Wedding Ideas | Bridal Style | Bride Inspiration | Fashion

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Longwood Events

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Convertible Bridesmaids Dresses by Muse

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 19:18:00 +0000

Love all the ways you can wear them, and all of the color/fabric options, hem and style options, This dress can live on for years!

Shop Muse Bridal Boutique

Custom Hangers by Rockabuycreations

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:30:00 +0000

I absolutley adore these hangers by rockabuycreations! what a perfect gift for the bride and/or groom!

Love These Custom Glasses by Nevena Art

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 05:40:00 +0000

Love these Custom painted glasses by Nevena

Her own quote is a fabulous representation of her work

"I love to paint glass, to catch the light in the windows tinted,to create beauty that remains in the days after me..."

View Shop Here!

The Ring of my Dreams....by Wexford Jewelers

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:54:00 +0000

The central rose is nearly an inch across, stands up tall and proud, and holds a beautiful 0.42ct round diamond folded in the petals.

This rose sits on the engagement ring part of the the set. Surrounding it- on both bands- are graceful offshoots of leaves, curls, tendrils, and rosebuds... all hand formed and working their way around the big rose.

This ring above is absolutely amazing, I love it as a set, and individual rings. Gorgeous!

Here are a few other favorites from their shop

Wexford Jewelers has so many gorgeous designs, i could wear every single one of them!

Visit their Etsy shop here

My Wedding in Real Time: 2 Months to Go!

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:50:00 +0000

I usually try to focus posts about my own wedding planning experiences in a way that they can be educational and/or informative. With what I've done lately, they may not so much be a big lesson as they are little tidbits. But I thought I'd share anyway...

First of all, yesterday on Valentine's Day marked 2 months until my own wedding. It's very exciting, not just because the wedding's getting closer, but also because I'm finally into the phase of planning where I finally get to do stuff versus sit around and wait.

Last weekend we took our engagement photos...engagement in the fact that we are engaged, but not really for the purpose of save the date's or to commemorate a recent engagement. We have few photos in our home of the two of us really so the idea for engagement pictures was just more to have any. The second reason for our engagement shoot was to get to know our photographer. I've often been the kind of girl who thinks that to save money you can forgo the engagement pics, but photographers always convince you otherwise, and they're right. It takes about 30 minutes to really get comfortable with your photographer and feel natural even when you're being "posey". And when you have a fiancee like mine, it's really hard to get him to stop laughing and be serious looking. Engagement pictures were great practice. I really enjoyed getting to know our photographer and I look forward to the ease of photos on our wedding day.

Oh and we finally wrote checks to our two biggest vendors, earlier than anticipated. I cannot tell you how good this feels when you're paying for your own wedding. What's even better is that we know that by the wedding we'll have all the money we need to pay off everything else, including our honeymoon. Bye bye stress. We've spent the past 6 months saving every penny we could and it feels good to know we're going to make it through. The one thing you don't anticipate when you get engaged is the stress of paying for the wedding. I know some couples are lucky enough that their parents pay for it all (you should thank them greatly) and we were lucky that our parents contributed what they could...but the stress that comes when you realize you have to save thousands of dollars in a short amount of time can hit you like a brick. However when you've done all you could to save money and finally get to the end of the rainbow, knowing you can stop worrying about the money is a huge relief. My wish for everyone is that you get there..as debts after the wedding would be no fun.

One of the vendors we paid off recently was our florist and she emailed me this morning saying that she'd like to go with me to see our venue since it was one she hadn't been at before. I was somewhat stunned (in a good way). I've worked quite a few weddings and I've rarely met vendors who will go check out a venue with you just to make sure they do the best job possible to complete your vision. I would suggest to couples that they at least ask vendors who have not been to their venue before to do the same, or at least come to the rehearsal to ensure they know the layout and deal with any unanticipated issues prior to the wedding day. If they say no, ok, but it's worth asking.

Speaking of our venue, we also met with our wedding venue coordinator for a final time before the wedding. Our big focus was on walking through our original plan, making any changes, and finalizing food and drink options. I must say I'm spoiled by our coordinator who is just super sweet and really goes above and beyond. Knowing that my fiancee is southern and that we wanted to incorporate his heritage in our wedding where we could, she came up with a great idea that we're so excited to surprise all of our guests with. In working with her I've learned that you shouldn't always accept the norm, but be willing to ask for things that are a bit more "you". I'm always afraid of requesting more of people, but sometimes people are more than happy to help you out. After all, your wedding day should be EVERYTHING you want it to be (within limits) and sometimes your vendors have great ideas to get you there.

My fiancee and I also started the first step of our marriage counseling with the church last week. I met with the Pastor to find out the process and he introduced me to an online assessment called Prepare-Enrich which he uses as a starting point. For $30 both of us answered 130 questions separately, our answers were analyzed by the company and then sent to our pastor who will now use our compatibility on all issues to counsel us where we may need additional help. Now we'll be taking four to five classes with him to address any and all topics that come with marriage (like finances, family, religion, communication, etc.). I'm kind of excited about it. Having participated in Catholic Engaged Encounter with my previous engagement, it will be nice to see a different style of religious marriage counseling which seems a bit more personal.

Finally, I've found that I can't live without my calendar book lately. Everyone wants to schedule an appointment here or there and it's hard to keep them all straight. If it's six months or less until your wedding I recommend you get one, otherwise you'll wish you had one later. As a backup, I also recommend putting wedding appointments on your Outlook calendar at work. It saves me often!

Well that's what I've been up to. I'd be curious to hear from brides who are in a similar phase of their own wedding planning. Are you stressed or calm? Are you getting excited? What loose ends are you working on tying up? Please comment below.

As Always, Happy Planning!
~A

Lessons Learned: Cake Tasting

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:04:00 +0000

In all of my wedding planning for clients (and my previous engagement) I never went cake tasting...it was something I'd given recommendations on and made referrals to based upon what I'd heard and knew but never something I had encountered personally. Let me tell you, I experienced both the best tasting and the worst tasting in my search, so I think I have lots of experience you can learn from before you go searching for your cake.

First, I would encourage you to do your research. I had heard of some great bakeries in the past and when it was time to start looking for a wedding cake vendor I went to straight to their websites. But all I found on most of them were the traditional three-tiered wedding cakes you saw in every wedding movie from the 80s, which was not what I wanted. I wanted something straight out of Pinterest, something most of my guests hadn't seen before. So I kept perusing.

And in my search I thought about some great cupcake vendors other brides had used. Could they also do wedding cakes? What's the difference, right? Wrong! It turns out most of them only offer basic birthday cakes and while some had done some simple buttercream cakes, asking for an elaborate fondant cake was a bit out of the question. Lesson two, if you want cakes stick to cake vendors. If you want cupcakes stick to cupcake vendors. Very few can do both well, although I admit there are exceptions. Sweet and Saucy Shop in California seems to be able to do everything perfectly, but sadly I live in Oregon.

The Worst Tasting

Then I listened to my friends and family for recommendations. A family friend had recommended a cake shop near our wedding venue. This was my first tasting....the worst tasting. Let me tell you, in this hour and a half I learned more about "what you don't want in a vendor" than I had expected. This big city shop had been featured in magazines and boasted big name clients so I thought a good reference was a good sign. When I walked in, it appeared as if I'd walked in to a cluttered attic, not a bake shop and when tattered and torn 80s photo albums boasted picture after picture of buttercream cake I knew I was already in the wrong place.

Wanting to give it a shot I looked through the photos and started tasting their cake samples. The first was fabulous, I will admit, but the others left me wanting more. As we moved into what should have become the design phase, this owner was more interested in showing me what she liked than asking what I wanted. When it finally did move to that point, she told me that most of the things I wanted were impossible, too expensive, or not what they were used to doing. She must have started sensing my displeasure soon after because all of a sudden everything I wanted was now possible. By this point I was confident this was not where I'd be getting my cake but had to sit through an hour of design work anyway just to be nice. And when she told me that to feed 100 people I'd need to pay over $1200 I was done. Third lesson learned, no cake is worth over $12 a slice (just for buttercream) unless somebody famous is making it. Fourth lesson - if someone's personality doesn't sit well with you, it's probably a sign to move on. Fifth lesson - NEVER settle on a cake. Make sure that what you get is EXACTLY what you wanted. Sixth lesson - do try to draw out what you really want out of a cake before you show up for a tasting, or at least know the general idea of what you think it should look like.

The Best Tasting

Upon leaving that shop I decided to stick to what I knew, what I trusted. As a wedding planner I had stumbled onto a local (small town) cake shop via Facebook and had followed its page and pictures for about a year now. This shop made fabulous fondant cakes and seemed to be getting even better with time. I scheduled a tasting with them and hoped for a better outcome. When my fiancee and I arrived, the two owners/bakers greeted us promptly and with a smile, escorted us into an area with fabulous vintage furniture, and brought over the cake samples we had requested. The cake tasted FABULOUS! Seventh lesson, love the cake.

As we moved into design phase they brought out styrofoam layers so that I could pick the exact size of my cake and didn't blink an eye when I requested a larger-than-normal tier. I showed them a drawing I'd done at work earlier that day of the exact cake I'd like and showed them paint chips of the colors I'd like to use. They loved it (which really made me happy) and got right to work writing down all of the details. Eighth lesson, bring as many resources for your cake maker as possible. These ladies went over and above my expectations when they brought out cutouts of the shape I'd be using on my cake and let me pick the size; finally, I had found people who understood my vision and really wanted to help me create it.

