Monday, December 15, 2008

Stephanie under the knife

Howdy busy bees!

After much contemplation, I decided to let Stephanie go under the knife. o_O I thought about wearing a bolero over her for the ceremony and then taking it off for the reception, but I decided to add sleeves instead!

I was a bit nervous as Mother wanted me to keep her a strapless dress (because "everyone is doing it"). But I couldn't bear the thought of standing up there (esp. right in front of our pastor) with bare naked shoulders. I brought Stephanie, two of my BMs, and all my problems, to my lovely seamstress Anne. We decided to make them detachable just in case Mother wanted me to take it off for the reception at most.

What do you think? :)



I'm really happy about something in this last one... Maybe the buttons? I really, really like that back of my dress. Good thing people will be staring at that side during the ceremony. Hehe.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Black Friday my heart!

Hive, please tell me you like Black Friday as much as I do!

As usual, I started my day around 5am to make sure I'd get to mall before the crazy traffic began. I couldn't do my pre-sales plans where I map out my day in order of priority last night due to wedding planning keeping me busy.

But(!)

here's what I snatched: Express slacks, Express lounge pants, Remington shaver, Down-alternative comforter, Duvet set, Double sheet set, VS unmentionables, and more!

Yeah... it's a little different than my annual spree. My priority this year was home furnishings, but I'm quite pleased with this round. I hope my Mr. likes the bedding or else it would have been for nothing. And I discovered at the beginning of college that I like to match my own beddings instead of spending so much on a Bed-in-a-bag. The mix-and match allows me to get creative with different colors/shades, patterns, and fabrics.

Here's the bedding I put together:


By the way, I did not pay the price on the sticker.

Have you noticed any changes (or lack there of) in your shoppings since your engagement?

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Tabula rasa

Hi hive!

Our wedding is in the church that we met at and continue to serve at. It's not a mega-church with room for thousands of people, nor is it a cathedral with beautiful architecture. It represents me quite well in that it's simple with clean lines and cozy. I also like that it holds special meaning to my Mr. and I.

Ours will be the third wedding here (I didn't attend the other two), so I've got a challenge up my sleeves in what to do for reception decor in the fellowship hall upstairs. Round tables make more space for people to walk around (or just be able to push their chair back without hitting the person at the next table). Windows in awkward placings of the wall also make it difficult to place things like the head table or the cake. We also have metal chairs, which are cold in the winter. Don't get me wrong, I'm very thankful for all that we have to hold worship service, dine with the church family, and even host events or programs. The heart of service that people have here could never compare to something like a chair.

But the more I think about my situation, the more excited I get in creating the "blank slate" I have into some different and gorgeous. It'd be fun for our family and friends to go up there and see it transformed into what I call a Winter Wonderland. Let's do this!

What's your works-for-any-room decor item that you use?

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Why does he not quit his job?

I'd like to introduce to you our ever-so talented (and humble as he is always willing to serve without banners and streamers) friend, BSLee.

His photography has become quite the sensation here at EBCB. So when we needed someone to take our engagement pictures, it was a no-brainer to go to this brother. Knowing all this, we were still blown away by the images he was able to capture during a couple of hours at the park behind the Safeway on Bayfarm in Alameda.

Here's our favorite:

BSLee: "Cyrus, what shampoo did Jane use? Did she even shower?"


It was so much fun getting paparazzi'd and enjoying the scenery and nice weather. Oh, and good company is always a plus. :) I "heart" you, Fiance!

In the end, we was very impressed by the length that our wonderful photographer would go to get the shots that he did, and for that we are so thankful. Which brings me back to the question: Does he not know how good he is?

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Attention IKEA shoppers!

For IKEA shoppers in the Bay Area:


Tax-free sale Nov. 1&2
both Emeryville and Palo Alto locations


Purchase anything in the store and they pay the sales tax for us! It may not be much, but think about the tax that builds up when you make large quantity purchases or home decor. I'll be putting the cash that I save toward other non-essential goodies, thankya very much.

PLUS free breakfast from 9:30-10:30am. :)

I'm a little late in hearing the word, but for those you can make it, I'll see you there!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Flower power!

