Handmade With Love

I found these adorable charms for anyone who is creative and makes things to give away or sell. For only $3.29 you get a package of 70 heart charms! What a bargain! 

Hammered Metal "Hand Made with Love" Charms 

Personalize any craft project with these cute antiqued silver finish "Hand Made with Love" charms.Add flair to handmade cards or use on a charm bracelet or jewelry project. What a wonderful way to add that special, personal touch and let everyone know you put lots of love and time into what you make.

Lynne Lucente Floral Design - Wins the Bride Choice Award!

Here's a little good news I wanted to share with you all! Do you remember Lynne Lucente? She generously donated a floral wedding package to Wish Upon a Wedding back in November for their silent auction. I bid on, and won, that floral package....that was valued at $1265.00! I did a giveaway in November for the floral package. Well, I was just informed that Lynne Lucente floral designs was chosen to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 on Wedding Wire - this is her 2nd year in a row to be nominated - and win this award! This award recognizes the top 5 percent of local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate quality and service excellence in the wedding industry!

Inviting Invitations

If you are planning a wedding or any kind of party you will soon realize a big chunk of your budget will be going to invitations! If you think about it...once you get engaged you will be sending out: Save the Date cards, Bridal Shower invites, Bachelorette Party invites, Rehearsal Dinner, Wedding Invitations (invite, response card, reception card, menu cards and directions) and Thank You cards! That is  A LOT of paper goods! When I planned my own wedding, I had so much fun doing all of these things myself! I had a theme through out all of my paper goods. Even though other people planned the Bridal Shower and Bachelorette party I volunteered to make the invites! I bought cards and printed them myself - saving a lot of money in the process. There was some trial and error with the printing and I did invest in a fun software program to help me (I have used this program over and over after the wedding so I think is was a good investment!). One of the companies I love is Inviting Company. I was sent an email with some new products they have coming out...they are whimsical and fun! 

The key is to pick your "theme" and then find paper goods to go with it! You can purchase Inviting Company invites (blank cards) at several retailers online - do your homework to get the best deal! All of these companies sell the products:

I mentioned investing in an invitation software. I bought Printing Press from Mountain Cow. I only invested the basic charge of $29.99 - since I was only using it to get the printing specs. 

You do not need the graphics package if you are buying cards like the ones above and you do not need to invest in their font package - there are plenty of nice, free fonts out there! Mountain Cow has come up with a lot of new software choice over the years so, you actually have plenty to choose from if you want to go a different direction! I chose them because their basic layout was easy to use! It was a lot of fun doing my own invites and I still have fun doing them for friends and family for birthday parties and other celebrations! 

Mocha Maddness

I love tea length wedding gowns! This Justin Alexander gown inspired me to create this board...and I suppose my obsession love of coffee helped. I wore the traditional bridal gown for my ceremony but, switched into a tea length gown for my reception! I loved having two gowns - especially the freedom to have fun and dance around without a big, poofy, heavy dress. 

Dress by Justin Alexander - Shoe: Nine West - Coffee Cup Candles with Whipped Cream Topping - Stamps.com - Coffee Flavored Wedding Cake - Bella Umbrella 

The Wedding Collection by Mindy Weiss

I am LOVING this brand new "not yet available" collection of wedding goodies from Mindy Weiss! These are a sneak peek at BRAND NEW items that will be available to purchase!

Mindy Weiss is having a sale right now and it's worth checking out for wedding party goodies! 

"The Perfect Bridesmaid"

Was $8.00 now...$5.99

"Here Comes the Bridesmaid"

Was $14.00 now...$8.99

Invitations - "Classic Plate"

Print it yourself invitations - Was $30 for 20 on sale now for $15!

The Best Bridesmaid Style - Your Opinion?

I got an email yesterday from the Dessy Group - they make dress for maids, destination brides, flowergirls, etc etc. This dress was featured as the "best bridesmaid style of the year". What do you think? Would you wear it?  Personally, I love the bodice! I am not crazy about the flat bow or the shirred waist. I know it wouldn't be a flattering style on my body shape...but the ruffled neckline I love and this dress has pockets...which is another plus in my book! Now, your opinions please??

Cake Love - Deal for the East Coast

Over the summer, while visiting the East Coast, I was lucky enough to stumble upon CakeLove and it was love at first bite! I posted about our visit to their Washington DC location here. You do not want to miss the TODAY ONLY deal on LivingSocial! You can get $40 worth of baked goods from one of DC's favorite eateries for just $20.00!  

You can redeem your deal at any one of the six locations (U Street, Shirlington, Tyson's Corner, National Harbor, Fair Oaks, or Silver Spring). Oh, you lucky East Coasters! Here is a ray of sunshine for all that snow you have been getting....

