Trendy Wednesday: Crafty Bride

Trendy Wednesday: Jenna Paniccia

Crafty brides never fail to disappoint! Although planning a wedding can be a bit stressful and overwhelming some brides truly enjoy customizing and personalizing aspects of their big day. With prices on the rise, brides are looking for ways to cut costs without cutting the elegance of this spectacular celebration.

By adding DIY projects to your wedding day décor, you are allowing creativity to surface while placing your personal likings on display. DIY projects don’t need to be something extravagant. You can choose how many DIY projects you’d like to invest your time in, and pick projects that will help add character to your wedding without taking away the overall concept.

Favors and place cards are two of my favorite DIY projects. Favors are great because I truly believe the favor should bring out your personality. Sit down with your fiancé and make a list of things you both enjoy. This can be candy, desserts, candles, champagne, hiking, movies … the list goes on and on.  Narrow your list down and think of a DIY project that will help bring your guests into your life.

Here’s the perfect example.  If you both love Macaroon cookies give your guests a few in a DIY box tied with a fabulous ribbon. The thank you tag could read “the sweetest way to end this sweetest day.”

DIY projects are also a wonderful idea for your bridal shower. Walk around a craft store or discount home accent store or even thrift shop. You would be amazed at how many ideas you will stumble across on a budget.

These projects are a great bonding tool for families and bridesmaids as well. If you are making the place cards, or putting together floral arrangements for your bridal shower invite the people you love over to bond and craft! I’m sure you will laugh a lot and get the project done much quicker! Photo Credit: inviteswedding.com, creativeweddingideas.net, fashiondivadesign.com, bargainhoot.com, bugsandfishes.blogspot.com, mostweddingflowerideas.com, weddbook.com, weddingbylily.com

Manic Monday: Keep Calm at the Kids’ Table

Manic Monday by Corine Brosseau

Though it isn’t always everyone’s cup of tea, sometimes a wedding is simply a lot more special when the treasures children in your life take part, be it your own children, a godchild, or perhaps your nieces and nephews. While this will surely result in lots of aww-worthy photos, it can be stressful for you and simply boring for the kids if you don’t provide some type of entertainment for them.

There are plenty of fun activities you can provide your younger wedding day guests to make sure that they’re having fun and not getting into mischief. One of my personal favorites is a good old scavenger hunt for the little ones. Provide a disposable camera – or an instant print Polaroid – to each kid and give them a list of things to find at the party. You may want to include things like someone doing the robot, a slice of wedding cake, or the bride’s bouquet. This will keep the kids busy for quite some time and they can all compare pictures at the end.

Of course, another easy option is to provide crayons and coloring books for the little ones. You can find personalized coloring books online that prompt the kids to decorate a picture of a wedding cake or recount a treasured memory they had with the bride and groom. At the end of the wedding, have each kid hand in their memories to include them in a guest book or wedding day photo album.

To keep the event even more stress free, keep in mind the following when making plans for littler guests:

– Have an age limit. If you don’t want to hear crying throughout the night, make sure you tell your guests to keep the infants and younger toddlers at home.

– Have some kid-friendly bites available. Let’s face it, most kids are downright picky when it comes to eating. Here’s where chicken fingers and mozzarella sticks come in handy!

– Check with your venue to see if they offer a babysitter or kid’s room for the evening so that your guests don’t have to leave them at home.

– Make sure the kids feel like part of the party. Encourage them to dance and have fun – things like the Macarena are perfect for this.

How did you include kids in your big day? Let us know on Facebook!!

Manic Monday: DIY Do’ and Don’t’s

Manic Monday by Corine Brosseau

DIY projects are all the rage on Pinterest these days and they’ve become more of a trend than a way to save money on your wedding details. Despite all this, DIY can easily become stressful and it’s important to keep a few things in mind when taking on a project for your special day. Here are some of our do’s and don’t’s for wedding day DIY.

– DO inject your fiancé and your personalities into your DIY projects. Making your own wedding decor is an opportunity to really allow your unique love story to shine. You’ll end up with something truly one of a kind that everyone will always remember because of how well it reflected the two of you!

– DON’T bite off more than you can chew. Too many DIY projects can lead to more stress than they are worth – especially if you are still busy with work, kids, or other wedding prep. Make sure that anything you take on is do-able and not overambitious.

– DO check out bridal blogs and sites like Lover.ly or Pinterest for lots of DIY inspiration. I especially love the tutorials on Hey Gorgeous – they’re full of step by step images and really fun, unique ideas.

–DON’T forget to have a back up plan. If something doesn’t work out, it’s important to have a Plan B so you aren’t left with any missing details.

–DO know when to trust the professionals. If you know nothing about graphic design or stationary, you may want to leave designing your invites to someone with the experience necessary to create a gorgeous product. Sometimes it makes more sense to spend a bit more money and save yourself the stress of worrying if the end product will come out the way you want it to.

