I'm Poor, but I Wanna get Married - Guilt

The topic for this entry is one I have REALLY been struggling with.  It is also one that I have discovered no solution to, yet. 

Guilt.  No one ever told me that in planning your wedding you will get a bad case of it.  I guess maybe this doesn't happen for all brides, but I would think it would happen somewhat often for brides like me.  What do I mean, like me?  I mean girls who have, indeed, been dreaming of this day for as long as they knew wedding existed, and who happen to be broke. 

Most of the time I find the no money thing a fun challenge, not a problem.  But then you run into a bump in the road.  For each bride it will be different, but for me, it is the gown. 

Trust me, I know, I know; It is incredibly superficial and selfish.

Here was my downfall: I went wedding dress shopping and I did something that I should not have done.  I had no idea what kind of thing would look good on me, so I decided that I would try on, just so I could find out.  Which was fine until I decided to ignore price tags.  No, strike that, I didn't ignore them, I just didn't look at them.  I chose dresses without looking at the tags.  I wasn't looking to buy a dress that day anyways.  I just wanted to try on some to see what would look good on me.  And, on one hand, it was successful because I did find out a lot about what would look good on me.  The problem is: I found dresses that did look good on me.  REALLY good.  I kinda fell in love with some.  Thus began the guilt.  #1: for dragging my family all the way to the nearest David's Bridal to watch me try on dresses.  It was an all day trip for, in the end, almost nothing.  #2: for the wonderful girl who helped me.  She was so wonderful. Really sweet.  A lot of these girls work on commission, so my idea of just going to try on was really just a waste of her time.  For that, I feel really bad.  All I can think now is: was it really worth that trip to discover that Ivory looks best on me, I can wear strapless dresses, and my favorite neckline is Sweetheart?

Fast forward.  My fiance and I were talking dresses over and we finally came to a decision on the budget based on ... just our feelings that paying any more for a dress would be wasteful.  $200.  Well for those of you who know anything about dresses, that is on the extreme cheap side.  Not saying that it can not be done.  But, all the dresses I tried on are now out of the question.  Which kinda made the whole trip almost worthless.  And I feel bad about that.  And I feel bad about getting excited over the dresses I liked in the first place.  REALLY bad.  I got caught up in the moment of looking and feeling good.  And for a little bit there I was not thinking about how much I love my fiance, but how good I could look for him.  I figured on having my dress made by a friend I have, but she's got a toddler and a newborn at home, so it's not like she has a lot of time, and I can't compensate her well for her time in making the dress.  And I feel bad about that which means:

Guilt sets in.  And it stays for a long time.

And not just about dresses.  About everything.  I get these amazing ideas for decorations and such, and I get excited about them.  But then I think about how much it would cost.  Then I feel guilty.  It has even gotten to the point that it doesn't matter how cheap it is, I still feel bad about thinking about those things. 

My fiance's Dad came to talk to us a while ago and he mentioned how little it cost him and his wife to get married.  Granted, that was back 27 years ago, and their wedding was under special circumstances, so it was quick and simple; but it made me feel like we were being too extravagant.  I should say that he didn't say that is what we were doing, he just was shocked that a dress could cost about $500.  Considering that his entire wedding was under that much.  He didn't say anything to make me feel bad, I just read in between the lines.  And now I can't get that out of my head.

So, I feel guilty about this whole thing.  Every time I start to think about making plans for this wedding I get a shot of guilt.  Do we really need to invite all these people?  Do we really need to get married in a church?  Why should I care about what I look like on that day?  Do you really need a photographer?  Why should you waste any money on decorations?  Yeah, you want to have fun, but isn't having a wedding dance a little much?

What is worse is that I feel guilty about the flip side too.  Is it fair to your guests that you are not having dinner, let alone a cocktail reception?  How can you ask them to travel that distance if you're not even entertaining them in style?  If you're not giving out favors, it is really fair that they give you gifts? 