Hi Bees,

Ya know... I was feeling quite proud of myself for having passed Christmas and not being close to Valentine's Day, but I didn't even consider the Rose Parade. Those of you who love roses and are thinking about a January wedding, this is my heads up to y'all.

I say this because I received my free estimate from FlowersByAnne today. The numbers were certainly better than the other florist that I was talking to, but I'm not looking for a good deal. I'm looking for a knock-your-socks-off deal! And I'm beginning to think that I might have to take on another DIY project (with a few helping hands). Magazines are telling me that I need to find a florist who is willing to work with my budget. Who's more willing to stay under my budget than me?

So I googled "black magic roses" because those are my favorite flowers that I MUST incorporate in my wedding. I came upon Rosesource.com, an online wholesale flower market, where a chat invite popped up. (I've never encountered this before...)


The chat was interesting. I think I prefer it to making a call and being put on hold to listen to 8 tracks of elevator music before talking to an actual person. She was able to answer all my questions and give me a general quote for what I wanted. And if I didn't want to begin this informative chatting session, I could have simply X'd the chat box instead of clicking on "Start Chat." If you're in the flower industry, it might be a place to consider placing orders at. Of course, you should do some extensive research to make sure that they are legit before you send in your money.

My two cents is that for flowers, and the whole wedding day for that matter, is weighing if it's worth it. If flowers are at the top of your list leaving other items trailing in the dust, then you'll have an easier time settling on someone. However, if you're more concerned about not starting off married life with only two dollars in your pocket (okay, a little bit of exaggeration), then you might be willing to cut corners and not have the most elaborate celebration.

Monday, October 6, 2008

"C & J request your presence..." - Part I

Bees, we did it!
We have now officially sent out our invitations via Brides.com Because I'd like to spare other brides-to-be(e) with any agony that they might enter, I've decided to share my experience of using this particular wedding website opposed to any other sites or even the traditional paper invitations.

Why a website?
For us, we wanted a central location where our guests could read about our stories, meet some of our friends thru bios, view some of our favorite pictures, and have the convenience of RSVP'ing at the click of a mouse. This would also be helpful to us in saving us postage and having all the responses in one area.

Why Brides and not theKnot?
Most people use theKnot for their not-as-tech-saavy items. Since Mr. and I are trying to have a wedding that is different (not tacky, just not the same-old), I thought it'd be worth a try at Brides. Rather than reading a few reviews about it first, I just figured that since there were many people who posted on the boards that it was legit enough. Now that I've used the less popular I can share about my experience and warn you about things that worked and things that not so much...

Would you recommend it to me?
It really depends on what you're looking for. If it's just a place where you want to upload pictures and/or write a couple of shout outs, you could even branch out of the "wedding websites" and look into other places like Flicker, Blogger, or even Facebook.

PROS -
*One website to give info, share pictures, welcome guest book comments, manage guests
*Free
*Fairly easy to use
*Better layout designs (subjective) with tabs
*An interactive map which can be customized

CONS -
*No online RSVP option
*Unable to import own guest list into system
*Difficult to change sender's name(s)

If I could do it over again...

I would have asked a friend who is able to make a decent website. Sadly, we received an offer the day before we sent our "invites" out. :( At that point, we just wanted to get them out since we had already put in days and hours into it.

Hopefully you won't run into the same issues (I was really bummed when I realized that there was no online RSVP option), and make sure that what you're thinking is actually feasible with the prospective websites.

For those of you who made websites, what was the most difficult task?

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Hip or Flop?

Hi Bees!

If you and your Mr. are in the Bay Area and looking to get some more hip-hop experience for a uniquely fun wedding dance, try Culture Shock Oakland's workshop coming up...

Culture Shock Oakland is offering its 8th Hip-Hop Workshop open to ALL AGES AND LEVELS. You will train for 8 weeks starting Sunday, October 5th (Sundays 3:00 - 6:00 pm) to put on your OWN HIP-HOP PERFORMANCE. Train with the Bay Area's Premier Hip-Hop Company and get a chance to meet WORLD RENOWNED Guest Choreographers.

