Wedding Planning Advice Part 1

After almost 15 years in the wedding consulting business, I learned a few things. Since wedding season is right around the corner, it seemed like a good time to share some of that knowledge . Since there are a lot of aspects involved in planning a wedding, I am going to do this in a few parts. Today I will cover invitations.
Here are my rules on selecting and ordering your invites.

1. Set a budget and stick to it. It's easy to get sucked in to the elaborate designs and add ons, but more often than not, they aren't worth it. Remember, people just read it and throw it away, so spend that extra money on something more worthwhile, like food or entertainment.
2. Limit your opinions. It is your wedding, so yours is the only opinion that matters. Just like with anything else, people will try to convince you to do this or that, and it only makes it more stressful. You wouldn't let your mother-in-law pick your dress, so don't let her pick your invitations either.
3. Keep in mind that your invitation informs people not only of the time and place, but also the level of formality. If you send them an invitation with a palm tree and a luau look, they will assume it is a casual affair and dress accordingly. If your invitation is very traditional and formal looking, they will show up in suits and dresses. So pick carefully.
4. Be smart when choosing your font. Everyone always thinks you have to select the most decorative styling when it comes to the font, but I recommend the more simple, clean texts. Always look at the complete alphabet in whatever font you are considering. Look at the letters in your names, locations, etc. Does the capital J look like an L? Is the script clear and easy to read? Remember, not everyone has 20/20 vision and older guests especially have a hard time with smaller type, and that's before you add all the curlicues and flare. Also, keep in mind ink color. Yes, pale pink will match your design, but will you be able to read it? Often there is an additional charge for color and black ink is included, so just take that into consideration.
5. Add ons. When it comes to these, I usually say stick with your budget. I do generally recommend response cards, because they are important, but no one likes to open an invitation and have enough paper to write a novel with fall out. Also, the more items you stuff in, the higher the weight, thus added postage costs. So unless they have to choose an entree, skip the menus. Buy your own thank you notes, they are cheaper at the stores and generally offer a wider selection. Maps can be printed at home or Kinkos, Office Max, etc. for much less. Again my advice of keep it simple comes into play.
6. Do your research. If you are ordering online, ask to have a sample mailed to you. Many people describe colors & materiels differently, and you don't want to have a last minute surprise on your hands. Also, be sure to ask about assembly. If your invitation has ribbon, vellum, etc. it may not come complete. This can be a lot of extra work, so make sure to find that out. Also, some stores may have additional charges for shipping, colored inks, extra lines, and more, so be sure to read the fine print and ask questions.
7. Mail them out in time. Standard notice for a wedding invitation is 2 months. If you are having it on a holiday or out of town, where they will need to find a hotel, I recommend adding a month to that, or sending save the dates. Also, some of the new invitation designs are coming with postcards attatched as response cards. These are great, but DO NOT use postcard postage. Postcards are not sent first class mail, and may take weeks or even months to arrive. Use first class postage or skip that design all together.
8. Do what feels right. No two people are the same, so no two weddings should be the same. Keep this in mind when selecting your invites. Maybe you like the traditional design, but prefer a more modern script. Or maybe you want to write your own verse. As long as you include the important information, and stick with your budget, I say go right ahead. This is your guests first peek into your wedding, so don't just settle for ordinary. Be creative, but be smart. And if you have any questions regarding invitaions or anything wedding related, please don't hesitate to ask. I am happy to share my knowledge and experience. Happy Planning!! XOXO

Let's Get Organized!

The new year is coming, so if one of your resolutions is to get organized, here are some easy ways to get started today.

Is the cabinet in your bathroom overflowing with hair dryers, curling irons, sprays, gels and more? Have to dig just to find the toilet paper? Well, not anymore! This is a great way to save space in a bathroom or any room for that matter. Over the door shoe holders work great for organizing bathrooms, laundry rooms, pantries, kids rooms, garages and more. The pockets are sturdy canvas (Mine has some mesh pockets at the top, also.) and clean up easily. They come in a wide variety of colors and styles and make getting organized a snap. If you live in an apartment or small home, you may not have a lot of closet or cabinet space, so these can be a real life saver.

 

If you are a girl, or have girls in your home, you know how hair ties and clips can turn up everywhere or nowhere. Save toilet paper & paper towel rolls and use them to hold all your ponies & barrettes. If you have the space behind a door or under a cabinet, hang a paper towel holder to hang them on for easy reach. If not, the rolls will fit nicely into the pockets of your over the door shoe holder as well. Organize them by size and colors to make finding what you need a snap.