We finished up by picking out one of their many cake stands to borrow (they had tons to choose from in many different shapes and sizes) and selecting which flavors would go in which layer. As the cake I wanted was not large enough to feed all attendees (more like a cutting cake) I requested side cakes as well. If you don't know what a side cake is, it's the same as a wedding cake but without the fancy decor (i.e. still has the four layers of cake and three layers of filling with a buttercream icing). Side cakes are an inexpensive way to get more cake for less money. If someone tells you a side cake is more expensive (as the owner in our worst tasting did) this is entirely untrue!

When the details were complete our total was calculated...nearly 1/3 of the big town price! Ninth lesson, higher price does not always equal higher quality. This shop had nearly 20 styrofoam designed cakes in their shop and the quality was fabulous. I often recommend to big city brides that they look at vendors in smaller towns outside of the big city if they're looking to save money. In big cities, I find that vendors often mark up their prices 2-3 times that of the same quality in smaller areas. Personally I know that my event planning charges are much less than my counterparts in big cities.

So I won't name the cake shop where I had my bad tasting because my experience with them does not mean that someone else's would be bad as well, but I will name the amazing cake shop where I'm getting my cake from because I think they deserve the recognition. Haute Cakes & Confections in Aumsville, Oregon (friend them on Facebook) is a shop I would recommend to anyone in the Willamette Valley looking for a cake. I'm very excited to see my vision come to life on my wedding day, and I know that's exactly what will happen in their trusty hands. Tenth lesson, leave your appointment giddy or it's not the cake shop for you.

Now let me recap the cake tasting lessons learned:

Do your research - know what you want.
If you want cakes, stick to cake vendors. If you want cupcakes, stick to cupcake vendors. Very few can do both well, although there are exceptions.
No cake is worth over $12 a slice unless someone famous is baking it.
If you don't like the vendor's personality, move on.
Never settle on a cake!
Try to draw out what you'd like your cake to look like prior to your tasting or at least have plenty of photos of what you'd like to see to share with the baker.
Love the taste of your cake.
Bring resources for your baker, like paint chips of the exact colors you want.
A higher price does not always equal higher quality.
If you don't walk away from your appointment giddy, do not pay the deposit.

I hope that my own experience can help guide you in your own quest to find the perfect cake. If you have a story you'd like to share about picking your cake vendor or any tips that would be helpful to other brides, please comment below.

Happy Planning!

PS: All photos above are from Haute Cakes & Confections.

Preventing the Monster: Attack of the Bridezilla

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:30:00 +0000

We've all watched the shows and seen the crazy brides who throw cakes in the trash and take out their stress on unexpecting family members and we think "WOW that will never be me!" but I'm surprised by the fact that many of us turn into one anyway, sometimes without noticing. As I'm reminded by the many wedding books I own as reference, we often take out our wedding frustrations out on those we care about most - our fiancee, family and friends.

As you all know I'm in the process of planning my own wedding and doing my very best to stay sane and "un-zilla'd", so I thought that for all of you out there going through your own wedding planning (especially if you're nearing the wedding) it'd be a good idea for us all to review ways to stay "zilla-free".

Stay aware of the need and importance to not become a "bridezilla". The more we forget what our goal is, the more likely we are to consciously or unconsciously take on "zilla" ways. Becoming a bridezilla can not only ruin your wedding experience, but also the experience of your wedding for those around you. It's supposed to be a happy time!
Understand that while your wedding may be the most important thing to you right now, it is likely not the most important thing to friends and family. For example, your wedding does not come before a friend's big corporate presentation or your brother's state championship basketball game. Try to refrain from acting like if someone doesn't put your needs first, they're not doing enough.
Remember what is important. I, like many people, am extremely concerned about the look of my wedding and wanting everything to be perfect, because as a wedding planner I am judged by my peers on the quality of my work - they expect something amazing. But I also have to remember that if my flowers show up in the wrong shade of pink or my cake doesn't look exactly as I imagined it, that's ok too. In all reality, after your wedding night you probably won't care about any of those items anyway.
Become a clear communicator. Let friends and family know what is expected of them in their individual roles and any costs associated. If you want your bridesmaids to buy $200 shoes for your wedding you probably should have told them before you asked them to be your bridesmaid. If you're expecting your shy sister to make a toast at the wedding, give her ample time to prepare and even the ability to say no if it makes her too uncomfortable.
Money is tight today, so be aware of the financial needs of those around you. You may be able to afford fabulous bridesmaids dresses from top name designers, but your friends may not. So make sure that you give your friends options. I let my bridesmaids pick their own dress from any store they wanted, in any price point, with just the restriction of color, fabric, and length. This not only let them pay what they could, but also allowed them to pick out a dress they felt comfortable in. This also applies to simple things like overall wedding budget (if your parents are paying).
Take some time weekly (or daily if you can) to relax. The more you stay relaxed, the less likely you are to take your stress out on the people around you...most likely your fiancee (due to close proximity). I love bubble baths for relaxation, but another great outlet for some people is exercise. Burning a few calories not only gives you endorphins and makes you feel better, but you look better in your wedding dress for having done it. Going to a local tanning booth can help as well, especially if you're in a rainy dreary state like me which has a lack of natural sunlight (just remember to be safe..skin cancer is no fun).

These are just a few steps, and I'm sure there are many more out there. If you have suggestions or stories of when you (or someone you know) became a bridezilla that we could all learn from, please feel free to comment below.

Happy "Bridezilla-free" Planning!
~A

Follow Me on Pinterest

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:20:00 +0000

I am on pinterest almost daily (far more often than I'm able to blog lately) so if you want to see what I'm currently interested in follow me!

If you are not currently on pinterest.com you can ask for an invitation on their main page (and wait a week or two to be added) or you can comment your email below and I can send you an invite as soon as I'm able.

My Wedding in Real Time: The Little Things

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:54:00 +0000

Once you've secured the big vendors (we've done all but our cake so far) there's not a lot of big work to do except focus on working hard to save money to pay for them. In the meantime, I've found that this is also a great time to work on some of the smaller things while you're not so busy.

Invitations: I decided that to save money I would design them myself. I used Adobe Illustrator and InDesign to mimic a design I'd seen on Etsy.com. If you have any design ability I would always encourage you to do your invites yourself. Paper and printing costs are minimal and usually won't compare to the large costs you'll find online or in stationery stores. If however, you don't have the ability to design, look at stationery makers that offer printable designs as a way to save costs. Additionally, choosing a flat print versus a letterpress is always a money-saver.

Photos on the left are from Etsy Vendors: JackandJillWedding and JenSimpsonDesign

Programs: Again completed myself. Now just preparing to get them printed. I'd like to print all of my paper items at once, sometime in the next month...however I haven't figured out the actual flow of the ceremony quite yet, so that may mean I need to get them printed later.

Guest Book: I didn't want a traditional guest book...I knew that from the beginning. I also didn't want your typical signing of the matting to a photo. I wanted something new and unique. So I went straight to my daily inspiration source, pinterest.com. They have so many great ideas! I decided on something that focuses more on notes than signatures...but you'll have to wait to see exactly what it is.

To complement my guest book table I've been gathering vintage books (from a book re-saler down the street who sells them for $2) and scored some great frames and boxes from HomeGoods, my newest love. If you have a HomeGoods in your area, I definitely recommend you make visiting the store a weekend chore because you can find so many great accessory items for the wedding at such discounted prices. And remember a tip from one of my recent blogs...you can always spray paint it if it's the wrong color!

Favors: I scored some great canning jars from a local WinCo (grocery store) for super cheap and have been trying to figure out exactly what to do with them. I think right now I'll be filling them with one of our favorite snacks and then covering the lids with a colored fabric, with a cute tie which lists the person's name and table number. This way the favor doubles as a place card, once again saving you paper & printing costs. I got a fabulous craft punch from JoAnn Fabrics (somehow the one near my house has almost everything on sale almost all of the time) for the tag. It's EK brand and I encourage you to look for them. They're much cooler than your typical Fiskars punches.

Gift Registry: We decided to start a base registry before Christmas in case anyone wanted ideas for gifts, but it turns out no one did. So we're ahead of the game for our wedding, in that we're pretty much done with our registry already. I had been really excited to use a new registry site called giftregistry360.com but it turns out that right now they're not linking with Target, one of our stores, so that's made it not as useful as I would have liked. If you're planning on registering at Macy's, Crate & Barrel, Sur La Table, Williams & Sonoma or Home Depot I'd encourage you to check it out.

What's Left to Do

In the 3.5 months left before my wedding, I still have much to do, but there are some items I really need to prioritize in the next few weeks. First of all, we really need to get to the suit rental company and pick out my fiancee's suit as well as pick out the suits for all of our groomsmen, ring bearers and readers. I still haven't secured my hair and makeup because we're trying to get other things paid for first, but that also needs done. We have some cake tastings we need to do in January and I need to start getting some dates for wedding showers and bachelorette parties, since Spring Break and Easter will take up some valuable weekends right before the wedding.

