Bridal Hair

After months of searching online (a few of my favorites are pictured above) and in books and magazines, I finally decided to wear my hair half up and half down. I came to this decision after worrying that since I was a plus size bride, I would look too pudgy if I wore all my hair up. So I scheduled a hair trial and had my hairdresser style my hair. Although my hair looked great, something just didn't feel right. Maybe it was because I often wear my hair this way or perhaps it was that I had this image in my head of what a bride should look like and that included a formal updo. So the following week I scheduled a second hair trial to see if the updo was for me. Upon finishing the updo, I immediately felt "like a bride." I didn't even need to don the veil and tiara to know that this was how I would wear my hair on my wedding day.

My wonderful hair stylist and I spoke at length about how difficult it is to find really great pictures of formal hairstyles. Neither of us could understand why they do not have a magazine devoted entirely to bridal or formal hair! You can't even find many articles in the regular bridal magazines about hair. Maybe I am just too hair obsessed but I found this to be a major decision in my wedding planning.

Things to think about when selecting your bridal day hair:

1. What is the shape of your gown's neckline?

2. Do you want to wear a necklace? Long dangling earrings?

3. Do you plan to have a tiara, veil, hair brooch, or other hair accessory?

4. What is the expected weather for your special day?

5. What is the level of formality of your wedding?

6. Does your hair tend to wilt? How well does your hair stayed curled?

7. How does your husband to be like you to wear your hair?

8. Is it important for you to look "like yourself" on your wedding day?

Advice from the Bride

1. You will feel beautiful on this day. I think that plus size brides, especially, worry that they will not feel beautiful. I never felt as loved and as stunning as I did on my wedding day. I sincerely wish I could bottle up that feeling and save it for a rainy day.
2. Forget about stressing- just have fun. I am so glad that I listened to my married friends and let go and just soaked in every moment I could. I stayed focused on my husband to be during the ceremony and actually remember saying my vows. Many brides say that everything is just a blur and I wanted to make sure that I remembered that incredible moment when he pledged his life to me.
3. Just because you are this excited about finding the right favor or the perfect veil does not mean that everyone you know will be as excited. Nor should you expect them to be. That is why I loved chatting on various wedding websites. It was a safe haven to be wedding obsessed without making your friends choke on wedding related details.
4. Marriage is a lifetime, the Wedding is a day. I was probably worse than most on making sure that every element of my wedding would be perfect. The words I heard most often was -"wow, you paid so much attention to every detail." But as many hours as I spent combing through bridal magazines, reading books, and researching venues, I also spent on premartial counseling and developing my relationship with my now husband.

The story of us

Ted and I were one of the last couples in our group of friends to get married. Our goal was to create a celebration unlike any wedding they had ever attended while allowing personal touches to uniquely scream "Ted and Christie!"

The moment I walked into our venue, Bella Sera, I knew this was where I was going to get married. It was magnificent...unlike any place I had ever seen. We booked it immediately. Ironically, the venue was located less than a mile from my townhouse and while Ted and I were dating we saw the venue being built- brick by brick. So, as our relationship evolved, the venue was completed. Bella Sera literally means a beautiful evening and so our theme was created. Since Bella Sera was actually built by a local catering company, Greco's Catering, we had no doubt that whatever cuisine we would choose would be exceptional.

One of the first dates Ted and I had been on, nearly seven years ago, was a cocktail party held at the university where Ted is now employed. The party had an international theme and the food was served in unique action stations. I didn't know it then, but that was what we chose to do for our wedding. Five action food stations - decorated as beautifully as the food tasted. Pasta- Salad-Seafood-Asian- and Carving gave our guests a wide array of choices.

Once the venue and food had been selected, elements just seemed to fall into place. I wanted to play up the Tuscan theme of Bella Sera. I ordered parchment paper wedding invitations. I found plaster urns to fill with silk flowers and grapes to make centerpieces. Burgandy with accents of moss green and ivory became our colors. Soon bridesmaids gowns were found and a unique favor had been located. We chose pear infused olive oil favors with personalized labels from the Napa Valley. This was a tribute to Ted's Californian roots. To honor my hometown, we hired the local string quartet.

Since our wedding ceremony had initially been planned to be outdoors in front of the pond, I searched to find a great alternative to the unity candle. We agreed upon having a "Cord of Three Strands" ceremony- commonly known as "God's Knot." The cord which comprised of a gold, a white, and a purple strand each represented the bride, groom, and Christ. The biblical passage from Ecclesiastes 4:12 "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken" illustrates the importance of Christian companionship. This was a unique way to demonstrate that God is at the center of our marriage.

