How to plan a wedding in 1 week & under $1,000 dollars

I have a friend putting together a wedding for her cousin in one week. Will not go into the intimate details on why their was only a 7 day window but I hope to pass on some valuable insight into what sacrifices must be made when planning a quick & cheap wedding so quickly.

last minute weddings cause stress

I give kudos to those married couples that have done something like this before, inspite of surprising last minute injuries. Of course, in their case it was her second wedding, not her first. I was also reading this:

If you have a little flexibility and make decisions fast, you can save big bucks on your wedding day. As Chris Mohr, a longtime wedding minister at Foothills Chapel in Colorado, explains, “People pull off pretty elaborate funerals in just a few days all the time.” Not to be macabre, but weddings aren’t that different — location, ceremony, flowers, music, food. . . .

Here are 5 quick advantages of a wedding on a short notice:

1. Shorter notice typically means fewer guests attend, and the more time families

Would you rent a faux wedding cake to save money?

Your traditional tiered wedding cakes from a local bakery typically prices out to at an average of $5 per serving. We all know the cake alone can take quite a bite out of the overall bridal budget, especially when you consider serving 100 people or more. Cupcakes are becoming a popular alternative, but even those aren’t cheap, and can start at $3 each from local cupcake specialists. With a little ingenuity, there are lesser-priced options to feed your guests that won’t sacrifice in taste or style.

Why pay for a wedding cake you eat when you can rent a fake for less?

If you have a lot of guests to serve, you can save several hundred dollars by renting a faux showpiece cake from a number of locations for $75 to $100 and then just serve an inexpensive sheet cake instead (a half sheet cake from Sam’s Club will serve 40 people at a cost of a mere $1.15 per slice). Choose between multiple designs for your faux cake

Would you donate part of your wedding budget to help victims of Haiti?

It’s hard to imagine giving part of your budget to those ravaged by disater in another part of the world but Leah Bogen felt compelled to do something. When bride-to-be Leah Bogen saw the newspaper pictures of the devastation in Haiti resting next to bridal magazines on her coffee table, she knew the decision was a no-brainer.

Leah Bogen gives $2500 wedding donation to Haiti

She asked her fiance, Will Nicholson, if they could donate a quarter of their wedding budget, $2500 dollars, to Partners In Health for the relief efforts in Haiti.   I must say, this story about Leah and Will’s donation of $2500 of their wedding fund touched me much deeper than the Obama’s $15,000 contribution. This is a true love story, full of heart and inspiration.  What this couple did was a true sacrifice.

The contrast of reading about the devastation from the earthquake while planning a big party struck her. She made a decision right then to donate the money they planned to spend on the wedding dinner — 25 percent of their entire budget — to people in Haiti. Her fiance didn’t need any convincing.

“She totally blew me away

What does your wedding ring mean to you?

I just read thiss story today about an Air Force pilot that lost his life during a training session and his wife’s strong desire for them to find his wedding band..  Here are some of the details below.  Luckily, it has a somewhat of a happy ending….

A military widow mourning

A tragedy that claimed the life of a 28-year-old Hill Air Force Base F-16 pilot ultimately ended with a miracle.

On June 22, 2009, Capt. George “Ice” Houghton, originally from Candler, N.C., died when his jet crashed at the Utah Test and Training Range, about 35 miles southwest of Wendover, Nev., during a night training mission.

Assigned to the 388th Fighter Wing’s 421st Fighter Squadron at Hill, Houghton’s jet went down in a remote area of the UTTR commonly referred to as Baker’s Strong Point.

Debris spread for miles from the crash site. Air Force officials combed through the site, investigating the accident and gathering Houghton’s personal items.

Devastated by the loss of her husband, Houghton’s widow Josie wanted only one thing from the crash site: the pilot’s titanium wedding band.

Should you attend a bridal show before selecting your wedding vendors?

