Thematic Wedding Centerpiece

As you know, Mr. GrapeJuice and I are getting married on New Years Eve. We are very excited about this! However, I've been kind of lackadaisical with my planning efforts. It's not that I don't want to plan because I really, really do. I just feel soooooooooooooooooooooo overwhelmed by everything that is going on in my life. My mom, trooper that she is and ever motivating her young, dragged me out to Hobby Lobby over the weekend. And now, thanks to her, I have a NEW centerpiece!

The recipe for said centerpiece is...

 two pieces blue ostrich feathers,

two pieces white ostrich feathers,

one cylindrical clear vase

one silver decorative item {which I do not have a picture of}

 and a million mylar shreds.

Put it all together, and what do you get?!

A phone photo of my mock-up!

photos : shuttershock, fredaldous, brilliant event planning, hobby lobby

Wedding Progress

Over the weekend, my mother asked me if I had made any wedding progress. I looked at her and laughed. I just got back from a cruise and was not even ready to think about those things. She gave me the mom talk though. You know, the one that says you need to get on that sooner rather then later; the one that makes you feel like a disappointing child again. =]
Well, she got bored on Saturday and wanted to head over to Hobby Lobby because she had a coupon. She made a copy for me so that I could use one too. 25% goes a long way when you're on a budget and trying to buy a house. (more on the house later) While at Hobby Lobby, I had a planning break through. I picked a centerpiece style, which is perfect for our wedding, and I decided on flowers for the bridesmaids to carry. Later on this week, I will break it down and show you what I am thinking. Plus, I will attempt to show you the DIY step-by-steps that go along with the project. =]

Holiday Detail

With only two days left at my current job, observing my new students at my new job, and only ten days left until Christmas, I'm totally wondering where all my time is going. Luckily, today, my second graders are going on a field trip so I don't need to be at school today - which saved me from getting up at 5 am today. [yay]

But, unfortunately, because of all this wonderfulness surrounding me, I haven't really had a moment to sit down and be inspired by any wedding details. The only thing burning in my mind right now is a photo wreath that I saw on Project Wedding.

I think this idea would be a wonderful addition to any winter wedding. It is simple and would look divine in a number of places. You could make multiples too if you wanted and place them on doors or around the reception area. I, personally, think it would look spectacular by the cake table! Wherever, or however, you use it, it is a great detail and totally reusable.

And, if you're not getting married, maybe use the holiday cards you're getting and make a wreath out of them as a holiday decoration for those parties you're throwing!

Weekend Project

This weekend...besides getting a job, I moved upstairs to my old room. My sister got married a few weeks ago and moved out of the house. In a few weeks, my grandparents are celebrating their 50th anniversary, and my mom is hosting a little soiree the night before for family members that are in town. My dad has been inhabiting her dining room as an office, and mom wants it back as a dining room. So, I got moved back upstairs to my old room. Only, when I got up here, it looked like this...
Apparently, it glowed if the lights were on and the blinds were pulled up. Now, it does not. It looks like this...
So serene and peaceful. Now - I just have to unpack everything and get cable up here...until then I get to watch lots and lots of movies {{and get high off the lingering paint fumes}}.

My First DIY (for the wedding)

I am a pretty crafty person, which is quite handy since I am a teacher (still trying to find a job). In one of the bazillions of wedding magazines I have in my possession (but are going to a better place tomorrow-the dump!!), I found a really cute idea. There was a square vase that had been etched with the last initial of the bride and groom. And, rather than spend an unfortunate amount of money, I had the idea to do it myself.

Photo: Beaucoup

So, I decided that today would be the day to take on such a project. I've been going stir crazy in the house. I haven't been able to get a job yet (and I've been looking since MARCH) and being in this house alone is really, really, really boring.

I shall now share with you my journey to obtain the necessary material, and then I will tell you all about what I did and how to do it better!!

