Let's figure it out: Centerpieces

This is the first installment of "Let's figure it out" is all about wedding centerpieces. This has kind of been at the bottom of my priority list for a few reasons:

1. My reception location provides generic centerpieces (mirror with votive candles or a small white vase with fresh flowers of my choice).
2. Do people really care and remember centerpieces? I've been to a lot of weddings the past 2 years and I can remember one of the centerpieces
3. They can't be that time consuming to create, right?

I recently had a craft night with my bridesmaids and the topic of centerpieces came up. I knew I wanted to use cut wine bottles (recycled from my friend Kate's wedding) and have the table number/name somewhere on the centerpiece. We started playing around with one of the cut bottles and an empty bottle we had to see what looked best, and it was a LOT more difficult that I thought. There is a fine line between too minimal and way too much, and just adding small things like ribbon and lights made drastic changes to the look of the whole thing.

I am a wannabe DIY diva, so I have lots of ideas and I tend to like everything I see on pinterest but my execution of my ideas rarely go as planned. One of my bridesmaids has taught me the mantra of "Less is more." because it is really easy to get carried away with the lights, flowers and glitter.

My advice to to start with the largest part of your centerpiece, for me that would be the wine bottles, and consider the following:

1. Does it go with your theme and/or color scheme?
2. Does it hinder conversation at the table? (My personal pet peeve)
3. Does it look lazy? (ie: Sprinkling confetti on each table)
4. How much would it be for all of the tables?
5. Can it be duplicated?

Then build out from the largest part. A good centerpiece compliments the reception location, doesn't take up a large portion of the table, sparks instead of hinders conversation and is symmetrical. While creating my centerpieces, we experimented with varying heights, lights, ribbon, tulle and LED candles. When we finally thought we had something, I went to take a picture for my fiance and I realized that it we created something with a beautiful front, and a unappealing back.

The last thing to consider with centerpieces is who will be putting them up for you. Some people are able to put up their own based on when they have access to their reception site, but others are not that lucky. Pick out people you trust and take pictures of your completed centerpieces and leave instructions if there are extra steps (ie pulling out the battery tabs in the LED tea lights). I cannot brag about my reception site (Alpine Banquets, in Darien IL) enough, they actually will set up the centerpieces for you so that way no one needs to stress about the set up of the banquet hall.

And as always remember to give yourself plenty of time and plenty of supplies when crafting. I made bags for my bridesmaids when I asked them, and I am embarrassed by how many times I had to go back to Michael's to get more supplies.

I am always trying to make my wedding planning more fun, so I held a girls/craft night for my bridesmaids where we made shirts, worked on save the dates and played around with centerpiece set ups. We had a ton of fun and got a ton done. No one said you have to do this all alone.

--the southside bride

Tiffany Blue Wedding

I have always loved Tiffany blue, not because of the brand, but simply for the perfect blend of blue and green. When we started planning, I went in really wanting this color without realizing what a challenge it would be to actually find the color. For those of you who don't know, Tiffany blue is actually a copyrighted color which is part of the reason why its so difficult to find. Since I am a bit stubborn I've done a lot of research on the color and I hope this information will help!

Actual color code:

Tiffany blue: 60DFE5

Bridesmaid dresses:

Another Bride posted on Weddingbee a list of designers who have the Tiffany color (or something close) and I added a few more.

Aria Dress –color AquaWatters and Watters –color TiffanyJim Hjelm — color TurquoiseLazaro –color AquaKathlin Argiro –color Tiffany BlueMackenzie Michaels –color TiffanyJordan Fashions –color AquaForever Bridals– color AquaSaeyoung Vu Couture –color Tiffany
La Femme- Aqua/Aquamarine
Bill levkoff- Glacier


David's bridal has a pool which they will claim is close, and in store the color swatch does look close, but I've seen how pool looks in pictures and it's really is much more blue that expected. 

I personally recommend asking to see the color swatches before even trying on dresses that way you and the girls don't fall in love with a dress that you can't have. Also once you have the bridesmaid dresses you officially have your shade of Tiffany to base the colors for the rest of the wedding decorations.
 
Decorations

It's easy to get wrapped up in buying things online and then realizing once they come in that it's more of a mint green instead of a Tiffany blue. Do some leg work. Both Michaels and Jo Ann fabrics have large amounts of fabric and ribbons that are Tiffany. Wyla inc. fabrics has a Tiffany in various satin, tulle, etc
and is available in both stores. 

Invitations and Paper

If you are getting your invites professionally done then confirming the color with your designer is all you need. Again, having a color swatch from the dresses for them to work with will make everyone's lives easier.
But if you are DIY bride like me, sometimes it's difficult to find a Tiffany cardstock without breaking the bank. If you have the time, Summer time clearance at places like michael's and archivers are your best chances to get that Tiffany blue pallet. If you missed that window, just keep watching for coupons to bring those prices down. And when printing be sure to print a few testers to get your printer settings correct.

As I find more, I'll post more on the lovely world of Tiffany.

--The southside bride

When to start wedding planning?

Everyone says to enjoy your engagement before plunging into planning. But depending on the type of person you are wedding planning can be like quick sand. I told myself that I would give myself at least a month to really enjoy being engaged before starting in on the planning.

