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
Showing posts with label wedding tv. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wedding tv. Show all posts
March 17, 2011
How to Get A Phantom Wedding Like David Tutera's My Fair Wedding: All The Details
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!
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!
March 16, 2011
How to Get A Phantom Wedding Like David Tutera's My Fair Wedding: Favors
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!
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: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!
March 13, 2011
How to Get A Phantom Wedding Like David Tutera's My Fair Wedding: Wedding Dress
(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!
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!
March 1, 2011
How to Get A Phantom Wedding Like David Tutera's My Fair Wedding: Bridesmaid Dresses
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:
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!!!
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:
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!!!
February 23, 2011
How to Get A Phantom Wedding Like David Tutera's My Fair Wedding: Cake
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 each 
Hibiscus flower, 2.5in wide, $0.72 each 
Tulip flower, 1.5in wide, $0.78 each 
Lily flower, 4in wide, $1.11 each 
Rose flower, 2in wide, $0.72 each 
If 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!
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:
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).
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!
If 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!
February 21, 2011
How to Get A Phantom Wedding Like David Tutera's My Fair Wedding: Flower Centerpieces
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
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! :DSo...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
February 13, 2011
How to Get A Phantom Wedding Like David Tutera's My Fair Wedding: Flower Bouquets
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...
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...
February 11, 2011
How to Get A Phantom Wedding Like David Tutera's My Fair Wedding: Linens
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!
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 chargersIf 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 ringsI 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 tasselsThis 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!!! :DSo, 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!
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