How to Plan a Wedding on a Dime (or $5,000 really)

Brides magazine recently featured an article on tips to plan your wedding for $5000 or less. You think that they realized we're planning weddings in a tough economy??? These tips were mainly ideas from their readers. I thought I would feature them for you in the event that you might learn something or be inspired by it. If you need extra tips on a specific area of your wedding, just email me at triedandtrueweddings@gmail.com!

• Instead of a multi-tiered wedding cake, do a tower of decorated cupcakes. To save even more, you can buy the cupcakes from a grocery store.
• Buy a small wedding cake for the tradition of feeding each other, but order an inexpensive decorated sheet cake and have that cut in the kitchen. (My friend Emily did this for her wedding and simply bought a cake for us from Costco. We never really noticed, and then when someone mentioned it, nobody cared. The cake was good!)
• Instead of a florist, go to local farmer's markets the morning of your wedding. Gather a variety of local flowers and make simple arrangements jars (think mason jars) or a variety of vases (for an antique feel). Bridesmaids can hold a collection of wildflowers or even elegant lilies.
• Ask a friend who's good with a video camera to bring it and record the ceremony. He/she can pass it around the reception to for friends and families to say well wishes. It may not be professional but it'll be a lot of fun.
• Use an iPod instead of a DJ to save money and ensure you get the songs you want played. You can buy simple speakers and hook them up to a laptop like my friend LeeAnn did for her wedding and then play out of your iTunes library. It really customized everything to how they wanted it. And it was super cheap! You can also ask guests to write their favorite songs as the bottom of your response cards, to help you figure out what to play.
• Have your wedding at a state park. Rental fees are much cheaper!
• Have a backyard wedding. I went to a wedding that was done on someone's raised front porch. It was actually really cool. The bride painted signs that hung from the porch that said "Bride" and "Groom" to signify which side to sit on.
• Change the time of day of your wedding. An early-afternoon or even brunch reception can cut your catering costs down a lot, and also minimize the alcohol intake.
• Have a "Just Desserts" reception. Just make sure you warn your guests to eat beforehand.
• Check with your friends to see if you can borrow things like a cake serving set. I mean, you'll never use it again afterward.
• Do something unique instead of a pricy guestbook. At a Napa Valley wedding, they bought a coffee-table book about the Napa Valley and had guests sign the pages.
• Instead of favors do a candy bar. You can buy the candy in bulk and the scoops/bags are cheap. I know you can find cheap vintage candy jars online for cheap or at places like Storables.
• Consider making red one of your wedding colors, that way you can buy things after Valentine's day or Christmas at a discounted price.
• Rather than floral arrangements, do centerpieces with things like mirrors or beads or candles and ribbons. Personally I think using lanterns or a variety of candle holders looks beautiful and brings extra light to the reception.
• Design your own invitations and printed materials or find a friend to do them for you. I made my friend LeeAnn's invitations and they turned out great! I also have friends who will make them for people too. (See one of my first posts).
• Find a friend who wouldn't mind getting certified as a minister to perform the ceremony. It will cost you nothing, compared to the cost of hiring an officiant.
• For a fun and colorful reception, buy fishbowls and fill them with gum balls. I hadn't thought of this one, but at the right wedding and with the right surroundings it could end up pretty cool.
  

Real Trash the Dress Session: Rowell Photography

Erika and Ryan are pretty much my favorite photographers in the whole world and I'm just way too bummed that they are in Canada and not the US (but they do travel!). Their photography is amazing. They did my friend Meredith's wedding down in the Dominican Republic and all I can say is WOW! Erika asked if I'd mind if she sent me some pictures, and I was more than elated. She was reading my mind. You are lucky if you have them for photographers and here's the proof!

An August Trash the Dress Session
Are You Gutsy Enough for One?