There were also many aspects weaved into the wedding to honor my late mother, Christine. Included in the flower girl baskets were dried flowers from my mother's funeral flowers. I had saved them for 13 years to be dropped down the aisle right before my father and I. I had her picture in a locket wrapped around my bridal bouquet along with several in frames with poems in the lobby area. Two more ways I incorporated to honor my mom was a special note in the program and her favorite treat was included in Out of Town Steeler bags distributed by the hotel. Lastly, my parents song, Brown Eyed Girl, was played during the reception.

As I mentioned before, Ted and I were among the last to marry so many of our friends had small children. We never contemplated not allowing the kiddos at our wedding- we both adore children and made many special accomodations for them. In a room off the side of the main hall, a Children's food stations was made with child friendly foods like chicken fingers and mac and cheese. I had made each child a Wedding Activity Book and goody bag with crayons, snacks, and little toys! The plastic snakes were a huge hit! The children's play area had lollipop flower centerpieces which doubled as their favors with soft blocks and puzzles to amuse them. Our talented DJ, Derrick Wray, provided a light show that mesmerized the children allowing for the most adorable photographs on the dance floor!

A few other ways that made our wedding stand out from others included two signature cocktails, preceremony drinks and hor d' overes in additional to cocktail hour, bouquet dedication to my grandmother, and the elimination of many traditional elements of a wedding.

So although I wasn't a size 4 bride, did not get married in a church, or have a head table, our wedding was a spectacular success. It was important to both of us that we show the world that you can have a Christ-centered ceremony and an elegant reception without being the traditional church and hotel ballroom wedding that we have all become so accustomed to. The very best compliment that I received was from a friend that said that the wedding was so "us." Mission accomplished.

My Vendor Reviews

Ceremony/Reception: Bella Sera http://www.bellaserabygrecos.com/
I cannot say enough about this venue. The entire staff works to make your event perfect. The owner, Jason, is a chef and has been the number one caterer in the South Hills area for years. When he decided to custom design a venue he literally thought of everything. The place is gorgeous. From the blue cloud sky painted in the lobby to the floor to ceiling stone fireplace (where I held my wedding ceremony) this place is extraordinary. We had custom action food stations in place of the traditional sit down dinner that were the talk of the evening. The food is unbelievable. Our number one priority was food and our guests knew it. We received so many compliments from the beauty and uniqueness of the venue to the scrumptious cuisine to ultra professional staff. Their in house event planner, Nick Borelli, is worth his weight in gold. There is no need to hire a wedding planner because this guy does it all. If you want the perfect, elegant wedding... look no further.

Bridal gown: 2 BE Bride MB Bride http://www.mbbride.com/
The designer, 2Be Bride, purposely does not over advertise their gowns. Only a select number of stores carry this designer. They do not design solely for the plus size bride but by far has the best grasp on making the plus size bride not feel plus sized. My gown was everything I had ever dreamed of. I did not have to sacrifice anything because I wasn't a size 4. Exceptional quality-not a single bead or thread was loose or lost at the end of the night.

Bridesmaids gowns: Impression 1359 MB Bride

I was very satisifed with the quality of the gowns. The style was very complimentary on the four different body types of my bridesmaids. The puddle train made the gown!

Flower girl dresses: Taffeta pickups Ebay seller Mashy76
Excellent price for high quality dresses. Material was gorgeous.

Cake: Bethel Bakery http://www.bethelbakery.com/
Every bride says their wedding cake was the most beautiful wedding cake ever. I had numerous guests whom asked if the cake was fake because it "looked too perfect." We selected a three tiered stacked cake with delicate ivy and roses trailing down the sides. It was simple and gorgeous. We had orange and almond flavored cake with buttercream icing. Very delicious! My only pet peeve was that they charged us a $30 delivery fee because we got married on a Friday. But overall, great cake at a great price.

DJ: Derrick Wray - Blazing Entertainment http://www.blazingentertainment.com/
I think Brides often overlook the importance of having a fantastic DJ... really they are the backbone of your entire event. They are the ones that make or break it. Derrick made sure the night went perfectly. Not only did he keep my guests dancing all night- he put on a light show that entertained the kids and made for a great backdrop for some unique photos. He honored everything on our "do not play list" and helped us tremendously when working to create the perfect soundtrack for our wedding day! He even threw in some little surprises throughout the night that we loved. Excellent professionalism - member of the Better Business Bureau, and definately worth every penny.

