My best friend's wedding...

Last weekend I attended my best friend's wedding as a bridesmaid, and what else but her wedding coordinator! I just wanted to share a few pictures that I took with my digital camera. It was such a cute wedding, and I'm so happy for Mr. and Mrs. Eric Baker!!! Enjoy some photos!

Lets Talk Food...

We all know the best part of the wedding- the food. The food cost should be one of the biggest parts of your wedding day budget (normally it's 40-45% or more!) But if you're planning with a tight budget, there are several ways to cut the costs without cutting the cheese... or beef, or whatever you want to eat.

1. If you are having a later wedding (after 5 or 6 pm) it is socially acceptable to only serve finger foods. Be sure to put on your invitations that it is an hor dourves reception, and your guests should know to eat before the ceremony begins. If you are having an afternoon wedding and your reception starts around dinner time, your guests will be hungry, and you will spend more money on hor dourves trying to fill your guests up than you would have if you planned a dinner.

2. If you are on a tight budget, ask if you can look at the lunch menu instead of the dinner menu. Many places will alllow you to select lunches (be it plated or buffet), and lunches are sometimes almost half the price, with a lot of the same options that some of the dinners have.

3. Which brings me to my next point- buffet or served? Honestly, sometimes they are about the same price. With buffets, people tend to eat more so they have to prepare more food which can cost more. With served meals, the food cost is controlled, but it takes more staff to run a plated dinner so the service charge may be more. It's totally up to you.

Wedding meals are a good way to treat your guests to something different that they don't normally eat. Try different flavors, colors, presentations- we eat with our eyes first and our mouths second. We all want something that beautiful on a plate, and there are so many options in this day in age. A lot of couples are afraid to try something different because they are afraid their guests won't like it even if they do. DON'T be afraid- a lot of times you are creating something memorable for a guest that they might never get to experience again. Leave the chocolate covered crickets and pig spleen at home though: no one will be able to stomach that. DO arrange a menu tasting before the big day, but DON'T be afraid to go with the sea bass if you like it. Just don't go with the entire fish on the plate- it's kind of scary.

Ebay for your wedding day

Well, it's been awhile that's for sure! But I've been researching some money saving tips from the most addicting wesbite ever... Ebay. This website is a goldmine for deals!

Do you dream of centerpieces with crystals dripping down? Well, you could spend hundreds of extra dollars by letting your florist get them, or you can spend $20 for 15 feet of crystals from a chandelier dealer. What a steal!

Don't spend a ton of money buying votives from craft stores or Wal-Mart. On Ebay there are stores where you can get 400 votives for around $40. Imagine the savings!

I even ordered a wedding dress from ebay- customized to fit me. No alterations ladies! It was a brand new dress for less than $300!!!

So when trying to find good deals, they are closer than you can imagine. Savings are just a click away- but don't get too caught up in the bidding. Set a limit for how much you're willing to spend for an item- or betting yet, search on the "buy now" feature or search for stores.

My personal favorite store- HJK imports. You can get vases, acryllic crystals to fill your vases, floral lights, and more. Perfect for the DIY bride like myself!

Happy Hunting!!!

Topic of the Week: Reception venues

There are lots of things to consider when choosing your reception venue- the look and feel, the cost, what have you. But the latest trend is not to have your reception in the typical hotel ballroom or the Eagles Lodge, but to go off the beaten path!

Museums offer lots of space, and additional things for your guests to do! There are so many beautiful and historic things in museums to look at, you may not even need much decor! You can also check out your local zoo for event space, which usually has lush landscaping, flowery foilage, and ponds/lakes. Your guests can take tours of the museum or see the animals at the zoo. (Just stay away from the monkey house!) It's a unique way for you and your guests to enjoy your day with you, and it will truly be a memorable experience for everyone!

Topic of the Week: Lighting makes the difference!

Lighting is one of the most important aspects in any event- especially weddings. It sets the tone for your event, red lighting for a sultry event, pastels for a romantic feel, etc. Lighting can change the look and feel of a room in an instant!

If you think you have to spend several thousands of dollars on lighting for your event, you're so wrong! The room appearance can change drastically by just placing lots of tea lights around the room, and you can buy those by the hundreds! Think you have to spend thousands on hiring a professional lighting company come in and design your event? Try doing it yourself! You can create a look similar to the picture by purchasing spot lights from a hardware/garden store and positioning them around the room. To change the colors of the lights, place pieces of colored cellophane on top of the lens and secure with a rubber band. That's it! And, if you're having an outdoor wedding, you can even get solar spotlights and then you can reuse them in the your yard after the wedding!

So you don't have to be technologically inclined to do your own lighting- it's as simple as that!

Topic of the Week: Wedding Cakes

I know every girl dreams of the traditonal white cake for her wedding, but the latest trend is not a big white cake, but a big purple, green, fuschia cake. It's out with the white, in with the bright. Instead of just using your wedding colors as an accent on your cake, how about painting the town (or the whole cake) red? Or blue, or purple or whatever colors your wedding are. Use fun, whimsical patterns and colors that reflect your style and personality!

Got big cake dreams on a sheet cake budget? I have the answer for you! Most bakers can make only a few layers actual cake, and then have "filler" tiers- pieces of styrofoam decorated to look like the rest of your cake! This will save you money and you can still have the big cake that only LOOKS expensive! This tip also works if you're having a small wedding with few guests, but still want the big cake. Just don't serve the wrong tier up to your guests!

So, now you can have your cake... AND eat it too!

Topic of the Week: Bridesmaids Dresses

Ladies, long gone are the days of tulle, ruffles, and lame' (we hope). I'm sure we have all seen our fair share of horrible bridesmaids dresses- I know I have and I'm only 23! Luckily for the modern day bride, the 21st century has blessed us with OPTIONS!

Okay girls, I know we all want uniformity with our bridesmaids. Some brides want everyone to be the same- down to the hairstyle! In the modern day world where women have the freedom to do whatever we dream of- please do NOT dream for everyone to have the same hairstyle too! Each of your girls probably has their own style and personality about them that you love, so why would you want to cover that up? Everyone has a different body style, and what works well for one girl might not work for the next. The newest trend is to have one uniform color, but have the bridesmaid pick the dress that they feel the most comfortable in. Some girls need more support up top, some want a long dress to cover their cankles. Whatever the case, your 'maids will love you for letting them choose their own dress. If you decide to let them pick their own dresses though, make sure they are all from the same company or designer. The colors may look the same in the catalog, but they WILL look completely different next to everyone else's dress.

If you really feel like taking a walk on the wild side, you can go completely different and choose a general color, like green, and let them be creative! If your color is green, one girl can have a bright green and white tea length print dress, another in a long seafoam chiffon dress, another in an emerald halter... you get the point. You have a uniform theme instead of color, and it eliminates jealousy because the girls won't be looking at each other and fighting over who looks the best. Each girl will feel like she looks the best because she will be comfortable knowing she picked a dress that looks fabulous on her!

Shoes don't have to match either, ladies. Feet vary in size and shapes just like other body parts. Let them choose their own shoes, especially if they're all wearing the exact same dress.

DON'T make them all get the same hairstyle- you could actually make the pictures look worse because one hairstyle can look completely different on one girl because of hair texture or length. Just... don't. Please.

Now, I know you brides are thinking "Why should I listen to you? It's my day- it's my decision." You're absolutely right. You make the decisions. But try to put yourself in their shoes (literally- try them on and see if their comfortable and if you would want to wear them) They've been good friends to you, and they have to look at their picture for the rest of their lives too. You can have exact matching dresses, but find a way to let them be themselves on your day too.