Bridal Gown Blog

Enzoani Dream Gown Giveaway

2011-12-14T11:52:00.000-08:00

Have you ever dreamed of walking down the aisle in an Enzoani couture dress but just can't seem to make it a reality? Enzoani is giving away an Enzoani, Blue by Enzoani, or Modeca gown, plus one accessory piece to not one, but three hopeful brides across the world.

Here's how it works:

1. Upload a one minute long video onto YouTube mentioning where you are from and why you are an "Enzoani Bride". Title it "Enzoani Dream Gown -The Name of Your Country". (ie. Enzoani Dream Gown -USA)

2. Tag Enzoani and the name of your country on YouTube and share the link onto your personal Facebook Page

3. Each Enzoani Office (US, UK, EU) will select their favorite five by Jan. 15th and upload them onto Enzoani's Official Facebook Page

4. Followers will vote for their favorite story from each office

5. Enzoani will announce the winners on the official Enzoani Tumblr on Feb. 27th!

*Refer to the Terms & Conditions before entering

Bridal Give Away -Term & Conditions: Link

Great Deal: Chair Covers, Table Covers

2011-12-14T11:43:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to share my experience with eFavorMart.com! My package came Monday and this is what I ordered:

2 banquet chair covers ($2.38 each). Available in 4 colors

2 Taffeta Flocking White/Black Chair Sash ($1.99 each). Available in 8 colors

1 Taffeta Flocking Table Runners ($4.29 each). Available in 8 colors

I read some reviews on this company that were hit or miss but, based on the prices I decided to take a chance. I was not disappointed. Come to find out the distribution center is located in Southern California. My order was placed Dec 9th and delivered on Dec 13th! The quality of the the items I ordered didn't disappoint either. I was a little worried, based on the price, (you know the saying "you get what you pay for") but, I was completely thrilled and I would recommend ordering from them for any event.

Free Printable: Holiday Label Tags

2011-12-14T08:59:00.000-08:00

I created this label for you to print! Click here to download a free pdf version. It will print on Avery 8293. Enjoy and happy holidays!

Also, from PrintYourParty.com you can download this very cute set of Freebie tags! Click here to download the complete set! Thank you so much to PrintYourParty.com

Happy Holidays!

TODAY ONLY! Get Bride's Magazine for $4...a YEAR!

2011-12-11T00:21:00.000-08:00

Attention, all Brides to be!! This is such a great deal: Brides Magazine for only $4.00/year (up to 3 years) with code KRAZY

This special rate will be live through Sunday (12/11) through midnight (EST). You can purchase this deal as a new subscription or to renew your existing subscription. You can also purchase additional subscriptions as gifts! This is such a great price for this magazine, and you are getting an entire year for the same price as the cover price of one issue!

Just head on over to DiscountMags and enter the code at check out! But, ACT FAST! This deal is only good today until midnight (EST).

Enter to win: Free Sheet of Wedding Postage - $25.00

2011-12-04T19:57:00.000-08:00

Perfect Postage is giving away one sheet (20 stamps) of .44 cent first class USPS wedding postage! All you need to do is follow their blog or like them on their facebook page! Then let them know in the comment section which sheet of postage you would like to win. It’s that simple.

Your choice of one sheet of postage stamps (20 stamps) in one of 4 fun wedding designs:

1. Pink and cream Eiffel Tower with a decorative heart background
2. Two Golden hearts with I Do! in fun casual font
3. Burnt orange calla liles in a beaded vase with Love in gold script font
4. Two delicate white orchids

Once you have followed their blog or liked their Facebook page, simply leave a comment letting them know which one you did and on which sheet you would pick - I would be leaning toward the Eiffel Tower - Pink and Paris...two of my favorites! One lucky winner will be selected on December 11, 2011! Good luck!

Here's some help for writing Thank You notes!

2011-11-27T08:04:00.000-08:00

One of the things you will do through out the process of getting engaged to getting married is write a whole bunch of "thank you" notes! A couple will have hosted for them: an engagement party, a bridal shower and then the wedding it self that people will purchase gifts for them and it is customary for a note of thanks be written for each of these gifts.

Thank you notes should be personal and always hand written. So what do you do if you are not a good writer or what about if you are just stumped for what to say after writing your 100th note? One thing you can do is visit Emily Easton's Thank You Notes website. From crockpots to cash, from sheets to salad bowls, Emily has done the work for you. You will find over 70 items she has put words of thanks to and it's all free for brides and grooms to use. Emily doesn't sell stationery and she doesn't actually write the notes for you - she just provides brides words to copy or ideas you can use! Check it out if you are needing some helpful tips on what to say or how to say it!

A glam package giveaway from Bonny Bridal

2011-11-26T13:23:00.000-08:00

What's black, cream, full of glam and best of all....free? A wedding giveaway of epic proportions! Bonny Bridal has partnered with some amazing wedding vendors and are hosting a $1250 Vintage Hollywood Glam wedding giveaway - that ends NOVEMBER 30th!

One lucky bride will get all kinds of goodies including: The dress, a vintage handmade brooch bouquet, a Tessa Kim feather fascinator and birdcage veil, 25 couture wedding invitations, paddle signs and a wedding banner! There are only 4 days left to enter this fabulous giveaway! GOOD LUCK!

Free Printable: Photo Booth Props

2011-11-26T11:18:00.000-08:00

Oh happy day! Literally. I found the most adorable - FREE - do it yourself photo props over on the blog: Oh Happy Day. Mad props to them for putting these together but, it gets even better! They have an easy to follow DIY tutorial on how to make them!

Photo Props #1

Photo Props #2

Photo Props #3

I downloaded them myself for future use - one can never have too many photo props sitting around, right? When I opened the first set I was thrilled to see that the images are actual size! Thank you so much to the fab group at Oh Happy Day for this awesome DIY project!

We have a WINNER for our S'mores for Two Giveaway!

2011-11-25T22:46:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who entered our November Giveaway: S'mores for Two! We changed things up a bit on this particular giveaway and allowed you to "tweet" every day for an additional entry. It's a good thing Melissa took it seriously....because all that tweet, tweeting paid off and now you will be heatin' things up at home with some ooey-gooey goodness!

Congrats Melissa...

and thank you for entering!

Please send me an email with all your shipping information and I will get your s'mores kit right out to you! :) Stay tuned....December will be an AMAZING giveaway month! It's the end of the year and we have our elves already gearing up for another round...stay tuned!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T11:04:00.000-08:00

I am so thankful to everyone who comes by and reads my musings on all things wedding! Sharing the love I have for weddings, deals and steals and how to have a fabulous wedding without breaking the bank gives me great joy! I love the act of "giving" - I get so excited every month when I announce our giveaways! This blog has really been a labor of love so, THANK YOU to everyone who stops by! From my family to yours...have a wonderful day!

If you haven't entered our November giveaway - stop by today and enter! We are choosing a winner tomorrow!!

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Thank you to Jessica at Craftily Ever After for providing these

free printables for Thanksgiving!

S'more Kit for two giveaway! Last week to enter!

2011-11-18T12:27:00.000-08:00

This is the last week to enter our November giveaway! Plan a romantic night in with your sweetie and surprise him with s'mores for two! This s'mores kit offers everything you need - right down to the chocolate and graham crackers! It's a sweet way to end a romantic evening!

Click here to enter now!

Winner will be announced Friday November 25th

Wedding Shoes - Add a little color at bargain prices!

2011-11-17T10:55:00.000-08:00

The idea of adding a little color under the dress has been widely popular. I see a lot of "real wedding" pics with brides showing off their shoes. Having a color shoe that matches your wedding theme makes options endless - and I love shoes! I fell in love with this purple silk shoe from Nine West and what a bargain it is from Amazon's shoe site 6pm.com:

Original Price: $89.00 - On Sale for $27.95

This particular shoe is also offered in Black Silk and Taupe Silk. Add in free shipping and you just scored! 6pm.com offers name brand shoes and sometimes you can score these shoes at deeply discounted prices! It's a great site to shop at and they have (literally) 1000's of shoes! I was browsing the Clearance section and look at these deals:

Regular Price: $69.00 - On Sale: $20.70

HOT! This Martinez Valero shoe is regularly $149 but you can get it for $36.99

It is also available in French Blue, the color shown above which is a pretty popular wedding shoe color!

One of my favorite bridal shoe designers is Pour La Victoire. Gorgeous shoes but, they are not cheap! So, finding them at bargain prices is a big deal! Many white and ivory satin designs feature blue leather soles that read "I DO" in sparkling rhinestones. But, their colored shoes are also trendy, well made shoes you would pick as your go-to favorite! This morning I saw a "Real Wedding" on La Magnifique and the bride was wearing the "Divia" by Pour La Victorie in Royal Blue Satin! I found the same pair, in a pretty Silver satin:

Original Price $166.00 - On Sale for $41.99 (only in select sizes!)

I do love the Royal Blue Satin color though so I had to sneak in these! The "Baylie" is available in 5 colors and lots of sizes are available!

Regular Price: $155.00 - On Sale for $39.99

A $50k Wedding Giveaway? Yes, it's true if you are getting married in Minnesota!

2011-11-14T23:11:00.000-08:00

Would you plan a destination wedding to....Minnesota?

Well, why not if you won this 2012 Twin Cities Wedding Services Giveaway headed by featured photographer Erin Johnson Photography. This giveaway is the ultimate wedding package for one lucky couple. If you’re getting married near the Twin Cities area (like Minneapolis or Saint Pau l) or know of someone who will be, this is the perfect contest to take part in. What could be better than winning wedding services now worth over $50,000! The lucky couple will be chosen by Erin Johnson Photography on December 1st, 2011. Check out this awesome list of Twin City Wedding Vendors and find out how to enter after the jump.

