Pink Cupcake Weddings

Five Hard Truths for the Bride on a Budget

2014-08-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

1. A hotel, banquet hall or other common wedding venue is probably not going to be the one for you. These venues typically charge a rental fee, and then make you order your food and drinks from them. While the rental fee might seem reasonable, it's the food and drinks that will really drive up the cost. You want a venue that allows you to bring in your own food, and more importantly (in terms of the budget) your own booze. Look for parks, community centers, and home association clubhouses when searching for your venue. They tend to come with lower rental fees and the freedom to bring in your own vendors.

2. You must cut your guest list. The easiest way to save money is to limit the number of guests you invite. A good rule of thumb: If you haven't talked to the person in the past six months, cut them from the list. If parents or outside parties are insisting on certain people making the cut, ask them to pay for those additional guests. Otherwise, you are in control of your list. Be firm.

3. DIY is a good idea, but be smart about it. Don't try to DIY your invitations if you have never worked with paper products or graphic design before. Chances are you will spend just as much money (if not more) trying to get it right as you would have if you had just started with a pro. Use the skills you have and be realistic about the skills you don't.

4. Reach out to friends and family for help, but don't expect services for free. Chances are the people who love you want to help you with your big day, but sometimes asking for things can be tricky. Try to phrase it like this, "Hi Jane, I would so love it if you could make my wedding cake for me. I have $300 to spend. I know that is a tight budget, but is there anything you can do for me that would work in that price range?" If Jane says yes, awesome, be appreciative and write a heartfelt thank you note. If Jane says no, that's okay too. Don't get angry with people who aren't financially able to work with you.

5. Accept the fact that you are going to have to compromise. Can you have an amazing wedding on a budget? Absolutely. Is it going to look like a $50,000 wedding? No. Set realistic expectations for your celebration otherwise you are going to be disappointed. You might have to work a little harder than the bride with unlimited funds, but that just makes it all the more satisfying on your big day.

Real Wedding: Katie and Eric

2014-08-11T12:56:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies and happy Monday! You know how much I love being able to kick off the week with a real wedding, and I love it even more when said wedding happens to be shot by one of my fave photographers, Nick Charrow. This stunning couple tied the knot at Elings Park in beautiful Santa Barbara, California. Their wedding is full of all kinds of details that I love to see: DIY elements, personalization, and lawn games! Enjoy their gorgeous day!

Katie's bouquet is quite possibly one of my favorite I have seen. Such a beautiful wedding and a beautiful couple! Congrats Katie and Eric and thank you to Nick Charrow for sharing your gorgeous work!

Friday Five

2014-08-08T09:06:00.001-07:00

Hello lovelies and happy Friday! This is my last Friday of vacation and I am super not happy to be going back to work. But let's continue to celebrate summer while we can! Here are my five favorite findings from around the internet this week!

This hand-crafted Bride to Be veil from MiaBellaBoutiquePA over on Etsy is absolutely perfect for any bachelorette party...

This delicious looking stack of cheese is actually a cake from a real wedding featured over at the Ruffled Blog...

I love everything about this centerpiece featured on Every Last Detail, from the colors to the styling, it is absolutely perfect!

I am in love with this gorgeous and unique bouquet found on Belle the Magazine...

And I particularly love this stunning dress from Wtoo that I saw featured on Wedding Inspirasi...

That's all she wrote for this week folks! Have a great weekend!

Moissanite Engagement Rings

2014-08-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

Moissanite has been on the jewelry market for about fifteen years now, but recently it has started to gain popularity as an alternative to diamond engagement rings. There are lots of benefits to purchasing moissanite instead of the traditional diamond: it is practically identical to diamonds, it is much more affordable, it doesn't come with some of the ethical issues that diamonds do, and it is almost the same consistency as diamonds (it's about .5 lower on the hardness scale). I had never heard of moissanite until my friend Sara told me about it. When I saw her ring and how beautiful it was, I was convinced! If you (or someone you know...wink, wink) are in the market for an engagement ring, consider moissanite as an option. Here are just a few stunning samples of the gem! (Click pic for original source, all pics via Pinterest.)

Betcha can't even tell the difference! I don't know about you, but I want to go do some jewelry shopping!

