I was just browsing though our Polka Dot Theme section and realized we never featured Polka Dot Wedding Cake ideas - so here are a few for you to enjoy:)

Polka Dot Wedding, Wedding Cakes | 4 Comments »

One thing I hear a lot is “I can barely afford the wedding, we can’t afford another $3000 for a honeymoon. We’ll take one later.” My response? “You only get married once - you need to celebrate it. You can honeymoon without spending that kind of money.”

How? By changing you definition of what a honeymoon is. You don’t need an exotic location or a expensive resort - just a quiet, romantic place to get away from everyone and enjoy your first days as husband and wife.

So how do you do that? A bed and breakfast! These small hotels are generally much more private and intimate then a hotel for a number of reasons. They are smaller. generally with only a few guests at a time which means you have more privacy. They are often located in unique, quiet places with beautiful scenery and romantic, character homes.

You can find Bed & Breakfasts in almost any area you wish, like the Dallas TX Bed And Breakfast.  Prices vary, but if you pick a location that is only a few hours away you can easily find a location that will allow you to have an entire weeks honeymoon for less then $1000. Still to much - make it a weekend and spend just a few hundred.

In the end - the point is just to get away for a little while so you don’t spend the first days of your marriage fielding phone calls, surprise visitors, etc.

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A reader recently posted a comment on one of our posts called Using Table Markers to Enhance Your Theme. Their comment was so good, I thought it deserved it’s own post:

I am taking the table naming to a more personal level. I have picked out important events my husband-to-be and I share throughtout our relationship.

For example, the first time we ever spoke to one another was at a coffee stand. So, one of the tables will be named “Cafe o’ Le” followed by a very brief description on why it is named that.

I just feel personal is the way to go at weddings. Think about it, everyone is there to share this wonderful step in a couples life!

Enjoy!

Now THAT is a great idea!!

DIY Weddings, Decorations, Food and Meals, Real Weddings | No Comments »

Just over a year ago, Bradley Cooper (Wedding Crashers) and Jennifer Esposito (Crash) made headlines when they were seen kissing at a Golden Globes party. The couple, who refused to reveal if they were an item has now made it official. They tied the knot is a private ceremony just before Christmas.

Actor Alan Cummings (X-Men 2) also tied the knot this holiday season, marrying his partner Grant Shaffer in a civil ceremony in London, England.

Of course, as always, the holidays brought with it a burst of holiday proposals with a numbe  of celebrity couples popping the question including:

-  Garth Fischer (Extreme Makeover Surgeon) and Jessica Canseco (Playboy Model)

- Chris Cattan (SNL) and Sunshine Tutt (model)

- Benji Madden (Good Charlotte) and Sophie Monk (actress)

Celebrity Weddings | No Comments »

I get a lot of questions from bride’s - it comes with the job. When planning a budget wedding, many brides don’t even consider the option of a fancy honeymoon. Who can afford to spend $3000 on a honeymoon when that would almost double you wedding budget? I also have a lot of brides who want to know what to do when they already have everything and don’t really need the things a traditional registry includes. A honeymoon registry is the perfect solution - almost. The problem with most honeymoon registries is that they are impersonal, expensive and full of loop holes you have to jump through in order to use the travel money collected.

The solution? Traveler’s Joy! The FIRST thing that caught my eye with this site is how easy it is to use. I took me a matter of minutes to set up an account, and a honeymoon page. Not only that, but unlike most most travel registeries there is no set up fee. You do pay a small withdrawal fee when you take the money out later, but even that is less then other travel registeries! And, if no one uses your registery, you pay nothing!

After creating my sample page - which you can see there, I looked into some of the options. For example, as you can see on my page, you can list specific parts of the honeymoon, even specific meals or events, which guests can choose to purchase instead of just giving money for a more personal gift. You can include pictures, information on your honeymoon plans, and they even have built in tools you can use to let everyone know were you are registered!

When one of your guests visits your personal honeymoon page, they can use their credit card to purchase specifics parts of your honeymoon, or just give money towards the total cost - either way, you receive an email letting you know so that you can thank them. They also have the option of purchasing a gift card to go with their gift….Incidentally - stats show that guests will give more if they can use a credit card - so a registry like this may result in large gift amounts as well!

