what kind of bride are you?

We have a family member with an outgoing personality. She will say anything at the Thanksgiving table. At the wedding, she wore a sexy mermaid dress with lots of tiers at the bottom.

She was the funky bride. What type bride are you?



The Fashion Bride
So you walk around the grocery store with four inch heels. weartodaygonetommorw.com may be the place to find a gown.

Vintage Bride
You live for old movies with your sweetie on a Saturday night. Then consider poshgirlvintage.com

The Beach Bride
You live for the summer and the sun. Try weddingtropics.com.

The Rock n Roll Bride
What rules? Black leather centerpieces with a touch of red lip. Go to fiveone.com for a more unique wedding look.

The Princess Bride
Too many Easter speeches and church fashion shows. I was the princess bride with the tiara. Go to weddingdresscreator.com and play around with different looks.

Happy Shopping!

The Southern Picnic Wedding

The Invitation
Print a poem in the center of red paper with the host, date, place, and time in the corner. Then spray perfume on the back of the paper.

Bride
A simple white dress with a basket filled with wax flowers, daises, and greenery.

Bridesmaids
Have the women in your life to wear a skirt and blouse with a fan decorated with wax flowers.

Room Decor
This a great idea for the one space for the ceremony and reception. At the front of the ceremony, place a blanket down on the floor. Sprinkle greenery and wax flowers on the blanket. Then place two chairs on the blanket. You will get married sitting in the chairs. Place two bows decorated in greenery on the back of the chairs. For
the reception, use long tables to eat family style. White table cloths and then sprinkle the tables with daisies and greenery.

Sign In
A poster of Otis Redding.

Menu
Signature lemonade cocktail, assorted teas, flavored water, spiced nuts, fruit salsa, baked lemon chicken, sweet potato salad, green beans, and pasta salad.

sources
lovepoemsandquote.com
otisredding.com
beau-coup.com
southernmusic.net

Big Moment small budget

When my emotional sister ( a friend of the family) walks down the aisle, she will have a difficult time having a small day with close family and friends. There are a million members in her intermediate family. They all live in the same city. Most of her close family reside in the same neighborhood.

The solution: three creative wedding receptions which allows my sister to have her cake and eat it without breaking out with the MasterCard.

The International Cake and Punch
A cake and punch reception is always great on the wallet. To make it a bit interesting, choose three countries and make desserts, drinks along with your wedding cake. Place the name of the country in a simple frame along with your choices. Wear a simple gown, use flowers on the tables, and keep the ceremony
wedding reception simple with a two trees.

The Candy Cocktail
Earlier that day get married with your parents only(home, chapel, or judge). Then later have a cocktail reception. You have a candy table, cocktail cupcake table, cheese, fruit, and finger foods. Serve signature chocolate cocktail drink and party the night away.

The Sweet Picnic
This is for a more casual day. Have your wedding at a park, church, home, or hotel. Then have your guests bring a nice blanket. Serve assorted teas, corn, carrot salad, corn slaw, sweet and sour chicken, and pasta salad.

Serve lemon pie and cupcakes for dessert.


Source
orientaltrading.com
cupcakestakecake.com

The French Inspired Brunch

Invitation
A letter on yellow paper and black ink. Sprinkle rose petals inside the letter.

white card stock with blue ink and a yellow ribbon at the top.

Bride
Tea dress with a bouquet of yellow tea roses with a blue ribbon.

Bridesmaids
blue dress with a yellow and blue ribbon bouquet

Sign In
A huge poster of Paris, France

Centerpiece
Take cans(start collecting) and glue fabric in patterns of blue, yellow, and white.
Place a few daffodils inside your containers.

brunch menu
assorted berries and cheese, pastries, om lets, spinach quiche, bacon, and mini champagne flavored cupcakes(champagne extract)

toast
mimosa

sources
parasianevents.com
frenchpresents.com

Let Them Eat Cake

In 2002 three tier cakes were really popular. So I really wanted one. Reality. My budget.

So with the help of the owner of Tiffany's Bakery in Macon, my wedding cake took a more budget friendly route. The fondant became butter cream. The sugared flowers transformed into royal icings. The custom topper was simplified. I purchase3d one from a discount store. $10.

The end results: yummy. It was so great that the top tier did not make it a whole week.

Sweet Reality Tips

The Designer Cake
Order the one or two tier cake with all the sparkle and trends. Then serve sheet cakes in the same flavor.

The Big Big Cake
Dummy tiers may help you a bit with your budget with sheet cakes.

The Blank Canvas
You can go to a cake baker, grocery store and ask for a plain undecorated cake. Then head to bakery supply store or a craft store for decorations. Just keep this concept simple.

Think Outside Cake box
You can serve donuts for a brunch, brownies in the afternoon, and cocktail cups at night.

