above photo ©Naomi WilliamsIf there's ever a better reminder of how precious life is, this story is one of them. So, this holiday weekend, please get out there and enjoy the time with your family and friends and be safe. I'll see you back here on Monday.
]]>Blog Giveaway - now thru July 10th, enter to win a For My Bride and For My Groom journal set
-------------------------------------------------
Gunther Gifts Summer Special
Purchase $250 and save $10 with coupon code "hot" as you go through checkout
-------------------------------------------------
The Wedding Outlet's Independence Day Sale
Receive 10% off all orders thru July 6th with code "Stars09"
-------------------------------------------------
Kathlin Argiro's Summer Sale
Shop the Summer 2009 Collection and use code "MTHK08" before July 15th for an additional 20% off
-------------------------------------------------
Name Your Price on In-Stock & Sample Bridal Gowns
Brand New Program for The Bridal Warehouse - they are now giving brides the option to name their price on all of their designer in-stock and sample bridal gowns.
Starting today, you will be able to enter and win a 'For My Bride' and 'For My Groom' journals from Lil' Angel Gifts as a set to exchange with one another. These journals give the bride and the groom the opportunity to reflect on their relationship with one another and topics are included to help you share your thoughts in the journal.Jennifer also creates journals for family & friends, babies & children, bridal shower & anniversaries, and special needs resources, so be sure to visit Lil' Angel Gifts for a wonderful sentimental gift that your recipient is sure to love.
]]>
1. Three graduated containers filled with florist foam soaked in water and blooms pressed in.
2. Paper lanterns around glass votives that are filled with water and a small bunch of florals.
3. Handful of white blooms with stars and stripes pinwheels added in
4. Fill rustic buckets and watering cans with sand and add in red, white and blue pinwheels
5. Fold 2" sections of a patriotic streamer accordion style, then wrap each section string
6. Fill a basket with decorative green grass, baseballs and red/blue croquet balls, topped of with flags
More detailed DIY instructions for the above and additional 4th of July decorations can be found at BHG.com
and stay tuned . . . coming up early this afternoon will be our contest winner announcement for the AB Designs Wood Frame and the launch of a brand new contest . . .
Additional Wedding Vendors included:
Thank you to Victor of Victor C. Sizemore Photography for allowing me to share this gorgeous engagement session with my readers. You can see more of Elizabeth and Christian's engagement session here.--------------
On June 13th and 14th, 2009 I was pleased to participate in a lovely little wedding event in New York City’s West Village. A little cupcake, wine and beer place called Sweet Revenge hosted the event. This unassuming storefront hides a charming little eatery featuring quiches, scones, and of course the famous cupcakes. I must tell you readers, that the "Sweet Revenge" cupcake is the best I've ever had. A concoction of spiced cake with chocolate oozy ganache filling and peanut butter buttercream frosting, it was absolutely to die for. But I digress, we're here to blog about a wedding event!
The Reccession Friendly Wedding Planning event was organized by the following vendors: Marlo Scott (Sweet Revenge), Robin Goldsmith (Scissor Paper Stone), Courtney Kern (Events Beyond), Peta Takai (Koru DesigNZ), Joshua Freiwald (Joshua Freiwald Photo), Denise Fasanello (Denise Fasanello Floral Design), Janelle Funari (Orangia Collection-Bridal Gowns), and Marni Gold & Linda Protovin (Creative Custom Card Boxes)
The idea behind the event was to give fashion conscious brides the chance to meet vendors who could help achieve their high style vision at a recession friendly price. The vendors all donated a prize to go in the Grand Prize Gift Basket which one lucky couple will win.
Some budget tips I picked up from talking to the different vendors are as follows:
1. Denise Fasanello of Denise Fasanello Floral Design uses found objects in her floral arrangements and as vases to help keep the costs down. As you can see in the picture, big blooms can make a BIG impact while still keeping the budget easy on the wallet.
2. Janelle Funari who designs the Orangia Collection of Bridal Gowns showed that wedding gowns don’t necessarily have to come from the big couture houses to be beautiful. Her free flowing, vintage inspired creations help to create a mood and make every bride feel special on a recession-friendly budget.
3. Scissor Paper Stone’s Robin Goldsmith showed that you can create a fun and elegant tone for your wedding all starting from your Save The Dates and Invitations. Personalized stationary doesn’t have to necessarily cost more than the pre-made invites you see in the books.
4. Of course, my mother Linda and I (of Creative Custom Card Boxes) think that using a custom card box for your wedding can help to really personalize the event in a sophisticated way. But sophisticated and personalized does not have to be expensive. By using eco-friendly resources and other means, we keep our costs down and transfer those savings to you.
I also had the pleasure of meeting some great wedding bloggers who showed up to the event. The lovely Lisa (find her on twitter here: @bridalease) interviewed the various vendors and gave her perspective of weddings in NY. Here is her blog.
I also was pleased to meet Bee Kim of wedding website Wedding Bee. (find her on twitter here: @bee_kim). She was so sweet and took time to speak to every single vendor.
Another up and coming wedding website owner I met was Christine of BridalTweet.com. This new website is an innovative way to bring customers and vendors together to discuss everything wedding and there are many discounts available to members. A great way to stay 'budget friendly'. (find her on twitter here: @bridaltweet)
Weddings CAN be recession-friendly. Using local vendors who you trust can ensure that you are getting the best quality for whatever the budget.
About our Guest Blogger Marni Gold/ Creative Custom Card Boxes
When planning her own wedding, Marni sought a card holder that matched her theme without breaking the bank. She found that the options available were either too gaudy or tacky and were very over priced. She and her mother Linda decided to create a custom painted card box to match her color scheme and theme.
The mother-daughter team behind Creative Custom Card Boxes works closely with each of their customers to create a card box that is perfectly in tune with her wedding or party theme and decor. The boxes start at just $40, which is absolutely amazing, considering the time and effort that goes into creating such beautiful finished products. Creative Custom Card Boxes recently received the prestigious Brides Choice Award from WeddingWire.com for 2009! They have also recently worked on a Celebrity Wedding Card Box! See their blog for more information.
Linda and Marni of Creative Custom Card Boxes create hand crafted and hand painted gift holders, cake table "I DO and WE DO letters, and monogram caketoppers which can be completely customized for weddings and other celebrations. Check out www.creativecustomcardboxes.com for more information.
--------------
Thank you so much Marni for joining us today and providing a re-cap of the Recession Friendly Wedding Event for my readers. And, don't forget, today is the last day to enter and win a custom card box from Marni on Best Wedding Sites.
]]>
1. Wrap sparkling water, lemonade, food jars, and soda bottles in pattern paper that is secured with double-sided tape. You can either make use of leftover pieces of gift wrap or wallpaper that match your color scheme.
3. Using hibiscus syrup, which comes with the edible flowers - you can make 2 different drinks from the one ingredient. For one drink, the syrup adds a floral note and a red tinge to iced tea. For a second drink, you can add one of the hibiscus flowers to a flute of champagne.
4. A great way to keep bugs out of the side dishes is to serve them in single-serving lidded glass jars and then each guest receives their own individual portion.
5. Serve up a fun and unexpected dessert for guests with a simplified Sundae Bar. Pre-dip the cones in melted white or milk chocolate, then roll in goodies, such as tiny mashmallows, coconut, nuts, etc. Serve the cones with a selection of ice cream flavors that are chilled in a tub of ice. Guests then help themselves.
Click here to see all of Country Living's Summer Party Ideas
]]>
You can see more images from this wedding at JL Designs' blog and Sweet Monday Photography's blog.
Coming up next . . . inspirational photos and ideas for a festive summer party