Erin Johnson Photography
Sadie’s Couture Floral & Event Styling
Lime Canary Vintage Rental
Rocket Science Weddings & Events
Cocoa & Fig (Cakes & Dessert)
PangCakes
Andrea Holton
Rosann Konieczny Calligraphy
Teaser by Yuli
My Redhead Designs
Elegant Motion Studios
Sykes Keyboard Studio
On Solid Ground Vintage Rentals
Pish Posh Styling
The Wedding Shoppe
Oodles of Color
Rindelaub Family Dental
Renee’s Royal Valet

PLUS:
+ Chowgirls Killer Catering
+ Brides of France

Here's the first step to winning the giveaway: Simply send an email!

This is a HUGE giveaway for one very lucky couple getting married in 2012 in the Twin Cities area. Currently, the giveaway is valued at over $45,000! And...they are still adding vendors!
Click here to see what the lucky couple will win if their names are drawn!

Are you {or someone you know} already participating in our 2012 Wedding Giveaway?
Well...here's how to earn more chances in the giveaway drawing...

Here are the details all spelled out:

The winning couple will be determined in a drawing and will be announced on December 1, 2011. Couples receive one entry into the drawing by entering their picture and proposal story.

Click here to see more about entering this giveaway.

While the couple are entered in the drawing by sending their picture and proposal story, they can earn more chances by having their friends and family "like" a participating vendor's facebook page, and then commenting on the couple's photo in the "2012 Wedding Giveaway" album posted on each of the participating vendor's facebook pages {doing these two things are also known, above in the images, as combos}. Commenting is as vital as "liking" the particpating vendor's page as it is the only way for us to know which couple should benefit from the "like" with an extra entry into the giveaway drawing.

We will can only count the "combos" that happen between 10am {Minnesota Time} on November 1, 2011 and November 30, 2011.

Participating couples are not required to do anything on facebook to be entered into the giveaway. Couples are already entered into the giveaway when they sent their photo and proposal story to mail@erinjohnsonphoto.com.

Now, I'm sure you're thinking: how in the world are they going to keep track? Well, our staff and interns are going to keep track! Our staff and interns will validate the combos and write your name on the additional entry slips! Thank goodness for our amazing interns!

It is important to note that facebook is not at all a partner in this giveaway. We are simply asking you to like the participating vendors’ facebook pages.

Please don't use the word "vote" on facebook. They are very strict about their contest policies and we are being very careful to follow their policies. This is a giveaway and it is only acceptable to facebook for us to ask you to "like" our pages. The commenting under your photo is simply to know which couple the "like" should benefit.

If you have any questions about this contest, than head over to Erin Johnson Photography for the details. Join the 2012 giveaway fray today!

Bridal Gown Blog is happy to help promote this contest and is in no way responsible for this contest or the prizes awarded.

A lot of work? You bet! Totally, awesomely worth it? HECK YEAH! Good luck! :)

Stock up on baking liners and cupcake wrappers from Bake It Pretty!

2011-11-14T15:04:00.000-08:00

All Baking Liners & Cupcake Wrappers
50% off for 48 hours

It's a great time to stock up on cupcake liners and wrappers from Bake It Pretty! Shop early -- popular styles will go fast! Shopping this sale is easy: just add items from the Baking Cups Categories to your cart and the 1/2-off discount will be reflected at checkout. Sale ends Wednesday at 5pm EST.

Bake It Pretty has plenty of sales planned for the Holiday season, so stay tuned!

Orders over $50 ship free to US destinations until 2012. It's a killer deal - what are you waiting for? GO SHOP...and when you are done make sure you bake it pretty! :)

The most personal shoe you will ever own: Figgie Shoes

2011-11-11T17:17:00.000-08:00

When you start planning your wedding, one thing you will realize is that there are a lot of things you can personalize to make the day yours. After the big day you will keep certain mementos. You most likely won't pull out your wedding gown and wear it again but, your shoes are a different story. While out shopping yesterday, I stopped in an accessory store and saw this quote:

"I don’t know who invented the high heel,

but all men owe him a lot."

That is a quote from...Marilyn Monroe. That quote remind me about a site I ran across that I wanted to share: Figgie Shoes. Shoes are personal. Figgie shoes are ridiculously personal—their purpose is to try and explain, in picture and personality, who YOU are, to anyone who happens to be looking.

Figgie Shoes offer custom hand-painted footwear for all occasions and they will tell YOUR one of a kind love story. For information on pricing, shoe styles, and any other questions, you can contact the artist: deborah@figgieshoes.com and if you would like to try and win a pair of your very own Figgie Shoes visit Get Married and register by November 28th!

Giveaway: S'more Cooking Set for Two

2011-11-04T11:59:00.000-07:00

Last night, I was having a s'more love fest - and it continued this morning! Even though I didn't rush out and make the s'more cakelettes for breakfast (I did think about it) I am going to work up this post...and maybe then an appetite and head to the kitchen! So, it's Friday - a FABULOUS day to start a new Giveaway!

We are doing things a little differently with this giveaway so, please make sure you read ALL the guidelines for entering! If you have questions...please ask!

What's up for grabs: S’mores Kit for two - it ships with the wooden platter, miniature hibachi and bamboo skewers plus chocolate, marshmallows and graham crackers. Everything you need to tear into the box and enjoy s'mores at home!

Unfortunately, shipping restrictions prohibit us from shipping Sterno fuel . Sterno fuel is widely available for purchase at hardware, grocery and party supply stores - and it's clean to cook with so, don't worry about roasting those marshmallows!

HOW TO ENTER

MANDATORY

This means you MUST DO ALL THREE ITEMS!

Get ONE entry for: Following my blog PUBLICLY (which means I can see you are following). Leave a comment to let me know you follow
Get ONE entry for: Following me on Twitter and sending out a "Tweet" about the giveaway. Your "Tweet" MUST include a link back to this giveaway! Post the link to your "Tweet" in the comment section
Get ONE entry for: You must "Like" our Fan page on Facebook and you must leave a little message on our wall that you came because of this giveaway

OPTIONAL

Want to increase your odds of winning?

Get ONE additional entry PER DAY for: Send out a "Tweet" about the giveaway. ONLY 1 time PER DAY about the giveaway. Your "Tweet" MUST include a link back to this giveaway! Post the link to your "Tweet" in the comment section (please don't tweet 100 times in a day and then post...that's just ridiculous!)
Get ONE entry for: Share our S'more giveaway post with your Facebook friends and make sure they say they came to the page because of YOU.

Example: Your name is "Jenn" and you "Like" our page on Facebook. You leave a little comment "Hey! I love s'mores as much as you!" and then you share the Facebook post with your best friend "Suzie" well, then, Suzie has to come "like" the page and say "Hey! I love s'mores and "Jenn" sent me over here! If "Suzie" wants to try and win she has already done one of the MANDATORY items by liking our page...she just needs to finish!

And...since this part is "new" to the giveaways....guess what? Depending on how it goes I might just give a SECOND DIY at home S'more kit to the person who sends the most people over to "Like" our Facebook page. Sound good???

LEAVE A MESSAGE ON THIS POST LETTING ME KNOW YOU HAVE DONE EACH ITEM

(that means you will post 3x to complete your mandatory entries)

This giveaway will end on: November 25, 2011 at 8pm PST and the winner will be posted and contacted shortly there after! If we do not hear from the winner within 3 days, another winner will be chosen. PLEASE, make sure you leave me a way to contact you!!

This giveaway is open to US RESIDENTS only!

Good luck to everyone!

Gotta have s'more wedding info!

2011-11-04T00:37:00.000-07:00

Give me a cold night, a warm fire and all the gooey goodness to make s'mores and you will have one happy girl. I love s'mores any way I can get them and this isn't the first time I have talked about them! I did share (this past May) about a company who made S'Muffins - and I still dream about those little muffins!

I have been keeping an eye out to see if they were shipping nationally yet - no such luck (crossing fingers and toes it will be one day soon). So, what prompted this s'more kick tonight, you might ask? I read about a company who offers these desserts table side and luck be a lady...this chain had an Orange County location. The restaurant I am referring to is Cosi. The restaurant is a cross between Corner Bakery and Panera. The food was good - and you should check to see if they have a location near you for a light, romantic dinner. But, lets get back to the dessert! So, they have this cute s'more set for 2 - it comes with the wooden platter, miniature hibachi and bamboo skewers plus chocolate, marshmallows and graham crackers.

I think any outdoor wedding would be the perfect setting for a s'more dessert station and, apparently, I am not alone! Here is an adorable s'more set up from Eat Drink Pretty

Digging a little deeper into this topic...you are not going to believe what I found. I hit the s'more jackpot! Are you ready...s'more cakelettes! Mini s'more cakes!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE mini cakes...and a s'more mini cake...it's true and I am in l-o-v-e. Desserts For Breakfast shared the recipe (which will yield 3 mini cakelettes). I would eat that for breakfast!

I almost need to take a little break after seeing that. I wanted to do mini cakes at my wedding and I love that these are actually coming into a little world of their own now. Weddings are about two individuals joining together as one so, there is something about single serving dishes joining the main dish, that seems symbolic to me. So, let's come full circle with what attracted me tonight: the s'more set for two. The key is how to cook the marshmallows when you don't have a roaring campfire. In the gift set from Cosi the focal point is the hibachi burner. So, imagine this...each table has it's own hibachi burner (1 - 3 per table) and then you have a s'mores spread table with all kinds of goodies: graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate, oreo cookies, Peanut butter, Bananas, Strawberries, Peanut butter cups, Dark chocolate, White Chocolate, Nutella, Caramel topping - and really anything else you can think of! They grab their goodies and head back to their table to start roasting their marshmallows and making their own s'mores! I love this! So, where to find these hibachi burners you might ask? Done.