Book Themed Wedding Inspiration

2014-08-04T09:20:00.000-07:00

I have been a book lover pretty much since I could hold a book. I was the kid who hid under my covers with a flashlight and a book way past my bedtime and I still make sure I read something every night before I go to sleep. So I'm not sure why it has taken me this long to come up with some book themed wedding inspiration, but the time has finally come! These are some of my favorite ways to incorporate books into your big day! (Click pic for original source, all pics via Pinterest.)

Use books in your ceremony decor...

And in your reception decor...

And of course in your cake design...

And at the end of your wedding too!

BTW, books as wedding favors (in the picture above) is a genius idea and definitely a favor that people would actually use! Here is a book themed wedding inspiration board!

If you and your fiance are literary lovers, why not incorporate books into your wedding? Hopefully these ideas brought you some inspiration!

Navy and Mint Color Inspiration

2014-07-28T19:41:00.002-07:00

Hello lovelies! Today's color inspiration is coming to you courtesy of my son, who was wearing an adorable navy blue and white striped onesie the other day. When I held him up against my mint colored shirt, I thought, hmmm...what a pretty color combo! So now you get to see some navy and mint wedding inspiration! (Click pic for original source, all pics via Pinterest.)

And here is your navy and mint color inspiration board!

DIY: Mrs. Ring Holder

2014-07-19T18:09:00.001-07:00

I love getting to kick off the week with a DIY and this one is super simple, anyone can do it! This would make a great gift for a wedding or bridal shower, or you could make one for yourself! Here's what we're making today:

All you need for this project is a small white plate and a gold paint pen...

Make sure your paint pen is ready to go--shake it up and test it out before writing on your plate. Then write "Mrs." in the center of the plate and decorate with polka dots (or stripes, or whatever your heart desires)...

And there you have it! The perfect addition to any bride's jewelry collection!

Happy Monday everyone!

Friday Five

2014-07-18T16:57:00.001-07:00

Hello lovelies and happy Friday! Hope you all had a wonderful week! It's time to wrap up this week with some of my favorite findings from around the web world of weddings. Enjoy your Friday Five!

I don't know about you, but I watched The Little Mermaid every day for about a year, so of course I fell in love with this Little Mermaid inspired wedding shoot featured on Inspired by Dis...

Monte from Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta talks bridal trends over at Style Me Pretty...

I am in love with this awesome Bride headband from libbysthings on Etsy. How cool for a bachelorette party!

It's no secret that Instagram is the newest technology trend in weddings, so Brides offers some stylish ways to let your guests know your hashtag.

Loving this bachelorette party survival kit how to from Budget Savvy Bride. So cute!

See you all next week!

Surf's Up Wedding Inspiration

2014-07-13T16:55:00.003-07:00

Given that it is summer and I live in Southern California, I couldn't resist a little surf-themed wedding inspiration. Not going to lie, I have never in my life been on a surfboard, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy some awesome images of weddings who employed the surfer vibe. Think bright colors and lots of fun details! (Click pic for original source, all pics via Pinterest.)

Start off your surf inspired wedding with these super cool invites and save the dates...

Think bright colors when it comes to your flowers...

Use actual surfboards for your menu, seating chart, guest book, or ceremony backdrop...

And bring in mini surfboards for your cake topper, placecards, and boutonnieres...

Hope you enjoyed your surf inspiration, dude! And here's a Surf's Up inspiration board!

Friday Five

2014-07-11T12:29:00.001-07:00

Hello lovelies and happy Friday! Not going to lie, summer vacation + newborn baby = I generally have no clue what day it actually is, but the calendar tells me it is the end of the week! Here are some of my favorites from around the web this week!

I love these unique centerpieces available from HeatherVintage 88's Etsy store...

I am a sucker for a cute Disney engagement session, so of course I love this one featured on Disney Weddings...

I love me a short dress (wore one myself) and I love them even more when paired with a brightly colored shoe, like this bride from Green Wedding Shoes...

This graphic cake from Cake Central tells the story of the couple...

These pink heart photo props from a Style Me Pretty wedding are the perfect accessory...

Have a great weekend everyone!

Frozen Wedding Inspiration Board

2014-07-10T13:17:00.003-07:00

My love for all things Disney had to be reigned in on my wedding day. If I had unlimited funds (and a husband with an equal love for the magic), I would have gotten married in the park and had a true Disney inspired wedding. Alas, that was not to be the case for me, so now I live vicariously through those who get to incorporate Disney into their celebrations. Since I just saw Frozen for the first time since seeing it in the theater, I thought I would put together some Frozen wedding inspiration for you! (Click pic for original source, all pics via Pinterest.)