I think I'm not into the "stressing out stage" yet, but I foresee it coming about February 1st. If I can stay on top of things as I'd like, I think I'll be ok, but if I let things go and don't get things done (which I'm trying really hard not to let happen) it's going to mean far more stress later. Oh and did I mention it's now diet time?! Time to lose about 15 lbs in 3 months....exercise and nutrition will be key. I'll let you know how it goes...I'm crossing my fingers, lol.

My wish for any of you who are near or right where I'm at right now, is that you take one day in the next month just for you. Even if it's just a day to laze on the couch, watch tv, and relax I encourage you to do it for the sake of your sanity. For me, a great bubble bath can often help calm the stress. And just remember that you're not alone, so many women have done it before you, and it will all be worth it in the end.

Happy Planning!

~A

Photography Credits

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 20:26:00 +0000

In response to a comment I received recently regarding linking to the photographer who took any photo on my website or a more direct link to that site:

Three years ago when I began this blog, blogging was fairly new and the rules regarding the appropriate way to credit an image was unclear. Often times a blog received a photo, posted that photo without reference to its photographer, then another blog copied that photo and posted it, which was then copied by yet another blog, etc. This process made finding the origin of a photo and its photographer very difficult. About a year ago, wedding bloggers agreed to begin giving more specific credit and links to approach exactly that issue. Since then I have tried very hard to give better credit to any images I use...but there are always some times where that is still difficult. As just an individual who does this on the side, I do not have the resources that big corporate blogs do to keep track of this.

To anyone who has found their photo on my site without permission or credit, I always encourage you to let me know (via comment on that post) and I will give proper credit as soon as I can. The only other option to remedy this is to remove any content with a photo and I feel currently that it would be a disservice to my readers to do so. However, if any photographer would prefer their photo be removed from my site, if requested via comment I would happily do that as well. Please contact me at triedandtrueweddings@gmail.com if you have any questions or concerns.

Should this issue become a problem, I may indeed need to remove much of the photo content on my website. To my readers, I will keep you updated in the event that this occurs. Thank you for continuing to read my blog and coming here for wedding inspiration.

~A

New Resources for Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 07:13:00 +0000

If you're anything like me, you're much more into looking at the photos in magazines than reading the articles....especially when it comes to design and weddings. I'm always looking to see something new, something beautiful, something unique. For the past few years our only resource for those things have been magazines and blogs, but in case you haven't heard yet, there are a few new options for idea searching:

Pinterest (pinterest.com): the second love of my life, Pinterest is a collection of millions of online photos. Each photo (they feature photos of everything from travel to food, wedding ideas, and so much more) links to where it was found on the web, giving you a direct link to the actual resource--no more wondering where the photo came from. So for instance, when you see a photo of a new favor idea, you can click on it and find the instructions on how to make it. Once you've become a member (you can ask to become a member from the main page and wait a day or two to be accepted or get a friend to invite you and be accepted right away) you can arrange photos you like into inspiration boards and download an app which allows you to pin photos from the web. For wedding inspiration this is a FABULOUS resource and a great way to keep an online collection of your inspiration!

Wedding Gawker (weddinggawker.com): Wedding Gawker is a site I actually found through a Pinterest photo I clicked. It's basically pinterest for weddings only. I'm new to exploring the site, so I don't know everything about it, but I've spent hours viewing photos and getting inspired. I'm sure you will too.

If you know of additional new resources for wedding inspiration please comment below. It's great that the internet has now allowed us to inspire each other despite being thousands of miles apart.

Happy Planning!
~A

Saving Money for the Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:09:00 +0000

It seems now that we've picked out most of the main elements and put down deposits, the game becomes about managing money. I'm sure anyone who has paid for a significant amount of their wedding knows exactly how I feel. Sometimes you worry how the bills will get paid, and on top of the normal stress a wedding provides, that's certainly not desirable.

But as I put in my last post, focusing on saving money on wedding elements where you can helps a little. Trying other ways to save money in your daily life helps as well. Some simple tips I'd suggest, but I'm sure there are a lot more include:

Come up with a budget and stick to it. Once you've defined it, figure out how much you can pay down vendors each month. Do not wait until the end to figure this out. I'd hate to see a bride try to find a few thousand dollars in a few days.

Eliminate those "extra" things you enjoy--drink less Starbucks and more home-poured coffee. Make a sack lunch instead of going out. You'll be surprised how much it saves you.

Get rid of monthly bills you don't really need--for example that Netflix account. I usually watch one movie from there every few months yet I'm paying $12 per month. It would be cheaper just to go down the street to a redbox.

Lower monthly bills by taking out that sports package you love or that HBO you can't get enough of.

Look to buy used items for your wedding or personal life from places like Craig's List or Ebay. Many of them are very new.

Find great deals on Etsy. I personally just bought my garter there. Homemade things can often be purchased cheaper there than in the store.

Cash out PTO. My employer allows me to cash out my extra PTO hours twice a year. With over 6 weeks of PTO accumulated right now, I am getting about $1000 for free from cashing in some, leaving still plenty of days for my honeymoon and holidays.

For your birthday, ask for items that would help you save money or help you purchase things for the wedding. I know I asked for Nordstrom gift cards so that I would be able to purchase shoes and jewelry for the wedding without spending my own money. Usually your family is happy to contribute this way.

Ask friends and family for other money-saving tips. I know there are plenty of them out there!

I encourage any of you to leave your own money saving tips in the comments section below. And just remember how happy you'll be when the wedding is over and you get to have some extra money in your pocket. Until then, remember that you only get one day and this is worth it!

Cost-Saving Tips for Savvy Brides

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 01:13:00 +0000

In planning my wedding lately (specifically purchasing things for it) I've found that there is definitely a need for many brides to be savvy. When you start realizing exactly how much things cost and watch the expenses continue to pile up you, if you're anything like me you start to have a mini panic attack. But since most of us can't fix the problem by snapping our fingers or growing money on trees I've found two tips which have helped me save money that I thought I would share with you.

1. Be Coupon Savvy! I don't typically get the Sunday paper but subscribed to the weekend paper service (Fri, Sat & Sun) in order to get the Sunday coupons and ads--you can just pick up a Sunday paper but I found I'd often forget to. For a small amount each month I'm able to save much more than the subscription has cost. During the week I think about items I need to purchase and then scan each Sunday paper looking for deals on that item specifically.

For instance, I knew I wanted gold charger plates but purchasing them cost $4 per plate and renting them was $2 per plate, which was still pretty pricey to only use them once. Well I happened to find that my local craft store had them 2 for $3 and so at first I went and bought 30 and figured I'd go the next weekend and buy 30 more (which I did) and then the store kept them on sale an additional week, so I was able to purchase another 40 before the sale was over. In all, I've saved so much money and plan to rent the 100 plates out to the public after the wedding to recoup my costs.

2. My second word of advice is to be spray paint savvy! Often times you look at something you absolutely love (a vase, a crate, a candle holder, etc.) and go, "I wish this was gold, because it would work really well with my wedding decor." Well there's no reason to do this. Spray paint is a magical wonder. For an average of $3-$4 per can you can take almost any item and change its color to match your wedding. I bought some really cheap place card holders that were silver and spray painted them gold to hold my table numbers. Easy fix!

3. If you have six months or more to plan for your wedding, buy items sporadically over the course of your engagement. Making small expenditures each weekend is much easier on the budget than buying things all at once. So pay for your shoes and jewelry one month, your invitations and envelopes another, and vases for your tables a different month. Obviously toward the end things will pile up and you'll have more expenses than you'd like, but paying things down over time and spreading out your purchases will lower the financial stress you'll have on the big day.

These are just a few of the tips I've learned in planning my own wedding, but if you have some cost saving ideas please share them below. They'll help me and all of my readers as well. Happy planning!

How to Ensure a Successful Wedding Dress Shopping Experience

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 01:57:00 +0000

This weekend I went wedding dress shopping...and found the one! Four months or so from now I'll be picking it up from Ania Collection, a bridal boutique in Portland. I definitely recommend it and my sales associate Emily was the best! If you want someone to listen to you, understand the look you're going for, and treat you great she is definitely someone to ask for. I can't share much about the dress because too many people I know read this blog, but it definitely combines Hollywood glam with a bit of modern elegance.

But enough about me. I figured the most helpful thing to do for my readers is to give you a few tips on ensuring a successful wedding dress shopping experience.

