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DIY Around the Hive

September 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Have you ventured over to Weddingbee’s DIY section lately? Check out some of the incredible projects you can find there, with step-by-step tutorials!

Ggsb’s menu template to place inside of a napkin:

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Intimate Weddings’ DIY wedding programs:

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LatteLove’s hat box turned card box:

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Knit’s quick fascinator:

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Sweet and Saucy Shop’s tuxedo chocolate dipped strawberries:

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Nursecarrie’s carnation centerpiece:

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Kmattso2’s quick and cheap escort cards:

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Kcolbyd’s DIY invitations:

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Whitesonnet’s white flower and pearl fascinator:

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There are tons more great projects, tutorials, and downloads available in the DIY section! Browse for inspiration, or upload your own to share!

Source: http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/09/25/diy-around-the-hive/

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Citrus Themed Bridal Shower

September 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment

RSS source: weddingbee.com

I’ve been prepping for a shower that I’m co-hosting this weekend at my place. I’ve never thrown a shower before, and it’s actually a total blast! It’s almost like planning a mini-wedding… but rather than taking a year to plan, it only takes a week! When my friend Emily asked if we could co-host at my place, I was a bit overwhelmed. We didn’t register for a lot of entertaining-ware, so I was worried that I’d have to buy a lot of stuff to make the shower look presentable. While I was willing to buy more serving platters, the truth is that we have nowhere to store anything. But I put my thinking cap on, and have figured out ways to make do with what I have, while still keeping the setup cute, potentially saving me lots of $$$!

I wanted to give you guys a sneak peek of what I’ve got going so far. First up, my inspiration, from the fabulous Hostess With the Mostess blog:

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Check out her tips for a citrus themed shower and where she purchased her decor items here!

I chose the citrus theme because I knew I could buy a few bags of oranges, lemons, and limes from Costco to use for decor. Fruit is cheap, and when we’re done with it, it turns into food for Mr. Peng and me. And by food, I mean mojitos and mimosas. :) I didn’t want to invest in decor that I’d feel bad throwing away, or I’d end up having to find storage for.

I went to Jo-Ann’s yesterday to buy some fabric to use as a backdrop for the food table. I turned some of the fabric into table runners for the drink table and for our coffee table, as well. Here, I set up some of the fruit centerpieces, and will add fresh white flower blossoms to these on the day of. I just used our plain old cereal bowls for these.

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To be honest, while the fabric is really cute, it was a mistake. I should have looked for citrus colored or themed wrapping paper to use instead. I spent $50 on fabric, which in my opinion was a lot to spend on something I might never use again. I think I’ll turn some of it into dish towels and fabric napkins though, so not all is lost. :) The tablecloth is also something I didn’t have, so I just bought $1 a yard muslin, and plan to cover several surfaces in my house with it!

I briefly considered buying a bunch of new white platters to serve food on, but looked in my cabinet for what I have. I have big silver chargers, so instead of buying new plates, I bought coordinating paper to set on top of the chargers, and will put the food on the paper.

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We don’t have a dining table in our house, so we can’t serve a meal. I was determined to eliminate utensils for the party, so we’re doing all mini American foods. The menu includes:

  • Mini cheeseburgers
  • Mini BLTs
  • Mac ’n’ cheese in crispy prosciutto cups
  • Sweet potato fries
  • Mini hot dogs
  • Brownies and milk shots

I was disappointed to not be serving Thai food, because the bride LOVES Thai food! Alas, where would people eat? Fortunately, all this food can be eaten standing up.

We’ll be doing a champagne bar, with serve-yourself mixers including OJ, mango juice, and peach puree. Offering only one alcoholic choice with a personalized twist will be a nice budget saver, because I don’t have to worry about buying a bunch of different alcohol choices. This will be supplemented with Izze sodas and citrus water, for those looking for a non-alcoholic option.

And for favors, I really wanted to do those cute cupcakes that Miss Dew Drop blogged about earlier:

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I was worried that it would be too much work, though. :( Because my co-host is flying in the night before the shower (and we plan on partying, rather than planning!) I went a safer route and bought movie theater sized boxes of Lemonheads ($1 each!). I wrapped them up with tissue paper so that you can see what the favor is, and determined to use every inch of fabric I bought, wrapped them with fabric and yarn, as well.

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And lest you think I’m some kind of hostess with the mostess myself, check out what this scene really looks like:

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The entire 1000 square feet of my house is covered floor to ceiling with shower prep junk. And I had to scooch all the stuff over this morning to brew myself a giant pot of coffee. This is normally our drink bar, but I threw everything on the floor.

I can’t wait to show you all the drink and food setup once it’s all completed! All in all, I’m excited to throw this shower, and think that although I skimped on the budget, my hope is that the guests won’t be able to tell!

Shower planning veterans: do you have any budget saving tips? How do you avoid buying new stuff when throwing a shower? Or, what are some decor items that you can later integrate into your home when you’re done with the shower?

Oh, and any other citrus-themed inspiration or ideas you have, I’d love to hear! I still have a week left to plan!

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Double Duty Semi-DIY Programs

September 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

I knew early on that I wanted programs that doubled as fans. Although the historical weather for Savannah in November is usually in the high 60s to low 70s, you never really know how hot an outdoor wedding in the South can get. Better safe than sorry!

I originally planned to make our program fans from scratch. I set out to find inspiration, and quickly ran across these adorable program fans on Etsy:

Source

I soon realized that finding a die cast or card stock in that shape would either be super exhausting or very expensive (or both!). I’m sure there are ways to get that shape that I never even thought of. But with time running out, I can’t be too picky these days.

I finally settled on the fact that our program fans would have to be at least semi-homemade. I kept my inspiration photos and scoured the internet for the closest-looking template. And that’s when I found these!

Source

Not only did they still have an interesting shape, they were hella cheap! $30 for 50 fans! Cha-ching! A few clicks later, and these babies were on their way to my house.

Once they arrived, I downloaded the accompanying printing template and got to work on a custom design for the fans. Working off the inspiration photo (in PowerPoint), I first created a sort of “crest” with our monogram.

Scroll graphic from istockphoto

I then imported the crest into the Word template and began writing out the front (title) and back (ceremony program outline) sections of the fans. I used “Century Gothic” for the brown text and “Edwardian Script” for the pink text.

I would share the back of the fans with you but I was too lazy and didn’t feel like blurring out all of the personal info. I can assure you that it looks very similar to the inspiration photo, though. ;) Besides, here’s a photo of the front!

I got a little camera happy too early because I ended up going with the brown outlined crest instead of the pink. I was just too darned excited at how great they were coming out! I’m also probably going to switch out this lace ribbon for some that is less stiff (I had this ribbon laying around for, oh, a couple of years). The fans will have a home in a basket just like the one I used for our flip flops next to our ceremony refreshments.