The Couple: James and Sarah
The Location: Gravenhurst, Ontario (Muskoka)
The Photographers: Ryan & Erika of Rowell Photography

Noteworthy Productions: Dueling Piano Show

"You were a dream to work with{...}It is so refreshing to work with an event planner who is so organized and such a nice person too!"-Jeff Coleron of Noteworthy Productions

If you're lucky enough to have been to a dueling piano bar, then you know how great a dueling piano show is. For those of you who are unfamiliar, it's a setup of two pianos facing each other (although I learned that Jeff and Rhiannon use keyboards built into setups that look like pianos) and two singers/pianists who play at each one. During the show they take requests (sometimes for money, depending on the kind of event) and different sides of the room or different interests fight for what they'll play or sing.

I ran into Jeff and Rhiannon of Noteworthy Productions up in Seattle at the Seattle Event Show in October 2008. They were amazing, and they sound amazing too! So I took their cards, and then got lucky when I suggested using them as this year's Medical Staff Annual Event entertainment and everyone agreed. Jeff and Rhiannon played for us in January and our medical staff has never had so much fun! We got people to dance who don't dance, people to sing who don't sing, and people to just enjoy themselves. It was one of the most fun nights ever. Not to mention that working with them during the day was so easy and fun that I could do it every night!

Well you ask, why am I telling you about them? Well they've started to venture into performing at weddings. They're not cheap (so probably more for a luxe wedding than one on a budget) but they will make your wedding like no one else's. This way you can customize all of your music selections and let your guests give input too. I once saw a show (not theirs) where they made the groom get down on his knee and sing to his bride up on the piano and it was to "You've Lost that Loving Feeling" as a joke. It was hilarious! They travel not only to the Seattle area, but all across the US and the world (for an additional fee). Rhiannon is actually from Oregon, so they use excursions down here as an excuse to visit family. They would be a tremendous asset to any wedding reception.

So if you're interested in checking out Jeff and Rhiannon for their dueling piano show, go to www.noteworthyproductions.com and tell them Amber sent you!

The Final Week of Planning

This is the conclusion to the wedding planning timeline from the other day. Enjoy!

• 5 Days: Confirm all vendors the Monday before the wedding, give a final head count to the hotel or caterer, and prepare payment or donation for officiant and checks for vendors who get paid on wedding day.
• 4 Days: Arrange transportation to the airport for your honeymoon if you don't already have it, and write thank-you notes to parents for their support.
• 3 Days: Confirm hotel reservations for honeymoon, check weather forecasts for wedding and honeymoon, practice your vows, and pack your bag for the wedding day including your emergency day kit--don't forget a pair of shoes for dancing.
• 2 Days: Deliver in-room gifts to out-of-towners on the day they arrive, give programs and anything else your handing out at the ceremony to who will be distributing them, give seating cards and place cards to whomever will be handing them out, give the guest book, cake knife, and toasting glasses to the person who will put them in place, give favors to the person will set them up or distribute them, and pick up rental tuxes.
• 1 Day: Practice speeches and vows, get manicure and pedicure, review and finalize seating chart for last minute cancellations, confirm flight reservations for honeymoon, reconfirm pickup times with limo company, give tip envelopes to person who will distribute them, give gifts to members of bridal party, rehearse the ceremony, and enjoy the rehearsal dinner.
• Wedding Day: Get your final steaming for the wedding gown, relax and enjoy the day, have your best man or maid of honor check the flight status for the honeymoon, and in the excitement of the day don't forget to take normal medications (for allergies, birth control, etc.).
• Day After: Send thank-you notes to parents, thank attendants, return rental tuxedos, Call any special vendors to thank them, deposit monetary wedding gifts for safe keeping, freeze top layer of cake (if you choose), and take note of any stains on the wedding dress (if bad stains take it to the cleaner right away, if minimal hang it up and cover with a clean sheet until you can get back to take it in). Enjoy your honeymoon!

Again, these instructions are not all-inclusive, but should give you a generic list of things to plan and when to plan them. Believe me, the actual list of things to get done on wedding day will be huge, but that's why you have a planner like me right? Happy planning!

Purple and Fuchsia Inspiration Board

So my latest inspiration board is somewhat "fairy tale-esque", as it reminds me of something out of a Midsummer Night's Dream. I would have never thought to pair purple with fuchsia but they actually look really good together. And add in a little orange or dark blue and you can come up with the greatest accents. And good news is there are a million purple and fuchsia flowers! You'll never run out of ideas. PS I really love the idea of lanterns hanging on stanchions. I would not have thought of that!

