FREE: Wedding Cake Baking And Decorating!

That's what I am offering lucky brides in Rochester NY before November.  So far I have done a few. I can't wait to do more. I have 4 brides scheduled for the summer. All are having weddings between 70- 100 people. My first stacked cake turned out great. It is surprisingly easy working with fondant and gum paste. They sell molds and cutters. It's like play dough! I will TRY to make a tutorial on how to make your own wedding cake later.


For now Please check out Edna De la Cruz . She is amazing and her tutorials are too!

http://www.youtube.com/user/tonedna1

My first stacked cake :)

I am Back!

So... I have been incredibly busy. I will try to catch up writing all about my activities and diy projects. You may have read that we marred in private Feb 14th 2011. It was so beautiful and romantic. We will be renewing our vows in November. The church is gorgeous! I called over 50 churches(yes seriously!) and finally found one that would be perfect for both dates. It cost us $150 total! I decided to save on money and use my china made wedding dress. Eamon bought his tux from the mens warehouse 2 suits for 130! He sold one for $150 so...free tuxedo for us :) 

Make Your Own Napkins!

Yes It could be as easy as ironing napkins!

For no cut napkins you could buy fat quarters.

For no sew napkins use heat bond hem tape.

Or do it the good ol old fashioned way like me

Both sew and no sew Tutorial by stone gable

This project is seriously taking forever! I found some gold satin at a thrift store. I paid pennies a yard. If you ever had the pleasures of working with some kinds of satin...like ribbon it unravels very easy. I had to heat seal every raw edge. This was such a pain! The napkins look fantastic but, if I would do it again I would use cotton.

Know when to quit

So, his parents house is beyond our help. The roof has holes that have caused damage to the ceiling and support beams. The bathroom floor is rotted and well needs replaced. Structurally the house is hazardous. On top of everything is filthy...I mean hordes filthy.  We rent a house to have thanksgiving in because it is that bad. What the heck was I thinking?! 

Did I have a massive bridezilla breakdown realizing my wedding may not happen on the date we had chosen ...nope. I now accept defeat.  Off to plan B...which should have been plan A. I have chosen to rent a lodge in a park ....I have no clue if I can find one for the original date or if it will fit the people I need or even a Saturday. I very well may end up with a Friday or Sunday wedding.

DIY Customized Unity Candle / Favor Candles

Why should I pay $60 for my customized candle that I am going to burn once?  I never knew you could make them your self for under $5. Yes, for real. Two very easy methods to do this one is with tissue paper an a hair dryer the other is with water slide decal paper and spray adhesive. Watch the videos below ...hopefully you will find them as helpful as I did.

Vintage Valentine Place Cards

Weddings are a day to celibate love. Why not give my guests a little love too...not in a dirty way! I, the crafty person I am decided to print out vintage valentines for my guests place cards. I originally was going to write names in the sand at the beach..but decided that it was too much work and the kids kept messing up my names. Eamon agreed that this was a fun approach to the transitional lets face it name tag. 

Candles Candles, And More Candles!

I am a craigslist wedding hunter! If you did not get the memo yet I am just a little crazy about bargains. I found 144 used votives and holders for $25. I bought them for $15. I froze them and cleaned out the wax and now have 144 squeaky clean candle holders :)
Now time to get the candles. So, many people use www.candle4less.com I can honestly say that this is a complete rip off! $50 shipping WTF? Even with the coupon coed I found the site sucks.

I found a very unexpected site to have amazing prices on candles (no coupon required for amazing deal) webstaurantstore.com I purchased 288 candles for 47.11 shipped. About .16 per candle not too shabby. I decided to sell 72 candles plus holders on craigslist.. I don't need 144 candles. when I am finished I will sell the other 72 with candles and sell the remanding 72 candles without holders. Will I end up making a profit off my wedding? Crazy!

My Wedding Dress Has Arrived!

After 47 emails between the Chinese dress company and me, my dress is finally here! It is better than I expected it to be. I am sure glad I asked for pictures of the finished dress. I had all the problems fixed before it left the factory. They extended the train by 2 times what they originally made. It was very well made and the fabric...although not as heavy as the high end ones at the bridal store ...it was not a major difference and they looked the same. I do need the top fitted just a little more other than that it is perfect.  Heck $200 shipped and I received an extra petticoat..  I am one happy bride :)



The dress before they altered picture taken with out a petticoat. It still looks good to me. 

My Dirty Secret

We have been engaged since Feb 2010. We have 2 beautiful children together. We share a wonderful home and have been very happy for years.  I see us as already married ...just we are making it official. 

Yesterday, a relative asked me if she could see "The Ring". I don't have one! He wanted to give me his grandmothers ring, but his family has had trouble locating the ring...don't ask.  I am ring less! Part of me feels I don't need one. (We have kids to take care of. It is just an object.) Another part of me feels completely naked and embarrassed. ( It's a symbol of his love. Social expectation.)

We have decided to look for another ring instead of waiting on his parents to remember where they put it. I feel so horrible about sending him links to rings I would like. I told him I would leave it up to him.  His response for my relative was send her a picture of the kids. This is so unromantic!

Tent Chairs Tables: DONE

I just got off  the phone with Ann from Saco Hill Party Rentals. I am all set and booked for Agust 27th 2011. I called 10 different companies! Saco Hill Rental is 50 miles away from Wellsboro. Ann has a very small delivery fee $35. For my  30x45 tent 14  60" round plus 5 long tables and 100 chairs my total for Thursday delivery- Sunday pick up is $406.50 Not too bad hu? Ann was very sweet! She is a single mom who runs the rental biz by herself. She told me she fought to keep it and has owned it for the past 10 years.

Shop around, ask for prices, don't be afraid to mention a competitor price that is lower. Heck, try a different area it may be cheaper!

DIY wedding flowers?!?

I love to save money. So, today I took a trip down to the florist to check out prices... I can't believe how much people spend on flowers!  For all the pieces I envisioned for my wedding I was quoted $5800.  Ya, I know... So DIY flower time. Flower ideas so far Roses garden and reg, Bells of Ireland, Green Hanging Amaranthus


I think I can do this!

A few important things about flowers:

2 options for centerpieces low or high ...cus people want to see and talk to each other.

Don't store flowers near fruit. I guess they have a chemical that causes them to ripen and die faster.

Don't pour water on your floral foam. Just drop it in and forget it!

Warm water not cold. Why warm? Flowers take up warm water more readily than cold.

Round bouquet + round body = even more round

Have lots of buckets

Keep your flowers cool and out of the sun

Greenery first.





Resources:

Cheap wholesale flowers with a decent rep :)
http://globalrose.com/

Ooodles of info!
http://www.floraldesigninstitute.com/page004.11.02.904.67.htm

My centerpiece inspiration
http://www.ehow.com/video_2274018_tools-making-tall-wedding-floral.html

How to ez boutonniere
http://www.monkeysee.com/play/1047-how-to-make-a-boutonniere

Flower care when you get it!
http://www.monkeysee.com/play/9515-caring-for-your-flowers-for-your-centerpiece

Foam Foam and more foam!
http://www.monkeysee.com/play/9194-introduction-to-fresh-flower-foam

How to cascade bouquet

http://www.ehow.com/video_5361493_instructions-cascade-bridal-bouquet.html