Budget Review: Decorations

Decorations
Let's be honest: I can't account for everything that was purchased for the purpose of decorating. Occasionally, I'd forget to use our wedding account card on a spool of ribbon or a box of straight pins. I didn't cheat by much, though. This is a rough estimate of what we spent.

For the Ceremony
Shepherd's Hooks
$24 at Joann's

Aisle Runner
$17.50 at Hobby Lobby

Coffee Filter Pomanders
Supplies ran around $15

Photo Book Guest Book
$27 on Shutterfly

Program Holder
 $2 at Goodwill & $5 in supplies

Wedding Wands
Supplies ran around $30

"Love" Word Art
$1 at Michael's plus paint on hand

{© Natosha Benning. All rights reserved. Not for personal use}

{© Epic Image Photography}

{© Epic Image Photography}

{© Epic Image Photography}

{© Epic Image Photography}

{© Epic Image Photography}

Reception

Card Box

supplies ran around $10 or less

Bud Vases

$32 (I purchased WAY too many & they're for SALE)

Table Linens
$232 (these are also for SALE)

Black Picture Frames

$4 at Dollar Tree

Cake Server
$0 - my company makes them

Toasting Flutes

$2 at Goodwill & embellished with supplies on hand

Candles

$38 (purchased too many here as well)

Tissue Paper Pomanders, Lanters & Lights

$0 - my planner did this for us, yay!

{© Epic Image Photography}

{© Epic Image Photography}

{© Natosha Benning. All rights reserved. Not for personal use}

{© Epic Image Photography}

 {© Natosha Benning. All rights reserved. Not for personal use}

{© Epic Image Photography}

{© Epic Image Photography}

Total Cost: approximately $450

Budget Review: Flowers

Flowers

Artisan Flowers & Import Flowers

Florist: Jasmin Trenary

{This photo is owned by Natosha Benning. All rights reserved. Not for personal use}

{This photo is owned by Natosha Benning. All rights reserved. Not for personal use}

{© Epic Image Photography}

What We Got:

Jasmin is my best friend. She gave us the wonderful gift of her talents as a wedding gift. We paid for the flowers, which were purchased at wholesale cost through Import Flowers. I provided *most* of the vases in the decorations category
(she brought some as well). 

My flowers were hands down my favorite part of our wedding.

Total Cost: $385

DIY Card Box

This project is super easy and can create a nice accent incorporating your wedding colors. I got a few tips from one of our mock-up artists at work who is a big scrapbooker.  For this, I used the following supplies:

2 blank craft paper hat boxes purchased at Hobby Lobby (30% off day)
5 sheets of 12x12 scrapbooking paper purchased at Hobby Lobby (50% off day)
1 sheet of 12x12 scrapbooking card stock paper (left over from invites)
grosgrain ribbon (left over from bridal shower gift packaging)

x-acto knife, box cutter, cork-back ruler, bone folder, Jade glue (archivers glue), hot glue gun & hot glue, leftover paper from our invitations

I've been working so fast on these projects that I don't take the time to make pictures and I'm really sorry about that because I had been looking forward to sharing them with you all. However, I can tell you the easiest way to make these.

Start by measuring the sides of your largest blank hat box without the lid. Mine was 6" high. The diameter isn't as important right now. I cut 3 of the five sheets of paper to 12 x 7", leaving me enough paper to cover the entire rounded surface plus bleed. As you are gluing the sides with paper glue, cut 3/4" to 1" slits in the paper that is hanging over. Obviously, you don't want to cut right up to the box, just use your best judgment. This will allow you to fold and glue the excess paper over into the box neatly. Do this for both the top and bottom.

I then cut the 12x12 cardstock sheet into the best approximation of a circle I could manage. I used the small box lid to estimate and cut. No one will see the bottom, but it looks more finished this way. I used the bone folder while the glue was still wet to work out any wrinkles the paper might have developed. The box bottoms went quickly and the notching trick works wonderfully.