Where: Club One Oakland, 1200 Clay Street (Bart Exit 12th Street/Downtown)
Cost: $165 includes DVD, Music and Event T-Shirt
When: Every Sunday starting October 5th from 3:00 - 6:00 pm.
For more information or registration email us at CSSF13@AOL.COM or call 1-800-521-8311.
Keep hoppin'! :)

If hip-hop isn't yo thang, do you have any other surprise performance plans for your guests?


Wednesday, October 1, 2008

*Cruising* along with our wedding plans

Hi Bees!
We finally have another item checked off our list. After an almost-got-frauded, many conversations with various people, and showing the plastic, our honeymoon is now booked!

Mr. and I will be going on a cruise to Mexico Riviera via Princess Cruises! Woo-hoo! We will start off at Puerto Vallarta (the location that we said was a MUST), swing by Mazatlan, and then make our last stop at Cabo San Lucas. This destination was a simple decision for us since we enjoy the beach so much and needed something more affordable than Europe.

The bigger decision was which stateroom to book since there were pros and cons to each. My list is, by all means, not comprehensive and somewhat subjective.


Inside cabin:

PROS - Cheaper. Period.
CONS - Small. No view.

Oceanview:

PROS - View via small round window, More space, Cheaper than Balcony, Tease of a view causing us to leave the room and get more exercise.

CONS - Seeing the view and wanting a balcony, Only a little more for a balcony, Can you see anything out that port window?


Balcony:

PROS: Amazing view to see dolphins and/or whales, Playing games next to the sounds of waves crashing, Reading on the lounge chair with your feet up on the table, Hang-drying clothes outside, Upper decks, Did I mention the amazing sunrise/sunset views?

CONS: More expensive.


Mini-Suite/Suite:

Not going there.


In the end, we decided that this cruise would be one of few (if any more at all) for us so we were going to go "all out." Also, when we were crunching numbers in the beginning, we had decided that we were willing to spend nearly one-third of our 10k budget for the honeymoon because this would be our kickoff to a life-long journey together.

So off we shall go to the white sand beaches~ Now we're figuring out which excursions will be the most memorable and fun.


Oh, and we got our balcony room for $1750, including fees and tax. AND we just received an e-mail today with great news: we got a free upgrade to several decks higher! Mr.'s mom made a call to a travel agent she had used for a previous vacation. PM me if you'd like her info. :)

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

E(ar)lopping details

Hello, hello!

It's so exciting to know that my dress is sitting in my closet (now waiting to have a few nips and tucks). Equally exciting is picking fabulous jewelry to sport with the dress!

Since my dress is simple, I thought I'd do some "crazy" earrings. But I'm keeping in mind that I'll be wearing my short-sleeved ivory colored bolero (seamless and cropped in the same material) during the ceremony, but probably back to just strapless for the reception (also during bridal party shots pre-ceremony). Due to these "dress changes" I want to make sure the earrings "work" for both looks. I've considering wearing this tiara and entering the reception with a fur shrug, but it might too "winter princess," right? So instead, I guess I'll stick to working with the ivory bolero and earrings.


I'm looking for something that:

*"fits" the style of the wedding.
*enhances the dress, not take away.
*wearable (not too heavy).
*clean lines/cuts.
*pretty.
*affordable.


Here are the earrings I'm currently looking at:


and pretty in pink.

These last ones are similar to ones that I already own, except that mine have a crystal bead separating the pearls rather than a silver rondelle and the earring is one loop, not one part hooking onto the pearled part. (Can I have something pink instead of something blue?) This would be the most cost-effective, but I'm willing to spend a little bit as long as I can wear the purchase again.


What do you think?

Oh, and here's a little treat for the geeks out there (Image source):



Monday, September 29, 2008

Sing your heart out ... in public!

Howdy Hive!