We all have Facebook friends that can typically refer a few of their top rated vendors on a photographer or wedding cake for your wedding. But hoe do you find vendors for all of those other aspects of your wedding that you don’t have a personal reference for? Here’s just a few vendors to keep in mind other than your rings and wedding dress:

Wedding & Bridal shows - bring your color board

• bridesmaid dresses
• candles
• caterers for the reception
• décor
• flower arrangements
• invitations
• sample wedding cakes
• table centerpeices
• wedding DJ’s & musicians
• wedding photographer portfolios
• & more

Many local conventions centers will hold an annual wedding expo that allows

What would you do if your wedding dress was stolen?

It was your typical day in Rapid City, Michigan for bride to be, Teoni Taylor.  She went in to a local grocery store to grab some last minute produce for dinner that night and thought it would be OK to leave her car running since it was so cold.  She thought she locked the keys with her remote but found out when she returned she must not have.  Small mistake, USUALLY,but  not only was her car stolen, but the wedding dress too.  In her words. “”Two bridesmaids’ dresses, a wedding dress, purse, car seat, wallet, toys.”   I guess they don’t teach you everything in hair stylist school.

Would this bring out your bridezilla?

It is a story that would cause just about any bride to have a nervous breakdown. Taylor said she cried a lot, but had to get over it. With just nine days until the wedding, she had little time to waste. “I was pretty nervous,” said Taylor. “I know it’s just a dress. I was just

Carrie Underwood’s engagement ring is massive!

Carrie Underwood’s new engagement ring from her finance, Mike Fisher, could blind most anybody.  It is estimated at around $150,000 and said to to be a 5-plus carat round flawless yellow diamond with diamond sidestones. It was designed for her by jeweler Johnathon Arndt. Take a look at a ring that looks like the Carrie Underwood 5 carat engagement ring.

Carrie Underwood engagement ring - 5 carats

Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher are engaged as most people know? The story allegedly surfaced after a friend of Fisher’s had something about it on his Twitter page. So anyone who was following that guy got to read, “Congratulations to Mike Fisher and Carrie Underwood! We just got the call at our family Christmas get-together.” The Ottawa newspapers got a hold of that news and ran with it. Then the next day Underwood’s publicist confirmed the couple’s engagement.

Carrie Underwood says she and fiance Mike Fisher knew they had to work fast to tell friends and family about their engagement

Kevin Jonas & Danielle Deleasa Jonas new wedding rings

Wanted to write about this one since the wedding rings chosen were so beautiful to me.  You see, Kevin Jonas & Danielle Deleasa Jonas have exchanged vows at their extravagent ceremony this past Saturday at the Oheka Castle in Long Island. Despite a blizzard blanketing the roads around the castle, the wedding went forward without a hitch, and the bride, escorted by her father Thomas “Bucky” Deleasa, walked down the aisle to “Bella Notte,” from Lady and the Tramp, played on the guitar by a friend of the Jonas family.  Now comes all the fine details about the custom built Jacob & Co. wedding rings.

According to a release from the jeweler, Danielle’s wedding band was constructed out of 18 carat white gold. The stones you see flanking the entire ring are round-cut brilliant diamonds totaling 3.83 carats.

Danielle Deleasa Jonas wedding ring

Now lets talk about the Kevin Jonas ring.  The oldest Jonas Brothers’ wedding band is made out of stainless steel and boasts two single rows of brilliant-cut diamonds along the edges of the band. His carat total:

When is it OK to take off your wedding ring?

It's proper etiquette to remove wedding rings when adding lotion to your hands

After being married and hearing the different reasons wives take off their wedding rings I wanted to write a post about it, regarding etiquette.  Most of the time I take my rings off when doing dishes, putting lotion on, or when I put my gloves on to do some yardwork or gardening (just feel weird in the glove).  I have met people that swear they will never take their ring off, haven’t in 30 years, and it seems the ring has become permanenetly part of their finger (actually they’ve gained weight and the ring would not come off without surgical removal).  This is what I’ve found on the subject.