Bridesmaids in cool blue dresses with some sparkle accents...

Can't go wrong with a drink to match your color scheme...

These earrings would be the perfect accent for a Frozen bride...

I love how these centerpieces use actual ice to add to the drama...

These invites set the tone without being too in your face...

A Frozen wedding is the perfect excuse to add in lots of glitter (not that you need one)...

A cool blue and white cake...

And this dress is to die for...

And here is your Frozen wedding inspiration board...

Hope this helped cool off your summer day!

112 Weddings Documentary Review

2014-07-08T14:48:00.000-07:00

Imagine my surprise when my darling husband told me about this really interesting documentary he watched...about weddings. Given his penchant for running out of the room as soon as he hears the theme from Say Yes to the Dress, I figured it had to be a pretty stellar documentary. So I found it on HBO, recorded it, and made the hubs sit down with me and watch from the beginning.

The documentary is called 112 Weddings. Doug Block is a documentary filmmaker who starts shooting wedding videos to supplement his film career. After twenty years, and 112 weddings, he decides to go back and check in with some of his former clients to see how married life is treating them. On the surface, the results are to be expected: some of the couples have kids, some are still very happily married, and some are divorced.

What is truly interesting is listening to the couples who are still married talk about some of the problems they have encountered throughout their marriages. The bottom line: Weddings are a fun fairy tale, marriage, not so much. As someone who considers herself to be very happily married, it was a bit scary to hear some of the things the couples were saying, but it was also kind of inspiring to think that despite these terrible situations they encountered (infertility, a sick child, depression), the couples managed to make their marriages last.

Sometimes we get so caught up in the thrill and excitement of planning a wedding, we forget about what lies on the other side: a marriage. And while weddings are awesome, really it is such a miniscule part of married life. If you are in the midst of planning a wedding, this film should be on your must watch list. If you are already married, chances are you can relate to one of the couples featured. Basically, if you have been, are or are planning on being married, this film will surely pique your interest.

And as a bonus, you get to check out twenty years of wedding dress fashion!

Happy 4th Wedding Inspiration

2014-07-04T11:46:00.000-07:00

Happy Fourth of July everyone! I hope you are all having an awesome holiday! To celebrate the good old Red, White, and Blue, here is some America themed wedding inspiration for you. Enjoy! (Click pic for original source, all pics via Pinterest.)

10 Things to Buy for Your Wedding That You Can Reuse Later

2014-06-30T14:39:00.000-07:00

We all know that weddings are expensive. Even if you are DIYing or putting together a wedding on a budget, you will have to spend some cash to make your big day possible. One way to make those costs seem not so painful is to look for items for your wedding that you can reuse later on in your married life. Some of these items may be party supplies while others can be decor. You can get very creative with reusing your wedding items and the bonus is you will be reminded of your special day every time you see them! Here are five items from my own wedding that I have reused:

We bought 100 of these cheapie wine glasses from Ikea because it was cheaper than renting them from a supply company (our caterer provided all of our other dishes/flatware so this would have been the only item we rented from an outside company). Because we had so many, I gave some away and kept some for myself. I have never run short on wine glasses (even for parties!) and I don't really care about breaking them since they were inexpensive and already served their main purpose.

These drink containers were actually purchased by my mom and I luckily inherited one of them after the wedding. I have used it at several parties. It is a cute and easy way to have water/non-alcoholic beverages available to guests.

This green B was purchased at the Rose Bowl Flea Market. I painted it green to match our wedding colors and it served as a focal point for our reception decor. After the wedding I repainted it, (see the tutorial here) and it now hangs as a focal point on our living room gallery wall. This one is special because it really reminds me of our wedding and I love getting to see it every day.

Paper lanterns are a great way to decorate for any wedding. These lanterns also look great later on, hanging in your backyard or on your porch. They are also another good option for party decor.

I've used almost everything from our dessert table multiple times since the wedding. The cupcake stands are great for any party (and both my mother-in-law and my sister used them at my two baby showers) and all of the trays and cake stands can be used at holidays to serve appetizers or desserts. The pink polka dot stands are actually upside down boxes. They now live in my office and house some of my craft supplies.

And five items from Pinterest that can also easily be reused (click pic for original source):

These candy dishes could easily be reused throughout the house or at parties or holidays.

Metal buckets like these make for a stylish self-serve bar. I have used ones similar to these at multiple parties and events.