I am by no means a professional singer. The closest I've come to it is dreaming of singing for Disney soundtracks or on Broadway or on stage in front of 10,000 people. (Okay, so I had a chance at the last one but composing my own music would have won me more points, right?) And I know that many want to sing at their wedding but are too shy. So I decided to post a few tips that I have when it comes to singing. (Image source)

Live or Pre-recorded?
If you're afraid your voice will crack when singing live, try recording it. You can, then, give it out as part of the favors in cases or hanging them with pretty ribbon from the ceiling, or play it during the unity candle lighting or after the toast, etc.

Practice makes perfect.
Or so they say. It's worked for many people, so it can only do more good than harm. If you expect to see results without the work, you're either going to be disappointed or going to realize that you need to sign a contract with a recording label. Some people like the acoustics in the bathroom, but if you're actual performance isn't going to be in the bathroom, why waste your time there? When you practice, it's a good idea to find out which parts you need to work on more rather than just singing the whole song over and over - be efficient with your time; you have a lot on your plate right now. Then, when it comes to practicing the song in its entirety, sing it as if it were the "real deal." Trust me, if you laugh in the middle of your song every time you practice, you're more prone to do so at your wedding. Let's not. And let's also fix the saying to PERFECT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT PERFECT.

Song choice, dawg!
While Simon Cowell would tell you that what you're wearing is hideous, Randy would tell you that it's all about song choice. If you've got an opera voice, use that and pick a song from Phantom of the Opera. If you're more of a rocker, don't sing a happy-go-lucky song. Know what your style is and stick to what you're good at. You'll sound your best when you feel most comfortable (and confident - make them believe that you meant to change that note). And remember: Work it!

Golden Rule: Treat your throat as you would like to be treated.
*Don't drink coffee, tea, or any caffine that dehydrates.
*Do drink hot water with some honey, especially on days that your throat is "scratchy."
*Don't go to a football game the day before your wedding.
*Do spend time warming up your voice. (Google them. A couple of my favorites are "Many mumbling mice" because it's so silly as it works and "1, 1-2-1, 1-2-3-2-1" because it's fun seeing how music can make even counting to 8 challenging.)
*Don't deliberately try to strain your voice.
*Do let your vocals rest when it needs it.
*Don't use your nasals or throat to strain and reach for a note that you may not be able to hit at the present time.
*Do sing from your diaphragm. (When you breathe in your lungs should expand; lungs contract when you breath out.)
*Don't eat/drink dairy products which will cause mucus right before singing.
*Do have some room temperature water (cold will constrict your vocal pipes) nearby in case you want one last sip before your shining moment.

I have to say, I wish I could have a full-on Gospel Choir sing at my wedding. It would be so fun to walk out as husband and wife to "O Happy Day." Still, because Mr. and I love music so much, we have a special surprise for our guests at our wedding. Look forward to it! :)

But perhaps singing may not be your "thang," so I leave y'all with this. Enjoy! It's giving me more things to consider... hehe.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Kind of like Spanx... but not?

Howdy y'all~

Today, I went to the mall with Mr. and failed to find comfortable shoes on sale that made me "Ohhh~" but I did check out some shapewear at Macy's. I'm not one who is having trouble fitting into her dress nor giving up on her work out routine, but I just don't want to "suck in" my tummy on the wedding day, if you know what I mean. I get one shot to make these pictures right! (Image Source)

I was looking for the Higher Power Spanx in nude - or anything like it. Macy's didn't have Spanx, but I took some others that I found to the dressing room to experience firsthand what many reviewers mean by "I don't know how I fit into them but I managed and then had to peel them off" or even, "prepare to have your tummy feel weird after you take them off." Out of the 3, I found the waist definer to be most pleasing, rather than the higher waisted shapewear which seemed to push my fat up and create yucky rolls. But since my wedding dress is simple with no intricate beading, I think the boning of the waist cincher might show through. So I'm still going to the gym, still watching what I eat, and still looking for something to wear underneath my dress.

It's a shame that the mall didn't have a Nordstrom so I can try on some Spanx too. But at Target I discovered the Assets shapewear, another line from Sara Blakely. Perhaps I should give those a try next...

What do you gals thinks? And for those who just need to flatten the tummy or nip the waist, which shapewear do you give your loyalty oath to?