GUILT EVERYWHERE!

I used to love planning my wedding, but now I just feel guilty all the time.  Part of me says: just elope.  But that is the one thing I WILL NOT do.  I don't want that at all, and I will give up everything I have to in order to ensure that I have at least our families there on that day.  And I feel guilty about that.

It's like this endless sucking vortex of guilt and bad feelings.  I can't seem to get myself out of it, and I don't know what to do.  And all because I went and tried on some dresses.

My poor fiance has tried to help, but I can see him getting a little frustrated with the whole thing too.  I just want to feel good about my wedding again.  I love weddings, and I love planning them, but I just can't handle the guilt.

Sorry folks, just had to rant about that.  I'm not asking for sympathy, or anything like that, but if you have any ideas on how to beat the Guilt, please feel free to let me know!

I'm Poor, But I Wanna Get Married: keeping on track

Actually, this should be subtitled: Keeping yourself Myself on Track.

I have a tendency to get a little carried away sometimes.  I've been planning versions of dream weddings since I was a little girl.  I'm a wedding junky.  I adore weddings.  Mostly because of the amount of love poured into the day, but also because secretly, and deep down, I am a little style diva.  I love good style in any form, though I don't have any to save my life!  So, I would often make up many different scenarios and concepts and colors for weddings and do a lot research a look at a lot of pictures and plan it all out in my mind.  Lots of fun.  But not so good when it comes to planning your own wedding.

Reasons?  #1: Fake weddings have no budget and no limits. #2: there is no one to disappoint when there is no one but yourself. #3: you can pick up and drop concepts like flower petals and, again, no one cares!

So, yeah, I have a tendency to get carried away.  And I am on this wedding.  Looking at the style and contemplating what everything would look like and what everything would cost is starting to take over and I am loosing track of why this is happening in the first place.  So, this blog is my reminder.

Most important: I wouldn't be planning a real wedding if it weren't for Ahren.  He loves me, and I love him, and this wedding is about us getting married.  It sounds so simple.  Sometimes I think people forget that a wedding is nothing without the marriage; the actual act of getting married.  Two people vowing to spend the rest of their lives together.  THAT is why all of this is happening.  And never, EVER, should anything overwhelm that.

What do I want out of this?  Like I said, the most important part is that I get married to Ahren.  But after that, what is important to me?  Why don't I just head to the courthouse? 

The Most Immediate Answer: I would not get married without my mom and dad there.  My Dad HAS to give me away.

The General Answer: I want the important people in our lives to be there for that moment.  Yes, the guests are important.  But it is not about the number of guests and inviting everyone we know.  Honestly, I want the people who don't care to just stay away.  NO ONE should feel obligated to come to this wedding.  I want people to want to be there, and I want the people who have played a big role in our lives to witness that moment.  I want them to be there with us, and for us.

So yeah, I am still going to worry about what kind of decorations to do for the ceremony, and how much a wedding dress costs, and what are our best location options, but at the end of the day, I don't care if people think this was one cheap wedding.  If they think that, then good riddance.  But if they can walk away from all of this knowing how much we love them, and how much we love each other, I will be the happiest bride on earth!

If I can just keep coming back to Love, than I'll be kept on track.

Love and Kisses from the future Mrs!

I'm Poor, but I Wanna Get Married - Changes (and Update and Explanation)

This blog is a little more personal than the rest, but I did find an overall theme that most brides will have to contend with, so let me explain:

Changes. Obviously, they are closely related to compromises, they are going to be apart of your wedding, and while they are sometimes not fun, it's something you will have to learn to live with, and be relatively happy about it.  Here's hoping that the changes in your wedding will be relatively un-stressful.  You just have to learn to go with the flow, take a deep breath, and move on.  But here is something else that I just discovered the other night: No matter what, remember that you need to keep the end product in mind.  Its about your Wedding - the day that you join your life with another.