Did any of your semi-DIY projects turn out way better than expected? Better yet, did they save you time, money, and/or unnecessary stress?

Source: http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/09/22/double-duty-semi-diy-programs/

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Easy Tips to Make your Wedding More Eco-Friendly

September 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

dreamstime_9518094If only environmental consciousness began many years back, we probably would not be experiencing the distressful effects of global warming, pollution and other results of lack of care for the environment. But as they say, it is still better late than never.

Today, many people are starting to make an effort to care for the environment in their own little ways. In fact, even with special occasions like weddings, many couples have begun using the concept of green weddings, which are weddings that make use of methods and preparation that are eco-friendly.

Having an eco-friendly wedding is actually not that difficult. To prove this point, here are some of the easiest ways on how to have a green wedding.

Choose a venue that would use less energy.

Sure, having a destination wedding is a superb way to tie the knot but if you want to think green, pick a wedding venue that is close to home and minimize the amount of driving (and gas) that your guests will have to do.

It would also be a great idea to select a venue that has natural sunlight so that you do not have to utilize too much internal lighting equipment. Better yet, opt for an outdoor wedding to be held in daytime to eliminate the use of lights as well as heating or air conditioning equipment altogether.

Reduce the amount of waste

Disposable items can be more convenient—use this, then throw out. However, this can result in an enormous amount of waste that will once again fill the already overflowing landfills. Rent catering equipment, make use of silver, and go for plates that can be washed.

Go for “eco-couture” gowns

More and more wedding fashion designers have gone green. Now, it is very easy to find wedding gowns made of sustainable fabrics such as hemp, peace silk, organic cotton, bamboo, and vintage fabrics. Not only will you appear as beautiful and stunning, you will also be helping the environment in a great way by donning this kind of wedding dress.

Use less paper for invitations and save the dates.

Save the dates can be emailed. After all, everyone has become very “techie” nowadays. As for the invitation, if you want to mail it the traditional way, the least you can do is to opt for recycled paper. Remember, for every ton of paper recycled, 17 trees are saved.

Stick with digital photography

Digital photography would make use of less photo paper than film photography. Aside from that, instead of giving guests disposable cameras for taking candid photos, it would be more practical to just ask them to bring their own digital cameras.

Buy local and organic food

Small-scale farmers would benefit from this move and you would not even have to sacrifice taste since dishes made from this kind of food is not only healthy but also delectable.

Register for a green bridal registry

Choose only eco-friendly items for your registry or register with an eco-friendly store. An even better alternative would be to ask guests to give donations to environmental organizations or charitable institutions instead of bequeathing you of gifts that you do not even need in the first place.

Having a green wedding is not just a popular trend that couples should follow if they want to make a statement. It should be something that they sincerely want to do to help make the conditions of the environment better.

Source: Tracey Smith is an expert article writer on the topic of weddings, she writes for wedding blogs and e-commerce stores, i.e., this article was sponsored by MyBeachFavors.com, specializing in beach wedding invitations and beach wedding reception.

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When publishing this article on your site copy the entire article including the source of the article on the bottom with the link intact back to this fine e-commerce store. Thank you!

Filed Under: Planning Tagged With: ,

DIY Programs – Another Labor of Love

September 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Source: http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/09/21/diy-programs-another-labor-of-love/

I designed our programs a few weeks ago. I knew I wanted to use the wood grain paper and incorporate many different images from the wedding theme (birds, branches, etc). I started designing and came up with a plan.

I would use the wood grain paper for the covers and cream paper for the pages (I still used a thick cardstock because I wanted it to have a hefty feel). I decided to make them 5X7 with 5 pages.

  1. Ceremony
  2. Wedding Party
  3. Music & Lyrics – Adele “Make You Feel My Love”
  4. Music & Lyrics – Ingrid Michaelson “Way I am”
  5. Thank You

It was really important to me to have the lyrics in the program. My amazing cousin is singing and I chose these songs for their lyrics. I thought it would be cool for the guests to really see what the words are.

Once the pages were printed, I cut them all out. Sadly, the corners had to be rounded by hand. Once they were all cut, I put them in order and punched holes in the top left corner. I wanted them to be able to fold open.

The pictures show an example with a twin knot holding them together. This was really easy to do. I also purchased brads to try out, but am definitely leaning towards the knot (get it? Tying the knot!).

This was a definite labor of love and took a really long time but I know it is worth it. I am already preparing myself to see these in the garbage (because lets be honest, who keeps programs forever?!?). Did you spend a lot of time on your programs? Was it worth the work?

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Having your Wedding Sponsored Can Save you Thousands of Dollars

September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Author: The Wedding Sponsor

A sponsored wedding is not a new concept but a practical one. As the cost of weddings increase so does the realization of sponsorship. What does sponsorship actually mean? It can be as simple as getting a 70% discount on the purchase of invitations or as involved as a large cash injection of $10,000. So why would someone discount or for that matter give cash when they don’t even know the wedding couple. It is commonly referred to as “cross promotion” where you bring on common interest partners that tastefully share in the success of your wedding day or event.

Most sponsors are looking to somehow tie their products or services in with the event itself. Like any advertiser the end product must be to heighten the awareness of the Sponsor and their level of participation in the event. Such as, if a Sponsor gave you 70% off of a service that would have cost you $1900 , the level of participation for that Sponsor is $1330 ( which is your net savings). Now the question is, how do you give that value back to the Sponsor ? This can be done in many different ways but the main objective to remember is the level of awareness the Sponsor has traded in services. Such as offering the Sponsor advertising opportunities on a web site specifically set up for the event, a combination of print and web, tie in to a press junket ( a theme pre-event gathering where press are invited ), or many other combinations. For more information on wedding sponsorship visit www.sponsoryourwedding.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/marriage-articles/having-your-wedding-sponsored-can-save-you-thousands-of-dollars-272191.html

About the Author:

Brian Leslie is CEO of “The Wedding Sponsors”, a company which provides sponsorship services to wedding couples looking to save money on their “big day” The author of this article, Leslie, has spent many years in Film Industry as an Executive Producer specializing in cross promotion and financing.

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Where Does Your Wedding Dress Hang Out?

September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

This morning, Mr. Star and I were awakened by the doorman buzzing up to tell us that the post office was delivering a package we needed to sign for.

The package was pretty unassuming, except for the cute little note written in red that said, “do not bend”. :)

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But when I opened it up, I was thrilled to find my latest completely-unneccessary-but-totally-adorable-anyways wedding purchase: the wedding dress hanger.

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I have thought for a long time that I would not be participating in the special hangers for wedding dresses trend, but when reader ejs4y8 posted a thread on the board with these adorable little works of dress hanger art, I knew I had to have one.

Etsy seller lilafrances makes these hangers with a variety of sayings (or pretty much anything short enough to fit in there!) and I just think they’re so precious.