The best advice is to first choose a wedding ring you love and won’t mind wearing all the time. It doesn’t have to be a perfect match with your engagement ring. You can choose to wear your wedding ring and engagement ring together on your left hand; wear your wedding band on the left and engagement ring on your right; or just wear your wedding ring. (Many women choose not to wear their engagement rings all the time simply because their setting could snag on clothing, among other reasons). If you really love your engagement ring, you should wear both rings. That way, you can still show off your engagement ring, and your happily wedded status.

Others just wear their wedding ring because they hope to keep the engagemet ring to pass on to their daughter or as an heirloom in the family. Of course, once your husband has spent that much on an engagement ring you may want the world to always see it. Some opt to only wear their engagement ring because it has a fat rock on it and they want people to know how rich their husband is doing…….anyway…..

Groom surprised & married at an airport – why not “Up in the air?”

How would you feel to get married at an airport?  Is this a publicity stunt to promote the new film “Up in the Air“  starring George Clooney reminding the world that some people live their lives in airports? I guess this newly married couple would agree with the quote from this movie –  ”To know me is to fly with me,” Clooney says. “This is where I live.”

George Clooney - Up in the Air

Mumbled overhead airport announcements. And a few hundred weary strangers by your side.   Talk about a romantic wedding to remember, a Toledo man gets the surprise of his life from his fiance at a Texas airport.

A Texas woman said she celebrated the airport reunions and goodbyes of her long distance relationship by surprising her boyfriend with an airport wedding.  Robyn Moore says she and her fiance had spent half of their relationship in airports. So, what better place to get married?  Robyn Moore said she greeted her boyfriend, William Acosta, Monday at Corpus Christi International Airport with a camera and a wedding party ready to make good on the marriage license.  She greeted him, wearing a

Married Couple on So You Think You Can Dance – AMAZING!!

So You Think You Can Dance married couple Ashleigh and Ryan Di Lello brought the judges to tears in last night’s last show. They weren’t the only ones. My husband said it was beautiful but could not uderstand why I was pulling the kleenex out like cash from an ATM. I answered, “You can see how much they love each other…booohoooo…booohooo…..” Well anyway, it was an awesome show and I have included the highlight of their tryouts on YouTube below.

The couple performed a contemporary dance number to Michelle Featherstone’s “I’m There Too”, exchanging “heart felt” glances throughout with both ending in tears. Of course we know she is crying since she made purely from her husband’s remarks the week before. I really liked Legacy and am kinda bummed he was kicked out. He may not have been as good as the others but I felt emotionally connected to him.

Examples of funny modern wedding invitations

While browsing around hoping to find something funny that people do in weddings today I ran across some funny wedding invitations I had to share.  This first example is designed for the couple that has lived together for years and even has kids.  It makes light of the fact that the kids were definately born out of wedlock.  No doubt this is an example of a modern wedding invitation.

Mommy & Daddy getting married - modern wedding invitation

Then there’s the wedding announcement you send to people you don’t want to come.  This is sent to those that did not want you to get married OR thought you had

Should a wedding invitation include children or is a seperate invitation needed?

Here’s some advice on things to think about when sending out wedding invitations that involve children.  First of all, a wedding invitation “assumes” no children are invited UNLESS invited explicitly.  Also, the only sure fire way to prevent having a screaming baby in the middle of your ceremony is to provide a free nursery (easy if at a church) and tell the guests children are allowed BUT must be kept in the nursery during the ceremony. 

wedding invitation writing sample

 Here are some examples of wedding invitations with children invited: 

• If you want to include children as guests, write out their individual names on the addressed envelopes, or put “and family.” For example:
  • Mr. and Mrs. John Doe, Michelle and John
    or
    Mr. and Mrs. John Doe and Family
• If the children are older teens (say, 16 or older), you might want to send them an individual invitation, just like you would an adult.  This makes them feel more like an adult and allows them the oppurtunity to deny the invitation seperately if they are’t able to go even if their parents go. If they are over 18 then proper wedding etiquette requires a seperate invitation.
• If you don’t want to include children at the ceremony, don’t add their names or “and family” on the outside of the envelope. Although this violates the stricter laws of etiquette, you might even add something like, “Sorry, but children are not invited”, “adults only” or a similar phrase to clarify. If you want to have children at the reception but not the ceremony, you could note this on the response card … or on the invitation itself at the bottom.