Hibachi Set Aluminum Dragon Pattern with Grill and Fuel Holder - 16.99

Hibachi Set Cast Iron and Wooden Base with Grill and Fuel Holder - 9.99

I am an absolute FAN over this idea - what about you? I hope you are because guess what? I am going to give away a s'more gift set for 2 - maybe you and your sweetie can share a little dessert one night and discuss having a s'more dessert station for your wedding! What do you think? I will be announcing the giveaway a little later today! I hope you all love this as much as I do!

Your 15 Minutes of Bridal Fame - TV Shows looking for REAL brides!

2011-10-30T18:21:00.000-07:00

With all the reality shows on TV these days, has the thought ever crossed your mind to actually sign up for one of those shows? I personally like watching the heart felt stories but, you know the bridezilla stories are talked about the most. I saw a posting for an open casting call for a new show and figured I would look into all the shows that are casting - so here are the shows I found - if you have ever signed up (or been on one of these shows) I would really love to see comments on how your experience was!

Do you or someone you know think you have what it takes to be on America's top-rated wedding show?
Are your wedding preparations getting out of control?
Are you struggling with the cooperation of your wedding party, fiancé or in-laws?
Are you doing everything in your power to make sure your wedding day is perfect?
Are you ready to share your story with other women who’ve been or will be in your shoes?
If so, then you are just what we’re looking for!

**BRIDES WILL BE GENEROUSLY COMPENSATED**

To be considered for an episode of Bridezillas please email the below information tocastingbridezillas@gmail.com and someone in the casting department will be in touch to take you through the casting process:

BRIDE’S FULL NAME
AGE
CITY & STATE
CONTACT #
EMAIL
WEDDING DATE
WEDDING BUDGET
GROOMS FULL NAME
TELL US WHAT KIND OF BRIDEZILLA YOU’D BE.
DESCRIBE TO US YOUR MOST RECENT BRIDEZILLA MOMENT
WHO IS GIVING YOU THE MOST STRESS & WHY?
GIVE US YOUR TOP 3 CONCERNS FOR YOUR WEDDING.

*IMPORTANT* DON’T FORGET TO EMAIL US A FEW PHOTOS OF THE ENGAGED COUPLE!!

For any other questions or to apply online, e-mail the Bridezillas Casting Department at castingbridezillas@gmail.com or call 310-717-8666.

Do You Have The Ultimate Wedding Disaster Story?

Did you suffer a wedding disaster that put a damper on your big day? Does your wedding video play like a blooper reel? Do you wish you could do it all over again and have the wedding you originally dreamed of?

WE tv WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU!

WE tv is casting dynamic Los Angeles-area couples who deserve the ultimate DO OVER…a dream wedding celebration planned by acclaimed wedding designer. What happened to ruin your big day? Did your ex show up and object in the middle of your ceremony? Did a storm knock out your power or prevent most of your guests from attending? Were you forced to elope instead of having the great white wedding you dreamed of? If you live in LA and have your disaster caught on tape, you could get a second chance to have your dream wedding!

WE tv's hit series My Fair Wedding is casting for Los Angeles brides only! We need brides who are getting married in LA up to November 2011. Sorry no exceptions.

Please send us your information! Casting email is MFW4casting@pilgrimfilms.tv

Include in your email the following:

NAME
ADDRESS
PHONE NUMBER
WEDDING DATE / LOCATION
GUEST COUNT
BRIEF BIO
CURRENT PHOTO OF BRIDE/GROOM

Please also include a brief description and/or photos of any existing wedding plans (i.e., Dress, Venue, Decor, Etc.).

E-mail applications to: MFW4casting@pilgrimfilms.tv

Are you engaged or married? If so, you can join us on Rich Bride Poor Bride. We’re lookin g for outspoken, dynamic couples that are open to share their wedding planning experience with us. Simply fill out the questionnaire here.

SAY YES TO THE DRESS: BRIDESMAIDS
Are you a bride or bridesmaid and want to be on TV? Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaidsis casting! To apply, go to www.bridalsbylori.com or send an e-mail tobelles@northsouth.tv. Tell us a little about yourself and why you would like us to film this particular bridesmaids group shopping for dresses.

Are you a plus-size Bride who is ready to find the wedding dress of your dreams? If so, the hit TLC show Say Yes To The Dress: Big Bliss, wants to hear from you! Big Bliss is filmed at Kleinfeld Bridal, the world's premiere bridal salon - located in NYC. The show follows the journey of plus-size brides as they shop to fulfill their dream dress fantasy for their very special day. If interested, fill out our application, and we'll be contacting you to possibly a film your Say Yes moment!
Apply online at: www.kleinfeldbridal.com/tlc/index.cfm

We are currently looking for brides getting married in 2012 in the NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY area and the greater PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA area.Interested in competing for a honeymoon on Four Weddings -- and getting married in 2012? If that's you, please email with details about the date of you big day plans, including the date and the location.
AZ: Email 4WeddingsPhoenix@semisweetproductions.com
NY/NJ: Email 4WeddingsNY@semisweetproductions.com

SAY YES TO THE DRESS
Are you a bride getting married in this or next year in search of your perfect wedding dress? Find out how to apply for the show.

We have a WINNER for our Meant To Bee Giveaway!

2011-10-26T11:01:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for entering our October giveaway: Meant To Bee! We hit up random.org to choose a winner this morning lucky number #51 came up as the winner!

Stay tuned...because in just a few days we will be announcing our November giveaway - and you won't want to miss it! Kristie, we will be contacting you soon to get your mailing information...Congratulations! :)

***Kristie was the 2nd winner because the first winner never contacted us. Remember guys - you have 3 days to contact me once I send you an email that you won.***

Tis the season...to BAKE!

2011-10-19T16:17:00.000-07:00

Do you ever get that feeling that when the weather starts getting cooler you need to turn on your oven and get baking? Maybe it has something to do with all the holidays that come up between October and December. Baking just seems to be on my mind a lot lately. Seeing pictures like this does not help this baking bug I have:

Williams and Sonoma

Looks yummy huh? I think seeing all the goodies and gadgets in the stores, now that they all have Christmas displays up months in advance, has something to do with my current baking obsession. I keep seeing all these new baking gadgets too and I REALLY want to try them! Those little mini pies above were made using the Breville Pie Maker, available exclusively through Williams Sonoma for $99.95 (ouch). But, I also saw a mini pie maker from Sunbeam - I think it made 5 mini pies for $29.99 at Target. I can't seem to find that one online though! And there are some books filled with mini pie recipes:

Amazon

If mini pies aren't your thing, you can find a little gadget for every type of dessert! There are so many I would love to try but, finding storage space for all these gadgets could prove to be a problem...not to mention all the calories from these goodies...but they are mini right??

Sunbeam Mini Donut Maker

Tasty Treats - Donut Hole & Cake Pop Maker

Babycakes also makes all kinds of plug and bake dessert gadgets. They have the Cake Pop Maker - you can bake 12 cake pops in just minutes, then add sticks and get creative with the icing and decorations:

Cake Pops - 24.99

Another recent obsession: pie pops. Love them. And guess what? There's a gadget for that!

6 Pie Pops for 24.99 (or a red one is available for 29.99)

And this one has to be my favorite: Whoopie Pie maker. I do like these little guys! Babycakes also includes ALL the things you need to make these little heavenly cakes:

Whoopie Pie Maker $29.99 - includes all accessories!

Are you in the mood to bake yet? Have you ever used any of these gadgets? I would really love some comments on this one! I have the mini cupcake maker and it's just ok. They are quick and fun to make and I am seriously considering purchasing these guys to add to the fun of my holiday baking!

Buzz on over and enter our Meant To Bee Giveaway!

2011-10-18T21:42:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I just wanted to remind any new visitors that this is the LAST WEEK to enter our October Giveaway! A winner will be chosen on October 23rd! We put together a wonderful selection of items for a wedding, shower or party theme "Meant To Bee". You can enter by clicking here! But, even if that isn't your theme there are still LOTS of other things worth winning! We made it pretty simple to enter this giveaway: Follow us (that's usually a given). By following our blog you will know if you won the giveaway but, you will also get to enter our other giveaways (we usually host 1 giveaway a month), find inspiration, have a place to find other fabulous giveaways and so much more. We have also requested that you "like" two of our generous vendors:

SweetenYourDay: I purchased a dozen handmade bees from her for a party I was having. I absolutely fell in love with them when I got them! Jennifer makes the cutest cupcake toppers, cake toppers and more. All of her items are handmade and edible! This girl has some SERIOUS talent! I contacted her and told her I would be doing a giveaway on the blog and she generously offered to giveaway 1 dozen bees to the winner! She really sweetened my day! :) I know she can make anything you can think of - just ask her for a special request! She made these mini story books - if your guy (or girl) loves to read, or you met in a library these would make a cute little reminder:

Or maybe you are two peas in a pod?

Our next vendor that you were asked to "like" was Bee Creative. Karen, the crafter extraordinaire, is a personal friend of mine. She is always going out of her way to help her friends with their parties and she puts together amazing banners, invitations and more! I had asked her if she would make a custom "Mr & Mrs" banner for the winner of my giveaway and she was up to the task! She loves creating different things and the winner will get to choose their paper and ribbon colors! She will come up with something that totally matches your wedding or party theme!

So, a very special "thank you" to both of these ladies! Like I said at the beginning, though, you do not need to be having this specific theme to enter this giveaway! There are other items that you will absolutely LOVE! You will love the Printing Press software. I have used this DIY invitation software for many years. In fact, I purchased this software to do ALL the invitations for my wedding: bridal shower, bachelorette party and the day after wedding brunch! It also makes creating envelopes a breeze. You can use the preloaded images or cut and paste any of your own. It has a very easy to use interface and I know the winner will come up with all kinds of things to use this software for. I am also including two packages of Avery labels that I use - ALL the time! I have uploaded a couple templates (here and here) that you can use for the round labels and you can download all of these items (free of course!) and edit them for your own personal use. I promise to create more - and I will take special requests - just shoot me an email! :)

Ok...that's it for the recap...now hurry up! Go enter the giveaway and good luck to everyone!

