Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Our homecoming game was today and we won! We're pooped so we're most likely staying in tonight. Have a great day everyone!

99 Tips To Saving Money on Your Wedding

The One just posted a list of 99 tips to save money on your wedding. There are some great tips on there and everyone should go check it out!

I plan on making my own list in a couple weeks, so keep an eye out!

Budget Bride Organizer Project

I have a new project under my belt and I think ya'll will love it! When I first got engaged, I looked forever trying to find the perfect organizer and I never found the right one. So, I created my own.

Well, now I'm creating one for other brides to buy! It's going to include a bunch of different sections and worksheets I have created to help you find a vendor and also to keep all your information in one place. I will also be incorporating great tips on how to plan your wedding on budget in there. I will then put them all into a 3-ring binder so brides can add in their own inspirations.

After it's done, I'm going to give a few of my readers a chance to review the organizer and give me their opinions. I'll be posting more about that later on in my process.

So, what do you want in a wedding organizer/planner?

Thrifty Thursday

Discounts
Exlusively Weddings -- Free shipping on orders of $75+, Code: KBR109
Exclusively Weddings -- 10% of all invitations, Code: EMX12
Beau-coup -- $10 off any order, Code: BRIDES012
1st Class Wedding Invitations -- 15% off any order, Code: FallBrides
Publix -- $20 off a wedding cake of $200 or more

Posh Stems Meeting

We met with Posh Stems over the weekend at Starbucks. It's a husband and wife team who works from home.

Consultation Experience
She worked with me to make an appointment over the weekend which was nice. Like I said, we met at Starbucks since they don't have a shop. We had talked over email about what I wanted and she also sent me a price quote. She tried to pull up some examples of their work, but the internet wouldn't work, so I just looked it up on their website when I got home.

Customer Service
They were a really sweet couple. They were newlyweds (got married a year and a half ago) and had their owns troubles with flowers, so they are committed to making brides happy.

She gave me a couple other options for bridesmaids bouquets to help trim down costs which was great. The options she gave me are all very close to peonies so it won't change the look much at all.

She priced my bouquet high since it's peonies are so unpredictable. She said the price of my bouquet can either go up or down depending on how much peonies are at the time.

Price Quote
Brides Bouquet: $100 (20 peonies)
Bridesmaids Bouquets: $35 (Either 8-12 stems of garden roses or 4 stems of peonies) x 4 = $140
Delivery: $25

TOTAL: $265

Guest Post:Honeymoon on a Budget!

Thanks to Melissa at Best Travel Deals for putting this together for me!


How to Find the Best Honeymoon Vacation Deals

Your honeymoon is one of the most important investments you’ll make in your wedding. Wedding planning is so exhausting and leaves you little time to spend with your significant other. There’s no better way to relax after all the madness than by taking a luxurious honeymoon with your new husband or wife.

Due to the recession, there are numerous honeymoon vacation deals that newlyweds can take advantage of, and many of them allow couples to visit destinations that were once thought of as reserved for the rich and famous. The following are some of the most popular, budget-friendly destinations for today’s honeymooners.

The US

Although many people think they need to get out of the country to enjoy an unforgettable honeymoon, they forget that the US offers a myriad of wonderful destinations for honeymooners. Each major region of the US is home to unique cultures and attractions.

If your idea of a romantic getaway is admiring the gorgeous rocky, coastline of the northeast and staying in quaint bed and breakfasts, you will love honeymooning in Maine or Vermont. Hawaii is a romantic tropical paradise where newlyweds can relax on the white sands, participate in outdoor activities, or get pampered at a resort. For delicious food, endless celebrations, and colonial charm, check out New Orleans, a melting pot of Spanish, French, and African influences.

The Caribbean

The warm sun, tropical cocktails, and crystal clear waters are enough to attract droves of honeymooners to the Caribbean each year. There are hundreds of islands for honeymooners to choose from in the Caribbean, and each possesses its own unique culture and flair. The Bahamas is a favorite for many newlyweds due to its proximity to the US and its physical beauty. Jamaica is home to lush jungles, pristine waterfalls, stunning beaches, and reggae music. A favorite of honeymooning couples, Jamaica boasts a number of resorts that cater to newlyweds.

Europe

Nothing could be more romantic than strolling hand in hand down the winding, cobblestone streets of a charming Italian village or admiring the sunset on the horizon from a quaint seaside villa in Greece. Home not only to beautiful scenery, but also to a rich and significant culture and history, Europe is a favorite of honeymooners. There are so many sights to see and attractions to enjoy that the only trouble you’ll have with planning a Europe honeymoon is how to fit so many activities into one trip!