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This was the style of hanger that I originally fell in love with, but because of last name changing complications (which I will blog about at some point!), I decided to stick with our first names.

Are you doing anything special for the hanger for your wedding dress? Have you ever originally decided not to follow a wedding trend and then changed your mind?

Source: http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/09/18/where-does-your-wedding-dress-hang-out/

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Birds on the Table!

September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

When I was in North Carolina for my shower/brunch/bachelorette extravaganza, I had to take advantage of the craft stores. I have been on a hunt for birds to put on the tables. I got inspiration from these weddings where birds looked so adorable on the table.

(Photo by Jose Villa via Once Wed)

I got sooooo lucky when I walked into Michaels and they had their fall stuff on sale to make room for the holiday stuff (who knew…it is only September!). I found these ADORABLE birds. They had 2 sizes, and the little ones were only $1.50 and the big ones were $2. I decided to buy them all. I thought I could put 2 on each table. I am excited!




I have to decide if I want to keep them the colors that they are, or paint them another color. My mom and sister both thought I should keep them the brown tones they currently are, because they “go with the fall theme”, but I am tempted to spray paint them a flat color, like a gray, or antique white.

(this is my attempt to show what the birds would look like if they were painted)

As a reminder, here is our inspiration board for the whole wedding.

What do you think, should I leave the birds the way they are, or should I spray paint them?

Source: http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/09/18/birds-on-the-table/

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Latest Trends in Colored Wedding Dresses

September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

dreamstime_1125050Here comes the bride all dressed in white—or ivory, pink, red, yellow, or even black! The wedding gown, one of the most important aspects of the wedding, now comes in a wide variety of colors. The bride is no longer limited to the traditional options of white or cream. Although, it not yet widely accepted, wearing colored wedding dresses is the latest trend that is dramatically growing in popularity these days.

Choosing a colored wedding dress is not easy as you think. For one, it may raise some eyebrows especially among those who are traditionalists. If you are a people pleaser, you may find this problematic. Another issue would be the color choice, with so many shades to choose from, you may find it overwhelming to come up with a decision.

To make it easier for you to make a choice here are some of the latest trends in colored wedding dresses as well as tips on how to choose this kind of wedding gown.

Latest Trends in Color Choices

  • Deep red

A fashion expert once said that the red wedding gown is so beautiful; this trend would probably become a norm in wedding fashion in the future. That is not far from happening since a red wedding gown is truly stunning and eye-catching. Not to mention, many brides look good on this color.

  • Pastel shades

Pastel shades such as lavender, mint green and baby blue are also in. This is because some brides, even though they want to break away from the norm of white or cream, do not want to look too bold and daring. By wearing pastel shades, they skip the traditional colors without overdoing it.

  • Daring black

Another hot item in colored wedding dresses is black. Some brides will not even dare to consider this type of color due to superstitious beliefs. However, those who are bold enough are able to carry this elegant color with confidence and poise.

Tips on Choosing Colored Wedding Dress

  • Choose a color that you love and will look good on you. It is not enough that you choose your favorite color. You should also choose something that will look flattering on you. For example if you have yellowish skin tone, it would not be advisable to wear a yellow wedding gown.
  • Pick a shade that will blend well with the wedding. Another thing to keep in mind is that your color preference should not clash with the theme and overall look of the wedding.
  • Go for something that would express your personality and style. Your color choice should be evocative of your own personal style and character. If you have gothic style, black would be a good choice for you. If you like princess fashion, pink is ideal.
  • Avoid colors that have negative connotation or superstition. If you want to please people with your color choice, it would be best if you stay away from shades that are associated with anything negative or unlucky. For example, black is associated with grieving and should not be worn if you do not want to seem as if you are mournful during your wedding day.
  • Select hues that blend well with the season. Also a good way to pick a shade is to choose the colors of the season. For example, if you are getting married on autumn, fall colors such as yellow, gold, red, and orange would be ideal. For winter, silver and other metallic shades would be a great option.

Color is an excellent way to stand out with your wedding gown. But just be careful when choosing a colored wedding gown. Remember, only a thin line separates classy from trashy.

Source: Andrea Winter is an expert article writer on the topic of weddings. This article was sponsored by MyDreamWedding.ca, a Canadian wedding blog specializing in stylish bridal accessories and elegant wedding favors.

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When publishing this article on your site copy the entire article including the source of the article on the bottom with the link intact back to this fine wedding blog. Thank you!

Filed Under: Themes Tagged With: , ,

They’re Fluffity! They’re Puffity! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!

September 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Source: http://www.weddingbee.com

Yes, I used to watch Homestar Tunner in college with my friends. There’s no shame in that. But this post is not about marshmallows… it’s about pomanders! Yes, giant balls of fluffity tissue paper flowers! And yes, I ignorantly volunteered myself for this project. (Warning! Picture-heavy post!)

The infamous tissue paper pomanders from Amanda of Vintage Glam! BTW, she’s AWESOME, and totally gave me some tips on her process and ordering tissue paper…

Like pretty much every bride out there, I quickly, madly, deeply fell head over heels for this project. I know there have been many tutorials on how to make these, so I’ll keep mine to a minimum. I basically followed Ms. Martha’s instructions on folding the paper flowers. but before we delve into that world, let’s have some fun with some inspiration pictures, shall we?

this lovely fluff ball is made from hand-dyed coffee filters!!!! It’s so gorgeous, via Alice from paintedwhite.com.

I actually contacted Alice for some advice/tips on dying my own coffee filters. After burning through a pretty hefty stack of my dad’s Costco pack of filters, I learned that I do not have the immense skill of arranging coffee filters nicely, nor did I desire to dye anymore. So I gave up on this attempt. (Comment below if you want to learn, because I’d be more than happy to share!)

I Googled “aisle pomanders”, and this lovely picture came up… I think these are probably real flowers, and I can’t even begin to IMAGINE how much those would cost… I wanted to see what aisle pomanders would look like in an alternating pattern.

Sources

Hanging pomanders! If we were having our ceremony outside, you can bet your bottom dollar that I would have made a million of these teeny poms (but out of tissue paper) to hang. alas, we are having our ceremony in a church… so I resigned myself to hanging a few tiny ones from our aforementioned manzie trees.

Uhm, are those moss poms to die for, or what?!? Sighhhhhhhh. I was inspired by this, but decided to not attempt this, as I have NO idea what I’d do with a giant moss ball. But it’s still sexy to look at. **SIGH**

So everyone has seen the flower girl pomanders, right? The fiance and I looooove the look of pomanders, so we wanted our two sweet little flower girls to carry them. I’d LOVE to be able to do real flowers, but again, I’m totally not qualified for that, and the cheapest quote I received from a florist was about $55/ball. We’re talking carnations and a 4″ ball. Uhhhh… EXACTLY! My cousin who recently got married sprung for a real rosebud pomander for her flower girl (who is also one of mine!), and while it was lovely, the petals were already browning by the time the ceremony took place. So that kind of confirmed my crafting plan…

Yup! I made them out of fake flowers. I made one with pink peonies and hydrangeas, and the other with white hydrangeas. Because flowers are fluffity, you should shoot for a smaller Styrofoam ball (I learned the hard way). I used 4″ balls with 22-24g wire for the flower girl poms, about 6-8 peonies, and about 3 3/4 stems of hydrangeas. The floral clearance at Jo-Ann’s and Michaels are my best friends.

