DIY Save-the-Dates

HEELLLOO!!

Well I must say in the two months (and a few days..but who's counting) that I've been away from blogging, SO much has happened that I literally did not have 2 seconds to breathe, let alone 2 hours to sit down and put together a blog post. (yes it sometimes takes me that long...it's my Type A).

Anywhoo, it is officially 282 days until the BIG day and it seems that the closer we get, the more excited I get.  Even though balancing all the planning/preparations with my new job and grad school has been...interesting I guess would be the word. My students don't believe me when they ask what I did over the weekend and I say "homework." They all laugh, and I'm like "No, seriously..." So far, I have not been feeling too much pressure because I have a pretty good routine down but we'll see how it will go as we get closer.

With only 282 days to go, it only seems appropriate to move on with the save-the-dates.  We will be mailing these out at the end of this month/into next month.  "Proper wedding etiquette" says guests should get a save-the-date 6-9 months in advance especially if they will be traveling.  November 12th will be exactly 8 months, so we should be good to go!

So I'll start at the beginning; When Greg and I first got engaged, Pinterest was my LIFE. And to be perfectly honest, it still is a huge inspiration with all the details I'd like to include on our wedding day.  As I was looking for ideas on save-the-dates I came across a "tying the knot" version at The Natural Wedding Company blog that was SUPER cute and I was instantly set on have a very similar idea for our own save the dates.  My original inspiration can be seen here .  Being the creative, over ambitious, Type A, perfectionist that I am, I wanted ours to be more unique and represent us as a couple.  So I put our own twist on it; here's some pictures of our finished product (the envelopes are handmade also)  :

 The center picture in the card is actually a refrigerator magnet so guests can have a cute little keepsake (and it's easier to hang up a magnet than a whole card or postcard).  I was able to make 110 save-the-dates for about $70.  That comes to right around $0.64 each, INCLUDING the magnets AND envelopes!!!

So here's how I did it: 

I started with the paper.  I wasn't sure what type or weight of paper the original blogger used at The Natural Wedding Company so tried to do some research on kraft paper products and weights but I'm not good at determining the difference between 80lb paper and 110lb paper unless I can touch it (one skill I will have to hone in I guess) So, I set out to find some paper I thought would work best. Hobby lobby has a great section of scrap-booking supplies/papers and this is where I found the paper I was looking for.  Each of our save-the-dates is a half sheet of 8.5 x 11 kraft paper card stock (cut long-ways) so I purchased one pack of 50 sheets and bought 5 individual sheets to have enough for 110 pieces.

From there I simply created a Word document that had our information on it and printed a test sheet on regular printer paper to make sure everything would line up after being folded.  Once I had everything in place and the right colors etc, I just printed all 55 copies.  This was quite interesting because we have a bottom feed printer so I literally had to feed each sheet into the machine because the paper was so thick... It took about 20 mins, which really isn't too bad I guess. Once all the sheets were printed, I cut them using the straight edge cutter Greg got me last Christmas so I could clip my coupons faster (he knows me so well :P). Sorry for not taking pictures of these steps! I didn't think about it until it was too late.

After all pieces were cut long ways, I used a hand-held hole puncher to create the holes for the twine:
(Yay for remembering a picture!!)

After all the holes were punched I added the magnets using  removable Glue Dots (like the ones that hold a new credit card on a letter or a gift card on the cardboard hanger).

Just press the dot onto the paper then press the magnet on the dot!

Glue dot in the middle of the center square:

 With the magnet in place:

Once the magnets were in place, I started tying the twine on.  This part was so BORING!! And about 1/4 of the way through I seriously started doubting why I ever thought this was a good idea...but since I just punched holes in 110 half sheets of paper (that's 220 holes!!), there was no turning back...

I cut each piece of twine to approximately 16 inches so that there was enough to tie both ends and still get a nice loop effect when the card was opened.  Each side need to be tied 3 times so that the twine wouldn't pull through.  I started on the left, tied the knots, wove the twine through the hole, created a big loop, wove the rest of the twine through the right hole, then tied the remaining knots.  This seriously took me about 6-7 hours in total, just for the knots -__-.  It'll look so good she said, they'll love it she said...yeah... lol GREAT idea! Shout out to my bridesmaid Janet for helping me out while visiting <3...how fun to visit and tie knots...

Once the cards were completely finished, I realized when they were folded up, they were an awkward size. All the envelopes I found online, in stores etc. were either too big or too small.  So, yet another brilliant idea! I recently shipped a package to our friends in New Hampshire with an engagement gift (Congrats Billy and Kate!!) and had to purchase a roll of kraft paper to wrap it in.  I still had the paper and was curious if it was possible to make an envelope (the paper matched so nicely!) So I Youtubed how to make an envelope and got to work making a template.