If you create any sort of picture display for your wedding, you can easily transfer it to your home as a piece of decor.

Lanterns make great centerpieces (and usually cheaper ones that flowers) and can be used again in your backyard, porch, or your home.

This cake topper would be an adorable piece to display in your bedroom or bathroom after the wedding.

So even though it might hurt to shell out the bucks for some of these wedding necessities, try to remind yourself that they are not going to be used once and tossed. With a little creativity, you can reuse these pieces multiple times and really get your money's worth!

The Reason for My Absence

2014-06-28T13:29:00.001-07:00

I'm happy to finally announce to you lovely readers the birth of my first little peanut! Our son was born on June 5th and, needless to say, has totally changed my life! I'm going to try to get back to blogging as soon as I can, but seeing as sleep is hard to come by these days, I can't make any promises! But keep checking in and I will be back with you soon! Here is a picture of our little nugget!

Married Life Monday: My Favorite Dates

2014-04-28T09:38:00.000-07:00

One essential on the How to Stay Happily Married List is regular date nights. It is extremely important to have alone time with your significant other and not just alone time on the couch watching your favorite TV shows. There is something about getting out of the house and doing something different from your everyday life that reconnects you as a couple. Obviously you and your mate already have some ideas about things you like to do together, but these are some of my favorite dates to share with my hubby:

1. Disneyland. Obviously this is not practical for everyone, depending on where you are located, but it is one of my favorite places in the whole world, and has hence become one of our favorite date locations (okay, maybe mine more so than the hubs). Check out this blog post I wrote for my home/lifestyle blog about the ways to have fun at Disneyland as an adult with no kids for some ideas. If Disneyland is a no go for you, any amusement park in your area would work just as well.

2. Sporting Events. We are big sports fans in my house, so we love going to baseball, football, and hockey games together whenever we can. If we can't get tickets to the games themselves, we enjoy going to some of our favorite sports bars together to cheer on our teams.

3. Arts Performances. Given my background in theater and my husband's in music, we like going to arts events together whenever we can. Whether that is seeing a play or catching a concert, all arts events tend to be great date nights. Plus, they come along with the bonus of having to dress up a little, which always adds a little extra romance to a typical date night.

4. Brunch. Okay, so it's not technically a date "night", but we love walking to some of the bakeries/restaurants near us for brunch. Getting out of the house for a stroll and a yummy breakfast can have the same awesome effect as a good date night, plus the bonus of starting off your day on a great note.

5. Dinner and a movie. This one is popular because it works. You can't go wrong with a great meal and catching a flick. If there is nothing else going on in town or you don't feel like being especially creative, dinner and a movie still makes an excellent date night for any couple.

Guest Post: Sabrina from Henit on How to Throw a Bridal Shower

2014-04-23T07:31:00.004-07:00

I hope you lovelies enjoy this guest post from Sabrina, full of great info on everything you need to know for throwing a shower that is awesome and fun!

Are you a maid of honor or bridesmaid that needs to plan for that bridal shower for the first time? There is no need to fret as the task may seem daunting and it may seem like a lot of work, but the planning process can really be a lot of fun as well. It takes a few good ideas and a little creativity to create a fun bridal shower that the celebrant will remember forever.

How can anyone do that? Weddings always have that magical feel which also extends to the bride-to-be’s shower. Though a bridal shower is celebrated for the same reason that other brides have bachelorette or hen parties, it does not always have to be about leaving singlehood. It truly is an occasion worth celebrating so much to celebrate a woman’s last night of freedom, but also a great chance for her to spend quality time with close female friends and relatives.

The Difference

What is the difference between a bachelorette or hen party and a bridal shower? In a sense, both are celebrated for the same reason. However, the latter is for brides that are not really keen on spending their last moments of freedom partying.

More often than not, a hen do or bachelorette party takes place in a pub, bar, or club. On the other hand, a bridal shower can take place in more quiet settings. Homes, gardens, restaurants, cafes, and other such locations are perfect for bridal showers.

Party Themes

Having a theme can add fun to any party. Those that enjoy dressing up in fancy attire will definitely love themed parties. There are lots of themes to choose from which can be funny, elegant, beautiful, or even out of this world. The best theme does depend on what the bride wants.