1. I went to JoAnn's. It is right by house (over at Providence in MJ) and didn't require too much effort. I went...and they didn't have anything that I felt I needed for this project. Most of the things they had I could get at another craft store. So, I left.
2. Well, as you may or may not know, Providence has a NY&Company. I'm thoroughly addicted to NY&C, and it didn't help that they are having a sale right now. 70% off for clearance items (drool worthy) and Buy One, Get One FREE on all Jeans and Pants (fainting spell worthy). I couldn't help myself. I went over to investigate. (I talked to R yesterday about it, and we agreed that I could get some jeans. I haven't bought a pair in two years. Scandal, I know!!) Well, I bought a hot, new pair of jeans that I love, love, love. And, I also bought two sweaters - dark lime/chartreuse/lawn green and coral. They will look awesome with my new, free black pants. (I love to pop one color.)
3. After spending money...oh, money, how you cause such problems, I headed over to Hobby Lobby in Hermitage. I walked back to the craft section with etching on my mind but no idea where to start. Lucky me though! A cute sales associate came up and asked if I needed help. Rather than turn her down and scour the entire store, I asked her if they had any etching supplies. Did they? YES!!! They had just what I wanted and needed. This is what I got: Armour Etch (3 oz.), stencil brushes, a craft knife (in pink!!), blank stencil sheets, and a cutting board. I was on such a high from being able to get all that, I headed over to the floral section for the vase, flower, and accent stones. But...sadly, they let me down there. The square vase they had was completely too, too big. The yellow flower was not attractive. I didn't even bother looking for the stones at that point.
4. Hobby Lobby trip behind me, I headed back over to JoAnn's in Providence. There, I got my square vase (despite the price - $9.99), my flower, and marble accent stones. Success!! Now, I had everything needed...plus, some super cute clothes.

NOW - on to the crafty project.


1. I printed out my letters on photo paper so that it would be thicker than regular paper. The letters were picked by R from a group that I sent him yesterday in an e-mail. He has some pretty good taste.
2. I cut them apart so that they were no longer on one sheet of paper. I did each letter one at a time and taped it to the underside of the stencil sheet (which was clear).
3. One letter at a time, I used my craft knife and cut them out. I have very little experience with craft knifes and found cut them out to be quite difficult. But, once I got the hang of it, it got easier. It just took time and patience - things that I'm working on! :) I was (and still am) impressed with how they turned out.
4. After they were all cut out, I set them aside and cleaned one side of the square vase I bought to prep it. Then, I picked one of my handmade stencils, and taped it down to the side of the vase. Using my stencil brush, I put the Armour Etch on to the vase in the form of the stencil. I did not do each letter at the same time. I did one at a time. It only takes 5 minutes for the etching cream to set before you have to wash it off anyway. (As you can tell, the first one didn't turn out that well. I barely put any of the cream on. I figured out, as you can tell from the others, that you have to glob the stuff on and let it set for 6 minutes instead of the recommended 5.)
I'm sorry that it's kind of hard to see the etching. I wish I had a black piece of paper to put behind it so that you could see. The project turned out fairly well. The only thing I would do differently next time is use contact paper so that it stuck to the vase. I noticed that when you glob the etch cream on, it tends to get under the stencil. So, if you plan to do this - use contact paper.

Also, be sure to take the stencil or contact paper off AFTER you have rinsed off the cream. It will look like you have just washed away all your hard work until you remove the paper or stencil. Then, you get a happy surprise!! :)

Here's the finished project. My plan is to have a blue light glowing from within the stones. Or, do you think I should use blue stones with the blue light so that you can see the monogram??
Let me know what you think!!
I had lots of fun doing this project. :)
Hope this is helpful to someone.

The Budget Breakdown

A couple weeks ago, I posted a budget breakdown of what the average person in TN spends on a wedding. It was heartbreaking because I know I won't be able to afford something considered "average" for a wedding in TN. However, to make the most of my budget, I have spent the entire day so far trying to maximize my budget by applying different percentage strategies to my it. On the plus side, I am getting better at percentage math. Now I can successfully pass 6th grade! Yay me!

I do have a positive note to post along with this though, courtesy of Real Simple Weddings. They have an article about how to save money while planning your wedding. It happens to be very specific too, which is something we brides definitely need in our lives!!

1.The Timeline

• Shorten the wedding-planning timeline. Don’t wait a year to get married and it will be easier to simplify the wedding. “A recent trend I’ve seen is that couples are saving money by planning a more last-minute wedding, rather than the traditional 11-month runup,” says Alan Fields, coauthor of Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget. “The shorter time horizon will force you to streamline and keep you, by necessity, from getting sucked into the vortex of elaborate weddings.”
• Or give yourself even more time. That way, you can take advantage of seasonal sales. “For example, you may be able to stock up on silver decorations at 75 percent off before the Christmas holidays, or pick up your ring bearer or flower girl’s outfit on sale at Easter,” says Sharon Naylor, author of 1001Ways to Save Money . . . and Still Have a Dazzling Wedding (McGraw Hill, $17, amazon.com)

2. The Date

• Schedule the wedding in off-peak times. When there’s less competition for dates, you can have more negotiating power. “You can shave 20 to 30 percent off the cost of a wedding by planning it for November, or January through March―except for Valentine’s Day,” says Fields.
• Choose any day other than Saturday. "That’s the most popular day to marry," says Anna Post, author of Do I Have to Wear White? Emily Post Answers America’s Top Wedding Questions (Collins, $15, amazon.com). Ask about rates for Friday- and Sunday-night weddings. They’re becoming more common, so you won’t have to deal with quite as many guest grumbles.

