have already been purchased with their candle holders. Even though we have more pillar candles than we need, these can be distributed on the tables or around the cake, guest book, escort cards, or whatever they are needed :)

Total cost for candles = $73.94

3) Tons of rose petals

Because of the number of petals we need and due to the expensive costs of other parts of this Phantom wedding, we're going to use fake rose petals. Now, now, it won't be a disaster, and the price difference is worth it, so bear with me!

I don't know how the Dollar Tree can get their petals so cheap, but really their 300 white, red or pink petals for $1 just can't be beat.

But how many do we need?

We want pretty heavy coverage on the tables, and Petal Garden says that one needs 2-4 cups of petals to decorate tables with centerpieces. They discuss earlier in the article how many petals are in a cup, and I got an approximate amount of 22. So 88 petals per table for heavy coverage.

Another site Petal Toss, says that one bag will cover 2-3 tables with heavy coverage. One bag seems to be about 10 cups, which is equal to 220 petals, so each table would then need 110 petals. I like this number better, (rather estimate more than less,) so for 14 tables we need approximately 1540 petals, which turns out to be six 300 count red petal bags.

Total cost for rose petals = $6!!!

4) Large rose topiaries

Okay, this can be done, but it must be planned out efficiently. In order to be realistic, many steps should be done a few days in advance, in order to lesson the amount of work done the day beforehand. Bribing family and friends with food and alcohol is almost a must XD there is a lot of labor involved! Remember if you're DIYing your bouquets also that there will be less time and adding stress, however some steps will help out both projects.

What you will need for 13 tables:
-Many, many buckets, plastic tubs or containers
-Either 500 and 250 roses from Amazonia Flowers for $565 or 375 roses from Amazonia Flowers with 350 carnations from Global Rose for a total of $414
-10 bunches of leather leaf ferns from Sam's Club for $60.74
-13 count 19.5" high wire sphere bases from Crafta.com for $3.49 each
-13 floral foam 8" diameter spheres from Save-On-Crafts, 2 for $9.36
-2 cans of gold spray paint from Joann Fabrics for $4.99 each
-greening pins from Save-On-Crafts, 600 for $7.20
-spray bottle, $1 at the Dollar Tree
-floral clippers

Before you start: Ask yourself one question: Do I have air conditioning? Do I know someone who does and wouldn't mind me leaving hundreds of flowers there for a few days? The longevity of your roses depend on this. Heat can easily cause flowers to wilt, keep this in mind before attempting such a floral-intensive project!

Way in advance:
a) Purchase or borrow many buckets, plastic tubs, or large containers that can easily hold the bunches of roses, ferns, and possibly carnations you will receive for your wedding.

b) Purchase wire forms and floral foam.
c) Schedule delivery of flowers 3 days before wedding.

d) Spray paint your wire forms gold.

3 days beforehand:
a) Fill all your containers with plenty of water.

b) Once your flowers are delivered quickly put them all in the containers.

c) Prep your flowers. Since you don't need their full stem length, start by cutting each stem at an angle to about 5in in length. Look at my DIY tutorial for prepping reference, with the exception of leaving about 2in of greenery at the tops of the flowers.

The evening beforehand:
a) Fill up your bathtub or more containers with water and flower preservatives. (Read the preservative packet/container to see how much should be added!)

b) Place the foam spheres in the water and wait until they sink to the bottom on their own, approximately 30 seconds.

c) Try to push the 8in spheres into the 7.5in wire forms. If they don't fit, trim all sides a little at a time. You want a snug fit, so it won't move around while you are arranging the flowers. Since they are wire forms, they can probably be bent or moved without too much difficulty. (Hopefully! XP)

d) Start placing ferns around the sphere, in order to eventually completely cover the wires and foam, secure stems and leaves with greening pins.

e) Starting at the top of the sphere, start piercing the flowers into the sphere leaving approx 2in of stem sticking out of the foam. Make circles around this center flower as you move down the sphere.

f) Stop about 3/4 down the sphere, look at the floral photos in the beginning of this post for reference. You can do a full sphere, however you may want to secure the upside down flowers with greening pins to ensure they do not fall out.

g) Decorate the stand to your liking. Add ribbons, bead garland, or whatever your heart desires. (Give a break, this is a long research post! I kinda lost steam at deciding how to dress up the wire forms XP)

The morning of: Using a spray bottle, spray in between the flowers and try to re-moisten the foam to make sure the flowers will last until the evening.

Total cost for large rose centerpieces = $603.81 - $754.81 plus lots of labor

5) "Fallen" chandeliers

Obviously, renting a bunch of crystal chandeliers to just sit on your tables is pretty much out of the budget. I figured there had to be another way!

After lots of searching, I finally found a smaller chandelier that we can use for a wholesale price, without the sketchy wholesaler websites! Yea!

Here at the reputable Koehler Home Decor, you can get a Shabby Chic Scroll Chandelier for just $9.96 each!

At 9.25" wide and over 2ft long, they are a great size for the table design!

Total cost for chandeliers = $129.48

Okay, so now you have candle holders and candles, rose ball centerpieces, rose petals and fallen chandeliers. I think that's a very complete and decorated table! And if you also have the themed linens to boot?!

Okay, look past the bad Photoshop-ing...that's one lovely table! :D

So...the cost...

Cost for all centerpiece and table decor = $930.98 - $1081.98

I'll admit, that's a LOT for just some pretty table decor. But at least it won't cost you thousands from a florist.

Realize however, without the rose centerpieces, the total cost drops to $327.17! Remember, flowers are expensive! Just saying :)

On to Step 6: The Cake! :D

How to Get A Phantom Wedding Like David Tutera's My Fair Wedding: Flower Bouquets

2011-02-13T12:55:00.003-05:00

A continuation of the David Tutera Phantom wedding series, on to the next item...

Step 4: Assemble the bouquets and boutonnieres.

Now, for the bouquets and the boutonnieres, I can say with confidence, you can DIY them. Fortunately, all the bouquets are monochromatic red rose bouquets. The only difference is that the bride's bouquet had sparkly floral picks, and those are very simple to add in.

Follow my DIY bouquet tutorial using only red roses, and as long as you pay very careful attention to the shape of each bouquet, (nice smooth dome,) and do not underestimate the amount of roses you need, it will work out just fine. :)

Where to get all the lovely red roses?

I would highly recommend getting your bulk flowers online, especially if you're going to DIY them anyways. I went to a supposed "wholesale" flower retailer in Buffalo and was fairly disappointed. The flowers were sub-par and it was obvious this was just another florist and not a DIYer's haven. Most of the shop was not for viewing, (and I awkwardly wandered in by accident,) and prices were not widely posted.

Since you don't have to worry about stem length with the bouquets, 16in stems will do just fine, however one site said that the longer the stems, the larger the blooms. (So if you have your heart set on large roses, keep this in mind.)