Did you DIY for your wedding or are you planning to do so? Share your favorite DIY projects or stories on our Facebook page!

Manic Monday: In Case of Emergency

Manic Monday by Corine Brosseau

We’ve all seen it happen.  You’re climbing out of the limo and with a loud rip, you tear your wedding dress.  A huge gust of wind whips through and your perfectly coiffed half-up, half-down do is suddenly just down.  You start up the steps of the church and your pearl earring clinks as it hits the ground, your earring back lost in a sea of white wedding gown.

The bottom line?  No wedding goes off without a hitch!  There are so many things that can go wrong and believe me, Murphy’s Law will make sure that at least one of them does.  However, if you panic, that one little emergency will turn into a face full of melting makeup and major raccoon eyes!  Instead, make sure you’re prepared for the oops moments that can get in your way on the big day with a well-stocked emergency kit.

Image courtesy of RoBoCrafts

It’s really easy to make your own kit and be prepared for (almost) anything.  Here are some of the items we think are must-haves for your kit:

• Advil
• Bandages
• Blister stick
• Bobby pins
• Breath mints
• Lip balm
• Clear nail polish
• Brush and comb
• Fabric tape
• Sewing kit
• Floss
• Deodorant
• Hair spray
• Hair ties
• Mini Lint roller
• Tampon/Pad
• Safety Pins
• Tissues
• Tide-to-Go Pen
• Super Glue
• Makeup for touch ups
• A pair of flats
• Pantyhose

These are just some of the things you can bring along to make sure your day goes smoothly.  Not into DIY?  Pinch Provisions, formerly Ms. & Mrs., makes some beautifully appointed emergency kits from the compact Minimergency Kit to the more extensive Wedding Day Survival Kit.  They also offer kits for the groom, bridesmaids (cute gift for you girls, anyone?), and anyone who’s playing a part in your big day.  For a personalized touch, Etsy shop RoBoCrafts offers an adorable pocket sized clutch that can be customized with your name or monogram and includes the basic emergency kit essentials.

What are some of your emergency kit necessities?  For those who’ve been there, we’d love to hear about your wedding day snafus and how you overcame them in a comment or on our Facebook page!

Stress-Free At Home Spa Night

Manic Monday by Corine Brosseau

Planning a wedding can frazzle even the most organized of brides, so who wouldn’t want to spend a day away from all of the lovely, but sometimes overwhelming, details? The spa can be a bride’s perfect escape. Unfortunately, with wedding expenses and budgets on the brain, it’s not always easy to justify spending money on a facial.

Luckily, creating a spa environment in your home can be both easy and affordable! Start by setting a peaceful and relaxing mood with some candles. Scents like chamomile, eucalyptus, and mint are known to relax the body and clear the mind. I love to use Bath and Body Works‘ Lavender Vanilla candles when I want a feeling of tranquility. If you really want some ambiance, try dimming the lights for a fuller experience. Turn on some of your favorite relaxing music or even a favorite movie that you can curl up on the couch and watch. Finally, put on a face mask and settle in to relax and soothe your skin!

DIY masks are a great option for bringing the spa to your living room. You can easily make all sorts of great therapeutic masks with things you can pick up at the grocery store. My favorite mask is perfect for winter, when the weather dries out even the oiliest of complexions.

DIY: Winter Skin Savior Mask

What you’ll need:

• 1/3 cup oatmeal
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 1 small or medium banana
• 2 tbsp. plain yogurt
• 2 tbsp. honey
• 1 beaten egg

Instructions:

1. Mix water and oatmeal in a small bowl.
2. Let your water and oats mixture settle for 2-3 minutes.
3. Mash your banana until it is smooth.
4. Add banana, yogurt, honey, and egg to the mixture.
5. Stir thoroughly until mostly smooth.
6. Apply and let sit for about 15 minutes.
7. Once the mask feels tight, rinse off thoroughly with warm water.
8. Finish with your favorite moisturizer to lock in hydration.

If DIY is not your style, LUSH Cosmetics makes great fresh face masks for all skin types that are chock full of nutrition for your face and retail for only $6.95. Pricier but still amazing options are also available from brands like Boscia and Fresh, which you can get at Sephora. If you are looking for more rejuvenation than calm, Bliss‘s Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask is a great choice.

So, pick a night and invite your bridesmaids over for a night of fun and relaxation!

Fresh face mask options courtesy of LUSH Cosmetics

April Showers

Diary of a Bride to be by Lauren Cooper

This weekend I had my second dress fitting, so we went home to Maryland.  As an added bonus, we were headed to my grandmother’s house under the ruse of a makeup party, when in fact, it was a shower for me!  I was happy and shocked to see cousins and great-aunts that I hadn’t seen in quite a long time.  We spent a nice afternoon at Nana’s playing games, opening gifts and eating yummy finger sandwiches!  Thanks to my mom, my sister and grandmother for a such a nice day!