But then these top three things kept reoccurring

1. "Congratulations! So... have you thought about when the wedding will be?"
Problem: Literally, these conversations started less than an hour after I was engaged. And I get it. People find out your engaged, they are excited and they want to keep the conversation call rolling. But when you constantly get asked, its easy to start doing research on which dates would be good possible wedding dates and then all of a sudden you are looking at banquet halls and vendors and BOOM. Suddenly you went from newly engaged to borderline bridezilla.
How to fix/avoid this:  Change the topic back to the engagement. I am blessed enough to have one of the most incredible proposal stories, so it was easy for me to say "Well we aren't sure yet, but did I tell you how long he has been hiding my ring?!" Bring up little details so that way the person you're conversing with still feels as if they kept the ball rolling and you get to buy yourself more time.

2. I'll just peak at pinterest/theknot/weddingbee...just for general ideas
Problem: Maybe you just started a private wedding board on pinterest because you like wedding things, or a "dream" wedding board because well ONE day you planned to be married. Or maybe you just became engaged and you want to see what the big deal with theknot is and you create your account. Fast forward a few hours and now you have hundreds of ideas and at the moment they all seem possible so it only makes sense to discuss most of them with your beau. And then the real problem becomes either the people who follow you on social media seeing these pins and ideas and telling others what you're planning. Example: I made a fourth of july wedding board simply because it seemed like a fun idea. I get a call a week later from my great auntie asking me why I didn't tell her I picked a wedding date because its "all over the internet" and people are already planning their summer around it.
How to fix/avoid this: If you simply cannot resist the wedding websites early on in the engagement, make them private. It sounds selfish at first, but as you progress in your wedding planning you learn the less people know about your wedding plans, the easier it makes your life. I was shocked when my little 80+ year old auntie brought up my pinterest board because I never thought my relatives paid that close of attention to what I posted. I will admit that I have made a few blunders with telling too much to people early on in my planning. Early on in our brainstorming we were looking at traditional church weddings, but as my fiance and I started to lay things out, we decided to go in another direction and that change really threw some people off and actually upset them. A wedding represents one of the most intimate moments you'll have with the person you love, so why not take things slow and close to the chest.

3. I've had this planned out my entire life, if I just hurry up and get it all done I can enjoy being engaged after. 
Problem: You have been talking about your wedding since before you can remember. And you may have even had a lot "planned" out before you even met your better half, an insert groom here wedding plan. Maybe you are even like me and had a wedding spread sheet with real numbers, names and outlines done before you were even engaged. But you learn pretty quickly, that a wedding really shouldn't be planned in less than a month (unless absolutely necessary). The planning is really part of the fun and rushing just leads to quick decisions you may not be able to change later.
How to fix/avoid this: I wish someone told me to start over with a blank slate. I went into planning with my spreadsheets, pinterest dream boards and high expectations and blindsided my fiance who still was on a high from pulling off our epic engagement. He lovingly told me his was overwhelmed and then it hit me. It's his wedding too. We started planning with laying out a budget and making a top 3 list of what mattered to the both of us. Even though I may not be doing everything I laid out when I was 18, I believe by taking our time with the planning has made this all more fun. The current problem we are facing is the wedding checklists, because we are both the kind of people who look at those as a challenge. There are days when we have to talk about it being unrealistic for me to make and store all of my centerpieces now since we will be moving before the wedding.


I recommend taking at least a month to just enjoy yourselves as a newly engaged couple. The wedding timeline can wait! As I said early on planning is like quick sand, you may not even realize how deep you're getting into planning until someone calls you out on it. And when you start planning, start with the budget and be realistic with it. This way when you sit and make your priority list you can really focus on needs vs wants.

Start it right and have fun with it!
--the southside bride

Wedding Photo Pose checklist

Thanks to sites like pinterest it's now incredibly easy to find and share ideas for wedding pictures. But sometimes that can be a bit overwhelming and what if you forget to do one in the moment? Here's some easy tips to make sure you get the perfect smiles you want.
1. If you're still looking for a photographer, pick out 10~15 poses and bring then with you when you interview them. You'd be surprised at how picky some photographers are when it comes to things like using your own props, sparklers our different camera effects. If they seem hesitant, move on. They consider your wedding to be an expansion of their work, so their own judgments on color, angles and poses can outweigh your wants.
2. If you have a photographer already, print out a medium sized checklist of poses you want. Remember a photographer will take hundreds of pictures, so a list of 20+ really isn't crazy. Plus with a larger list, if a few are skipped do to time or the photographers bias then at least you have a good chunk of pictures you like in the mix.
3. Try for a good mix. Some people are strictly traditional or only candid but most of us are somewhere in between. Even if you are leaning one way over the other, be sure to have just a few shots of the other side of the spectrum. This way when you're showing off your pictures everyone looking at them will be pleased and you will have a more complete collection of moments from the wedding.
4. Do something fun. Be it sexy, just for the two of you shots or silly faces with the moms. There is something about staged entertainment that will leave you laughing for years to come.
5. Let the bridal party pick a few poses. These people are the ones who have probably seen the best and worst of you and your other half. Shots showing off your relationship with them will surely be part of the favorites

Smile big
-the southside bride

Finding a Dress for the Bridesmaids

The time of having every one of top ladies wearing the same exact dress is over. Our best friends come in a variety of shapes and sizes and asking them all to wear the gorgeous strapless above the knee dress isn't just unrealistic but a little unfair. You should want everyone at your wedding to feel as beautiful as you do.
So what's the best way to go about it?

