Pay attention to the small things...

Like a cute, fun manicure! Lately on Pinterest and in magazines, I've seen a lot of fun glitter manicures! You don't have to spend a ton of money at the nail salon, just go to a beauty supply store and get glitter nail polish to paint over clear nail polish on the tips of your nails! What a fun excuse to get the girls together! Make it a mini spa day, complete with facials and cucumber-infused water. Have fun, ladies!

Monogramming

Looking for a gift idea for the bridal party? Go the monogram path. You can monogram just about anything- towels, robes, hair brushes, Tervis tumblers, bracelets and so many other things. Monogramming gifts is personal, and something that a lot of people are into these days. 

Monogrammed brushes from this Etsy shop.

Monogrammed hangers can be dressed up with a pretty bow and will look lovely in photos of you and your bridesmaids getting ready before the "I do's". 

Have fun with it!

Rustic seating chart

Don't mess around with a hundred (or so) place tags for your reception. Save your hands and the money, and use an old window instead. This old pane window is pretty and gives a rustic feel to an outdoor wedding. Go to antique shops and garage sales to find an old window, or go explore in your grandparent's garage. My grandparents have tons of old windows like the one above (Not sure where they got them!), so I plan on taking advantage of my resources and I might even use one to decorate.

Be creative! Use mirrors, chalkboards, and maybe frames with just the glass in them for your chart. Have fun with it, and use paint pens in the colors you chose for your wedding. Enjoy!

Simple centerpieces

I love the rustic look of using pitchers as vases. Rustic and useful.
Mix and match seasonal flowers and have fun with different shapes and sizes of pitchers. Perfect for Spring or early Summer.

Monogram moss letter

As I was Pinteresting today, I came across a cute, simple DIY. Two twenty one has wonderful DIY projects. Today a  monogram moss letter was her feature, one she did herself, of course. What a cute project to do...perfect for a newlywed's front door! 

Go to her website for simple step-by-step directions. Wouldn't this be pretty on the front of a church door for a spring wedding, or hanging somewhere on the way to a reception site?

Plan ahead for your registry

Once people find out you're engaged, you'll want to go ahead and start on your registry. People will be so excited for you and will start asking immediately where you're registered. Be a planner and be able to direct them to your registry so you don't have to think of something random, or try to politely decline. No matter how much you politely decline, you'll still receive gifts- so wouldn't it be great to get something that you know you want and will use? Real Simple has a lovely checklist available here.

Plan to include extra place settings, linens, and things like coffee mugs and towels for when you have guests. Oh, you think ten towels sounds like a lot? Just wait until family decides to pop in and stay for a few days... you'll need them! Remember- people want to stock your household, and are excited to do it! Register for gifts of all price ranges so family and friends with all kinds of budgets can buy off your registry.

Have fun on your registry day or days, and remember to think outside the box.

Having a buffet-style reception?

These containers for water, tea, and lemonade are too cute, and make for a nice start for entertainment purposes after the honeymoon is over! You can find these at Steinmart, Homegoods, and probably restaurant supply stores. They're so pretty and your guests can serve themselves. These are also perfect for bridal luncheons and holiday parties. Jars like these come in all kinds of different shapes and sizes, be creative!

Peonies will make a statement at your Spring wedding

If you're looking for a bold, sweet flower for your centerpieces, then focus your attention towards Peonies.
As usual, Martha Stewart has a fabulous, simple how-to for centerpieces that double as favors for your guests. Find the how-to for the note cards here.  

What a beautiful shade of pink!

Happy Tuesday!

Beautiful baby succulent bouquet. 


What a whimsical reception! The wooden chairs are simple, and allow guest's focus to be directed upwards where the paper lanterns give a fun pop of color.


Spring is here, summer is coming, what a beautiful photograph & a great idea for beachy weddings!

Useful favors!

While browsing Pinterest, I came upon a very useful wedding favor. I love the idea of giving wedding favors that people can actually use, rather than giving a favor that will collect dust somewhere for a few years.

Most people cook at home, at least every once in a while- and when people do, they need cooking utensils, right?

In this Etsy shop, bamboo kitchen utensils are personalized with anything you might want, what a fun idea!

Chalk board signs for wedding and reception

Lately I have been seeing more and more signs in chalk board form, whether it be in engagement photos, or used at the reception site for a wedding. What a cute idea, and so easy to do. Simply make a trip to your local Goodwill, second hand shops, and hit a few garage sales to get frames. Spray paint them your color of choice, and either find a piece of chalkboard to fit the frame, or paint the existing glass with chalk board spray paint. You can reuse these signs in the kitchen for a menu board, in kid's rooms for to-do lists, and in the garage for a honey-do list. Recruit members of your bridal party to help, this would be a fun weekend project! Hunt for smaller frames that can be used for table numbers.  Here is a blog with more in-depth directions.