Notice the “joy” on my face. This was about 35+ minutes and 4 glue gun burns from the first pom…

For the smaller pom, I cut the buds off, but kept the stems. I tried to cut them off in bunches, as long as they were roughly the same height. I then wired the bunches together, to get a dense cluster.

You can kind of see the wiring here… I would put a giant blob of hot glue in the spot that I wanted (generally underneath another cluster) and then shove the wire through the glue and press the stems into the glue to be secured.

For the peony pom (sorry, I forgot to take pictures), I basically pulled the blooms off of the stems, poked a hole in the foam with the stem part that was still attached to the petal portion, filled the hole with hot glue, and then stuck the flower back into the hot glue. You have to hold it for a couple of seconds, because they’re pretty heavy and can fall out if the glue hasn’t dried yet. I filled in the gaps between the peonies with some pink hydrangeas. if you are using large blooms, I’d recommend planning out where the flowers will go prior to gluing them down, as we had a few re-dos in order to keep the pom from looking oddly sparse on one side.

The finished products! As you can see, the white one came out smaller, even though the balls are the same size; this is because the peony blooms are HUUUGE! And another tip: it’s always smarter to attach the ribbon handle through the ball BEFORE you attach the flowers. I had forgotten to buy the ribbon, so I ended up doing it later. (Mr. Ramen was actually hard at work on our STD and website design at this point. I love that guy!)

Now for the tissue paper poms. I started on this project by myself, with the aid of my lovely sister, and one of the girls from my church’s youth group. After the coffee filter fiasco (see failure story, above), I decided to go the tissue paper route. I was hesitant to order tissue paper online, because I knew I wanted a particular color. I also didn’t know how much to order. So, I used my mom’s giant stack of el cheap-o white tissue paper and decided to use my tea+red food coloring dye to get the perfect pink. yes, I hand-dyed this tissue paper. Anyways, to make a long story short, it took a long time, and I don’t recommend anyone doing it this way. But luckily I live in the nation’s driest state, so that probably helped speed up the process.

The result: a giant mass of perfect, barely blush pink paper. After this, I decided to just bite the bullet, and ordered birch tissue paper from Nashville Wraps. On a foray into the SF flower market with my cousin, I discovered this little floral supply warehouse, where they sold Styrofoam balls for SUPER cheap. I actually ended up having my cousin buy 16 of the 6″ balls and 2 of the 4″ ones initially, and she brought them down to So Cal for me. After I learned that a 6″ ball = 10″ pomander, I sold my 14 unused balls and had my sister purchase 4″ balls on her next trip to SF. Because the price per ball decreases with a bulk purchase, she ended up getting me 20 for about $20 or so. I love flower markets.

The plan was to make a pom to hang from every other pew at the church. There are about 15 rows. So, we wanted to make roughly 16 pomanders. Faced with this ridonculous challenge, I did what any sane bride-to-be would do: I recruited all of my girlfriends, and had a folding/fluffing party!

Hard at work…. seriously, I could not ask for better friends! One of my dear friends actually brought her new husband and brother-in-law to help out!

The results: 6 mini poms, plus 2 almost filled large shopping bags of fluffies! Lest you think this was enough flowers, I probably filled up those bags at least 2 more times… I can fold and fluff in my sleep. We probably spent 5 days straight doing this – but we spread it out over several weeks, so we (my mom, sister, fiance, and myself) were constantly cutting wire and paper, folding, and fluffing while we got caught up on almost the entire last season of Heroes, Lost, and Chuck.

Close up: don’t worry, I put Mr. Ramen to work! He’s such a trooper. Aren’t the pink poms sooo cute?

this is to show you how densely I packed our poms – and not TOO dense, mostly because we got lazy and didn’t want to make any more flowers, and also because they looked pretty good loose. I also didn’t use any hot glue because we figured no one was going to be swinging the poms (although we tested that), and the wire was reallllly secure. I suggest using about 4″ of thicker gauge wire (~ 22g) for these larger poms. we used probably a 24-26g wire for the baby poms, and just cut the wire (and paper) down proportionally.

Here is what they look like! The birch tissue paper was a really nice, thick, high-quality tissue paper, and had a nice light ivory tone.

This was less than 1/2 of the poms we made… we ended up making ~20!

Here is a mock up of the decoration items we had made/purchased… just to reassure me that everything was cohesive.

One project down, only 1 million more to go!

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DIY Weddings – A Guide to Your Perfect Day

September 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

A wedding is a very personal occasion, and quite possibly one of the biggest events in your life. Because it is unique to you, the DIY option may be the best way to get exactly what you want without the risk of miscommunication over your desires for your special day. This brief guide to a DIY wedding should help you decide if this is a task you want to take on; and if so, things you can do to make your wedding unique to you.

Every bride’s first thoughts gravitate towards her wedding gown. While the DIY bride may not have any desire, or talent, to design and make her own wedding gown, there are sites online where you can choose what type of dress best suits your body type. Doing such research before hitting the stores for your wedding dress can give you a head start on knowing exactly what you want.

Choosing a theme for you wedding is the foundation upon which your entire wedding is built. Before you can begin to choose wedding favors or even invitations, you must decide on the type of wedding you will have. Will you opt for a destination wedding on a Caribbean island or a traditional church wedding? Once you know where your wedding will be held, you can move on to the next crucial steps.

Invitations should match the tone of your wedding. So, if your wedding will be on the beach in Maui, your DIY wedding invitations could be printed from your home computer on shell shaped card stock paper. DIY wedding invitations do not have to be a chore. The task can actually be fun; choosing paper styles and print techniques, etc. If your guest list is small and you’ve got an artistic hand, you could handwrite your wedding invitations in calligraphy for a personal touch.

For Bridesmaid’s and Groomsmen’s gifts, the DIY wedding couple can opt for special days spent together instead of traditional gifts that will eventually be forgotten. Memories are far more precious than anything else you can give. The bride could take her closest gal pals to the spa for a day of pampering; the groom can hit the golf course or head to the courts to sweat it out with his buddies.

