They Call Me "Mellow Yellow"!

Just about the perfect, DIY backyard event, this gorgeous, intimate, BRIGHT California event can be your best starting "template". So many good ideas, such lovely style indeed! We found it on one of our favourite wedding blogs : Oh Lovely Day - definitely worth bookmarking!

In the bride's own words:

We wanted to have a pretty laid back wedding where people could feel comfortable and where we could invite all of our friends and family and not exclude anyone. I made the pictures on the centerpieces, the goody bag tags, the card box sign, my aunt made the ring bearer pillow and my hubby made the programs and the save-the-date's. We got our invites from weddingpaperdivas.com, we bought our burlap goody bags online and put salt water taffy inside, which we also got online at acandystore.com. We got the tins for our centerpieces at Shinoda in Coasta Mesa. Our florist, Kyndra Frank, who is one of my mom's good friends, did all of the florals.... [full story..]

"uniting Past Brides with this year's Brides-to-Be"..

Fun, Eco-friendly and Budget-Conscious too!

• Sample and consignment dresses for sale,
• decor companies clearing their stock and
• select professional vendors to chat one-on-one.

The inaugural, last year, was even more successful that expected (over 700 brides - look at the lineups!) so thsi year the event is moving to Villa Amato (Main & 1^st, near the Olympic Village: Sunday, November 20th)

We need more of these, across Canada..

Silver Brooch Bouquet (found: chicvintagebrides.com)

"We regularly come across wedding trends that really make us stop and take notice. Our latest find is not only trendy but also fun to create and easy on the environment"..

What is it? A Non-Floral bridal bouquet!

Sounds crazy, doesn't it? But there is no steadfast rule that says a bridal bouquet must be made of fresh flowers. Actually, bouquets can be created from just about anything. For example: seashells, candy, lace, fabric, and paper flowers all make excellent alternatives to fresh flowers.

found: Dahlia's Day blog

$100 on etsy.com

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"Looking for a fun and budget-friendly wedding centerpiece idea?"..

source: Good Housekeeping!

Here's something that's easy to do and that will add an extra-special splash of colour to each of your guest tables. (and help you save money by using "generic", simple vases)

A Pleated Vase-Sleeve

1. Buy some cotton fabric of your colour and pattern choice (obviously something that matches your wedding decor theme)
2. Also buy some fusible backing (something glue-able, ideally precoated, from the craft store), for stiffness and to keep the cut fabric from fraying.
3. Iron the fabric onto the backing and press in folds.
4. Snip the ends, if you like to create those points at the top.
5. Cut small slits on each pleat to allow for a ribbon to wrap around your creation.
6. Make a bow with your ribbon to complete the look.

Choose a fabric and pattern that will compliment both the size and colour of the flower and your creation is sure to be a winner!

Add some fresh flowers and cheap vases from the dollar-store and .. ta-daaa.. instant happy spring centrepieces! We love tulips because they come in a variety of colours and are readily available this time of year but, obviously, you can use any flower that you like!

Ivory and Pearl Feather Bouquet

An old time favourite, feathers make an excellent and versatile style & décor wedding idea. Why?

1. They are fairly inexpensive compared to fresh flowers, giving budget-conscious brides more options.
2. They are a lot easier to arrange than flowers; so they are a perfect alternative for the "do-it-yourselfer"
3. They create large voluminous displays in a variety of colours, adding drama and interest to any table décor.
4. They are elegant and attractive in bridal bouquets and boutonnieres creating an element of uniqueness to your design.
5. They create a fun and light (retro?) atmosphere without weighing down the overall look.

Here are some great examples from around Canada:

Black & White Feather Centrepieces
© MW Flower Design, Scrarborough

White Ostrich Feather Centrepieces
© MW Flower Design, Scrarborough

Gorgeous! White feather + roses bridal bouquet

The Groom too! Feather + lily boutonniere

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source: The Thank You Company (Canadian eShop)

One of the prevailing developments in wedding planning, over the last few seasons, has of course been the whole "do-it-yourself" trend. So we're always on the lookout for easy, fun and affordable ways to get you DIY-ing - invitations being the obvious starting point; it's the first thing you need to organise, as soon as you set your wedding date!

When it comes to DIY invitations, there are a number of great options available to Canadians, online or locally, custom, even digital; but the preeminent quick-and-easy, affordable-yet-great-looking solution has long been Wilton's "Print Your Own" line.

How Wilton Print-your-Own DIY works..

They are a simple and fast "plug-and-play" option to creating beautiful and professional wedding invitations on your own. Each kit contains everything you need to get going, from the invitation to the reply itself.

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Love junkfood? Include your fun favourites in a late night wedding buffet. Here are a collection of ideas from around the Internet for you. Just make sure you customize it to junkfood that you love!

Pop Corn!

Late Night Popcorn Machine!
idea: Alexa Events (Denver)

Grilled Cheese?

Yummy Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
idea: brides.com

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photo: Joel Smith Photography, St. Catharines / Niagara

Can you 'Save' on Wedding Photography Costs?

Your wedding will of course have its share of unforgettable moments, moments which you will definitely want to preserve, whether on photo or video. This much is certain! So, the question becomes how you will document those moments, which usually ends up meaning deciding exactly how much you can afford to spend!

Your Options

• You can hire a professional, to shoot your wedding and also provide "post-production" (albums, touch-ups etc)
• You can hire a professional, to only shoot the wedding and deliver the "raw" images to you
• You can leave it up to your family and friends and save a fair amount of money.

What could you miss by being frugal?

Wedding photographers come with all sorts of price tags and provide a very wide variety of services. So, if you are trying to stay within a particular budget, what you need to decide is what exactly do you expect out of your wedding photographs? Which means that you first have to figure out what is actually possible or, rather, available, to start with..

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If you are planning your wedding on a budget, there are a few key elements to your planning that you must pay attention to in order to achieve your goal without comprising your wedding's success. Knowing where to save and where to spend is important in pulling off an inexpensive wedding that everyone will enjoy.

Where you Can Save

Here are three basic parts of the wedding planning that can definitely be done for less, without compromising quality and your guests' experience.

• Invitations

  With so many DIY options and inexpensive templates to choose from, doing your invitations while keeping your budget in check is super easy. As long as they meet the basic criteria of telling everyone when and where the wedding is, you're good to go.

  Tip: invitation kits are easy, affordable and lots of fun to work with. Get the gang together and have a creative night playing with the invites!

  

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