1. Picking a color and fabric

This is one is the most popular options for when you still want everyone to look alike but respect the fact that everyone has their owns tastes. You could take this a step further by asking them all to stay around the same length too and a lot of people who realize right away that everyone is in a slightly different dress.

2. Sticking with traditional

If you ask a younger girl to draw a wedding party she would probably put all the bridesmaids in simple but elegant floor length dresses with some sort of strappy top. This look has always been a staple for bridemaid dresses because all body types can wear a simple gown like this.

3. Let them choose

Sometimes you have to take a step back and realize that despite being this be the biggest day of your life, it is still just a single day in the rest of your new life with both your husband and the girls at your side. Why not let them pick out their own dress to rock out on the sideline of your wedding day? You could of course ask them to keep a general color scheme in mind if that's important to you, but you might be surprised how happier a girl is in her own clothes.

4. Everyday Dresses

This kind of goes along with letting them choose. I LOVE the maid of honor dress I wore in my best friend's wedding this past August. It was a latte colored peplum dress and I rocked it. But, no matter how hard I try, I just can't find another occasion to wear it too without looking like I just came from a wedding. So gather the girls and hit the mall. I actually recommend chain retail stores for an idea like this (JCP, Macys, etc) because if one girl finds an awesome dress in her size, its more likely that you could order the other bridemaid sizes online. This also is sometimes a cheaper alternative for your bridemaids who are already investing a lot in your wedding.





Now if having them all wear the same dress is really important to you that is FINE. To be honest, that is what is probably going to be happening with my own wedding because I'm so darn picky. But I love the idea of having options and pretending I'm not as much of a perfectionist as I am.

Happy Shopping
--the southside bride

New trends in Bachelorette Parties

Lately when you hear bachelorette parties, images of strippers, drunken ladies, tiaras, penis-everything accessories and bars. Its said that this current practice came about during the women's rights movement, when women started celebrating as they saw men do before the big wedding day. But lately, a lot of Bachelorette Parties are taking a step away from the drunken parade and towards more sophisticated and personal approach.

Wine Tasting
When the bride to be is a Vino-aholic, getting a bus/limo and hitting the wine trails for a day or weekend is an amazing way to get everyone to loosen up and enjoy themselves while traveling about instead of just taking shots all night at the bar. If there aren't any wine trails around, have a bottle party where everyone brings a bottle to share and spend the night laughing and sharing your favorite stories of the bride.

Scavenger Hunts
You might need a little more input from the bride or groom for this one but it is sure to be something the bride and guests remember forever. Create a photo scavenger hunt that take the guest to places that have some strong meaning towards the bride and groom, (location of first date, favorite fast food place, etc). Be creative, have people take a picture reenacting the proposal, dancing at the bar or just being silly. End it at a bar or restaurant where you can bring a laptop, upload all the pictures too it and share it all with the bride. You will all learn lots more about the bride and it is sure to be a blast.

Traveling Sisters
With movies like the Hangover and Bridesmaids, there is a push to actually leave the state and go somewhere to have a crazy good time. Be that Vegas, Napa Valley or Miami, be sure to be realistic and clear it with your bride and the small group ASAP. A lot of hotels are starting special rates for Bachelorette  and Bachelor parties so be sure to get the best price on wherever you are heading!

Spa me up
There are very few people that will turn down a day of relaxing and massages, especially after spending the last months planning a wedding. Spend a weekend in a relaxing spa atmosphere or find a company that does house calls! Your guests will leave feeling refreshed and pampered after a day or evening of a spa treatment.

Rocking Out
Is the bride's favorite band coming to town? Get the girls together, get a great group rate on tickets and get ready to rock out! Your bride will be overjoyed for the chance to sing along with the band and the group will just add to that positive energy.

No matter what you do be sure to talk to your bride. There are a lot of times where the MOH picks out her favorite bar and start making shirts covered in candy, when the bride just wants to curl up and chat with her girlfriends.

Happy partying!
--the southside bride

Unforgettable Wedding

I have always told my friends, that when I get married, it will be a wedding everyone will talk about for ages. And I am sure there are a lot of bride's out there that feel the same way so I thought I would share some of my plans.

Vegas Themed

Sometimes all a girl wants is glitz and gold, and why not show it off on the biggest day of your life. Getting Dealers and getting some dollar store poker chips are easy ways to keep everyone entertained and bringing in a magician is a way to keep people amazed (if you search online its not as expensive as you would think).

Board Gamed Themed

Travel sized board games as gifts, checker piece boutoneers, sorry pieces instead of glitter, an epic taboo tournament, game conversation starters at each table and so much more! I like this theme because it really is guest focused. Despite popular opinion, your wedding isn't only about you. You are bringing together two different families and molding them into one, and your wedding day sets the tone on how these people will interact the rest of your lives.

Home Movie Themed

Pop that popcorn and rent a projector. What can be more intimate and embarrassing than sharing each others past with the new family? Encourage guests to send in pictures or DVDs with their favorite or most embarrasing shots of the bride and groom and have that playing during the reception. Get people to introduce the movies or photos by submitting stories of the bride and groom. Give out mini dollar store picture frames as favors. Its all so simple, but it is sure to make everyone leave with a huge smile on their face.