Moment of rant: forgive me, but this has been on my mind.  I'm a wedding show junkie (I admit it, I love watching wedding shows. A lot,  like a LOT!)  But I noticed something, and it bugs the crap out of me.  It's all about color and theme and look and price.  Never once have I seen a bride on one of those shows say: "I want this day to be about celebrating our love for one another"  Maybe that is because it should go without saying.  But when you are going to be married, why, OH WHY, would you not say that over and over again?  Just something I had to get off my chest.

Anyways ...

My fiance is not as enthused about wedding planning as I am.  He's not un-interested, but at a certain point, his eyes get a kind of glaze and I realize that it has probably become too much and that he has had enough. Poor guy. The two of us are not decision makers by nature.  We're both too afraid to make the wrong decision, and disappointing someone, or do something wrong.  We are almost too sensitive to the needs of others.  This obviously makes things a lot harder.  I mean, I have a hard time convincing myself that planning what I am going to wear that day is not incredibly selfish; We're just more focused on our guests.  Early on, we decided that the most important part of that day was our getting married, but the second most important part of that is having the people we love with us.

Which brings us to our Change.  We found out over Christmas that my sister is pregnant again!  YAY!  Niece or Nephew #5 is on it's way!!!!  First off, let me make it clear that we are EXCITED for Steph, Chris, Dakota, and Baby Pickles pt 2 (this is my name for future little one).  New Baby, New Baby, New Baby! (You can't see it, but I'm doing a happy dance right now)

Now, for the less fun part: Steph did the math and realized that the approximate due date would be a little too near the wedding.  We can't guarantee that Chris will be able to get leave to come to the wedding, so it could be just Steph and Dakota (and possibly Baby Pickles pt2).  Driving all the way from NY is out, and air travel in the 3rd trimester is a "No."  Train is a possibility, but any travel when you are that far along is problematic at best. So, basically, if we wanted Steph at the wedding, we had to move the date.  :S  Enter our problem.

We either had to move the wedding up to May, or push it back a month or more.  As time is your friend for a Budget Bride, shaving off 4 months of planning and saving was something we just couldn't do.  So we had to move it back.  We wanted Chris there, but the only way we could guarantee that is if we held out until around Christmas.  While it was a bonus for the people in our immediate family, and anyone who would already be in the area, for most others, it would be a major problem.  Most everyone from outside the general northern Minnesota area would probably not come.  Not to mention, that we risk bad traveling conditions, which would make it possible that NO ONE from out of state would come.  If there should be a blizzard, we would have to postpone anyways, and we just thought that it would be too risky.  (By the by, as I write all this, I still feel INCREDIBLY guilty)

Long story short(er), we settled on October.  Second weekend in October.  October 13, 2012!! Which, I came to realize afterwards is my Grandma & Grandpa Gaskill's Anniversary.  Figures, huh?  I mean, we picked the first date and then I realized that it was Mom's birthday, and now we pick a second day and this.  At first, I was worried that people might think we are trying to overshadow their special day, but I was convinced that instead, it would just be a good omen.

I know this throws a monkey wrench in plans for some people, and trust me, I feel bad about it.  But, I figure, more time to change plans is better than less time.  I hope no one gets mad.  I'm trying to maintain the idea that the people who want to be there will be there if they can.  I'm trying to please all, and this Change was a little bit of a wake up call.  I can't please everyone, and maybe I should be focusing more on the two of us.  I still have a hard time with this, though. 