After a lot of trial and error, I figured out that the starting size of the envelope paper is just about twice the size of the largest side of the card (round down to the next whole number to reduce waste).  So my cards are 4.5'' x 3.75'' when folded up (round down to 4'') I started with a 8 x 8 inch sheet of printer paper:

 Then placed the cards in the middle and creased them where the folds of the envelope would be:

Once the creases are formed you have to cut the triangles out so that the envelope will fold properly.  Theses are made by the creases:

They will all be different sizes because you are creating a custom envelope.  Don't worry! It will work out!
After cutting away the triangles:

You can tell which flaps are the side flaps by the straight edge on the bottom:

 These straight edges will touch the bottom flap:

I then trimmed the side flaps to open up the "pocket." I started 3/4 of an inch from the side of the envelope so that the pocket would be sturdy enough to hold the cards.  Then drew a line from there to mark what would be trimmed off (I literally cannot cut a straight line..even if my life depended on it):

The top and bottom flaps will be a little wonky too so just trim to desired shape just like the sides. I liked the flat edge look for the bottom so I cut the tip off the top of this triangle:

Once I had the sides and bottom flaps all set, I centered the top flap.  To make the envelopes look more uniform, I measured 3/4 inches from the top crease to start my angle.  I also marked the exact middle of the envelope so that I could see how much I needed to cut off and make sure it was centered.  *This step may take a little trimming to make sure your envelope is how you'd like it.  But once you have this template done, it is very easy to make the actual envelopes.

Center line:

To be trimmed:

All trimmed up!

Once I was satisfied with how the template looked and folded, I simply traced it onto the kraft paper roll and cut them out. *I used some spare scrap-booking  paper for this picture so I didn't have to hold the roll of kraft paper and try to take a picture..lol But the process is the same:

Cut out the envelope:

Then using a straight edge, crease the flaps where they will fold:

I used double sided tape to seal the bottom flap to the side flaps, and it worked out GREAT! It's really easy and very sticky:

And you're done! All ready to be stuffed!

Once I stuffed all the envelopes, I sealed them again with the double sided tape.  The hearts are just decorative, they don't actually keep the envelope closed. I used regular craft glue to stick them on.

Remember those paint chips I forgot to put in the bridesmaids' gift boxes?...Yup! You guessed it! I bought a paper puncher at Joann Fabric and used it to punch the hearts out of the paint chips :) It was a great way to incorporate our colors and use up the stuff I already had lying around.  I used two shades of grey (the boys will be in these shades) for these and will be using the purple hearts for the actual invitations.

P.S. the paper for the invitations came in today and I literally cannot not explain how thrilled I was when I opened the box! I scared the poor kitty because I was so excited! Lol it's the simple things really :)

In case you were wondering, here's a breakdown of where I got the materials for this project and costs for each piece:

Hobby Lobby:
8.5 x 11'' Kraft Card Stock- $4.99
5- 8.5 x 11'' Kraft sheets - $2.00
Natural Jute Twine- $3.29
Glue Dots - $4.99

Big Lots:
2 Rolls of Kraft paper - $2.00
3pk of Double Sided tape - $3.00

Joann Fabric and Craft:
Heart Paper Punch - Free (typically $14.99)

Vista Print
125* Business Card Magnets - $41.61 (with tax and shipping)- they were having a 50% off sale!!
*you can only order in 25 unit increments

Total: $68.83 (with tax)  = $0.63 per save-the-date


And that's that!  I'm super happy with how these came out and even more excited to say that I MADE them AND they're UNDER budget!! I can't wait to send them to everyone!! I just ordered the return address labels so once those come in I will post a picture of the "ready to mail" envelopes (and update the total costs).

What do you think? Is this something you would try?  What are you doing for your save-the-dates?
Leave your ideas in the comments below!

Happy Planning!!

Update 11/12/2013
Well today was a big day!! After much planning and preparation the save-the-dates were sent out this morning :) And with all that excitement I forgot to take a picture :( (Maybe my #1 fan can take a picture once she gets hers in the mail?!!.. No pressure Mom! ) I do however have an update on the total cost for this project:

The return address labels came to $.05 each and the mailing address labels came to .02 each.

AND of course the stamps....came to $.66 each...for a grand total of $1.36 per save-the-date with postage.

Not too shabby for a custom creation! Still very happy with our overall costs for these and hoping that everyone receiving them enjoys them as much as I do.  :)

Budgeting Inspiration 2

Hello Friends, Family, and Fans!  Once again it has been waaayy too long between posts. I am officially a terrible blogger :( Since our last meeting, there have been a few developments in our planning and we have another meeting with our wedding coordinator this Wednesday! It's getting real; especially with less than a year left to go!

This post is a follow up to the previous budgeting inspiration, and I hope you can use it to help you with your planning or to get ideas....isn't that whole point of this blog?..hmm.. Throughout our planning process we have been quite creative when it comes to little touches that I think will make all the difference on our wedding day.  We have decided that our theme will be "The Story of Us," making a personal connections with all of our guests and for those we may not know as well, giving them a little insight to who we are.