I grabbed the pictures above from the following sites: The Knot, Brides.com, Wedding Style Magazine, Vera Wang, and once again some random Google Pics.

Wedding Timeline

Timelines. Well after the excitement of the proposal and the engagement parties wears off, it's time to start focusing on your wedding. And the first thing to do is to set a timeline. Now your timeline will also be altered depending on how much time you have to plan your wedding. Someone who has a year until the wedding may take more time making decisions than someone who's trying to get it done in three months. Finally, you may move things around in the timeline to meet your personal needs (so long as you're allowing enough time for them to get done).

And well...my timeline bible is very long, so I'm not posting that entire list up here at this time, but here are the suggestions for when you should get the important things done, if you're planning a year long wedding.

• 11 Months: Draw up a preliminary guest list, draw up a budget, and get a wedding planner (if you are planning on having one.
• 10 Months: Set your wedding date, and book the location for the wedding and reception.
• 9 Months: Hire photographer.
• 8 Months: Choose the bridal party, book blocks of rooms for out-of-towners, start looking at wedding invitations, choose save-the-date cards, book the band for your reception, and start looking at wedding gowns.
• 7 Months: Book your caterer, send out save-the-date cards, hire videographer, order wedding gown and veil, and setup wedding website.
• 6 Months: Book your florist, book lighting company (if necessary), select bridesmaid dresses, start a basic registry for gifts, reserve day-after brunch location (if having one), start researching honeymoon destinations, and book musicians for ceremony.
• 5 Months: Order wedding invitations, order thank you notes for after the wedding, decide on tuxedo style and place rental order for groom, book tent and other rentals, apply for a passport or renewal (if needed for wedding or honeymoon), have engagement photos taken, and order flower girls' dresses.
• 4 Months: Schedule interviews/tastings with cake makers, book hairstylist and makeup artist, research marriage license requirements, review proofs of invitations, shop for wedding accessories, book hotel room for wedding night, compile guest lists for showers, and order transportation for bridal party.
• 3 Months: Choose menus for wedding and rehearsal dinners, meet with your officiant to plan the ceremony, see sample centerpiece from the florist, order bouquets, boutteneirs, and personal flowers for the ceremony, choose table linens and napkins, place orders for specialty tabletop rentals, buy wedding rings, order wedding cake, start choosing songs, start thinking about favors, have groomsmen fitted for tuxes, buy groom accessories, check registries to make sure enough items remain at the different price levels, contact newspapers about requirements for placing wedding announcements, schedule food tasting, finalize guest list, weigh one complete invitation to get exact postage amount, schedule rehearsal time and rehearsal dinner, and schedule dance lessons (if you want).
• 8 Weeks: Mail wedding invitations, send rehearsal dinner invitations, choose seating cards and placecards, order table numbers, send wedding announcements to newspapers, plan welcome gifts for out-of-towners, and finalize honeymoon plans.
• 7 Weeks: Create and implement system for keeping track of response cards to events, draft a schedule of events for the weekend, and write thank-you notes for shower gifts.
• 6 Weeks: Have final meeting with musicians or dj to discuss timeline of events, special dances, and Do-Not-Play list, draft a shot list for the photographer, and make a list of moments you want captured on film (if using a videographer).
• 5 Weeks: Choose ceremony readings.
• 4 Weeks: Obtain marriage license, deadline for RSVPs to wedding, create final schedule of events, contact those who haven't RSVP'd, start working on seating chart, meet with officiant to discuss procession and review order and contents of ceremony, do trial runs with makeup artist and hairstylist, print ceremony programs, order menus for reception, gather things like guest book and garter, obtain instructions on how to change your name, meet with photographer to go over shot list and schedule (do the same with videographer), review honeymoon travel reservations, book manicure and pedicure appointments, and finish vows (if you're writing your own).
• 3 Weeks: Set up final meetings with florist, write toasts and speeches, buy thank-you gifts for parents, and arrange for people to hand out seating cards and accept gifts at reception.
• 2 Weeks: Write as many thank-you notes as you can, wrap gifts for bridal party, have final dress fitting, have pre-wedding facial and hair color, confirm hotel reservations, check registries, and arrange for someone to check on your home and take in packages while you're away.
• 1 Week: Pick up wedding dress, start packing for honeymoon, prepare tip envelopes, finalize seating arrangements, call transporation company to confirm reservations, start checking weather forecase for the day, confirm food and bar menu details with caterer, and make arrangements to hold mail and stop newspapers for honeymoon.