Good news though: this has inspired Ahren and I to make more definite decisions, and this has also led to setting a wedding dress shopping date.  I've been fighting with myself about that.  Being very Budget-conscious, I figured that I would just skip it altogether, since I figured I wouldn't be able to afford a store dress.  Plus, you know how I feel about focusing on myself, even though I kind of want to do it.  However, Ahren has been pushing me to do this, and he and Mom ganged up on me, and we've set a Shop Date!  So, look out Fargo, I'll be seeing you Jan 28th, and we'll be trying on pretty dresses!  I'm getting kind of excited about the whole thing, which has led me to another "moral" to pass on to brides like me:

Have Fun!  It's so easy to get bogged down in the chores and worries that go with planning a wedding.  So much so, that sometimes it feels selfish to concentrate on something that makes you happy.  You and you alone.  I honestly struggle with this. But the thing is, if you don't concentrate on something that makes you happy, you will come to resent the whole wedding.  What Ahren made me realize is that going shopping is not about spending money, it's a bonding experience and its helpful.  Whether we find a dress or not doesn't matter.  It will help me to see myself as a bride, help me decide what I want to look like, help me get excited, hopefully without feeling selfish.

So, please, brides everywhere.  In honor of this, have some happy wedding planning time.  Go shopping with the important women in your life.  Dish about the details with your bridal party. Watch wedding shows with your best friend. Surf the net with your fiance.  Go to as many taste tests as you want!  Enjoy it!

I think that is probably more than enough for now.  More to come as it comes!

Hugs and Kisses from the Future Mrs!

I'm Poor, but I Wanna Get Married - DIY and Being Thrifty

Hello! I realize it has been a while since I posted last. What have I been up to in the world of wedding planning? Gathering projects and getting started. So, this blog is about DIY - with a dash of being Thrifty in the process.

DIY (do it yourself) is sometimes necessary for the Budget Bride, and being Thrifty IS a necessity. Especially when you are DIYing. Contrary to popular belief, not everything DIY is cheaper. Sometimes the price of the materials you need to make the item is more than it costs to buy a ready-made item. Sometimes. It depends on your style, what it is, and what you can get the materials for.

This is where being Thrifty comes in. And if there is one thing I am good at, it is being Thrifty. I think it is in my bloodline. My mom does not give herself enough credit for this, but she is the one who taught me by example how to decorate simply, but prettily. Being a props person has also taught me a thing or two about decorating appropriately on a tight budget. So, I am most fortunate.

Here are some tips: get to know your local second-hand or thrift stores. You will be surprised what you will find in there sometimes. If you don't like items second-hand, then you will have a MUCH harder time, and I have to ask you: what is wrong with you??? Bonus: it's Green to Re-use! Another tip: if you can, join any Barter, Re-Sell, Exchange groups or sites in your area. There are a couple locally for me that I check, and I have been able to find some amazing things. Another thing on your side: people love to help out with a wedding! I have had a number of responses on my posts about needing items for a wedding, as well as some offers for cheap services too. Former Brides generally love to help Future Brides out.

The downside to this is that you will have to swallow the sometimes bitter pill of Compromise. Get used to this. Sometimes it will be heartbreaking. This is where the priorities of the wedding will help out. Its okay to have those items where you don't want to compromise, but generally, if you are on a tight budget, you will have to get used to it. I've had to. I always dreamed big for my wedding because it was not reality, but now that it is, I have come to keep those old plans as dreams, and look to the more simple side of things. But that doesn't mean that I am compromising style a bit - it's just changed, that's all.

So, I've been looking for easy (because I am NOT a DIY goddess) projects that I can do which will eliminate some expenses. Most of the ideas a decorative, but some are more practical. Here's another thing to keep in mind: after the wedding, what are you going to do with the items? You could give away, re-sell, or keep. Me, I am a fan of keeping. Generally, most of these projects are things that I wouldn't mind keeping ahold of and using in my home. I also like the idea of passing on some items to my kids or other family who are getting married.

Enough chatter, and time for pictures and more chatter :P

INSPIRATION: Burlap Ring Bearer Pillows

The Practical Side: I bought a throw sized burlap covered pillow for $1 at a local Thrift store. I needed 2 small ring bearer pillows, so took it apart and made two smaller pillows. Other materials needed: scissors, thread, other decoration as desired.