I wanted our guest book to reflect our theme in a way that truly represented us as a couple and as individuals.  From the get-go (with some help from Pinterest) I thought it would be great to have a photo book as a guest book so that we can display it even after the wedding.

Now obviously a photo or picture book will need pictures..but we didn't plan to have an engagement session with our photographer, and with our schedules, we never know what will happen at any given moment.  And then, just like it was meant to be, I got an email from Shutterfly.com with an offer code for a FREE photo book!! We would only have to cover shipping and taxes (around $10) and obviously provide the pictures. But how can we get nice pictures without hiring a professional that would cost a fortune? Our total budget for the guest book was only $50! Let the brainstorming begin!!

I did some "research" on Pinterest for engagement shoot poses, repinned the ones I liked best and also came up with a few that I thought would complement the ones I had chosen without it being obvious that we were posing for the picture. I went for  more of a  relaxed, easy going, not as formal type pose...because honestly, that's what our personalities are like.  Once I had all the poses I wanted/thought would be nice, I had to think of a way to get the pictures taken.  A professional was WAY out of the question, most of our friends work and wouldn't have time, and we both have such random schedules that sometimes it's a miracle to see each other before bed time! Finally, I thought, why couldn't we take the pictures ourselves?! My fiance and I are both into photography as a side hobby and enjoy taking pictures and being outside.  For our 6th Christmas together I bought him a really nice Cannon DSLR that we use quite often for numerous occasions, and since then he has become the official photographer for both of our families. If anyone in the family wants/needs a nice picture or family portrait they call him.

GENIUS!! Now all I had to do was convince him that this could all work....that was the hardest part! It also doesn't help that neither of us enjoy getting our pictures taken, hence why we are always taking them.  After some explanation and convincing, he agreed and we set a time that weekend to go take the photos at a local park.  The photo books from Shutterfly can hold from 500-1000 photos depending on  path you choose to create your book. I figured we'd need about 50 shots so that we could fill the book and have enough room on the pages for our guests to sign their well-wishes. With all of that in mind, we decided to have multiple outfit changes to have some casual and some more formal shots throughout the book, and it made the photos more interesting.  We each brought clothes we already had so there was no cost associated with that either.

Carrying the clothes from the car for our outfit change

Once we got to the park, we scouted the perfect location and set to work on taking the pictures.  We had a BLAST!!! This was probably one of the most fun "dates" we've had in a while.  Because we were taking our own pictures, it was very relaxed and comfortable, no working with a strange photographer or worrying about what they would think of your outfits or wanting to change 3 times.  We also had unlimited time to take the pictures, we planned to be about 1.5-2 hours and wound up spending 3!  In total we took about 300 pictures, but with "bloopers" missed timers, blinking, poor lighting, laughing, and such only about 150 were "keepers."  Once we got home we went through all the photos and chose the ones we liked best to put into the photo book...we didn't have to edit many at all which saved a lot of time.  For the cover we chose a picture Greg had taken of a tree that he carved our initials into almost 8 years ago, very fitting with our rustic touches we're incorporating, and the last page is a picture of the tattoo we got for our 5th anniversary.  Again, keeping with our theme.

Here's a few "bloopers": We wound up using a few of these in the book because they were fun and more candid :)

 It took us so long to get this timer right!!

 Tri-pod

 "Working Bride" as Greg says

 Take one...I missed the timer..

 Take 2..I LOVE the lighting!

 Making me laugh

 Lining up the shot...before

After

I absolutely LOVE how the book came out and think it will be a great "story"for the gift table! Here's the link to view our Photo Book. Total, the book cost us $8.63, for a savings of $41.37 on the guest book budget!

If you don't have an account with Shutterfly I HIGHLY suggest you create one! They are always have specials or give always and are very reasonably priced for personalized and unique gifts.

Let me know what you think! Is this something you would consider doing? What are you doing for a guest book?  Your comments are always appreciated!

Let's Make a Deal! - Wedding Edition

Now that you've met with your top choices for vendors and got all your questions answered, the next step is to sit down and determine which one you like the best.  Go with your gut! If you liked them there's a reason for it!  It might help to sit down and write out the pros and cons of each vendor you spoke with and make a decision based on those aspects.

If you choose a vendor that is slightly out of price range, or does not offer something that you'd really like to have, don't worry! That's what negotiations are for! Once you've made your decision, make another appointment (planning sure does involve a lot of meetings!) with your top choice, to discuss potential contract options. 

Be prepared! - Once you've set an appointment date/time, gather all your "ammo" to be able to get the most for your money!  Make a list of things that you'd like to negotiate or change (if any) to fit your needs and compare costs between like vendors (venues to venues, djs to djs etc.). If DJ 1 offers up-lighting at no cost, and the DJ 2 charges you a fee for up-lighting, but you like DJ 2's other options, you may be able to negotiate the fee down or eliminate it completely!
*Bring the quotes and sample package options to the meeting with you from the other vendors you met with, it is always much easier when you have it in writing or on another company's letterhead!