Final Week Timeline Coming Soon....(sorry guys my fingers needed a break, lol).

Lemon Yellow Inspiration Board

Since I'm not sure that I'll be able to post on here each day (due to work and a crazy life, and due to the fact that my boyfriend has been so busy this weekend leaving me alone and bored) I'm posting yet again to make up for it. This is another inspiration board I put together--this time in a creamy lemon yellow with a white or cream accent. For a spring wedding, this would be perfect! If you are having your wedding in the Summer, maybe consider incorporating black as your accent color to spice it up a bit or throw in more variety from colored florals.

In this inspiration board I feature pictures from: Martha Stewart Weddings, Wedding Style Magazine, The Knot, and InStyle Weddings. Sorry, I think I'm going to stop putting links in for these, unless people start complaining about them. Most of the sites I feature have links listed on the left side of the screen. Thanks for understanding.

Personalized Welcome Bags

There's no better way to greet guests (either all or just long-distance travelers) than with a personalized welcome bag! Each of these should include information on the weekend's activities (I highly doubt they brought all of the information with them) and any pertinent information, like where they could go to grab a meal or a snack, in written form, along with goodies that match your theme. These can just be color-coordinated items that match your theme colors, or actually go along with a specific theme.

For a wedding done in Washington DC I saw a basket that incorporated both Democratic and Republican symbols as well as US flags, and foods that are often found in the area. This thought can apply to any region. For a wedding in Oregon for example, you might include local foods such as a bottle of pinot noir from the Willamette Valley, fresh fruits from the area, salt water taffy from the coast, kettle chips (made locally in Salem), and other items.

Another popular idea is a spa-like basket (complete with candles, lip balm, lotions, eye mask, and more) or a basket of all those items that you tend to forget when traveling--bandaids, q-tips, kleenex, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, sunscreen, deoderant, and more. If you shop for all of these items in bulk (i.e. shop on google using "bulk" or "wholesale" as descriptors) you can often save a lot of money. I mean face it, the more money you save on your wedding, the better.

A company called Navy and Lavender (formed by former Vera Wang employees) creates custom welcome bags and has many pre-made options already available. Find one you like and then all you have to do is order it--no spending time looking for all of the items and paying multiple shipping charges. There are ones customized by region, sex, activity, and more.

Want ideas for your custom basket? Email me at triedandtrueweddings@gmail.com.

Love, A

My Find! Blurb Photo Books

So as happens often with me, I happened to stumble on the coolest thing ever! At typical photographers you can spend up to $500 on a nice photo book/album. Well those days are gone (unless you really want to spend that kind of money). At Blurb you simply download the free software, upload your pictures into the templates, and then push print. Well you don't actually print it. It gets sent to Blurb and they professionally print it for you for anywhere from $5 to $100 depending on the size and cover.

I tried this, and wow there are a million templates and styles and fonts. It's so easy to use, especially if you watch the 2-3 minute tutorial. And you can mess with it over and over and over again until you have it right. What I would advise, is get your cd of pictures from your photographer after the wedding and create your book, or once you have your engagement pictures, upload those and make a guest book that guests can sign at the wedding. I swear that you'll hold on to it forever.

Oh and the shipping is very quick too, so no long waiting. They even have a store so that you can make your book available on their site for your parents, family, or friends to purchase. And you set the price! So technically you could make money on it if you wanted to.

Well go check it out! Blurb.com.

Lime Green Inspiration Board

We're nearing summer and lime green is definitely going to be popular. And plus, in the season of "being green" why not try to go as natural as possible? To add fun, use a lime green versus a pale green, and incorporate natural elements like limes and apples. Black is a great accent color to incorporate on small items like menu cards and table numbers.