REALITY: Now, because I am not the best sewer there is, and because I don' t have a sewing machine, I just hand stitched them with colored thread (to match our "colors", and so we could tell which ring goes to which kid and carries what ring) so there would be a rustic looking frayed edge. Now I just need to decorate them. Here is what they look like now:

INSPIRATION: Burlap roses!

I can't tell you how excited I am by this! I'm not going the traditional route with flowers for this wedding - too expensive. No bouquets for the bridesmaids and no petals for the flower girls. Instead, we are going to do a Rose Ceremony, which basically involves the passing out of flowers to random members of the congregation and having them and the attendants place roses in a vase indicating the support from friends and family of the couple in their marriage. That pretty much eliminated the need for bouquets. But I still wanted to have something to toss. Then I found this. PERFECT!!! Now I just have to determine if I want to do all flowers as burlap. I'm still not sure about how far I want to take this. I could make boutonnieres and bouquets from burlap, and the flowers for the Rose Ceremony. Hmmm ... still have to think of this.

The Practical Side: Burlap cut into strips, glue gun & sticks, floral sticks, opt decorations (pearled hat pins & ribbons. I found burlap sacks for sale at our L&M Fleet Farm @ $.49 a sack! There is a possible down side: since these are used sacks, there is colored writing on them. However, since we're cutting it into strips, I think a dash of color here and there will be a nice dash of color. I've also gotten some pearled corsage or hat pins from my future MIL, so I've got a nice start on what I need. This will be more time than money, I think :)

REALITY: (haven't been able to start this yet)

INSPIRATION: Card Suitcase

This is one I am incredibly excited about!

Two great parts about this: #1: easy transportation for cards, wedding album, and guest book from ceremony to reception site. #2: instant storage for wedding memorabilia after the wedding. You won't have to wonder which box your wedding album is in - you'll know exactly where to find everything!

The Practical Side: this could be costly, or it could be cheap depending on your taste, and just plain luck. Vintage suitcases can be kind of pricey in antique stores, but if you look around, you can probably find something cheap that will do, or you can get something from friends or family. (Note: the type of suitcase you get can also compliment your wedding look. I saw one of these on a site for a 60s california theme that was so retro, it was adorable!) Aside from that you can do just about anything. If you buy craft items and fillers, it can be expensive, but this is where thrifty comes in. I use found items, and I also like using what little craft talent I have, so most of this is going to be pretty cheap.

REALITY: I've got the suitcase! I got it for free on a Barter/Trade site from a woman I am working with on a show. Isn't it perfect? I will keep you all updated on this as I work on it, but this is what I have to start with:

INSPIRATION: Burlap and Doily DIY projects

Isn't this adorable?!?! I was researching old wedding customs and I came across one that said the couple walked from the homes to the church behind a banner. This is kinda the reverse of that, and I just think its cute. So, the flower girls will be the first to exit, carrying this sign as we leave the ceremony. Another good thing: This can be attached to the head table, and displayed in the home for the first couple of months or so. It also makes an adorable hand-me-down.

The Practical Side: Items needed: clear burlap piece, yarn, ribbon, fabric flowers (or items to make your own). I'll keep you posted when I start this!

How much do I love this? SO much. Simple, but adorable. Just take a bunch of paper doilies of various sizes and shapes and put them on christmas lights. If you want color, you can use colored lights or paint the doilies to match your theme. And how adorable would these be on valentines day???

The Practical Side: Items needed: various paper doilies and a string or two of christmas lightsDoily and burlap banner. Again, simple, but versatile. You can spell out words with the doilies, or use felt or other fabric over the doilies for letter, or just leave it as is for simple decoration.

The Practical Side: Items Needed: scissors, thread, burlap, doilies, any additional decorations.

I couldn't find a picture of the finished product, but this is doily flower garland. Just imagine strings of these adorable "buds" creating a curtain around behind you. Even better if you are using a canopy of sorts - especially adorable if the wind is slightly blowing!