I searched the many, many wholesale flower sites, and I found the biggest bang for your buck was at Amazonia Flowers for 16" stem or 20" stem roses. You can get 375 16" roses for $280, which comes to $0.75 per stem, and this will more than cover all the bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, and whatever else you need!

Just because of the number of flowers, I would highly recommend help with the assembly of all the florals, the bouquets the day before, and the boutonnieres at the very earliest the night before.

An easy and affordable way to add bling to your bouquet is to make your own floral picks! Just go to Joann.com and purchase these crystal beads, 52 count on sale for $2.24, or these Swarovski beads, 12 count for $7.86, if you have to have fancy crystals, and a few spools of around 18 gauge jewelry wire, on sale for $2.46 for 10 yards.

Cut approx 28in pieces of wire for each bead you want to include. (The lengths of the wires do not need to reach the ends of the bouquet stems.) Thread the bead to the center of the wire, then bend each end on each side of the bead, and twist the wire underneath all the way down. Put some melted wax on the ends of the wire so it won't prick you while you insert the flower picks, unless you want them in the center of the roses, then leave the ends sharp so they can pierce the flower easier.

If you would rather not go the DIY route, this seems to be a good choice for an affordable florist, try a local grocery store or a Sam's Club, Costco or BJ's. They may be able to do all the work for you and still be reasonably priced. Since the design is simple, nothing should go wrong with the final product.

Edit: I should have done a price breakdown for this, so here it is...

Refer to my DIY bouquet post for details on the floral supplies. This is an estimation for a lot of bouquets, boutonnieres, and corsages (5 maids, 5 groomsmen, plus everyone else) in order to be realistic in pricing. I'd rather estimate for too much rather than too little.

-375 count 16" red roses = $280
-52 count crystal beads = $2.24
-18 gauge jewelry wire = $2.46
-7 spools of floral tape = $14
-1 spool of Dollar Tree twine = $1
-5 spools of Dollar Tree ribbon = $5
-pearl floral pins = $2.99
-Lots of labor = free, or possibly the cost of food and/or wine to convince your family/friends to help you, lol

Total cost for bouquets, boutonnieres, and corsages = $307.69

Now on to the harder part of the flower equation, Step 5: Floral centerpieces...

Because I'm a Weddingbee Addict...

2011-02-12T14:18:00.005-05:00

There's another set of Weddingbee icons out! :D

Behold the Carnival icons!

Now these are cute, however I think the brunch icons would have been more fitting for me. (However I wouldn't mind being Miss Funnel Cake! :D)

But if my wonderful bf saw them, I know which one he would insist that I choose.

My silly boy calls me a bunch of silly animal names just because it makes no sense whatsoever and he knows that bugs me, lol. (What I would give to have a normal pet name, lol.) And one of those names...is 'seal'. So nothing would make him happier than for me to be, officially, Miss Seal. XD

Just saying. :)

How to Get A Phantom Wedding Like David Tutera's My Fair Wedding: Linens

2011-02-11T11:40:00.005-05:00

Another installment of the My Fair Wedding - Phantom series, we're now on to...

Step 3: Design the tablescape.

How you decorate your tables can affect the whole look and mood of your venue, so finding the right combination is key!

In order to be as accurate as possible, I re-watched the show :D and looked on the interwebs for photos of the decorated venue. The florist of the Phantom episode, Studio Fiore posted some lovely photos showing off not only their wonderful centerpieces, (floral post to come later,) but the decorated tables as well! Score!

Thanks to All About the Tables, I found a nifty design tool that can help you visualize how your table settings will look in completion at The Cloth Connection.

In a nutshell, this is the look we're aiming for:

The tables were decorated with the following:

1) Red damask tablecloths, with a light gold contrast color

This was the hardest part of this post, no lie. Finding detailed banquet tablecloths on the cheap is no cake walk. XP With all the other elements going on with this tablescape, I realized I would have to either focus on other elements or get creative with my options.

The most budget friendly options are either a simple burgundy satin 108" tablecloth for $9.80 each from Linen Tablecloth, or a simple burgundy polyester 120" tablecloth for $11.15 each from Linen Tablecloth.

Now, don't give up on me yet! There will be lovely details further down the line, just bear with me. If you can stand having a plain tablecloth, then I recommend not a patterned one, but another burgundy overlay, preferably 90" to cover as much of the tablecloth as possible. Then the gold overlay could lie perpendicular to the first overlay, creating a more elaborate look.

The cheapest I could find is an 85" apple red flocking organza overlay for $10.49 each from CV Linens when you buy 12 or more.

I know it's red and not burgundy, but since it is close and since it is organza, it will blend into the burgundy tablecloth and look more like damask rather than looking mis-matched.

2) Gold embroidered overlays

In order to save on the tablecloth and napkins, I kinda splurged a bit on the overlay. My reasoning is if the detail is in the overlay, the elements around it can be more subdued and not look plain. Since tablecloths (usually) cost more than overlays, and napkins are need in massive quantities, I splurge on only the overlays to save on costs in the long run, without sacrificing style! :)

This one I found looks very, very similar to the ones on the show, and is just lovely in my opinion. It's a cream and gold quad organza embroidery 84" overlay for $18 from Prestige Linens.

3) Gold chargers

If you look back at my Christmas Tree Shop charger post, you can see that if you wait patiently, you will find affordable chargers for $1 or even $0.80 each! Just sign up for the Christmas Tree Shop emails and you'll never miss a sales ad!

4) Red and gold scroll-patterned napkins

Paying extra for something as numerous as napkins is just plain not a good idea unless you get a great deal on some fancy fabric and make them on your own. (And when I mean a great deal, I mean $2 per yard or less. Trust me on this one!)

This is why we're going with simple polyester burgundy napkins for $0.50 each from Linen Tablecloth. Especially if you have a more detailed overlay, it's okay to have a plainer napkin!

If you really want a bit more pizazz, these satin burgundy napkins from eFavorMart will work very nicely as well for $0.65 each!

5) Tassel napkin rings

I found some really affordable tassel ties at The Tassel Depot, 100 12" gold tassel ties for just $36! :D *dances*

6) Velvet chair bands/caps with tassels

This was a bit harder to figure out, given the high costs of chair treatments. It will take a bit of DIY, but I believe I have found an affordable solution!

First, purchase the following:
-25 burgundy satin runners, $2.41 each from Linen Tablecloth
-100 yards of 5/8" double faced satin ribbon for $17.50 from The Ribbon Retreat Wholesale
-100 roman gold bookmark tassels for $13 from The Tassel Depot

Now, take the runners and cut them into 4 equal pieces. On the back of each one, use chalk to mark the center of the bottom edge, and then mark 12 inches from the bottom on each side.

Draw 2 lines with a ruler connecting these side marks to the center mark to create a tapered point. Now draw 2 more lines 1/2" from those lines.

Cut on these lines.

Hem the pieces on the top and the new tapered sides. Trim off most of the loop on the tassel and sew the remaining tail to the back of the point.