3. The Venue

• Consider choosing a nontraditional venue. “Where you have the wedding often drives the cost,” says Fields. Rather than a dedicated wedding reception hall or country club, check out less expensive facilities, from city-run spaces like zoos and civic gardens to restaurants or more offbeat locations that have some meaning for you, from a beach to your parents’ yard. One caveat: If the space is not equipped to cater a party, calculate extra costs for bringing in tables, toilets, or even a kitchen.

4. The Wedding Dress

• Shop designer or sample sales. Find out the dates of well-known annual sales at places like Filene’s, where you might snag a $2,000 dress for $249, or the sample sales at Vera Wang. “You can save up to 70 percent on gowns, headpieces, veils, and shoes at a sample sale,” says Naylor. “Look for the touring list on your favorite designers’ websites, or get on the mailing list at bridal gown salons.” You may even get to shop before anyone else and have first pick.
• Consider renting or borrowing a dress. “Or buy one secondhand,” Post says. Chances are, it’s only been worn once! Look on eBay or craigslist for postings. Oftentimes, if the bride changes her mind about her dress or has to postpone the wedding, you might be able to score a deal on a never-been-worn gown.
• Or combine self-interest with philanthropy. Says Fields, "Buy at one of the sales of donated new and used gowns" staged in many U.S. cities by bridesagainstbreastcancer.org. Or look for a vintage or consignment store that carries wedding dresses. The Bridal Garden in New York City (bridalgarden.org), for example, features designer-donated dresses, and a portion of the proceeds go to charity.

5. The Food

• Make it a daytime reception. “It’s always cheaper to serve lunch or brunch than dinner,” says Fields.
• Try a combination plate. Eliminate a choice of entrée to save on your food bill. “Serve a couple of grilled shrimp with a couple of beef medallions," Naylor says. “This cuts down on the cost, since the chef doesn’t need to buy enough of all the entrées to allow for people to change their minds.” Or serve an inexpensive dish like chicken and pasta and let the chef shine by creating great sauces.
• Avoid the traditional sit-down dinner or buffet meal altogether. Instead, host a cocktail reception with cake and punch or cake and cocktails. Or have a potluck reception, which makes for a less formal, more intimate wedding with a nice feeling of community.

6. The Liquor

• Serve signature cocktails. “Alcohol is one of the biggest expenses of a wedding and can burn a hole in your budget fast,” says Fields. Since most reception sites charge for every bottle opened, even if it was for just one drink, consider offering a limited bar. Choose a signature cocktail (or a series of signature cocktails) that use one type of liquor. Then, ask to stock a few other bottles based on the wedding party’s preferences (i.e., if your dad drinks only scotch). Another option is to serve just beer, wine, and enough champagne for toasts.

7. The Wedding Cake

• Add finishing touches yourself. “The cost of a wedding cake is all about the labor,” says Naylor, “so forget sugar-paste flowers or matching the lace from your gown in fondant.” Instead, try using real lace or satin ribbon wrapped around each layer. It costs almost nothing; just pin it on and it looks lovely. Or use a few real flowers here and there, scattered artistically. Also, go low, says Fields: “The more height, the more money―it takes more labor to build a taller cake.”
• Have a small cake. You can have a wonderfully decorated, yet smaller cake on display that’s used for cutting, and then have a sheet cake in the kitchen for serving.

8. The Flowers

• Make your own centerpieces. This is definitely a time commitment, so consider making the centerpieces for the cocktail tables or the rehearsal dinner. “A lot of people are using freshroses.com and other websites to order wholesale flowers to make their own centerpieces,” says Fields. “You can order enough flowers to do 15 for about $300, then check out how-to sites for DIY instructions.” (See Turn Supermarket Flowers Into Beautiful Bouquets) Or go online to check out the wedding flower packages from Costco―have bouquets and centerpieces shipped to you for huge savings.
• Choose seasonal and local flowers for your reception. “This not only brings the season into your event but it also cuts costs, because your florist won’t have to import any exotic or out-of-season blooms,” says David Tutera, an event planner. (Learn what will be blossoming on your big day with the Wedding Flower Finder Tool.)
• Use one kind of flowers in your bouquets and arrangements. It’s a budget-friendly move because your florist will need to place only one bulk order. “This brings a chic monochromatic look to your event,” adds Tutera.
• Avoid cascades. Like cakes, the hidden cost of flowers is the labor. “Order or make small, hand-tied bouquets for the bride and attendants―cascades require a lot of wiring, and more labor means higher cost,” says Naylor.