Determine your wants and needs - There is a HUGE difference between wanting 2000 thread count linens on the tables and NEEDING 2000 thread count linens on the tables.  They way I see it; as long as you have a tablecloth and a napkin to keep yourself tidy, it's not going to make a difference what  the thread count is   -_- (seriously though...who cares! Your guests are NOT going to remember the linens, they're going to remember the party and how the day FELT!)

Your wants and needs should also align with your budget! You will most definitely NEED napkins/place-settings etc. but they should meet the budget as far as costs are concerned.  If you are able to save money elsewhere, the really nice napkins you WANT could be within reach!  It's a matter of reallocating funds from an area that came in under-budget to an area that might need a little extra money (think DJs for extra hours or longer open bar). To help us keep the budget straight I made a spreadsheet (surprise! that's the Business Teacher in me :) ) that has all our budgeting expenses broken down into categories within the budget as a whole.  When we purchase that item, the actual cost goes into the next column, and the savings are then calculated for each item.  From there the savings are totaled at the bottom so we can see exactly how much we have to "play" with.

One personal "wants" and "needs" example from our wedding: 

I reeaaalllly reeaallly wanted the Chiavari Chairs (seen below) in silver for our reception but they were $7/chair! They had other chairs, but they were maroon and gold trimmed, obviously left over from an 80's corporation sell off, and to rent chair covers was $6/chair. These were sooo pretty and only $1 more than the covers! But, at 150 chairs x $7/per chair that's $1,050 for CHAIRS!  I literally cannot pay $1,000 for chairs it's against my morals and way over budget!  So, the adventures continued, and as mentioned in  my "Budgeting Inspiration" post, we were able to save over $800 on our flowers! That extra money was then allocated to the new "chairs goal" leaving around $250 left to cover that cost.  With a little saving here, a little saving there, we covered the chair cost completely without increasing the budget at all! E i e i OOOOOO! (get it?...sorry I couldn't resist) :P  As of right now, we have saved a total of $1,525.75 on items/services for our wedding! 

Also keep in mind that it's the vendor's job to "up-sell" you.  Those of you in the retail or hospitality field will know what I mean.  Those of you who don't, up-selling is a process in which the salesman (or woman) gets you to add on little extras that you didn't necessarily plan on or need.  Just like when you are shopping during the holidays and the cashier asks you if you'd like to add on a bottle of lotion or perfume for a few extra dollars during your checkout.

Be confident!  Stand your ground and go into the meeting knowing exactly what you NEED and what you don't. They need to EARN your business and make your money go farther! Don't be intimidated (or rude!) and make sure they understand what you'd like to get out of their service and why you would like to work with them.  Most vendors will work with you on customizing your menus, or packages if you're working with photographers or DJs or anyone else really.  Go into the meeting with an example of how you picture your cocktail hour or your menu looking etc. and ask them for a price quote. If that works for your budget, then go for it! If you're under budget, ask what you can add on to still be within reach, but maybe give the party that extra wow factor... (umm chocolate fountains!! champagne fountains!...YES Please!!) It also helps if you are realistic in your expectations, they are the professionals and will do their best to get you the best deal possible.

Quick tips/Recap:

Be patient! - Venues sometimes work with a variety of staff or personnel that would need to be contacted for pricing or different options you'd like to add on. As soon as they know, they will contact you, don't call them everyday!  Simple manners and etiquette go a long way as well.  Screaming about the pricing or how things are being handled will only get you on the s**t list and that list will definitely not get you very far.

Be nice! - Try to work out the best deal that works for the venue (they are a business and providing you a service, therefore they must make SOME money) and your budget.  Don't be afraid to ask questions but do so in a nice way!  You don't want to be know as the Bridezilla of that season! They have lots of other weddings and events going on, especially if you are getting married during "wedding season" (May-September) and are most likely stressed out as much as you are.  A little kindness makes the process much easier for both parties; my Mom always says: "Treat others the way YOU want to be treated!"- thanks Mom, Love ya!

Be professional. - This is similar to be nice but a little more involved.  You are doing business with these people, at like it!  Do your research and be prepared as mentioned above.  Consult important members of your "board of directors" (ie. family, friends, the GROOM!- our wedding coordinator mentioned that she had 3 meetings the day we met with her and ours was the only one where the groom was present! It's his day too!) Ask your family members or bridal party for their help/opinions (being nice applies to them as well!) to reduce stress and make the decision easier, it never hurts to have another set of eyes review the costs/hidden fees, etc.

And that's, it!! Nothing to it! :)

If you have any questions about setting up a budget or negotiating prices/services let me know in the comments section!  Same goes for things you think would also be helpful that I may have not mentioned. :)

Happy Planning!!