1 Year Bridal Guide Subscription 

FREE!

Courtesy of weddingstand.com - click here to get your magazine!

Love is all you need!

Yeah, yeah yeah....Valentine's Day is fast approaching...umm HELLO did you miss all the decorations the DAY AFTER Christmas?! Sheesh. I couldn't wait to start posting about it, but at least I showed a little restraint! haha. Sorry, I am in a mood tonight! Anyway, one of my favorite shops (that I have mentioned before) is doing a pre-order cookie sale and I thought..."Ok, now is the time to start talking about the love holiday!" I actually really thought these cookies were adorable don't you?

Valentine Cupcake Cookies 1 dozen $30

And, can I just remind all of you to put a little money aside for the after-Valentine's day sale? Red is a pretty popular wedding color and it's a great time to stock up on things like: red, white or pink candy (M&M's anyone?), those red foil heart candies (Dove makes some cute ones), keep an eye out for anything white...and with hearts! Very common items for wedding showers or wedding related goodies! That was my first PSA for putting some moola away to buying things...I am just letting you know, you will hear it again! I am a total bargain shopper! I just told you I was a bargain shopper, right? So, I have blogs I love to follow like Tip Junkie and now they have a Valentine Tip Junkie site!! Wahoo! Get right on over there to find things like:

Cute as a Button

Printable Valentine Goodie Bag

 And my favorite...

Print It Yourself Candy Wrappers

Cherry Blossom Wedding

I absolutely LOVE pink! That is why when randomly I came across this wedding blossom picture on Martha Stewart it got my mind going....this is what I found that I love:

This branch themed wedding wish tree can never go out of style! 

(Source: Martha Stewart)

Here are a bridesmaid dress shown in Petal Pink by Bonny Bridal Social Occasions, a gorgeous Cherry Blossom cake and a wedding invitations suite and Paper Source.

The delicate little flowers on this wedding gown made me think of Cherry Blossoms

I will end this post how it started, with the wedding guru herself, Martha Stewart! This do-it-yourself parasol is amazing and looks even simple for someone artistically challenged, like me!

Download the Petal Template

1. Download our petal template and print it onto a letter-size sheet of paper.
2. Accordion-fold crepe paper 8 times, folding every 4 1/2 inches. Trace template onto the crepe paper.

3. Cut along the traced line through all the layers of the crepe paper to create the petal tips.

4. Unfold the crepe paper completely, making certain not to tear it, and lay it flat.

5. Wrap the flat edge of the crepe paper around the cap of an open parasol, cinching it as you work.

6. Secure the gathered crepe paper around the cap using a rubber band or a thin strip of pretty ribbon.

 

Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Posy Parasol

Whoa! Lot's of good giveaways!

I have come across some amazing giveaways and I wanted to let people know about them! We will be getting ready to do our Pay It Forward giveaway (again!) so, if you are an Orange County bride, pay close attention to that! So, here are some FAB giveaways I have found - HURRY and enter some of them end very soon!

Win 100 Custom Invitations!

(ends January 31, 2011)

Free 2-hr Engagement Photo Session

(For Orange County or Los Angeles County brides - ends on 02/14/2011)

Last Minute Bride - Veil or Headpiece

(Hurry! Hurry! This one ends 01/20/2011)

Etsy Wedding Package - Bonny Bridal

(Ends 01/31/2011)

Mint Green With Envy - Personalized Initial Locket

(Ends 01/31/2011)

If you have found any interesting giveaways, let us know! Post a comment or contact me to let me know and I will add it. One way to have a FAB wedding on a budget it to enter, and win, wedding giveaways! So many great companies offer them!! Good luck to all!!

We have a WINNER!

We would like to thank everyone for entering the January Goodie Bag giveaway! We selected a winner out of all the entires! Random.org picked comment #23...congratulations ANGELA MORGAN! We will be sending you an email and you need to respond within 3 days!

We are going to re-run the floral package giveaway that was the focus of our Pay It Forward giveaway in December. Unfortunately, the original winner never responded and so after the holidays, we chose a second winner. Well, we never heard from that winner either!!! :( The Pay It Forward giveaway was one that was near and dear to us...but because the amazing florist who donated this prize package, Lynne Lucente, works in Orange County, California - we need an Orange County bride - or a bride getting married in Orange County - to be the winner. So, stay tuned for that coming soon!!

Only a few days left for our Goodie Bag Giveaway!

Hey there! We only have a couple of days until we announce the winner for our Goodie Bag giveaway! This bag is FILLED with all kinds of things to pamper yourself! If you haven't entered, don't delay! The winner will be announced on January 16, 2011!