Need Table Linens?

I'm sure I've told you all before that my venue doesn't supply linens, and that I was supplying my own (ummm...or maybe I didn't). Well, they aren't and I AM. I already bought my round tablecloths and linen napkins quite awhile ago. And then there's that special I jumped on a couple of months ago from LinenTablecloth.com. In fact....all but my napkins are from LinenTablecloth.com. My round tablecloths I bought through their ebay site. And I just recently received $50 worth of merchandise from them so that I may review their products and blog my opinion on them. So here I am!
Now, what I got with the $50 was (1) 14 foot polyester white table skirt, (4) of their new white satin universal chair covers, and (1) each of 14" x 108" silver satin and lavender satin table runners.
So let's start. The picture above is 2 different chairs. One is a wooden folding chair, and the other is a rounded top dining room table chair. The following picture is the side view of the folding chair with the satin universal chair cover.

Then a picture of it from the back.
Next is the side view of the larger chair..........

....and from the back. So as you can see, they truly are universal. I love the satiny material! I only bought 4 for the head table.
These are some sashes I bought from linentablecloth.com....before the $50 was offered to me. Above it is tied in a bow.......
......and here in a simple knot. I can't wait to decorate the real thing!!!! 7 months-6 days and counting!
These are the table runners......same color on the lavender sash as on this table runner. I also received this silver one, but it seems to look kinda white in the pic.
Here it's draped across my coffee table, but tons of material hanging off the sides, of course! It will look much better when it's steamed and wrinkle free ( they also sell a portable steamer at linentablecloth.com which I am planning to purchase). =)
Here's a close up of this very pretty material. Feel free to click on the pic for a closer look.
And last but not least, here is my humongous white polyester table skirt. It is constructed so well! And the pleating is awesome! I don't know if you've ever seen pics of people's wedding tables where the pleats around their skirt are kinda pleh......well, the pleats on these babies are sharp and defined....and pretty stiff. So I know it's gonna look great at our table....no "pleh" here!
So.....am I happy with linentablecloth.com's products? Well, duh! I wouldn't keep going back for more if I wasn't! And not only the quality...but the price!!!! I have SCOURED the internet to find something less expensive, but my searching always leads me back to linentablecloth.com. Always! They are constantly having special deals, daily twitter contests, and are currently adding more to their inventory and doing their best to make their site the best that it can be....for who? For me and you, of course! Us future Mrs's. (lol) So if you're looking for great, affordable linens.....even rather than renting.....I highly recommend linentablecloth.com. If not for them, I'd be having "like-linen" tablecloths......thank you Linen Tablecloth!

Oh, and reading this back....I realize I sound like a fricken' commercial, but I swear......I'm not getting paid to say these things. I had their permission to write my true opinion on their products.....good or bad. And this IS the most inexpensive place I've found for linens. I love 'em!

Love This Boutonniere!-DIY

Images by Jess Epstein Photography
Bout designed by Hillary Burgess

I absolutely love, love, love this! Maybe because I'm partial to the color, but also because I love the way it still looks quite masculine. I never really thought much of boutonnieres, and in all actuality...this is the ONLY one that's ever caught my eye.

For directions on how to DIY this bout, just click on one of the pictures.

Now, I just gotta run this by the Mr., although we don't even really know what he will be wearing for the wedding yet! Well, we could always plan his ensemble around the bout. Yes? heehee

Will your man be sporting a boutonniere?

Dollar Stores!

Aren't these adorable? I found these at a nearby dollar store for $1 each. I just had to have them. I don't know exactly what I will do with them, but here they are.
Maybe use them somehow at our Jack and Jill shower?
Well, just thought I'd share..............

My Latest DIY

I was very excited to start this project, especially because I knew I would be basically making this from scratch. I had seen a picture a while back, and knew immediately that this was something I would incorporate into my wedding. It's a.....card holder in the shape of a camera. Specifically, cards to give out for our photoshare site.
I started this project by eyeballing the picture I had saved to my computer....getting a feel for the approx. size, what would be involved in making it, and how I would go about it. It looked to me as if they had used 2 pieces that they then put together, so I started there. I used ordinary printing paper to make my stencils and practice folds. Once I completed my stencils, I went to the craft store and bought two 8 1/2" x 11" black, sturdy cardstock. I then traced my homemade stencils onto the black papers and cut them out.