Circus/Carnival Themed

Now before you runaway with nightmares of clowns, Circuses present the opportunity to use wildly beautiful patterns and one of a kind opportunities for your guests. Things like having each bridesmaid in a animal print or flashy red, giving out animal crackers as your favors, printing out tickets for invites, serving popcorn or cotton candy as hor douves and turkey legs for dinner, and having a ball pit or a jumping castle for kids AND adults. There really is SO much you could do with this unique theme. This is honestly close to my own personal theme for my future wedding. 

I will probably hit this topic again one day, but for now those are some thought starters to help you bring some excitement to your wedding.

Now I'm off to find locations that approve ball pits. 

--The Southside Bride

Coupon clipping brides

I don't think people realize how everyday coupons can be used for the biggest day of your life, so I just wanted to highlight a few of my favorites and what they can be used for.


Michael's

Michael's is probably the best know and contains the best deals for DIY brides and grooms. Ranging from 20-50% percent off, their coupons are the cream of the crop. But how do those coupons get even better? A lot of Michael's across the country are starting reward cards, where you can earn points on your purchases to get even MORE savings. Michael's has everything for a wedding, from invites, centerpieces to cake toppers.
Plus their clearance section rocks!


Bed Bath and Beyond.

The triple B is a staple for couple's wedding registry's, but they also contain a lot of unique things and amazing never expiring 20% off coupons that can add a special touch to your day. Things like cheap picture frames, colored vases, candle holders, table cloths and more can be found in this superstore.

Local Superstores


Think of those Target and Meijers coupons you get when you are normally shopping their ($10 off of your next purchase, etc), why not put those coupons to use for wedding things. Like walmart, you will be surprised at just how much they have for a wedding. I personally like these two mentioned stores because they also have outdoor sections which means clearance outdoor lighting!

Credit Card Rewards


Now I've never been fond of promoting credit cards, but really look at the ones you have and start racking up those points. Citi bank points and discover cards cash back are probably the best deals out there when it comes to saving while spending. And a lot of times points you use can be used to get gift cards for things like amazon.com or for travel purchases. Why not put all of your wedding expenses on 1 card in order to rack up the flight miles to be used on your honey moon?

And as always, check your local paper for coupons, you will be amazed at what great deals their are out there!

Happy Saving!

--The Southside Bride

How to find CHEAP decorations

Instead of thinking of the early bird getting the worm, start thinking the more I save now the more I can spend on my honeymoon. I have told everyone in my life that I would need at least 16 months to plan the perfect budgeted wedding. There are simple staples to a beautiful wedding, that really can be pricey if you don't by them while they're just getting done being popular.

(as a side note, I do not own any of the pictures below)

December-January
I wanted to put December at the top of the list because after Christmas, the BEST wedding clearance begins.

White String Ligths

During the summer- $12/box
Clearance- $3/box
White string lights can be used as beautiful accent pieces for behind the bridal party, against the walls, surrounding the cake table and really wherever you see fit. Always get 5 more boxes than you think you need, you never know when a strand will malfunction or you might misjudge the space of the location.

Power Strips

During the summer- $16.88
Clearance- $4.00

From lights to speakers and everything in between, no one ever plans on their location having a limited amount of outlets and running out that day might be something that is truly impossible or mildly expensive.

Ornaments

During the summer- 10/box
Clearance- 1.99/box
Ornaments are no longer only winter staples, but small pieces of artwork that can even match summer color schemes. I personally recommend solid colors in your color scheme to add to either glass vases or just as accents for the centerpieces. I recently saw someone who threaded blue glass balls through hanging sting lights behind the wedding party and it really was a beautiful touch. Also getting glass stars to hang everywhere is something else to think about.

February
Hearts, hearts and more hearts. Looking for that romantic red wedding, start shopping right after valentine's day.

Heart Shaped Candles

During the Summer- $8/dozen
Clearance- $0.50/piece
Really, heart shaped ANYTHING can be found after the holidays. Heart shaped candles are my personal favorite because they are simple and easy centerpieces. Another is plain heart shaped picture frames are an adorable centerpiece that adds a more personal touch.

Romantic Card stock

During the summer-$3.99
Clearance-$0.89
If you are a bride that wants to DIY our save the date/invites/thank yous, the prettiest card stock goes on clearance after valentine's day. Again, since the holiday is getting trendy, you can really find any color not just shades of red, silver and gold.

March/April

St. Patrick's Day, Easter and Earth day may not seem like the best holidays to find great wedding finds, but if you are a themed wedding dreamer, you will be surprised.

Green Galore

During the summer- $15
Clearance- $5

If you are having a traditional Irish Wedding or if your using green as your main color, head to stores the week after St. Pat's to find the most amazing card stock, tablecloths, green vases, and really anything green your heart desires. I really love simple color accents, like green vases holding the flowers at the tables or green cupcake wrappers or green to go boxes. It makes such a strong color seem a lot less overbearing.