Mexico

Honeymoon vacation deals to Mexico abound. Take your lover’s hand and head south of the border if you’d like to enjoy vibrant nightlife, delicious cuisine, and fun under the sun. Opt for adventure by going scuba diving in caves in the Yucatan peninsula or kick back and relax at a romantic resort in Baja California. Whatever your preferred style of travel may be, the possibilities are literally endless in Mexico. Take advantage of honeymoon packages to Mexico in order to get more bang for your buck.

Edit: Not sure why this didn't format. Sorry ladies!

Gellings Flowers Meeting

Along with cake bakers, I'm now on the search for florists. Eek!

Last week I met with Gellings Flowers in Monticello, FL.

Consultation Experience
I drove out to Monticello on Wednesday and we met in their shop. Their wedding section was under construction, so we stood at the counter and talked about options. We had talked about what I wanted for my bouquets and price over email, so we didn't have too much to talk about in person. We talked about centerpieces a little, but I don't think I'm going to be having them. She only had one book of examples of her work because her other one was being re-binded so I didn't have many examples to go off of.

Customer Service
We chit chatted more than we actually talked about the wedding. We talked about everything from pets to crime. She was real sweet woman. She told me about her experience in floral, which really made me realize she knew he stuff.

A few people came in her store while we were talking and she made sure to great each and every one of them. I thought that was a great way to run a business because I hate being ignored when I walk in a door.

Price Quote
Bridal Bouquet: $135 (12 peonies)
Bridesmaids Bouquets: $50 (4 peonies) x 4 = $200
Delivery: $25

TOTAL: $360

NWR: We kept the kitty!

We had the option to take the kitty to the Humane Society or to keep and she decided to keep us. She's warmed up to us so much and has become such a sweet kitty. We named her Freckles. Well, I did. My fiance still wants to name her Magic.

My fiance has became so attached. He bought her a cute black color with stars and moons and then bought her a play area (we just put it together so I'll take a picture of it later). The dog is also starting to warm up to her.

Now I'll leave you with some pictures:

Postcard Giveaway Winner

The winner of the Uprinting postcard giveaway is Megan who said:
Mine will be used as RSVP postcards. Since we changed our wedding date, I need new RSVP cards, and it would be great to get these for free!

Megan -- Please respond to my email within 24 hours.

Thanks for entering the Uprinting postcard giveaway everyone!

Thrifty Thursday (And Kitten Update)

Sorry this post is kind of late today. I've been occupied with our little kitten. We found someone who can get her into the Humane Society's program, but now we're debating on maybe keeping her. She's really warmed up to us and I'm kind of falling for her. lol

Discounts
Oriental Trading: 15% off $59+, Code: SAVE15J9
Wedding Paper Divas: 10% off $99+, Code: OCTSALE
Party City: $10 off $30+, Code: PCBARBIE10

Giveaways
Invitation Suite from PaperCakes designs over at the Relentless Bride
$50 gift card to Urbanity at The Budget Savvy Bride (Ends Tonight!)
Autumn of Giveaways: Week 6 at Etsy Wedding Street Team
Win a wedding dress! Information at The Budget Brides Handbook.

Also, don't forget to enter the postcard giveaway that I'm hosting from Uprinting. It ends tomorrow at 5pm!
http://brideonbudget.blogspot.com/2009/10/uprinting-postcard-giveaway.html

NWR: Rescue Kitten

There was an itty bitty kitty outside our apartment yesterday and I just couldn't leave it out there. The mother was no where to be found the entire day and it was supposed to get really cold that night. So, I rescued it and brought it inside. Now it's in our bathtub and is a scared little kitten, but definitely a happier one. It's got food and water and I've been playing with it a little bit. It's skittish because it's a feral, but it's starting to warm up to us. Still won't let me pet it though.

I called around today to try and find someone to take this kitten. We're not sure we can keep it, so I'm trying to find a good home for it. I contacted the humane society and they said they don't take animal from the public. *Side eye* I also contacted a rescue and they said they can't help her without a donation as well. *Another side eye* So my last resort is the animal shelter and I don't want to take it there because they'll probably put it down. Sigh. I don't know what to do.

I really want to take it to the vet and get it checked out for rabies and other diseases, but sadly we can't afford that. With planning a wedding, we can't afford to pay $50 to get a kitten we're probably not even keeping checked out.

This isn't normally something I'd ask for, but if you'd like to help this little kitten, I would really appreciate it if you could donate a couple dollars by clicking on the button to the right. That way, I can take the kitten to vet and make sure it's healthy and then I might have an easier time finding it a home.