DIY Update:  We tried printing the programs using mom’s laser printer, since ours wouldn’t grab the thick card-stock.  We got a few done, but then the printer decided it didn’t like the paper anymore.  So, I dropped the rest off at Office Depot today…and even they were having jamming troubles, so keep your fingers crossed!

Bonus, we got our first three RSVPs in the mail today!!! 🙂

Links we Love: Paper Presentation

Links we Love by Lauren Cooper

For those DIY divas out there, this one’s for you!  Paper Presentation is another wonderful resource for all things crafty.  Need boxes for your favors? Check.  Searching for that perfect vintage stamp? They’ve got you covered.  Or even those hard to find but gorgeous glassine envelopes?  Yep, they have that too.  Everything from invitation supplies to gift wrap you can find at Paper Presentation!

Will You Be My Bridesmaid?

It’s All in the Details by Jennifer Diehl

There’s a popular quote “You don’t go to College to find your Husband, you go to find your Bridesmaids!” A lot of the time this holds true, your girls are the most important thing to you growing up, sharing memories, secrets, and lots of laughter! I’m sure they were the first to know when your soon-to-be hubby proposed! With your wedding approaching it’s time to start thinking of the perfect way to ask your girls to be your Bridesmaids! There are thousands of different ways to “pop the question”; here are a few cute ideas to ask them to be a part of your big day!

• If you want to take the sweet and simple route you can go with a pretty card with some simple wording.

• If baking is something you love, get a wedding dress cookie cutter and bake away! Get some pretty frosting and write the question right on the cookie!

• If you’re looking for a cute, personalized DIY project creating a little box of goodies is perfect for you! Add some chocolate, a mini bottle of liquor, some pictures, and anything else you would like to add!

• Who doesn’t love chocolate? Get a personalized bag of pink and white m&m’s with the question imprinted on each one.

• Get a personalized coffee mug, your bridesmaid will remember this long after your big day!

Whichever option you choose I’m sure your bridesmaid will love it, and say YES!

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Walk Down the Aisle in Style!

It’s All in the Details by Jennifer Diehl

Tired of common wedding traditions? Allergic to flowers? Do you want to be a little different?

Imagine the look on your guests faces when they see you walking down the aisle holding a stunning brooch bouquet! This unique wedding trend is really catching on. Create a beautiful and trendy look with a touch of elegance. A brooch bouquet is a collection of brooches stemmed and wound together tying in the theme of your wedding. These are great options for brides who would rather have something more original and maybe a little vintage. Worried about the cost? Some brides have made it themselves with the help of their creative bridesmaids. Satin sashes, strings of pearls, and colorful ribbon are just a few materials that can enhance the look of your bouquet. If you’re not a DIY type of person, don’t worry you can have one custom made, as many brides have mentioned.

Just to name a few, these can be purchased at:

www.fantasyfloraldesigns.com

www.etsy.com/shop/broochbouquets

www.RubyPlaza.com (keyword-brooch bouquets)

The exciting thing about the brooch bouquet is that you can include your family and friends by having them give you one of their own brooches’…making them that much more a part of your wedding. Talk about a great way to turn something old into something new! No two brooch bouquets will ever be the same, and each one tells a story.

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My DIY life

Diary of a Bride to Be by Lauren Cooper

A few months ago I decided that I would get a little crafty with the wedding and make some things myself.  At first I drew a feather motif to go with our “modern vintage romance” theme, and decided to make four panel fan programs.  Then I decided that I could print and cut the escort cards myself  because, well they’re pretty easy.  Then I added the menu cards, and the favor cards and, oh, we’re doing welcome bags too! And then the magnitude of printing and very meticulously cutting really hit me.  Someone please tell me what I was thinking?  Did I mention that in the middle of all these projects I’m running a business? 

After running errands all day on Saturday, I frantically started printing our favor cards and recruited the future hubs to help out.  I used the exact-o knife while he used the paper-cutter.  He was finished before me – scrapping the exact-o knife idea.  Then I tried to print the menus but we would up getting paper that had a watermark on it by accident and now I have to return it.  Grrr. Because I felt like I needed to keep going, I printed the RSVP card labels instead.  I tried to do more but FH intervened and told me that I have more than enough time to get all of this done.  I disagree.

 AND to top it all off, we have to assemble and send out the invitations by April 2nd.  Which was also a subject of debate since FH wanted to send  them by the end of March and I wanted to send on the exact two month mark.  He didn’t like it when I said if we sent them too soon, we’re less likely to get a timely RSVP.  So April 2nd is our compromise. 

In an effort to save my frazzled brain, I started running again which helps relieve some of my nervous energy.  And invested in a rotary cutter.  🙂