Candy Buffet Bar

2011-10-11T22:15:00.000-07:00

I am a huge fan of candy bar stations at weddings or any party. They are always a crowd pleaser - seriously, who doesn't love candy? When I was doing my vendor reviews for the Bee theme party I talked about Candy Pros. Well, I got an email the other day from them and they saw my review and they generously offered my readers a 5% discount off their already low prices so, I wanted to make sure every one knew about this! The code to enter at checkout is: "meanttobee". Pretty appropriate since it ties into our Meant To Bee Giveaway going on now! Have you entered? I hope so! There are some pretty awesome goodies up for grabs but, back to the sweet stuff! So, over at Candy Pros you can shop by color - which makes finding exactly what you need pretty easy!

For wedding candy bars you will find items such as popular Jelly Belly beans - these are great items for candy bars because A. Jelly Belly has the best beans B. Jelly Belly offers the most amazing colors and C. Every one loves Jelly Belly because of their awesome flavors. One of the most popular Jelly Belly wedding items is called the Champagne Bubble - its a small white jelly candy with little white balls all over - we have all seen them, they look like this:

Every website I compared to Candy Pros did not even come close to their price! For a 5lb package the cost is $27.96. I did this on similar popular candies like the popular Whirly Pop lollipops:

Candy Pros sells them individually for about $1.12 per pop - this is a great price! Even our local Smart and Final (a warehouse discount store) can't even sell them for that price and if you are looking for individual colors at those discount warehouse type stores? Forget about it! Usually, you are going to find only the rainbow colored pops.

You will also find all the popular candy like the Nostalgia Candy, Movie Theater Candy, Kosher Candy and even Gluten Free Candy!

Some of my favorites for decorations are the super larger Shimmer Gumballs and if you are thinking about maybe offering something like an ice cream bar - guess what?? Candy Pros even offers specialized theme toppings! Super awesome! I could go on and on talking about sweets but, I am sure you get the picture - awesome prices, excellent customer service, fast shipping and good packaging - hands down a super win in my book! And, again...don't forget our special discount code "meanttobee" that will give you an additional 5% off!

Thanks Candy Pros! I am a super fan now! :)

DIY Push Cakes

2011-10-08T14:31:00.000-07:00

My friend tried her hand at making those popular push cakes last night. Do you remember ever eating the Nestle Push-Up ice creams? Well, they are still around but, now they have gone a step up! So, instead of ice cream you use plastic tubes and fill them with cake, frosting, sprinkles, then more cake, more frosting and more sprinkles. By the time you are done you have a tube filled with goodness. Can't go wrong there!

Where you can go wrong is trying to find the most important part: the tubes. My friend decided at the last minute to make these so she found the tubes at a local cake supply store. Mistake number 1. She paid $1.25 per tube and that just didn't seem like an economical treat for a party/shower or wedding - especially if you need to make like 50 of them! So, I did a little research and I found them priced pretty much the same on all sites (around $60 for 100 pops):

http://www.lagunawholesale.com - $61.12
http://pushpopcontainers.com - $73.55
http://www.bakedeco.com - $67.21

Now, the question is: what do I use to fill them? Well, pretty much anything! I have heard of people doing it the easy way: buying the premade mini brownies at the grocery store, baking a cake and then crumbling the cake inside or my friend ended up using a mini muffin pan and baking her cake in that. The result was a perfect looking push cake!

You can also use this "Handmade with love!" sticker I created:

Click here to download this file! It was made for MS Publisher and prints nicely on Avery 8293

Did you know that a package of Avery 8293 labels is part of our October "Meant To Bee" Giveaway? You could win this prize package - enter here!

DIY Hurricane Centerpieces

2011-10-08T08:03:00.000-07:00

I was SUPER excited when I found this DIY project!! I actually want to go try this out (maybe a nice little Saturday project?). The colors were what initially caught my eye and then after reading, I learned they were split peas - interesting...right?? I like the look!

I really love the idea of using these types of vases for your centerpieces but, the other part of this idea that caught my eye was how easy these would be to reuse in your everyday life. Not only do I try to find items that are inexpensive (but look expensive) to share but, my other goal is to share items that you can use for more than just the BIG DAY! It's always super exciting to find DIY projects that fit my criteria!

So, how to make these super cute hurricane centerpieces? Let's get right into it:

SUPPLIES:

3 vases: There are plenty of places to find these clear glass vases in different shapes and sizes. I would try Dollar Tree, the .99 cent store or thrift shops but, you can also go hunting at garage sales or try the clearance aisle at Michael's. If you have to pay full price, remember to always look for a coupon in the newspaper or online! 3 candlesticks: To keep costs down head out to your local Dollar Tree, 0.99 Cent Store or a thrift shop. Again, check the stores above for these items but, you might also find some at Goodwill or resell shops - also garage sales! As a last resort, hit up stores like TJ Maxx or Ross. It might add to the cost a little bit if you have to shop at a major store. E6000 glue: You can find this glue at Michael's or your local craft store. Make sure you check your Sunday paper or online for a printable coupon to use. Michael's is famous for always having a 40% off coupon. I have never used the E6000 glue but, I have read it dries clear and that is the kind of glue you want to use. When I checked into doing this myself I also found someone who made something similar and they used the Gorilla Glue (I talked about that glue here) and the last item you will need is: Toothpicks

DIRECTIONS

First, wash and dry the vases and candlesticks.

Then, I apply the E6000 glue onto the rim of the candlesticks with a toothpick.

Next, put the vases on top of the candlesticks and apply some pressure. Let them set for a little bit (you could place something heavy on top to set - like a book)

The person who made these hurricane vases used split peas to fill the bottoms but, your options are endless! You can use pebbles, marbles, glass pieces (so many colors to choose from) or even flower petals. You can match your wedding theme and then after use different filler items for different holidays or special occasions! I see these hurricane vases at Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma all the time...but, thanks to some crafty people we can make these ourselves! LOVE.

This DIY project has been shared and altered by many. I would like to thank Chelsea for the images used in this post and her tutorial. She originally found it and adapted it from my blessed life, who originally found it from here.

Our Meant To Bee Giveaway is still going on!

Click here to enter now!

Meant To Bee - Giveaway

2011-10-03T00:21:00.000-07:00

GIVEAWAY CLOSED! WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING THE WINNER SOON!

Meant To Bee - The Giveaway!

I am so excited about this month's giveaway! After sharing all the goodies for the Meant To Bee theme with you, our October giveaway will help you create your own bee party - in style! This is a treasure trove for the DIY bride!

Here's what a lucky winner is going to get:

To help with creating favor tags, thank you labels, address labels and whatever other projects you can come up with! You will get 1 package of each of these popular Avery brand labels for all your DIY projects:

1 Dozen Small Bees from Etsy seller SweetenYourDay

100 Lollipop Sticks from Wiltons

From Bee Creative you will get a banner that spells out "Mr & Mrs" -

you choose the color & ribbon color

PRINTINGPRESS 6.0 SOFTWARE - The best software for printing invitations and announcements at home! This is the personal edition for Windows

From Etsy seller MCreations4U - Meant To Bee Cake Pop Holder - Holds 24 Cake Pops

I think this has got to BEE one of our best giveaways yet!

HOW TO ENTER

MANDATORY:

Get ONE entry for: Following my blog PUBLICLY (which means I can see you are following). Leave a comment to let me know you follow.

Visit the following vendors on Facebook and "Like" their page.

You MUST leave a message on their wall:

Get ONE entry for: Visiting SweetenYourDay on Facebook and "LIKE" them

Get ONE entry for: Visiting Bee Creative on Facebook and "LIKE" them

LEAVE A MESSAGE ON THIS POST LETTING ME KNOW YOU HAVE DONE EACH ITEM

(that means you will post 3x to complete your entry)

This giveaway will end on: October 23, 2011 at 8pm PST and the winner will be posted and contacted shortly there after! If we do not hear from the winner within 3 days, another winner will be chosen. PLEASE, make sure you leave me a way to contact you!!

What you win: A "Meant To Bee" Prize Package:

2 packages of Avery Labels
1 dozen small bees handmade by SweetenYourDay
1 package of 6" Lollipop sticks from Wilton
1 Handmade "Mr & Mrs" banner from Bee Creative
1 PrintingPress Software package from Mountain Cow (personal edition for Windows)
1 Cake Pop Stand made by Etsy seller MCreations4U

Value of giveaway: $165.00

Shipping Charges: Included

This giveaway is open to US RESIDENTS only!

Good luck to everyone!

Meant To Bee - Cakes, Cupcakes, Push Cakes and more!

2011-10-02T18:55:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about having a party is the cake! Wedding cake, birthday cake, any kind of cake! Thankfully, I have an amazing bakery that I love near me: Beverly's Best. I have blogged about them before (here, here and here!). I already knew how I wanted the cake decorated and it was pretty easy to go in there and order - and I got to pick up a little treat while I was there (it was an espresso cup made of chocolate and filled with a cappuccino mousse....heaven!!). The anticipation of seeing my idea come to life was killing me! I couldn't wait to pick up the cake and I can tell you, once again, I was not disappointed - with the design and later slicing into it - deeeeee-lish!!

