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/

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!