Decorating for your DIY wedding ceremony and reception is of course high on your list of priorities. It is essential that you keep in mind that you have the ability to create absolutely stunning wedding decorations such as DIY centerpieces and reception décor without stress or high expense. Making your own centerpieces for your wedding reception can be stress free if you perform necessary research first, and begin experimenting with design ideas far before you need to. Find out which flowers are in season during the month in which your wedding falls, and then work those into centerpiece ideas. When designing your DIY centerpieces, take into account how many you will be making, as this will guide you in terms of how creative you can be.

A DIY wedding can be a great experience, and one that also saves money that you will then be able to use towards an incredible honeymoon!

Source: Paula Rice is an expert article writer on the topic of weddings. This article was sponsored by MyBeachFavors.com, an e-commerce store specializing in beach wedding reception decorations and cocktail wedding favors.

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How to Save Big on Your Wedding Favors

September 15, 2009 By Leave a Comment

dreamstime_8070170In an attempt to cut down the expenses for their wedding, some brides decide to forego the wedding favors, thinking that these are just small details anyway. While you agree that skipping this will not ruin your big day, a part of you still wishes that your guests would have something that they can remember your memorable wedding by.

Well, if you are crafty and creative enough, you do not have to give up entirely the concept of giving small tokens of appreciation to the people who joined you in the celebration of your big day. With these simple but practical suggestions, you will surely be able to come up with fantastic wedding favors that will not leave a major dent on your savings.

Be Crafty

You do not need to have a degree in Fine Arts or be a Martha Stuart or Rachel Ray to be able to come up with fabulous wedding favors. Homemade soaps, scented candles, handcrafted accessories, small boxes filled with chocolates, and bath salts—these are only few of the many things you can make at home and that you can give away as souvenirs for your wedding day. Check procedures online if you have any doubt on your handcrafting abilities.

Hit Two Purposes with One Souvenir

Two-for-one souvenirs are practical and cost-effective. One example of such kind would be mini photo frame souvenirs that can double as table cardholders. Another option would be a platter of small votive candles, each tied with raffia ribbon that can serve as table centerpiece. After the reception, each guest can take one home.

Go for Edible Sweet Treats

Do you have a knack for baking sweet treats? If so, you can round up your bridesmaids for an afternoon session of baking cookies, cupcakes, or whatever sweet treat you can think of that can be a good memento for your wedding day. Wrap them up in nice and colorful food paper and tie with a satin ribbon to complete the look.

Trim down the List

Even if you have a very inexpensive favor, let us say each favor only costs $1, but if you have about 500 to 600 guests, then the expenses will still blow out of proportion. The best way to solve this is to invite fewer people.

Make some Music

Personalized music CDs are becoming a popular choice for many couples today who want to give out souvenirs that have a personal touch but do not cost that much. Make a list of all the songs that you and your loved one hold close to your hearts, and have a friend record this in blank CDs. Do not forget to have a nice cover for the CD case, preferably a photo of you and your spouse-to-be.

Think Green

A small-potted plant, a bracelet made from recycled magazines, or flower seeds placed in a little mason jar wrapped with handmade paper—just few of the many eco- and budget-friendly take-home mementos that you can provide to your guests.

Whoever says that you need to spend a lot for wedding favors is either extremely rich or has no creative juice in her body. If you want to give away wonderful wedding favors without having to chase your money away, be sure to consider practical and helpful tips mentioned in this article.

Source: Andrea Winter is an expert article writer on the topic of weddings. This article was sponsored by Stylish-Wedding-Favors.com, a wedding blog for beach Weddings specializing in trendy beach wedding favors and stylish beach weddings in general.

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Cake Stands

September 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

RSS source: http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/09/14/cake-stands/

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I emailed Marie Gabrielle to see if they provide a cake stand for our wedding, and they don’t. I know you can rent one from the place you get your cake from, but typically it’s at least $50, and I could buy one for that price. Also, I don’t think I want the traditional large, silver cake stand that are usually seen at weddings.

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Don’t get me wrong, they are gorgeous, but I think I want something a little different.

So, I started looking and found lots of cake stands that I think are great! These are from Martha Stewart for Macy’s, and she has round and square ones. So whatever I decide on, she has a stand that can accommodate it.

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Then I found these beauties on Potluck Studios and they come in so many different colors that I could pick the perfect one to match our wedding.

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Although I’m not sure how practical these are. I don’t want our cake to topple over, but I love them. And best of all, they would be ours after the wedding.

What’s your favorite source for cake stands?

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How-to: 1 Napkin, 2 Ways

September 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

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Sometimes you just need to add a little bit of color to a standard ivory napkin.We made two rings with totally different styles. The trick is thinking outside the typical toolbox and layering. Layering is key (and really easy to do!).

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For the napkin on the left, we layered eyelet trim over a thick turquoise band. We finished it off with a thin satin ribbon in the same shade of blue.

For the napkin on the right, we livened up chocolate paper stock with ric rac sticker trim. Then we layered the finished paper over a thick celadon green wide ribbon.

RSS source: http://www.mydiyweddingday.com/2009/09/howto-1-napkin-2-styles.html

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Planning Guide for Second Weddings

September 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

A take two in saying “I do” has been quite common these past years due to the increasing number of divorce cases in the country. But even though, people say that first love is hard to die, getting married can be sweeter the second time around if have found the right person and if you know how to plan your second wedding the right way. After all, in love, you can always have a second chance so here are some brilliant ideas on how to have a wonderful second wedding.

Wedding Announcement

Before you can actually start with the planning of the wedding, the first thing you have to think about is the wedding announcement. For some couples, informing people about the fact that they are getting married again, may be a little difficult.

It is important to remember that before you announce the wedding to other people, you should first inform your children first, in private. This way, they will not be caught off guard or feel pressured because all eyes would be on them if you do the announcement in public.

After that, you can tell the news to your parents. You would also have to talk to your ex-spouse and former in laws. If you do not have good relationship with your ex-spouse, what you can do is to send a simple gracious note.

Wedding Dress

Traditionally, brides getting married the second time are not allowed to wear white but this old custom has been thrown out of the window by modern brides. Brides can wear anything they want including a white dress. The important thing is here you consider important factors such as age, personal taste and style, and nature of the wedding event when choosing a dress.

Many second-time brides, who want to project a mature look, opt for brocade suits or cocktail dress instead of the usual princess type of gown. It is up to you to decide what kind of wedding dress you think would be comfortable and beautiful to wear on the wedding day.

Participation of Children

If you or your partner have children, it would be best to give them a special part in the wedding event. The role would depend on what is suitable for their age and gender. They can be a flower girl, ring bearer, bridesmaid, groomsman, maid of honor, or best man. They can read a part in the ceremony or make a toast during the reception. See to it that they are willing to do the part, do not coerce your children if they do not feel comfortable in participating. Their mere presence is gift enough.

Invitations

Most second weddings are intimate gatherings of close family members and friends. But if you decide to hold a large wedding, it is imperative that you give out printed invitations. Rules of etiquette state that it is not proper to invite your ex-spouse to the wedding but it is still up to you. If you really have good relationship with your ex-spouse and you are sure that it would not feel awkward, then it may be all right.

