Do Not Disturb Door Hanger Giveaway by Double Trouble Designs

Double Trouble Designs is offering 3 lucky readers an In-stock Do Not Disturb Door Hanger perfect for your wedding day or wedding night!

The in-stock door hanger designs are great for the Bridal Suite, Groom Suite, Bachelorette Party, and Honeymoon.  They also makes a great present for a friend who's getting married!   Custom Orders can be created in any color, with bride and groom's name, monogram, wedding date...etc.... Or for your bridal party and out of town guests... because they just had "too much fun" at your wedding and need to sleep in the next day!

A little background about Double Trouble Designs LLC:  Nikki & Sara have known each other since we were 10 and we've always dreamed of working together.  They started Double Trouble Designs so every bride can have custom designed stationary, no matter what the budget.  They believe that your wedding stationary should reflect your personality.  With their constantly growing in-stock design selection and abilities for custom designing they offer exactly what you've been looking for.  Whether your a DIY bride, assembling at home, or letting them take it off your hands you have found the right place.  They have a fun, edgy, elegant style and know the importance of a custom design.

 

The winners of this giveaway can choose any one In-Stock Door hanger shown HERE. There are over 20 in-stock door hangers to choose from!

To win this giveaway, please go to their Door Hanger Order Page and leave me a comment telling me which door hanger is your favorite.  This step is required to enter the giveaway.  You entries will be disqualified if this step is not completed.
You can gain 1 extra entry for each of the following.  Make sure to leave a different comment for each step you do or they will not be counted.

1. Be a follower of Bride on a Budget blog. 
2. Follow Bride on a Budget on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/brideonbudget
3. Blog about this giveaway and come back and give me the link.
4. Be a follower of Double Trouble Design's blog: http://doubletroubledesigns.blogspot.com/  

5. Like Double Trouble Designs on facebook: Double Trouble Designs Facebook

This giveaway ends on Friday, August 12th at 5pm EST.  Good luck!

Wedding ABCs: Part 2

You can find Part 1 here.

M - Music

Our mothers and grandmothers were seated to Ave Maria by Bach

Our bridal party walked down the aisle to Minuet in G by Bach

I walked down the aisle to Canon in D Major by Pachelbel.

Our recessional was the traditional wedding march, A Midsummer Night's Dream by Mendelssohn.

Our first dance was Have I Told You Lately by Rod Stewart.

N - Newlyweds

You can follow our newlywed life over at Wife on a Budget.

O - Old, New, Borrowed, Blue

My something old was a locket that my mom gave me when I turned sixteen that I wrapped around my bouquet.  My something new was pretty everything on me.  My something borrowed was a garter that my maid of honor let me borrow but I forgot to wear.  My something blue was my underwear.

P -- Photography

My photography was done by the wonderful Micha Everett.

Q -- Question Popping

J proposed on December 16, 2008 in Pigeon Forge, TN.  

R -- Reception

We had a lot of fun at our reception.  The food was delicious, the drinks were flowing, and people were having a great time dancing.

S -- Shoes

Loved my shoes, but they definitely were not comfortable at all!

After pictures, I ended up changing into platform flip-flops.  They were so much more comfortable to dance in and kept my dress from dragging on the ground.

T -- Trash the Dress

I've been meaning to do it, but still haven't gotten around to it.

U -- Unique

We DIYed a lot of projects for the wedding, so I feel like a lot of those aspects were definitely unique.

V -- Vows

We did a mixture of traditional vows and writing our own.  We recited what we wrote first and then recited the traditional vows afterwards.

W -- Wedding Woes

We had a lot of problems with our venue before the wedding, but on the wedding day, it turned out fantastic.  We were very disappointed with our DJ on the wedding day and ended up getting a partial refund because of it.

X -- X-rated

Came home, ate, and fell asleep.  We were so tired!

Y -- Young kids

We did not have any children at our wedding.  I feel that weddings are an adult affair.

Z -- Zzzz

Like I said before, we came home and fell asleep.  I'm glad we held off for a little while on our honeymoon because that gave us time to relax and get everything sorted out after the wedding.