Here’s sample wording for an invitation that includes children:

Sample wedding invitations that include children:

While not necessary, you may want to include your children particularly if you will have a part of the ceremony devoted to them.

Please join
Elizabeth Ann Patrillie
and
Matthew Robert Wilson
as they exchange marriage vows
and together with their son, Marcus, celebrate their family
etc.

or

Please join us
At a celebration
Of the marriage of
Michele Warez Phillips
and
James Ryder Celest
And
The family of
Phoebe, Elora, John, & Maddison
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Etc.

I’ve also decided to do a post later on the funniest wedding invitations I’ve seen.  Look forward to that another day.

Quick wedding statistics to calm your curiosity

In honor of the month of December I wanted to recap the year with some wedding statistics. You see December is the most popular month to pop the question, accounting for one out of every five engagements.

wedding statistics

The following stats are from Elegant Bride Magazine:
4-6 {months} prior to a destination wedding to send Save-the-Dates
8: Minimum place settings to register for
3-4 {stores} to visit before purchasing your wedding gown
2 {minutes} for the ideal toast
50 guests per usher at the ceremony
50 guests per bathroom at your wedding venue
30-40 guests per waiter at your reception
10 guests can be seated at a 60 inch round table
2.5-3 {square feet} per guest for the appropriate size dance floor
3 {swimsuits} to pack for a beach honeymoon
60 to 85 optimal degrees for an outdoor wedding {I think 85 might be pushing it here in Atlanta!}
1.5 {feet} in a typical chapel length train

Here’s some other stats I found while researching:
12% of couples get married in a garden or park
17% of couples have a formal wedding
31% of couples will use a banquet hall for their reception
39% of couples risk

Is updating your Facebook status to married at the alter proper etiquette?

Have you heard about what Dana Hanna did right before the pastor said, “You may now kiss the bride?” Technically it’s correct etiquette since he waited until it was official to update his status.  Read below:

During his wedding ceremony, Dana Hanna whipped out his mobile device and not only changed his relationship status to married on Facebook, but also sent out a tweet announcing that the couple had become man and wife.  The pastor  announced to everyone what was going on as he did it and got a big chuckle. The whole scene was captured on tape and posted to YouTube, so you too can check out the non-traditional altar activities of the newlyweds.

Here is the most appropriate guide I have found to date for Facebook status update etiquette from Time Magazine:

There are six relationship categories Facebook users can choose from: single, in a relationship, engaged, married, it’s complicated, and in an open relationship. (Users can decline to list a status, but Facebook estimates that roughly 60% of its users do, with “single” and “married” the most common statuses.) The first four categories are

10 tips on having a cheap wedding that your guests don’t notice

We all know money is tight with the economy being in the shape it is so I complied a list of 10 tips on having a cheap wedding that your guests don’t notice.

1. Invite only TRUE family and friends – This isn’t Facebook. Do you seriously need to invite everyone you went to college with? If you wouldn’t recognize them on the street, they shouldn’t be at your wedding. It’s your day, and you should be surrounded by the people closest to you in the world – and that doesn’t always mean blood relatives. You may need to make some compromises here and there, but don’t sacrifice the presence of someone you truly want there because your mom doesn’t want to offend some distant relative. That’s her problem, not yours.

2. How big is your wedding cake? Most wedding cakes are 40-50% eaten. Why waste money on food thrown in the trash? If you want something gorgeous have a display cake that is perfect but smaller. Then feed your guests from a basic sheet cake to save money. If not interested in sheet cake have your local baker create a large cake with only simple white fondue covering it. You can even use organic edible flowers to decorate it with such as:

• Nasturtium (peppery tasting)
• Rose (mild, sweet tasting)
• Lavender (perfume tasting)
• Chicory (spicy, bitter tasting)
• Oregano ( spicy tasting)
• Pansies (semi-sweet tasting)

3. How long are you wearing the wedding dress? What, maybe 6 hours max? Don’t spend thousands of dollars on a dress you’re only going to wear once. David’s Bridal has $99 wedding gown sales constantly, and you can find awesome bargains at regular dress shops, too. Don’t forget eBay and Craigslist.  Your dress may even be a prom-season find that cost only $100. Do you honestly think your daughter will want to wear your wedding dress 30 years from now… I don’t think so. When your done, pass it to a consignment store and get some money back on it too.