Friday, September 26, 2008

Disposable cups, now for HOT beverages!

Hello Hive!

You know, I was thinking 'If there are disposable toasting flutes, why aren't there disposable plastic cups for hot beverages?' And that's when I made a new discovery: Those clear, plastic cups that you can see through so you can play with color and texture and other aesthetics in your choice of beverage - now available for hot drinks too!

This is great news for those of us having winter weddings because it allows us more options! Since I'm on a tight budget, I can't afford glass mugs for all 168 of my guests. But this provides an affordable alternative so that I can still have clear cups instead of styrafoam (I can it now, my younger guests "drawing" on those cups with their nails and spilling the hot contents onto the table...). And, you can't forget another important factor: rather than trying to fit 168 mugs into a dish washer (or spending hours creating shifts until they're all clean), you can just toss it into the trash! Yay for less clean up on an already hectic day! :)
(Photo taken from SHP)

I've used the clear ones for a bridal shower and they worked great. We staked them up upside down to make a cascading effect for decoration. I liked that they were light-weight, yet sturdy. No cups leaked, none melted, and all of the ladies had a lovely tea party.

How and what and would you serve in these displosable cups?

One of my favorite 4-letter words is...

...is SALE! The bold, red letters jumping out from the store windows makes every bargain-hunter calculate the amount they have left in their checking account (because we don't want to be in debt, especially with the current economic situation being rough and all!). So perhaps this post is for both the ladies and their men...

I wanted to pass along the info that Victoria's Secret is having a not-so-secret sale right now on panties - 7 for $25 - for those who were bummed that they missed the semi-annual sale and were counting down the days 'til the next one in Decemeber. Lots of cute ones, not so many in size Small (at least at the location that I went to). You can check online, too! (Yes, the comforts of shopping from home.) But if you need a little excercise, drive on over to the nearest mall. You burn calories when you're speed walking trying to find the best deals and trying on so many things. Bargain-hunting reminds me of Double Jeopardy - find amazing deals AND burn calories before the wedding!

What you can shop for:
*Bridal shower coming up.
*Girls day out.
*Yourself.
*Him.

Oh, and hurry; Sale ends soon.

Martha for President

Hi Bees,

Is it just me or is Martha Stewart wonderful? On her website you'll find lots of great ideas as well as tutorials on how to make those cute crafts. She also has some templates if you need some inspiration or just looking for something to use. I also like that I can browse through ideas for weddings by season. Being a winter bride, I know that we have to work a little harder to find inspiration because some people think winter is too dreary of a season to get married. Growing up, I thougt I'd have a perfect spring wedding, but as I plan for my January wedding, I'm seeing more of how winter can be such a romantic season.
(Photo taken from MS)

My favorite section is Good Things. This is where I found instructions on how to make fun pom-pom decorations. For a winter wedding, can't you just imagine white pom-poms hanging from the ceiling, with natural manzanita branch centerpieces displaying strands of crystal or pearls, and a warm glow radiating from beautiful votives atop of circular mirrors...? Or for a spring wedding, having bright colors of pink, red, and orange bursting mid-air, drawing attention to the center of the room rather than the boring walls?
(Photo taken from MS)

Here's a picture of one of our friends' wedding. Her colors were pink, pink, and more pink. Our church is considered small so she spruced up the place with lots of colorful pom-poms, which required lots of helping hands from what I hear. The pictures doesn't quite give it justice because the room was "magical," as one of the guests put it.
(Photo from CS)


Along with Martha, I know that we have a lot of Rebecca fans out there, too. Who do you get your inspiration from?

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Forget the scissors, bring on the die-cuts

Until I became a teacher, I had no idea what die-cuts were. For my fellow Bees who may not know, I will take you through a step-by-step process to show you how "quick and easy" these die-cuts really are.