Gold Coins

During the Summer-$5.99/100 ct box
Clearance-$2.99/ 100 ct box

You and Your Sweetie are all set for a fun Vegas themed wedding, but are shocked at the prices for poker chips. A box of these gold coins are an fun and flashy way to work that theme into your tables, AND if you go for the chocolate ones, I am sure you're guests will love you for it.

Baskets

During the Summer-19.98
Clearance- 3.00
Now this one is actually something you can find cheap year round while garbage hunting/Estate Sailing/garage sailing, BUT if you want all the same baskets at each table, after the Easter season is your best chance. I have recently started filling wicker baskets with flowers and attaching little garden charms and giving them as gifts and they really are VERY simple and VERY cheap. Plus you'll need a cute basket for your flower girl.

Think Green

Seeds are always cheep year round, but a lot of organic and nature friendly products tend to be pumped out during the week of Earth day. A lot of retailers give away free trees or seedlings, so if you are looking at a wedding around the 22nd of April, you could easy score some great deals on 'watch our love grow' plants.

MaySome people say that the real start of the wedding season is in May, but what I find to be great about May is the amount of LAST years wedding stuff that goes on clearance in local stores during May.

Go to Walmart

Regular Price- $15.00

Clearance- $5.00

Now I know there are a few people that might think they are too good for walmart, but do you really need to spend more than 10 dollars on a tiny pillow that will only be used once? Will people really judge you on the quality of your guest book paper? Head to your local walmart and you will be shocked at the amount of wedding supplies they have on sale right now.

Memorial Day Outdoor Sales

Regular Price $4/pack of 2
Clearance- $4/pack of 5

Memorial Day is marked as the start of the summer season, and beside grilling tools, all outdoor accessories will be around 20% off or more during that three day weekend. I am a sucker for an outdoor wedding with these paper lanterns strung up around the reception site. But everything from bug scaring tiki lights, citronella candles, to American flags will be on sale this weekend.

June/July

A mix of post prom season dresses and jewelry and fun stars and strips after the 4^th make up some great bridal savings for you!

Bridesmaid dresses

Regular Price-$100
Clearance- $39

The new trend is to just pick a color and let your bridesmaids choose the dress style that fits them best. A lot of brides are even working patterns into their wedding party's dresses and tuxes. I have been getting more and more impressed with the quality of prom dresses, and last year when I was looking around for fun I started to notice that the range of sizes for similar dresses which would perfectly match my colors.

Jewelery

Regular Price-$50
Clearance-$20
You want that bling bling but have more important things to use your budget on? Or are you looking for nice gifts for your wedding party? Beautiful Post prom jewelery and tiara's will be on sale in a lot of prom specialty shops and department stores.

August/September

The end of Summer means clearance on some of the greatest summer themed wedding items

Flip Flops Galore

From getting flip flops for post wedding fun, flip flop shaped candles, to flip flop shaped paper. Flip flops are fun and trendy and CHEAP during August and September. Something cute I would consider is instead of name tags, glam up some cheap flip flops with the names of your guests and you instantly have their gift and their seat marked. If you don’t want to hunt down people's shoe sizes, consider doing it just for your wedding party.

Tiki time

Leis, candles, palm trees in all sizes will go on clearance during these months too. Little Palm trees are my person favorite to create a fun summer vibe at a wedding. A lot of bright island colors will be going on sale during this time too, so if you are looking to be bold, head to the stores now!

Out By The Sea

Off Season- $2.99
Clearance- $1.50
Now I stand by what I've said before in blogs, anyone who spends money on seashells are truly wasting their money. It doesn't matter if you don't live by a beach, nearly every family has someone who has a bag full of seashells from a trip they look before in their homes. (I am that person in my family). If you somehow dont know someone, post an ad on craigslist, you'll find someone. But for seashell shaped candles, little light houses and starfish, the end of summer is the perfect time to stock up because they will never be that cheap again.

October/November

Bubble bubble toil and trouble, start shopping now or you'll have to pay double!

Fog/Bubble Machines

Off Season-$55
Clearance $15
If you want that misty romantic fog during your first dance, or to be surrounded by a sea of bubbles, head to your local Halloween store the day after Halloween to get amazing deals on these fun machines. Just be sure your location allows those things (some places have particle detectors as well as smoke detectors that can be set off by the fog)

Fall-ing in Love

If your colors are in the brown and gold hues, this is your time to look for all of your accents, like tablecloths, ribbon, card stock, plates, and much more.

Black Friday

Regular Price-$50
Clearance-$19.99

I have been celebrating black Friday my entire life and it really is my favorite holiday. Take this time to get great gifts for your wedding party that will really rock their world. Or if you want more practical things, hit up Joanna fabrics or Michael to get their amazing door buster deals.

If you have a lot of time to plan your wedding really use all of the year to your advantage!

Happy Shopping!
The Southside Bride

Cheap Centerpieces

Lets face it ladies, flowers are expensive and overrated, and who really wants to spend a huge chunk of the budget on centerpieces that people will probably not remember and might not even comment on.

