Wedding Wednesday - DIY Guestbook

Wedding preparations are in full swing! In June I had two beautiful bridal showers.  Since I couldn't just settle for a traditional guestbook (white cover with lines for people to sign their name) I made my own.  I wanted something that we could go back to from time to time rather than put it in a box labeled "wedding."

I have to admit that sometimes I want to kick myself in the butt for coming up with these ideas because I usually wait until the last minute but I am glad I brought this idea to life!  It turned out great and I received a lot of compliments on it.

I divided up the book into different milestones - 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, 10 years - so we could go back to read advice, date ideas, well wishes or whatever people decided to write to us.

Here is what you need to make your own:

Scrapbook

Mini envelopes & note cards (from Chelsea Paper)

Double sided tape

Washi tape

This would make a great guestbook for an actual wedding if it were small wedding - since we have a pretty large wedding planned I didn't want there to be a hold up at the door. 

Cheers to a great Wednesday!

Wedding Wednesday - Tips for Creating A Wedding Registry

It's about time that I get my butt in gear and start a wedding registry! To be honest, I've been procrastinating on this.  While registering for a wedding is probably fun, I want to be practical about it plus there really isn't a lot that Adam and I need considering we will be both be in our 30's (I'm not quite there yet!) and have had our own homes for quite some time.  Plus, we both have solid careers that allow us to purchase what we may need so we don't necessarily need gifts.  But, of course families want to host wedding showers in our honor which is so kind and generous and people enjoy giving gifts as part of the typical wedding tradition.

While we wont have a huge registry, we are looking to upgrade some of our basic kitchen necessities like pots and pans, dinnerware and a few small appliances. Since I've been thinking about this whole registering thing for awhile, I've come up with a few tips for being practical about registering!

Here some great online resources for registry ideas! 

Wedding Wire

Real Simple

The Knot

Martha Stewart

Once we are registered, I'll let you know how to look it up in case you are interested in getting an idea of what thirty-somethings registered for! :)

For all of my wedding planning posts - visit my Wedding Planning page!

Wedding Wednesday - Reception Decorations

Our wedding will be here in 5 months so I have been thinking about reception decorations more and more lately.  There are definitely some things that I want to incorporate, like a little bit of lace and an old suitcase, to achieve my "vintage meets modern" theme. Here is what I've come up with so far...

My sticking point has been center pieces for the tables.  I haven't come up with "the perfect idea" yet but I think I am getting closer. I want to pair a modern element with a vintage-type of element.

A lot of these things decorations can by DIY projects but I am going to select my DIY projects carefully for two reasons:

first... I don't want our wedding to look handmade or like it was done on a small budget.

second.... I want to make sure it all gets done and is done well.  Sometimes just buying the things I want is worth it in the long run.

What are your ideas for centerpieces?!  I would love to hear them! :)

Wedding Wednesday: Wedding Cake

It's been a couple of weeks again since I've done a Wedding Wednesday post but to be honest, I haven't been doing too much that's wedding related lately.  I guess I take that back, I'm starting to put together a reception decorating game-plan and we took our relationship "inventory" that we need to do for the church.  

Lately I've been thinking about wedding cake and what I want to do.  Fortunately, Adam's cousin makes wedding cakes and when it comes to wedding related "stuff" that I need, I love being able to go directly to people I know to help me make my wedding wishes come true.

Here is my vision for a wedding cake - simple and beautiful.  I am trying to decide between one tier and two tiers but I know that I love how this cake is decorated!  The frosting is gorgeous so I really hope that make cake-maker can make this happen.

Source

Here are a few things to think about when deciding on a wedding cake.

Budget. I guess this is something you've always got to think about during the wedding planning process! :)

Tiers. You can have as many or as few tiers as you want. I assume that more tiers = more $$ so something to consider if you are working on a budget. And, are you going to save a tier for your 1 year anniversary?

What we're doing: I'm going with either one or two tiers.  Less is definitely more to us.  Since Adam and I aren't cake people we don't plan to save the top-tier for our one-year anniversary.  We've heard too many horror stories of the cake not making it to the freezer, tipping of before the reception starts, or completely forgetting about it. We are just going to avoid the whole potential situation from the start.

How many people you want it to feed. This completely depends on how many people come to your wedding. 

What we're doing: With our cake we are going to make it just big enough to feed our whole wedding party and maybe our parents so we need a cake big enough to feed 28-24 people.  