Questions for your Vendors Part III-The Photographer

First and foremost I must apologize that it has so long between posts! Life has been super hectic with the end of school, graduations, acceptances to Graduate school, birthdays, holidays, vacations, new jobs, you name it; it’s happened!  WOO..and it seems like the end is no where in sight! L

So, with much anticipation and without further ado, I give you the top five questions to ask your photographer:

1.       How long have you been in the industry/What are your qualifications?-  Alright, technically this is 2 questions but they are both similar and very relevant.  Photography is one category that you will want to splurge on, and because you’re spending LOTS of money, you want to be sure you choose a photographer that fits your needs!  Photos are the ONE thing (well one of the things, hopefully you’ll keep your husband too!) you will keep for YEARS and show off to friends, or family, or to reminisce about that day, you want to make sure you get quality shots! Make sure you hire a PROFESSIONAL! No this does not include cousin Joe who likes to submit photos to Ellen’s “What’s Wrong With These Photos, Photos” (google it!)!!!  Meet with your top 3 choices for photographers and look over their porfolios and get to know them.  Then choose the one that you liked most based on photography style and personality, you don't want to hire a photographer that will be a stick in the mud at your wedding! If they can't have fun, how are they supposed to capture the fun in your photos?

2.       Do you have a back-up/partner?-If you are hiring a photographer that typically works on their own, it is HIGHLY important to verify if your photographer has a back-up plan if for some reason they are unable to make it on the date of the wedding (illness, family emergency, etc.) If they don’t have a specific plan, it may be wise to make one that fits both your needs.  Once you have worked out the details, be sure to get everything in writing, either in the initial contract or in a supplemental contract.  You may also want to make an appointment to see the work of the back-up/partner to ensure you like their work/style etc.

3.       Do you charge for multiple locations?- If you plan on taking pictures at locations other than where your ceremony and reception are being held, ask about travel fees and how they would like to work out meeting you or following you to the other locations.  This may also be a great time to set up a schedule of the day to help things stay organized and ensure everyone is on the same page about meeting times and locations. (BONUS!: you can make copies of the schedule for the bridal party and parents so they know what your plans are/where you’ll be throughout the day!)

4.       When will we receive our pictures?-This is one of those questions that is not extremely important but could be if you plan to use some of your pictures for your “thank yous.”  It is also nice to have a time frame in order to purchase albums, and other photo gifts for parents or the bridal party.  Ask if touch-ups/editing is included in the package price as well! Some photographers will charge extra!

5.       How will we receive our pictures?- With all sorts of different technologies available today, you have a variety of options to choose how to receive your pictures.  Some photographers will give you 4x6 prints of each photo; some give you a CD, others a flash drive, and others will take beautiful pictures of your big day and then head on a two week vacation, and have to “make room” on the camera for their personal pictures, therefore deleting your favorite shot of you stuffing cake in your grooms face…cough, cough, cousin Joe..HIRE PROFESSIONALS!  It is important to ask about copyrights as well.  Most photographers copyright their work, making it difficult, if not impossible for others to use the images without permission, even if you are the subject of the photos!  If this is the case with your photographer, ask if you will receive full rights to print, edit, and copy the photos they take of you.  This way you won’t run into any trouble when creating an album, ordering extra prints for loved ones, or using the prints for unique photo gifts like those from Shutterfly.com.  P.S. they have GREAT prices on albums at Shutterfly! Same quality and professional look from the photographers for less! This is how we plan to order our albums!

Well I think that just about covers it!  If you think of something, feel free to share it in the comments! Or if you have an outrageous photographer story, share that too!

Have a GREAT day and happy planning!

Questions to Ask Your Vendors Part 2: The DJ

So you now know what you ask when booking your venue, here's how to navigate booking your DJ.  The DJ is one of the MOST important vendors you will book for you wedding!  This person is responsible for the party atmosphere and keeping your guests entertained throughout the evening so you want to make sure you get ALL your questions asked before you make your final decision.

Keep in mind before meeting with your potential DJ you should consider what kind of service you want them to provide.  My fiance and I are hosting our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception at the same location, and therefore had a few uncommon questions to get answered. Some questions you might what to answer with your significant other before you set up an appointment with a DJ might be:
-Do we want a DJ for the ceremony?/Do we want music at the ceremony?
-Do we want music at cocktail hour? (How will this work?)
-Will it be difficult to hear what is being said without a mic? (think outdoor/large scale wedding)
-If we don't want a DJ for these events, who will be in charge of the music? (if applicable)

Once you've established how you want your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception to go, you can move on to the more important questions.