Source
cakechannel.com
wedding toppers-weddingmountain.com

something old

A great way to get a touch of something old in your day is the world of vintage. A unique necklace, a funky shoe, or a timeless gown. For my own wedding, I found the best shoes for under $20. There were white and 1940s style high heels. I felt beautiful in them.


Online
antiquedress.com, unique-vintage.com, hatfeathersvintage.com are three great sources for a dress.

Thrift Store
Allow your fingers do the walking in the yellow pages and find a great shop for shoes and accessories.

Garage and Estate Sales
My godmother Faye is the queen of this method. She finds the best things. These sales are usually located in your local paper on Friday.

Happy Shopping!

The Indoor Candlelit Garden Wedding

This is a great idea for the bride who wants to have their moment in one space.

Place
A bed and breakfast, home, or banquet space

Invitation
Small white business cards with a pastel colored ink.

Bride
tea dress with rose wrist corsage

Bridesmaids
a green dress with rose in the hair

front of ceremony
garden arch with greenery and lights. A rose pomander that hangs in the center of the arch.

sign in
book of poetry

Centerpiece
a wine glass filled with greenery with tea candles. Sprinkle rose petals on the table.

Room Decor
Arch at the front. Aisle created by a runner. Twinkling lights in small trees (rent or go to a craft store. Also use over sized pots filled with greenery.

Cake
Sheet cake with picture of the bride and groom in the parks

save-on-crafts.com has a few things for a garden moment.

The Green Bride

Invitation
A small brown paper bag. Write the invitation information in calligraphy pen.


The Dress
A green or cream colored dress. Wear cream colored shoes. If you have something in your closet, this would be great. Consider thirft shops as well. Etsy.com and ThreadheadCreation.com are two places where you can find an earthly freindly dress.

The Sign In
One of the brides favorite books that the guests can sign in the margin of the book.

The Centerpiece
A glass container filled with in season fruit: apples, pears.

The Front of Ceremony
Two trees that you can replant. At the base of the tree, use baby breath and colorful fruit and vegetables.

The Menu
savory vegan cupcakes, stuffed mushrooms, green bean salad, collard greens (flavored with various peppers), and roasted sweet potatoes

The Cake
Vegan Oversize Cupcakes

Source: greenbrideguide.com

diy checklist

There were times when I planned my wedding I thought, where is my American Express card?

Then I pulled out my inspiration. It was a story told by an editor of a bridal magazine.

The editor's sister had married. She defintely took the DIY route. The decor was broutht on sale. The music brought by friends. Her food was kept simple. And the whole mooment took place at her sister's home.

This bride could have had an event but instead she had a candle lit moment among family and friends.

Do It Yourself List

the flowers
corsages and boutineeres

the cocktail hour
Serve cheese, fruit, and crackers with a signature drink.

the music
Use the dj and band to party the night away. For ceremony and cocktail, bring your own tunes to your moment.

decor
wreaths and pew bows

the bridal look
With a lesson from the makeup counter or makeup sales representative, you can do your own makeup.

the queen moment

Invitation
white panel invite with black ink
a letter on ivory paper

Bride
An a line dress with a silver sceptre

Bridesmaids
A white suit and hat with one Calla Lily

Centerpiece
three silver candle stands with ivory rose petals

Sign In
A photograph of the bride and groom as king and queen costume

Flower Girl
white silk basket covered in silver beads

Ring bearer
A small flower girl tiara with the rings attached to it

Cake
Two tier cake with silver dots on the side of the cake. Fresh flowers as a topper. Use a candelabra on the side.

Cupcakes in silver liners

Special Touch
Entertainment during the reception. Have family or friends to come up dance to entertain your crowd.

Finding The Dress

What is appropriate wedding attire? It is a bridal gown with a tiara that I wore to my wedding. Maybe it a dress suit and hat that my friend wore to her July wedding three years ago. A mini skirt on the beach may do the trick. Even shorts with a cute top with high heels for a casual moment.

You determine your bridal look.

Places to find a Look

Etsy.com
Etsy is a great place to find unique dresses and accessories for your moment.

Ebay
I have many unique things on ebay. So this a great place to find a gown with an open
mind.

Vintagewedding.com
This is a great wedding site for the traditional bride.

Oncewed.com
For those who want a more affordable wedding dress, this may be option for you.

Whatever your choice, give yourself plenty of time to find it. I think six to four months will do the trick.

Happy Shopping!

Planning Advice

When I planned my own wedding, I thought it was not going to be a big deal. It is like planning a party. No sweat. Then I printed out a list. I knew I would have to think outside the wedding box.

Write down the vison
Purchase a notebook and write down what you want.

Color and concept
It can be based on your favorite hobby, childhood toy, or movie. I used a favorite romantic book for my own wedding. It was a book by Beverly Jenkins.