Guest Post: Autumn Honeymoons

Newlyweds: Enjoy an Autumn Honeymoon Escape to a Tropical Location

Some of the best romantic honeymoons are often located on the pristine white sand beaches of tropical destinations. These beach destinations often include phenomenal resorts on the tropical beaches of Turks and Caicos, Maui, Seychelles, Mallorca or St. Barths. Each of these destinations provides a perfect setting for two people to start their marriage and learn about one another in a romantic and peaceful environment. Beach honeymoons are perfect during September, October or November.

Turks and Caicos

Turks and Caicos is one of the most popular and gorgeous beaches in the world. The beach is often ranked by Travel and Leisure magazines as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, as well as the most romantic. Honeymooners on the islands of Turks and Caicos can expect to find a collection of over 40 islands with a calming and intimate setting. Coral reef and turquoise waters are characteristic of these particular places. Snorkeling and scuba diving allow honeymooners to witness and stand in awe of one of the most beautiful natural creations in the world. Whale and bird watching at sunset are also two romantic activities that a newly married couple can enjoy.

Maui

Maui consistently ranks in the top five beaches in the world. Hawaii is one of the top honeymoon locations and has numerous beaches, restaurants and other places where couples can share an intimate moment together. This tropical paradise has numerous waterfalls and colorful oasis beneath the ocean. Couples will reminisce and long for the time that they spent on this island location.

Seychelles

Seychelles is a beautiful location for newlyweds to celebrate. Seychelles has numerous secluded pristine beaches where couple may enjoy a private swim or a sunset dinner on the beach. There are also numerous places where couples can enjoy a night out on the town or engage in spa activities to relax.

Mallorca

Want to honeymoon and celebrate your new marriage with the stars? Mallorca is a popular location to spot celebrities and enjoy the natural beauty. Couples may enjoy a beautiful sunset yacht dinner or just cruise to enjoy the beautiful view of the island from afar. And because this island is popular with celebrities, you know that there are plenty of wonderful restaurants and sites to see.

St. Barths

St. Barths is a beautiful island location in the Caribbean. This location is known for its Five Star resorts, white sand beaches and clear blue water. The tropical fish are truly mesmerizing as they saunter along their underwater haven. Experience a picture perfect paradise and ultimate romance on the island of St. Barths. The sunsets are amazing and the activities are numerous. Whether you desire romance, adventure or relaxation, St. Barths has it all.

Heather Johnson is a writer for the leading online honeymoon planning resource. Learn all about the best honeymoon destinations today!

Moving Week

It's moving week!

I have some posts scheduled for this week and the next, so you won't be bored while I'm gone.  It might take a little longer than usual to answer comments or emails, so don't be concerned.

See you when we're in our new apartment!

Wedding ABCs: Part 1

I saw this great idea on Lucky in Love and I thought I'd do the same for our wedding.  If you've been following my blog for a while, you've probably seen a good bit of these pictures and heard about the details, but I thought it would be a fun recap anyways.

A -- Attending

We invited a little over 100 guests and had about 60 actually attend the wedding.  A lot of our guests were from out of town, so we kind of expected a low acceptance rate.  It was nice because we were able to talk to every single one of our guests during the wedding.

B -- Bridesmaids

I had four girls standing up next to me.  My maid of honor was my best friend that I met in college.  Then for my bridesmaids, I had one of mine and J's mutual friends, another one of my college friends, and then J's brother's wife.

C -- Cake

Our cake was made by The Cake Shop here in Tallahassee.

D -- Dress

I got my dress from David's Bridal.  I had a lot of doubts about my dress, but I ended up loving it on our wedding day.

E -- Engagement

We were engaged for 16 months before the wedding.  

F -- Flowers

All of our flowers were created by Posh Stems, except for the aisle runner.  I got the flowers for the aisle runner from Fresh Rose Petals and our DOCs created the decorations

G -- Groomsmen

J also had 4 people standing up next to him.  His best man was his best friend and old roomie from college.  His groomsmen were two more college friends and his brother.

H -- Honeymoon

We took a cruise on the Carnival Dream to Cozumel, Belize, Costa Maya, and Roatan.

I -- Invitations

After many attempts at designing my own invitations, I gave us and let a professional do it.  Double Trouble Designs designed all our paper products and then I printed them and assembled them all.