Those little bee's buzzing around the cake?? They were not done at the bakery! Oh no, one of the first things I found on Etsy when we had decided on the theme were these little guys from Sweeten Your Day:

And then I saw this cake picture that featured a larger bee:

Super cute, right? I ordered them right away! You can get a dozen mini bee's for $15.00 but, since I knew I wanted to use them on the cake, I split my order to 6 mini bee's and 6 large bee's. Jen is the owner and chief designer of Sweeten Your Day - she has been in the cake business for over 4 years but, decided to take a break to spend more time with her kiddos. You know when you love something though, it is a part of you, so she opened an Etsy store where she sells all kinds of cupcake and cake toppers that are ALL made by hand with either fondant, gumpaste, or royal icing and they are ALL 100% edible! Jen can custom create anything - so, no matter what your theme is she will work with you! I can tell you that when the bee's arrived they were packaged safe and secure and they looked exactly like the picture: PERFECT - right down to their little smiles! I loved them! For size purposes, you see the larger bee's on the cake above so, here is a picture of the mini bee's on the cupcakes:

Speaking of cupcakes...mmmm! I had purchased from one of those daily deal sites (like Groupon) a deal on a dozen push cakes from Kays Kupcakes. I knew I would be celebrating 2 different occasions so, I bought multiple deals to use. I love push cakes - they are cake and frosting in those little plastic tubes - heaven! So, when I called Kay to redeem my deal I explained to her my party theme and that I had already ordered a cake but wanted to do a sweets table. She was totally flexible (and super, super nice too) so, we came up with the idea to do 1 dozen push cakes and 1 dozen cupcakes. This was perfect since I needed to use my little mini bee's! Then, towards the end of our conversation, on a whim, I asked her if she did cake pop's! YEP! She did (pricing was excellent too!) so I ordered 2 dozen cake pop's from her as well! When we finally met in person, we hit it off perfectly! She is so sweet and bubbly - she fits right into the cupcake world! Speaking of the cupcake world, Kays Kupcakes hosted Cupcake Camp OC this year. Cupcake Camp OC is a gathering of cupcake-lovers to raise money for a good cause. This annual event is 100% volunteer-organized and operated by Kay and Tiffany.

So, the most important thing about cupcakes, push cakes and cake pops are how did they taste, right?? Well, I can tell you Kays Kupcakes has gained a permanent FAN in me! The frosting was incredible, the cake super moist and yummy flavor and the cake pops - amazing! I have had quite a few cake pops - even tried to make them myself ONCE - and they are not easy! Kays Kupcakes, on the other hand, has it down!! (just a little shout out here: THANK YOU SO MUCH Kay! I am so glad I met you...I am a huge fan!). So, no matter where you are, the push cake and cake pops can be delivered so keep them in mind for your next party, you won't be disappointed!

Now that I had my cake pops ordered, my next task was to find something to display them! I headed back over to my favorite hand made community, Etsy, and began my search. It didn't take me long to find MCreations4u. A relatively new shop on Etsy but, their prices were great and their feedback was good. I sent a message over to Marilou and she responded within an hour! I had explained my theme and she got back to me that same day with 2 mock up's of what I wanted - this was the one I chose:

WOW. Talk about customer service! I was super impressed! I ordered the same day! 4 days later, I had my custom, handmade cake pop stand! I thought I was impressed before?? Double WOW now! The quality of this stand is super, duper amazing. I could not believe it! I was so excited about this and honestly...I already have ideas for two more I want to order now! Cake pops are really popular little desserts right now and if you have been looking for a way to show them off - or if you make them as part of your bakery - I urge you to check out Marilou's shop. Marilou can make whatever theme you are going with and you can message her about custom colors. You will not be disappointed with your purchase or her excellent customer service - I guarantee it!

Now, finally the candy bar! This was something I was planning on from the beginning but, something I waited to the last minute to put together! I couldn't decide if I wanted to hire someone to do it or make it another DIY project. I had been hunting for containers but, then decided if I factored in the cost of the candy and all the containers (which I would NOT need after) the price would work out to be very close. Decision over - hire a candy bar company. WRONG. I wasn't able to find anyone available to do it! Slight panic mode was setting in. I searched out a few online wholesale candy companies. I knew I had to find someone local because the party was only 4 days away! Luckily, I live in Southern California and I found a couple of options. I visited Candy Pros, located in the San Diego area, and when I checked the shipping information it said if you needed the order right away to call them because processing the order could take up to 2 days (yikes). I called and spoke with Susan and she told me, "If you place your order online within the next 10 minutes I will be able to ship it out today." Lady luck was on my side again! UPS Ground shipping would take 1 day. I ordered 15 pounds of candy and 12 Whirly Pop suckers - their prices were the best I found online but, their customer service plus same day shipping without any up charge equals a BIG WIN in my book! I would also like to share a discount code with all my readers for Candy Pros! I got such a wonderful email from Candy Pros the other day and guess what?? They have offered to give anyone who orders an ADDITIONAL discount off their already low prices! Yay! If you place an order with them, use the code “meanttobee” at checkout for an additional 5% off! If you are considering doing a candy bar or need any sweets - this is the site to check out! My order was packaged with care (meaning with candy lots of shipping popcorn and even had the ice packs to ensure no melting). In addition to their easy to navigate webpage you can find their blog here - which offers lots of ideas!

The only issue left was finding containers and scoops! Party City solved that problem. While picking up a few last minute items, sitting right at the check out counter display were these clear candy bar container kits from Wilton. They were priced at $9.99 for the set of 3 and the kit also had the labels you see on each container in the photo above. Surprise, surprise! They also had the candy scoops! The scoops would work but, they did have hearts on the end and I would have preferred no hearts. I ended up not buying the scoops - I had one more place to try but, at least I knew they were there if I couldn't find what I was looking for. By this time, it is the night before the party I had one more stop - Cost Plus World Market. If you are lucky enough to have one of these stores near you (they have 258 stores nationwide) you will be able to find the perfect 3-piece aluminum scoop set for just $4.99!

I hope you have enjoyed my Meant To Bee recap! I also hope that out of the two posts that if you are planning a Meant To Bee party, shower or wedding theme that the DIY projects I have listed and the vendors I have recommended will come in handy for you! Now, it's time to announce our Meant To Bee giveaway!!

Like all the things you've seen in this post? You can win these items! Our Meant To Bee Giveaway is now open!

Click here to enter now!

Meant To Bee - Invitations and Paper Goods

2011-09-29T01:05:00.000-07:00

I thought we should start off with the first thing you need to send out when you are planning a party - the invitations. Your invites will be the first insight your guests have to the type of party you are planning and what theme you are going with. All of your paper goods will also coincide with the invites. As I have stated (numerous times) I consider myself "craft challenged" and my instinct is to head straight to Etsy to find the real "pros". I had someone in mind to do my invites and paper goods but, I found myself 14 days out from the party (not good advice and please do not follow my lead on this!) without a confirmed order. I was close to panic mode and knew I had to get the invitations done so, I ventured into what I consider a foreign country - Michael's Craft Store. I found some A7 card stock with envelopes, a 4x6 white card stock and some little wooden bee self-adhesive stickers.

I have a program called PrintingPress from Moutain Cow that I bought years ago - a good investment at $29.99 since I have been using it for many years now! It makes printing invitations, RSVP cards, envelopes and more super easy!

I knew there would be certain paper goods I would need: stickers, banners, table tent cards, decorative cupcake sticks and address labels. The stickers and the address labels proved to be the easiest out of the bunch! I have used these labels (the same boxes mind you!) for years and multiple projects! I have perfected the round label using MS Publisher! I used the round labels to print the invitation envelope seals and stickers used on the push cake pops. I changed the sticker up, a bit, for this post. But, this can be used to seal the envelopes to the party (before, during and after!) or to seal a favor bag or box. There are so many uses! This is what it will look like:

This file was created using MS Publisher - if you use any other program you may need to change a few things to tweak it. This can also be reinvented for so many other needs like changing the text to say - SAVE THE DATE and then add your date underneath or change the words to "THANK YOU" to use on favors! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE BEE STICKER

*Should be used with Avery 8293 labels

One of the next projects was creating table tent cards. These are pretty easy to make. Simply print out on heavy stock paper and then cut into four. I actually used a heavy photo paper I had (to give them a shiny look) but, card stock will also work. I then used some ribbon I had to go with the theme and used a little bit of gorilla glue. Boy, that glue really could work on a gorilla...it's amazing! You can download the template for the table tent cards here. Simply change the text to work for your party - these can also be used for seating cards or escort cards! I do all my work in MS Publisher - if you use another program you may have to adjust the specs.

Cupcake topper or party sticks can be used for a variety of goodies. These were fairly easy to make - the hard part was finding the right size puncher to use! I think checking online would be a better way to go because, honestly the selection at craft stores near me was somewhat limited! They had a lot of them...just not the perfect size or shape. My first purchase was for a scalloped 2 inch circle - that just did not work though! It just seemed too small once you punched them out. I then purchased a 2.5 inch round circle punch. I bought some fun scrapbook paper at Michael's ($0.69 per sheet). I used the 2.5 inch puncher to get the polka dot circle, printed out the smaller decorative circles on photo paper and just used some household scissors to trim and of course some 6 inch lollipop sticks. The lollipop sticks were $4.99 for 100 sticks! My gorilla glue came in handy once again to assemble. These were fun to do and I plan on using this idea for some other upcoming parties. You can download this image to use for the smaller circle - just add text or image you want to use. You can also use your photo editing software to change the color of the circles!

One of my craft friends, she is in the "pro crafter" category, made the Happy Birthday banner for me. She has all the fancy gadgets, like the Cricut, which would have made a lot of my DIY projects easy! I couldn't see investing that kind of money into my own projects although, I do think that it would be fun to own one to see what I could come up with! Bee Creative, my friends business, has all kinds of banners, invitations and well, pretty much anything you can think up - she can do!

This finally wraps up my post on the invitations and paper goods! I hope all the files I uploaded will help you with your crafts projects! And if you are on Facebook, head on over to Bee Creative and "like" them! Now, let's talk about one of my favorite things: the sweets!!

Our Meant To Bee Giveaway is now open!

