My new blog site

Embracing change is not always easy but it really can be worth it! Check out my new blog at:

http://wnyweddingplanner.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/welcome-to-my-new-blog-2/

DIY Wedding Garland

Lately I really love seeing what kind of DIY projects I can find for weddings. At the same time I look for things that I think I could actually do easily, and that are not too expensive. Here is my latest find.

http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/2011/07/18/diy-doily-cupcake-liner-garland/

Wedding Brooch Bouquets

At first I was not sure what I thought of wedding brooch bouquets. I thought they were pretty, but I still really like flowers as a bouquet. Then I saw a picture of a combination of both. How could you go wrong with flowers and bling. Here is a great tutorial if you want to make one yourself.

http://www.projectwedding.com/wedding-ideas/diy-brooch-bouquet-tutorial

Pumpkin Wedding Centerpiece Part 2

Once the pumpkin dried, I took my materials and lined them up on the pumpkin to see where I wanted to place them. That way I could move them around without having them glued on. The top of the pumpkin was a little off so I placed some of the decor under the candle so it would sit evenly.

Then after I hot glued and rearranged some of the pieces, it was done! I only took me about 5 minutes to get everything hot glued on. I think it is a great money saving and easy project that makes an elegant centerpiece.

Pumpkin Wedding Centerpiece

I have been seeing all these great DIY projects for weddings that I would love to do. I thought that this one would be perfect for a Fall wedding and would be a great combination of elegance and value. You could use it as accents, or for your actual table centerpiece. So here it is, part I.

Here are the materials you will need:
Pumpkin ( I tried to get one with a good shape on all sides)
Spray Paint
Glue Gun
Decorative Branches
Silk Leaves
Small pillar candle
Dried or silk flowers

I decided to put my own touch into the project by painting the pumpkin white. I have seen others where the pumpkin is left orange. It depends on what look you are going for. I like the look of the gloss because it think it would look great combined with candles. When painting you want to be sure you use go from the top to the bottom to avoid streaking. Depending on the look you want, some parts may need a second coat. Before or after you paint, carefully remove the stem. After the paint dries you are ready for Part II.

Out of Town Guest Accomodations

I found these great tips from the Bronze Budget Bride blog.
Accommodating your guests that are coming in town for your wedding may seem like it will be a hassle if you are just beginning your wedding planning but one of the most important thing to do is to block some hotel rooms for the out-of-towners. You want to make sure they will have somewhere to stay when they get to town and you can easily arrange this for them with these tips:

1. Make sure you block hotel rooms at least 6 - 8 weeks in advance.

2. Book less rooms than you think would be needed because it would be easier for you to add another room if necessary but you may be required to pay for rooms that weren't filled.

3. Choose a hotel that is near to both your ceremony and reception site to make it easier for guests to get around.

4. Make sure the hotel you choose is somewhere you would want to stay, so it should be affordable yet nice and clean.

5. The hotel should have or be near to a restaurant. Guests have to eat!

6. Put together a little "hospitality" bag or basket for each room to help guests to them feel welcome. Include items such as bottled water, snacks, tourist info, sunscreen, soft slippers, local treats etc.

http://www.bronzebudgetbride.com/group/new

The next big wedding trend! Wedding planning with coupons.

I have never watched the show before, but last night on TLC I watched Extreme Couponing. The episode I was interested in, was the one where the sister of the bride helped coupon for just about everthing for the wedding. The first part showed how she got a bridemaids dress for $19.00. That would be easy to find if you go to a consignment shop to find a gown. I don't think she used a coupon for that though. Though maybe I should start a coupon program, hmmm....
It was really fascinating to see how many groceries they got and how little they spent. It does take a lot of organization and time though. I would love to hear if anyone else has taken on this kind of a challenge to save money for their wedding and if they have any advice to other brides. Who knows this could be the next big wedding trend.

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/5-extreme-coupon-tips-for-normal-people.htm