They caught my eye and stole my heart!  I didn’t have a plan for them but I knew I had to own them! Ha ha!  They are long enough that if I place them side by side on the head table they will make quite an impact!  I love how big the rhinestones are and that the back portion is mirrored.  I also like that I got them on sale  for (drum roll please) $5.49 each!  As I placed them on a shelf to get a good picture of them for the world to see, a lady came by and picked one up, I screamed “NO, THOSE ARE MINE” like some ridiculous bridezilla.  She slowly backed away.  And wished me well on my wedding… How did she know?

(Notice the lady’s hand in the left corner… just before I smacked it away! haha! Jk. )

Really, the fact that they caught her eye and that she liked them so well (them, not me) served as quite the confirmation that I really truly DID need to own them!  As if there was any doubt.  Now, my friends,  help me figure out exactly what to do with them! Side by side they total 2.5 feet.  Is that long enough to make an impact?  Dare I venture off into unknown suburbs to try to find even MORE of them? Should I put votives / flowers / picture frames in between them?  What would make them the most impactful?

Or should I scrap the head table idea all together and put them somewhere else???

I’ve searched high and low to find black and white damask linens. (Yes, I recognize that my priorities might be slightly scewed, as we have no date nor venue… but I digress.) Other damask brides have gone to great measures and great expense to get their ideal table linens. They fret over the exact right pattern of damask. Whether it is white on black or black on white. They have their pattern SILK SCREENED onto fabric. They enlist MIL’s to sew countless runners. And have them re-sew them if they are slightly off center. They spend $20 per runner. Or buy $15 yard fabric from some fabric wholesaler in China.

I have to say, after reading their stories, I was ready to throw in the towel and go with some other color scheme.

That’s where my beloved Craigslist comes in. I have no idea why I was searching under the “Household” tab, probably searching for SOMETHING wedding related! And I came across a post for a black and white damask bedding set. This woman was selling her King sized comforter, pillows and curtains. Thankfully she sold me her curtains seperatly… as much as I love damask I’m not so sure I want to sleep on it… For $30 I got four LOVELY panels of curtains. They are BEAUTIFUL! I am going to cut each panel into three runners (or have my wonderful, beautiful, talented mother do it!). 12 runners for $30! Not too shabby! Maybe I should rent them out to those ladies that are on their way to the silk screeners…

We found some absolutely delightful designs at Muscari by Easter Yu!

Muscari was started in early 2008 by Easter Yu. It specializes in bold and one-of-a-kind wedding and fashion accessories crafted with feathers, silks, dried botanicals, beads, and other found objects.

Mother of Pearl Shell $25 Perfect for a beach or seaside wedding.

Flower Puff – Great for a garden themed wedding.

Blooming Box $45 Also, really cute for an outdoor/garden wedding

Look for it in the August/September 2008 issue of Modern Bride.

Bird Nest Pillow $27

Birch Ring Cushion $10

Let these lovely alternatives give you inspiration for unique touches to your wedding.

I’m not a huge fan of these lighted calla lily bouquets as centerpieces as shown here, they seem a little to “fake” for me, though perhaps in a better setting they would work. However, I would love them as lighting along the pathway during the evening of a summer wedding. They could also look lovely with a wide white ribbon wrapped around with a bow, and surrounded by candles for a soft romantic glow. Available from Oriental Trading’s Wedding Supplies section.

I also thought I would share these wedding cake toppers from Oriental Trading – both priced under $8 for an affordable topper.

This ribbon bouquet was featured in the recent Martha Stewart Weddings magazine as part of a feature on ribbon crafts for weddings. This is such a gorgeous, unique idea for a bouquet, perfect for a bride who wants something different but still affordable. The magazine, and Martha’s website both provide complete instructions as well. And, not only do you get something completely unique and unforgettable, but it will make a great keepsake for after the wedding as well!

To see the rest of the wonderful ribbon crafts, check out the Martha Stewart website, or pick up a copy today!

Source: White Aisle & All you need to wear.com

Parasols are chic, trendy and highly popular right now, but if you are like most brides on a budget, you have probably thought of them as another way to spend money right? Well – here is some great news for you! These chic, adorable parasols can actually save you money!!

If you are planning an outdoor wedding, parasols make the perfect bridesmaid accessory instead place flowers. You can get parasols in many different colors starting as low as $6 ( 20-32″ at Luna Bazaar). White Aisle has larger, 32″ parasols for $9. The ones from All You Need To Wear start at $5! At those prices, a parasol is both a chic and affordable alternative to bridal bouquets.

Printed versions are somewhat more expensive of course, but even the print versions at Luna Bazaar start as low as $8.

Buttons add a touch of vintage whimsy to a wedding, and the best part is that they don’t have to be expensive. Many of the projects shown, like that ring pillow for example, could be done using leftover buttons from grandma’s sewing box. I also really love the button boutineirre – easy to make, inexpensive and a great alternative to flowers if your guys are into the whole “flower” thing, lol. Anyway – Ritzy Bee has tons more pics so click over to see hers.

Candles are made with NVSoy wax, so they burn evenly right to the bottom and clean up easily with soap and water – so the jars become keepsakes for years to come!

Tie a ribbon with a little note card around the rim with you names and date, and a sweet message, for a very unique beach wedding favor! The jars can also be handpainted with a beach motif and your names if you perfer!

If you are having a candle light evening reception, place one at each place and light it for a romantic glow. There are also larger versions that could be used as centerpieces as well!

This cake topper would work well for a July 4th theme, a white & black theme, or a masquarade ball theme.