 

The lids are trickier because you have to cut holes in the large box lid, the small box bottom and a rectangular slit in the small box top for inserting the cards. This can make wrapping the paper a bit trickier, but with the notching technique, you should have no problem

Cut your holes out first using the box cutter. Again, estimating is fine because no one will see the inside of your box. Then wrap the lids by placing them in the center of a 12x12 sheet of scrapbooking paper, glue down, notch and glue the paper around the edges. On the small box, you will be able to glue to the inside. On the large box, there will be craft paper showing. No big deal because you will cover that with ribbon.

I glued the grosgrain ribbon on with hot glue. I then created a card that says "cards" to match our other stationery. I cut a small slit into the card, ran the ribbon through and under the box lid. I tied it under the lid and then used the hot glue to glue the two boxes together, lining up the holes.

That's it! A card box that matches our wedding theme and colors that is super cute, quick and cheap.

Another DIY Project ... Quick & Easy

When I saw these featured over at Thrifty Decor Chic, I had to have make them! They are gorgeous knock-offs of the uber-expensive William Sonoma hurricane candle holders. See the comparison:

I traced the original tutorial back to Get Your Martha On, but all you need for one is a "crystal" candle stick holder, a tall vase and epoxy. I purchased all of my glassware at the Dollar Tree in Hermitage for $1 each and I have the epoxy on hand. They also have hurricane vases that swoop out at the edges like the WS versions if you like that.

These are inexpensively gorgeous and multi-purpose: my sister wants to fill them with fruit at my bridal shower and they're a super cheap alternative to apothecary jars for a candy buffet, candles, etc for a wedding.

WIth Big Spoon's (and the kitten's) help, here's what we made over the weekend:

Happy DIYing!

DIY (sorta) Wedding Signs

I must confess that I did not do all of this myself, nor is there much of a tutorial surrounding this project but I wanted to share anyway.

I won a $50 gift certificate to 12 Point Signworks in Franklin, TN while attending the Unabridged Bride workshop and decided to cash it in on three vinyl cut outs. A big THANK YOU to Liza Hippler of Maiden to Married and Murray at 12 Point Signworks for being so very awesome.

I purchased three of these medium sized wooden plaques at Hobby Lobby, primed and spray painted them ivory on both sides. Here's the before from Hobby Lobby's website:

And after I spray painted them:

Then, I carefully added the vinyl cutouts. (I will add the arrows once I know which direction they should be pointing.) Word to the wise: make sure your surface is relatively smooth if you are using vinyl. One sign didn't turn out quite as smooth as the others and I'm experiencing a bit of bubbling with the vinyl. Nothing I can't take care of with a finishing spray, but still. I should have sanded that particular sign a bit before priming. Lesson learned.

Next, my friend Stacey added the picture hanging hardware to the back of the during my Crafts & Cocktails party. I then tied a wide black satin ribbon on each one in order to hang them from a shepherd's hook.

And this is the finished product minus the directional arrow.

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!

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.

8 Months and Counting *OR* Why Do I Feel Like I'm Forgetting Something?

 {Toppers With Glitz}

I think we've reached it: the proverbial "boring" time during the wedding planning process where all the big stuff is done, it's too soon to move on to the next stuff and I feel like I have all the time in the world for DIY projects ... except the unfinished details are bugging the crap out of me.

Eight more months. Eight seems like a long time, but the fact that we've been engaged since last April puts it in perspective. We've accomplished so much in 10 months that I am really beginning to feel like I've forgotten something. Here's what's been happening lately ...

Bridesmaid's dresses, tux shopping, wedding band shopping and gift registry are all being pushed until May-ish. There is simply too much going on with my family and with Big Spoon's job to justify adding to people's stress when these things will get done eventually.

I've more or less finished designing our invitations. I even purchased the envelopes today at Paper Plus in Downtown Nashville. Am I crazy to want to print, trim, embellish and mount these little guys already? I still have all this other paper stuff to design to and I swear to you, I lay awake at night and critique my designs. Over and over and over. I'm constantly talking myself into "it doesn't matter, it's an invitation." ::Sigh::

It occurred to me over the weekend that the lovely little $2 cake topper my mom bought for right after we were engaged (when I was going balls-out "vintage". Yeah right) is white. Our cake is ivory. Oops. So, naturally, I decided to do the thing I've secretly wanted to do the whole time: monogram cake topper! Cliché? Maybe. But I've decided that a) I don't care what people think b) this isn't a beauty pageant or popularity contest, it's our wedding and c) We'll put some flowers around it. It will be fab.