4. Keep the menu simple. Do you really need crab balls and lobster bisque and filet mignon to be able to enjoy your wedding dinner? You can negotiate a five-course plated dinner (including filet mignon) with open wine and beer all night and an hour of passed hors d’oeuvres for less than $50 per person at a nice restaurant in town if you do your homework.

5. Get wedding flowers from your local grocery store or Wal-Mart/Costco. Our local Winn-Dixie even creates free flower arrangements if you buy flowers from them & bring in your own vase. You end up saving about 80% compared to typical florists doing this. Go ahead and ask for a discount and based on your quantity they will probably give it to you. Just keep in mind to use blooms that hold up, as you will need to make arrangements ahead of time. Make sure they use knives to cut the stems, not scissors (adds about 4-5 days to the life of the flowers)

6. Don’t ever hire a wedding DJ. Instead of hiring someone create a playlist on our iPod and hook it up to the reception hall’s speaker system. Your in control and you can make sure the Electric Slide is left out.

7. Be savy about wedding photography. Rather than spend thousands of dollars on a so-called professional photographer with 20 years experience, hire an art student from the local college or a friend of a friend that is gifted in the art of photography. It’s still a good idea to ask to see a portfolio and make sure the personalities fit your style, but don’t assume that you have to spend the Franklins for memorable pictures. But remember, these wedding photos are the only thing that you shouldn’t try to get your uncle Jimmy to do as his wedding gift either…BAD IDEA.

8. Who needs live music from a string quartet? You can walk down the aisle to a beautiful arrangement of Pachbel’s Canon in D Minor on a free CD or your iPod. Just have a good friend push the play button as you walk down the aisle.

9. Wedding Invitations get thrown away remember? There are many sources from which to purchase invitations, but one of the least expensive ways to purchase invitations is to do them yourself! You can purchase beautiful invitations that you can print yourself and save a small fortune at places such as Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, etc. If you really want to go ultra cheap use a website like evite.com for invitations and RSVPs. Heck you can even create an event on Facebook and do the same thing. This is the 21st century right?

10. Wedding Venue – If you belong to a church, or if your parents or another relative belong to a church, you can likely rent the church free to hold your wedding. Churches also often also have a place called “fellowship hall” in which you could have a free place to hold your wedding reception. Hopefully you hvae some family that’s Catholic since they typically have the most beautiful churches.

Hey, since this is a blog designed for 2 way conversation what other ways can you think of to shave money off that wedding bill?

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One of my favorite Destin, FL wedding photographers – Sheena Ratliff

Sheena Ratliff from Lens Flare Photos has amazed me with her talent and photography.  I’ve seen her grow over the years into an inspiring Destin, FL wedding photographer.  She has an eye for capturing the unfiltered emotion of a moment, the silly laugh, the tender moment, & the true relationship of a couple.  Talent bundled with passion creates a photography that can transform any of its subjects into art.

Bride sticks her tongue out at groom - Destin wedding photography

I added a video from her site highlighting one of the military wedding photo shoots she did below.  You need to understand that in this area we have a large number of Air Force personnel by being located close to the world’s largest Air Force base (Eglin Air Force Base).  She has a gift of working with military couples and understanding the kind of struggles they will face with yearly deployments and long distance relationships.  If you are looking for a photographer in the Ft. Walton Beach, Destin, Navarre, Pensacola, FL area I would highly recommend her work.

She also displays her clients work using this cool video software called animoto.  It allows her to easily upload a set of pictures, choose a song, a let the software do the rest to create a stunning presentation of her work.  What other tools do wedding photographers use to help show a client their portfolio?  What are your personal favorites?

