Monday, October 24, 2011

Wishing Tree

It's been a while since my last post, but I figure there's no time like the present to get blogging again.

Today I found an adorable alternative to the traditional wedding guest book: a wishing tree.  Instead of writing in a guest book, your wedding guests can write their well wishes and marriage wisdom on tags that hang on the wishing tree branches.  So cute!  Also, it seems like a fun DIY project.

If you prefer to purchase one, this one is from The Papery Nook, an Etsy shop.  Check it out!


Photo Credit and buying info: Wishing Tree, The Papery Nook

Friday, February 25, 2011

Lowering the Cost of Weddings

The average cost of a wedding today is $28,000.  For one day!  I personally have a friend whose wedding cost over $100,000! Her parents had to take out a second mortgage on their house to cover the costs.

A person’s wedding day is a very special and important occasion, and of course needs to be celebrated as such.  However, the cost of a wedding should not be what determines how special the day is.  In fact, with a little bit of creativity, you can create a memorable celebration at a much lower cost.

Vintage, retro, indie, and DIY weddings all allow a bride and groom to create a beautiful, unique wedding celebration while keeping costs down.

Here are some tips for a simpler wedding:

1.  Reduce the guest list.  The smaller your guest list, the lower the cost of the entire reception and often the ceremony site rental fee as well.  Also, with fewer guests, the bride and groom are able to spend more time with each guest.  Having a smaller guest list insures that the most important people in your life will be present and that you can celebrate with them.  Remember, this day is about what you, the bride and groom, want.

2.  Enlist help from friends and family.  If you have a friend who is great with flowers, why not have her arrange the table centerpieces?  Or does your aunt bake yummy cakes?  Perhaps she can make your wedding cake.  Have a friend who is an event planner? Maybe he can help with the logistics.  You can request these services from friends in lieu of wedding gifts.

3.  Have the ceremony in a public park, garden, or museum.  Many sites can be reserved for a small fee.   Think outside the usual country club or fancy hotel settings.  There are many unique and beautiful options available in every community.  (Note: Keep in mind you may need to rent chairs for a public park setting, so finding a venue that include the chairs and set-up is often helpful.)

4.  Have your wedding near where you live or where the majority of the guests live.  This will reduce the cost of travel.

5.  Do the catering yourself, or hire a family-owned restaurant.  If cooking isn’t your thing, look for a local family-owned restaurant.  They will be more able to work with you within your budget and generally will go the extra mile to make your day that much more special.

Remember, being frugal and thrifty is not the same as being cheap.  The more thought and creativity you put into your wedding, the more memorable and enjoyable the day will be.  Have fun!


                                                                   Photo Credit

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Retro Rockabilly Wedding

This playful wedding comes to Red Shoes Bridal courtesy of Sarah Kathleen Photography, based in San Luis Obispo County, California.  The colors of this wedding feature that classic retro palette of red, black, and white.  There are so many adorable, personal touches in this wedding, including the polka dot sash on the bride's dress.  I absolutely adore the bride's black birdcage veil.  The Portola Inn in Atascadero, California, was a beautiful rustic, vintage-y setting.  Enjoy!



















Vendor and Product Information:

Photography: Sarah Kathleen Photography, Atascadero, CA

Ceremony and reception venue: Portola Inn, Atascadero, CA

Monday, January 10, 2011

Frugal Find for Wedding Dresses

I happened upon this website during my various searches on the web and thought this could be a great resource for many brides.  The website is Preownedweddingdresses.com, and here you can find new, sample, and used wedding dresses from many great designers such as Melissa Sweet, Maggie Sottero, Vera Wang, Nicole Miller, and Anne Barge.  There are also many very affordable new and used bridal gowns available from well-known retailers like David's Bridal and J.Crew.

This website also lists accessories for sale, such as veils, shoes, headpieces, tiaras, wraps, and purses.  Happy browsing!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

A Whimsical Summer Wedding

This adorable, whimsical summer wedding comes to Red Shoes Bridal courtesy of Sarah Kathleen Photography, based in San Luis Obispo County, California.  Sarah is an amazingly talented, creative photographer with an eye for catching all those special moments.  You can check out her blog here: Sarah Kathleen Photography.

The bride, Kelly, and groom, Stephen, were married in Arroyo Grande, California.  Their wedding featured many vintage-inspired elements, including the old glass jars and containers used as vases for the reception, the framed photos of previous family weddings, and the old red Ford as the get-away car.  The couple added touches of whimsy with the over-sized white balloons tied to the ceremony gazebo, and cut-out white chandeliers used both at the ceremony and reception.  Enjoy!





















Vendor and Product Information:

Photography:  Sarah Kathleen Photography
Event Coordination: Kristin Odenwald, Jour Parfait, http://www.jourparfait.com/
Dress: Vera Wang
Catering: Pacific Harvest, Atascadero, CA
Flowers: The bride's mother
Rentals: Got You Covered, San Luis Obispo, CA
DJ: Malik Miko, San Luis Obispo, CA
Band: Trio International, Pismo Beach, CA
Cake: KK's Bunt Cakes, Arroyo Grande, CA
Venue: Groom's parents' home 
Chandeliers: Urban Outfitters

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Funky Vintage Bouquets

Here are a couple fun ideas for some vintage inspired bridal bouquets.

The first is an awesome bouquet made entirely of vintage brooches.  Breathtaking!:





Photo: Parsonage Events 


The second is a bouquet featuring a mix of white feathers, white roses, and a vintage brooch.  Lovely!: 





Photo: Nadean Bruehlman with Gene Ho photography

Friday, December 10, 2010

Alternatives to Traditional Engagement Rings

The tradition of the diamond engagement ring is, perhaps surprisingly, not a very old tradition.  Diamond engagement rings were popularized in the 1930s by the De Beers diamond company.  One of the marketing strategies was to have popular starlets of the time sport De Beers diamond rings in public.  I do believe their strategies worked, given the current popularity of diamond engagement rings.

Although diamond rings are beautiful, not everyone wants one.  Fortunately, there are many alternatives to the diamond engagement ring.  A popular idea is to create a ring centered around the bride-to-be's birthstone, such as garnet (January), emerald (May), sapphire (September), or topaz (November).  Some brides may even prefer to wear just a simple and elegant wedding band.

Here are a few alternative engagement rings I like:

Emerald and Diamond Engagement Ring : 14K White Gold - 1.00 CT TGW
Emerald and Diamond Engagement Ring : 14K White Gold - 1.00 CT TGW

14K White Gold Square Created Emerald Engagement Ring - Size 6
14K White Gold Square Created Emerald Engagement Ring - Size 6

14K White Gold Medium Oval Gemstone and Diamond Engagement Ring-Garnet, size7.5
14K White Gold Medium Oval Gemstone and Diamond Engagement Ring-Garnet, size7.5

1.11Ct Emerald Cut Garnet and Diamond Ring in 10Kt White Gold-7
1.11Ct Emerald Cut Garnet and Diamond Ring in 10Kt White Gold-7