Alternative options: If you have a lot of people coming to your wedding or if you are working on a budget. Sheet cakes are always an option - check out your local grocery store's bakery department or you local WalMart.  Depending on where you look you can get a large sheet cake from $40-$60. Cupcakes are another option. They can double as a table decoration and even give people a flavor option!

Speaking of flavor... That's a decision you will also need to make. You might want to consult the groom on this one or even schedule a cake tasting. (I love deserts so this would be right up my alley!) It seems that the options are endless for cake flavors.  

What we're doing: I'm not completely sure yet. I like white cakes better than chocolate so I'm thinking along the lines of a mock angel food cake or Adam's cousin suggested a champagne cake which will give the actual cake a light pink color, ultimately matching our color scheme.

Cake Decorations. There are so many beautifully decorated cakes lately - oh my goodness!! And cakes are a part of your reception decor plus everyone ever woman in attendance is probably going to go check out your cake. Things to consider are; type of frosting, cake toppers, flowers, design, shape.

What we're doing: I love peony's but since they are out of season for our wedding (which makes them spendy) I've asked my florist to find a large pink peony to put on the top of our cake, similar to the one below. I'm also considering a letter "K" for the top of the cake.  How I would like the cake to look is just like the first picture in this post (I'm hoping). Although, I think this cake is beautiful too!

Source

Any other suggestions for deciding on your wedding cake?!  If so, leave a comment - I would love to know.  I'm sure I'll share more details on the cake as we get a little closer to our wedding date and hear from my cake-maker!

Happy Planning!

Linking up with: 

Wedding Wednesday: Invitations (part 2)

Last week I shared a few ideas on how to save some of your hard-earned moola when it comes to finding and ordering the perfect wedding invitations.  Click here to see that post.  This week, I thought I would share a few invitations that I like (from Minted unless otherwise noted) and what I like about them as well as a couple examples of what invitations should say.

You'll quickly discover that "less is more" when it comes to our style...

I love the simplicity of this monogram invitation I found on etsy.  It's classy and sweet.

The colors and print of this invitation are very inspiring.  These are the colors I want to go for! I also like the print.

I love the simplicity of this invitation with the names in script.  I don't care of the color of the invitation, but I do like the text.

I like this invitation for the same reason as the invitation above - the script print.  I also like the landscape orientation and flash of color on this one.The scalloped edges are cute too!

Again, it's all about simplicity for me!  I like the orientation and classy-ness of this invite.  I don't care for the script print, it's a little hard to read so I would avoid that.

Now for the tough part - deciding what you need to say on the invitation!

A good invitation should include all of the party details: Who, What, When, Where, and What time! 

Here are a few examples of wedding invitation words:

{Suggestion 1} 

Mr. & Mrs. (Brides Parents)

Along with Mr. & Mrs. (Grooms Parents)

Invite you to celebrate

The marriage of their children

(Bride first & middle name)

And

(Groom first & middle name)

On Saturday, the seventeenth day of August

Two thousand and thirteen

At two o’clock in the afternoon

(Church Address)

Reception following the Ceremony

(Reception Address)

Cocktails

Dinner

Dance to Follow

{Suggestion 2}

Beth Marie & Adam John 

Together with their families invite you to their wedding celebration 

on Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand and thirteen 

at two thirty in the afternoon  

(Church Name & Address)

Reception following the ceremony (Reception Address)

Cocktails, Dinner, and dancing to follow

Hopefully this was helpful - if you have other wording suggestions, please share them on my Facebook page!

For all of my Wedding Wednesday posts, click here!

Linking up here today!

Wedding Wednesday: Invitations (part 1)

Free Wedding Invitation Suite from WeddingChicks.com

I must say that my wedding planning process has gone pretty well so far and for that, I'm thankful!  But what's the deal with the expense of wedding invitations - yikes!!!

I did some quick calculations for $200 wedding invitations and here's what the dollar about could be if I go through a wedding invitation site.

200 invitations x $3.80 average cost/invitation (invite, envelope, response card) = $760 

200 x $.46 invitations postage = $92 standard postage

200 x $.33/response card postage = $66 postcard postage

$760 + $92 + $66 = $918  Whaaaaaattttttt???!!!!!

The $918 does not include reception invitations so you  may be looking at well over $1,000 in invitations!

Clearly I had to come up with some alternative options since I am planning on a budget and believe it or not, I can get the whole shebang for less than $700!

I am a true believer that I can have exactly what I want without a big price tag.  It may take a little more work, but the savings are worth it!

Here are the options I considered:

1// Purchase from a Wedding Stationary Company. 

Minted and Wedding Paper Divas have gorgeous invitations so definitely look and if you find something you love and it fits in your budget you definitely need to order them!