Photographer: Edward Paul Macko http://www.edwardpaulstudio.com/
This is not your typical wedding photographer.... he is a photojournalistic photographer that truly captures moments of life. Our pictures turned out better than I ever could have imagined. His talent lies in getting those photos that everyone says... man, I wish I had a camera for this. My guests commented all night about how he "was everywhere...would do anything for a shot." At one point, he literally got on the dancefloor and spun to get the most amazing pictures of my guests dancing! I am not the most photogenic person but somehow he allowed me to relax and get great shots. A few of his pictures were featured in the KNOT wedding magazine. I highly recommend him!

Florist: Herman J Heyl http://www.hermanheylflorist.com/
I worked with Lisa at the Upper St. Clair location. She went out of her way to make my tuscan floral dreams come true. I had collected various pictures of different flowers I liked that I wanted in my bouquets. I also brought in one of my silk centerpieces I had made and she designed the bouquets to match perfectly. Lisa used a grouping technique that really made the various different kinds of flowers stand out. I had made silk pomander balls for the aisle and Lisa surprised me with a matching real rose ball on top of my cake. It was so cute and perfect. Since I chose out of season flowers and many unique stems, my flowers were on the extravagant end. Heyl will work within any budget. Lisa gave me many options to 'scale' down my flower costs. A great vendor... highly recommend.

Engagement Ring and Wedding Bands:
Allan Jewelers: Custom design http://www.allanjewelers.com/
Kevin Bingle customed designed my mounting for my engagement ring. He did an extensive search to find the perfect wedding band to accent my engagement ring. Personal service is what you receive at this home town jeweler.

Wedding Day Jewelry: Steinmart

Great jewelry at a great price.

Invitations: Carlson Craft

We wanted a unique invitation and found exactly what we were looking for with our Parchment Paper invitations. I went to a local Hallmark store and browsed the huge books of invitations before ordering them online to save money.

Make Up Artist: Vicky Frey http://www.amazingface.biz/
My entire wedding party had their makeup done by Vicky. She was such a doll to work with and very reasonably priced. Highly recommend.

Hair Dresser: Jeanine@ Stephen's Aveda Salon in South Hills Village
I loved my hair! I have been a loyal client of Jeanine's for years and knew she was talented in cut and color. She gave me a beautiful updo for my wedding that literally looked just as good at the afterparty as it did when I walked down the aisle.

Wedding Weekend Accomodations: Hilton Garden Inn Southpointe
All of my guests loved the Garden Inn. The rooms were very clean and the staff was extremely friendly and professional. After the reception, we headed to Jackson's Bar and Grille. We had a delicious brunch the day after the wedding in the other hotel restuarant.

Searching for the Perfect Wedding Favors!!!

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, I was quite obsessive about my wedding favor. We ended up getting Pear infused Olive Oil favors from Napa Valley in the Perfect Pear personalized bottles. This was a compromise between my husband's desire to have something "memento" like and my desire to have something ultimately edible and unique.

During my search for the perfect wedding favor, I came across many runners-up that I thought I'd share with you. For the Die hard Steelers fans, Bethel Bakery makes the most adorable and delicious "Terrible Towel" cookies. Another favorite were these Liquor filled Chocolate Bottles. Enjoy six different varieties of real liqueur (Southern Comfort, Grand Marnier, Drambuie, Cles des Ducs, Sambuca, and Stolichnaya Orange) in semi-sweet dark chocolate filled bottles. Chocolate and Alcohol- how can you go wrong with that one? The ones I almost purchased were packaged in sets of three in a mini crate.

For all of you searching for a more sentimental favor, why not use something that pays tribute to the way in which you got proposed to? My friend Amanda received her romantic proposal in a homemade fortune cookie and had personalized fortunes placed into cookies for her wedding favors.

There has been a trend towards practical favors. Coffee scoops, bottle stoppers, and salt and pepper shakers are advertised in every bridal magazine. But do people actually use these items? During my research, I found that 75% of guests never use these so called practical items and most end up in the trash. This was the main reason I chose to do an edible favor. I will be adding another quiz to the bottom of my blog to check out what my readers have to say about this topic. Stay tuned for the results! Happy favor shopping!