Must-Have Pictures

I've been working on my list of must-have pictures for the wedding day. Photographs are the most important thing to me and I want to make sure that everything is captured. That's why I'm starting so early on my list.

Getting Ready

- Dress hanging up
- Getting hair done
- Full-length shot of bride looking in mirror
- Shoes
- Garter
- Necklace tied to bouquet
- Bride hugging MOH
- Bride w/ all women
- Bride looking out window
- Bride w/ mom
- Bride ready to go
- Groom w/ mom
- Groom w/ siblings
- Groom w/ best man
- Groom w/ all GMs
- Groom ready to go

Ceremony/Portraits

Ceremony
- Guests arriving
- Groom waiting at altar
- BMs & GMs walking down the aisle
- Bride walking down the aisle
- Close-up of bride before she makes her entrance
- Groom as bride is walking down the aisle
- Bride and groom at altar
- Far away shot of ceremony
- Faces of bride and groom as they exchange vows
- Mother(s) faces as they watch ceremony
- Bride and groom's hands as they exchange rings
- The kiss
- Bride and groom during recessional
- Bride and groom hugging and laughing with close friends and family
- Programs

Portraits
- Bride with mom and step-father
- Bride with mom, step-father, and grandparents
- Bride with dad and step-mother
- Groom with parents
- Groom with parents and siblings
- Bride and groom with both sets of parents
- Bride and groom with bride's mom and step-father
- Bride and groom with bride's father and step-mother
- Bride and groom with groom's parents
- Bride and groom with GMs
- Bride and groom with BMs
- Bride and groom with whole wedding party
- Rings in some cool pose
- Rings with invitation

Reception

- Shot of outside of reception site
- Reception site set up without guests
- Bride and groom in reception site without guests
- Place cards
- Decorations
- Bride and groom entering
- Bride and groom at head table
- Guests at tables
- Close-up of people making toasts
- Bride and groom's reactions to toasts
- Bride and groom sipping champagne
- Bride and groom talking to guests
- Bride and groom's first dance
- Bride's parents dancing
- Groom's parents dancing
- Bride and mom dancing
- Groom and mom dancing
- Guests dancing
- Bridal party dancing
- Bride laughing with BMs
- Cake table
- Bride and groom cutting the cake
- Bride and groom feeding each other cake
- Bouquet toss
- Garter toss
- Bride and groom leaving

Is there anything that you think I may be missing? I'm sure something is missing, so please tell me!

Invitation Design

Woohoo! The majority of my invitation designs are done. They still have to do my accommodations card, but that's on hold because we haven't finalized stuff for our rehearsal dinner yet and that's going on one side of the card.

Double Trouble Designs did a fantastic job taking my inspiration and making it into reality. Take a look at their fantastic work.

I blurred out all personal information. It's kind of hard to tell in the small pictures, but the dots and then the lines around our names are a sage green.

I plan on printing these out at home and assembling them myself. I can't wait to show you the final product!

This is a compensated/sponsored post!

Free Notecard from Traylor Papers

Traylor Papers is offering a free notecard.

This is the rundown:

"FREE PERSONALIZED NOTECARD! Send us an email to VIP@traylorpapers.com with your name & address and we'll send you a free customized card with your name. Tell us your favorite colors and/or style (i.e., whimsical, classic, girly, etc.) and we'll try to make you a match ;) BONUS: post this offer on your blog or wall, send us a link and we'll send you a few extra! Good thru 10/28/09!"

Thanks Jen from a Girl in Pearls for sharing this with us!

Uprinting Postcard Giveaway

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!

I have one more great giveaway from Uprinting for you! This one will definitely be helpful to all the brides out there! They are giving away 100 4x6 postcards to one lucky winner. These postcards are printed in full color on both sides.

This giveaway will from today until 5pm EST on Friday, October 23rd. Here's how to enter:
1. Leave a comment with how you'd use the postcards if you won. I'm going to use the 100 I'm receiving for RSVP cards for my invitations.
2. For an additional entry, blog about the giveaway linking back to this post and also Uprinting. Make sure to leave an extra comment if you do this.

Sorry, but this giveaway is open to US residents only!

This is a compensated/sponsored post!

Free Subscription to Bridal Guide

Here's a free subscription to Bridal Guide for you. Hurry because these go fast. I've gotten tons of magazine subscriptions from this site before so it's totally legit. Enjoy!

http://www.valuemags.com/freeoffer/freeoffer.asp?offer=bridalguide.asp

Guest Book Sign

Sorry for the crappy picture. It was taken on my blackberry.