More Tips

  1. Enjoy the event. Do not feel too pressured about the wedding planning. Do not stress yourself thinking about the first wedding and making sure that you do not do something that you have already done before.
  2. Have a fun and romantic theme. Getting married the second time around gives you a chance to do something that you wanted but you were not able to do. If you want to have a fabulous beach wedding or a sporty golf wedding this time, go ahead.
  3. Be practical. This is your second time so you already have an idea on how expensive a wedding can be. You also know that you should make practical choice and decisions so you do not overspend for your wedding day.

Planning a second wedding may be easy and hard at the same time. On one hand, it is easy because you know your way around as you have already done this before. But it can also be difficult because there are more things to consider such as your children. With the tips mentioned in this article, you should not have too much difficulty planning and you will surely have a fabulous wedding that you will forever cherish.

Source: Wendi Clark is an expert article writer on the topic of weddings. This article was sponsored by TheBridalCoach.ca, the first wedding planning membership site on the internet specializing in wedding reception site planning and wedding ceremony site planning.

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Even More Cupcake News!

September 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

RSS source: http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/09/03/even-more-cupcake-news/

A real quick one:

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At $1.00 each, these aren’t too shabby and might save us a lot of time and calluses. Images courtesy of Paper Orchid Stationery.

How did you decide whether to buy things instead of making them a DIY project?

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DIY Door Hangers – Do Not Disturb!

September 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment

I loved the idea of making door hangers for our guests and have seen so many brides make some really great ones! I decided to give it a try. I found quite a few templates out there, but decided to tweak mine just a bit.

I have lots of leftover wood grain paper and want to carry that theme throughout the wedding. I decided to make a template and made each hanger 3.5″ by 8″. I was able to fit 3 on a page.


The design elements I included were:

  • Our bird on a limb image
  • The typical “Please Do Not Disturb”
  • I found an image that read “Thank you for sharing our wedding with us” – I can’t remember where this came from – if someone knows, please share!
  • Our bird

I then used my handy home “cheap” printer and am really happy with what came out.

(how scary does my hand look?!?!?)


Did you put any DIY elements in your OOT bags?

Source: WeddingBee.com

Filed Under: News

No Rehearsal, But…

September 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

While we aren’t having a rehearsal for the wedding, it doesn’t mean I’m going to give up the excuse to celebrate. Rehearsal dinner, here I come!

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My parents are graciously throwing us a rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding for the members of our wedding party, as well as for close friends and family. We wish we could invite our out-of-town guests too, but that would mean the whole guest list would be coming to our rehearsal dinner. And it’s just not in the budget.

But just because we’re keeping it small doesn’t mean we’re going posh. Location? Hernando’s Pizza Pub!

At first, I was skeptical. A pizza place, mom?

But then I went to visit, and it is adorable. It looks like a little Swiss chalet and the inside is practically all brick. Except for the ceiling, which is completely ensconced in dollar bills.

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I had to taste the pizza to be sure. I lived in Italy and have very high standards when it comes to pizza. (Note: high standards and pizza in the United States don’t usually do well together.)

But it was delicious. Thin homemade crust with fresh mozzarella and mushrooms. I even liked the tomato sauce (when I was a kid I used to pick up the cheese, wipe the tomato sauce off, and put the cheese back on before eating it).

My favorite part about Hernando’s? The beer comes in Ball jars. I can’t think of a better way to drink a Hefeweizen the night before the wedding…

Where are you having your rehearsal dinner? Will it be casual or fancy?

Source: http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/09/03/no-rehearsal-but/

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Starting Off with Inspiration

September 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

The wedding will be quite the crafty affair, since I’ve been crafting all my life. There will be lots of kraft paper with various stamping and printing effects, tons of fabric, and some great ribbons. My mother is a fabulous seamstress and will be using the lace from my grandmother’s wedding dress (my mom also wore it). It’s from 1951, is entirely made out of lace, and has an 11’ cathedral train. I’m thinking I’ll be able to harvest enough lace to cover my entire dress in it and still leave some for the other granddaughters.

Since I’m trained as an architect, I have a love for certain kinds of paper. Mainly trace paper—there is plain white and then there is butter paper. Doesn’t that name just sound delicious? It’s a yellow-hued trace paper that I’ll be using along with the plain white to make flowers, invite belly bands, and hopefully a few other things.

I also love kraft paper and chipboard. I know it sounds odd, but if you glue together a bunch of layers of chipboard and then saw it and sand it like a block of wood, it smells so good. It smells like the burnt wood of a winter fire.

If I could think of a nice way to incorporate basswood, I would, but I haven’t found the right method for that yet.

Since I was raised by quilters and the wedding is in Texas, we’ll probably have a bunch of quilts from Momma Moonbeam’s vast collection strewn about the outdoor portion of our venue. There are wrought iron cafe tables and a gazebo out back, so hopefully people will wander out there.

In keeping with that down-home feel, there will be a dessert bar with some homemade tasties and others bought from the local bakery, Haby’s.

Here’s a look at my pin-up board.

Are you incorporating any elements from your profession into your wedding?

Source: http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/09/03/starting-off-with-inspiration/

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Aaron + Amy + Audrey

September 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Source: weddingbee.com

I’m not ashamed to say I have an unhealthy obsession with all things vintage. Here are a couple of facts you might not know about me:

  1. My mom’s side of the family loves old movies. I used to watch old Danny Kaye, Bob Hope, and Peter O’Toole movies with my aunt #5 (that’s how we identify relatives in Taiwan).
  2. When I was filling in my college roommate application, under “Who would you have a torrid affair with?” I answered Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, or Peter O’Toole. It was not brought to my attention until years later when my friend Brendan said, “What seventeen-year-old writes that?!”
  3. In high school, I only listened to the 1930s-’60s big band/classic music station.
  4. I obsessively watched AMC back in the day when they used to play Rita Hayworth and Fred Astaire movies, not the Harrison Ford movies they do now. I occasionally took breaks and watched Supermarket Sweep.
  5. I am completely obsessed with all things Audrey Hepburn. My parents have said that I look like her, but I think they might be just a teeny bit biased.

Number 5 leads us nicely into this post. My friend Synthia, who is also getting married, sent me this link, which led me to another post titled Ode to Audrey. Unless otherwise stated, all images courtesy of The Audrey Hepburn Library:

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I am far too snarky to pull off the roses on my head and the poufy sleeves. Audrey, on the other hand, has the childlike innocence and beauty to do so.

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You know, I found a dress similar to this that I would totally wear if we were getting married in Italy:

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$595 from Dolly Couture. It’s really not a bad price for a wedding dress. It can be modified to have straps or 3/4 sleeves.