Bridal Shows: Are they worth it?

As a bridal show virgin, I had very high expectations of what a bridal show would be like. I was surprised by what I encountered. Think back to college recruitment fairs... too many people in too little space filled with small booths of overcaffeinated, shiny happy people pressuring you to choose them.

Don't get me wrong, there are some perks to bridal shows. First of all it is a one stop shop: you can literally find a florist, bakery, photographer, DJ, and reception hall all in one afternoon. Though I would not recommend it! Another benefit is the ability to view numerous photographer's portfolios. Remember that they are only going to bring their very best shots. But you can get a great feel for their work. Make sure you see all their pictures for an entire wedding before signing a contract. Lastly, two words: DOOR PRIZES! Make sure you register and cross your fingers ladies. I was lucky enough to have won some absolutely fabulous prizes.

Tips for tackling bridal shows

1. Print 1-3 sheets of address labels on your computer. This will save you buckets of time when requesting information at vendor booths. Add your email address, phone number, and wedding date too!
2. Wear comfortable shoes and short sleeves! As I mentioned before, these shows can be packed and no one wants to be sweating like a pig while talking to possible vendors.
3. Bring along one or two family members or friends- not your entire bridal party. Honestly, unless you are the bride, MOB, or a very involved bridesmaid, you'll be bored to death.
4. Do your research. Typically you can view the vendor list prior to the show and find where their booths are located. Print out a map, highlight who you want to talk to, and have a plan. Since your time with each vendor is quite short, have a few important questions written down to ask.
5. Look for Coupons/Discounts. Often vendors will provide you with discounts, vouchers, or coupons at the show. These may be available at the show or be sent to you in the weeks after. If you are even considering a particular vendor, sign up for additional information.
6. Organize your information. When you get home, unload your bag into a planning binder. If you don't have one... see my previous posts!

WWW: Winter Wonderland Wedding

Mellon Arena: December 18, 2005. Trans Siberian Orchestra Rock Concert. While the musicians were jamming on stage, snow began falling from the ceiling. My guy turned to me and proposed. It was magical. I could not have asked for a more perfect proposal. I later learned that he had actually made a gigantic glow in the dark poster which said, "Marry Me, Christie?" He had purchased tickets for two of his students to sit across the arena but the staff refused to allow the sign to be brought in to the concert.

I considered using the proposal as the inspiration for our wedding theme. I began collecting ideas for a Winter Wonderland Wedding. Within a few months, I had a two inch thick binder with oodles of ideas and ten Rubbermaid containers of decor purchased. Like so many other brides, I changed my mind and went with a completely different theme.

Winter Wonderland Wedding Theme:

Colors: Bright Red, White, and Silver with accents of Evergreen
Bridal entrance song: Christmas Canon- Trans Siberian Orchestra
Ceremony music: Gospel Choir
Invitations: Snowflake embossed invitations
Favors/Place cards: Picture Snow globes or mini 2 inch tall Christmas trees
Menu: Comfort Foods with Hot cocoa bar
Attire: Fur trimmed capes for bride and maids, snowflake lace detailed bridal gown
Bouquets: Red roses with holly berries
Pew decor: Crystallized Grapevine baskets filled with red roses and holly
Ceiling decor: Glittery white and silver snowflakes
Other decor: Huge wreaths with crystallized branches, white lights and red and white bows, clear glass blocks filled with white lights, crystallized grapevine garland, crystallized grapevine flower girl baskets
Guestbook alternative: Ceramic ornaments with Paint markers
Transportation for bride and groom: Horse drawn carriage

*** Items in Bold I actually purchased during after Christmas sales and am selling- email me if interested at psychgalbride@yahoo.com***

Getting Organized: Your wedding planning essentials

Think back to that wonderful day your man proposed to you. You finally heard him say those fantastic four words, "Will you marry me?" Even before you could utter yes your mind was racing with thoughts of what time of year will we get married? who will be in my bridal party? and what will my gown look like? In the months leading up to your big day you will make a million little decisions. To keep you on track here are a few indispensable items every bride to be should have.