Candles

(from:http://finkorswim.com/)

Visit your local dollar store to find beautiful pillar candles and glass bases to put them on for cheap but classy centerpieces. You can even find glass beads to add a little more glam to the middle. You can also go to your local craft store, (Michael's is my favorite because of their constant coupons!) And get a bag of tealights for about $5 which can be spread out throughout the reception site to give a romantic vibe. Let's say you're worried about wind or fire in general, the no flame tealights tend to be a little bit more expensive, but they save you the effort of keeping them lit throughout the night. You also can get floating candles and glass dishes from the dollar store, wrap them in ribbon matching your colors and you have an instant beautiful centerpiece

Picture Frames

(from:http://dollarstorecrafts.com/)

This one is my personal favorite because there is so much you can do with picture frames. You can have the picture frames contain baby pictures of you and your groom to designate the bride's or groom's tables, you can have pictures of yourself with the people who will be sitting at the table, or you can simply have pictures of you and your groom at the tables to create a personal gift someone will love to take home.

Glass Vases with Beads

Different sized vases filled with water and beads are cheap and easy way to make unique centerpieces. Another fun tip is to pick up some cheap food coloring and put a few drops into the vases to get varying hues of colors to match you color scheme. If you are really adventurous, I saw someone get clear gelatin mix and they mixed the mix with a little food color and glitter to create a more viscous glittering creation.



My biggest piece of advice with centerpieces (and with most things) is LESS IS MORE. No one wants to spend the night bobbing back and forth to talk to the people on the other side of the table or wants to feel like they are eating in a sardine tin. Make them small and personal and people will remember them forever.

Happy Crafting
--The Southside Bride

Out by the Sea

It's been getting warmer, and the idea of a beautiful beach wedding is starting to sound better and better. But where do you start?

Locations:
You can really have a beautiful beach wedding anywhere from the beaches of Lake Michigan to the ocean front of Hawaii. Again it comes to the decision between a local and destination wedding. In reality a lakeside beach wedding is a lot cheaper and will still provide you with the sandy landscape of your dreams. Be sure to research your beach carefully because sometimes there are a lot of little rules and regulations youll need to account for, like parking restrictions and clean up costs.

Photographs:
Be sure to ask and see your photographers work with beach weddings. It really is an advanced skill and not all photographers are good at it. A lot of Brides become very disappointed when they see how washed out their pictures look.

Shoes:
This seems like a no brainer, but I can think of quiet a few angry bridesmaids who nearly broke their ankles walking in sand in heels for the bride because "later they would be on land". Brides, be good to your girls. Make flipflops or cute flats a part of your gift to them. They can change into the heels on land if you really want that tall look.

Guests:
Again a lot of beaches might put a limit onto how many chairs you can rent/bring, so be sure to ask ahead of time. Also be sure to have strong ushers, because if grandma is going to make it through the sand to her sinking chair with a walker, she'll need that extra support both in and out of the ceremony.

Quick Tips:
Lint brushes and mini vacs are going to be your best friend post ceremony, especially if you are getting a limo after because they will charge you extra fees if you get sand in their limo. If you can look into alternate means of transportation: a little boat or a trolley are both fun weather appropriate get aways. Also have someone bring a few bottles of water so you can rinse off you feet after you leave the sand.
If you plan on wrecking your dress by running into the water, bring a few people with you, because that dress will get even heavier and you don't want to fall face first into the sand on your special day.
Have someone bring a tiny first aid kit. Even on the cleanest beaches there can be glass or sharp sea shells, and no one wants to remember your wedding as the time they cut their foot open.

My mash up below includes a lake side beach wedding of 150 people at the Promenade in Chicago and music, video screen and lighting.

All of the above is only about 7,800

I can't wait to feel some sand between my toes
--The Southside Bride
(as always I claim no rights or ownership to any of the beautiful pictures above, they were all found on various websites via a swagbucks search)

Swag Your Wedding!

For those of you who don't know what Swagbucks is, you're missing out. It's a real, no scam, no spam, online community that really works. You earn points for using their search engine, watching real cool videos (they have a ton a wedding topics as well as a lot of other cool things), voting in polls, taking surveys, using their amazing coupons in stores and so much more. Then you can redeem these points for various things, my personal favorite is the $5 amazon gift card for only 450 pts.

Now I know what you're thinking, what's the catch?

In order to get points, you actually have to do the things. You get a point every day for voting in the poll, checking to see if you have surveys, and going through one of the NOSO offers. There are also daily codes in their blog which are worth 7-15 pts.

What I do is leave the SwagTV on in the background while I'm working, so that way I can multitask. I also am addicted to a bunch of swag games which also earn you points. You really don't have to be on ALL day, but stopping on a few times a day really helps.

Now think about it, doing things you do everyday, just via this site, can save you some serious cash on your wedding, why NOT sign up?!

Right now I redeemed some points for amazon cards to get a new wii remote, nunchuck and game (zumba for the wii, I caught the fever) and all I did was the things I mentioned above.

So while you're at work, chilling at home, or just in between your assignments
Click on the banner and sign up and lets earn some points together!!

I'm on a Boat!

Looking for a small intimate wedding setting?
More and more couples are jumping on the boat for both local and destination cruise weddings for their all inclusive packages and beautiful scenery.

Now getting married on a boat even locally will be expensive (think about 100-150 a plate), but everything from music, linens, alcohol to a wedding planner is usually included so if you were spending money on all of those things separately the high meal prices almost even out.

The big downfalls beside price include

• making sure you or your guests don't get seasick
• you MUST have a small wedding for a local cruise
• you have no other menu options
• you can't personalize you package at most places
• if you choose a larger boat, you wont have a private setting for long. 