Cut four 12" pieces of ribbon. Sew the ends of two ribbons to the back of each corner of the fabric, then sew the ends of the other two ribbons on the back of the fabric, just above each point where the fabric tapers off.

Now when you want to put on your chair toppers, you just drape the tapered end over the back of the chair, and tie a pretty bow on each side! Relatively easy chair toppers for just $0.91 per chair!!! :D

So, after all that, what I have created for you is a slight alteration of the original:

But how much does it really cost you?

(For 100 guests, I assume 13 60" 8-person tables plus head table)

Tablecloth costs = $137.20 - $156.10
Overlay costs = $252 ($399 if you use 2 overlays)
Charger costs = $80 - $100
Napkin costs = $50 - $65
Napkin ring costs = $36
Chair cap costs = $91

Grand total for 100 guests = $646.20 - $847.10
Cost per table = $46.16 - $60.50

Nothing to scoff at, but realize you would own all these items, possibly be able to sell some to another bride, and not have to worry about stains or damage. And with the costs of rentals these days, I believe this is actually the cheaper option if you find yourself stuck on such expensive tastes :)

*Whew!* That was nothing short of a doozy! Would you believe I worked so hard on this post that all last night I was dreaming about linens?! No joke. XD It was kinda weird, lol.

On to Step 4: Flowers!

How to Get A Phantom Wedding Like David Tutera's My Fair Wedding: Lighting

2011-02-08T10:03:00.005-05:00

Continued from the first My Fair Wedding post...

Step 2: Get the mood lighting

Every venue can be dressed up with a little mood lighting. Don't hire expensive lighting companies, do it for approx $24 a spotlight! Here is the original DIY post from Weddingbee, and here's what you need:

-light clamps, $9 each at the Home Depot
-100 watt red flood lights, average cost $6 each, depending on store (check your light clamps to see how much wattage they can take)
-sheet of pine plywood, around $7 for a 2ftx2ft pine plank at the Home Depot
-1/4" bolts and nuts
-large washers with 1/4" opening
-spray paint (for the plywood and/or the light clamps)

To create the base for the lights, refer to the DIY lighting tutorial here from Project Wedding. With this tutorial there's a handy hole in the light handle for the bolt to go through, however since we have cheaper light setups, we have to do this a bit differently.

-First you should connect a piece of plywood sticking straight up in the middle of the 1'x1' board, (with nails or screws or whatever).
-Then place the light clamp securly on the board.
-Then use 2 bolts with associated washers and nuts like the Project Wedding tutorial, except now secure each corner of the clamp so the clamp cannot come off easily.

My rendition of the light stand alteration
Another alteration on this would be to add walls on each side of the light to hide the ugly looking wires and clamp, however make sure the wood is not too close to the metal lamp, which could cause a fire hazard.

If you can't stand how unsightly the light clamps look, and/or would like a more professional setup, then you could follow the Project Wedding tutorial by the letter, and you will need the following:

-PAR 56 lighting can, $24 at BulbAmerica
-500W Par Can bulb, $15 at BulbAmerica
-colored gel sheet, $1.25 at BulbAmerica
-sheet of pine plywood, around $7 for a 2ftx2ft pine plank at the Home Depot
-1/4" bolts and nuts
-large washers with 1/4" opening
-spray paint (for the plywood and/or the light clamps)

Adding up to a total of $43 per light.

Since the professional lights are more powerful, you would probably need less of them than you would for the light clamps.

Even though these lighting projects could easy cost around $130 - $150, for the atmosphere it is a lot less than what a professional lighting company would charge. Just please, make sure your venue can handle your power needs! Having great lighting will do you no good when the entire building loses power! XP

On to Step 3: Linens!

How to Get A Phantom Wedding Like David Tutera's My Fair Wedding: Venue

2011-02-07T15:25:00.009-05:00

Intrigued? Well good! Because I would like to happily debunk the myth that you have to spend ton of money to have a beautiful wedding, so here it goes.

How to Get David Tutera's My Fair Wedding - Phantom of the Opera Wedding:

Step 1: Find the right venue

Okay, you're lucky with this one, because pretty much any ballroom/hotel reception area will do for Phantom. Since you're going for classic, you don't have to worry about the unique aspect of the venue, more rather the opulence of the place. Chandeliers are a really big plus, and gold and red decor/color scheme is very helpful as well.

If you can afford a lavish looking venue, good for you! The venue is a vital choice for a wedding, however remember some may not let you use a different caterer, so be sure to check those menu prices first!

Since there are ~~hundreds~~ thousands of venues out there, I will just pick out a few affordable suggestions for my hometown Buffalo, NY area:

Samuel's Grand Manor -

First choice, hands down, no doubt, sign me up if I wanted a Phantom wedding, is Samuel's Grand Manor. Perfect ambiance. Just look at the place!

Cost for Wedding Package #1 = $48.95 per person

Package includes the following:
-Sit-down dinner with soup, salad, entree, dessert and coffee
-champagne toast for all guests
-wine served with dinner
-choice of 9 hors d'oeurves served for one hour
-4 1/2 hours of upgraded open bar

There is a lot of nice perks included with this package, plus all the menu choices have a great variety.

Total for 100 guests = $4895
8.75% sales tax = $428
17% gratuity = $832

Grand total for 100 guests = $6155

Note that their prices can be reduced with Friday/Sunday bookings or with off-season winter weddings! Definitely something to check out if you're in the area! :D

The Millennium Hotel -

This next choice that is just as beautiful, and cheaper to boot!

Cost for Wedding Package #2 = $39.95 per person

Package includes the following:
-Sit-down dinner with salad, rolls, entree and coffee
-a Butterwood wedding cake!!! (OMG I kinda really want that XD)
-assorted bruschetta display, fresh fruit/veggie/cheese board, and crudites for appetizers
-4 hours of open house bar
-champagne toast for all guests
-complementary accommodations for the newlyweds
-complementary shuttle service from the airport and Amtrak station
-special room rates for overnight guests
-complementary parking
-15% off a rehearsal dinner or brunch

Great looking ballroom, with tons of extras! The menu choices are a little limited, but it is wonderful to not have to worry about rooms for your guests or transportation for your out-of-towners. Booyah!

Total for 100 guests = $3995
8.75% sales tax = $350
18% gratuity = $719

Grand total for 100 guests = $5064

The Hamlin House -

Now for the more budget-inclined, there are some very lovely choices out there for you too! My pick for you is the Hamlin House.

Cost for dinner with a soup or salad, rolls, entree, dessert and coffee = $14.95 per person

The menu choices are not anything fancy, but they do say on their website that other possibilities are available as well. A banquet dinner includes plating of any cookies, pastries or cake that are brought on location, plus bud vases, candles, and some linen color choices for the tables.

Cost for 4 hours house open bar = $13.75 per person

Note that extras like appetizers and whatnot are also available for extra.