Click here to enter now!

Busy as a bee!

2011-09-27T13:21:00.000-07:00

I have been a little quiet on the blog lately but, not without good reason! I have been working feverishly to plan my daughters 5th birthday. Without a doubt, any party planning always makes me think about weddings - because a wedding, engagement shower or bridal shower are simply parties. They are celebrations where you have a lot of people coming together and they inevitably cost a lot of money. One of my goals with the blog is to show you how to save money on your wedding - or any celebration you are having! My daughter finally chose her birthday theme: Bumble Bee and my wedding brain kept telling me "Meant To Bee" with every detail I was planning. Because there is SO much information and detail to share, I am going to break it down into a couple of posts so, bear with me, because at the end you, my faithful readers, will be rewarded for buzzing a long with me on this journey! I will provide you with all these great things to make your event and planning MUCH easier:

Tutorials - how to make all the DIY items
Templates - blank templates for you to use
Vendor tips and reviews

And...finally, you will be rewarded with a giveaway! I have an amazing giveaway planned for you! Please share this blog or these posts with your family and friends: anyone planning a party or a wedding - especially if you feel it is meant to bee!

DIY Invitations - Deal on Cuttlebug Die-Cut & Embossing Machine

2011-09-14T12:54:00.000-07:00

Last night, I was working on a blog post about a "Meant To Bee" theme (I am still working on it) and it will be posted soon! But, this morning I found a "deal" that kind of goes with the theme - because part of the post will discuss handmaking items to save on costs. If you have found your inner crafty diva and plan on jumping into the whole DIY wedding ring then you will need certain tools of the trade. I found this deal from Joann's Craft store and you know how these things work - they may only have a limited supply on hand - so hurry and get this. This deal is for the Cuttlebug Die-Cut & Embossing Machine

The regular price of this nifty little machine is $89.99 but it is currently on sale for $53.99. If you stack the free shipping code that is available, you have yourself a pretty good bargain for all your embossing and die-cut needs! The FREE shipping code is: RETMENOTAP259. It's only good for a one time use so, add any other items you might want for you order (like all the Cuttlebug accessories that are on sale too!). I did verify that the code works!

Here are some finished projects that used the Cuttlebug Die-Cut & Embossing Machine:

Source

And finally, Joann has this useful video on the product and you can get 40% off accessories for the Cuttlebug right now too! Hope you guys love this deal!

Get your Hollywood Makeover - Online!

2011-09-03T14:02:00.000-07:00

Today, I have been playing around with this online tool from InStyle Magazine. It's called the Hollywood Makeover and it is totally ~~fun~~ addicting! If you want to play around with your wedding day look this is the place for you - now you don't have to have multiple trials with your hair and makeup girl! You just upload a picture of yourself and away you go! You can choose from options like hair, makeup - including lips, eyes, skin or do the whole package with the complete look! I uploaded a picture and tried out different hairstyles - I really liked Katie Holmes hairstyles and even one using Michelle Obama's hair style looked pretty good on me! Just for fun, I opted to let the hubby see how I would look with long hair using Kim Kardashian! Here are my looks:

Go check it out here! It's a lot of fun! A few other sites have something similar but, I found Instyle to be more user friendly! Who is your favorite celebrity?

Body Shape Wear - DEAL!

2011-08-25T00:27:00.000-07:00

I have always heard wonderful things about Julie France body shape wear (think Spanx). It's pretty much all the same! I also think it's super important to have on the RIGHT undergarments on the big day! Even if you are just getting started with the process of shopping for a dress you should have your undergarments 1st! That way you know how the dress looks with the right "body amour" on! So, I just found an incredible deal on Totsy so, of course I wanted to send you over! The deal lasts for THREE MORE DAYS! Plus sizes are available too! Yay! 50% off is the deal you get - so...BUY BUY BUY!

If you have a Totsy account just go and sign in! If you don't have an account click this link:

HURRY! Click here to get this deal!!

Invitation or Save the Date Deal!

2011-08-22T10:50:00.000-07:00

Open my email box to this great deal from yet another new deal site! I think I get daily emails from 5 or 6 different companies now but, I have also bought some amazing deals! It's hard to give up on getting the emails - you know what I mean right? So, back to today's deal: $20 for $50 worth of invitations from Paper Culture.

Paper Culture has some unique differences when it comes to ordering online invitations - they have a nice comparison chart but, let's look at a couple of things that I think are pretty cool about this company!

All Cards & Envelopes: 100% Post-Consumer Recycled
They plant a tree in your honor w/ EVERY Order
All Cards: 130lb Paper
FREE Mail & Addressing Service

I absolutely LOVE that they offer the mailing and addressing service - talk about a time saver! WOW. You only have to pay for the stamps - there are no hidden fees with this service and that really impressed me!

The deal is on now for $50 worth of invitations for $20! There are only a limited number of deals available but, you have until August 26th to purchase this deal (unless they sell out!).

Paper Culture offers: Save the Date Cards, Moving Announcements, Thank You cards and so many other choices! This is definitely not a deal to miss!

We have a WINNER!

2011-08-21T12:33:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for entering our Woodland Heart Cake Topper Giveaway from BetterOffWed! We have selected a winner via random.org...

Kim said...

Oh. My. Goodness. I l LOVE these. I am not a huge fan of traditional cake toppers, but these are so stinkin' cute. I would love to have one for my upcoming wedding :)

I am following you via Bloglovin

Kim, please send an email to tndrhart2 (at) aol (dot) com with the following information:

Your full name and shipping address
The names or short phrase you would like to use (up to 14 letters)
Heart centerpiece color choice (choose from the options below)

Giveaway: Wedding Cake Topper

2011-08-13T13:50:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since we have had a giveaway on the blog! When I saw the Woodland Heart Wedding Cake Toppers made by BetterOffWed, I knew immediately that I wanted to have a giveaway for one!

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Winner will be announced soon!

HOW TO ENTER

MANDATORY:

Get ONE entry for: Following my blog PUBLICLY (which means I can see you are following). Leave a comment to let me know you follow.

OPTIONAL:

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Get ONE entry for: Following BridalGownBlog on Facebook
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5 BONUS ENTRIES: Grab my Blog Button and add it to your page (leave an additional post with link to let me know you did this!) and get FIVE bonus entries! If my button is already on your page just state that and you get the 5 bonus entries!

YOU CAN GET UP TO 10 ENTRIES into this giveaway!

(leave one comment for each item you do!)

This giveaway will end on: August 20th, 2011 at 5pm PST and the winner will be posted and contacted shortly there after! If we do not hear from the winner within 3 days, another winner will be chosen. PLEASE, make sure you leave me a way to contact you!!

What you win: A Woodland Heart Wedding Cake Topper from BetterOffWed

Value of giveaway: $53.00

Shipping Charges: Included

This giveaway is open to US and CANADIAN RESIDENTS only!

Good luck to everyone!

Woodland Heart Wedding Cake Toppers

2011-08-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

I love when I find things I would purchase myself (if I were getting married again!). One of my favorite things about writing this blog is sharing amazing, unique finds. When I came across these cake toppers on Etsy I knew I had to share! My hope is that someone reading this little blog will find things for their wedding - it's tough to weed out all the goodies that are out there when you are planning a wedding so, I hope that my lovely readers like all the ideas I share!

Etsy seller BetterOffWed is getting married this month! Her Etsy shop opened because she was creating custom items for her own wedding and she wanted to share her handmade items with other brides! I love finding items that are made from actual brides!

The Woodland Heart Wedding Cake Topper in Berry - $45.00

The Woodland Heart Wedding Cake Topper in Party Pink $45.00

Another thing I look for in items I love to share: things that can be used AFTER the wedding! You are going to be spending a lot of cash for the big day so, any item that has a use after is a huge bonus in my book! These cake toppers have many uses after the big day - simply snip the stakes with a pair of scissors and your topper is now a keepsake piece for your home and for generations to come. Hang your topper next to your wedding photo, display it in a shadow box frame or even tie a cord around it and hang it on your holiday tree. I absolutely adore these cake toppers. The heart is made out of fabric so you have many colors to match your wedding scheme.

I've been been keeping my eye out for something that I have been wanting to giveaway on the blog and guess what? This is it! Stay tuned...the next post will be about how you can win your very own Woodland Heart cake topper from BetterOffWed...a little giveaway from me to you!

HOT! Shoe deal but you must ACT FAST

2011-08-11T09:50:00.000-07:00

Looking for an amazing bridal shoe deal? Well, here it is - but, as always you must ACT FAST because deals like this always sell out fast! There's a new deal site called MyHabit (read all of this post to get ADDITIONAL SAVINGS with the amazing discount codes on top of the already incredible deal!)

Check out these amazing shoes from Bourne: Reg $225 now $89

These are regular price $245 now $99

Gorgeous! Regular price $260 now $105

Looking for Badgley Mischka evening shoes? Get them NOW! These are HOT HOT HOT!
Regular $225 now $99

MYHABIT is Amazon’s new private fashion sale site offering up to 60% off hand-picked styles from designer & boutique brands, featuring apparel, shoes, jewelry and accessories for men, women and children. New sale events start every day and typically run for 72 hours; product inventory is limited and is available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Customers who sign up to the site to become members will discover products and be able to make purchases signing up is free and easy, and it is possible to use your Amazon.com credentials to sign in.

MYHABIT also features:

*FAST, FREE SHIPPING and FREE RETURN SHIPPING in the US

*360-degree video of the clothing on live models

*Hundreds of popular and designer brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, TUMI,
Rebecca Minkoff, Juicy Couture

Code:
Save $25 off your order INTLSHIP – exp UNKNOWN
Save $10 on your order MYHABITX – exp 9/1/11

Mini Cakes

2011-08-03T19:20:00.000-07:00

One of the featured vendors for the Aqua Blue and Red inspiration was Carrie's Cakes. This bakery, located in Sandy, UT, is the owned and operated by...you guessed it: Carrie! She has been making cakes for over 30 years and I can tell you, it really makes a difference when you have that much experience behind you! An idea I toyed around with when I was planning my own wedding (6 years ago) was having mini cakes - but, they were pretty much non-existent then.

