Thursday Tips & Tricks

{via Alice M Wingerden's Flickr}

• Michaels has 12 pack pre-poured votive candles on sale for $4.99

• Hobby Lobby's glassware is 50% off until Saturday.

• Thinking of making tissue paper pomanders for your wedding? Consider making them from coffee filters! They're less expensive, easier to dye the color you want (we'll be tea-dying ours) and a lot less likely to tear. I bought seven 160 count packages for $1 each at the Dollar Tree.

While there, I ran across some cute, plain-jane photo frame 2 packs. That's 2 photo frames for $1! I'll be using them for wedding "things", so look for those to make their way onto the blog soon.

Happy Thursday!

Thursday Tips & Tricks

Sadly, I've really neglected this series, but I just don't have time most days to share all my good ideas! Today, we're four months away from our wedding day! Yay!

My favorite thing in the world (other than reading) is bargain shopping. I get a perverse thrill from finding awesome deals and my Mama taught me to share, so here ya go. Let's talk about Dollar stores. Sure, they can be tacky, but coming from someone who used to design stationery for the $1 market, you can find some really great stuff out there, too!

I dropped in to the Dollar Tree in Gallatin, TN this past weekend and holy smokes, they have a whole aisle of wedding stuff! Like this perfectly reasonable guest book mat for $1. It's 11 x 17!

Or these gorgeous glass votive holders for your reception tables. Also, $1 each. Also, look at places like Old Time Pottery for glass wear. They have tons of apothocary jars.

In the wedding aisle, I found silver bell place card holders (like the ones below) six for a $1 and I bought two packs for our buffet tables. They normally run about $1.55 each on wedding favor websites. I'd say this is a steal, comparatively.

Not to mention the possibilities for home decor and wedding signs by purchasing one of these little $1 luau signs. I bought one for a DIY project I can't wait to share with you! Hint: primer and spray paint.

Great thing about Dollar Tree is that you can now order wholesale from their website, so if you need 48 floating candle bowls, you can get them direct without going from store to store.

Next up, Big Lots. I freaking love this store. They always have a ton of scrap booking stuff and Martha Stewart crafts close-outs, among other fun finds. This was my favorite yesterday - talk about decoration your reception under budget! All these glass vases were $2 each or $2 per package of 3. Add a can of $0.97 white spray paint from Walmart and create "fake" milk glass jars for way less than they are going for these days. Cha-ching!

Happy bargain hunting!

130 Days Update

In 130 days, I'll be walking down a little brick path on my Daddy's arm to my groom. In the meantime, I have a ton of little details to attend to!

First, an update on my wedding band: it worked! About two weeks ago, I found a fabulous deal on a diamond wedding band, which I talked about here. I dropped both the band and my engagement ring off at Wholesale Jewelers on Saturday. I really hated not having my engagement ring for a few days, but boy, was it worth it! The thing is, my diamond was not set properly. Having the wedding band sized was a great opportunity for me to ask the store to reset my engagement ring. It looks SO MUCH better that it's almost unbelievable.

The total cost of my wedding band including sizing is $83.52 - I know that I am going to love wearing these two together for a long, long time!

Next up, I have completed our wedding invites! I have one or two more pieces to print, but it's relatively minor. The invitation suite is three parts plus an envelope: invitation, RSVP postcard and an information/map card. And I trimmed them ALL by hand (that's called "glutton for punishment" folks) Would you like a sneak peek of our invitation suite? It's the RSVP postcard ... I'll have to photograph better when I show you the real deal.

I'm hosting a "Crafts & Cocktails" party in three weeks and I'm so excited about it! A few of my girlfriends are coming over to help me assemble the invitations (and hopefully some other things as well, like wedding wands and shower invites!) It's a little soon, but the more I have off my plate before July, the more time I have for other projects!

Rue La La: Style. I Do!

GO! Go sign up now on Rue La La because they are having a fantastic boutique today called Style I Do! There is a boutique for bride, groom and guests! There is only one day left to buy anything from a suit to a $199.99 bridal gown. 

Rue La La is by invitation only, so click here to get started today though my personal invitation! Check out this gorgeous Aidan Mattox Ivory Silk Chiffon Gown for only $199.00!



{photo via Ru La La}

* edit: Rue La La did not in any way, shape or form, ask me to post this, pay me to post this or give me free goods for posting this. I'm simply sharing a cool website & great deal for brides. The end.

Wedding Bands: Part 1 - Little Spoon

We are less than five months from our wedding day and the time has come to consider wedding bands. Let me preface this post by saying that I have been looking for several weeks now. Big Spoon suggested that we wait until late summer to shop for bands, mostly so I didn't drive him crazy and also so that I would have more time to consider the budget and my current "wants". The two don't always coincide. Instead of scaring you with revealing the budget we set for bands (here's a hint, we forgot to put it in the original budget), I'll make sure to put it in the breakdowns after the big day :)

See that little pink arrow? Little did I know, my "unique" setting would be so difficult to pair with a band of any sort. The two beveled diamonds on the side prevent me from buying a plain 'ol round band. After shopping online, in major chains and a few hometown jewelry stores, we've come to the conclusion that I need to a) have a plain band "notched" to fit the beveled diamond on the side of my solitaire, b) buy a contoured band and weld it to my engagement ring or c) have a ring custom made ($$$).