* A three ring binder - at least one inch thick...
* 100-200 clear page protectors to place magazine pictures, articles, and contracts
* A calendar with tons of room each day to write in appointments, vendor payment dates, and deadlines
* Highlighters in several shades- use to color code items on calendar
* Sheets of loose leaf paper to make lists
* Sticker tabs to categorize sections of binder
* Business card holder for three ring binder
* Zipper compartments for three ring binder (to place fabric samples of gowns)

Other items to place in binder include a timeline of what to do and when to do it. You can collect one from a magazine or download from the internet. As you progress in your planning, add a copy of your guest list, vendor contact information, copy of contracts, and registry information.

I don't particularly care for the traditional wedding planners sold in stores. I found that my handy binder and a book of lists worked much better for me. I highly recommend The Bride's Book of Lists: Things to Do & Questions to Ask by Amy Nebens. This little green book has it all. Vendor question lists, helpful hints, and directions for making a Bridal Emergency Kit are just a few of the features. It is even small enough to tuck into your purse. I literally did not leave home without it.

Program all your wedding related phone numbers directly into your cell phone. This will save you oodles of time. It may seem bothersome now but trust me you'll thank me later.

As you start purchasing the items for your wedding, allocate a particular space in your house or purchase Rubbermaid containers for you to keep your items. Be sure to keep a list of items purchased in your binder. Keep your receipts. I purchased a plastic coupon organizer to hold my receipts. This allowed for easy retrieval when I changed my mind and needed to return an item.

Lastly, remember to update your wedding binder regularly by removing pictures of things you changed your mind about, documenting purchases, and tracking your planning progress.

All I really need to know I learned while planning my wedding

If you haven't ever read Robert Fulghum's All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten I definitely recommend you pick up a copy. In his 1989 bestseller you are shown that true wisdom lies in the small things like: "Share everything. Play fair. Don't hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. and Flush."

Here's the "wisdom" I gleaned from wedding planning:

• White and ivory are interchangeable. No one is going to care or even notice if your programs are white and your linens are ivory. Chill.
• Before you consider going to try on bridal gowns, be prepared to show your body to a lot of strange people. And remember to wear some decent underwear... no one else wants to see your thong!
• There will always be things that go wrong on "your day." There is no such thing as a perfect wedding. Contrary to the millions of magazine articles and books you have read. Use this as your new mantra. Repeat after me: There is no such thing as the perfect wedding... There is no....
• Bridezilla is *not* a term that you should aspire to being called.
• Just because you had a lovely wedding does not mean that you should quit your day job and become a wedding planner.
• Everyone loves the hokey pokey---Come on... you put your right foot in... you put your right foot out... Just because you put something on your DJ's do not play list does not mean that a million guests won't request it.

Ways to Save Money on your Wedding- Part 2

Just as I promised, here are more tips for saving money on your wedding!

Let's talk bridal attire. Don't spend a fortune on those cutesy Mrs. XXX sweatshirts, t-shirts, and undies. For much less you can make them yourself. If you can iron, you can handle this DIY project. The iron ons cost between $1- 6. Shoes: DSW! I got my $60 sequin shoes for $9.99! Filene's Basement is another great place to find quality shoes at reasonable prices. Jewelry: Each season department stores clearance their inventory and you can find beautiful necklace and earring sets for pennies! I bought my bridesmaids Swarovski crystal necklaces and earrings at Steinmart for less than $50. At Michaels craft store, I found Swarovski crystal kits to make photo bracelets for $7.99.

Bridal Beauty Bargains: I considered getting my teeth professionally whitened until I saw the prices. Fortunately you can get awesome results from the classic Crest Strips. Since I have sensitive teeth I only used them once daily rather than twice but the end result was remarkable. You can frequently find $5 off coupons online or in the Sunday paper for the strips. For the holidays, Target has a Crest bundle with whitening strips, toothpaste and mouthwash.

In my younger days I did some hair modeling for local salons. I'll share with you a trade secret: for deep conditioning skip the salon and head for Walmart. For less than $3 you can get Le Kair Cholesterol Strengthening and Conditioning Cream. Its a thick pink or yellow cream that you slather over your hair after shampooing, don a shower cap, and run warm water over your head. Rinse, style and be amazed at the silky softness of your tresses.

Spa pampering: Ssh, I'll let you in on another of my favorite secrets. Beauty schools. Instead of forking over $60 for a mani/pedi, grab your favorite gal pal and head for the nearest Empire or other beauty school.