J -- Justice of the Peace

One of our family friends performed the ceremony for us.  It made it extra special.

K -- Keepsakes

We took our engagement pictures and created a photo book to use as a our guest book.  It has been a great momento to look back on.

Rehearsal Dinner Outfit

Rehearsal Dinner by Ashley JC featuring empire line dresses

Forever21 empire line dress
$28 - forever21.com

Forever21 strappy heeled sandals
$23 - forever21.com

Forever21 flap handbag
$20 - forever21.com

Forever21 rhinestone jewelry
$4.80 - forever21.com

Bachelorette Party Outfit

Bachelorette Party by Ashley JC featuring an asymmetrical dress

Forever21 asymmetrical dress
$20 - forever21.com

Forever21 peep toe shoes
$25 - forever21.com

Wallet
$11 - payless.com

Earrings
$5.80 - forever21.com

Blog Sale

I still have a bunch of items leftover from my wedding, so I decided to do a blog sale to get it out of my house.  I would love another couple to be able to use this stuff.

Item #1: 4 Brand New Parmesan Shakers: $5

We bought these because were planning on doing a pasta style rehearsal dinner.  We didn't end up going that way, so these have never been used.

Item #2: Gold Mr & Mrs Letters: $10

These looked great on our guest book table.

Item #3: 7 Sets of Two Peas in a Pod Salt and Pepper Shakers: SOLD

These looked so cute on our reception tables.  They already have salt and pepper in them, so you might need to clean the outsides some.

Item #4: Pink 70" Round Tablecloth: $10

Was used outside, so might have a couple stains on it.  Has been washed.

Item #5: 7 108" Sage Green Round Tablecloths: $75, plus $15 shipping

Might have a couple stains on them.  Have been washed since the wedding.

Item #6: Sage Green 70" Square Satin Overlay: $10

Sorry, I don't have a picture of this.  I don't think this was used at the wedding at all.

Item #7: Pink 60x102" Rectangular Tablecloch: $10

Was used on the head table so there shouldn't be any stains at all.  Washed after the wedding

Item #8: Sage Green 60x102" Rectangular Satin Tablecloth: $10

I think this might have been used on the gift table at the wedding.  Washed after the wedding.

Item #9: Brand New Hey Lady Shoes (Size 5.5): $100 (Retails for $220)

These are brand new, only tried on once.  They didn't fit and I couldn't return them.  Gorgeous shoes!

Item #10: Brand New Hair Comb with Crystals: SOLD!

Bought this and decided it wouldn't work with my hairstyle.  Never been used.

Item #11 &#12: Knot's Guide to Wedding Vows and The Modern Bride Survival Guide: $5/each

The Knot book has some writing and highlighting in it.

Item #13: 3 Large Flat-Rate Boxes of Wedding Magazines: $20 each, includes shipping

The Rules:

1. Email me your offer at brideonbudget (at) gmail (dot) com

2. The first person who offers full price will win the item.

3. If nobody offers full price by midnight on July 20th, I will entertain lower offers.

4. You must have a paypal account.  That is the only form of payment I will accept.

5. Shipping will be a flat rate of $5 on all items, unless noted in the description of that item.

6. I will email you if you won the item and update the post as items are bought.

7. You will have 24 hours after I notify you of winning to pay for the item.  If I have not heard from you after 24 hours, the item will be available again.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Guest Post: How to Measure Your Ring Size

When choosing your wedding bands you want to make sure that you get the perfect rings for you. But you probably also want to get the best possible deal on the rings. This usually means heading to the internet and buying your rings from an online store. The selection at online stores is phenomenal and the prices can't be beat. Plus, there's no pressure from a sales person working on commission when you're shopping online. But in order to buy your rings, you need to know your ring size. And this isn't something that you want to guess at, either. But measuring your ring size isn't difficult at all. If you have string and a ruler or measuring tape, the you can figure out your ring size.

When to measure for your ring size

Your fingers change size throughout the day depending on the temperature and what you're doing. When you first get up in the morning they are at their smallest. Mid afternoon they can swell due to the heat. So you want to make sure that you are measuring your ring size when your fingers are most likely at their normal size. Late afternoon or early evening after you've been resting for a while is the best time. And to make sure that you get an accurate measure you will want to measure your finger more than once. And if possible, on different days.