Carrie has a whole section of her website dedicated to these delightful mini works of art! She has perfected the use of fondant - she has her own secret recipe and if you have ever tried working with fondant you will know what a huge undertaking this is.

One of the best things about mini cakes is that you can have all different kinds of cakes - different shapes, sizes and flavors!

The other reason I wanted to share about Carrie's Cakes is because she seems FUN! I looked at all her incredible cakes and I read her blog. She offers cake classes and has a store on her website where you can purchase tools if you want to try your hand at cake making - even DVD tutorials! But, the thing that really put her personality in perspective was this video:

Wedding cake delivery on a scooter! from David Perry on Vimeo.

Kudos to you Carrie! I loved watching this video because, seriously - when have you ever seen something like this? Love the polka dot helmet, love the awesome pink scooter and love the CakeSafe delivery box! This is just awesome - I wish I was in Utah so I could meet her in person (and order a mini cake!).

Aqua Blue and Red Wedding Color Inspiration

2011-08-03T17:57:00.000-07:00

Are you ready for my favorite color combo? Sure, it's a little different and not your average wedding color - but these two colors together totally rock! I have seen these colors matched up before but, when I saw this gown from Bonny Bridal (style 6123) I was in love! What a gorgeous gown!

This dress is from the Crown Collection but, with it's little sweep train would be perfect for an outdoor wedding! I could even picture this dress in a tropical location - matching the ocean color! Just thinking about how beautiful this would be makes me want to fly off to an out of the way destination wedding!

The Ritzy Rose came up with this gorgeous brooch bouquet, Tutu cute flowergirl dresses, Handmade clutch for your bridesmaids, Crown Collection Gown, Carrie's Cakes has some awesome wedding cakes and if you are in Sandy, Utah you should check her out, this Save The Date Card does have a matching wedding invitation, my favorite handmade tie maker Me And Matilda has this adorable necktie and the paper place cards are certainly one of a kind!

Red, White and Black Wedding Inspiration

2011-08-01T19:07:00.000-07:00

It's the beginning of a new month! This summer has been flying by! I continue to be amazed by the enormous talent of artists who hand make gorgeous details for your wedding or bridal shower! Today was inspired by seeing these gorgeous red poppies:

They are actually sugar flowers made by Two Sugar Babies. You can dress up any plain cake with their amazing creations and voila! You have a work of art! Two Sugar Babies makes cookie toppers, cake pop decorations, and even brownie toppers! Their creations even coordinate with social stationary designed by Kelly Lyden of WHHostess.

So, finding the poppies led me on an adventure of red, white and black! I fell in love with this sassy feather fascinator (veil is not included in the price but can be purchased individually) paired it with bridesmaid dress style 7104 from Bonny Bridal (about $165 suggested retail price) and then found these adorable peep toe pumps! The price is AMAZING - only $39.99 and free shipping from Your Shoe Store. Lastly, I headed back to Etsy for one more look around for wedding items in my color theme. Luckily for me (and you) I found these handmade paper flowers. The price is awesome: $3.75 for 25 flowers. These flowers gave me all kinds of ideas! They are small (approx. 5/8 in diameter). My mind started racing with all the things these dainty flowers could embellish for your wedding and DIY projects: invitations, placecards, will-you-be-my bridesmaid cards and so much more! Are you using Red, White and Black as your wedding colors? If so, share any of your amazing finds!

Deal of the Day - Flowergirl Dress - Act Fast!

2011-07-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

Just saw this "deal of the day" and always you need to ACT FAST if you want to get in on this! Classic neckline, cap sleeves, sweet bows and sequins. This dress would be perfect for your little flowergirl - and at 50% off it's priced at $25.00! You can not beat that price when dressing your little princess! Sizes available are 5 - 12

Click Here to Buy This Deal of the Day!

Cheery Cherry Wedding Inspiration

2011-07-24T17:15:00.000-07:00

Cheery, cherry wedding inspiration! I am a fan of consumable wedding favors which is why I think having a candy bar or dessert station is a great additional to a wedding! Not only do these dessert tables help in setting the tone for your wedding, they also provide a great memory for your guests! While the vows and the meaning of the wedding are super important to you, having a great time at the wedding is important to your guests! So, on this super nice summer day my thoughts were of cherries!

Cherry Sugar Cookies from JustCrumbs

My hubby would go ga-ga for these mini cherry pies

My favorite baker, Bakerella, made these - but she got the recipe from NotMartha

Cherry Pie In a Jar

Uh oh! I see a serious sidetrack issue going on with these mini-jars! Again this post is from Not Martha (another side track issue). I have just found two new ~~obsessions~~ interests!

I found a great website that has different size jars to use here!

Custom Aisle Runners

2011-07-09T18:25:00.000-07:00

A simple, yet elegant touch to your wedding is having a custom made aisle runner. Flo, who was married in 2009, was a do it yourself bride and she created her own aisle runner. She had so much fun doing her own, she turned it into a side business! I think most DIY brides come to the realization, after their own weddings, that they love creating things (and they miss it)! Some of my favorite finds have been from former bride-to-be's! Here are some of my favorite aisle runners that Flo has made:

Basic aisle runners start at $125 but, you can upgrade the design for an additional fee. This monogram, for example, has a $85 upgrade fee.

This is another design that has an additional fee. This upgrade fee is $100 - isn't this amazing though? So perfect for a Fall wedding!

I really LOVE the tree designs!

If you are interested in getting a quote for your custom aisle runner, check out Flo's website or contact her via email!

Maryland: Antrim 1844 Inn and local wedding photographers

2011-07-08T11:53:00.000-07:00

One of the things I do every day is surf wedding websites and blogs...it's a tough job, I know. Sometimes, I find myself at sites and I forget how I got there. Such is the case with finding Mr. and Mrs. Adams. It's a blog that was written for (I assume) friends and family to enjoy the musings of a young couple embarking down the aisle. Like I said, I am not sure how I got there but, what kept me there (for a couple of days now) was reading about the venue where "Mr. and Mrs. Adams" (not their real names) were planning their wedding: Antrim 1844. This venue is a neoclassical Civil War plantation that now serves as a nationally recognized bed and breakfast and fine dining restaurant.

Last summer, when I was visiting my best friend in Maryland, I wrote about this venue, because she was married here! Finding Mr. and Mrs. Adams blog brought back all of the memories from my friend's wedding weekend, which took place in May of 1998! This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to and it's a place I would absolutely love to go back to (one day, crossing my fingers!). If you are in the area or even if you are planning a destination wedding - this is definitely a place to check out! Sadly, "Mrs. Adams" never finished her wedding blog...kind of leaving readers, like me, with a feeling of "what ever happened to..." so, I didn't get to read about her big day and how everything came together. From her blog, I found photographers, Procopio Photography (and this is exactly how I get lost in all the sites I visit!!).

This photography team has gorgeous "eye candy" for you to view! Their latest blog post, the wedding of Michelle and Jason, at the Washington National Cathedral prompted this blog post actually! My thoughts on the images were: double wow! We did not visit the Washington National Cathedral last summer but, another reason to head back to the east coast! During my visit to their website, I did find the real Mr. and Mrs. Adams! My curiosity about how their wedding turned out was finally satisfied and if you are curious you can check out their pictures here!

I hope that if any of my readers, or maybe people like me who wander wedding websites and blogs, happen upon this post that you might connect with these two wedding vendors! I feel pretty confident that you would not only be in capable hands but, that you would have the most amazing wedding with them! Sharing things I love with you all is just one of the reasons I love writing this blog! Cheers to a wonderful weekend!

===========Update==========

A reader let me know that Mrs Adams is back and updating her blog once again! She just posted a lovely video of her gorgeous wedding at the Antrim Inn! So lovely. Welcome back!

Dessert pedestals for cakes and cupcakes!

2011-07-07T19:15:00.000-07:00

I have been saving this "find" from Etsy seller BurlapAndBlue for quite awhile now....I know, I was totally holding out on you guys - right? Linda is the owner of this shop that is filled with beautiful goodies, perfect to accent a wedding or shower dessert table! I just love all the ways you can use this. Linda's lovely pedestals were also featured in the April 2011 Bride's magazine! And guess what? I just found out that Linda is celebrating her 1000th blog follower by giving away a gorgeous summer starfish dessert pedestal! BONUS! You have until the 12th of July to enter so good luck on that...but, if you want to check out these beauties head on over to BurlapAndBlue on Etsy!

Oh! And those awesome embroidery loops I just posted about here? If you are not much of a DIY crafter and would rather purchase handmade items (like me!) another bonus!! Linda makes them! Whoop! For $20 you can have someone else make the Chalkboard Embroidery Hoop for your dessert table!

Southern California Brides: A Special Deal For You!

2011-07-06T23:44:00.000-07:00

My little blog reaches such a wide audience that I do not usually pass along "local" deals but, this one was too good to pass up! I got a notification that the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Gardens, located in Long Beach, California, was offering an amazing deal: Friday Wedding & Reception Special from 6pm - 10pm for $3300!

Obviously, Fridays are not the "ideal" day for weddings - which probably prompted this special deal but, with the economy being the way it is, I think bride's are thinking "outside the box" and having a Friday wedding totally makes sense! The Japanese Gardens hold a very special place in my heart! Two very good friends have gotten married here (one held their reception elsewhere and one had their reception there). Also, back in the day, when I owned and operated my bridal store, TenderHeart Bridal, we did a bridal show here. I think it was the only bridal show the gardens have hosted but, it was an amazing, intimate event and we had a strolling fashion show of bridal gowns! Our models would stroll through the gardens...it was really magical!