Do you love jewelry? If so, then you are probably like me and have so much, that you sometimes forget what you have. For all that inexpensive costume jewelry (I recommend keeping your heirloom & high end pieces in a safe place.) that we women get to match each of our outfits, this is a great solution for storing it. Use mug hooks in a closet or behind a door to hang all of your necklaces from. This keeps them from getting tangled up and makes finding the right one quick and easy. Organize them by style, color or popularity. This works great for scarves, also. Hang one scarf per hook so that you can easily spot the one you are looking for.

Ice cube trays make great little organizers for any room in your home. One of my favorites is to use them for seperating my earrings. I put each pair in its own spot and I always know right where they both are. No more missing earrings. I also store rings, pins, charms and pendants in them as well. Again, organize by style or color and stack the trays on top of one another.
Do you do crafts? Ice cube trays are great for seperating beads, buttons, stones and little odds and ends that otherwise get lost. They are great for holding paint colors (the deep slots are nice for mixing) and much more. Use them in a garage to sort nails, screws, nuts and bolts. Trays slip easily into drawers for quick access and easy viewing. Don't have any ice cube trays at home? You can pick up a 2 or 3 pack at any dollar store.

These are just a few ways to start getting organized, that are easy to do but will make your life a whole lot simpler. If that big closet or junk drawer seems daunting, just take it one step at a time. Imagine how great it will be once it's done & suddenly it doesn't seem so bad. Every home and life can benefit from a little simplicity and order. Chaos in even the smallest places can add unnecessary stress to our lives. So why wait for the new year? Start uncluttering your life today! XOXO

Going Green Gift Wrap!

Run out of wrapping paper at the last minute? Or maybe gift wrap just isn't in your budget. Well here are a few ways to wrap beautiful gifts using things found around your home.

This package was wrapped in paper grocery bags. Cut along the seams and turn inside out. Use stamps or stickers to decorate, or just leave it plain. I wrapped this one with some yarn I had in my craft box and hot glued candy canes on to look like a heart. But you can use string, twine or strips of fabric or paper. Add leaves, twigs, pinecones, nuts or flowers for a nature theme. Is the gift for a golfer? Glue on a golf ball & tee for a personalized theme. Wrap with wire & glue on screws & bolts for the handyman in your life. This isn't just for the holidays, either. Great idea for birthdays, too.

I wrapped this one with aluminum foil. I then took a long piece of wax paper & folded in into a narrow strip and wrapped it around. Then I took more strips of wax paper, stacked them at angles, twisted a piece around the middle, glued it on and cut the ends into points. I used some hot glue (regular glue doesn't like to dry on wax paper) and added some designs, sprinkled them with glitter and that's it. Who knew tin foil & wax paper could look so classy? Gift wrap doesn't have to be expensive to be beautiful. Just use your imagination and get creative! I know you have it in you! XOXO

Budget Bedroom Make-Over (Around $100)

I was getting tired of the look of my bedroom and wanted something brighter and more fun, but I didn't have a lot of money to spend. I love my furniture, so that wasn't an issue, but I really wanted to change everything else.
I started with my bedspread which I got for a steal for about $10. Thank you Kohl's clearance and coupons.
Next I found the art/mirror for over the bed. ($20 at Big Lots) The deco tiles I had purchased for $1 for the set at a garage sale. They were a hideous gold color, so I painted them white and they look amazing. The other wall decor was repurposed from other rooms, or that I had in storage and wasn't currently using.

The sheer curtains on the bed, I already owned (I am getting more for all the way around the bed, but one of the bed posts was under repair at the time.) so those didn't cost anything. The tiebacks are scraps of fabric from an old t-shirt that I used to make the smaller throw pillow. Again, no cost. The 3 sheers on the windows were $5 each and the woven rug was $3. (more Big Lots finds) The hanging candelabra was a sidewalk sale find that I paid $1.50 for. It is so pretty lit and adds a touch of romance to the room. The wall paint was on sale, for $10/gallon and we used about a gallon and a half. (The color looks much brighter in person than it does in the pictures.)

My chair was on sale at Meijer for $20 and it is so soft and comfy. The throw on the chair was another steal for $3 at Big Lots and the pillow I made myself. The top of the dresser is draped with a scarf that I loved the color of, but rarely wore. The larger throw pillow on the bed was a clearance find (Meijer) for $6.
The room is my favorite place in my home and my husband calls it our Gypsy Room. Whenever guests come over, they are instantly drawn to it & often hang out in there.
I love color and this room has plenty of it. Each morning I wake up and smile. It's hard to be down in a room this happy. If you are looking to redecorate, but don't have a lot of money, don't worry. Just use your imagination and think outside the box. Do you have things you aren't using that can be repurposed? Check clearance sales, thrift stores and garage/sidewalk sales for inspiration. It's your home, so don't worry about what others might think and never be afraid to experiment. Plain white walls are for hospitals, not homes. So let your creative juices go wild and see what happens. You just might be surprised at the designer in you...