Even with the costs being so reasonable, the space is actually very sophisticated!

The next lowest contender I found started at $36.50, and it didn't look as polished as this one. (You know the type of place...with the faux flowers everywhere...awkward room design and video from the 80s...yeah) You're really better off splurging a little more on The Millennium Hotel if you want something more upscale.

Total for 100 guests = $2870
8.75% sales tax = $251
18% gratuity = $517

Grand total for 100 guests = $3638

And that's how you get a lovely Phantom of the Opera venue without the (extremely) large price tag!

On to Step 2: Lighting!

Even More Comfy Cozy Winter Wedding Inspiration!

2011-02-02T13:50:00.007-05:00

Considering the amount of snow days being given throughout the US lately, I figured more winter wedding inspiration would be quite fitting!

This post is best enjoyed with a mug of hot chocolate :)

Or better yet, a mug of hot buttered rum! :D

The recipe can be found at Real Simple's blog Simply Stated. Am I a dork for thinking of Harry Potter's butterbeer every time I see hot buttered rum? XD

An easy way to get a winter wonderland feel is to include these cute but inexpensive Icelandic bowls from Country Clean Paper Supplies.

Starting at $1.50 for a regular 16oz bowl, $5.50 for a 3.5qt bowl, and just $12 for a giant 12qt punch bowl, how could you go wrong?!

This pretty snowflake wedding cake is easy to execute given that the royal icing snowflakes can be done in advance! So then you can bake, assemble and frost, (fondant optional), then add the royal icing snowflakes in small groupings around the cake.

It looks like some of the snowflakes were pressed onto the frosting to make an imprint of a snowflake as well as having the royal icing ones attached. However I think doing that technique could easily backfire on a novice cake decorator like I. I would try doing in a pretty blue color though :)

For help on creating the snowflakes, start reading the tutorials at Mahalo and Martha Stewart Weddings. Also check out this forum discussion at Wilton to read more on the difficulties of removing these icing lovelies from wax paper.

o.0

*swoon*
So gorgeous for winter, they're frigging perfect! Found on At Home with Kim Vallee, in reference to Fauchois Fleurs florist. You know it's a good florist when you don't care that their site is in French. XD

A cute and creative way to display sweets for a dessert table would be to include these easy-to-make meringue cookie trees!

This tutorial at Little Dishy gives her version of the meringue tree, including a rum-flavored icing that will make the cookies easily removable for your guests to enjoy!

I'm loving this beautifully ruched, a-line wedding dress, Cleo by Maggie Sottero:

Such clean and modern lines, with a romantic flower sash and corset back...stunning. Usually I don't go for dresses that do not have a lot of beading, but for some reason this seems to have enough character that it doesn't need anything aside from the sash.

Gah, this is the problem though with looking at designer dresses, you're not going to find them used anywhere until they had time to become a little out of style, had the time to be worn for a wedding. So all the latest fashions now won't start popping up until several months pass by.

I tried looking for this model online, and got prices around $900-$950 for sites that did not accept returns XP So I can only assume that this lovely will cost about a grand in a wedding dress boutique. For now.

Maybe I'll be stalking this dress in the used dress classifieds in the fall :) lol, you never know!

Attention Buffalo Brides! Voucher for Half-Off Men's Apparel!

2011-02-01T08:15:00.006-05:00

Are you a Buffalo gal and need gifts for your groomsmen?

Then sign up for SweetFind on the double and get their latest deal for the Riverside Men's Shop: $100 vouchers for $45!

You could get half off ties, socks, hats, pocket squares, button-down shirts, etc.!

There's a time limit for SweetFind deals however, so you have approx 16 hours left to snatch this one up!

So go over and plan your guy's ensembles for half price! :D

Just thought you'd like to know!

The Reasons Why I Greatly Dislike Chiavari Chairs

2011-01-29T12:45:00.012-05:00

Omg, how could you Sarah?!

You have just committed a wedding blog travesty!

How could you not love the beauty that is the Chiavari chair? Just look at how it transforms a space!

Yes, I have to admit, they are very lovely.

But I don't like them. They kinda annoy me greatly. >XP

Why you ask?

Because this is one of the few remaining grips the WIC (Wedding Industrial Complex) has on us lovely ladies.

We can DIY a centerpiece, decor, bouquets, table linens, ring pillows/flower girl baskets, mood lighting, DJ music, veils, invitations, tiered cakes, booze, our food even, (although I wouldn't try it)...

...but we cannot recreate the Chiavari chair.

The only way to get them is to rent or purchase them, and since most brides don't have a use for 100+ chairs, we rent them. For $6-$7 a piece at the absolute lowest. Because there is nothing else we can do.

And even when we try to find a bargain with these, we risk dealing with people who take advantage of their high prices, and many scams crop up, just involving cheap Chiavari chair rentals!

So they gouge out our wallets because they're counting on us to fawn over them.

Poor Miss Brooch was feeling the pain of being financially responsible, and with pictures like this, who can blame her?This is why I will not have those chairs in my wedding. They are not worth the money, no matter how much we may try to rationalize it.

If you are freaking out, desperately trying to re-arrange your budget to somehow fit these elegant chairs into your special day, take a deep breath. It's okay. You are better than the chairs. They are not worth it.

Put your money to a better use. You will feel much better about it later, when your bills are paid and you remember your wedding with great fondness.

Just trust me on this one :)

More Comfy Cozy Winter Wedding Inspiration!

2011-01-25T21:40:00.004-05:00

Here is some more lovely winter inspiration to feast your eyes on! Enjoy! :D

It would be too cute to serve soup in little hallowed-out gourds! <3

It seems to be difficult to pull off, however if you do this the day before, add a little lemon juice to the carved surface of each one so it doesn't brown, and stick them in the fridge, (or many friends' fridges), you should be fine. Just note that a pumpkin site says it will start to dry out and shrivel after 48 hours, so you don't want to wait too long with these.

Probably the only reason I would ever buy wedding stockings...just to keep my darn legs warm!

The lace ones are awfully pretty though :) A winter tidbit taken from Weddingbee's Miss Earrings!

The cutest (and most affordable!) outdoor lanterns I've seen for a winter wedding! Just make sure they don't melt beforehand!

Thank Design Sponge for the how-to for this fantastic idea!

I love the color of these faux orchids! They can be so pretty in deep burgundy!

Now if you're going for a more modern look, this take on the birds and branches theme could be very fitting:

All thanks to a dessert buffet post by Hostess with the Mostest.

Another more modern winter idea is to use these feather wreaths that I just love...they remind me so much of snow, so soft and delicate:

However I don't think it will be popular with the bf (tried to get something similar for Christmas XD lol)

More to come!

(What, you thought I exhausted my list of winter ideas already?!)

A Phantom of the Opera Wedding Will Be Done By David Tutera!!! Squee!!!

2011-01-20T15:56:00.009-05:00

OMG OMG OMG!!!