On this inspiration board I used pictures from The Knot, Junebug Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings, and more. Please contact me if I have not given you the proper recognition of your photo. Thanks!

My Newest Find: Nettleton Hollow

Talk about finding a great site and especially a great blog. For a centerpiece I'm currently working on for a social event in Woodburn, I needed to find some curly willow branches at an affordable price (after all everyone's on a budget now-a-days). And thank God I stumbled onto Nettleton Hollow. Not only are they quite affordable, but their blog showcases amazing pictures of natural branch centerpieces and also gives how-to directions on making many of them. I definitely will be coming to this site next time for inspiration, and with DIY instructions, it'll cost a lot less for brides looking for something amazing at an affordable price.

Peacock Inspiration Board

This next inspiration board is a theme which I think is a hot one for upcoming weddings. I think we'll start to see more of the turquoise, blue, gold, and brown combination as time goes by. And plus, there's something elegant about peacocks. I think you could use this combo to turn your wedding into something really regal for summer.

The sites used for this inspiration board include: Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle Weddings, Etsy, and some more random pictures from Google. As always, feel free to contact me if you find your picture featured and I will give you credit right away.

Marie Antoinette Inspiration Board

This inspiration board is inspired by my friend's Marie Antoinette themed wedding and the amazing Wiley Valentine invitations I found with the same theme. It's primarily done in light pink and gold. I hope this gives some future brides a few useful ideas.

Images were taken from Martha Stewart Weddings, Style Me Pretty, and a few random pictures from google. If you recognize your photo, please feel free and contact me so that I can give you credit.

Are You Planning a Wedding in Oregon?

If so, then this is the spot for you. I would love to be a part of and help plan any bride's wedding who is getting married in the Willamette Valley (and possibly other regions of Oregon). My fees will likely not be as expensive as your traditional event planners because I'm just starting out my business and I need the portfolio just as much as you need your wedding. I have lots of great ideas, am easy to work with, and know the best local vendors. If you're having a destination wedding here, then what better planner to get than one who knows the local scenery?

In Oregon we have everything from gorgeous vineyards (I'm planning a wedding at an amazing one right now) to upscale hotels, classic churches, and outdoor forest venues. You can get married on a mountain at Timberline Lodge or by the Beach at Seaside. Whatever dream you have for your wedding, Oregon can attain it. And what's great is that in Oregon, you will spend less on your wedding than popular cities like San Diego and New York.

Even if you're not planning a wedding, or can't afford the help, feel free to email me with questions. I want to be a resource for all of you. Triedandtrueweddings@gmail.com.

Happy Planning!

Wedding Invitations

Talk about absolutely loving your invitations! I came across this company on another site and was astounded by their quality. Now I'll admit, these aren't the cheapest invitations you could order but people will definitely never forget them if you do. The company is Wiley Valentine and you can not only order their premade invitations, but you can also get custom invitations made for you. They also make everything from RSVP cards to menus to table numbers and more. So check them out and let them know you found them on Tried and True.

For the bride-to-be on a lower budget, I have a friend named Shante' who is looking into making invitations for people. She is a graphic designer (and a pretty good one at that) who is currently getting her bachelor's degree in advertising, and she would design the invitation for you at a small price (and I mean not expensive at all!) and then you could print them yourself. She'd just send them pdf. If you're interested, email me at triedandtrueweddings@gmail.com and I'll send you her info.

The Beginning

Well this is my first post to my first ever blog! I can't wait to see how this all turns out. Bear with me in the beginning as I put together this blog and start adding to it. I do have a full time job, and since they don't usually approve of me blogging at work, I'll have to be doing it at lunch and in my spare time (which I usually don't have much of).

I really want this blog to become a success. Not just for me, but I want it to enable anyone to make their special day or special event a success too! I have learned a lot through the years, and I'm hoping my advice might help someone else. But I also think that I can learn a lot from you as well. I would love for people to post information, inspiration, advice or great deals--anything that might be of help to me or someone else.

Weddings, in particular, can be the most important day in someone's life, but everyone has birthdays and anniversaries or special events that mean something to them too. I hope that I can inspire all of you to make those days as memorable and amazing as possible.

Love, A