I figured it was time to start getting some of the smaller projects out of the way, so today I made our guest book sign. I think it came out really good.

I found a frame I liked at the Dollar Store and spray painted it gold. Then, I just typed up the sign in word and printed it up on regular printer paper. Since it's behind glass, you can't tell what kind of paper it's on.

Here's the cost breakdown:
Frame -- $1
Small can of gold spray paint -- $1.50 (bought it at Michaels with a 40% off coupon)

TOTAL -- $2.50 (I have plenty of spray paint left though so I'll be using it on other frames and baskets for the wedding)

Here's what the sign says:
Please Sign Our Guestbook

We thought this book would make a great souvenir
So if you have a wedding message, please write it in here
Some words of wisdom, encouragement, or joke
A poem, a drawing, or anecdote
We'll look through it fondly in years to come
So thanks for making this book a special one!

Thanks,
The Newlyweds

I used the same fonts that were used on our invitations to tie all our paper products together.

Uprinting Business Card Winner!

The winner of the Uprinting business cards is SharpTeethofLove! I emailed you and you have 24 hours to get back to me.

Here's how she plans on using her business cards:
I think photosharing cards are a great idea- that's what I'd use them for as well!

Thanks for entering everyone and I have another great Uprinting giveaway starting on Monday! This next one is sure to be popular.

Thrifty Thursday

Discounts
Wedding Paper Divas -- 15% off $99+, Code: SAVE15

The Broke Ass Bride did a week of giveaways and most of the vendors are now offering coupon codes for her readers. Here are some of the offers going on. Head on over to her blog and check out some of the other wonderful giveaways.
Customized Wedding Creations -- 10% off any order, Code: BBB10
Julianne Smith garters -- $10 off on wedding garters
Best Wedding Sites Boutique -- 10% off any order, Code: BABTEN
Good Gals -- 30% off any order, Code: BAB

Giveaways
Dream Vinyl Giveaway over at a Giveaway Everday
Autumn of Giveaways Week 5 over at Etsy Wedding Street Team
$75 giftcard giveaway to the wedding outlet from The Perfect Palette

Sandy's Sweets Visit

Last week we met with Sandy's Sweets Bakery. She's located in Tallahassee. She doesn't have a bakery, so we met at Books-a-Million.

Consultation Experience
Like I said, we met at Books-a-Million. She brought a box of cupcakes for us to try and explained what each one was to us. Then, she gave me a photograph album of her work. It only consisted of about 20 wedding cakes. I also looked through a magazine to give her an idea of what I was wanting in a cake.

Customer Service
We clicked with Sandy automatically. She was a very sweet woman and we had some actual conversations with her that didn't revolve around our wedding cake.

One of my favorite things about her is that she does not charge for the top tier. Since most couples save it for their anniversary, she doesn't calculate it into how many servings you get from the cake. I think that is a great way to show your customers you care.

The Cake
Her cupcakes were actually very good. Very moist and the fillings tasted just like the fillings you would find in a doughnut. We ended up mixing and matching the flavors that were in different cupcakes to actually make flavors that we thought we would like better. She also has this one flavor that she didn't tell me about when she listed her flavor options that sounds amazing. It's a pink champagne cake. I plan on trying it if we actually decide to go with her.

Price Quote
I asked her for two different prices because I'm not 100% on what flavors we want. Both of these cakes are 3 tiered square cakes that serve about 100 people. The icing is buttercream. Each tier has ribbon at the bottom and a piped monogram on the center tier.

Cake #1
Bottom tier: Butter cake with raspberry filling -- $192.50
Middle tier: Lemon cake -- $81.25
Top tier: Butter cake -- $0
Delivery: $40
TOTAL: $313.75

Cake #2
Bottom tier: Butter cake with raspberry filling -- $192.50
Middle tier: Pink champagne cake -- $87.50
Top tier: Pink champagne cake -- $0
Delivery: $40
TOTAL: $320.00

Other Bakeries Visited
Visit #1: The Cake Shop
Visit #2: Myra Jean's Cake Shop
Visit #3: Katie's Cakes
Visit #4: Lucy and Leo's Cupcakery

Map Card Insert

Double Trouble Designs finished my wonderful map design the other day. I love it! I'm going to be printing it on a Vistaprint postcard.

Uprinting Business Card Giveaway

I have another great giveaway from Uprinting for you! This time they're giving away 250 customized business cards.

Uprinting is a great online printing company and does awesome business cards!