The Practical Side: Items Needed: various round doilies, thread, needle

INSPIRATION: The Soundtrack of Us

This is one of the pet projects that I will probably not be able to do, but I love the idea so much that I wanted to share it with all of you:

Make your own wedding/relationship soundtrack! Think about it: music is key in most weddings, and each wedding has its own required playlist. You think you have amazing taste in music, and you think others will enjoy it? Make your own soundtrack!! (I imagine there might be some legal restrictions about selling these, so be careful!) I've already started gathering songs. Most will be determined by your wedding song choices (ie: first dance song, father/daughter dance, etc); but throw in some fun songs that you and your partner just like. I'm throwing in the song that Ahren sang for his first kareoke experience ;) Have FUN with it!

The Practical Side: this can be expensive :( Blank Cds are not badly priced, but to get enough for everyone with cases, will get pricey.

INSPIRATIONS: Mason Jar projects.

I'm not 100% sure where I can use all of these. At this point, we're not sure about needing table decorations at the dance. However, I figured that I would want these in my home either way, so if nothing else, I have options, and I have cute pieces for decorating the home afterwards.Silhouette Mason Jars - whether these are for vases or candy jars or luminaries, they are so sweet and simple. I love the idea, and I think they'll be pretty easy to make. I think I might stick with hearts though - the silhouette might prove to be too hard (I'm not exactly artistic - drawing was never my strong point.)

The Practical Side: Items Needed: mason jars, spray paint, construction paper or stencils and their reverses, tape

Doily Covered Luminaries - again, sweet and simple. The hardest part is going to be finding all the doilies without paying too much. I had not idea how expensive they can get -especially the delicate ones. But they are so beautiful that I just couldn't pass this idea by. It looks like some hot glue and a lot of patience required for these.

The Practical Side: Items Needed: mason jars, fabric doilies, tape or glue, other decorative elements, candles

Chicken Feeder Candy Dish - this is going to prove the most expensive. I've done some searching online and apparently the base alone goes for about $16 a piece. No kidding. I can find really cheap ones (plastic) but they're not so cute - and the colors don't fit the look I am going for. So, if any of these ideas do not get used, it will be this one :(

The Practical Side: Items Needed: Mason Jars, Poultry feeders w/ jar openings, decorative elements as desired, candy

Book page luminaries. Instead of wrapping all the way around, I would place bits and pieces around the mason jars. Concentrating on poems, quotes, famous passages, or just cute art. The best thing about this is that you can do anything with it - you can do themes pieces for seasons or occasions, or just looks. It seems simple enough, and I like making collages, so this should be one I could do fairly easily. Hopefully.

The Practical Side: Items Needed: Mason Jars, book pages, glue & water (can also use tape), paintbrush, candles

I hope you enjoyed this peak into the process! Hopefully I will be able to keep you posted as each of these are made!

Hugs and kisses from the future Mrs!

Teej

I'm Poor but I Want to Get Married! Inspirations!

First and foremost I should start with the moral of this blog: Inspiration is Free! It only takes a little bit of time and interest, and if there is one thing that us Budget-driven Brides have it usually is interest. So, here's a tip: Get searching! Can't afford all those wedding magazines? Guess what? The Internet is your friend! Most (if not all) magazines have websites online, and searching through there is just as easy as reading the magazine. I'm telling you, get on any and all wedding sites (usually free to join), pick up the magazines, watch a wedding show, Google weddings. Another thing to remember: Don't limit yourself when searching! Don't ignore something just because it appears expensive. I've gotten plenty of ideas watching shows like "Platinum Brides" and have catered them to my own taste and $ amount. But here is another thing to remember: not everything you see can be catered down. Sometimes that $14,000 dress, really is out of your reach. But, if you're a little clever, a little crafty, and/or know someone who is, you can overcome some obstacles.

Now that we are done teaching, now it is time to see pretty things! My inspirations! I've gathered a bunch of photos of things that I think are pretty cool, or that I want to incorporate into the wedding somehow. These inspirations are mostly in the decor and food. The look of the wedding, minus fashion. We'll start with the mouth-watering food! Hope you enjoy!

