Thursday, June 25, 2009

The budget

The budget, the thing I think all brides dread. We are on a servere budget like the bride that has the $2000 wedding I am looking around the same thing or less. I think I am pretty thrifty and enjoy a good sale. Although this week a lone I saved a ton of money but not eating lunch out of the office not one day!!! Now working on a budget should be no thing, since I work for a non profit where budgets are always a crying matter!

Lately I have noticed all the hubbub about budgets and I am almost embrassed when I see other couples who have sent oh lets say $50K, is there not something else besides a wedding that you could spend that money and use. With todays economy I still can't believe folks can spend that on a wedding ( well I am sure they don't work for a non profit)

Anyway, I wanted to share with you all a breakdown of my budget or at least what has been spent so far.

(sorry these are in no kinda order)

Wedding Blog (free, thanks google)
Wedding Dress Ebay $350 included shipping (purchased from before)
Church Free (but will give the church a donation)

Save the dates Vista Print $34.00
Postage (already had from before)$10 a the most or less

Bridesmaid Newsletters:
Folder $1.50
Printing Free
Postage $1.50x 4

Candy Buffet
Jar 1 $6.99
square Jar borrowed
Round jar $2.99
Mosaic Bowls purchased from before $2.00 ea clearance after xmas sale Michaels

Oh and I recently purchased the lovely Gocco $143.00

So far I thinking I am doing good!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Blessed Be thy name



Well to put it out there, I am a Catholic girl raised Roman Catholic.Well being that the Cathlic tradition is very traditional when it comes to getting married, needless to say we just aren't working with that type of time frame. Sad to say I won't be getting married in a Catholic Church.

However, I found a very quaint and beautiful church in my new neighborhood. The minister is absolutely great and just wonderful and he has offered to marry us and allow us to do the ceremony in the church.

So needless to say I am thrilled and very excited to decorate the church which actually has been the easiest decisions I have had to make. To give you a quick run down:

Monogram aisle runner (DIY)
Flower cones on every other pew (DIY) White Flowers with a few blue hydrangea's mixed in
White pearl wreaths with blue and brown ribbon (DIY)

So that's it well of course the programs and tissue packets that I will include in them.

So without further delay here are some photos of my inspiration

I am in love with a Gocco


Yes I am all about the Gocco Craze! And yes it is truly that a craze. For weeks and months I have been pulling my hair out over our invites. What color, what style, what graphic and just the overall look. I already know the wording, I just need the design feature.

I really want an Apple Mac (not a big mac) this would really resolve all of my design issues right, well they are $1500 + so that will have to wait just a little bit. Sorry I got off track :-p but the current solution was to get a Gocco. Everything I buy now I try to rationalize, how much will I actually use or or how many times will it get worn etc...

I figured with the Gocco, I can not only do wedding related things but Christmas Cards, Birthday cards, all sorts of things. Great right! Well I am still thrifty and just spending $300 on this machine plus the supplies would def. cost me a pretty penny, which with moving, planing a high glamour little budget, attempting to go back to school in the fall might be out of the budget.

Well as many of you know (or I hope you know) I am a blogger on Blogger Brides and frequent the Wedding Bee boards. I always always always look for deals and steals. Now of course everyone there has theirs listed for $250 or $300 not including shipping, well low and behold I got a super deal for under $200 with shipping.

On the same night I was able to find inks at a discount price as well. Now once I save a little I do plan on hoarding supplies, since the Gocco will no longer be made.

Here is my beauty :) A PG 5

Thursday, June 18, 2009

In Love with the theatre


Hello the Senator Theatre that is. A very historical site here in Maryland, a very unique movie theatre very old skool style. Since I am planning a vintage style wedding with modern twists. How amazing would it be to take photos at the theatre.

Well after begging,searching, annoying, pleading, everyone I could to get me in at the theatre I was able to talk to the owner, who Baltimore being the small town it is, near the past company I worked for and some of my work.

The sad part is that the city is putting the theatre up for auction in July and you know being the organizer I am, I just can't have that.

I have a wonderful photographer by the name of Fola Adewole(www.folaadewole.com/blog) please check her work out it is amazing! She will be taking our E-Pics at the theatre. How exciting! We are super excited to be working with our new friend and to also do some good for the theatre. I plan on giving the theatre a pic or two to show what beauty can happen at the theatre and how people feel about it.

Newies



So I am hoping on the band wagon and providing my lovely ladies with newsletters. All of my ladies work incredibly hard and are always super busy! When I say busy I mean crazy busy. My maid of honor lives about an hour or more from her full time job (what a commute!) she then drives to her part time and works till almost midnight, 3 nights a week.