But all in all, some people look good on the sea and bundling the ceremony,a location and honeymoon is awfully tempting for destination wedding lovers.

Picking an Officiant

One of the most overlooked decisions in a wedding is picking the Officiant. People just assume they have to pick whoever the church gives them or that the location will suggest a person. But I think a lot of us have the experience of attending a wedding where the Officiant was either a little too out there or a major mood killer. I think that taking the time to pick someone that matches you and your grooms personal style can have an unforgettable impact on the wedding.

But where to start?

1. Do you want to have a religious ceremony?
   There are a lot of religious leaders that will not participate in outdoor ceremonies because it's against what they believe in, this is especially true for Catholics. Make sure that you really talk it over with your partner. Take into account your parents because if you just spring on them that you aren't having a traditional church wedding, they may be really hurt. Keep them in the loop too.
   
2. Check out who is in your area
   WeddingMinisters.com is a great starting tool to help you figure out just who is in your area and what your choices are. Make a list of the a few in your area and ask them when you can come see them.
   
3. Start the Interviews
   Make a list of 3-5 Officiants and go to interview them. You are really meeting them to gauge their temperament to make sure they are the right fit for your wedding. You are really hiring them to do a good job, so be a good boss and hire a good person. Some great questions to ask are: Will you be able to write your own vows? We come from different religious backgrounds, can you still marry us? How many ceremonies have you performed before? How long have you been doing this? How much of the wedding can we customize?
   

Look at your Officiant like the director of your wedding ceremony, you and the groom are the writers and actors along with your wedding party. Work together to make sure you can have your perfect day.

Happy interviewing!
--The Southside Bride

Irish Weddings

There are many ways to give a wedding an Irish touch from a little piece of jewelry to an all out traditional celebration. My advice is to pick and choose the traditions that mean the most to you and your partner because having a traditional ceremony simply to say you are really will just cause headaches in the future.

The Ring-Claddagh

(from http://www.thecountiesofireland.com)

The claddagh ring is known across the world as an Irish symbol of love, but few know the meaning behind the symbol or how to properly. The ring is composed of a heart being held by a pair of hands. The heart is also wearing a crown. The heart represents the wearers love and when worn with the point pointing out on the right hand the hands seem to be pushing love out to the world. This position tends to mean that the wearer is single. When worn on the right hand with the point in, it means that the person is in a relationship. When the ring is moved to the left hand, point out means engaged and point in means married. The crown on the ring stands for God, and it is thought that when you wear the ring pointed in the crown is on the outside sealing and protecting the heart.


The Dress-A little Something Blue

(from: http://img.alibaba.com/)

Before white, blue was the color of purity. A lot of Irish brides will work in a blue sash or pendant to represent this. Brides in blue used to walk to the church with their groom and people would recognize the marriage colors and throw everything from rice to pots and pans to bring luck to their journey.

The Flowers-Lavender or Belles of Ireland

(from gardenflowers.com)

Depending on your color scheme, both lavender and green belles are popular at Irish weddings. Lavender stands for loyalty, love and devotion. Also Irish brides tend to wear these flowers in their hair or a flowered headpiece. The Belles of Ireland are great for a green wedding but tend to be a bit expensive, so mixing them with other flowers would be best.

Traditions- Hand Fasting and Bells

(from: http://weddingbycolor.com/)

Two popular Irish traditions include the binding of the bride and grooms hands and the blessing of the matriomnal bell. The hands are bound by various colored cords that have various meaning. It is a physical and visual symbol of the bonds on marriage being created. The bell is blessed during the ceremony and placed in the newlyweds Home to reprsent their wedding vows. It is also said that during a fight the bride or groom can choose to ring the bell and the topic is dropped for the day. But it is only used in serious occasions.

I hope you're wedding and lives together are lucky!
--The Southside Bride

Locations driving you Loco?

There are a lot of brides of there that would be happy having their reception in their backyard just as long as they have the people they love around them (and that perfect dress on of course!). Picking a reception site for these brides can be really difficult because it really isn't a priority despite it being one of the biggest parts of the wedding. I'm going to expand on two favorite places for these brides.

Restaurants

(from http://www.palermos95th.com/)

Restaurants are great locations for small and medium weddings receptions because usually they have amazing deals on the location and food. There is Palermos 95th here on the southside that offers a great meal and bar package and has plenty of parking available for guests in the back.

Banquet Halls

(from:http://gardenchaletbanquet.net/)

Put your location into google maps, type banquets and you will find a countless number of places that might fit your needs. Or if you really just want a one stop wedding a lot of banquet halls hold wedding ceremonies too for a fee (between $200-$600) which includes chair rentals and more. This is personally my favorite because it rolls everything into one. Just make sure you have the minimum amount of people!
My top three picks here on the southside of Chicago are Candlelight banquets, Royal Palace Banquets, and  Garden Chalet Banquet because they might not be perfect on the outside but the inside and their packages are amazing!