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Stunning. Again, I cannot pull it off. But would be perfect for a winter wedding, no?

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The dress below kind of reminds me of my rehearsal dress #2. It’s a bit longer, but the same idea. I knew there was a reason I love, that dress! I believe this dress was from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, when Audrey went out on a date with the South American millionaire, only to come home to a telegram informing her of her brother’s death.

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Ah yes. Here it is in color:

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Normally the pink tiara would not work. But here, it really does.

I love her hair here. I’m not sure if it would be too casual for a wedding, but I am going to try to do this tomorrow for work. I don’t know how she does it, but she is just effortlessly stunning.

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I would feel like a fool putting on a tiara and a giant diamond necklace, and this look is definitely not vintage/rustic chic. But this picture makes me really really want to copy the look:

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I knew Mr. Chick was the one for me when last May, before going to Rome, he rented “Roman Holiday” and made it a date to watch the movie with me. Someone who not only puts up with my obsession but fosters it is definitely a keeper!

I also adore gloves. I wish they were still part of everyday outfits. I get to wear white gloves at my job sometimes, and I sit at my desk pretending I’m Doris Day while I handle transparencies…

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One more thing. I also love Grace Kelly. Not as much as I love Audrey, but the lace on her wedding dress makes me swoon:

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I am leaning towards a lot of lace in my dress. It’s just so old fashioned and beautiful.

Are you inspired by vintage motifs? How are you incorporating them into your wedding?

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Latest Trends for Wedding Reception Music

September 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

bridal-musicWe cannot see it, eat it, wear it, or touch it, and yet music is one of the most important aspects of your wedding reception. Music plays a significant role in this event as it creates the mood and stirs up inner sentiments not only of the bride and groom but also of the people closest to them.

Most people choose music based on the melody. However, the beat, tempo and melody of the music are not the only things you should consider when picking songs for your wedding reception. Just as important are the lyrics as these express and communicate the love and emotion that the couple shares.

For modern couples who do not want to play traditional wedding songs in their wedding day, this list which includes the latest trends for wedding reception music will surely come in handy.

Romantic and Slow Songs

What is a wedding reception without those romantic slow songs that make the couple and their mothers want to cry? These tunes are ideal for dances, cake-cutting ceremonies or between dinner courses. Be sure to look at the lyrics first to ensure that the message of the song reflects the love and commitment that you and your partner have. Here you will find some of the songs that you can choose.

  1. Lucky by Jason Mraz featuring Colbie Caillet. This is a nice song to play for the couple’s first dance.
  2. Good Time by Alan Jackson. This song is ideal for couples who love country music. You can play this song right after dinnertime.
  3. Beautiful by Akon
  4. The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson. This is a romantic and nostalgic song perfect to play during the cake cutting.
  5. Viva La Vida by Coldplay can set a nice mood during the cocktail hour or in between dinner courses.
  6. Green Light by John Legend
  7. When the Night Comes by Dan Auerbach is another slow song that you can play during the end of the night.
  8. A Moment Like This by Kelly Clarkson
  9. Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis

10.  Cayman Islands by Kings of Convenience. This song is not in the mainstream and yet, you will surely find this soothing tune wonderful to play during the reception.

Party Music and Danceable Tunes

Since the reception is not all about slow songs and romantic dances, you also need to have fast tunes that will keep the event alive. Start a dance showdown by carefully picking the right danceable songs to play during the reception. Some of the best choices are enumerated below.

  1. Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) by Beyonce is the one of the best tunes to play during the fun bouquet toss.
  2. So What by P!nk can motivate guests to hit to the dance floor and show off their moves. This is nice to play after a slow song.
  3. Disturbia – Rihanna
  4. Don’t Stop The Music – Rihanna
  5. Just Dance by Lady GaGa. Just like the previous songs mentioned, this danceable tune can surely get everyone into the groove.
  6. About You Now – Sugababes

The music that you play during the reception is one of the biggest aspects that will help make the event a truly memorable one.

Source: Angela White is an expert article writer on the topic of weddings. This article was sponsored by MyBeachFavors.com, an e-commerce store for beach wedding supplies and bridal accessories.

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Mr. AC’s Wedding Band

September 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

***A Post from Mr. Apple Cider on his wedding ring choice!***

I wanted my wedding band to be unique. I wanted the ring to be noticed.

Miss AC and I had been looking at all the typical jewelry stores, combing through all the online galleries, and I was never really sold on anything. Then a while ago, I read a post on Weddingbee (yes, I am the first to admit that I do follow Weddingbee) about shopping for rings on Etsy. Of course… why not? Why didn’t I think of that?

So, the search was on. I still had no idea what I was looking for, but I knew that I would “know it when I saw it”. And, I certainly did. I found the ring in the Etsy shop of Artisan Look. Their website is here.

There were so many rings that stood out, but when I saw this one, the search was over.

The ring is called “walk with me”. How perfect is that? I love all the symbolism you can pull from this ring. Miss AC and I love art, and we love supporting artists. This ring is different, unique, and most importantly, true handmade art. There are so many reasons that I love this ring, and I can’t wait for the day I put it on for good.

Did your guy go for a more traditional wedding band or something different?

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What?! No Rehearsal?

September 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Um, that was not a typo. And, again, for those who missed it: we are not having a rehearsal. It made my muscles tense just to type that. But, I am forced to let it go. And here’s why.

Mr. CB is anti-wedding rehearsal. The one thing he’s been pulling for this entire time is not a playlist, a particular band, suit, or tie. It’s not an item on our menu or even a particular beer.

It’s that our wedding feel as organic as possible.

The last thing he wants is for the ceremony to feel like a production or a staged show. While I’ve never been to a wedding rehearsal, he’s been to many and, as someone who’s older and (okay, I’ll give it to him) wiser, he’s taking the final say on this one.

Yes, I see the merit in a rehearsal. It’s a chance for people to shake their nerves off, to run through everything just to have a general gist of how it’s going to play out. It’s not like everyone has blocking tape and scripted lines. But, no matter how much I try to gently cajole Mr. CB into feeling the same way, he doesn’t. He views them as a waste of time during which the bride stresses out and everyone stands around listening to her berate everyone. Man, he must’ve come across some bridezillas.

So, I’m gonna hand it to him:

The freedom to escape a 15-minute rehearsal. And, no, I’m not going to run through it with everyone without him there, either. (Even if I got extremely jealous of how well Mrs. Peep Toe’s went and would follow her instructions completely!)

Lucky for me, I have an aunt who is also into all-things-organic. She’s incredibly spiritual, a massage therapist, and great at making lemonade out of lemons. Her husband, my uncle, is officiating. So, of course, I mentioned to her that we weren’t going to have a rehearsal. She saw the sunny side of things and told me not to worry, that the ceremony will just be very raw and real. We won’t have been through it before so we are going to feel the transition of it all. And that’s a good thing. Because what we want is to really feel what we are doing—committing our lives to each other.