2// Purchase an invitation suite from etsy. 

Etsy has so many great shop owners that create beautiful invitations and offer full printing services.  They are a little less expensive too!  Click here to got to Etsy's invitations page.

3// Purchase a pre-made printable wedding invitation from etsy and get them printed at a local printer or print them on my own.  

If you don't want to buy a whole invitation suite that is printed for you, some etsy shop owners offer pre-made/pre-designed printable wedding invitations.  You pay for the printable and print out however many invitations you want.  These usual cost about $15-$20. Click here to go to Etsy's invitation page.

4// Find a FREE invitation suite and get them printed by a local printer or print them on my own.

One of my first Wedding Wednesday posts I mentioned some free invitations options from Wedding Chicks.  They are classy, and somewhat customizable to your colors.

5// Hire a graphic designer to design a custom invitation and get them printed  by a local printer or print them on my own.

Finally, if you just haven't found what you are looking for, or maybe you have but it's too expensive, a graphic designer might be an option.  They generally work on an hourly rate or on a per project rate.  If you don't know a graphic designer, leave a comment with your email or email me and I can send you a few names. :)

As for printing... Often times, if you get your invitations printed at a local print shop it is less expensive.  Also check with an office supply store.  If you have their rewards card and ask if they have any print services specials you can get a really great deal!  Or, if you work for a rather large corporation like I do they may have a printing department that does some custom work.  

I went with option number 5!  I know a lot of creative people and found so many things I loved but not the exact thing I wanted so I asked my friend, Kelli Jo, if she would help me to design my wedding invitations!  I also inquired with my employer about printing my wedding invitations and sourcing envelopes and believe it or not, they can print 200 color invitations and source self-sealing envelopes for approximately $150!  (That price doesn't include postage.)

If you do the quick math, by choosing option 5 (which fit best for me)  my total cost including printing, design, and postage will be around $400-$450.  That equals a $468.00 savings!!!  Wahoo!! :)

Wow, that was a lot of information, but I really do hope it was helpful!

Next week I'll give you a glimpse of some of my favorite invitations and I'll share some ideas for what the invitation should say!

Wedding Wednesday - Flowers Part 2 (who gets them)

Last week I started a two-part Wedding Wednesday series on flowers and tackled 3 things to consider for picking them out.  This week I'm continuing the series with who should get flowers and giving you a preview of what I picked out for our wedding flowers!

After picking out flowers, I can see how they can get to be a huge wedding expense!  The 3 areas to consider are personal flowers, ceremony flowers, and reception decor.  

{Personal Flowers}

Bride's bouquet

Bridesmaids bouquet

Groom's boutonniere

Groomsmen/usher boutonniere

Corsages for moms/grandmothers

Flower girl flowers

Ring bearer boutonniere

Other boutonniere's & corsages

Tossing bouquet

{Ceremony Flowers}

Aisle runner

Pew decorations

Alter arrangements

Tossing petals

Candles

{Reception Flowers}

Entranceway arrangement

Bride & Groom chair decorations

Reception centerpieces

Cake decor

Whew!  That's a lot of flowers to consider!  If you're working on a budget, like we are, you may have to pick and choose who gets flowers.  I gave this some serious thought during a phone conversation with my mom and here is what we came up with for who will be getting flowers at our wedding....

The Bride (aka Me)

The Bridesmaids

Grandpa's & Grandmas

Cake

Toss bouquet

As you noticed, we left a lot of things & people off the list.  Here is our rationale...

The groom and groomsman aren't wearing suits so we don't really care to pin flowers to their shirts.  Plus the groom didn't really want to wear a flower.  If you've looked around, you've probably noticed that it is becoming less common for the guys to wear flowers.

Everyone should know who the parents are! :) The mom's will be wearing fancy dresses anyhow and if the groom and groomsman aren't getting flowers, it probably doesn't make sense for the dad's to wear flowers.

We aren't going to put flowers on the alter either.  This is the most expensive arrangement and people may or may not see it.  Plus, someone has to be responsible for  moving it from the church to reception.  These flowers are traditionally in memory of the deceased.  I have another idea for that...

We are still doing flowers for grandpas and grandmas.  There is tradition that grandparents look forward to and they deserve to stand out during this special day.  Especially since celebrations like this are what keep them kicking!

I come for a family of crafty, stylish ladies so we can handle the reception centerpieces.

Finally, here is a sneak-peek at my wedding flowers!

{For the Bride}

Washed pink roses

{For the Bridesmaids}

Mini green hydrangea bouquets

Happy Planning!