Here are our top five questions to ask your potential DJ:

1. What is included in the DJ package?- Almost all DJs have a special package that they offer to wedding couples to get the "most bang for your buck." These packages will vary from vendor to vendor and possibly from season to season (if you book a DJ for an off season date, they may give you a discount etc.). It is important to know exactly what you are getting in this "deal."  We noticed that some vendors would only send 1 DJ to an event while others would send 2.  It is important to note these details and the price range for both options. Although having 2 DJs might seem excessive  it could also mean, less headaches on your big day. (Who's going to man the music if that one DJ has to run to the bathroom?!)  Having 2 DJs makes running the "party" a little easier as well. 1 mans the music while the other takes care of announcements, and toasts.

Some DJs include special additions as well such as up-lighting, dance floor lighting, glow sticks, noise makers, and other party favorites.  Keep track of these things and compare them when you have time to sit down and look over each contender.  You may also be able to customize your package to meet your needs, so be sure to take note of what you do and do not want!

2. Will you travel?- If you're planning on have your ceremony and cocktail hour/reception at different locations and would like to have professional music at both, be sure to ask about travel.  Some vendors include unlimited travel, while others will charge you per mile or hour of additional service.  It is important to know exactly what you'll be paying for so that there is not a huge surprise at the end of the day.

3. Do we need to provide a "play list?"-  Some DJs require the bride and groom to provide them a playlist of songs so that they know what kinds of music to bring with them or what the crowd will like.  Others do not require this but will instead "assess the crowd" and play what they think is best. Think about what will work best for you!  For instance, we went with a DJ that has 12 years experience playing in a nightclub and provides 2 professional DJs.  We KNOW they will play fun, feel good, party music without having to create a play list for them.  And, not-for-nothing, I have MUCH bigger things to worry about than creating a play list for the DJ....isn't that their job?!..  You may also want to ask about a "Do Not Play List" for songs you feel would be inappropriate or that you just don't like.  Most DJs give you this option and are willing to explain to any guests that request that song why it is not being played.   On the same note, one list you WILL have to provide is the entrance, first dance, father-daughter, mother-son, cake cutting, and if you are hiring them for the ceremony; the processional and recessional music.

4. Can we add on hours to the package?- This is HUGE! Make sure you are clear on how adding additional hours to the original package works! If you booked the venue for 6 hours and only have the DJ for 4 hours what will you do for the 2 extra hours? No music?  Have uncle Eddie sing a solo?..maybe a duet with aunt Marsha?  I mean that's your choice... or what happens if you plan to have enough time for the DJ and the party is JUMPING and you want to stay longer?...Do you just call it quits or keep it rockin' ?! I mean I want to P-A-R-TAY on my wedding day so being able to add time to the DJ contract is crucial!  Find out how making a payment works if you want add time to the reception (some DJs will not take credit cards on the night of the event, so what method of payment they will take) and clear it with your venue to be sure you are not holding up another event if you'd like to stay later.

5. Do we have to provide a meal?- In most instances the DJ you hire will be there through dinner service.  Some DJs will require you to provide a meal for the professional running your reception.  This might be a good question to ask when you are trying to narrow down your top choices.  It may also be a good idea to find out what kind of meal they will require (ie. food restrictions, an option form your dinner menu, a sandwich, chicken and waffles, McDonalds etc.)  Your venue may also comp the meals for other vendors as well.  Be sure to bring that up while meeting with your wedding coordinator.

Some other questions that you might want to ask are:

How much set up time will you need?- be sure to inform the venue what time the DJ will be arriving!
How many outlets do you need access to?
Will you require any tables, linen, or extension cords?
How much space will you require?
Do you have a plan if you get sick and cannot be at the event?


I think I got them all...can you think of others?

Just remember to bring your MOST important questions with you when you're meeting the DJ for the first time.  Take their contact information at the end of the meeting just in case you think of something at a later time.  Typically they will be more than happy to answer any questions you have! Be polite and professional and you shall receive the same in return!


Your comments are appreciated!

Important Questions to Ask Your Vendors Part 1: Venue Questions

Planning a wedding can and typically is SUPER stressful, especially if you are a DIY bride or a couple planning your own wedding (without a wedding planner).To keep you and your loved ones at ease it is important to make a list of what you and your future spouse want or would like to have at your wedding/reception.We started by making a generic list of things we thought would be cool or nice to have to add a special touch of personalization to our day.  From there we priced out our favorite things to determine if they would work for our budget.  If they didn’t work, we reassessed the budget and list of “must haves” to see if we could make it work or if it was something that we could live without.  After a few rough drafts and much discussion we were able to finalize the list and determine what we needed/wanted for our big day.

Having a “picture” in mind of how you see your wedding and reception really helped us understand what we needed to ask each of our vendors when negotiating a price or talking about the services they provide. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind when talking to your key vendors.  I’ve broken these questions down into three parts; Venue, DJ, and Photographers for you J This post will focus on  just venue questions!

Venue Questions

Your venue will be the biggest decision you make while planning your wedding and will therefore require the most “customization” or questions to be asked when making a decision.