Nails: Ever since my then fiance put that shiny rock on my left hand, I have been obsessed with keeping my nails looking perfect. I have a terrible habit of biting my nails so I spend the money to get full faux nails. I highly recommend "solar" or "pink and white" nails. These suckers are nearly indestructible. Unlike a traditional acrylic tip that needs to be painted, these nails are instantly french manicured. No need to paint or wait for them to dry! As you might suspect, they are on the pricey side- full set for $50 but you can go three weeks without needing to get them filled. Plus- if you are anything like me- you will never have to worry about chipping a nail again. Now if you are lucky enough to grow out your natural nails, here's a money saving tip for you. Purchase a DIY acrylic nail kit. Place 2-3 drops of the liquid acrylic into a bottle of clear top coat. This will not only strengthen your nails but also lengthen your manicure.

Gown Shopping reality

Gown shopping. The happiest and most sad days of my life. I was thrilled to be shopping for a wedding gown but completely blindsided by the fact that unless you are a size 4 you will not be able to actually try on gowns in "regular" boutiques or even be welcomed. I tried on gowns at about six stores. The first was the notorious David's Bridal- home of the plus size bride. I knew that they would have dresses in "my size" and that they would not be snotty. Other plus size brides had suggested this being my first stop because you can find what styles look best on your figure. ***News flash*** Not every plus size bride has to wear an a-line, long sleeved ugly frock with the side ruching. My second stop was at a local boutique where staff smiled to my face but giggled and whispered behind my back. Needless to say I did not find my dream gown there. The middle aged woman who wore way too much makeup simply held a few gowns up against me and said something about how she could order one of these gowns in MY size. But it would have to be paid in full before it was ordered and it was nonreturnable. So- let me get this straight. I am suppose to choose the most expensive piece clothing I will ever buy only after seeing a much smaller version of the gown being held up to me. Yeah right. I was outta there!

Third store was another well known mega bridal store: Alfred Angelo. Again, I knew they would have at least a few gowns I could actually try on. The women who worked in these stores actually treated me like a valued customer. I braved a "trunk show" at the next store, that sold exclusively Demetrios gowns. This is where I encountered the worst discrimination. Although this designer advertises that his gowns are designed to fit up to a size 24, he obviously does not actually want plus size women buying his gowns. I had the pleasure (cough cough) of meeting one of the designers. He spent about five minutes sharing how he could change this or that on the gown to accommodate my larger size then he was off to spend his time with the "pretty thin brides." The ones who got the oohs and aahs and had three or four different sales ladies dancing around them bringing them gown after gown. It was far too much for me to handle. I got dressed and marched myself out of the store never to return. I took a month off before daring to enter another bridal store. As I pulled into the parking lot of MB Bride, I said a prayer. Please God let me have the strength to endure any criticisms I receive and not allow their words to crush me. Immediately entering this store, I knew things were different. The consultant walked me back to a large section of the store that held all plus size gowns. There were at least 15 gowns of each size. It was amazing. The gowns weren't the traditional plus size frocks I was getting sick of seeing. They were beautiful and unique. It took less than ten minutes for me to find "The Gown." Before I had even tried it on, I knew that was my gown. The designer, 2Be Bride, purposely does not over advertise their gowns. Only a select number of stores carry this designer. They do not design solely for the plus size bride but by far has the best grasp on making the plus size bride not feel plus sized. My gown was everything I had ever dreamed of. I did not have to sacrifice anything because I wasn't a size 4.

Ways to Save Money on your Wedding- Part 1

When I say 'save money on your wedding' I am instantly transformed to the part of Father of the Bride where Steve Martin finds his onscreen daughter asleep on the couch gripping a bridal magazine article about having a budget wedding. The tacky suggestions of having a friend bake a cake and another take pictures softened the heart of miserly Mr. Banks. Soon Annie was on her way to the outlandishly expensive wedding planner and his money started to fly.

I am living proof that you can have that fairy tale wedding without going into debt. My husband and I made a list of our priorities. We quickly decided that the money would be spent on what was most important to us. Food was our number one priority and we went all out. But there are hundreds of ways to save on the catering bill. Eliminating little things add up. Don't be afraid to ask for discounts or less expensive alternatives. If you don't ask, you'll never know. Never assume that a buffet will be less expensive than a sit down dinner. This is a huge wedding fallacy. It all depends on what food is served. If you have your heart set on having a sit down dinner, you can make it happen. It will simply take some creativity on the caterers part.