--The Southside Bride

Reception Checklist

Let's go through all the information you will need to find the perfect reception place for you! Feel free to copy and fillout this list to bring with while you are looking at places

Your Information

• The date of the wedding:                         
• The number of people invited:                        
• The number of tables you will need (usually, 1 head table + 10-12 people per table):            
• The amount of your budget dedicated to the reception:                      

The Locations Information

• The name and address of the place:                                                                                      
• The person you are talking to:                                                                                               
• Catering Options:                                                                                                               
• Price per plate:                                                                                                          
• Alcohol:
• Open Bar                                                                                                                                                                     
• Beer and Wine Bar                                                                                                    
• Champagne/corking fees?                                                                                                           
• Cake:
• Provided?                                                                                                                  
• Cutting fees                                                                                                               
• Tables
• table/chair costs                                                                                                                                      
• linens included?                                                                                                          
• centerpieces included?                                                                                                
• Tent Rentals
• or tent availably if it rains?                                                                                          
• Music and Dancing options:                                                                                                
• Timing
• When can people come and decorate?                                                                        
• What time can my catering company come?                                                                
• What time will dinner be served?                                                                                 
• What time does the place close?                                                                                   
• Deposit cost                                                                                                                                                                                  
• Final count needed by:                                                                                                         
• Any other specials offered?                                                                                                  

Do you want a bride with that?

One of my best friends told me to look this up and I'm so glad I did because now I get to share it with all of you.

(from:todanoticia.com)

Just when you thought those golden arches were just for food, they branch out into weddings.
(Before you think I'm crazy both CNN and Time have reported on it.) They are using a larger restaurant in their chain and they have fully equipped it with the ability to hold and serve various wedding sizes and they offer a number of packages to make your special day unique. Unfortunately  if you were looking to have a champagne toast you may need to pick a different venue because they are a alcohol free site. 

(from:http://images.watoday.com.au)

The prices are actually really reasonable, "the basic Warm and Sweet Wedding Package for 50 guests goes for under $1,300. For another $165, the bride can rent a gown of pearly white balloons"

(from:www.senortuna.com)

The location also does engagement parties too but be warned, they have been getting a steady stream of call so be sure to book early. They seem like a lot of fun!

(From: http://gothamist.com)

Currently this is only offered Hong Kong, but I'm sure if they knew American girls were excited about it they may branch out here too!

Ding Marriage is Done

--The Southside Bride

Furry Friendly Weddings

(from http://dogs.thefuntimesguide.com/2006/02/marry_your_dog.php)

If you're anything like my sister, you can't imagine going anywhere without your pet. And for a lot of people this includes their trip down the aisle. But before you get your pooch sized up for a mini tux, here are some things to consider?

Does your location allow pets?
Just because you're having an outdoor wedding doesn't mean that Fido and Fluffy are allowed on the green of the country club's golf course.

Do you have a designated Sitter?
Let's be realistic, your animal is going to need to eat, drink and use the bathroom like the rest of us, and on your special day you will have enough on your plate. Ask a few close family members or friends if they are ok keeping an eye on the pets or if they can run the pets home after the ceremony. This way you don't need to worry about any accidents or run aways while you are enjoying your first few hours of married life.

Is anyone Allergic?
Be sure to ask your wedding party if anyone has pet allergies before inviting your pet into the wedding. Also if you know you're having guests who are allergic be sure to warn them too because no one wants to look all itchy and sick in your wedding pictures

Can your pet focus?
The idea of your pooch, rabbit or kitty being the ring bearer might sound perfect, but if they are easily startled or distracted by people, they may never make it down the aisle on their own. Do a few practice runs before you even consider having them in the wedding, without and with a group of people. If they can make it to you without the group in a reasonable amount of time, then go for it. If you really still want your pooch, have a ring bearer assistant to walk the animal down the aisle.

Overall I think having a pet in the wedding is a fun and loving way to include them in your special day, because in the big picture you're ALL a family now.

Happy Training!
--The Southside Bride

What to do with That Dress

Now that you spent all that money on a wedding dress, what are you going to do with it?
Sure you can preserve it and show it to your children one day but really, do you really want to waste all the closet space for the rest of your life?

Wrecking the Dress

(from http://www.cmt.com/pictures/my-big-redneck-wedding-3/photo-gallery/21/26398/3596424/show_photo.jhtml)

This trend skyrocketed in the last few years, so if you search there are plenty of pictures of muddy uped brides. It is a fun and exciting end to all of that Wedding Stress. A word to the wise though, if you are considering jumping in mud or water, have your groom jump in with you (not in his rented tux of course) just because that heavy dress will get 3-5 times heavier and you might just need an extra set of hands to get out.

Making Something new

(from: onewed.com)

This has always been my personal favorite. You can make your child's christening, first communion or first blanket out of parts of your dress depending on the fabric. This way you are recycling not only the clothes but all of the emotions attached to the dress.  I've also heard of people paying to get a shorter white dress made from their wedding dress.

Donate it

(from goodwill.org)

It may sound silly but there is a good percentage of girls who find the dress of their dreams at a second hand shop. Usually those are the girls who need the dress most.

Ebay it away!

(from ebay.com)

You will not get the original cost of the dress back, but why not make a few $100 on a dress you will never wear again. (Also if you are looking for a dress, I would find a style you like on David's Bridal and then search for it here, you might get lucky!)


Or you can just wear it around for a month and see how many free/discounted hotel nights and restaurant meals you can get with it on. ;-)
--The Southside Bride