Step One: Select a design and color.
There are many designs and colors galore to choose from. I have chosen the flowers. With this particular one, I can make 4 flowers at a time. You can use regular color paper found at any office supply store. I don't recommend really thick paper because it may not cut as well. For my fellow Bees, I'll make pink flowers. :)

Step Two: Place die-cut on top of paper.
Place the color paper on the sliding board. Then slide it under the cutting gadget. The only thing to make sure is that the paper is not half-way under the die-cut. That may result in half flowers instead of complete flowers.

Step Three: Pull lever down.
Once the die-cut is underneath the lever, pull the lever all the way across and down. You may want to hold it for a few seconds to make sure it has cut the whole shape.

Step Four: Enjoy.
You are now finished and able to use the die-cuts for what ever you wish. Be(e) creative! You can make cards, signs, or anything your heart desires. I've made a card for a my friend, for whom I am a BM, and am now brainstorming about how I can use it for my escort cards or as part of the decor.






What is your weapon of choice for your DIY projects?

Get out of the gym and go out into nature!

Hello Bees!

I find myself surviving my usual gym routines (cardio + abs + flexibility) with the power of music and an ipod, but I was thinking that there has to be a more rewarding way to get fit and stay healthy.

That's when I came across the Trails Challege 2008 sponsored by East Bay Regional Part District and Kaiser Permanente. Though it's too late to showcase a t-shirt and pin for my endurance, it's a great way to enjoy nature, challenge yourself and friends (and the Mr.), and add a little something extra to your workouts. For those of you outside of the East Bay, CA try Googling to find some great trails in your area, too. Though you may not know where exactly you're headed, I'm sure it's worth the energy and effort when you make it to the end, especially if there's amazing scenery. And now that summer has ended, a lot of sunscreen is on sale!


Or if you're up for it, sign up for a marathon. It'll really get you to the gym and outside. (And this is coming from a person who has hated running all her life!) This past spring, I did the See Jane Run Half Marathon and am so glad that I did. If anything, I've realized how out of shape I am and want to change that.


(Photo taken from SeeJaneRun)

What are other fun ways of keeping the weight off during stressful times?


The $0 BM shawls

Howdy Bees!

In my previous post, I told you about my $12.50 BM dress. And today I'll give one option of finding cover-ups for your gals - for $0.

Our wedding is at our church and because we don't feel comfortable bearing our shoulders, especially in front of our pastor, we will all wear some type of cover-ups (mine will be in another post).
It's not secret, really, to finding $0 BM shawls. Due to the larger number of weddings we're having at our church, it's been harder to keep track of who wore what. But if you're a bride on a tight budget, there's always the option of borrowing. The recent brides have been accompanied by 8+ BMs so while going through what each of them wore, I recalled one of the cream colored shawls that were used in another January wedding. I ran the idea of borrowing those to my gals, and they liked the idea. Done, $0 BM shawls. And all it took was one question to a few people. :) Hoorah!

However, if you're looking for other options or unique cover-ups, check out Etsy. It's great because you'll find a lot of unique and beautiful items, many who are willing to customize your order. And Ebay has always been a handy source as well. Tip: For a wider selection, try searching using a variety of words (e.g., for cover-ups try shawl, bolero, jacket, etc.)

(Photo taken from sweetcharlotte on Etsy)


Where else can a bride find affordable cover-ups?



Bargain-hunting should really be a sport...

Hi Bees!

(Note to my Mr. - This post is not for your eyes! Serious consequences will occur should you give into temptation...)

Wedding dreses do not have to cost thousands! There's the option of wearing a BM dress, making your own, or even buying a dress that is not custom-made (but I can understand why you would want to). So I'd like to share my story as proof that you can find the dress of your dreams for much less than you think. But because I don't want this post to be only about me, I've decided to color the parts which I recommend others doing as well.

The first place I went to look for a dress was to magazines and online. Doing this gave me a good idea of what was out there and what I might want. I searched various styles and prices, and decided that I wanted a strapless, A-line white dress with a small train for $99. The best price I could find for my simple yet pretty dress was at JessicaMcClintock(dot)com. It was perfect in every way of what I wanted - except for the price (remember, I like the challenge of finding what I want for the lowest price). So with that dress (which we will call Stephanie) in mind, I headed out to the Jessica McClintock Outlet in San Francisco, which was having a 50% off everything summer sale, to try on dresses for size and do the whole "might look better on you than on the rack" thing that we can't do from our computers.