This giveaway will from today until 5pm EST on Friday, October 16th. Here's how to enter:
1. Leave a comment with how you'd use the business cards if you won. I'm going to use the 250 I'm receiving for photo sharing cards.
2. For an additional entry, blog about the giveaway linking back to this post and also Uprinting.

Sorry, but the giveaway is open to US residents only!

This is a compensated/sponsored post

Day of Timeline

Since I've been sick, I decided to start working on the day of timeline. Since we're still so far away, this is just tentative, but I wanted to go ahead and get started on it.

8am -- Set up for wedding
11am -- Get hair and make-up done (Only me and two bridesmaids are getting their hair done)
1pm -- Arrive at reception site
2:30pm -- Bridal party pictures
4pm -- Finishing touch-ups
4pm -- Guests start to arrive
4pm -- Prelude starts
4:30pm -- Line up for processional
4:50pm -- Special guests are seated
5pm -- Processional starts
5:30pm -- Recessional starts
5:40pm -- Guests exit to cocktail hour
5:40pm -- Formal pictures
6:45pm -- Reception area opens
7pm -- Bridal party entrance
7:05pm -- Bride and groom entrance
7:05pm -- First dance
7:10pm -- Dinner is served
7:30pm -- Best man toast (5 minutes)
7:35pm -- MOH toast (5 minutes)
8pm -- Cake cutting
8:15pm -- Dancing starts
10pm -- Bouquet toss
10:10pm -- Garter toss
11pm -- Grand exit

Also, don't forget to send me your monograms if you made them yourself. I'm going to be doing a feature on the blog with them later this week. navybaby1113 (at) gmail (dot) com

PSA: Dollar Tree

I went to the Dollar Tree yesterday and they had some great stuff in stock. Here's some of the stuff I saw:

- Colored sand (if you're having a sand ceremony). They had pink, white, gold/yellow, and a few other ones.
- Packs of 36 napkins. That is 16 more than what is in their normal pack. They only had sage green, orange, and cream though.
- Cylindrical vases
- Table runners. Not the best quality, but decent. They have them in fall and Christmas colors.

Publisher Monogram DIY Tutorial

Lauren over at ten23 Designs wrote up this great DIY monogram tutorial for us!

Step One: Open a new Microsoft Publisher and select "Text Box" under the "Insert" tab.


Step Two: In the center of your work area, type the letter of the groom's last initial. Right click over the text box and select the font, size, and color.



After making selections, your letter will appear as the "centerpiece" of your monogram.


Step Three: Repeats steps one and two for the bride's name, groom's name, and wedding date (if desired). Make each name/date it's own text box so you can move it around as desired.


Now, if you're satisfied with the look, skip down to step six. If you would like to add an image to the background, go on to step four.



Step Four: To add an image to the background, go to "Insert" and then "Select Picture"

Click "Open" to insert your image.



Step Five: Place your image where you would like it. While your image is selected, click on "Recolor" and select a washout or shaded color effect. Then while the image is still selected, click "Send to Back".


You can also use the "Brightness" option to fade the image to just the right shade.


Step Six: Next, we need to save the monogram as a jpeg file. Select all the layers of the monogram and press CTRL + C to copy.


Open Microsoft Paint and press CTRL + V to paste your monogram, then "Save". You have just made your own DIY Monogram!
Lauren has graciously offered my readers a discount on her services as well. You can get one of these following dance floor decals for only $20 for the month of October!


If you want a custom order, she'll also waive the custom order fee ($25 value) until the end of the month.

So, head on over to ten23 designs and check her work out! If you did the tutorial, I would love to see what you came up with. Send you monograms over to navybaby1113 (at) gmail (dot) com.

Lauren Sarnoff Atwaters is the owner of Ten23 Designs, located in Jacksonville, Florida. Ten23 Designs specializes in creating customized monograms & turning the monograms into removable decals for special events and home decor. Removable decals are a great tool for decorating as they are easily removed and do not leave behind any sticky residue. Decals created by Ten23 Designs stand out among the competition because of the high quality material used and the unique design created for each client.

Lauren focuses on two main goals each time she welcomes a client to Ten23 Designs. One, give them what they want. Making custom and personalized designs can be a challenge at times, but Lauren’s goal to “give them what they want” does not let the challenge get in her way of creating a design that will bring a smile to her client’s face.

Her other main goal is to keep it affordable. Whether her client is decorating their home or adding personalized touches to an event, Lauren puts forth the effort to find the most cost effective way to decorate without cutting any corners.

Website: www.ten23designs.com

Blog: www.ten23designs.blogspot.com

E-mail: designedbylauren@yahoo.com

Twitter: ten23designs