Here's one of them.
On this piece, I retraced just the top portion of this onto white cardstock, then cut and glued it on.
Folded it into shape...........
....made sure it fit into the other piece..............
....added a little more detail.......
.....glued individual pieces into place.........
.....then glued them to each other......and.......Wah la!
I made the cards on matte white Avery business card blanks that I got from the dollar store by my house. I am very pleased on how these came out. I mean, you can totally tell this whole thing is homemade, but that's the way I wanted it. I actually WANT people to KNOW that I made this with my own two "wittle" hands...lol. And all for well under $2.00! I may just have to do a little retouch on the letters......

Will you be having photosharing cards at your wedding? And if you are, how will they be displayed?

My Very DIY Pocket Fold Envelopes

I had to create the template for this from scratch because I couldn't find a template online that would accomodate the invites that I had already bought from Michael's (50 for $17.00 with 40% off coupon). These are the standard sized invites, but all I could find online as far as pocketfold envelope templates went, was DIY sizes. Usually small square sized. So I went with trial and error using my invite and envelopes to guide me.
I then made my template, so that everything that came with the invites would fit in the envelopes, and so that I used as little paper as possible. So...it will be this pocket fold envelope that goes into the envelope that came with invites, then that will go into larger envelopes I purchased separately.
Once that was done, the rest was pretty simple. I made a belly band using scrapbook paper I already had, and this lacy paper I had found at the thrift store ( a bag full for $1.95). All were fastened by a couple of square double sided photo mounting adhesives. Then threw a white ribbon around that (also adhered with a small piece of photo mounting adhesive so it wouldn't slip off of the bellyband).
I accented the pocket with the same scrap paper as the belly band, and a small stick on rhinestone for a delicate touch (pkg. of 48 for $1.00 at Michael's).
I still have to print on the actual "invitation", but I won't be doing that until I'm a bit closer to the wedding date. After all, it's still almost a year away. The invite will then be fastened to the pocket fold envelope. But for the sake of putting up pics, I just set the unfinished invite in place without gluing or fastening.
It's a very simple design....not so fancy-shmancy.... and I didn't use the more elegant pretty paper.....but I'm very happy with the results. Gives it just a little oomph, as opposed to just sticking all the stuff in an envelope. Most of all I'm happy that I finished them! OK...almost finished them. All I have left is putting the rest of the ribbons on. It was a very time consuming project, as simple as it looks. But it was very rewarding for me.

What type of invites are you using?

One of the BEST Deals Ever!

I can't believe this streak of luck I've been having lately! And believe me, I am not the lucky type at all.
What are these you ask? Well, let me start from the beginning. Last week I was looking on Craigslist for any super duper deal I could find on wedding stuff ( I do this daily). I had BEEN looking for some linen napkins, as my reception venue is a city community hall which provides only table, chairs and kitchen. I already bought my linen table cloths, and was originally planning on "like linen" napkins because of my budget. I mean, just to RENT napkins is about .75 a piece! For a hundred people that's $75! I don't know about you, but $75 for just something to wipe your mouth on???
Well, anyways....since I ended up buying my table cloths for a really great deal, I figured I would keep my eye out for linen napkins, and if I found some at a great price, score! If I didn't...c'est la vi.
OK...well as I was saying.....I saw this ad in Craigslist for linen napkins to BUY for .15 each! This was a rental company making room for their new stuff. I immediately called them and asked what colors they had. The called me back later that day with her list of colors. No purples....bummer. No white, no silver. Nothing that would match my theme. I was very sad. This was on Thursday. The weekend went by in which this company was having their last "customer" day, where customers could actually come by and physically see all the inventory. Saturday only from 8 am-1 pm. Then came Monday. I was still really bummed about my loss, and thought, "what do I have to lose by calling again to find out what colors they have left?". So I called. She said she would have to get back to me. Then when she did, the first color she said was Amethyst! I was like.....what? Amethyst? Really? How many do you have left? 100? I'll take them! Woo-hoo!
It's Wednesday and I have them in my hot little hands.....and guess what? They charged me .10 a piece! My total to BUY...yes BUY.....100 linen napkins.... was $16.85.....and that's with shipping already included. Now that's what I call a SCORE! And they are in PERFECT condition. Washed, packaged in groups of ten and ready to go.
And I know I can make all my money back after the wedding, and probably even some extra. But the bottom line is, when all is said and done, these napkins will have been free!
That's my fabulous happy ending story.

A DIY Snap Station....How Cool!

I saw this project and said, "Wow". What an awesome idea. I won't be doing this exact project, but what I was originally thinking of doing as far as cameras go, was to put several cameras on each table. But this project is having me consider putting all the cameras on one table, and making a large sign similar to the one in the pictures.
I really love the look of the variety of vintage cameras, but again, I will probably just get the regular disposable 35mm wedding cameras that you can get at The wedding channel store on sale for like $2.50 each.

