The Menu

Flowers: The Growers Box

The last thing I wanted to deal with was flowers. I really don’t like flowers that much. But I realized that I didn’t have time to think of a bouquet alternative. I decided the cheapest and easiest way to make this work was to order them online and then DIY the bouquets. I found a few vendors and realized that I didn’t even have to make the bouquets, I could order them pre-made. It seemed a bit risky as I didn’t know what I would really get. All I could do is look at photos online and trust it. I was willing to take the risk.

I decided to use the Grower’s Box and ordered the lilac 10-piece for $250 (after coupons of course). I got one bridal bouquet, two bridesmaid bouquets, one box of petals, four boutonnieres, and two corsages. The flowers were shipped to my house via Fedex and we only had to keep the bouquets in water and in a cool place until the ceremony. Easy as pie (though pie making isn’t easy). When the flowers came I thought the Bridesmaid’s bouquets were a lot bigger and more colorful than the bridal bouquet. I went for that one instead. Thank goodness I only had a Matron of Honor. I think it turned out great. However, I think someone who really cares about flowers shouldn’t take the risk.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Guestbook Alternatives

Remember when the lady at Paper Source did the intervention with me? One idea was to make keepsake boxes where people could leave notes for us. I decided on two boxes, for our 5th and 25th anniversaries. I sent my two friends to Paper Source to pick out paper and make two drop spine boxes. The cards that people wrote on were the left over scraps from the invitations. When the invitations were cut those pieces would have been thrown in the trash but I found another purpose for them.

The next item was a datebook I purchased for $10 where everyone could sign their name on their birthdate. Now we have the birth dates of all our friends and family who attended the wedding along with something to look forward to for our anniversaries.

Courtesy of Barnes and Noble

We did it!

We just got back from our Honeymoon to Puerto Rico! Here are few photos and the rest of the new posts will be about my DIY projects.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

DIY Photobooth

Here is how I made it happen for about 10% of the cost of the professional ones.

$5 Donation for Mac Photobooth Software (David Cline Photobooth Software for Mac)
$15 for printer and paper from  (Craigslist)
$69 for three printer ink cartridges (Staples)
$20 for 300 sheets of photo paper (Staples)
$40 for two spotlights with bulbs  (Home Depot)
$5 for purple curtain  (Anna’s Linen)

It also doubled as our favor!

The Banner

On my final walk through we decided the room needed a focal point. The easiest thing we could think of was a banner. Given that it was 7 days before the wedding, we figured it would be easiest to order one from a copy shop. Just for fun Because I am obsessed with DIY, I snuck a peak at a few DIY Banners. I found several that seemed easy. I found this one from Style Me Pretty and realized that we already had all of the things we needed to make it happen. I don’t think there are any good pictures from the wedding but ours said “Mr & Mrs Hughes”. Here are the supplies we used:

Martha Stewart Edge Punch
Ribbon
Paper Source Letter Cover Paper in Poppy
Paper Source Letter Cover Paper in Cream
Font of your Choice from Dafont.com

Bridal Travel Agency

Note: If you are easily offended please stop reading right now. This post isn’t going to be polite in anyway. Call me Bridezilla if you must.

Dear Friends & Family,

The wedding is very near and I am excited that all of you have decided to share my wonderful day with me. Most of you are spending your time to travel across the country to be with me and I appreciate it. It’s about 20 days away and things are super busy for me. Throughout the process I have been happy to answer most of your questions as best as I can. That’s what a hospitable person does.

Today is where all of that ends. Here are the things I am no longer doing for you.

3. Finding you a hotel that is close but cheaper. I booked a block of rooms to help everyone out. Even before the room block filled up I was asked constantly “Can you find me a hotel near the Hyatt but that’s cheaper.” Sorry guys use google maps.

2. Buying you a plane ticket. No one actually asked me to spend my money on their plane ticket. However, several people have called me to go online and they will give me their credit card number so I can help them purchase their tickets. You should try calling someone who lives near you to help you with this. Sorry that’s what a travel agent is for.

Now this top question is what caused me to lose it yesterday. I answered it politely but no more.

1. Giving you a list of cheap places you like to eat near the hotel? I’m an Elite Yelper so I have no problem sharing my opinion on what I like to eat. Sorry I’m not a concierge.

Please be understanding of my time.

Thanks & see you soon,

Me

I am really not sure why people think that I should be this involved in their travel planning. I booked the room blocks (i did two different prices!), shared the closest airports in the save the date, and gave them information for super shuttle. In this information age do your research. I just think the bride is the last person you should bother with this. Only contact the bride to help her or if it’s dire. I’m sure you know someone else going to the wedding or who has traveled to that city before who can point you in the right direction.

All I want for Christmas (I mean my wedding) is a Photobooth!

Long ago I became obsessed with the idea of having a photobooth at the wedding. It seamed simple enough to DIY but I abandoned it because setting it up is more than I wanted for the friends who are helping out. Today I was looking for something totally random on the internet and somehow one of the “related links” led me to David Cline. David Cline made a program that automates your Mac Photobooth application and turns it into a real Photobooth. The pictures print and everything! If you are interested in such a thing you just have to donate via Paypal and he will send you the application and instructions. This will make the DIY process so much easier. All I will need is my computer and a printer. Umm does anyone have a photo printer I can borrow?

Down to the (floral) wire

It’s less than 30 days. Oh me! Oh my! So today I realized that I had forgot a few touches. I forgot about flowers for the men and family members. My bouquet and the one for the Matron of Honor were my sole focus. Then I remembered there are corsages and boutonnieres to be made. Yeah no, I’m not tackling all of that. If it was earlier I could have put someone else on the case.  Thank God for the internet to give me peace of mind. I am going to just order them all pre-made. It’s more that I planned to spend (which was zero) but at this point I cannot put anymore more projects on my plate. I still will DIY the my bouquet and the one for the maid of honor. They will be very simple and classic.

Problem Solving from Unlikely Places

I have struggled with how to get everyone involved. I’ve been a bad bride because everyone wants to help but I have no idea what to have people do. Today I had to make yet another trip to Paper Source because our invitation list is growing. I got there and they no longer sell two of the items I need for invitations in the color I need them. I’m not that particular so I picked a new combination on the fly. The cashier, Katie, asked me about the other things I was doing for the wedding. We got to chatting and I admitted to her that I was having a difficult time figuring out how to include people who were far away. Katie talked to me for 20 minutes and gave me some great ideas. She gave me suggestions for things people can do to help out now as well as the intangible duties (like listen to me when I have gone crazy because the invitations are screwed up again). My wedding inexperience has been mostly great because I don’t feel beholden to certain traditions. However, I needed someone to remind me what friends are for.