Phantom of the Opera is one of my absolute favorite musicals, not to mention one of the more romantic and elegant ones!

See More The Phantom of the Opera Various at IGN.com
And My Fair Wedding with David Tutera is doing a Phantom of the Opera wedding!!! <3 Ack, I die!

It seems to have aired already, (because I'm a little slow on the get-go, XP) but it's showing tonight at 9pm, Eastern Standard Time, on the WE channel!

I will soon have a professional example to follow for how to have a musical-themed wedding and make it tasteful!

And I don't care if the bf sees me watching it, :D while grinning like an idiot.

He'll deal :)

(Edit: I was so excited I put 7pm, but it's really 9pm. Promise :D)

Attention Winter Brides: A Blog That Is Just For You!

2011-01-18T21:56:00.006-05:00

Delicate sugared fruit decor inspiration:

The perfect snowflake shoe:

And the purse to go with them:

Just some of the many wonderful winter wedding touches you'll find in Brenda's Wedding Blog - Holiday Weddings!

Nice to see a dedicated winter wedding blog. If you're a winter bride, you have to keep an eye on this one!

Just something I wanted to share with you. That is all :)

Comfy Cozy Winter Wedding Inspiration

2011-01-17T11:11:00.004-05:00

As I look outside at the wonderful snowy landscape before me, I just feel so comfortable and warm in my home.

I also start to think of lovely wintery things for weddings!

Over the past few months, despite my busyness, I was still able to collect a ton of winter inspiration, and I thought today would be a perfect time to share some tidbits with you!

I have always loved plaid...but I know I wouldn't like red in the color palette :P So I love this inspiration board (which also has a violin in it, score!) from The Finer Things. It has a tartan blue and green plaid theme, which is much more applicable to what I'm planning! And with the bf being proud of his Scottish heritage, I think he would love it! :)

For some reason I'm lusting after this pretty card box:

It just looks so dainty and pretty! The winter version of a birdcage card box! However I refuse to pay $40 for it...however you do find it from time to time on the Weddingbee Classifieds for less.

Just look at these!

Such a cute way to serve hot chocolate! You melt chocolate in ice cube trays and have it cool on sticks. (Full set of instructions are in Giver's Log, because if you don't temper your chocolate properly, they won't look as pretty!) Then you can dip your chocolate pops in candy melts chocolate and add on any embellishments, such as sprinkles, silver dragees, coconut, edible glitter, whatever! Serve your sticks proudly with glasses of hot milk or half and half! Mmmm...

I love the idea of including wood paper into the many paper elements of a wedding, however the wood paper does not come cheap! XP Despite this fact, I can't help but love the woodsy yet modern look of these escort cards from Martha Stewart Weddings.

I wonder if you could pull of printing a wood grain on satin-finished paper? Hmmm...something to try one of these days...

I think my friends would beg me not to put hundreds of little snowflakes on toothpicks...but wouldn't it be cute?! Maybe I could wrap the little container with an evergreen branch, so it looks like snow on a tree! :D Martha Stewart would be proud XD

o.0 On Project Wedding I found the most glamorous snow photographs I have ever seen:

Her makeup.
Her eyes.
So captivating.

You have no idea how badly I want photographs like that o.0

Well, I realized I have wayyy too much winter wedding inspiration for just one post to handle, so I'm going to space it out a bit. I think the wedding blogosphere needs more winter wedding posts anyways :)

Must...Break...Away...From...Wedding..Blogs!

2011-01-14T15:02:00.016-05:00

Don't be a silly time-waster like I.

Silly Sarah, trying to remember all the pretty wedding blogs she has seen, entering in their names one by one, scanning through til she thought she was back up to date...

If only I noticed Google Reader existed sooner!

I love Google's online tools, they are a complete life saver, given the fact that all these tools can be accessed online, so there's no need to worry about which computer you're on!

Now Google Reader has all my blog subscriptions in one spot on the interwebs...yea! :D

Can you believe I have gotten this far just wandering aimlessly across the blogosphere?!

I can't either.

But now...I feel like a SUPER INSPIRATION RETRIEVER!

And probably doomed to spend most of my waking life on my laptop. XD

So while I may be a little late to the party, you go and get all your blogs on Google Reader now!

Conquering the DIY Wedding Cake: Decisions, Decisions

2011-01-10T10:20:00.004-05:00

So, you read my first DIY wedding cake post, and you still feel that you have what it takes! Good for you! Here are some of your options:

1) The tiered cake

I would only recommend this option to the seasoned baker or pastry chef. The simple fact of the matter is you have two options: Last minute assembly before the reception, or nail-biting transport of the cake.

This is due to the fact that a tiered cake will have seams in between each of its layers, so decoration of piping, fondant strip, flowers, etc. will be needed to dress up the area where the tiers meet. If you do this all beforehand, are you really going to guard that 4-tier cake from every bump on the road on the hour car ride to your reception!? Transporting a cake with the tiers separated makes sense for transport.

However then the question is who is going to assemble the tiers once you get it safety to the venue? And who could you trust to do it right? This is why I would personally stay away from this DIY option, if you can help it.

But if you can pull it off, you have the most grand option at your wedding for a fraction of the cost! The real question here is whether all that trouble is worth it.

2) The tiered display cake

This cake would be similar to this display cake constructed by Weddingbee's own Mrs. Deviled Egg. (I thought this was an original idea of mine, just goes to show every wedding idea has been done! lol) This is a cake made of mostly Styrofoam, covered with fondant, with one cake layer for the cake cutting event.

This is a great option for a DIY bride because this can be done in advance. You and your handsome groom will be the only ones to eat this cake, so if you wanted to make it a week beforehand, go for it! This one gives the bride the most room to breathe. You can either order plain sheet cake from a bakery or you could make the sheet cakes yourself, but at least you wouldn't have to worry so much about decoration when dealing with the sheets, just (relatively) match the base color of the cake, and tada! No one will even notice.

The main issue with this option is making sure that the display cake will still look the same after it's been sitting around for an extended period of time. No one will spill anything on it, dust will not dirty up your pristine white fondant, the humid summer air will not melt your buttercream flowers, etc.

Since most of the cake is Styrofoam, you could glue the layers together (minus the cake layer!) for added stability with transport. A tiered display cake assembled in this way will have much more stability than any real cake. If your still worried about the cake layer falling off, make a partial cake layer by cutting out a portion of the Styrofoam and fill it with cake layers. Now every layer can be securely glued together! Just remember where you put the actual cake for the cutting! :)

3) The tiered cake deconstructed

Photo copyright and courtesy of B. Scott Photography
This is what I am considering doing for myself. Instead of dealing with the stress of assembling/transporting a tall, tiered masterpiece, do a more modern twist of the wedding cake and do deconstructed, separate layers with varying sizes. Extremely similar to what Weddingbee's Mrs. Pencils did with her cakes.