It gets better. Although I loathe the Knot.com, on a night of steroid-induced insomnia, I was browsing the "wedding coupon" section of retailmenot.com (with monogram on the brain) and discovered that they were having a sale. Their plain jane mirrored monogram cake toppers were $5.99 and I also found this handy $5 off coupon, so I bought it. Unfortunately, the shipping was ridiculous, but in total, I paid $10 something for it. I'm going to embellish it myself.

All these little details and "to-do" things are swirling around in my brain and making me nuts. I keep writing lists over and over of the DIY projects I want to do and I'm afraid I won't get them done if I don't do them now, in order of importance, wearing a tutu and simultaneously folding laundry, ahhhhhhhh!

Have I officially moved to Crazyville?


*Oh yeah. I just remembered the thing I was forgetting ... we don't have an officiant! I'll post about that later because it's a long story.

Bargain Shopping & New Toys

I've made a couple of big purchases in the past week. I've been scouring the local sales ads like a crazy person and found fourteen 120" round white table linens with thirteen ivory runners and an ivory overlay for super cheap. I am beyond thrilled with this purchase.

I will only be short banquet linens for the food and beverage tables. I am no longer short on the banquet table linens for food/bev as I found LinenTableCloth.com tonight! They had 90" x 120" white linens on sale. I found their Twitter page, became a follower and obtained this code (twitter50082010) for 20% my purchase. An additional 10% was added automatically for their Valentine's Day special as well as free shipping! This is so much better than renting because we have the option of selling them after the wedding.

I had originally planned on black for the food tables, but it bothered the crap out of me for them to be a different color than the tables. I'm weird, I know. So, white it is. Shades of white, ivory, cream, champagne, tans and of course, black.

 

{image from the knot.com}

Over the weekend, I started working on our invitation designs. I'm too critical for my own good, but I feel like we are making progress toward compromise. Anyway, my printer crapped out on me. I've had my HP for something like 6 years. I printed almost my entire Sr. Thesis on that thing!

I wanted another HP and did a little digging on the net to come across this AWESOME offer at Staples. For a limited time, you can trade in your old printer for a $50 credit toward any printer that is regularly priced at $199.00 or above. Luckily, the printer I wanted was not only $199 reg price, but $75.00 off! Cha-ching!


If you go to the Hermitage Staples, be warned that not all of their associates realize that you qualify for both the sale and the credit. One of the associates told me that I couldn't get the $50 credit because it was on sale. Big Spoon (he's so smart) told me to go find a sales ad. It's plain as day on the front of the ad!
I walked out of there with a $200 printer for $80! I also recycled two print cartridges toward my Staples Rewards balance.

Yay for bargain shopping!

Holiday Cheer

Big Spoon and I had a good Thanksgiving vacation,  even though we have both done a lot of work over the past few days. Big Spoon has been trudging through work projects all week and I have been cleaning, shopping and decorating for the holidays.

We had a great time with my parents, grandparents and siblings - especially my niece and nephew, who seem to just get funnier every year. 

My future-in-laws are coming in on Christmas Day, we're hosting a holiday party for the students working in Big Spoon's lab and we'll potentially be having friends over for New Years Eve. Thus, I've put forth a great deal of effort to make the house look festive! So far, I have our main tree up in the living room, a tree in the upstairs window and garland on the railing.

I really love decorating and hosting and I'm looking forward to having people over. It is definitely more exhausting than my little apartments of yesteryear, but I'm liking the results.  I'll try to keep up Music Monday through the holidays, but there won't be much else to read, I'm afraid. Holiday time = wedding planning/writing break time!

Cake Topper

We have $40 budgeted for a cake topper (whether purchased or handmade). Luckily, my mom found this beautiful Martha Stewart cake topper at Big Lots for $2.00! ::happy dance::

We are going to dress-up the birds a bit (tuxedo bow and veil ... maybe?) and it will look awesome on top of my granny's coconut cake that she is making as our wedding cake! Yipee!