For some theme ideas, five of the more popular themes for bridal showers are:

1. Travel theme

Any bride that enjoys traveling, but cannot really go elsewhere for her bridal shower will enjoy a travel themed bridal shower. With a little creativity, there are so many ways to go about incorporating this theme. Maps, globe centerpieces, flags of different countries, and an international menu can add color, spice, and fun to the celebration.

2. Caribbean theme

If you can’t be at the beach, bring the beach to the party by having a Caribbean theme bridal shower! This party theme can bring heat even during the winter season. Of course, if it is winter, make sure to have an indoor party with enough heat as well.

All the guests can party in bikinis, rash guards, or even scuba gear if they wish. Just decorate the whole place with palm trees, water, sand, and some fish.

3. Lingerie theme

Go for elegance or get just a tad bawdy… a lingerie themed party can be a lot of fun for everyone! Showcase the bride-to-be’s gifts by having clothes lines all over the place.

Have all the guests give lingerie as gifts for the celebrant and showcase those gifts by hanging them in those clothes lines. Aside from being a fun activity and as a means to add color to the venue, those gifts can ensure that the bride is ready with her honeymoon gear!

4. Country theme

A country theme is a more specific theme compared to the travel theme. If there’s a particular country that the bride-to-be has always wanted to go to. Choose a particular country as a theme. It can be as exotic as Japan or as elegant as France.

Then, choose decorations and the menu based on that particular country. It’s like bringing the celebrant to the place she is longing to visit, but can’t for any reason. This theme can be the next best thing to having a bachelorette or hen weekend abroad.

5. Paper theme

Enjoy party games like creating the best dress made out of tissue paper with a paper themed bridal shower! This is probably one of the easiest themes to use as it is quite flexible. From magazines to newspaper decorations to engraved stationaries and personalized napkins… the possibilities of decorations, accessories, and giveaways are endless.

These are just some themes that can add color and fun to a bridal shower. Choose a particular theme and make that the basis for the invitation and everything else.

Fun Activities

After an ice breaker, the special occasion will be a lot more fun for everyone with additional activities and games. If you are in need of more than just ice breakers and the usual games for the shower, here are some ideas.

1. Ballroom Dancing

Dance to any tune or learn to dance to certain tunes with the help of a professional dancer. Aside from being a fun activity, it is the best way to have a flash mob dance choreographed for the wedding reception or prepare the bride for her first dance with her husband.

2. Karaoke

Feel free and act silly with the bride-to-be’s closest friends and relatives with karaoke. Talent is not even required as it will always be a fun activity that everyone will enjoy. Singing and dancing always brings up everyone’s spirit. It helps if alcohol is served beforehand.

3. Fortune Telling

Does the bride wish to know what her future will be with her beloved? Get a fortune teller to tell her fortune. All the guests can have some fun having their fortune told as well. Book one for a few hours as it can get quite expensive.

4. Arts and Crafts

Have a fun activity and learn something new at the same time with some arts and crafts lessons. It can be as simple as learning how to paint or cook a certain dish. The lesson can also be as elaborate as learning how to make jewelry, pottery, or even fascinators.

5. Henna Tattoo

Perfect for a Caribbean or beach themed shower, having someone do henna tattoos can be a lot of fun. In particular, guests that have always wanted one, but never dared to have a permanent one made will definitely have fun.

Make sure to add fun activities that all the guests will truly enjoy to make sure that the celebration isn’t just unforgettable for the celebrant. These are just some party ideas to consider. Get creative and come up with unique ideas to make sure the bride-to-be gets to have a great time with her closest friends and relatives.

Sabrina Mable is an author and recognized authority on planning hen parties. She currently works for Henit and specializes in creating hen party packages for fun and memorable hen parties in Ireland. She has succumbed and joined the world of social media. Find her on Twitter & Google+.

Five Bridal Shower Games That Don't Suck

2014-04-15T10:38:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies! I am back from my mini vaycay last week for Spring Break and ready for some more wedding inspiration! If you are anything like me, the thing you dread most about bridal showers would be the games. Ugh. Some of them can be downright torture. But without them, a shower is really just sitting around and watching the bride open presents, and sometimes that's not so fun either. So here is a collection of bridal shower games that actually can be fun for the guests. Given that I am uber competitive, I tend to get really into these kinds of games, and the good news is, most of the other guests will too! (Click pic for original source, all pics via Pinterest.)

This one is a fill in the blank of comparisons: The couple goes together like ___________

This one is cool for any brides who are into history, some background on popular wedding traditions.

I love this one for the pop culture fan, fill in the other half of the famous couple.

