Beautiful DIY Wedding for $4K - say it ain't so

For all of you happy couples who are just about to be, or have just become,  newlyweds you have gotta check out the blog of Sherry and John Petersik - Young House Love. They are a young couple who covet everything DIY, especially when it comes to their home. Their blog details the many projects they have tackled since becoming a team. Upon their engagement they considered "the Wedding". So, being creative and handy they put on the gloves and held a personal backyard affair with 75 of their closest friends and family - on a budget of $4,000. Yes, you heard me right, $4K! Take a look at the event they pulled off. Truly inspiring. See how they managed to host a beautiful, personal celebration that is perfectly suited to these tough economic times. 

    

 

Sherry and John have been kind enough to give a play by play of their budget breakdown. 

Venue: Free (backyard)
Music: Free (family friend played ceremony music on guitar & we used an iPod for the reception)
Photography: Free (brother-in-law is a photographer)
Officiant: Free (cousin got certified online)
Food: $500
Wine & Drinks: $100
Cupcakes & S’mores: $125
Table & Chair Rentals: $350
Centerpieces: $70
Save The Dates/Invitations/Thank Yous (With Postage): $260
Favors: $75
Servingware: $250
Fabric For Tablecloths & Runners: $300
Lighting & Candles: $120
Flip Flops/Photo Clothesline/Welcome Sign: $75
Mosquito Sticks/Candles/Spray: $50
Bouquet: $20
Attire: $500
Photo Booth: $1200 (the one big splurge- and so worth it)

TOTAL: $3995

They even got to donate a bunch of the serving ware that they purchased from Ikea (it was cheaper than renting it) to charity afterward, which was a nice little tax write off.

I thoroughly recommend you visit their complete listing of details and photos for great tips at

http://www.younghouselove.com/wedding-album/

BOLEROS - they're back!

Every now and then I come across something that would never have crossed my mind. I stumbled upon Tiana Agapcheva, a Russian fashion designer, on Etsy.com. Tiana creates the most divine little boleros that would be perfect for today's bride. Probably best suited to a strapless gown with a simple silhouette as the cut of the bolero is superb with just the right amount on embellishment and ruffles. Check out the detail on the back of the neck! These boleros are a great alternative to a wrap for afternoon weddings. I also think they'd be great for a girls night with jeans and some killer heels!

 

Visit Tiana's store on Etsy.com, the Magical Laboratory of Fashion at

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7188052

Now that's a way to celebrate

I am going to take my ques from philanthropist billionaire Leonore Annenberg who purchased this phenomenal diamond to celebrate her 90th birthday a few years back. That is my kind of lady! I might have to make do with CZ's but still, it is nice to treat yourself. This ring just sold at auction for $7.7m.The center stone is a flawless, colorless 32.01 carats and is flanked by pear shaped diamonds of 1.5 and 1.6 carats a piece.

I love a square emerald cut. It is modern with a vintage vibe to it. Out of this world but a girl can dream can't she.

Source: abcnews.go.com

Simply Beautiful - Al Green

Just gotta love Al Green...

If you are confident bride and groom this is the perfect song for your first dance! Slow and just a little seductive...

Terrific Tiara

Seriously, consider the workmanship since this is circa 1882. Talk about master jewelers! So pretty.

Count Scheel-Plessen's Diamond-Encrusted Tiara

This tiara, decorated with diamonds and dating from circa 1900, sold for 94,600 Swiss francs ($90,127). The central diamond rivière is believed to have been commissioned by Carl, Count Scheel-Plessen, either circa 1882 (for the occasion of his marriage to his wife, Louise) or in 1896, when his Danish title of greve (count) was recognized by Prussia.

Source: Royal Jewels - Forbes.com

For the lovers...

Sade. Timeless.

Chopard and Lorraine Schwartz inspiration

Chopard - Emerald Ring - $2.14 million

Luxury watch and jewelry manufacturer Chopard's collection includes many high-priced pieces. But this bold cocktail ring--with half-moon diamond shoulders holding up a 33.02-carat solitaire emerald on a pave-set diamond and platinum band--outshines its rivals.

Oh what a beauty! Consider stepping outside the box of traditional engagement rings and go for precious stones for that something extra.

Angelina Jolie showcased stunning emeralds by Lorraine Schwartz at the 2009 Oscars which could provide some inspiration for your bridesmaid accessories. A 65 carat cocktail ring and 115-carat emerald drop earrings.

 

Have a focal point of one spectacular piece to adorn your ladies - stunning earrings, a cuff bracelet, or some serious drop earrings in vibrant color. This way you could keep dresses simple and cost effective but still achieve serious pizazz!

Pandora - Custom Radio Online

Want a custom radio station then Pandora is the place to go. Register for free, search your favorite songs or artist and create your very own radio station. To start just give a genre and Pandora will stream a station to you. You then have a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" feature so that Pandora will play more or less of those songs and will get to understand your taste in that category. It takes all the hard work out of looking for new artists.

You can also create different stations for different moods. I like to have a couple of options for different times of the day. It really helps me if I am lagging to have upbeat music or more chill if I need to concentrate. 
 
Best of all you get 40 hours of Pandora FREE per month. If you go over your limit it’s only $0.99 to get unlimited listening hours for the rest of the month. Bargain if you ask me. No more iTunes for me.
 
For those brides thinking about using an iPod or DJ on your wedding day, consider Pandora for a music trial run. It is a great way to test drive some of the songs you think you might want to play but don't have on hand or haven't heard in a while.
 
Make sure when the time comes you adhere to any Pandora terms and conditions as the service is only for personal use. I am not sure if they would consider a wedding personal or commercial so you should check it out.

Flower Girl Headband

Don't spend a fortune on accessories for your flower girls, make them. I made these headbands for probably $10. I had to buy the stiff headband approx $2 from Joann's, ribbon and the flowers from Michaels for a couple of dollars each. I made one stiff headband and the other on a ribbon. Maybe you could even use the ribbon sash as a belt!

There are a few parts to the stiff headband - * make the tulle bow * make the ribbon bow * make the flowers * attach flowers to bow * adhere ribbon to headband * finally adhere remaining flowers to headband.

Step 1 - Take tulle and fold into a rectangle shape over and over to give the bow body. Tack a small stitch in the middle to hold both ends together.

Step 2 - Take needle and go around the middle and pull thread to create tension to form bow shape. Stitch in place underneath to hold shape.

Step 3 – Decide how big you want your ribbon bow to be (mine was approx. 4.5” in total). So each side of the bow is half that 2.25”. Take ribbon make the outer bow loop, tack in place from underneath. Go back and make a smaller top loop and tack a small stitch to hold together.
Step 4 - Fold remaining ribbon inward to marry the inside bow and complete step. Once you have both sides of the ribbon pretty equal make sure you tack a stitch in the middle to hold them both together.

Step 5 - Once you have both sides of the ribbon pretty equal make sure you tack a stitch or glue  to hold them both together.
Step 6 & 7 - Make the flowers - take your flowers and layer largest to smallest to create embellishment. Place a little glue in the center with a toothpick and build from the bottom up.

 

Step 8 - Take your bow and place your flower on top and from the underneath very carefully sew them together.  Once you have your completed bow you can either glue or sew it to your headband.  You could add a flatback crystal in the center for effect now if you like.

Remaining flowers – make as many flowers as you like and add to headband with glue.

** FYI - if you are using fabric glue it takes a little longer than the glue gun to dry.

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Alternatively, you could also just take a simple satin ribbon and glue your flowers with crystals and tie with a pretty bow. Maybe you could mix them up and let your girls pick which one they want. Quick, pretty and affordable!