Decide on your dress budget and exactly who will be paying. Be prepared to stick to that budget and not up it a few thousand dollars when you see a to-die-for dress.
Research local bridal salons. Find out the salons nearest you or at least those you'd be willing to travel to. I know some brides are willing to fly across the country for Kleinfeld's but most brides aren't.
Once you know which bridal salons are in your area, examine which would be best for your budget. If you're looking for something under $1,000 there's always a David's Bridal nearby. Then most other shops center in the $750-$3000 dresses or in the $3000 and up dresses (at least in my area). Each site should list the gown designers they carry and a quick google search should answer your questions about the price range for each designer if you don't already know.
Schedule an appointment at two or more shops. Not everyone gets their dress in the first shot, so scheduling multiple appointments is key. You can always cancel the second or third appointment once you find "the one".
Decide who you'd like to go with you to your appointment. Enough "Say Yes to the Dress" episodes should have taught you to limit opinions and pick about 2-3 people, but if you need to invite more that's ok too. My biggest problem was getting everyone's schedules to mesh. It may take you a few weeks to coordinate a day and time that works for everyone and hopefully that's ok for your timeline.
Prior to your appointment look through wedding magazines, online blogs, and the web pages of those designers who will be at your salons. When you find a dress you like rip it out or save it to your computer and print. Then bring these images with you to your appointment. It doesn't matter if they're not actually dresses you can afford; showing your associate ideas of what you like will help him/her to find a dress that's within your budget with those elements.
On the day of your appointment make sure to wear a nude or white strapless bra and underwear. You may also want to bring a pair of heels similar to the type you might choose to wear on the big day. Bring a hair tie if you plan on wearing your hair up for the wedding and want to see how it might look with a veil or if you've decided on exactly how you'll do your hair do it that way before your appointment. Oh and don't forget your camera! You'll want to take pictures of the winning dress and these special moments with family and friends.
Be prepared financially! If you find your dress you'll be asked to put down half of the total as a deposit. And don't forget that the deposit may also include a veil or sash or floral headpiece that you've chosen to purchase as well. So bring with you anywhere from an additional $300 to $3000 (depending on your budget) to pay for the extras.

I think those are the main things to remember but if you have any questions or additional things from your own experience our readers should consider, please comment below. Happy planning everyone!

~A

Lovely Dresses by In June

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:27:00 +0000

Lovely Dresses by In June for the Bride, or Bridesmaids!

My Wedding in Real Time: Finding A Venue

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 23:25:00 +0000

The first thing most engaged couples do is look for a venue (sometimes even before they've picked a date)...and in my opinion, that's the right decision! Every vendor you email about pricing will ask you where you're planning to get married and when. So when I got engaged recently, that was the first thing I did too.

Here was my thought process in determining where to wed. Perhaps it will help you pick a venue which suits your needs as well.

Indoor or Outdoor Wedding? Or Combo of Both? Indoor for us. It will be April and in Oregon that means rain! I'd rather not make everyone carry an umbrella to the ceremony. But for those of you getting married in the sun, outdoor venues can sometimes be cheaper.
Budget? Not one set persay, but aiming for something affordable or as my dad would request, a good deal. Make sure to request all food & beverage minimums from sites when checking on site fees. That's often where the venues get you with high charges.
Site Requirements? I would prefer something beautiful, and vintage or modern--a showstopper. A church-like setting for the ceremony would be nice, but not a must.
Alcohol--can we bring in our own or must a caterer be in charge? We would certainly prefer to bring in our own alcohol since it's definitely cheaper and we have a friend who owns a bartending school.
Can we pick our own caterer? We'd like to be able to pick our own, vs. being stuck with those that are required. We'd like to be able to determine our own menu and not get stuck with a caterer who charges gratuity in addition to a staffing/service fee. Hello, that's what gratuity is for! (I did run into this and was totally offended)
Where do we want to get married? Some people have an exact location where they want to get married, a city perhaps, but for us it was somewhat open. We considered lots of areas within driving distance of our guests (1-3 hrs). People in Oregon are used to driving. This may not work in a big city like DC or NYC though where a lot of people don't own cars, so take that into account.
Is it somewhere new? As a wedding planner, I like to be at the forefront of wedding planning. I don't want to hold my wedding where everyone else in town does. I want to show my family and friends a location and experience they haven't encountered before, so finding a venue which would be new to most attendees was a must.

After going through that process and determining what I really wanted, I went through the RFP process (request for proposal as those in the industry put it) to find out costs of venues I liked. Most sites don't give you their costs up front on the website so you'll have to email them to find out this information (in addition to seeing if the date is still available).

While I mentioned above that I didn't have an exact budget I knew my budget ceiling. This is a must! As much as you love a venue (I've always loved The Nines Hotel in Portland, OR) you can't bust the bank for it. I just couldn't make a $15k food and beverage menu work on my wedding budget and had to let it go. However, if you fell in love with a venue and can't part with it, consider having a Friday or Sunday wedding or a wedding in an off-season month to cut costs enough that it fits in your price range.

On another note, you may find the "perfect venue" that's out of your budget no matter what and get entirely depressed. My advice is to keep searching. I'm a wedding planner who knows pretty much every venue in the state and even though I thought I couldn't find one I liked, I somehow miraculously found one I loved randomly. Never give up. You'll find the right location eventually. Don't be afraid to look in your backyard either! Many brides overlook venues like city parks, backyard ponds or fields, city libraries, community halls, restaurants, and more.

And after asking myself all of these questions, reviewing costs, and looking at venues (always go look at them in person, never go on pictures alone!) I picked the perfect place for us. My venue not only is a great deal, but it's gorgeous, blends modern and vintage, allows us to bring in our own catering and alcohol, and even throws in plates, silverware, glassware, tables and chairs for free. I'm not ready to share its name with you because we haven't signed the contract yet and if you were to steal my date I just might hate you, but in future posts I will certainly reveal it. Keep reading the blog and you'll find out shortly where I'll be getting married.

If you have any comments or questions relating to finding your own venue or how I found mine, feel free to comment below. And happy planning to everyone who is going down this same road as well! It's a crazy one, so we should all stick together.

Gorgeous Vintage Dresses for the Bride and the Guests!

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:32:00 +0000

Amazing Vintage Finds by Aiseirigh Vintage

I'm Engaged!

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:20:00 +0000

Now that the dust has finally settled, all of my family knows, and heck so do most of my friends thanks to Facebook, it's time to let all of my wonderful readers know that I'M ENGAGED!

To give you a quick summary, my fiancee and I have worked together for years now but it was through a big project that we worked on together recently that we realized our friendship was something more. We moved in together in May and only 3 months later got engaged. Now in April 2012 we're getting married. Within a year, we will have started dating and gotten married. We've been through a lot to get to this point (that's a blog for another time) but we are super happy and can't wait to see where the future takes us.

This means I'm back to the grind at wedding planning. This time, not for someone else but for myself. When you've seen everything that's out there, and that's been done, and spend your free time reading wedding blogs, it's hard to decide on what you want. Luckily we've come up with an overall theme (which is more based on color and flowers than it is something like a general theme--like bees or lemons or school perhaps) and a date. Now we're working hard to firm up a budget, work to find vendors who fit within that budget, and first and foremost decide on a venue. Oh and I'm hurriedly saving for my wedding dress. Being on a 9 month schedule, that's one of the first things to get done--maybe in September.

My biggest complaint so far about Oregon weddings has been that despite its almost yearly rainy season, most of its wedding venues are outdoors. This is because Oregon is amazingly beautiful and most couples are willing to wait until June or July to get married to make sure that an outdoor wedding is possible. But being a wedding planner, I chose April to ensure I could get the flowers I wanted, and that means an outdoor wedding would be poured on, no doubt. So I'll fill you in as soon as we settle on our venue. We have some ideas, fell in love with a site that's really too small, and now think we found something great but their contact is on vacation...such is life right?

To any of you readers who are recently engaged, I want to say congratulations, and perhaps my blogging updates for my own wedding will be something you can relate to or learn from. If any of you have questions or comments relating to my or your own wedding planning, feel free to write them below. You guys are like family to me and I wish you all the best!

Happy Planning!

Absolutly STUNNING Vintage Engagement Rings!

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:14:00 +0000

These Vintage Engagement Rings are absolutly STUNNING! I would love one of Each Please!

View Here at Ageless Heirlooms

Dessert Bars

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:28:00 +0000

A trend started by the great Amy Atlas in NYC, dessert bars are all the rage--at least they are in the blogging world. However, I feel like this great trend still hasn't really hit the Pacific NW. Trying to find a dessert bar vendor in my home state of Oregon seems to be a devilish task. After scouring Google I only found one vendor-- who while extremely tasty (I've eaten one of their desserts before) is also extremely expensive. So I'm calling out to any of my Oregon or SW Washington readers who might know of or have previously used a vendor to create their own dessert bar. Please comment below with any recommendations!

For any of you who are unfamiliar with dessert bars, they're often a replacement for a large formal cake. Many couples have a small cutting cake (for ceremonial purposes) and then surround that cake with hundreds of smaller desserts (mini brownies, tiramisu cups, creme brulees on spoons, cake pops, and much much more). I'm attaching some of my favorite dessert bars below for inspiration. It's a great way to spice up your reception and allow for your guests to select something they'd really love vs forcing them into only one option-cake.

Note: Almost every single one of these photos is from Sweet and Saucy Shop out of Long Beach, California. They're absolutely my favorite for dessert bars and dessert tables. If you're in the California area you just have to have them as your vendor! I'm so jealous that they don't have a shop up here.

A Vintage Engagement

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:19:00 +0000

A Vintage Engagement Etsy Treasury

Bella Via: A New Wedding Venue in Sherwood

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 03:42:00 +0000

I'm excited to share with all of you a new wedding venue just a mile or two from where I live.

Bella Via is a boutique venue located in historic Sherwood, Oregon, just a short drive from Portland. Built in 1912, this historic building has been fully renovated, bringing together the beauty of its Old World charm with the amenities of today.