Justin and Nicole…. – Click here to watch the video at vimeo.

If you have time feel free to browse the different videos posted on her blog.  I’m sure they will make you smile and appreciate even the simple things in life.

Chelsea Clinton announces engagement by e-mail?

Couldn’t she have just updated her facebook status to “Engaged” and got the media circus going crazy just for fun?

Chelsea Clinton announces wedding to Marc Mezvinsky

Chelsea Clinton and longtime boyfriend Marc Mezvinsky are engaged, the two announced on Nov. 27, 2009. In a mass email to friends and family, the couple said they are looking to get married until next summer. A Clinton spokesman said he believed the couple got engaged on Thanksgiving in New York, according to multiple reports. Clinton, 29, and Mezvinsky became friends in Washington and attended Stanford University together

Here’s a copy of the e-mail:

“We’re sorry for the mass e-mail but we wanted to wish everyone a belated Happy Thanksgiving! We also wanted to share that we are engaged! We didn’t get married this past summer despite the stories to the contrary, but we are looking toward next summer and hope you all will be there to celebrate with us. Happy Holidays! Chelsea & Marc.”

I am pleased that Chelsea is respecting the Clinton’s wishes of “Don’t get married before you’re 30″ edict. She’s 29 now, but with a February birthday she’ll hit the magic number in plenty of time for the summer wedding. Clinton spokesman Matt McKenna said he believed the engagement happened “before Thanksgiving.” Others close to Clinton also indicated the engagement happened earlier and was only announced Friday.

Mezvinsky is a son of former Pennsylvania Rep. Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky and former Iowa Rep. Ed Mezvinsky, longtime friends of the Clintons.  It will be an interfaith marriage; Mezvinsky is Jewish, while Clinton grew up attending Methodist Church with her mother. Bill Clinton is Southern Baptist.  Former White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry describes Chelsea as “poised, professional, and personable daughter of a marriage that

Kelly Ripa in a wedding dress designed by Project Runway winner Irina Shabayeva

Poor Irina Shabayeve only had 3 days to complete this fabulous wedding dress. Talk about a trial by fire for any wedding event planner in the area if this was a real wedding with only 3 days left to get a custom wedding dress. This dress was featured on the show “Live with Regis & Kelly” live from the Encore at Wynn Las Vegas during the week of November 23-27.  Since then Shavayeva has been getting a flury of calls for custom wedding dresses.

Kelly Ripa wedding gown

Just when Project Runway winner Irina Shabayeva thought the challenges were over, she got a new one from Regis and Kelly! The New York designer helped the show

Penelope Cruz engaged and getting married?

Penelope Cruz wore a big sapphire and diamond rock on her ring finger to the New York Film Festival premiere of ‘Broken Embraces.’ Was it an engagement ring? She wouldn’t say. She seems to be engaged to Javier Bardem.

Penelope Cruz blue sapphire ring

Penelope Cruz is reportedly shopping around for a designer to make her wedding gown.  According to In Touch Weekly, the 35-year-old actress, who is reportedly engaged to actor Javier Bardem, has been meeting with her favorite designers in preparation for the couple’s rumored wedding.  “Since she and Javier are from Spain, she’d love to have a Spanish designer create her dream gown,” a friend mentioned.

Cruz is said to be considering the House of Balenciaga, who designed best friend Salma Hayek’s gown for her wedding with billionaire François-Henri Pinault in February.

“Salma’s dress was specifically designed for her by the company’s creative director, Nicolas Ghesquière, and it was just beautiful,” added the source. “I’m sure they would be more than thrilled to create a gown for Penelope.”

Cruz, 35, and Bardem, 40, have yet to officially announce their engagement, but the actress was spotted wearing a sapphire ring on her engagement finger when she recently appeared on the “Late Show with David Letterman.” See the picture below:

Penelope Cruz engagement/wedding ring?

According to a recent survey at the Knot: 40 percent of engagements occur between November through February and retailers