Create a Budget
Gather all paying parties and have a movie night. Then talk about a realistic budget. Place the
funding in an account.

Set the Date
It could be the first time you went out or your first kiss. I used my favorite month which is October.

The Officiant
You should find someone who fits the personality of your family and friends.

The Place
Envision your home. It should be clean, comfortable, and have plenty of parking spaces.

The Caterer
It can be a chef, a grocery store deli, or you. Taste the menu ahead of time.

The Dress
There a million places to find a dress. Be realistic how much weight you are going to loose. I know someone who had her guests waiting for two hours as she tried to get in her gown.
At least four months ahead of time, make an appointment to find your gown. If it off the rack, at least give yourself a month.

The Photographer
Make sure you look at actual pictures and read your contract carefully.

The Florist
Bring your ideas to your florist. Try to get actual pictures of wedding that person has done.

The Baker
Taste the cake.

Transportation
Consider the time of season. Right now, it almost prom season. So it maybe a little bit tough getting a limo. You should consider other modes of transportation.

Music
The wedding websites, friends, and previous brides are great sources to find the right music plan for your big day.
For a moment, you can always bring your own music.

Sources

Wedone.com

WeddingMarket.com is a source for wedding dresses.

Beautiful Wedding Receptions by Donna Kooler has several wedding menu

the moment under $1,000

A moment under $1,000. It seems impossible. I received a phone call from a family member who wanted to get married this spring. She had very tiny budget and wanted ideas for her big day. In an afternoon, I sent her a letter with a number of suggestion how she could have a moment for very little.

The Little White Dress
The options are endless for a inexpensive dress online. There is davidbridal, target, and newportnews.

The Invitation
Vistaprint.com has several choices for wedding invitations for the cost of shipping.

Flowers
For a moment, discount is key. Try Walmart, Kroger, or Publix.

The Food
Consider the lunch, brunch, or cocktail reception. You can go to the grocery store,
a restaurant, or find a student chef for your day.

The Place
The park, a small restaurant, recreation center, and daycare are places you can rent on a small moment.

Accessories
Orientaltrading.com

the dream moment

Invitation
a letter with blue ink
a single panel invite with blue ribbon and blue ink

The Bride
An A line with a halo of baby breath and tea roses

The Sign In
A scrapbook of the couples' dreams: dream job, home, kids, travel and other
aspirations.

The Centerpiece
A inspirational saying in a silver frame. Sprinkle rose petals on the table.

The Food
A menu inspired by the couple first date.

The Cake
A sheet cake with a photograph of the couple on the cake

Special touch
Cupcake table

my small moment

What I wanted was simple. A small Victorian wedding for 85 guests. So I sat at the computer and plugged in all my hopes and dreams. $20,000.

My mouth dropped. So I had to make some changes.

I moved my day to Macon, Georgia. The ceremony was held at my mother's church for a small donation. We had the reception at a insurance building meeting room. The food was catered my Aaramark for less than $20 a head.

For my dress, I went to David's Bridal. I spend under $1,000 for ballroom gown. I brought the accessories on ebay. For my makeup, I purchased it from MaryKay. The representative was nice enough to do my makeup the day of for free.

With much gratitude to my two sisters Terry and Angela, I made my own wedding flowers. I used the book by Terry L. Reye Wedding Fl orals you can make. It saved me more than $500.

The photography. I found a guy in the yellow pages who worked out his home. I paid about
$400 for a hundred photographs in a book.

The invitations I used a catalog and ordered a white panel invite. I added a red bow to each invite and sprinkled silver rosed shaped foil confetti.

To organize my moment, I did hire a wedding planner. I found one who worked out of home and was new to the industry. I only hired her for the day of. She only charged me about $300 for a service which was deal for 2002.

For the music, the room was small. So I just brought my own. The wedding planer's husband kept the music moving for free.

Total cost: less than $5,000. Maybe to have an event, you do need a credit card and million dollars, but it does not take as much to have a moment.

The Carnation

Invitation
A letter with colored ink

Front of Ceremony
Two trees with carnations at the bottom of the container

Bride Attire
A white dress suit with a pomander of carnation

Centerpiece
A topiary of carnations

Dessert Reception
Flavored teas, cookies, cheese, fruit, and cupcakes

Sign In
A photograph of the bride holding a long stem carnation

something blue

Invitation
A letter with blue ink
Card stock with blue ribbon

Sign In
A picture of the ocean

Bride Attire
A knee length white dress with a bouquet of white carnations with blue beads

Centerpiece
A glass with deep blue water with rocks at the bottom

Food
seafood, fruit, cheese, and crackers, chicken dish, and blue cookies

cake
cupcakes with dots of blue icing