This way, one doesn't have to worry about having a "fake" display cake, and have all the cake out there for all to see. But this wouldn't be as hard to transport with the individual layers and could be done a couple days in advance as well! The only setup with these cakes would be placing each on a cake stand, which should (hopefully) be easy enough for any helper :)

Another note: Ever heard of the budget saving tip "Don't tell your vendors it's a wedding?" Well it doesn't always work out so easily, (*cough* venue! *cough*) but with this deconstructed style, you can have your cake and at a discount!!! Say it's for a fancy birthday party, 50th anniversary, whatever. Since it's not the usual style of a wedding cake, they won't think twice about it.

4) Small tiered cake with cupcakes or sheet cakes in the back

Very similar to the previous choices, but now the fancy decorated cake is much smaller, making it easier to manage for a new-comer to baking. Smaller pieces of fondant are easier to drape over cake, less decorations are needed, less worries about the structural integrity of the cake, all equals less stress for the bride!

Similar to the display cake, the sheet cakes do not have to be lavishly decorated, and cupcakes described below will only need minimal decoration, making their execution much easier. This can also be done a couple days in advance.

5) A homestyle cake buffet

This I believe is the easiest for any bride to do because you don't even have to do anything professional looking! You're going for the homestyle, comforting, straight-from-Mom's-kitchen look, so just swirl your frosting around or smooth it a bit and be done with it! Pick a variety of different flavors to make more interesting! Very stress-free, and great for any causal daytime wedding!

6) Mini-cake favors

Probably the most time consuming option, giving all your guests their very own mini wedding cake. It doesn't seem that way at first glance, but realize that unlike cupcakes, your doing all the steps involved with one full wedding cake. So while it's a really fun idea...make sure before you start that you can handle doing something as time consuming as stacking, cutting, frosting, rolling fondant, covering, and decorating 50 times over and not go crazy. XD Which is why I would highly recommend recruiting help for this project!

If one does dare to attempt this, it would truly be a hit with your guests!

I would ask your baker if this would cost more or less than doing that tiered cake you may be considering, however it may end up costing more just due to the amount of labor. But you never know.

(This could also be a good candidate for the "don't mention it's a wedding" tip)

7) Cupcakes

This can be one of the easier options if the right elements are chosen. The main goal for this is finding a way to dress them up enough so they look like "bridal" cupcakes. A fancy garnish for each one, some pretty piping, or some lacy cupcake wrappers, will all help elevate your cupcakes to fit in with your wedding.

So if the difference between making your cupcakes "bridal" and "ordinary" are these complicated tiny sugar orchids you're supposed to make yourself...yes, cupcakes will be difficult. If it's adding a small edible flower to each one, then yes, they will be easier. Remember, everything will have to be done 50+ times over!

Another option is filling your cupcakes with special tip made for filling pastries and a pastry bag with some yummy jelly or buttercream. This will help give your cupcakes a special something and make them more like regular wedding cake.

As I'm sure many of you brides know, bakery cupcakes are usually cheaper than traditional bakery wedding cakes. You could also use the "don't mention it's for a wedding" card here, although since they're becoming more popular for weddings, it may or may not be harder to pull off.

8) Dessert buffet

Not a cake person? They DIY may be perfect for you! Go crazy doing anything from pies, to cheesecakes, to a whole dessert assortment! Your only limited by your time and resources before the big day, (ask for help for multiple desserts!) so make sure you do practice runs for this option as well, and set aside time wisely!

So that's the list, I hope I was through enough to include all wedding cake options, and I hope you can find something that's a great fit for you!

The Cricut's Here!!!

2011-01-07T07:44:00.009-05:00

8D

Yes, the crazy lady got her Cricut for Christmas!!!

It's so pretty isn't it?! It's a collector's edition for National Breast Cancer Month, and came with the special edition Pink Journey cartridge! Plus Plantin Schoolbook and Accent Essentials cartridges.

I got the special edition because it was a fantastic ebay find, an auction that had an incorrectly labeled title, so any passerby would think it was just a regular Cricut for sale. Not to mention that for other unknown but fortunate reasons, it was not being bid up as much as other Cricuts on ebay at the time.

I figured a collector's item would be worth more in the long run, in case I wanted to sell it after all the wedding preparations are over. Also that Pink Journey cartridge? Worth over $100 on average! 0.0 (A normal Cricut cartridge will go for approx $30 on ebay, depending)

After bugging my mom for two hours debating whether I should buy it or not, my mom offered to use her bidding program to help me out. I anxiously waited for the end results...and...wait, what? Who won this?! z***t?! Who the hell is that?!?

I called up my mom saying her bidding program didn't work, z***t won the auction, and started getting slightly frantic. Her response? "Oh, okay then, I guess we'll have to wait til Christmas to see if I really won the auction or not. :D" My mom is always trying to get "surprises" for Christmas gifts, lol.

So obviously I knew she had it :)

Ebay is, apparently, pretty good at disguising bidders names. I don't remember the exact number offhand, but I believe we won the auction around $185 plus approx $25 shipping. Which is a steal considering my mom sold the Pink Journey cartridge for me for $125! :D

(No offense to those who would have kept the cartridge, however I am fortunate enough to not have a breast cancer victim in the family, so I hope that I never need it.)

So, being gifted the Make the Cut! cutting program as well, I had to figure out how the hell to get this thing working!

Coming Up: Setting up your Cricut with Make the Cut!

o.0 A Gorgeous Inspiration Board!

2011-01-06T20:41:00.007-05:00

Even though lovely winter weddings are dancing through my head, purple weddings will always and forever speak to me. And make my heart skip a beat <3

So I can't stop staring at this board by Weddingbee's Mrs. Rainbow:

I would say more but I'm still staring.

o.o
<3

Conquering the DIY Wedding Cake: The Beginning Steps

2011-01-05T09:17:00.011-05:00

Whew!

How does anyone take a break from the wedding blog world?!

So many blog posts to catch up on! So many posts needed for this blog!

But I finally finished Weddingbee's updates, and that's the hardest part, in my opinion. (Those ladies know how to post! So many 0.o)

Anywhoo, a post that has been a long time in the making, the wedding cake.

DIY wedding cake.

A three-word phrase that almost every bride runs away screaming from. Baking cake the day before the wedding? Learning difficult pastry techniques? Not going to happen.

But I believe it can be done!

You just have to find the right fit for you.

All options however, have the same three elements in common:
1) a great cake recipe
2) cake decorating skills and techniques
3) prep work a couple days before the wedding

But not all of these elements have to be scary or difficult.

Finding a luscious cake flavor:

Now, everyone has different tastes when it comes to cake. Fluffy and moist is a good place to start, however I have found my family considers "moist" cake to be almost raw...and mushy. Not quite what I had in mind XP There are thousands of cake recipes and techniques out there. How's a girl to choose?!

Practice runs.