Linking up with Southern Lovely for Show and Share #77!

Wedding Wednesday - Flowers Part 1 (picking them out)

Our wedding is 7 months (and 1 day) away and I've already decided on my wedding flowers.  Is it just me or is that crazy to have them picked out so early?!  Either way, it's done and I'm happy with my selections! :)  I am not a flower person so I learned a lot in the process of picking out my wedding flowers.  My florist (Designs by Bernie in Carroll, Iowa) said that flowers are like a necessary accessory.  They are meant to compliment the wedding and be the finishing touch.

There is more thought that needs to go into selecting wedding flowers than what you think.  Thus the reason for this two-part series!  This week I am going to share a few tips for picking out your flowers and next week I'll post about who gets flowers.

3 Things You Need to Know When You Pick Them Out...

1// Are flowers in season?!  I wanted a peony bouquet SO badly, I am totally crushing on them.  (If you check out my Wedding Planning Pinterest board, I've pinned them like crazy!) Unfortunately they are out of season in August which makes them expensive. :(  I know I could have whatever I want, but I do want to keep my budget in mind.

Here is a reference guide I found on The Wedding Gurus blog.  Put this reference guide in your wedding planning binder!

2// Find out if they are "Water-Lovers"
Apparently some flowers use a little more water than others, like the mini-green hydrangeas I picked out for my bridesmaids.  Flowers that love water are a little more difficult to keep alive and fresh-looking throughout the day so some additional planning may be required, like vases in the church so the flowers can have a drink between pictures and the ceremony. :)

3// Know Your Budget
Flowers may come to the top of the list when it comes to wedding expense!  I'm glad other brides prepared me for this sticker-shock! Wowza! To help save some money here, think through who should get flowers, the type of flowers you select and if they are in season.  Be up front with your florist, it will be easier for them to help you get what you want.  My florist suggested using artificial flowers mixed in with real ones.  I would have gone that route had I selected peonies.

Next week, in part 2 of this wedding flowers series, I'll run through who gets flowers and give you a look at the flowers I selected! :)

Good Luck and Happy Planning!

Wedding Wednesday: Dress Shopping Tips

Photo Courtesy of Style Me Pretty

It's been awhile since I've written a 'Wedding Wednesday' post but I honestly haven't been doing much wedding planning since all of the big things are booked and it's a little too early to start working all of the little details. (That statement will probably come back to bite me in the butt!) 

Just before Christmas I went dress shopping at a cute little dress shop near my hometown in New Ulm, Minnesota called Sister's Bridal.  I was just going to try on dresses for the fun of it and find out which style I liked and what fit me the best and as luck would have it, I said "yes to the dress!"  Yep, that's right, I bought my wedding dress at the first place I went to.  Check that off my list! :)  (And no, its not even similar to the one in the picture, in case you were wondering!)  As I reflect on my 1.5 hours of wedding dress shopping, I've come up with some dress shopping tips for you to consider.  I took all of them into consideration before I did my shopping!  You might find a few a little quirky and yet (hopefully) helpful!

1} Decide how you want to feel on the day of your Wedding.  Do you want to feel beautiful? Elegant? Hot? Like a supermodel?  How you decide you want to feel will help you narrow down your field of dresses and if you get that "feeling" when you try the dress on you, you're on the right track!

2} Go to the gym.  You know that you're going to get a gym membership anyhow and you plan to commit to working out prior to your wedding, so why not start early?! The last thing you want to do is look at yourself in the mirror wearing a dress you love and say, "wow, I really need to get to the gym!" Take time work your arms, shoulders and butt!

3} Do your hair and makeup... extra special!  The day you go try on dresses take time to do your hair and makeup and maybe even spend a little extra time on it.  You want to feel beautiful when you leave  your house!  (And maybe even wear one of your favorite outfits) This will give you a little extra boost of confidence!

4} Wear a strapless bra. You wont regret this!  It helps "the girls" look a little perky-er and fills out the dress much better.

5} Be open-minded.  What you think you like might change.  I had the style of dress I wanted all picked out and picked out something very different.  Try on everything! Also considering dress shopping without expectations.

6} Don't confuse yourself. This is easy to do because everyone is giving you their opinions, you are trying on so many dresses and you have multiple appointments set up.  If you find a dress you love, it looks fantastic on you and fits in your price range, BUY IT!  No sense in confusing yourself by going to try on more dresses "in-case." You can always cancel your other appointments.

Hopefully these tips help - they helped me find my perfect dress!  Leave a comment below if you have any dress shopping tips to add!