OMG! Pink milk in tiny glasses! Ohhhhh! I doubt whether or not I can figure out a way to fit this into the wedding, but isn't that just perfect for me?!?


This has 2 things that I love: the wood cake "stands" and the cakes themselves. I'm not into the "One Cake to Rule Them All" deal. I have too many people who like too many different things. I have people who are diabetic, and some people who can't have gluten, so I want to cater to their needs as well. Which is why I have decided to do several different cakes, and have a personal "sweetheart" cake for me and my fiance. Also, I want a homemade love kinda feel to the wedding, so this picture perfectly gets the feel of what I'm thinking.

Okay, so this isn't for sure yet, but we're thinking instead of having a meal, which we really can't afford anyways, we might concentrate on dessert instead. Our wedding is going to be early afternoon, we are going to take a break, and then follow with the reception later in the evening. This means: everyone gets food in between, and we provide a dessert bar! A little something for everyone. Yes, this can get expensive, but since we are concentrating on simple pleasures, our desserts can be just that: simple, delicious treats.

Whoever came up with this idea is BRILLIANT! Rock Candy on Cakes! I love, Love, LOVE this idea. A really cheap way to add a little sparkle and/or color and/or Bling to your cake. I mean, it's Rock Candy ... on your WEDDING CAKE!! *Heart this!*

Not sure if this is for me or not, but I do like this: it's a bouquet of brooches. Flowers can be expensive and last for a very short time. But you can find brooches in the attic, at second hand stores, rummage sales, flea markets, or auctions, ranging in price from expensive to "please take these off my hands" Not to mention, your entire bouquet can have your "something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue" in it. Like I said, I don't know if this is something I want to do, but it certainly makes me think outside the box on how to cut back on the floral budget.

My real wedding inspiration. Alyssum. I love these flowers SO MUCH! They were on bushes outside the house I grew up in. I fell in love with this flower commonly called "carpet of snow" If I can find a way to have these flowers in my wedding, I will!

These luminaries touch my antique heart! Take old books, or pictures, or sheet music; tear out some pages, glue them on to candle holders and put in your candles. But don't limit yourself to just luminaries. I have seen similar things used as vases, favors, and candy dishes. Neat huh? This also has the ability to last beyond your big day and make amazing conversation pieces in your home.

I know, again with the luminaries?! Hey, I love candlelight! Add to that my love of mason jars and doilies, and you have the perfect addition to my wedding! These are so adaptable! Like the luminary above, this can have other uses as well, and again, also makes the great transition from wedding to home!

Oh, you can bet I will be doing this! Vintage suitcase turned card holder! I've seen some that are fairly plain (like this one) or some that got a complete new makeover for the occasion. One even used the basic idea of the paper luminary and applied it to the suitcase, and you know what? It was brilliant! Something else to consider: easy transport on the wedding day, and easy storage for your wedding memorabilia afterward.

Again, I am SO DOING THIS! All you need: Christmas lights (colored would be cool too) and paper doilies - BAM, you have a fabulous addition to your lighting decor! Both cheap and fabulous looking. Also: Christmas decorations!

I Love this! This is an altered version of an old tradition (variations found in many cultures). The bride and groom were to walk to the church together surrounded by family and friends as well as their attendants. Usually they would be led by a child - usually a girl with flowers (hence the walk down the aisle proceeded by a flower girl). This takes that tradition, but uses it for the exit of the couple from the church and to either their new home, or the reception. I love this idea, and I really want to use this in our wedding!

This is the Master Inspiration photo. I'm pretty sure I shared this with the blog before, but its worth posting again. Vintage, lilac, alyssum, mason jars, burlap ... This has it all! It is sweet and simple and beautiful. This is what I want our wedding to be.

PS: I figured out a new sign off for these posts! It's kinda corny, but I love it:

Hugs and Kisses from the future Mrs!