Elegant chandelier lighting in the ballroom highlights the beauty of seven handcrafted stained glass windows. Overlooking the ballroom is an upper level cocktail area with gorgeous ambient lighting and a built-in wooden bar. Elegant details and classic decor throughout create an amazing backdrop for your special occasion. A beautiful bridal suite and relaxing groom's room have been created to lend privacy and comfort to wedding parties.

Available year round with indoor and outdoor ceremony and reception possibilities, Bella Via is the perfect venue for your perfect day.

Here are a few photos of this amazing venue! At an affordable price and with table and chair rentals included, I have a feeling this venue won't have dates available for long.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please visit bellaviavenue.com or feel free to comment/ask questions below.

Happy Planning!
~A

Lessons Learned, continued

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 17:56:00 +0000

Here are a few more lessons learned since my last post, and a few I forgot to mention:

Don't use the rehearsal dinner as a second reception. Etiquette rules state that only the following people should be present: those who participated in the wedding rehearsal or who were present there (for example, including the parents of a flower girl is suggested) and any guests who had to travel a long way for the wedding (usually just those who flew and who are not familiar with the area). Do not invite other aunts, uncles, friends, etc to your rehearsal dinner. They'll see you the next day!
Test out your photobook paper! My poor brother and sister-in-law didn't test out pens on their photobook (guestbook) and all of the pens they'd purchased for it didn't work due to the glossy nature of the paper. Halfway into getting guests seated we found someone who happened to have a fat sharpie (skinny ones were no good) and had guests use that, but by then we'd missed many of them. See if you can test paper samples before ordering or try out pens on the last page before the wedding.
Talk to your wedding planner before the event about how much you'd like them to interact with you during the wedding. As a planner I hate to be and to see other planners be annoying. Your planner should guide and direct you and keep you on schedule, but you shouldn't feel like she's telling you what to do every minute, unless that's what you want. Your planner should let you enjoy the moments.
Think through your event layout logically. When a guest arrives they'll want to set down their gift, then sign a guest book, then be seated. From there they'll want to find their reception seat, get up for dinner, and have easy access to dancing. Arrange tables accordingly. Making guests walk all over the place and/or go back and forth is not recommended.
Don't get a venue which is too small for your number of guests, or if you must, make accommodations. If your guests can barely get into or out of their dinner seats you've done something wrong. If a room is so packed that guests must exit the building to get to the other side, you've done something wrong. When you have a small reception space, consider long rectangular tables for dinner instead of rounds because they tend to occupy less space. And remember, unless it's an extra large round table, only 8 guests are supposed to sit at it. Shoving 9 and 10 people to a table gets really uncomfortable.
If you decide to have a head table, consider letting your bridal party's dates sit with them at the table. It's really awkward to be a bridesmaid and have your boyfriend sitting alone on the other side of the room. I'm sure many of us have experienced this at one time or another.
On a windy day, use spray glue to keep rose petals down on grass. I'd never seen this done before and it worked fabulously. Just don't let your ceremony venue coordinator see you do it. They could have problems with sticky grass later.
Make sure to recognize all members of your family. If you have a mother and a step-mother, or a father and a step-father, or are like me with a father and two step-fathers, make sure to recognize them all in one way or another during the night. Dance with each one, have one or many walk you down the aisle, say a thank you to them during a toast, etc. Likely they have all contributed to you and your wedding in one way or another and you don't want any of them to feel slighted on your big day.
Consider the duties you've asked people to perform, and if they're the right person for the job. My new sister-in-law did a great thing by asking my two younger sisters to participate in the wedding, but at 7 and 9 they're a bit too young to be running a guest book table. Luckily I stepped in to perform that task and let them simply handle bubbles and programs, but even that was pushing it a bit. Asking a 9 year old to explain to hundreds of guests that they need to blow the bubbles as the couple exits the altar is a little bit too much, especially when that child is shy. Another tip, put any sort of request like that in the program. Then guests will naturally read it and understand, and you won't have to rely on word-of-mouth to work correctly.
Hire a professional--unless a friend or family member is one! I always say not to have family and friends participate as vendors in the wedding, but if you really want them to, make sure they're professionals at what they do. Don't have your sister do your makeup. Don't have your aunt bake your cake. Don't let your grandma play the harp. First of all, weddings are days in which family members should enjoy and delight, not work. Secondly, while your sister may make you look great for that date, she likely doesn't know how to apply makeup to look great in pictures or to last an entire day. Leave services done by professionals to professionals and let your family enjoy your big day.

Again, just some lessons learned. While I pick up my lessons from the weddings of friends and family and clients, I never mean for any of my lessons to be stabs at those who've gotten married or who've done the planning, simply as a learning experience so that all of you who are planning your weddings now can learn from these mistakes before you make them yourselves. As a final lesson, no matter how many mistakes occur at your wedding, it's not the mistakes people remember about weddings, but the joyful experience, so laugh them off and enjoy your day.

If you have any lessons you'd like to share with other readers, please feel free below.

Lessons Learned...

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 16:11:00 +0000

So in the past three weeks I've participated or worked a lot of wedding activity. First I had the Endy wedding in Washington, then came home to my future sister-in-law's bridal shower that same weekend, skipped one weekend for a peaceful trip to Seattle and then this weekend back to weddings with my step-brother's wedding in my hometown of Silverton, Oregon.

Each time I participate in events planned primarily by non-professionals (as all of these were) there are things that pop up in which I say, "I would never have done that" or "I would have done that differently." As always, I feel like I should share these items with you, so that if you're planning your wedding without a planner you make sure to incorporate these lessons into your own event.

So here's what I've learned in the last three weeks (as a planner can never stop learning):

Share EVERYTHING with your planner. If you leave things out they never get incorporated into the overall "plan" and it ruins the overall flow of the event when you try to shove them in at the last minute.
Once you finally get people set down for the reception dinner (or any event really) don't give them a reason to get right up. Grabbing dinner is fine, but don't then give them another reason to go back outside. You'll never get them all inside again.
Don't do an open mic unless you know people will actually use it (and not under or overuse it). You don't want to announce to the crowd over a mic that it's open for people to give toasts to the couple and then never have people come up and use it. I really recommend figuring out who will give toasts before the event, not during, to ensure things run smoothly.
If you don't want to do traditional wedding elements, don't do them. A recent bride didn't feel like doing a traditional money dance, garter toss, or bouquet toss. So she didn't. And no one even missed them. Don't feel the need to conform to tradition if you don't want to.
When you hold a themed wedding shower, make sure everyone understands the theme, and that it's age appropriate for all involved. While my mom had a great idea to hold a Sex in the City themed wedding shower, some of the guests had never seen the show/movie and had a hard time figuring out how to dress. Always consider the invitees when you decide on a themed shower.
Don't give out alcohol as a shower game prize when you have youngsters and non-drinkers attending. It tends to make things difficult when they win.
If you hold any event outside, consider the bugs. An outside bridal shower left my legs bug-bitten. Consider spraying the grass with insecticide or putting up citronella candles during the event. If you'll be serving food, make sure to keep everything covered until you eat it, or else bugs will have landed in it many times before you eat. I hate eating with bees nearby, and if you're the same way, make sure to put up some bags to catch bees a week before the event.
Don't assume the weather will get better. While a recent rehearsal dinner I attended had great sunshine and temperature, the wind at setup time was almost unbearable. I recommended not putting anything out fully, because it would all fly away, but concerned with the event looking its best, it was set out anyway hoping the wind would die down. Well the balloons tied to peanut-filled pails knocked over glasses and sent peanuts flying. Almost everyone's plate, silverware, and napkin had hit the grass at least once before they'd used it for eating, and half of the place cards disappeared. Accept that mother nature wins sometimes. It's simply easier than fighting it.
Don't do a head table at a rehearsal dinner (in fact I recommend long rectangular tables all connected family style instead). This is not a wedding! People want to be able to talk, laugh, and have a great time before the "formal-ness" of a wedding reception. Don't prevent that by splitting everyone up and certainly don't place a few members of the bridal party at the head table and the rest at another table. If people hate where they're sitting, they will move. If people start moving to be where they want to sit, you've messed up. I recommend free seating, not assigned seating.
Recognize that while it may be your wedding, some events may feel like it's your (insert parent(s) here) wedding. I think that this is probably unpreventable, but if you're worried about this happening, talk to your parents beforehand. Be involved with them in all of the planning and make your needs and wants clear. Otherwise let them have their day and just recognize that it'll be over and you'll be on a beach somewhere soon.
Thank everyone for their participation and help in planning your event. There are so many friends and family members involved in every wedding. Make sure that each one knows how you couldn't have done it without them. People may b**** while doing the work, even if they offered to help, but if you thank them afterward they'll leave the event happy, guaranteed.

If you have any other words of wisdom you've learned from attending or participating in a wedding, please feel free to comment below. We can learn so much more from each other than any wedding book out there. And happy planning to all of you getting married soon!

~A

BUSY!

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:17:00 +0000

Today I leave for Washington for a wedding I'm planning up there at Anderson Lodge (great outdoor venue complete with cabins and such if you're looking for one) and I'm feeling pretty excited. Somehow everything has come together in the last few days, as is usual with weddings often. But over the last few weeks (and really months) it's been complete chaos as I tried to manage work, wedding planning, and oh ya, that thing I call a personal life. And I wasn't alone! My bride asked me if I had any tips on managing all of those things you have to get done in the last few weeks while working and trying to get any time to yourself.

