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Posted by Darcy MillerI know the word BUDGET is not a favorite for brides but, unfortunately, it is a reality. The more honest you are with yourself and your vendors, the easier your planning will be. The last thing you want is to wake up after your wedding and feel that you spent way more money than you really should have or actually do have!
I always suggest putting a cushion in your budget because no matter what you think you will spend, there will always be other costs that pop up. For example, when you budget your wedding dress, remember that there will also be alterations, dry cleaning, undergarments and accessories.
For help with your budget, check out our new budgeting tool or learn more about ways to save cash while planning your big day.
Our new online budget tool! It's free!
And, we're always looking for great cost-cutting tips. Do you have any smart ways that you saved money at your reception? On your dress? On anything wedding related at all? Please share!
Posted by Alexis GivensA co-worker just sent me this link from an All Things Considered on NPR. They ask a writer to pick three books based on a theme and low and behold, the theme was weddings this time. It's a fun group of books and I'm obsessed with reading one of her picks about the rules of hosting a Southern Wedding. As a midwesterner and now an east coaster, I'm not familiar with the concept of Southern Style Weddings but clearly, I've been missing out. Click here to find out more about the other two books and to get a mean recipe for sausage cheese balls (apparently a Southern delicacy).
Posted by Alexis GivensAs an online editor for the marthastewart.com/weddings site, I must take time from my regular blabber and stop and promote 2 things that are just too good to ignore.
1) Since I started working for the Weddings site, I have been deeply immersed in the creation of our online wedding planning tools. They are free, they are fabulous, we just put them up on the site, and you should go take a tour of them right now (shameless promotion I know but this is my blood, sweat. and tears people.)
2) The Summer 2008 issue hits newstands next Monday and the site gives links to some great downloadable templates that are also too good to ignore. Fill in menu templates, favor labels, program covers...you get the picture. Check them out. They are also free, fabulous and just newly up on the site courtesy of yours truly.
Posted by Alexis Givens
Uh oh, I've expanded my dress hunt to not only include my own... but now bridesmaids dresses too. I just spent much, much, much too much time creating numerous dresses with all sorts of fabulous details and fabrics on the Lynn Lugo site. They have a custom dressmaker tool that lets you pick out dress shapes and then apply different fabrics and details.
Posted by Darcy MillerI was walking around our Kate's Paperie event last week and found products and inspiration that are perfect for anyone planning a wedding. Here's what I uncovered in a quick hunt around the store.
Colored gift wrap perfect for wrapping boxed favors.
Continue reading "Inspiring Products I Saw at Kate's Paperie" »
Posted by Alexis GivensOne of our summer interns, Alice Hines, is a perfume aficionado and sent over this great post. Couldn't resist sharing some of her olfactory ideas with you.
One of the most important things in planning your wedding is giving it your own special touch—whether it be hand-made invitations, vintage gowns, or traditional monograms. Something that could add personality to your wedding is a bespoke (custom made) perfume….even though you’ve probably already found the perfume love-of-your-life, a special fragrance could make the day even more unique. It could also be fun to match your fragrance to your wedding! Musk for a mountain wedding...jasmine and gardenia for a spring wedding...Scents also evoke deeper memories than any other senses, so every time you smell your perfume you can remember the special day!
Posted by Alexis GivensI've been looking at gowns for hours and found four that I really like. They are by a designer named Jenny Packham. I must admit that I just happened upon her name on the Ultimate Bride site and then remembered that I had seen her gorgeous 1930s style gown in the Spring 08 Weddings. Here are my top picks from the Jenny Packham line. I seem to be in a deep v-neck kinda mood. Two of the dresses appear to be a little less white (one on the gray and one heading toward the creamy side.) What do you think about wearing a wedding dress that isn't pure white? I'm also wondering how easy it will be able to dance and move around in these dresses. I'm afraid I might trip or stick the heel of my shoe through the delicate layers. Any thoughts?
Posted by Darcy Miller
At last weeks Kate's Paperie event, Elan Artists provided a fresh spin on cocktail music with an acoustic guitarist and percussionist performing a blend of Brazilian Bossa, singer songwriter classics, and jazz standards with a funky groove. Elan Artists represents hip and sophisticated musicians ranging from classical, jazz, and world beat to non-cliché dance bands who play music that is exciting and original. Groups are comprised of musicians who are of national recording artist caliber. Audition musicians with sound and video samples at www.elanartists.com. Their musicians are available nationwide and for destination events.
Posted by Alexis Givens
Back to Reprodepot today and found another great fabric for a brighter (yes, I'm usually drawn to the gloomy blues) palette. To my great surprise, it was another fabric from my favorite Finnish design firm. Guess I've got a running theme here! This print was designed by Kristina Isola in 2007 for Marimekko. It also comes in a bunch of other colors. I'd love to use this fabric as a tablecloth for reception tables. Learning to sew is on my list for my wedding on a budget...a rectangular tablecloth can't be that hard right?