Taking the advice of many, I only took two people, one being my BM, Y. As we were looking through the racks, I found some dresses that were nice but not quite the whole shebang. Thankfully, because I read that your bridal size will probably be bigger than your normal size, I wasn't as alarmed nor feel as fat as I would have had it been the first encounter with sizing. My BM was a great help, not only in looking for a dress, but also, driving, zipping, squeezing, hanging, and "Awwww"ing. But the greatest help was her finding Stephanie! After trying on the dress, I knew it was "perfect." Though the retail price was $400, the outlet price was still about half of that price. So I went to the counter and asked about the price, and was told that it was only $40. I thought I had heard wrong but upon questioning, it was indeed less than half of my budget for my dress.

This was great, so while I was asking, I decided to ask about the price for BM dresses, too. 75% off. This sale was crazy (either that or I was losing it and hearing things that I wanted to hear). Though I had to look through hundreds of dresses, the hard work was worth it. I found the silvery-blue kneelength dresses for each of my gals and was able to go home as one happily buzzing Bee.


Budget for dress: $100
Actual cost of dress: $37.50
Actual cost of BM dresses: $12.50
Actual cost of bargain-hunting: Priceless


And now I present to you, Stephanie (photo taken from JM):



What and where was your best bargain find?


Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Flowers By Anne

Still looking for flowers at affordable prices? How about Flowers By Anne?

The florist I had tracked down has beautiful work. She did flowers for one of my friends. But in trying to work with her for my own wedding, I've found her to be terrible at communication (it's taken my writing TWO e-mails before she replied after a few weeks...). I don't know about you Bees, but I don't think I want to work with someone so unreliable (I feel like I have to pull teeth before seeing some progress...)

But in other news, I was referred to Flower By Anne from a friend who married in June (popular month, but customer satisfaction regardless). Taking my own advice, I read a few reviews on Yelp and saw pictures of her work from her website as well as from my friend's wedding. I particularly liked the floral designs pages where you'll find dozens of detailed lists (I'm a list kind of gal; I thrive off of them) of various flowers she's used and pictures of the results. The online estimate (returned back to you within 48 hours) is free, so I'm going to get mine in soon.

For those of you in the Bay Area, Flowers By Anne will be showcasing some samples and their portfolio at:
Sunday, October 5, 2008
San Ramon

Here's a picture from my friend's wedding. Her colors were navy, pink, and yellow. In her words, she liked Flowers By Anne because they "told me that my options are 'this,' 'this,' and 'this,' and the cheapest one is 'this.' They didn't try to rip me off like every other place did." So in regards to her flowers, she was a happy bride. We'll see if I can join her.

With 3 months left, I hope we have a winner here.

Did you end up finding any vendors for your wedding at a bridal faire?

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Firefighter, Firecracker, Fireworks, ...Firecake?

Brr... It's getting cold! But that means my wedding is soon approaching!

For my winter wedding, I started planning on doing one thing, then find something else that sparks my interest and try to weave that into my big day (I know some of y'all are guilty too). The same is true for our dessert. We want the traditional, pretty cake for pictures, but don't want to pay for a 4-layer cake and pay the equally high 4-figure amount. So I thought it'd be fun to combine the idea of having a dessert/candy bar with one of the winter favorite treats - s'mores!

But in my research, I discovered something else.

Check this out:
It's cake that bakes in an orange next to the fire! How hot is that? (Puaha, I'm so punny.) Not only that but oranges are the only fruit (that I can think of.. please correct me if I'm mistaken) that are in season during the winter months. Click on the link above to read instructions.

Summer has gone, but autumn is here, so if you need a little something extra for a celebration, are holding a campfire, or have chosen orange as one of your wedding colors, maybe you can consider this cute and creative idea. I'm sure it'll give them something to talk about.

What are your cake alternatives?

DIY: Do If You have the talent and patience

Hey there, Bees!