So I figured maybe it's time to give a few quick pointers, as we all lead very busy lives and sometimes your job may decide to go into overload right at the time you're needing to have a slow day.

Take a look at your to-do list (write one if you haven't done that yet). Start organizing things in chronological order, from things you need to do right away, to things that can wait.
Divy up those things that need to be done into four categories (things you will do, things he will do, things you both need to do together, and things you can get someone else to do for you).
Then make a quick calendar for each one of those groups. For instance, make a separate calendar for the bride, the groom, the couple, and both. Hang these each up somewhere you can see them and be reminded to get them done (and hand off the one you aren't in charge of to family or friends--just be sure they're the responsible kind you can count on).
Do what you've assigned on time! Don't procrastinate! Getting behind only leads to more stress.
I suggest doing things after work (limit to only 30 mins-1 hr) during the week and one day each weekend (give yourself one day to relax). Get your spouse to pick the same day of the weekend so you get a day of just "you and him" time.
If you can afford one, get a wedding planner at least for the last two weeks. We'll call your vendors and finalize details and take away some of that additional stress. Handling the stress of being a wedding planner..well that's a different post.
Remember that this is supposed to be one of the greatest moments of your life. Don't let stress get in the way and affect that. Make a purposeful decision to be happy and let things slide if they don't go exactly as you'd hoped. In the end, the only thing that really matters is that you marry the man/woman of your dreams...and in the meantime, take a nice bubble bath, read a book, listen to music, and remember to breathe!

Well best of luck to all of you as wedding season is now officially underway. If you have any questions about your own wedding or how to stay stress free/manage to do items, feel free to comment below. I get those right away and don't get to my email quite as fast these days. Happy planning!

~A

Beautiful Prints for the Bride or bridesmaids!

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Sat, 07 May 2011 16:54:00 +0000

Photos by Mandy Lynne - Skippy Designs Beautiful fine art and vintage inspired photography prints.

Papercut Decor, Invites, and Cards by Mama Tita

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 20:26:00 +0000

Mama Tita
Event Decoration with Papercuts, Greeting Cards

Pure Magnolia Couture - Eco Beautiful Dresses

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:51:00 +0000

Pure Magnolia Couture
Sustainable gowns for eco-minded brides.
Inspired by beauty, unique for you.

How Quick Can You Plan a Wedding?

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 17:27:00 +0000

I'm pondering the question right now of how fast I could plan a wedding. Usually all of my brides are on a full year time line, and usually due to the small size of their budgets get my help for free throughout the process and then I just run things for the last few weeks. I've never had to plan a wedding for a bride who had only six months or even three or less. And I know that people plan weddings in days and weeks all the time.

So for any of you who might end up rushing it to the altar for whatever reason (pregnancy, don't want to wait, etc.) here is what I would do if I had only three months, in order of what to do and when! Be prepared. You will spend all of your free time in the next three months making this happen. And remember, that you can adjust my order to fit your own needs as well.

Three Months Out

Get a planner. If you can't afford one, enlist as much help as you can. Do not take it all on yourself. Delegation is key to not losing your mind!
Decide on your wedding budget. Talk to parents if they'll be contributing.
Decide which day of the week you'd want to get married on, and approximately in which month you'd like to get married. Acknowledge that because you're planning late in the game you may not be able to get the exact day you'd like.
Find a venue and book a date. You can't do much until you know exactly when and where you're getting married.
Book all of your major vendors (photographer, videographer, officiant, dj, caterer, florist, etc.) and anyone else who may book out months in advance. Be willing to sacrifice. Since you're short on time you may not get everyone who is your first choice.
Choose your wedding gown. You may not have enough time to actually order one and have it produced, so check with your bridal store to see what will come in in time. You may have to simply alter a floor sample.
Decide on your wedding party! This should be pretty fun. Find a fun way to ask them if you have time.
Choose bridesmaid dresses (if you need to order them from a bridal store). If you're allowing your bridesmaids to get dresses on their own or are ordering from an online store like JCrew, just let your bridesmaids know to be on the lookout. As long as they purchase with two months to go, you're ok.
Order the flower girl's dress (if you need to order it from a bridal store). Otherwise you have a little more time.
Set up a wedding website (if you want to have one). I would say it's probably the best way to get out information to everyone since you're now on a short timeline.
Place rental orders for the groom, groomsmen, and ring bearers' tuxedos.
Compile a guest list with full addresses. Have family help you gather them if you don't already have them. Once this list is ready, send out a save-the-date or invitation if you're even shorter on time.
Work with a stationer, online company, or make your invitation yourself. Either way it will need sent out four-six weeks prior to the event. I would recommend doing something online if you're in a severe time crunch. Try to take as many things as possible off your plate.
Get your engagement ring appraised and insured. This can wait, but you'd hate to lose it in the meantime.
Set up wedding registries. Limit it to two or three max since you don't have much time. Enjoy the thought of making your home together or expanding it if you're already living in the same place.

Two Months Out

Decide on all necessary rentals (tables, chairs, linens, utensils, etc.) and order them.
Book hotel room blocks for out of town guests.
Make sure your parents are on top of the rehearsal dinner, or if not, make sure you book the location. Also if you are doing any day-after-brunches or other events, get those booked as well.
Choose a cake maker. Decide on the design. Enjoy tasting lots of cake. You'll need the sweet calories to relieve the stress by now.
Secure any necessary transportation to and from the ceremony and reception site.
Renew your passport if you'll be leaving the country for your honeymoon.
Book your honeymoon and flights.
Shop for wedding rings.
Meet with the officiant to plan the ceremony. If any pre-marital counseling is necessary get it done right away.
Mail your invitations. Weigh one full invite to determine proper postage first. Postage is a very expensive part of the budget, so you don't want to waste money with more postage than necessary.
Work with the caterer to choose the menu for the reception. Attend a tasting before the wedding if one is offered to ensure you like what you have chosen.
Book your hotel room for the wedding night (if you'll be having one).
Hire your hairstylist and makeup artist.
Buy gifts for parents, bridal party, and others to be given out at the wedding.
Research marriage license requirements. Some states require blood tests and the waiting period differs state to state.
Buy undergarments, shoes, and accessories to go with your wedding gown.
See a sample centerpiece from your florist and confirm floral orders (bouquets, altar pieces, boutonnieres, and more).
Purchase thank you notes. You'll have to start using them as soon as you receive you first wedding or shower gift.

One Month Out

Once invitations are sent, keep a record of responses so that you have an accurate guest count. Call people if you haven't heard from them within two weeks of the wedding.
Draft a wedding day time line (or if you have a planner, work with them to do so).
Choose seating cards and place cards if you'll be using them.
Order or make any items which will serve as favors (unless it is something perishable).
Order or make table numbers and menu cards. You can pay a calligrapher to do this if you'd like.
Select wedding gifts or welcome bags for out-of-towners. Get friends and family to help you put them together. Turn it into a party. You'll need the respite and a good laugh.
Attend wedding showers and plan bachelor/bachelorette parties. Send out thank you notes right away afterward.
Make a shot list for the photographer and a "Do Not Play" list for the DJ.
Buy any accessories necessary for the groom (shoes, cufflinks, etc.).
If writing your own vows, get to work on them.
Obtain your marriage license.
Start working on a seating chart (I guarantee this will change up to the very last day before the wedding though so don't obsess too much on it).
Have your final dress fitting.
Do trial runs for hair and makeup.
Print ceremony programs.
Do final meetings with all of your vendors or at least call them and make sure that everything is going as planned and that they don't have any questions. Pay any deposits still owed, unless payment will be collected at the wedding.
Check your registry to make sure enough gifts remain at all price points. If not, make a quick run to the store(s) and select more things you want. This is not a bad thing!

Three Weeks Out

Purchase anything for the gift or guest book tables (frames, guest book, pen, and anything else you'd like). If you're having a dessert table, purchase all glassware to be used, unless it's being rented.
Purchase your gartar (and an additional one if you'd like to keep yours and throw one).
Purchase toasting flutes, a cake cutting set, and anything else necessary for the reception or ceremony.
Review honeymoon reservations. Schedule any massages or experiences you'll want to have while there. Make dinner reservations if required.
Buy anything you may want to take with you on your honeymoon. A new swimsuit perhaps? Some nice lingerie? A good book for the airplane?
Book manicure/pedicure appointments for the wedding (for you and your bridal party if you want).
If moving, send your change of address form to the post office.
Wrap any of the gifts you purchased for your family and bridal party.
Purchase more thank you notes if you are starting to run out.
Stock up on any prescription medications that may run out over the course of the wedding and honeymoon. Schedule any necessary pre-wedding appointments with your physician, dermatologist, or dentist.
Check on your room block and make sure there are enough rooms still available. If not, block out additional rooms.
Enjoy your bachelor/bachelorette party. Do not do it the night before! Who wants to be hung over on their wedding day?