Yeah ... anyway, after Big Spoon humored me several times now and went band shopping anyway, I had an "ah ha!" moment yesterday. Hold on to your seats, folks. I bought my wedding band for a grand total of $52.93 (without sizing). Whoa wa-what? YES. I am the queen of bargains ... for today, at least.

Really though, here's how it went down: ultradiamonds.com is an online jewelry retailer I became aware of through my Discover card. I luv my Discover card* and have been saving my Rewards cash back credit for our wedding. While shopping online, I checked my Discover card's rewards retailers and found Ultra Diamonds. I went to their website and found the band above for $299.00 (which is already a steal compared to other places). It's almost exactly like ones I have tried on at the major retail stores, but for much less. Combine the already great price with their current $100 off promo code and my Discover e-certificates redeemed specifically for Ultra Diamonds and voila! A $260 savings! 

I ordered the ring un-sized so that if it doesn't work out, I can return it within 30 days. They have a fair return policy and good customer service. I just couldn't wait for it to come in before I blogged about it! I'm hoping it can save someone out there some money. Specifically, if the quality of the diamonds in your band are less important to you than those in your engagement ring. 

Stay tuned for Part 2 when we reveal Big Spoon's wedding band! 

*We were in no way compensated for this blog post by either Discover Card or Ultra Diamonds. We like a good deal and we're telling our readers about it. Good day to you.

DIY: Personalized Cufflinks

I love DIYing stuff. Most of the time, you save money and gain the satisfaction of a job well done ... or at least completed. Wedding party gifts can get expensive fast, so I'm crafting the majority of them myself. I should note, however, that the DIY cuff links made from D20 dice was not my original idea, rather, the idea of this talented Etsy/Ebay seller, from whom I purchased a pair of cufflinks for Big Spoon. Through some trial and error, I think I have a nice finished product that is personalized to each guy in or help with our wedding. 

Two of Big Spoon's friends are helping us with the wedding. They play D&D together on Friday nights and we want to give them each a gift that reflects the spirit of the game and can hopefully be worn again in the future.  I also chose to make cufflinks for the best man, who is a UT Longhorns fan. (The only set I did not make are for my brother/groomsman, $5.99 with free shipping on ebay).

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Here's where the fun begins. Unless you are attaching some big honking charms or buttons, you will need 10mm cuff link blanks. The 10mm refers to the glue pad. At first, I ordered 15mm. BIG MISTAKE. I ended up losing money because I was dumb enough to send them back instead of reselling them. I do have two sets of 10mm cuff link blanks remaining for additional gifts or to make for resale. 

Supply List: 

10mm cuff link blanks (10 pieces on Etsy)-  $7.75

Longhorn scrapbook charms (12 pieces on Ebay) - $3.39

Orange buttons (3 pack at Hobby Lobby) - $0.98

D20 dice (4 @ $0.80 each at Game Keep) - $3.50

Epoxy - on hand in art supplies

Toothpicks

Step 1: Mix epoxy. This stuff dries fast, so work fast, but carefully, so that you do not get glue on visible areas. 

Step 2: Apply epoxy with toothpick to cuff link blank. 

Step 3: Attach cufflink glue pad to object and allow to dry for at least 5 minutes before moving. Depending on the object, it's a good idea to hold it in place while it dries. **

** For the UT Longhorn cufflinks I glued the charm to the button with epoxy first, allowed it to dry and then glued the entire object to the cufflink blank.

Total supply costs (plus my $5 screw up): $20.62

Cost of gift per person: $6.87

 Aren't the UT Longhorn cufflinks adorable?

Thursday Tips & Tricks

Happy Thursday!

Sometimes, when I am out shopping, I find really cool stuff that would look great at a wedding ... just not ours because Big Spoon would kill me. I have a very good partner in Big Spoon because he keeps me in check. I would have re-vamped our wedding ten times over by now if it weren't for him and our budget spreadsheet.

That being said, I'd like to pass along some ideas, tips, tricks to you all. Hopefully they are ideas you can use. Today is all about bargain hunting for your wedding decor.

• After Easter sales are a great opportunity to get a cheap flower girl basket or program holder. Michael's at 100 Oaks had some very cute white ones.

• Bird cages. Looking for them? Try TJ Maxx, Ross and Marshalls. Their spring stuff is in.

• Having a candy buffet? Again, head to those bargain stores. Ross has had a steady stock of apothocary jars for less than $12 each!

• Check out the Dollar Tree for simple, modern glass vases for $1 each or check them out online and order in bulk.

• It's a great time of year to check the sales adds for Micheal's, Joann's, Old Time Pottery and Dollar General Store for shepherd's hooks! I bought a dozen last year at Joann's for 50% off.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway! I'll announced the winner on our blog tomorrow.