This one is great because it is personal to the bride and allows guests to share stories from their past together.

And this is probably my favorite. During gift opening time, have guests fill in their bingo card with things they think the bride will receive (like flatware, lingerie, picture frame, etc.). If the bride opens your gift, mark it off on your bingo card. First one with five in a row, wins! I love it because it keeps guests occupied during gift-opening time and is especially nice for the bride who may be uncomfortable in the spotlight.

Here they are all together!

Remember, the key to good bridal shower games is to make sure you don't make any guests or the bride do anything that makes them feel uncomfortable or silly. Keep it fun, not humiliating!

Friday Five

2014-04-04T09:37:00.001-07:00

Hello lovelies and happy Friday! I hope you all had an excellent week! Here are my five favorite finds from around the internet world of weddings this week!

I love these over-sized clothespins being used to hold table numbers from a real wedding post over at Green Wedding Shoes...

I am obsessed with this Walt Disney World honeymoon photo shoot featured over at Inspired by Dis and I want to do one myself!

This family memory table from Budget Savvy Bride is such a great idea to add a personal touch to your wedding decor...

I love the playful vibe of this Coney Island engagement shoot from Style Me Pretty...

This super cool cake was one of many unique and colorful features of a real wedding featured over at Broke Ass Bride...

There you have it, my five favorite things from this week! Hope everyone has an awesome weekend and I will see you next week!

Color Inspiration: Pink and Navy Blue

2014-04-02T08:24:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies and happy Wednesday! Today I want to share with you a super chic and cool color combo: pink and navy blue. Obviously I love all things pink and navy is a great versatile color to pair it with. I love how the navy adds a touch of masculinity and takes the pink to a new level of elegance. Hope you love it as much as I do! (Click pic for original source, all pics via Pinterest.)

And now a PCW color inspiration board!

Married Life Monday: Buying Your First House

2014-03-31T07:30:00.000-07:00

Once you have crossed your wedding off the list, the next logical life step is to buy your first home. Given today's modern couples, many people enter into a marriage already owning a home, whether with their spouse or individually. But a lot of people (myself included) still wait until after tying the knot before making that ginormous purchase. Here are my tips to consider before you sign those papers!

1. Location, location, location: The saying is popular because in real estate, it is the most important thing to consider. You not only want to think about where it is you want to live right now, but where you will want to live in the future. When Mr. B and I bought our house, we didn't think kids were going to be in the picture so we didn't even look at school ratings around us. Now it is something we will have to consider in a few years, and most likely it will mean a move for us. If you want to live in one house for a long time, check out all the details, even if they don't apply to you right now. Also, think about how your location is going to appreciate over time. We chose to buy in an "up and coming" neighborhood, and it has paid off for us big time in the two and half years we have owned our home.

2. Educate yourself: Once you have a general idea of where it is you want to live, start doing your research. Download an app (I use Zip Realty) and check it on a regular basis to see what homes are listed, what the prices are, and what the condition of the homes is. It's a good idea to start this research well before you are actually planning on buying so you have realistic expectations going in.

3. Make a wish list:...but be willing to compromise. It is important to know what you want, but it is also important to know that you are not going to find everything you want in one house. Be flexible, especially on the things that you have the power to change. For example, you might want a house with all hardwood floors, but you find a home that fits your other needs...with wall-to-wall carpet. Carpet can be replaced pretty easily so don't let that stop you from buying your dream home. Things that are harder to change like number of bedrooms or square footage you can be a little firmer on, but don't let one thing on your wish list keep you from making an offer on a home.

4. Set a realistic budget: Find someone you can trust (ask your parents or friends who own homes for referrals) to help you figure out exactly how much you can afford to spend. Keep in mind when you use online tools that they typically don't include expenses like taxes and insurance that often get added in to your monthly mortgage payment. Don't become house poor! Stick to your budget and be firm.

5. Find a good agent: Find a real estate agent that you mesh with and that you can trust. Again, you can ask friends and family for referrals. We moved to an area where we didn't know anyone who lived there. We met our real estate agent at an open house, immediately clicked with him and have only worked with him since then. Trust your instincts, but also do your homework and check out the references of whomever you choose. One thing we really love about our agent is that he lives in our neighborhood (literally three streets away from where we ended up buying) so he knew from experience what he was talking about.