For this project, she labeled each camera with the brand, a little info and/or what effects it has.



All photos by: Jess Epstein
DIY Snap Station creator: Hillary Burgess

Isn't it just so original?
Are you having cameras for the guests at your wedding? If you are, how will they be displayed?

Thrift Store Flower Basket

Yet another score on an amazing find at my local thrift store! Looks new and only $1.95! Yeah! And it's in my colors.

Another Fab Find At The Thrift Store!

I went browsing the thrift store by my house yesterday, when I stumbled upon these beautiful treasures. Intricately wired ornaments that latch shut. They were 12 for $2.95....so about .25 a piece. I bought a total of 48. There are just so many possibilities for these things! AND they match the little baskets I previously bought from this same store.
See! They match pretty well. (I still haven't painted this....)
I made some paper tissue pom poms to see how they would look dangling inside the ball.....I think they look absolutely perfect. I can hang them from the back of guests chairs (but I'd have to go buy more NOW, before they're gone)...I could string them and drape them across different areas (like above the cake table), I could hang them from the pews down the aisle, and I could also hang them in the various trees in the reception courtyard (or along the walkway entrance of the courtyard). So many possibilities!
But whatever I end up doing with them, I will be sooo happy that I found them.

Ring Bearer.... Book?

I absolutely LOVE this creative and unique idea that I came across at 100 Layer cake! And how simple is that to make? A book, an exacto, ribbon and Wa La! It's genius I tell you!
I'm going to have to try and incorporate this into my wedding....well, maybe. I tend to want to incorporate EVERYTHING I come across into my wedding. Yes..... like many other brides-to-be, I have become addicted to weddings. I mean, who DOESN'T want to become a wedding planner after planning a wedding for yourself? It's like.....you just don't want it to ever end.

Another Article On Saving Money

I hope that the articles I find for "brides to be" on how to save some money and have a not-so-expensive wedding are helpful. This article came from Suite101.com and was written by Naomi Rockler-Gladen.

Cheap Wedding Venue Ideas

Money Saving Tips on Inexpensive Ceremony and Reception Locations

Even if you don't get married at the most lavish place in town, you can still have a spectacular wedding. Here are some money saving tips on how to find a wedding venue.

So, you've found the person you want to marry-- now, the question is where? When it comes to your wedding planning budget, choosing the right wedding venue can make a big difference in how much you spend. Here are some tips on how to choose a ceremony or reception location that will save you money.

Wedding Date Considerations

First of all, you can often save a bundle simply by getting married during a less popular time period! Weddings that fall on a Saturday--either during the afternoon or at night-- quite frequently are more expensive than weddings on any other day. For an alternative time that's often convenient for your guests, consider a Sunday afternoon wedding.

In addition, you can sometimes save money by getting married during a less popular month. January, February, March, and November are considered "off-season" months (at least if you live in the Northern hemisphere). The warmer months are much more popular, as is December, especially around Christmas. And keep in mind that while a February wedding can be cheaper, prices may spike around Valentine's Day.

Ceremony and Reception Combination

Another money saving wedding venue tip: hold the ceremony and reception at the same location. This can save you quite a bit of money on rental and decoration fees, as well as the cost of transporting the wedding party from one site to another. If you want to get married in a church, synagogue, or other religious facility, consider having the reception in a room in that building.

Community Center Buildings

Many communities of all sizes have a center that the public can rent for events such as weddings. Many couples overlook these locations because they think the facilities will be expensive or unattractive. However, community centers usually rent out for reasonable prices and can be quite the undiscovered gems.

University Facilities

Many colleges and universities have chapels and lovely rooms that can be used for weddings and receptions. Rental rates at universities can be quite reasonable, and alumni may be eligible for discounts. For a couple who met in college, this can be a sentimental option.

Home Weddings

You know that home wedding from Father of the Bride that cost over $100,000? Ignore that. If someone in your family has a large enough home and is willing to let you use it, think of the money you can save in rental costs. Don't worry if no one in your family owns a grand estate-- a large and cozy house will do, especially if you pay for a professional cleaning ahead of time. And you can still hire and caterer and decorator. A home wedding doesn't mean that your aunts will have to make casseroles.

Parks

A wedding is a community park can be surprisingly inexpensive. Look for smaller parks that aren't the most popular ones in town, and you may find yourself with a gorgeous and affordable place to get married. Of course, you'll want to find a backup location in case of bad weather.