I know most are watching your waistlines, but the only tried-and-true way of finding the special concoction is to taste it. You only have to make one regular-sized 8-9in cake to taste it, and I'm sure you'll have family/friends/coworkers/etc who would love to take the rest off your hands if you're really worried :)

Also the practice runs will give you valuable information on how long it takes to make the recipe and how difficult it is to execute. If you have your heart set on a technically challenging cake, I recommend you recruit help, for the wedding cake AND at least one practice run, to make sure you have the team working together smoothly.

I plan on doing a fun winter cake to test my skills, so I will keep you posted on my cake recipe findings :)

Getting in touch with your inner Ace of Cakes:

No matter if your plans are cupcakes, buttercream cake, or a fondant masterpiece, you have to consider the fact that all of these need pastry skills. Know your limitations or take course to hone your skills!

Joann Fabrics, Michaels, and many other craft stores usually has Wilton cake decorating courses, which is the best way for the average bride-to-be to learn the pastry arts. If you look for special discounts and 40% off coupons for supplies, they can be more affordable. I highly recommend this if you have ANY DIY cake plans. So of course, I plan on taking these classes in the very near future, just need to check to see if it conflicts with the puppy's obedience school :)

At the very least, watch cake decorating shows on TV (there are TONS of them these days, and I adore them!) they do give out little tips here and there, plus you get to see masters at work, and I personally learn from example! Some recommend viewings are Ace of Cakes, Amazing Wedding Cakes (if you get the WE channel), Food Network Challenge (some are food, some are cake), Ultimate Cake Off or even Top Chef: Just Desserts if they have a cake episode.

My absolute favorite? Ace of Cakes!!! Total. cake. eye candy. :D :D :D

Cake Boss and Cupcake Wars are baking shows too but they're not my favorite. Too many other elements, not enough cake making.

I am extremely curious and excited to try a fondant cake, and I know I'm going to try this recipe, from Peggy Weaver's Baking Corner, which seems to be a very good source for wedding cake decorating and fondant tips and help. It is also mentioned that the taste of her marshmallow fondant is a bit better than other varieties! Tutorial to come!

Putting aside time for the cake...right before the wedding:

This is a fairly crucial element. Cakes can be done a little bit further in advance than, say, bouquets and boutonnieres (which should be done the day before or the day of), however if you don't have time 2 or 3 days before the wedding, the DIY route probably won't work for you. I personally would not let cake sit around for more than 3 days for such a special occasion.

Depending on the number of people you need to feed, it could take a good part of a day to construct your cake. The practice runs will help you calculate how much time is needed, but overall I would try your hardest to not make this a rushed process.

Time will be needed to transport and construct the cake the day of as well, whether it's putting tiers together or displaying cupcakes on their stands.

Well, I didn't say it wouldn't be time consuming XP

But for now, those are the beginning building blocks for a successful wedding cake: good recipes, some skills, time and planning.

Some of you may be thinking: "Errr...Sarah...you're not really helping". But wait! Hear me out. I have some clever ideas that make the whole thing a bit easier. And every bit helps right?

So...What's On Your Board?

2010-12-22T10:11:00.002-05:00

Since I went completely on the other side of the spectrum wedding theme-wise, I feel like explaining the elements in my newest inspiration board.

I'll let you in on the lovely details!

*This post is best enjoyed with a mug of warm hot chocolate* :)

The stunning white winter coat:

(from DressesTutor.com)
Elegant, classy and comfy...what more could you ask from a winter coat?!

The baby's breath wreath:

(from TheKnot.com)
Pretty and elegant, yet soft and cheap to make. Sounds good to me!

The hanging crystals and candles:

(from ??? I was kicking myself for not finding the reference to this pic! DX If anyone knows, I would love to know the site, but when you look at 30+ wedding sites, finding that one little pic is a bit difficult XP)
Because hanging candles would give such a soft glow to the room :)

The lavender snowflake candy:

(from Sweet Designs)
Fancy, purple winter candy = perfect!

The bride with the fuzzy blanket:

(from Kdog Photographers)
This just looked so cozy, it greatly expresses the feeling I want everyone to have!

The doily chandelier:

(from MarthaStewart.com)
This would be a great way to get a lot of white/snow/texture into the reception room! Since they are just made of paper doilies, a few of these could be constructed and hung from the high beams, drawing the eye up and creating a stunning display!

The gorgeous lily garland:

(from MarthaStewart.com)
Yes, this looks expensive to make but OMG doesn't it look great! <3 Yes, if I can get the lilies for a decent price I actually do want to make these...

The sugared fruit cake:

(from Beaux Gateaux Cakes)
because I love sugared fruit!!! And this cake would not be that hard to recreate. White cake + sugared fruit = this cake! :D

The magical sleigh ride:

(from Ritzy Bee Blog)
Romantic and different = <3 Can I afford this? Probably not, but a girl can dream! Besides, how else can we leave if the roads are horribly snowy? XD

The snowy bouquet:

(from Snippet and Ink)
Again, elegance with snowy/cozy touches, so pretty! Although recreating something like this could be challenging...

The pretty, creamy cocktail:

(from Paper Olive the Blog)
Because you got to have a fantastic signature cocktail! And the lavender garnish is perfect!

The adorable snowflake marshmallows:

(from MarthaStewart.com)
Another great idea from Martha. As long as I can cut the marshmallow without it sticking to the cookie cutter, I'll be golden!

The uber-adorable sweater Save-The-Dates:

(from WeddingByColor.com by littlelady7688)
They're different, they're adorable, they're FANTASTIC! WANT! (DIY how-to post to come! :D)

The lovely snowscape kiss:

(from The View Point Inn)
Must. Have. Photos. Like. This.

And that my friends is a breakdown of many bits of loveliness I see in a potential cozy yet elegant winter wedding!

I'm Back Baby!!!

2010-12-22T08:46:00.005-05:00

...Hello? ...Anyone still here?

*crickets*

Knew I shouldn't have taken such a long break! XP

Well, I'm back people, done with my Master's!!! :D (That joy hasn't fully sucken in yet,) and soooo happy to be writing about weddings again instead of networking, XD

So, just to get the ball rolling, and get some goodies for my now famished readers, I'll post some drafts I've been working on in the past few months, that just got side-tracked by stronger ideas or events!

Zee first?

"So...What's On Your Board?"

Violins Make My Heart Sing

2010-12-10T22:45:00.010-05:00

Still chugging away at my final graduate project, but I had to interrupt my diligent work (fairly diligent anyway XP) with another quickie!

See, I was listening to Christmas carols, (because I OMG LOVE!!! Christmas carols,) and I heard one song that I always thought was beautiful, but with all the wedding thoughts in the back of my mind lately, it dawned on me that it would be beautiful song to walk down the aisle to for a winter wedding. (Or any time of year I guess, but it is a Christmas song)

Which just shows how distracted I am by my coursework, because the song is a *slight* variation of Canon in D! Doh! An obvious choice for wedding music, but nevertheless, humor me and let me continue :)

This lovely song is Christmas Canon by the Trans Siberian Orchestra (the tamer version with the singing children):

Whether I had just the mp3 and my computer or a lovely pianist and string quartet, *swoon*, I would cut out the part with the children (they're cute, but it's just not appropriate :) ,) and be left with the piano melody and the heart-stopping beautiful violin part!

