Invites

You finally have a wedding date!!!! CELEBRATE by beginning to pick out your wedding invites.

I know that I am repeating myself when I say this but MAKE SURE IT SAYS YOU AND YOUR FIANCE! Don’t pick an invite simply because of the colors or the fact that they are on sale. **Remember that your invites are the first thing your guests are going to see which tells them what type of wedding you are having and your style.

I have some examples below on some DIY wedding invites.

 There are many tools available at any craft store to help you come up with ideas for your invites.

Some people type and print off their own invites as well.

Here is my DIY invite project from my wedding. I started off by looking up wedding invites that fit my theme. I found these invites at Vistaprint.com. I waited for them to go on sale and got my invites 40% off.

 
I created the reception cards on my own. I found this design online and it matched almost perfectly with the design that was on my invites. Since the cards were so small, I knew it wouldn’t cost me much to print them off and cut them myself. The top card on the right also went along with the “nature wood theme.” I actually lightening up the tree trunk color and wrote a note for the family guests that we would be doing full family photos after the wedding.

Make sure that while you are figuring out what to write on your invites that you think about your guests. Step back and act like you are reading it for the first time. Your directions must be clear. You don’t want to leave your guests in the dark.

Finally, I had all of the pieces for my invites. Would it be fine to throw all of these pieces into an envelope just the way they are? Yes. But I was not satisfied with that.

I love the look of the covered invites. Invite pockets are very popular and beautiful, but VERY pricey. So I came up with an alternative.

Brown craft paper was my solution. I found my paper at Walmart in the paint section. You can also find this paper at Hobby Lobby and Lowes.

**Another great tip when trying to cut costs… the actual invite pocket makes your envelope fatter which means more postage. Think about things like that when you pick out your invites!

Time to personalize the invites a little more…

1.       I printed on a cream colored card stock the letters M (choose a font that matches your invites).

2.       I hand cut (using fancy scissors) the M’s as shown

3.       I used a makeup sponge and brown ink to give my M’s that rustic looking edge.

4.       I also used the fancy scissors to cut another piece for behind the letter. I used green scrapbook paper that had a slight design in it.

5.       Hole punch the two pieces together.

6.       Tie with any type of string or ribbon that fits with your style.

And the finished product!!!

Sonya Palmer Photography

I hope these ideas will inspire you to create your own DIY invites!

Ps. Bridesmaids are a wonderful help when putting these together!

Picture Perfect Centerpieces

It has been a while, but I am back!

These little cuties have been stealing my attention...

Well, today's blog is on a DIY picture centerpiece idea. I am actually pairing up the pictures with flowers in a mason jar. I will blog later about these. I am doing floating candles in mason jars as well, every other table.
I knew that I wanted to incorporate our engagement pictures into the reception somehow and got inspired by a picture that I found online. You could also use pictures that sort of tell a story of your lives together (maybe places you have traveled or dates you have been on).

Here is an example of the finished product.

I found these picture frames at Hobby Lobby for $2 each. I used a 40% coupon on them as well. They may not be the best quality but they are inexpensive for this project.

I also purchased a wood burning tool. I am going to use this tool for other DIY wedding decor so spending the $12 was not too bad either.

For my frames I used different love sayings or designs. I wrote them in pencil first and then burned them onto the picture frames. It sounds difficult/dangerous but I promise it is very simple.

Vuala!

I love adding a personal touch to everything. Most centerpieces end up in storage boxes, sold online or in the trash. The great thing about this project is that I will be able to display these in our home when the wedding is over.

Have a blessed day!

DIY designer cake cutting tools

Hello! I feel that I am so excited about this blog that I could not keep myself away from it.

Today's blog is about a DIY designer style cake cutting knife/tools. There are always cheaper alternatives to cake cutting knives but in order to get these cheaper options you usually end up losing out on style. With this DIY tip, you will again be able to create these knives with your own personal touch.

To begin I purchased a cheap stainless steel knife set from Kohls for $15.

From there I decided on what type of colors/beads I wanted to use to create this set into more of a designer set. I chose to use pearls (well fake pearls). You could also use beads or gems that match your wedding colors. 

I found my pearls at Joann Fabrics.

 

To add more texture, I chose to use multi sized pearls for my project. Joann also sells jewery wire or you can purchase some at your local Walmart store (which is what I did). $2 at the most.

A pair of wire cutting pliers, and you are all set to go.