Two Weeks Out

Finish writing your vows.
If you have a pet, make arrangements for someone to care for it or take it while you are gone.
Arrange for people to help during the wedding (handing out programs, manning the gift table, etc).
Write as many thank you notes as you can. The less notes you have to write on the plan to your honeymoon destination the better!
Have your pre-wedding facial (if you've chosen to have one).
Do your final pre-wedding hair color appointment (if you want to update color or highlights prior to the wedding).
Have a final meeting with your florist. Go over the exact placement of everything and the schedule.
Check your wedding registry once again.
If traveling to a foreign country for your honeymoon, get $100 worth of foreign currency.
Arrange to have someone check on your home and take in packages while you're away.
Determine when wedding gifts will be opened (with or without family, before or after your honeymoon?).
Check on the status of any events being handled by family (i.e. the rehearsal dinner, day-after-brunch, etc.). Troubleshoot any problems.

One Week Out

Prepare your emergency kit for the ceremony and reception (if your planner does not already have one). Click HERE to see what should go in one.
Pick up your wedding dress. Store it somewhere safe and away from your fiancee's prying eyes.
Start packing for your honeymoon.
Prepare tip envelopes for any vendors being paid or tipped at the wedding. Give these to your planner or a family member to disperse on the day of.
Finalize seating arrangements.
Confirm pick up and drop off times with your transportation company.
Take a moment to relax as a couple. All this planning probably has you going crazy.
Send the photographer the shot list and finalized schedule of events.
Start checking the weather forecast for the wedding day. Order a tent if your outside wedding looks like it might get rained on.
Make arrangements to hold your mail and newspaper during your honeymoon.

Five Days Out

Finalize the wedding time line as much as possible (this may change a little day by day as you get closer).
Confirm all vendors the Monday before the event and give them a copy of the timeline.
Give the final head count to the venue and caterer.
Prepare payments for all vendors.
Create any homemade favors that are perishable. If extremely perishable, do them closer to the wedding date or get others to make them for you.

Four Days Out

Arrange transportation to the airport for the honeymoon.
Figure out who will transport gifts after the wedding to your home.

Three Days Out

Confirm hotel reservations for the night before the wedding and for your honeymoon stay. Also check on flight updates.
Check weather forecasts for your wedding and honeymoon. Make alterations accordingly.
Practice your vows.
Pack your items for the wedding day. I guarantee in the next day or two you'll realize you forgot something.

Two Days Out

Deliver in-room gifts to out-of-towners on the day they arrive.
Gather together all items which need taken to the ceremony or reception site in one area. Create a checklist to make sure you don't forget anything or leave anything after the event.
Give seating cards and place cards to the person who will be placing them at the event.
Pick up rental tuxes.
Make sure the bridesmaids have their dresses and accessories in order.

One Day Out

Practice speeches and vows.
Get a manicure and pedicure. Buy a bottle of the nail polish used in case there are issues prior to the wedding.
Review and finalize the seating chart. By now you may have last-minute cancellations.
Confirm flight reservations.
Reconfirm pick-up and drop-off times with your transportation company.
Wedding rehearsal. Yay! Walk through the ceremony at least twice.
Rehearsal dinner. Give gifts to the bridal party and family members. Enjoy a fun night.
Go over with friends and family, any specific jobs for them on the day of the wedding.

Your Wedding Day

Steam your wedding gown.
Relax and enjoy the day!
Let your planner or friends/family deal with any issues that arise.
Have your planner or friend/family member call the airline to check the status of the flight for your honeymoon.
In the excitement of the day, don't forget to take regular medications.

The Day After

Send out thank you notes.
Return rental tuxedos (or have someone do it for you if you've already left).
Call any special vendors to thank them, or shoot them a quick email.
Deposit monetary wedding gifts or put them in safekeeping.
Freeze the top layer of your cake (if following tradition).

If you have planned your wedding in a quick time frame, please feel free to comment below on things that worked well or things that didn't. Give any bit of advice that might help someone rushing to push a one-year planning process into a shorter time period. I'm sure there are brides out there that would love to hear your personal story.

Happy Planning!
~A

Fabulous Finds on Etsy

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 02:52:00 +0000

It's been awhile since I've even gotten to peruse one of my favorite websites, etsy.com, but I did tonight so I'm showcasing a few great finds for all of you! I've listed their etsy vendor names below each picture for you in case you want to purchase them or see what other items they have for sale. Just go to etsy.com and search by vendor name.

A great decor item for the wedding and then your home by hindsvik.

Love this modern invitation suite by ruffhouseheart!

I totally have to show this to my friend Kristin. This is perfect for a diy wedding! Made by buttonsoupjewelry.

This is great for any man like my friend Nik, by crimsonking.

All the rage in photobooths, by funnysideoflife.

Great flair for a formal wedding, by shineinvitations.

A new spin on succulent favors by succulentsgalore.

If you find any great additions on etsy that you think readers would like to know about, feel free to comment and leave links or pictures below. Now have fun shopping!

Bright Colored Floral Decor

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 22:17:00 +0000

I've been seeing a lot of bright colors in blogs lately, and wanted to include a few of my favorite pictures here for all of you to view.

These images make me think of getting married on a white sand beach in Mexico in a little white Spanish church, filled with bold colored hand-painted tiles. How would you use bright, bold colors in your wedding?

Summer Fun Inspiration Board

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 22:03:00 +0000

Here's a summer fun inspiration board for all of you. Here in Oregon we had snow just last week, so looking forward to fun times like these gets me through the cold weather!

Photos above come primarily from Ruffled Blog, but the pails come from Wedding Bee blog.

If you're into DIY projects, I think you can pull of this wedding theme easily. Gather together your bridal party, friends, and family to help you make things like the button bouttonieres, the pez cake, the kids pails, the pillows and more. Sometimes getting everyone together for a work session complete with some food and drinks can be very productive, and a nice way to ease the stress of wedding planning.

Gorgeous Rings by Jorgensen Studio

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:10:00 +0000

Gorgeous Rings by Jorgensen Studio

Blissful Moments Treasury

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 20:56:00 +0000

Blissful Moments Treasury

Beautiful Unique Ring by Red Sofa

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:47:00 +0000

I love this unique twig ring by Red Sofa

Adorable Flowergirls by DreamSpun

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 13:54:00 +0000

I adore these Dresses and pettiskirts by DreamSpun

Beautiful Vintage Engraved Rings by Pompeii3

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 20:19:00 +0000

I love these Unique rings by Pompeii3

Great Proposal!

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 01:58:00 +0000

This isn't the greatest quality image, but if it's for real, this is probably one of the most creative proposals I've ever seen. She's certainly going to be surprised when she sees her photo! Probably not fully thought out by her boyfriend though because his girlfriend is sitting in the front and she's going to walk off of that ride soaking wet! Let's hope it's hot outside.

Anyway, if you know someone who proposed in a creative, fun, and/or unusual way, please comment below. Your story may just provide inspiration to a guy or girl out there looking for ideas!

Wedding bands by Monkeys Always Look

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:03:00 +0000

I LOVE these tree bark wedding bands by Monkeys always Look

Angelic Inspiration Board

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 22:22:00 +0000

I know it's been quite awhile since my last post and a long time between each one previously. I have spent much of this weekend finally getting back to reading wedding blogs and capturing images, and for the first time in awhile I've really enjoyed thinking about weddings again. I apologize for stepping out on any of you who need my advice or help or just plain enjoy having something fun to read or look at. Since I am extremely overwhelmed and overworked in my day-to-day job right now, I want to encourage each one of you to email me with any questions you have, dilemmas you want advice on, inspiration boards you'd like me to create for you, etc. It is much easier for me to do that, then to think up things on my own with little time. If you aren't aware, my email is triedandtrueweddings@gmail.com. This will help the lack of postings I think.

Anyway, I actually write to you to show you an inspiration board I created. I was inspired by an image of an angelic wedding dress, which seemed ethereal and light and somewhat "fairy tale-esque." The color scheme is one of whites, blush pinks, and a bit of gold or teal as an accent. It lends itself to a semi-formal wedding...one you could hold in spring next to a lake or any evening really in a garden or any place with subtle elegance. I hope it serves as an inspiration for someone out there.

The images in this inspiration board come from: OnceWed (outdoor lighted venue), Martha Stewart Weddings (marzipan cherries), Ruffled (wedding dress, blush cake), Zoe Lingard (table setting), Design Sponge (furniture) and Etsy (garter).

Oh and stay tuned! I already have another inspiration board waiting in the wings to show you...

Vintage Touch: Display or Centerpiece

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 20:19:00 +0000

This Birdhouse Chapel by Speckled Dog would be a fun Vintage Centerpiece or Display item at your wedding!

Blushing Bride Etsy Treasury

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 14:21:00 +0000

I love all these beautiful picks in this Etsy Treasury "Blushing Bride"

Negotiating the Ring

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 03:05:00 +0000

If you're one of my close friends you're aware that I recently got so hooked on Millionaire Matchmaker that I decided to read Patti Stanger's book, entitled "Become Your Own Matchmaker". First off, I must say that I absolutely love and endorse this book for women who are single or in a relationship, but not yet married. It also speaks directly to women recently divorced and those of all ages...so no one can feel left out. While her advice may not work for everyone and everyone may not agree with her terms, I think we could all learn a few things from what she has to say. I'm telling you...this will be the best $10 you ever spent on Amazon!