See I. Love. String Instruments. To me they are the most beautiful sounding instruments, and I can't get enough of them! Once I'm done with all this classes crap I hope to start lessons again and re-learn how to play the violin!

Since this is a variation of Canon in D, sure, it's on the more traditional side, but it has lovely feel to it, less classical performance, more...uplifting.

Violins just make my heart sing I guess :) So it would be more than fitting for such a crazy-elated moment.

Now imagine the song starts playing, and you're patiently waiting to make your entrance. But you want to walk during the violins, so you wait. Then nice and slow, you start making your way down the aisle, grinning from ear-to-ear because you're surrounded by your most favorite things, the love of your life, all your closest friends and family, and heavenly music! And at the end of the aisle, you meet your sweetheart, which makes you not mind that the glorious sounds stop, because your ceremony is about to begin.

Just perfect.

A Rose By Any Other Material Would Be As Sweet?

2010-11-24T10:06:00.007-05:00

Quick little blurb I had to share with you...

(And forgive me if I'm a bit flat today, haven't been feeling so great, I attribute it to stress of the upcoming graduate deadlines XP Anyhoo...)

I was surfing my usual group of drool-worthy wedding blogs, and while looking in the DIY section of Elizabeth Anne Designs, I found a tutorial for a pretty and pink dried flower wreath.

Well, pink is not my thing, but I though dried lavender would be lovely! The bride shared the site were she bought her dried goods, Dried Flowers 'R' Us, and obviously, I had to take a look to see if dried flowers was the secret mecca of having affordable florals.

Well I didn't find any crazy revelations, but I did find these!!!

With winter wedding thoughts dancing in my head, I thought these would be great to fill out any flower arrangements I would have!

You can get 400 rose heads for just $57 and 200 stemmed roses for $64!

Adding this lovely woodsy, wintery element to real flower bouquets/centerpieces/etc will help make them look more grand, large and full without paying nearly as much for real flowers!

Sounds good to me!

Best Bachelorette Party Idea Ever

2010-11-16T15:08:00.004-05:00

Miss Meerkat, you are awesome.

Because you're going to see the musical Wicked for your bachelorette party!

Which is only one of MY MOST FAVORITE MUSICALS OF ALL TIME!!!

So now I have a great suggestion for my bachelorette party! Dress up all pretty and see a show! Because not all bachelorette parties have to have fake penises XP

That is all for now XD

The Bargain Awesome-ness Just Keeps Coming...

2010-11-12T11:08:00.006-05:00

Omg I think I'm in love. Well, obviously, with this wedding planning and all, but now with a website.

The 15 Dollar Store.

Okay fine. $15. Whatever. What does it have?

SHOES AND DRESSES!!!

And other attire and accessories, but I'm drooling over the SHOES AND DRESSES. All for $15. Somebody pinch me! 8D

It is clothing site for juniors, but I'm still young and short, so that is not an issue. Plus, shoe sizes are the same no matter what age you are!

This is all thanks to the lovely Miss Sloth from, yep you guessed it, WeddingBee! Thanks to her awesome bridal ensemble on a budget post, I have been enlightened!

I could get these...

or this...

or maybe this...

And look. at. this.

Affordable but very tasteful bridesmaid dresses!!! And they kinda look like those fancy twobirds bridesmaid dresses! (They're all the rage in wedding blogs these days) And they even come in gray/silver AND purple!!! And they're floor length so it could be appropriate for a winter OR a summer wedding!

I'm sensing serendipity here.

I mean I even could ask the lovely girlies to buy these now, because for heavens sake, they're $15 fracking dollars!!! 8D

These dresses could be dressed up very easily too, all you need is a pretty sash or big flower or something, but I can work with them!

*starts reading store return policies in my drunken dress excitement stupor*

Well, I just found one slight catch - all sales are final.

Boo :P So that means that if I do get said dresses, I would have to make sure they all fit now and pray they all fit later... *sighs* It could work...except I don't know if I want all silver or all purple...buy both maybe?

Yeah, I'm getting overly excited about this like I did with shoes before, however it is important to me that I get a bridesmaid dress that is affordable for all of my girls. Almost all of them are still getting degrees right now and don't have a couple hundred bucks to throw around on dresses.

It would be probably one of the most budget friendly dresses ever!

And these dresses were way cheaper than the shoes I was eying previously.

So...I know most of my bridesmaids-to-be know about this blog, (except for one...I think she might worry about me too much if I showed her XD) what you do think? :)

Another Great Christmas Tree Shop Deal!

2010-11-04T15:30:00.005-04:00

13" Chargers are now only $1 each!!!

AND THERE'S MORE!

The lovely site Retail-Me-Not has a 20% off coupon for the Christmas Tree Shop for the dates of November 9th - 16th!

8D

Mark your calendars people!!!

I Have to Get Engaged NOW!!!

2010-11-02T16:32:00.010-04:00

Just so I can submit my application to Weddingbee and get a BRUNCH ICON!!!

You have no idea just how much I love food, especially brunch food, especially sweet brunch food!!! (yeah I have a major sweet-tooth :P)

I could be Miss Cinnamon Bun or Miss Waffle or Miss French Toast or Miss Pancakes or Miss Crepe or Miss Tartlet or even Miss Pain Au Chocolat!

AHHHHHH!!!

(Well, I kinda wouldn't be able to apply anyways, because an applicant's wedding is supposed to be less than 8 months away, and I highly doubt we would get married in 8 months from now, XD)

(And I'm not really serious, this is more of a post displaying my love of food and my love of really cute Weddingbee icons)

End of silly fan-girl moment!

Centerpiece Deal Alert!

2010-10-25T17:03:00.006-04:00

GAK!!!

Darn it all I wish I was engaged already!

Because I found another great deal on decor for winter brides!

If you have a Christmas Tree Shop near you:

1) Run over there!
2) Buy all the 3ft artificial evergreen trees starting at $7 each.

3) Enjoy your great buy and start of a fantastic centerpiece.

Too bad it's a little hard to justify buying 20 3ft evergreen trees XD

Your welcome :)

Finally, I'm a Bit More Accessible

2010-10-18T18:32:00.005-04:00

Hello existing readers!

I finally bit the bullet and got my very own blog/wedding email! :D

This way I can now communicate with you guys and still remain (fairly) anonymous!

And, when I'm finally engaged, I have a dedicated email to use for all things wedding, and still have some space in my normal inbox!

Woot.

So any questions, comments, anything, feel free to send me a line!

(<---- Just check that little box on the left under "About Me"!)