6. Try on a lot of dresses: I say this often: Buying a house is like buying a wedding dress; you must try one more than one! It's not uncommon to fall in love with the first house you see (we did), but you MUST check out other properties before you commit. See what else is out there before you decide for sure. We ended up putting in an offer on the first house we saw, but that was after checking out several other listings first. Once we had seen what else was out there, we knew for sure our place was the house for us.

7. Be patient: Buying a house can be stressful. Be patient, and try not to argue with your spouse too much. You will find the right place, even if it takes a while. Pretty soon, this will be you...

...holding the keys to your brand new home!

Vendor Spotlight: Minted

2014-03-27T16:54:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies! I'm so excited to feature some awesome invitations today from one of my favorite wedding vendors, Minted. When it comes to invites, I'm all about the unique and fun designs. Sure, there are tons of beautiful classic invites out there (and Minted has plenty of those), but me personally, I would much rather receive something I've never seen before. And as your invite really sets the tone for your wedding, you want it to be as fun and exciting as your big day. These are just a few of my very favorite designs from Minted. If you click on the picture, you will be taken directly to the listing for that invite!

I especially love this map design if you have a lot of people coming from all different places...

This design is classic, but still bold and unique...

The pennant flags sold this one to me, so cute!

Another classic design, yet super chic and modern...

This invite just screams "You're invited to a fun wedding!"

I love everything about this one, the colors, the wording, the layout...

I love the idea of a Vegas wedding, so this invite totally called to me...

This one is adorable and straight to the point...

I absolutely LOVE this invite, the graphic layout and design is so cool...

This one stood out to me because of the bold colors...

Some awesome products, right? If you're in the market for invites, Minted should be your first stop!

**This post uses affiliate links. If you click the links and purchase these products, I will receive a small commission.

DIY: Bridesmaid Wine Labels

2014-03-26T07:40:00.001-07:00

I'm going to apologize in advance for the lack of actual wine bottles in this wine label tutorial, but I miss wine more than I would like to admit and I just couldn't bring myself to go out and buy a bottle I can't even drink. I hope you will forgive me!

If you troll Pinterest as often as I do, I'm sure you have seen some super cute examples of wine bottle labels asking your ladies to be your bridesmaids. I decided to take a crack at coming up with some of my own, and it was actually super easy! I used Microsoft Publisher to come up with my designs and the whole process was super simple. I set my page settings to horizontal and then drew out a text box that went the length of the page and about six inches high. I decided on gray for the background color, then added in my words and some cute clip art. Voila! Two simple options in just a few minutes time!

If you want to actually put the labels on real wine bottles (and not just the imaginary ones living in this pregnant chick's mind), print out the designs on full page sticker paper . Trim off the excess as needed to fit your wine bottle. Click here for a tutorial on how to adhere your DIY wine labels.

I wish I had an actual finished product picture for you, but you are going to have to use your imagination so as not to make me too depressed. Hopefully this inspires you to make your own awesome wine labels for your maids-to-be!

**This post contains affiliate links. If you click these links and purchase the products, I will receive a small commission.

Trend I'm Loving: Tulle Gowns

2014-03-24T09:48:00.000-07:00

There is something about spring being in the air that draws me to the light and airy look of tulle gowns. The look of tulle is ethereal, sweet, and innocent, but can be super classy and sexy all at the same time. These are some of my favorite tulle gowns! (Click pic for original source, all pics via Pinterest.)

Kind of makes me want to go to the ballet!

Pink Cupcake Weddings

Five Hard Truths for the Bride on a Budget

Real Wedding: Katie and Eric

Friday Five

Moissanite Engagement Rings

Book Themed Wedding Inspiration

Sponsored Post: Wedding and Anniversary Gifts from Uncommon Goods

Navy and Mint Color Inspiration

DIY: Mrs. Ring Holder

Friday Five

Surf's Up Wedding Inspiration

Friday Five

Frozen Wedding Inspiration Board

112 Weddings Documentary Review

Happy 4th Wedding Inspiration

10 Things to Buy for Your Wedding That You Can Reuse Later

The Reason for My Absence

Married Life Monday: My Favorite Dates

Guest Post: Sabrina from Henit on How to Throw a Bridal Shower

Five Bridal Shower Games That Don't Suck

Friday Five

Color Inspiration: Pink and Navy Blue

Married Life Monday: Buying Your First House

Vendor Spotlight: Minted

DIY: Bridesmaid Wine Labels

Trend I'm Loving: Tulle Gowns