Today I decided to share with you the very last topic in her book for all of those women out there waiting for the ring...you know who you are...the girl so envious of everyone else getting engaged that you can barely handle it--the one looking at wedding blogs because she can't wait to plan a wedding of her own. I've had friends come to me saying they don't know how to approach the marriage subject with their partner and I've given my best advice, but Patti sums it up quite nicely (again note there are many other things in her book you're supposed to do before you get to this part). Take it or leave it, this is how she says to get what you want:

GUYS--STOP READING HERE (IT'S A SECRET)

According to Patti, if you've done everything she told you to, you should be getting engaged in the 9-12 month period after you start dating. Obviously this timeline will vary for many of you, but once you get to the stage where you are sure this is the person you want to share the rest of your life with, it is your job as a woman to "negotiate the ring", aka a "me-amatum". Now don't ever tell your partner you're with that you are doing this. He needs to still think it was all his idea--and as much as they deny it, men look forward to actually proposing and claiming their great girl when the time is right.

There are three steps to the "me-amatum". The first is, make sure it's a good time to talk. You should both be relaxed and this conversation definitely should take place in person. Ask him if it's a good time to talk and if he replies yes, then on to step two. Step 2 is to ease your way into the conversation with a compliment. Start with small talk and mention something great that he did for you recently. If you're on a roll go for the big stuff like how he's made you happier than anyone you've ever met, etc. Step 3 is to go in for the kill. As Patti points out, a "me-amatum" is not an ultimatum. An ultimatum is a demand accompanied by a threat, whereas this is a suggestion accompanied by a gesture.

Adapt the following to your situation, "We've been dating for nine months now--they've probable been the best nine months of my life--and I've really grown to love you. But I have to be honest with you. When we first met we agreed that we were looking for someone to marry (a step from earlier on in the relationship). Now that we've come to know and love each other, I'm just wondering if you still think marriage could be in the cards for us. We haven't really talked about it lately (this will not work if you've been badgering him already). I would never give you an ultimatum, but I'm not the kind of girl who dates someone indefinitely. So if you don't see marriage in our future, then I don't want to hold you up, and I need to be free to find someone else who's on the same page as I am."

He has three potential options for a response.

1. He says that "of course he sees a future for you and he doesn't want you to date anyone else, but just that he needs you to have a little patience". If he says this, congratulations, but also say to him "I trust you completely, however, I cannot be with you more than 90 days without some sort of movement toward the future. If I do, I'll start resenting you, because you didn't honor your commitment to me, which won't work well for either of us." Honesty is the best policy here, just be true to yourself and mean it when you set that deadline..however long it is.

2. He says he's "not quite sure yet and he needs more time." If this happens, calmly ask him how much more time he needs. If he gives you a reasonable answer, then great, resume this conversation later on. But if he tells you "I need a couple of years or more" or "I'm not ready for marriage right now" or "I don't know", then you have the option to try saying "I'm not sure I'm the right girl for you. I would understand if you want to date others" or "I'm not sure we're a match because I'm looking for a marriage-minded man, and you don't seem to have any interest in that." If he still doesn't budge, leave and don't look back.

3. If he says "I'm glad you brought this up, and I've had a great time too, but I don't see our relationship going any farther" then it's over. It will certainly hurt, but don't say to yourself, "he needs more time" or "he'll come crawling back once I leave". You need to thank him for his honesty and move on immediately. Patti's biggest advice is not to waste your time with the wrong guy...so once he admits this, it's over.

I will repeat again, that this is just Patti's advice (although it is her job to match people) and by no means am I saying that relationships are always this black and white or that for everyone this is the right path to choose. But for those of you out there who are stuck in this exact situation, and don't know how to approach getting what you want from your bf/gf, then maybe this lends some perspective and a different way of looking at the situation. It's helpful to hear her wording I think, because often we don't know how to say exactly what we mean. Do remember through all of this that the key is being calm and treating it almost like a business negotiation. Go into it knowing what you want, and knowing what will force you to leave the table. Never let your emotions get in the way. Be reasonable and understanding.

If anyone has used these rules before, or been in a similar situation I would love to hear how it turned out. Did talking to your partner about what you wanted help or hinder the situation? Did you find that talking about marriage openly with him encouraged a faster engagement or at least made you more sure that one was coming?

Amazing Edythe Wedding Gown by Leanne Marshall

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 18:58:00 +0000

Amazing Edythe Wedding Gown by Leanne Marshall

back

Gorgeous Porcelain Wedding Presents

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 18:53:00 +0000

Gorgeous Pendant Lamp by Isabelle Abramson

Gorgeous Pendant Lamps by Isabelle Abramson

tealight holder by Wendy Jung

How Long is Too Long to Wait?

noreply@blogger.com (Amber) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 20:03:00 +0000

Sorry guys. I will admit that lately I'm the worst blogger ever. I hate making excuses but between a super busy work schedule and life, and the fact that my boyfriend and I broke up a few weeks ago, I haven't had any time or want to post about weddings. But I know that all of you are in happy blissdom, so I figured I'd do something at least. Don't worry, eventually I'll get over it. ;) And if you know any great single men feel free to send them my way.

Luckily, just yesterday I heard this question posted on my morning radio station and I wanted your input. The DJ asked callers:

How long do you date until you pop the question, and at what point if no question has been popped, do you choose to move on?

Personally, I used to say that two years was my max and four years was really my max/"get out" point. I think this number can really change based on you as a person and your age and how you feel in your relationship. I'm at the point where I feel like, if a guy hasn't proposed in two to three years and doesn't show any willingness to do so shortly, that maybe it's time to talk about what we both want out of the relationship. If he says he thinks he'll be ready in a year, then maybe I contemplate staying, but if you really want to get married and he never does, then maybe it's time to move on. In the end, we all have to be realistic about our wants and needs, even if we love the person. And once he proposes you've got anywhere from 3-18 months more of an engagement, so you might as well figure in at least an additional year before you're actually married if you're stressing about that timeline.

For women I think we think about this much more than men. We've got ticking time clocks on our fertility and we're comparing ourselves to every other woman our age out there (who's probably married with a couple of kids already). We don't like feeling behind or feeling like we may not be able to achieve that dream family we've always wanted. Men can get married at any age and have kids at any age. There's no need for them to rush commitment, so they're only going to propose when they really want to (which is actually kind of great, if you think about it from another perspective). They're not motivated by outside factors like we are. And maybe we should start trying to be like men and marry only when love feels right...not when our relationship hits that yearly anniversary. I do hate when women fall in love with the idea of getting married, not with the man himself. FYI, once the wedding day is over you're with the man forever, not your wedding dress and presents. It's one day; he's your whole life.

Anyway, that's enough of my rambling. I really want to hear what you think. At what point do you think you'd leave a relationship if your man wasn't proposing? How long do you want to date a person before getting engaged? Are these questions anything you'd feel comfortable talking to your bf/gf about early in the relationship?

Awesome Napkin rings!

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:03:00 +0000

Awesome Diamond Napkin Rings from Save-On-Crafts

Beautiful CUSTOM JEWELRY DESIGN by ADZIA

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 21:46:00 +0000

Gorgeous and Beautiful CUSTOM JEWELRY DESIGN by ADZIA

Stunning in Lace - White Owl

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:08:00 +0000

Add a stunning Lace Detail to your wedding day with Beautiful necklaces and jewelry by White Owl

Antique Spoon Table Numbers

noreply@blogger.com (Angel) — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:21:00 +0000

What beautiful Table numbers! Great idea from Hammermann

Wedding Ideas | Bridal Style | Bride Inspiration | Fashion

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Convertible Bridesmaids Dresses by Muse

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Love These Custom Glasses by Nevena Art

The Ring of my Dreams....by Wexford Jewelers

My Wedding in Real Time: 2 Months to Go!

Lessons Learned: Cake Tasting

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Follow Me on Pinterest

My Wedding in Real Time: The Little Things

Photography Credits

New Resources for Inspiration

Saving Money for the Wedding

Cost-Saving Tips for Savvy Brides

How to Ensure a Successful Wedding Dress Shopping Experience

Lovely Dresses by In June

My Wedding in Real Time: Finding A Venue

Gorgeous Vintage Dresses for the Bride and the Guests!

I'm Engaged!

Absolutly STUNNING Vintage Engagement Rings!

Dessert Bars

A Vintage Engagement

Bella Via: A New Wedding Venue in Sherwood

Lessons Learned, continued

Lessons Learned...

BUSY!

Beautiful Prints for the Bride or bridesmaids!

Papercut Decor, Invites, and Cards by Mama Tita

Pure Magnolia Couture - Eco Beautiful Dresses

How Quick Can You Plan a Wedding?

Fabulous Finds on Etsy

Bright Colored Floral Decor

Summer Fun Inspiration Board

Gorgeous Rings by Jorgensen Studio

Blissful Moments Treasury

Beautiful Unique Ring by Red Sofa

Adorable Flowergirls by DreamSpun

Beautiful Vintage Engraved Rings by Pompeii3

Great Proposal!

Wedding bands by Monkeys Always Look

Angelic Inspiration Board

Vintage Touch: Display or Centerpiece

Blushing Bride Etsy Treasury

Negotiating the Ring

Amazing Edythe Wedding Gown by Leanne Marshall

Gorgeous Porcelain Wedding Presents

How Long is Too Long to Wait?

Awesome Napkin rings!

Beautiful CUSTOM JEWELRY DESIGN by ADZIA

Stunning in Lace - White Owl

Antique Spoon Table Numbers