Bridesmaid number one, works full time as a graphic designer and is trying to get certified as a YOGA instructor so she has many classes and workshops to go to.

Bridesmaid number two, is an amazing dancer (I consider her to be my little sister) and she is always performing and auditioning ( did I mention all of us are dancers)

Bridesmaid number three (also a dancer)works very hard and also will be in the process of planning her own wedding soon too.

So we def. have a full plate! So to keep everyone informed what better way then a newsletter, these little puppies took me foooorever! I couldn't find folders in my colors, but I found these cute polka dot folders that they can use over and over for anything (of course I have to be practical)

So tadaa a sampling of my newsletters and folders. Enjoy ladies!

Sunday, June 14, 2009

I do


Finally one of the first DIY projects of many is done and I can cross off my list. Exciting right :-D I created I Do letters, I want to make some tables really stand out, like hello my cake table! I will be making a fake cake 4 tiers, tiffany style and possible blinged out (the hubby would really love the bling!)

But on the same note, I will be baking at least 3 real cakes to have cut up and served to my guest. Good times right. All baking will be done at least 2 days before. With my favorite or "our" favorite being made last 1 night before, phew, a lot of work right! All good, it cuts the budget in half and it will be a lot of fun and show what a damn good baker I am!

The table to continue to give you a visual will have a white table cloth, with blue tulle around the table (like a table skirt) with twinkle lights within the tulle, the I do letters on the table with sprinkles of bling and glitter to really make the table glow.

The I do Letters, are simple wood letters you can get from Hobby Lobby, Michaels, JoAnn or a few other places. I purchased mine from JoAnn's.
Each letter cost me around $1 and some change per letter.

I also purchased a paint bruch (.50cents) and 1 vile of Blue glitter($1.00) and craft glue (.75cents)

I placed the letter on a heavy folder but you can use a book, or something that has a little weight to it. I covered the letter section by section with the craft glue and shoke the glitter feriously. Once the glitter was on I lifted the letter and dusted it off onto the folder to catch the excess glitter, which saves you glitter and really helps you get your moneys worth!

Take a look at the letters! They need a final coat of glitter, but the bulk of the work is done!

Friday, June 5, 2009

Bridesmaid Dresses



So for weeks well months now I have been pondering over what the gal's shall wear. In previous, I was very un-happy with the original choice but decided they are the ones wearing it, so it should be there choice. Well the tables have changed just a little bit.

I want the following:
A dress the girls can wear again
A dress the girls absolutely love
A dress that is budget friendly (hello)
A dress that makes them all look amazing

Well I have found such said dress, even to the point that I too want to wear the dress for other parties and everything else in between. I introduce to you the Melissa Sweet dresses. I am in looooove with this dress, hello sworn worthy!

The dress has everything that I am looking for with the exception of the potential not so budget friendly tag, but I am hoping to work around that (more to come)
But checking out one of my new favorite blogs (Charm City Bride) I stumbled across a local boutique with said dress in their store front. So off I went to book an appointment to view the gowns ( yeaaa.....)
I am totally in love with the idea of things being local, shopping locally, buying locally and just being apart of the local economy. I am a eco girl who believes in giving back. So I am excited to visit to spot.

To check this store out go to Bellabridesmaid.com

Charm City Baltimore Bride

Thanks right, I am a Charm City Baltimore Bride and I love every minute of it. I love my city, granted we have the highest or are considered the most dangerous in the nation but who's looking. I love the lights of the city, the purple lighted buildings when the Raven's win. The fireworks from Camden Yards. The sweet vinegar smell when you get towards Cold Spring on 83. I love the beautiful hidden treasures you find every day in the city, that you stumble across. I mean I did meet my hunny there after all.

Well I have found a great new blog for all of you Baltimore Brides out there. This log posses some great true Baltimore finds and ideas. So I am pleased to share with you Charm City Bride

Kudos Charm City!

Dress me in silver

I never thought in my wildest dreams that finding a dress would be this difficult. I know for my body type and for my style what type of dress will look good on me and what I can get away with.

I love the fairy tale ball gown, southern charm type dresses, lots of tulle and total sweetness. But I am also on a budget. So I had a wonderful experience months ago at David Bridal's (DB's for future references)

I love the dress, I love all of the beautiful details but now the hard part begins, A. well getting in shape B. Finding those wonderful accessories I so crave to make the day absolutely perfect.



(I Will have to repost the picture hold tight folks!)

Now looking at the additional accessories in this picture, I hate times 10. The gloves just not me, the head band def. not me. So now I am on the hunt for perfect accessories. I love the bling of the bodice in the gown, so I am looking for a blingfull tiara and something else to set it off.

Any suggestions?