Am I worried a bridesmaid will walk the wrong way? That our transition from song to tradition will not run as smoothly? No. It might happen, and I’m okay with it. Partially because I’ll create a very thorough set of instructions for everyone, let people know beforehand who they are paired up with, and make sure our singers (my aunt and grandmother) know when they are singing. From there? I’ll let my uncle take the reins.

How do you feel about us not having a rehearsal? Do you see the value in a raw ceremony, or is a run-through a necessity?

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A Bee’s Life: The Little Candy Corn That Could

September 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

This kind of makes me feel like I’m on that “Diary” show that was on MTV. Did anyone else watch that? C’mon, you can admit it. I’m not judging! Lindsay Lohan would be like, “You think you know…but you have no idea!” and I’d be awake at 2 AM screaming at the television, “Oh mah GAH! What do I have no idea about!? Tell me more, Lilo!!” (Although, I believe this was before she was actually referred to as “Lilo”, but oh well.) Anyway, I hope I can be at least half as entertaining as that fine television program!

Bee-coming a blogging fool (see what I did there?):

I’ve been blogging since 2002 on LiveJournal—in fact, that is where Mr. Candy Corn and I developed quite a bit of communication early on in our dating relationship and I think it really helped push us into coupledom, because lord knows we were too shy to flirt with each other in person… or at least I was!

Applying to Weddingbee

I stumbled upon Weddingbee while Googling for inspiration for our bird-themed wedding. I remember scrolling through pages of bees while on my lunch break and wondering if I could ever have a wedding that was even a teensy tiny bit as amazing as Mrs. Strawberry’s or Lovebug’s. I was obsessed with Indiebride and Offbeat Bride, but other than that I couldn’t find too many wedding resources that I could relate to—apart from Weddingbee.

I decided to start a LiveJournal specifically for wedding planning, since I was boring my online friends to tears with my ramblings about favors and place cards on my personal LiveJournal. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to apply to be a bee, so I did just that in December 2007. I was kindly told that they only had a few slots left, but that I could apply again in 4 weeks. So, I beefed up my blog and reapplied in early February 2008 in hopes that they would notice how much work I had put into it. I ended my entries with questions for the readers, even though I knew my mom and I were probably the only ones reading my entries since my blog didn’t have any followers that I knew of. I made it a point to take a ton of photos whenever we were doing anything wedding-related, so I wouldn’t bore potential readers with text-heavy posts.

In late March I was told that the hive had a large group of active bee bloggers and they were wondering if they could hold on to my application for a few months. I was thrilled that Weddingbee was even remotely considering me, but as a month passed I figured I didn’t have a shot, since my wedding was slowly creeping up.

The day my coworkers would officially deem me a major nutball (if they hadn’t already) had suddenly arrived in early May. You could’ve heard me giggling and shrieking from a mile away in when I received the email from Mrs. Penguin that the hive thought I would make a great addition to the Weddingbee team! The available characters were Carrot, Taffy, Candy Corn, Cookie, Snapdragon, and a slew of tropical fruits, so I went with Candy Corn since our wedding was in October—prime Halloween candy time! I couldn’t believe people actually thought my blog was worthy of Weddingbee attention and I double checked the calendar to make sure it wasn’t an April Fool’s Day prank. Mr. Candy Corn shared my excitement with me in the form of dancing in our living room, but I don’t think he truly realized how much it meant to me that I was accepted in to such a fabulous community of creative & compassionate bloggers.

Advice for bee-lovin’ applicants!

If I had to give hopeful bees one piece of advice it would be to remain determined, and at the end of the day, blog for your sanity. I can’t tell you how helpful it was to have a blog that I continuously referenced when speaking to our vendors about the mood we were going for, etc. The simple organization of having all of my inspiration and progress in one spot made it well worth the time it took to create a blog and fill out the initial Weddingbee application.

Why I heart Weddingbee for life

I’ve currently met 20 bees and a handful of awesome readers and I can’t even begin to express how wonderful it has been to develop such a strong relationship with so many of these folks. I have a gazillion bee crushes, but more importantly, I have a group of ladies (and men…*ahem* Mango!) who I know I can go to if I need someone to lend an ear, and vice versa. Most of the time we aren’t even chatting about weddings, but knowing that our weddings brought us together makes me do an internal grateful, happy dance. I’ve really grown to love this community and can’t tell the bees enough how much they rock. Mr. Candy Corn and I were lucky enough to attend Mrs. D’Orsay’s wedding with eight other charming bees this past weekend and I had more fun there than at most of the other weddings I’ve gone to (shhh), and it was my first time meeting most of the other bees, so that’s saying a lot about how much we all just instantaneously hit if off when we do get to meet.

Life after the lovefest

I still have about ten recaps left to go, but once I finish those and my wee bee stinger pulls out, I will still be around in the blogging world if you care to follow me! Currently, I ramble on a weekly basis at my illustration-obsessed personal blog, but who knows what the future holds! I have to admit, I still read Weddingbee every day and stay pretty darn active on the boards, despite being married for close to a year, and I don’t plan on removing Weddingbee from my Google Reader anytime soon!

On a semi-related note, I’d like to wish Mr. Candy Corn a happy 7 year anniversary! Can we still count those now that we are married or do we need to start with a clean slate now? Hmmm…

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Love, Sweet Love: A Dance With My Dad

September 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Papa Powder Puff is not really a dancer. He tries, bless his heart, but dancing is not really his thing. So when I was looking for a song for us to dance to, I wanted something short, cute and upbeat. After choosing “Sweet Pea” by Amos Lee, I felt confident that Dad would be able to pull the father/daughter dance off without too much trouble.

But when my dad whirled me on the dance floor, I was totally surprised! He had practiced dancing to our song with my mom a couple of nights before the wedding, and had some fabulous moves to show for it.

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If you look closely in the background of these photos, you can see Snappy and Quiche documenting the moment!

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And now for a bow!

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Next, we get our super funky dance on!

Previously:
Love, Sweet Love: A Taste Of Teasers
Love, Sweet Love: Partay For The Bachelorette
Love, Sweet Love: Let’s Rehearse
Love, Sweet Love: Getting Purty
Love, Sweet Love: Boys and a Boat
Love, Sweet Love: Putting on the Dress
Love, Sweet Love: The First Look
Love, Sweet Love: Strike a Pose
Love, Sweet Love: The Walk
Love, Sweet Love: The Ceremony
Love, Sweet Love: Bridal Party Shenanigans
Love, Sweet Love: Family Fun Meets Cocktails and Dreams
Love, Sweet Love: The Details
Love, Sweet Love: Kickin’ Things Off
Love, Sweet Love: We Toast!
Love, Sweet Love: Cake, With No Chance of a Smash

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