9. The Photographer and Videographer

• Try a less-expensive package. "Photographers usually offer packages based on the hours they’ll work," says Naylor. To buy a less expensive (shorter) package, she suggests, “do your at-home, getting-ready pictures as candids. Cut the cake early so you can release the on-the-clock shooters, and let your guests supplement your album with candids.”
• Talk to former brides. To help you decide whether you’re really going to need the 1,000-picture package or whether 500 will do, find people “with similar sensibilities to yours and see what their experience was,” says Naylor.
• Consider hiring a photography-school student. Make sure you check out his or her portfolio, with examples of portraits. Though, Fields says, “it can cut the bill in half,” it’s not worth the savings if photos aren’t in focus.

10. The Invitations, Programs, and Favors

• Take advantage of the talents of the bridal party and other friends and family. Anything you can make yourself becomes a fun shared effort and can save a lot. “My aunt did her own invitations and program for her wedding because she wanted the personal touch,” says Post.
• Make some items do double duty. To save the cost of printed place cards, add guests’ names to the favors and set one at each place, or print the names at the top of your menu cards.
• Make your own favors. If you have time, whip up your grandma’s famous macaroons or make your own chocolate-covered almonds. “Edibles are the most appreciated,” says Naylor. “Especially for nighttime weddings―a bag of cookies will be gone before the guests hit the car.”
• Skip favors. Place a bowl of candies on the cake table with a note saying, “Please enjoy these candies. In lieu of favors we’ve made a donation to charity.”

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*~Sassy Bride~*

Color Board

Here's what I've picked out so far that I like for my wedding. I think I might have too much blue...
What do you think?

Photo Credits: David's Bridal, Kuga Designs, Flowers Xpress, Links 2 Love, Fifty Flowers, The Knot, Save On Crafts, St. Henry, JoAnn Fabric

*~Sassy Bride~*

DIY Projects

I am pretty crafty with some thread and a needle so I have decided that I am going to make my ring bearer pillow. I sort of want something a little atypical anyway so that works out for the best. Plus, it'll be quite easy on my budget. It won't cost that much to buy fabric and sew it together, and I'd like to see something I put my heart into hold something that will be on my finger forever. Doesn't that sound perfect? Now, I just have to figure out the color scheme and the pattern I want to use.

I really like the clean lines of this and the color contrast. Maybe put a monogram charm on there instead of a heart. I think that would add a great personal touch to it as well.

I am completely obsessed with this print for the pillow. It has all my colors and would look darling with a pale yellow or silver ribbon. It's available at JoAnn's.

I found another great idea for a DIY project. I don't really like the idea of a guest book. Sure, you know everyone that has been there and to whom you should send a thank you note, but it's not that personal. At my sister's wedding this past weekend, she had people sign a photo matte with advice. It was a great idea but not enough room. I want people to leave us advice, like - "Don't go to bed mad at each other." I found this though and am totally on board with it. After the wedding, it can be used to store other things like photos and important information while the good advice is made into a collage to be hung up somewhere prominent in the house.

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*~Sassy Bride~*

I'm in love...and not just with R!

I have found some new vendor sites that I really love. One that I am particularly falling all over is Ever After! While some things are some what out of my price range, there are most definitely others that are in it!! But, hey, I love to dream that I can afford such things.

For example, I have completely fallen in love with this necklace (below). I so know that I cannot afford it for my wedding, but it's one of my wedding colors and would look stunning with a strapless dress. The designer is Glamorosi and she has lots of other wonderful designs as well that are quite affordable!

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There is another designer, Notepourri, on the site that I have also fallen in love with. Their address label designs are super cute! And, coincidentally enough(!!), they too have a design that match my wedding colors. I seriously wish my wedding was sooner rather than later...so many good deals!!

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The other site that I also love is Save On Crafts!! R and I were perusing the site last night and saw so many things that would be perfect for our wedding. I love DIY projects but I get bored easily. This is why I love the fact that our wedding is in two years; so I can work on our projects! :) To have the wedding now or later? Silly indecisive me. But...back to what I found!

I found these beautiful green unscented candles - $5.99 for a pack of 6. These would look great in frosted votive candles around a centerpiece on a white table with silver flatware.

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I have so many ideas running through my head of what I want. I just wish I had an outlet to put all my energy...like designing my ENTIRE wedding!! :)

C.