How to measure

Like I said, all you really need is a piece of string and a ruler or measuring tape. Tape the string and wrap it around the base of your ring finger where your ring will sit. Make sure that  you don't wrap the string too tightly or too loosely. You want it to fit your finger snugly so that it won't slip off, but you also want to make sure that it's comfortable and will slip past your knuckle. Once you have the piece of string sitting comfortably, mark where the sting meets. Don't mark where it overlaps, but where the circle is completed. Once that's done, take the string and measure it on the ruler or measuring tape. Make sure to write down the measurement in both inches and centimetres.

After you take the measurement, you can use the following chart to find out your size.

http://www.shoppingsense.ca/ring_size_guide.htm

Even if you measure a few times, you could be off by a bit. When ordering your ring online make sure to choose a store that offers size adjustments. There's no sense getting an excellent deal on a ring only to have to order a new one if it happens not to fit the best.

Choosing your wedding bands is exciting. After all it's a symbol of your love and devotion to each other. And by following the above steps you'll make sure that you get a ring that fits you perfectly. 

Kara Taylor is a freelance writer for Tungsten World, a leading tungsten ring retailer online.

Picture Scavenger Hunt

Since most guests bring digital cameras to weddings, you'll have tons of more pictures to pour over than just the ones your photographer took.

A great way to help get some great pictures from guests is to have a wedding scavenger hunt for them.

Think of some pictures that you would love to have guests take and make a list.  Place that list on each table to help encourage your guests to take these pictures.

Some good pictures to put on your list:

The couple having their first dance

Group photo of everyone at your table

Bride and groom kissing

Someone making a toast

Bride and her father dancing

Groom and his mother dancing

Your favorite decoration

Best dancer at the wedding

What else would you add to the list?

SmartBride: How to Get Designer Style for Less

This is my second installment in the three part series of SmartBride posts.  The first one was Destination Wedding Dresses under $500.

Wedding dresses can be expensive, but with these great tips from the SmartBride Boutique you'll be able to save yourself some money.

1. Lose the extras

Sometimes you try on the dress of your dreams, only to find out the deco belt around the waist, or the beautiful shoulder sash are extra!  A friend of mine, who is getting married next year, found her dream dress and was ready to purchase, and then discovered the price increased by another $1200 because of extra trimmings.  Be aware and avoid the extra cost.

2. Avoid custom alterations

It's no question that unless you're lucky enough to buy off the rack there will be alterations involved.  However, there are regular alterations and then there are custom.  If you want to add/alter a sleeve or change a neckline, you could be looking at significant cost additions.  Perhaps you can find another dress that has the elements you want already included.

3. Look for simple silhouettes

Unless you've got your heart set on a princess gown, remember that the more fabric used in a dress, the more it will cost.  Gowns with layers of tulle and organza will cost significantly more than a simple sheath in the same material.  Remain open to options and you just might surprise yourself!  I thought I wanted a flowing Grecian gown, but ended up in a curve hugging silhouette.  Nicole Miller dresses (pictured above) are great examples of simple silhouettes.

4. Shop sample sales, trunk shows, and evening gowns

Sample sales at bridal shops generally happen in summer and winter as retailers look to clear out old inventory at reduced prices.  Remember to factor in the cost of alterations and/or dry cleaning because these dresses have often been tried on numerous times.  Bridal boutiques also hold Trunk Shows for specific designers throughout the year.  During these events, savings abound.  Last but certainly not least, don't forget to look at evening gowns!  I ended up going to Holt Renfrew and found a white evening gown for less than the cost of any of the wedding dresses I was trying on.

5. Go online!

This one certainly isn't rocket science for all of you smart brides out there, but after you've found some favorites at the boutiques, it might be worthwhile to search online to find the dress at a reduced price.  As a note of caution, if you do find your dress online, it's best to deal locally if at all possible.  This allows you to meet the seller to inspect and try on your dress before purchase and protects you from fraud.

If you have any other great tips for saving money on your wedding dress, please add them in the comments section.

Happy 4th of July!

I hope everyone has a safe and fabulous 4th of July!