Begin by wrapping around the wire very tight at the top of where you would like to place the beads. Also, wrap the wire around (plain) for about three times. Leave about an inch of the end of the wire. You will tuck that in once you are finished with the beads.

I put about three pearl beads on each time (this will depend on the size of beads that you use). Be sure that inbetween each wrapping of the beads that you wrap the wire around plain at least one time. This will ensure that the beads will not move. I only put the pearls one side of the knife. You could go all the way around as well. Keep wrapping down the handle until you are satisfied with the look. Then wrap the plain wire around the handle three more times, at the bottom. Cut the wire, leaving another 1 inch piece.

To complete the project you only need to tuck in the 1 inch ends that are left at the top and bottom of the bead work. I did this by going underneath the pearls. You will be amazed at how well the pearls are secure. I worried that they would move once we cut the cake but I am 100% certain that they will stay in place.

TaDa!

I also decorated the cake server using the same method. Here are all of the tools that I used.

And the end product. 

I had origionally wanted a beautiful set from Macys which was $40... a piece! What I love about DIY projects is that you really appreciate the work that you have done and you know that it is a one of a kind piece for your wedding.

Using this method you can create numerous different unique cake serving/cutting tools for your own wedding or event.

Enjoy!

~Amanda

Howdy! and DIY garter

Hello all. This is my first blog so please be patient with me.

I created this blog because I never found that one website that helped me with a DIY wedding. Okay, I found many DIY wedding blogs and websites but let's be real, when we want a DIY wedding we want to save on costs. Most of these sites had great ideas...if you want to go broke. My fiance and I are paying for our entire wedding. With over 350 guests being invited, the costs can really add up. I wanted to create our wedding to our style yet keep it to a budget. Yes, I am artsy and crafty which helps out a lot but what about those that need that extra push? That is where I hope I can help out.

I would like to post different DIY wedding details on each blog. I will try to do this bi-daily or weekly if I can.

Today's blog: DIY garter. The garter has played a major role in weddings. Lately the tradition of tossing the garter has been kicked aside. I for one am not tossing my garter. I had to seriously look at my guest list and think about who would actually "want" to go out on the dance floor and catch the garter and bouquet. I would suggest considering your guests before you plan to do this. I hate going to weddings where the bride and groom have to chase down all single/unmarried guests. Being one of them at many occasions, I would always stand in the back to make sure I did not come within ten feet of the bouquet. Of course if your group of guests are more upbeat about this and there are many single guests then by all means, go for it.

Although I am not tossing my bouquet and my fiance is not tossing the garter, I am still going to be wearing one. If not just for the wedding night, then for the traditional fact of wearing a garter. I did a lot of searching to find a garter that I would like to wear but when I saw the prices I was in shock! I mean I could buy a pair of jeans for one little tiny piece of elastic and lace!


Can you believe that this garter is $25! Only to be worn one time!

And, as we know, style always changes.
Now garters are starting to look more like these two styles.


$40. This could easily be made on your own. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3klKZ6LNGc
Then glue on some bead pearls. I found some very inexpensive ones at JoAnn Fabrics store. I believe it was $2.50 for a bag with 100 pieces. (You will see this in an upcoming blog).


$58

I decided that I was going to have to come up with a solution. Since my wedding is a simple, elegant outdoorsy theme, I was on the look out right away for the exact one that would suit me. Remember, don't settle. Make sure it is exactly what you want. I was going to create something like the last picture I posted. I knew it may take some time to create but that was sort of the look that I was going for, although I did not want to lace.

Keep your eyes peeled at all times! While shopping one afternoon with my Maid of Honor and her sister at Charming Charlie I happened to have found an even easier solution for what I was looking for. And it only cost $7.97!

Yes, that is a headband. All I have to do is cut the elasitic, shorten it and sew it back together. I know this is an easy DIY but it still works. Think about all of the headband looks that are out there right now. You could have a beautiful garter for only 1/4 of the price.







Don't worry, I have many other blogs to post about DIY wedding ideas. Many of these are where you are actually creating the items from scratch. I just wanted to post a simple idea for my first blog.

My biggest tip for today: Make sure that your wedding isn't anyone elses wedding. Make sure that it not only "says" you and your fiance. Make sure it "SCREAMS" you two! The details you put into your wedding will speak thousands of words on how you two mesh well and exactly who you are individually and as a couple.

Have a blessed day!

~Amanda