1. What is included in the cost of dinner?-  Most times when you request information from a venue they will provide you will the cost of a buffet style and seated dinner along with a description or sample menu.  Although this may seem like it will cover what you need it is important to ask what the price per person includes.  For example does the cost per person include:

• Open bar?
• Dessert/cake/cake cutting?
• Champagne toast?
• Linens? (table/napkin/chair covers)
• Place settings?
• Coffee/tea?

Many of these things may seem silly but it is important to clarify (READ THE SMALL PRINT) before jumping into a venue that charges you per fork placed on the tables. (This happens I’m NOT kidding!)

2. How will the room be set up?-  This may seem unimportant but knowing how the reception room will be set will allow you to plan seating arrangements and activities throughout the night.  One venue we looked at had the dance floor on the right side of the room which made the table arrangements very tight and awkward for those that were seated on far side of the room to get up and dance.  Guests would have had to walk between 5 rows of table to get to the dance floor…how annoying?!  Flow and room set up are also extremely important when planning a buffet style dinner.  You don’t want to crowd the buffet area with guest tables and you don’t want the line to be too close to those sitting either.  That’s always appetizing to have someone’s hind-end over shoulder while trying to enjoy dinner…mmm delicious.

Knowing how your reception hall/room will be set up will also make things easier on your other vendors as well.  Your DJ, photo booth, cake baker, and possibly your photographer will want to know where they can set up and what the overall layout of the room is so that they can make deliveries and such.

3. How many hours are included in the room rental?-  This is a GREAT question that often gets overlooked.  The typical reception location rents their ballrooms for about 4-5 hours at a time, however this is not the case for all venues.  Our venue permits unlimited time in the ballroom but would prefer us to have things wrapped up by 2am to allow the staff to go home (2am!? There’s no way I’LL make it to 2am!..geez) Knowing how long you have to rent the room will make decisions like what time to serve dinner, cake, coffee, etc. easier for you. You can plan to space things out so that guest s are not starving by the end of the night.  You can also determine how long you will need to book your DJ and photographer for.  Knowing your time frame can also help you plan out the entire day’s schedule as well. If you have the room for 5 hours, you’ll have to determine which 5 hours those will be and from there determine ceremony, and cocktail hour times (on a side note, it may be good to ask where cocktail hour will be held, if it’s in the same room, is that hour deducted from the overall rental time?).

4. Is insurance required?- Some venues will require your third party vendors to have insurance to cover damage, loss, or injury in case of fire or other “natural disaster” or emergency. It is important o know what your venue needs in order to allow your other vendors to do their jobs effectively and without problems.  You don’t want to book a third part vendor and realize they don’t meet the requirements that your venue has established L.  In some cases, the venue you choose may have a list of vendors they have worked with in the past.  This is a great resource and may be a great place to start looking for a DJ, photographer, or even  wedding officiants.

5. Last but not least; Will there be a wedding coordinator present on the day of the event?  Some venues will provide you with wedding coordinators throughout the planning process and will typically have a representative on staff on the day of your wedding.  However, it is important to realize not all venues are the same.  If your venue does not offer a wedding coordinator, try to negotiate one into the venue price.  Having someone there on your day to handle the small and sometimes big problems, will alleviate a lot of stress on you and your guests.  You don’t want to have to worry about how your gifts/cards or seating arrangements will be handled. You’re there to get married not worry about the tiny details.  If you can’t get a wedding coordinator, try asking a friend or family member to help “put out any fires” on the day of so that you can enjoy yourself.

What do you think? Did I forget anything?

Be My Maid DIY

Ok here it is! The very first DIY project!  I took as many pictures as I could (sorry about the picutre quality!) Hopefully this will insipre you to do your own DIY!

First a little background;

I knew when I first got engaged who I wanted to be part of my half of the wedding party, but I wasn't sure what role each of the lovely ladies would play.  So, I let that part of the planning fall by the way side until I came to an offfical decision.  Since we've recently been really jumping into planning I thought this would a great time to recruit the team before we jumped into making save-the-dates, invitations, programs, etc. The more hands the better!

Fast forward, so just like any Pinterest addict would do I took to the internet to get some ideas on fun ways to ask my girls to be part of the big day.  I really liked Rinse and Repeat's take on her be my maid DIY (you can see the original post here) and thought that I could definitely put something similar together.  Upon further "research" :P I found weddingprepgals that had the BEAutiful robes that would be perfect for the day of to wear while getting ready.  BINGO!  What a perfect keepsake and they were well within my budget of $50 per bridesmaid.

And so it began, I ordered 6 robes in total 1 for me, 2 in champagne for the moms and 3 in purple for my girls.  The photos make them look really dark but they're actually really close to a plum purple:

I had each robe monogrammed in the front with everyone's first initial.