Cute as a button

Martha Stewart has wonderful ideas and hundreds of DIY projects for weddings on her website. Above is a button boutonniere that is just too cute. Little accents like this are fun to make with your bridesmaids. and may turn out to be a cheaper alternative to fresh flowers to use for the groomsmen's boutonnieres. Have fun!

Bridal shower refreshment idea

Warmer weather is on the way, so make way for flavored water! I don't mean that weird bottled kind that's fizzy, but the kind you make at home with a pitcher and real fruit and herbs. There are so many fresh ingredients that will be readily available in the coming weeks, so if you're planning a bridal shower, a luncheon, or even getting together with the girls one afternoon, consider cutting up a cucumber and infusing it with some fresh cool water in a pretty little pitcher. It's pretty to look at, too! Nancy Creative has several delicious recipes to chose from. I can't wait to try the lemon-lavender water!

Apothecary jars make pretty centerpieces!

I have been admiring apothecary jars for the past few weeks in stores and in magazines. What an elegant looking way to store every-day items, and better yet, what a pretty center piece?! Put seashells and sand in them to get the beachy feel, moss and greenery for the natural, woodsy feel, or fill them with old-fashioned candy and treats for the favor table. Apothecary jars come in so many different shapes and sizes- options are endless! Look in second hand shops, antique shops, and craft stores. I picked up an adorable, cheap apothecary jar at Michael's  a few weeks ago, they have a bunch of options. What a pretty piece to put on a wedding registry, too? Wouldn't a monogrammed apothecary jar look wonderful on a mantle?!

Birdseed wedding favor hearts

I love the idea of giving favors that can be used instead of being tossed aside and forgotten about. What better way to solve that problem than by giving gifts that your guests can in turn re-gift to nature?


Make birdseed hearts. What a sweet idea that will not break the bank. Perfect for an outdoorsy wedding!

Yellow is a happy color for a very happy day!

With Spring making it's way into our lives early, yellow is the perfect way to get the drab feeling of Winter out of your wedding color pallet. Yellow can be paired with grey, teal, or navy to mix themes up a bit. You're sure to have a happy day when you use such a happy color. Have a lemonade stand at your reception...who doesn't love a glass of freshly squeezed lemonade on a warm day?

Sources: 

http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/231265/50-great-wedding-cakes/@center/272419/youre-engaged#/107231


http://www.stylemepretty.com/gallery/picture/220015


http://styleunveiled.com/wedding-inspiration/yellow-wedding-inspiration-portland-wedding-paragon-restaura.html


http://www.weddingchicks.com/2011/04/11/hoffman-photography-modern-yellow-wedding/


http://blog.brancoprata.com/2011/09/06/real-wedding-angela-e-manuel/


http://ritzybee.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/04/details-we-are-loving.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2FZlhs+%28%7Britzy+bee+blog%7D%29

When life gives you lemons...

Make lemonade! What a cute idea for a reception!

Epsom Salt Luminaries - DIY

While browsing Pinterest(again... surprise!), I came across a very simple, VERY cheap project. Epsom salt luminaries are so pretty and can be made in any color. Perfect for any season, mason jars covered in this versatile mineral can be used for center pieces, quick gifts, and for home decor. Crafts by Amanda gives step-by-step instructions on how to assemble these pretty little jars. I would love to make these using old Starbucks frap glass bottles. Go to the dollar store and get funky shaped vases and bowls to experiment with. Goodwill is a great place to look for old mason jars and simple glass vases.

Picture using these jars for a nighttime beach wedding. How pretty.

Wedding Pomander

Pinterest led me to an easy DIY decoration: wedding pomanders. Wedding pomanders can be used to decorate the venue or for the flower girl to carry down the aisle. Traditionally, pomanders are made of flowers, but who's to say you can't make it out of pretty scrapbook paper so it will last forever? Here is a great step by step guide to making your own pomander. This guide has pictures to follow, and easy instructions. Customize by using your wedding colors and different kinds of scrapbook paper. This would be a fun activity for the bride to do with her bridesmaids! Enjoy!

Cut back your budget with little things!

Generally, wedding dresses are floor length or longer. Who wants to spend hundreds of dollars on a pair of shoes to wear on your big day that may not bee seen, and even worse, probably hurt so bad you wish you'd never bought them in the first place?! I sure don't! Here's an alternative: TOMS. TOMS has a gigantic selection of colors and sizes to choose from, and they are super comfy. The shoes range in price from $40 and up. Another perk? For every pair of shoes you purchase, TOMS donates a pair of shoes to a child in need. How awesome is that? I have a pair, and they are the most comfortable shoes I own. Be daring and buy a pair of bright pink of blue to wear on the big day! Make a statement, and don't break the bank in the process. Go for a pair of shoes you know you'll end up wearing again.