SO, so far this all looks great. My last question - and the one I’m sure you all are waiting for was: great - but were am I allowed to use the money? Most honeymoon registeries are affiliated with specific travel agencies or travel packages which limit your choices. Travelers Joy is completely different because it is not affiliate with anyone at all. At any time, you can withdraw the money that has been gifted so far and use it were ever and however you please! That means you can go ANYWHERE and use ANY AGENCY you please! That is a flexibility you won’t find at most honeymoon registeries.

To make the most out of your honeymoon registery - read this article on their website: Honeymoon Registries: A Guide to Asking for Your Honeymoon as a Wedding Gift

Gifts & Registeries, Honeymoon, Wedding Planning | No Comments »

Just a note for those brides who have insurance with State Farm Insurance - if you let them know, they have a free wedding planner they will send you! Check it out on the Wedding Bee (thanks for the tip guys)

Free Stuff, Wedding Planning | No Comments »

Here is a cute favor idea for a Cinderella Themed Wedding or Quince. The kits come from the Oriental Trading Company and include everything you need to turn 24 chocolate kisses into little mice - for about 33 cents each ($8 for 24).

DIY Weddings, Wedding Favors, Wedding Themes | No Comments »

Valentine’s Themed wedding offer a lot of unique options for centerpieces - there are two of my favorites, each with a totally different feel to them, and each usable for any wedding even if it isn’t Valentine’s!

This first one is a very romantic candle holder design, suitable for a tradtional, semi formal wedding. The hearts make it suitable for a Valentine’s theme, while the berries make it very suitable for any winter wedding. The design itself has a country feel as well. This set is a complete centerpeice, you wouldn’t really need to add anything to it - and they sell for $18 per set.

My second choice is this very modern, trendy design of a man and a woman forming a heart that would be suitable for even the most formal, elegant wedding. The black color also means it will work in any season, with almost any color scheme and most themes! You could add a pillar candle behind each one for a romantic glow, or place on a mirrow with small glass pebbles for accent peices. These are very affordable, on sale right now for $3/piece.

Valentine's Wedding | No Comments »

If you are planning a Valentine’s Themed wedding - or any red/pink themed wedding - this is the time to shop for favors: with valentines/red/pink items available in nearly every store, there are some really unique items available that you won’t want to miss out on. Here are a few we found online:

This cute little tin buckets stand 3″ high and are perfect for holding candies, cinnamon hearts, mints or chocolates. Available in sets of 12, they are about 84 cents each!

These glass votive holders are adorable - and they come personalized with whatever you wish: your names and date for example. They are very affordable ($10 for a dozen) and can also double as part of your lighting/table decor.

Here is a unique twist on the Chinese Take-out Box idea. You can put candies, mints, chocolates or other small goodies in these 2 1/2″ high boxes. The best part - at $3 for a dozen, that is only 25 cents per box!!

If you prefer a longer-lasting favor, and want to avoid the regular old candy routine - these valentine magnets may be just the thing. They look good enough to eat, and are very affordable at about $1 a peice.

Another non-edible favor idea, these little angels stand just over 2″ high and would add an elegant touch to any table! Use a few small boxes stacked together, covered with red cloth to set them in a group at different levels. Sprinkle rose petals, pearls, and/or cinnamon hearts among them - and you have a centerpeice as well! These sell for $15 per dozen, so about $1.25 per guest.

Heart-shaped lollipops - there are so many ways you could use these. Tie them with a ribbon along, tuck them in under the napkin ring, stick them in cupcakes, or place a few in the centerpieces for a unique touch. At only $4 for a dozen, these are an affordable way to treat your guests.

Valentine's Wedding, Wedding Favors, Wedding Themes | No Comments »

People reports that Actress Bianca Kajlich (Rules of Engagement) and Landon Donovan (US World Cup Soccor Player 2002/2003) tied the note in a romantic New Years Eve ceremony at the Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara, California. The bride wore Monique Lhuillier.

Photo Source

It seems to have been a month for weddings with a number of stars tying the knot recently:

November 28th - Kimberly Roads (Little Big Town) married Stephan Schlapman in a private Caribbean Island wedding.

December 19th - Lara Flynn Boyle tied the knot with Donald Ray Thomas.

December 29th - Wearing a stunning Vera Wang, Nikki Taylor wed NASCAR driver Burney Lamar.

December 29th - Actress Nikki Cox (Las Vegas) and comedian Jay Mohr were married in Los Angeles.

Celebrity Weddings | No Comments »