For myself and the maids/maid of honor I also had the backs embroidered with each title :)

I gathered all my supplies; I got the photograph boxes from A.C. Moore (5 in total).  Paint chips from Home Depot to correspond with our color scheme, AWESOME mason jar insulated mugs from Walmart( in the seasonal section! This turned out to be a great last minute idea!) Ribbon wands and 1 bracelet for each maid.

I am really into personalized gifts and homemade stuff so I decided to put my own touches on the gifts with a personalized poem and a little decoration.

Here's one of the boxes with the finished name...My handwriting is not the greatest so I found a font I liked and printed it on regular printer paper.  I then took a thumb tack and made tiny holes all the way around each name: 

Then cut down the paper to get an accurate idea of where the center should be and taped it to the top of the photo box.  From there I took a purple sharpie and went over each hole (sorry for the inconsistancy with the names...you get the idea!):

Remove paper:

Then just connect the dots and color in!! Easy peasy...it would also be alot easier if I had a vinyl cutter or one of those fancy dancy machines but hey..we're saving for a wedding! Hmm.. I wonder if I can register for one of those....anyway.. On to packing each box:

None of the girls (or the moms) knew that they were getting these gifts (util I spoiled it with the last post :P), nor do they know what roles I would like them to play (the bridesmaids/maid of honor...I'm pretty sure the moms know how to be moms :) ) So I decided to write little poems to "ask" them to be part of my party and when they opened the box it would reveal what role they would play. 

I started by folding the robes so the back embroidery with "bridesmaid" or "maid of honor" faced up. I then put the bottom half of the robe in the box first along with the other goodies: 

To keep the "info cards" organized I made little pockets out of scrap-booking paper I had lying around. I also liked the idea of matching the color of the paper with the color mug they would be getting...type A or what?! :P

To make the pockets:

Start with a sheet of paper (mine was 12 x 12 but you could easily use pretty colored standard size paper) and measure it to be 7 and 3/8 inches wide by 8 and 1/2 inches long:

Draw out your lines to determine where to cut.  Then cut to size.  From there I used what was left of the paper to create "pockets" for each card to sit in:

I didn't have precise measurements for this part, I just laid each card down and determined where each strip should go.  From there I glued the bottom and side of each strip leaving the top open to create a pocket for the card to sit in.

Once all three cards were in place I folded the bottom of the paper up to give it a finished look and glued down the two sides to keep everything from falling out :)

After I arranged everything in the box I folded the rest of the robe over to reveal the back embroidery:

This is how my table looked during this process:

I take my crafting seriously...you're obviously not doing a good job if you not making a mess...just like cooking..ask my fiance! <3

For the moms robes I decided not to get the backs embroidered because I wanted them to enjoy them after the wedding,  they won't always be "Mother of the Groom" or "Mother of the Bride" so I kept it simple with just the front monogram.  I used the exact same process to package their boxes as I did for the others except I folded them so that the front monogram was showing rather than the back of the robe:

From there to keep the element of surprise I covered each robe with some fun confetti tissue paper and placed the ribbon wands and poem on top (the stinkin wands wouldn't fit length wise in the box, then when I got them in there the lids wouldn't close...so I had to go with putting them on top..lol)

Poem for the maids/maid of honor

For my Mom:

For my soon to be Mother-in law:



These might be a little hard to read so I've attached the word documents for you.  This is my original work but please feel free to use it for you own creation or tweak it to fit your DIY :)

And finally the finishing touches; I added some pretty ribbon to each box (after I put the lids on...hopefully that was self explanatory) :

TADA! All finished! :) I'm really happy with how they came out!

Some specs:

The whole project took me about 5 hours between writing each poem (that was the hardest part!) creating each "info card",(everyone got 3 cards; "Your Role", "Meet the Maids", and "Our Day") mounting the paper, creating each pocket for the info cards and packaging/wrapping each box.  I spread this out over 2 days so it really wasn't so bad.

My total budget for each gift was $50/box.

I was able to get the photoboxes on sale 4 for $10 and I also got the bracelets 3 for $10 at A.C. Moore I also get rockin discounts because I'm a teacher so the total came to $18.36 with tax.  I had a gift card so these were FREE!

The paint chips (which I wound up not using) were free from Home Depot.

The mugs were $4.98 each at WalMart I also bought myself one (how perfect are they for mimosas?!!) for a total of $32.27 with tax for 6. I had a gift card for this purchase as well so, again these were FREE!

The tissue paper I got from the Dollar Store...therefore it only cost a $1 (technically $1.08 with tax)

The wands I purchased from another bride in a package deal that had 41 wands, 64 bubble containers, extra ribbon spools, a Lenox cake set and a basket to keep it all in for $20.  So these came to less than $1 each.

And finally the robes came to $38 a piece for the robes with front and back embroidery and $31 for the ones with just the front monograms.  For a total of $216 (including my robe that was $41)

All in all for I spent approximately: $40 per bridesmaid and $33 per mom.  :)


What do you think?
If you have questions feel free to post in the comments!