The Japanese Gardens is a BEAUTIFUL venue that is tucked away inside California State University at Long Beach. The grounds are amazingly kept! There are tall trees, an arched bridge (where the weddings take place), a koi pond and waterfalls. The garden can accommodate up to 200 guests for a ceremony and up to 165 for a wedding and reception.

So, if you are in the area and you are interested - I urge you to contact them!

CONTACT INFORMATION

Call: 562.985.8889 for questions or Email: Japanese Garden Coordinators

Embroidery Hoop Wall Art (and a DIY project)

2011-07-02T11:25:00.000-07:00

I have found a clever craft that has been making the rounds. As far as I am concerned, this cute little concept has been flying under the radar! But, no longer! What could I possibly be talking about? Well, it has to do with a little device that has been around since 1902 - the embroidery hoop. At the end of this post, you will find the link to a tutorial on how to make your own DIY: Chalkboard Embroidery Hoop Signs! These are so easy, so adorable and I think you will be running out to get all the items to start making them (thanks to Hostess with the Mostess for the original post!). But, before you do that - check out some of the creations that are already being offered (maybe you will get a few more ideas!):

Little City Hoop Gift Hoop (Love Birds) $65

Each "Little City" Hoop is handcrafted on linen or cotton and incorporates unique hand-cut applique in 100% wool felt. Singly or in a cluster, these pieces make perfect wall art. You must also check out her canvas pieces - they are incredible!

Personalized Felt Hoop Wedding Date - 35.00

These hoops are small - only 6 inches around! You could probably ask for a larger hoop from the seller to accommodate both names and date. I love the floating heart look though!

Happy Love - 25.00

Two little love birds singing their song! These cuties are sure to make a statement piece on your wall or shelf.

DIY: Chalkboard Embroidery Hoop Signs

If you are ready to try a DIY project - here you go! This one looks easy enough and coming from me, the non-crafter, that says a lot! The possibilities are endless since you are using chalkboard fabric and these can always be reused after the wedding! Leave a comment if you are going to try this project (or any DIY project we blog about!) - love to get your feedback!!

Precious Metal: Copper wedding ideas

2011-06-30T10:44:00.002-07:00

Goodbye gold and silver...hello copper! I can dream, right? Silver and gold will actually always remain top wedding colors but, if you want to try something a little different, this rich color may be just what you are looking for!

Etsy Seller: PatsDesign

Choosing a wedding color completely sets up the theme of your wedding and once you have the color everything starts falling into place! Copper can be either natural and rustic or elegant and dramatic.

Dress: Bonny Bridal Social Occasion Wear Dress 7139 shown in Praline, Decorative Cupcake Holder, Guest Book, and Lantern

DIY Bride: Make your own bubble favors

2011-06-28T09:40:00.000-07:00

I came across this tutorial on how to make your own bubble tin favors and wanted to share - how adorable are these? Originally, this was blog post showed up on Hostess with the Mostess for a 2nd birthday party - but I thought it would be great for a wedding too (and easy!). Have fun with this!

BUBBLE TIN PARTY FAVORS

Materials
• 6” Tin Cans, found at Specialty Bottle
• Pink Pipe Cleaners, found at Michaels
• Bubble Solution, found at iParty or you can make your own bubble solution
• Raffia, found at Michaels
• Full Sheet Label Paper, found at Office Depot
• Computer / Color Printer
• Paper Cutter

Instructions:
1. Download and print out the template for the bubble labels and trim just under and above the pink lines (so that the lines show) and horizontally at the end of the pink lines.

2. Adhere to the tins using as light of a touch as possible so you don’t leave fingerprints.

3. To create the pipe cleaner wands, shape the top of the wand into a circle, then twist the end around the handle.

4. Measure your raffia to about 18.” Holding the pipe cleaner in place, wrap the raffia around the wand and the tin, tying in a bow at the front.

5. Fill the tins about 1/2 full with the bubble solution

Carnival Theme: Wedding or Party - Part 2

2011-06-25T17:06:00.000-07:00

Doing a carnival dessert station was so much fun! I love creating and designing themed parties! In part 1 of the carnival party I talked about how I was able to get a dessert table for 50 people for just a little less than $2.00 a person! In this post we will tackle how to do the paper goods! Although this post is geared towards a carnival theme, you can incorporate some of the printables into other themes!

Stickers on the cotton candy bag: Adorable right? And...super easy! I had a package of Avery 8293 Shipping Labels at home - you get 400 of them in a package and these are GREAT for making your own labels for a variety of wedding items! I recently saw them priced at Amazon for $15.58 (free shipping and no tax!) makes them about .04 cents a piece! Here is a tutorial I put together on how to print the perfect label size every time that you will LOVE!

If you are familiar with MS Publisher you can head off now to go and create stickers, after you download the red and white striped background here but, if you are not familiar with using Publisher and want to know how to create the stickers, keep reading!

Open your saved sticker in Publisher. You will need to use the oval tool to create the white space:

Now, you need to fill in your circle to make sure it's white:

Once you have done this you will want to open the red and white stripe paper using Adobe Reader and then hit Edit, Copy File to Clipboard. Go back to Publisher and hit CTRL M to get to the background mode. Hit CTRL V to paste your red and white stripe background on the file. This background will fill up your whole screen! Hit CTRL M to toggle back to your circle.

Use the text tool to write in your personal message:

Make sure you SAVE your document! And then you can print them off! You can use the Print Preview button to see how your finished document will look:

Pretty easy, right?! I just love these stickers and with a little work on your part you really will use all 400 stickers! If you didn't want to use the stripe background, but instead a solid color background, you can easily do this in Publisher using the Fill tool. If you need help with that you can leave a message on this post and I would be happy to help you!

I also came across this gorgeous collection for a carnival wedding or shower from Wedding Style Guide!

You can get all these goodies in PDF format! Click on any of the links to download the documents! Name tags, Invitations, Drink Tickets and Party Games!

Carnival Theme: Wedding or Party - Part 1

2011-06-25T14:32:00.000-07:00

There is so much information I have to share with you about how to create a DIY carnival theme for your wedding or party so I am going to break it down in to two posts! My daughter's school was having an "end of the year" carnival to celebrate the last day of school so, I happily volunteered to do a dessert station for 50 kids! I have been wanting to do a post on a carnival theme because it is FUN! So, off on a search I went for the perfect carnival items! Now, I get to share my finds with you! First, I knew we needed the main staples for a carnival: cotton candy, peanuts and popcorn!

I did some research to find the best prices on the bags to hold all the goodies and I ended up purchasing from Etsy seller HeyYoYo. I purchased:

50 Elephant Design Peanut Bags - $6.00

50 Retro Wagon Popcorn Bags - $7.00

Amanda, the owner of HeyYoYo shipped the items quick and they were exactly what I had hoped they would be! For the filler, I bought the large dry roasted peanut bags from Costco (I purchased 2 5lbs bags which filled my 50 bags with some leftovers!). We have a store similar to Costco here in Southern California called Smart and Final - it's similar to Costco but doesn't require a membership. From Smart and Final I bought the GIANT bags of premade popcorn. I purchased 2 3lbs bags - but, really one bag would have been enough!

A must have for any carnival is cotton candy! I looked into renting a machine - but, honestly it's a lot of work! I have seen the Parade brand of cotton candy and figured I would make my own little bags using this cotton candy (with a personalized sticker on the outside). The only problem with it - it's MESSY! I bought 3 cases, figuring I could split it into the bags. Well, if you think about eating cotton candy and all that ooey gooey goodness gets all over your fingers - guess what? It happens when you are just touching it and NOT eating it - but, since it ended up all over my fingers I did taste it! Both flavors were really good! Sam's Club sells the 8 pack case of 2oz jars for $5.58! That is only .70 cents a tub! A total bargain! If I was going to do this again and planned ahead I would reconsider and probably order the prepacked 1oz bags which I found later at Standard Concession Supply. 100 - 1oz bags for 48.00 making them .48 cents a bag (before shipping). Considering the mess, this is a much better way to go, in my opinion!

Candy, candy, candy! Another must have for any dessert table! I was hoping to get the traditional whirly lollipops but, I just couldn't find a great price on them! So, I stuck with a revised plan of candy sticks and pixy stix's from Old Time Candy Company. I love this website - they have the best variety of different candies and the prices are really good!

I bought the case of candy sticks - you get 80 sticks for $12.99 and then I added the pixy sticks (a case of 48 3-packs) for $7.99. I later found a large assortment of the same candy at Smart and Final! The prices were pretty much the same (when you factored in shipping) so, my advice is always check with your warehouse store to see what they might have! I also bought some of the orange colored circus peanuts! A 1.5 lb bag (about 90 pieces) was $5.99. The candy was my final purchase - and I almost broke down and added the whirly pops when I saw them at Smart and Final - the price still wasn't great but, the cute factor was over the top. The decision maker, though, was that they only had 1 pack - and I would have needed at least 3!

While, doing my research for this dessert table, I was surprised to find so many places that offered everything you need to make your own carnival! You really can use this theme and make it affordable! The total spent for all the goodies in this post: $98.32 - and that was for 50 people! So, the cost per person was about $1.97!

In the next blog post, I will talk more about how to make affordable DIY items, including tutorials and free printables for your carnival theme!

Free Printables: With love

2011-06-19T18:08:00.000-07:00

I found a couple of free printables - in my favorite wedding color (pink!) and I had to pass along! These are easy items to incorporate into wedding decorations:

This heart of love is from The Fickle Pickle and you can click here to download it - for free!

This print is a very popular saying, with a little adaptation - and I love this one done in pink with a heart! This one is from The Hands-On Housewife and you can download it for free here!