I came across some tutorials from a blog and, of course, wanted to share my finds with you in case you're up for yet another DIY project. Be sure to check out the other goodies on these sites. Happy makings!

Cascading Crystal Earrings

Fabric Covered Beads (bracelet or necklace)

Marzipan Rose (for your cake)

Wedding Cake

Origami Mobile

Room Divider

List Pad & Gift Tags Download


I think I'll take on the Fabric Covered Bracelet to wear to my bridal shower in the coming months. I'll post pictures of the project as soon as I find some yummy fabric and a cheap bracelet.

Do you have a favorite DIY project tutorial to pass along?

:: Honeymooners beware ::

Bees, beware of scams! I know that we've had some Bees who had questions about scams, so I hope this post can be of some assistance to you, or at least point you in the direction toward getting answers.

When my Mr. and I were first looking at honeymoon packages, we had simply 3 criteria in mind: (1) affordable, (2) fun, and (3) a place where we wouldn't run into anyone we know.

Then, we heard about a fax that came into the school office that day. It was for a hotel in Puerto Vallarta - exactly where we wanted to go! On top of that, they were having a Buy One (vacation), Get One Free special. Like a good future husband, Mr. decided that we should give them a call and see what the catch was.

They were very good at convincing us that it was worth all our while to book the package. But we kept thinking that it just sounded too good to be true. Then we found out that a co-worker's cousin is a travel agent, so she offered to look into it for us.

It was a SCAM! She warned us, which I pass along urgently to you, that anything that sounds TOO good to be true, probably is. Never give out valuable information until you're certain that the agent is legit. Here's my list of helpful tips, none too difficult but all that may help protect you from money-hungry, deceiving theives!

Three ways to prevent could've-would've-should've disasters:

  • Use your connections!
    • Family, friends, friends' sister's nephew, etc.
      • They know more than you. Why not pick their brains?
  • Utilize search engines
    • Like Google.
      • It's amazing how far the Internet really can take you.
  • Read reviews
    • On Yelp, etc.
      • They've already done the hard work for you.

How else can we keep ourselves from getting scammed?

"This way please..." - Part I

I find that one of the hardest things about wedding planning is that you're only allowed to have one. And it's the same with our escort cards - I only need one. Boo. But (fortunately?) I have a limited pool of moolah to make it happen so that alone automatically eliminates some choices. Then comes in the other limiting factor of time (which some say is money). So with those two considerations, I have narrowed down my choice to fabric-covered boards with ribbons adhered horizontally. I am making small cards which will display the guest's name and table number on the front, and a brief thank you note inside.

My wedding colors are: winter white, sangria, and steel gray. I really want the accent colors to pop that evening so I'll probably use the red as the backdrop color and use various red ribbons. The cards I'll print on gray cardstock (or something like it). Today, I'll just show you a mock trial of what I'm doing for the cards, and in segments, take you through the process.

I made the template (which I can make available for your use) on Microsoft Word using columns and copy/paste. Just to see what was out there, I browsed through Clip Art and found a scrolled design that I liked. I playing around with it and tried putting it above the text and then below, but it didn't quite look the way I wanted it to. When I asked Mr. B for his opinion, he asked "why not have it on both?" ...Brilliant. So I copied the design and pasted one on the other side of the text. Next, I inverted one of the designs so it had more of an aesthetically pleasing look.

I present to you my mock escort cards which will are ready to be used on my fabric-covered board (yet to be made):






Other than ClipArt, where are you finding designs for your escort cards?


Blushing Bride or Bridezilla?

I know it's been a while since I've watched TV but I recently discovered a show called "Bridezillas" and thought it was the funniest thing!



On their website, you'll find a some tips, Bridal Hurdles Game, a Bridezillas Bootcamp Quiz, and even a checklist to see if indeed You Might Be a Bridezilla.


WEtv also airs the show "Amazing Wedding Cakes" if you need some inspiration.



And of course, don't miss the episodes of "Bridezillas" as you're finishing up those invitations, baking them cupcakes, but maybe not while you're working...

Are there any other TV shows or movies that you enjoy watching while DIYing or taking a break from planning?