Decor: Here is where I saved a ton of money. I DIY all of my wedding decor. I handmade the silk centerpieces, pomander balls, placecard table arrangement, flower girl baskets, table number stands, sweetheart table cascading arrangement, wish bowl, and arbor swag. I had two initial appointments with my florist. At my first meeting I showed her pictures of the types of flowers I wanted in my centerpieces and bouquets. After receiving an estimate of $ 95-135 per centerpiece, she did not think she would see me again. Two months later, I arrived for my second appointment with a silk centerpiece I had made for less than $40. I had cut my floral bill in half and was able to have the more expensive, rare stems I desired in my bouquets. Additionally, the items can now be sold and I can recoup some money.

For table numbers I just happened upon these black iron gate photo frames that matched the venue's wine cellar iron gates perfectly. I found a book of Tuscany at a closeout store, cut the pictures from the book, and added a stenciled number to the book picture. Total price of project for 20 table frames less than $ 100.

I dislike those cheesy white silk flower girl baskets and refused to buy any. Instead I found beautiful tan wicker baskets at Pat Catans with an ivory cloth lining for $ 2.00 a piece. I hot glued some floral accents to the front and for less than $ 10 I had two one of a kind gorgeous flower girl baskets.

Paper Products:
Just like Sandra Lee has her Semi-homemade meals, I have my semi-homemade wedding paper projects. My wedding programs came from a kit I found at a super discount store called Marc's. (2.99 for 50 kit) I used Microsoft Publisher to create my program and printed it out at the local Kinkos. Since my entire first page was a shade of burgandy which took a TON of ink, so it was a bargain at 1.00 per program.

I purchased several of the Anna Griffin items at Michaels with the infamous 40% off coupon. I used the simple ivory Menu cards and the green floral accented place cards. Target also sells a similiar coordinating line from Anna Griffin. I purchased matching Thank you notes, 4.99 for 50.

I chose not to DIY my invitiations but searched the internet for the best price and discount. I ulimately found a 40% off Carlson Craft coupon that significantly discounted my invitation order. Never ever buy from a Hallmark or other card store. You can find any invitation online at a much better price.

Attire: Since 3 of 4 of my bridesmaids were married with two small children, I did not want to burden them with an expensive gown. I found an Impressions gown that I just loved and sought to find the lowest price. MB Bride, where I purchased my bridal gown, agreed to match the price I was quoted by Netbride.com. This was an easy task that saved my bridesmaids more than $ 50 a piece. If your BM gowns are long, please don't make them where the same shoes. Give them the option to wear any black shoe they feel comfortable in. No one wants to buy a pair of shoes they don't like, are not comfortable, and will not match anything else in their wardrobes.

You told me so!

I received the best wedding gift in the mail today. It was a CD of precious moments taken on the wedding day by my friend Melinda and her husband Craig. It allowed me to see what my guests saw and hear what my guests heard. I chuckle because the lovely string quartet hit some incredibly sour notes throughout the processional. One month ago, the thought of this would have devastated me. I would have been wrapped up in a ball in my bed, crying my eyes out, and proclaiming the world being over because my wedding wasn't perfect. Think Bridezilla. Fortunately for me and my darling new husband, once we were married I reclaimed my sanity. My married friends tried to tell me. But I was stubborn and wouldn't listen. "You'll look back and laugh at everything that went wrong..." those wise wedded women tried to tell me. It cracks me up to think about how I nearly had a meltdown each time I had to make a decision for the wedding. "Oh no... my Mikasa favors have been discontinued!" I shrieked like World War III had just broken out. I fretted over the most ridiculous things: the texture of silk rose petals, the shade of burgundy used to tint the icing roses on my cake, and what shoes my bridesmaids wanted to wear under their gowns. So, I'll say it... I know you have all been waiting. You were right. None of it mattered. The day was 'perfect' because we got married not because I opted for the higher quality silk rose petals.

Is there life after....

For the past twenty months, I have spent endless hours perusing bridal magazines, reading bridal books, chatting on the knot, creating a wedding website, registrying, designing centerpieces, buying items, researching venues, calligraphing envelopes, writing thank yous, and making tens of thousands of minor decisions for one little day: October 12th. Well, it came... and went. It was perfect. The venue was stunning, the ceremony was heartfelt, my husband was incredibly sexy! and the party was extraordinary. The compliments started from the day I showed my friends and family my big ol' wedding planning binder and haven't slowed down. Most importantly I am married to my soulmate and we will forever face life challenges together as one. But here's my question... is there life after wedding planning???