December 10th, 2009
My Halloween Wedding, Part III
We used mini pumpkins and gourds as the escort cards for our guests. It was one of their wedding favors.
We encouraged guests to sign our “guest bench” which was a DIY project that my parents helped me with. This large piece of wood is now a bench on our porch!
We danced to Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight” for our first dance.
After the first dance, we enjoyed passed appetizers and dinner. My favorite food was the mini grilled cheese sandwiches with shot glasses of tomato soup – they were so cute and really great comfort food for an autumn night.
The centerpieces and table numbers were two more DIY projects. We found the wrought iron pumpkins two years before our wedding and I knew I had to have them. We placed them on DIY cake stands made from trees, surrounded them with moss, twigs with pearl beads and candles.
Since we’re both huge Va Tech football fans and planned our wedding around a football game {we took the bridal party to the Thursday night home game the week of our wedding}, my husband’s mom surprised us by getting the Hokie bird – the team’s mascot – to come to the reception. He took pictures with guests, danced with us and of course we all did the Hokey Pokey!
Instead of a wedding cake {I know, I’m nontraditional}, we had a DIY dessert bar with homemade cupcakes, banana nut mini loaves and cakes and candy. Since it was halloween, we decided to incorporate the holiday into our dessert bar. It was the only thing halloweenish at our wedding. We made the cake stands from trees and made the “tree” in the back with a clay pot and branches.
We had so much fun. I ate, drank and danced all night. It was seriously the best night of my life!
Photography by David Franusich {thank you, thank you, thank you}
And if you couldn’t keep up – that was a total of 12 DIY projects! I consider my wedding pretty much a DIY wedding and I’m really proud of it, because we were able to stay in budget. Now that my wedding is over, I’m going to get busy doing even more DIY projects to post on Stylish Events….
Related Posts:
June 23rd, 2009
Tip of the Day – Budget-Friendly Centerpiece
Potted plants make cute centerpieces, they last longer than floral arrangements, and they usually cost less money. Also, they can do double duty by serving as wedding favors. If you’re having a garden themed wedding reception, this idea would fit right in.
Image from Martha Stewart Weddings
June 1st, 2009
Tip of the Day – Beach Centerpieces
One of the most popular types of post on this blog are the posts about centerpieces. So, I’ve decided that the theme for the tips of the day for the month of June would be centerpieces….and I’m going to do my best to cover it all. I’ll post beach centerpieces (like today), fall centerpieces, all rose centerpieces, pink centerpieces, and much more. Make sure to check back each day to see all the beautiful centerpieces this month.
Today and tomorrow’s tips of the day will be related to beach weddings. Enjoy!
Images from the knot
April 18th, 2009
Real Wedding – Keri and Andrew
Images from the knot
Related Posts:
Real Wedding: Suzanne and Adam
Real Wedding: Sara and Charles
Real Wedding: Sharon and Francis
April 16th, 2009
Inspiration Boards: Ivory, Light Blue, and Yellow
{Click Image to Enlarge} Images from left to right: {Top Row} Bouquet from the knot, Boutonniere from the knot, Centerpiece from the knot {Middle Row} Bridesmaids from the knot, Bouquet from the knot, Cake from the knot {Bottom Row} Lazaro Wedding Dress from Martha Stewart Weddings, Favor from Martha Stewart Weddings, Stationery from Martha Stewart Weddings
{Click Image to Enlarge} Images from left to right: {Top Row} Bouquet from Martha Stewart Weddings, Boutonniere the knot, Escort Cards from Martha Stewart Weddings {Middle Row} Bridesmaid Dress from Martha Stewart Weddings, Jim Hjelm Wedding Dress from Kleinfeld Bridal, Necklace from Forever 21, Picture from etsy {Bottom Row} Escort Cards from the knot, Favor Cones from Martha Stewart Weddings, Bouquet from the knot
April 15th, 2009
Real Wedding – Jessie and Michael
Images from the knot
Learn from Jessie and Michael: Have your bridesmaids wear bright colored dresses with sashes that accentuate their curves. Pick tall centerpieces that give the room a romantic feel and surround them with candles. Display the index cards on green topiary. Decorate your wedding cake with orchids.
April 11th, 2009
Real Wedding – Suzanne and Adam
This beautiful couple got married in May in Portola Valley, California. Photography by Lisa Lefkowitz.
Images from Martha Stewart Weddings
Learn from Suzanne and Adam: Suzanne and Adam provided their wedding guests lemonade, sparkling water, and cookies while they took pictures in between the ceremony and reception. Give your guests something to eat and drink to keep them occupied while you take pictures. Use paper lanterns to decorate outdoor areas of your reception like this couple. Hang gorgeous floral wreaths on the doors of the ceremony or reception venue to add a romantic feel to the event. Like Suzanne and Adam, use different height centerpieces to decorate the reception venue.
March 16th, 2009
Wedding Blog Awards of the Week
Copyright © 2009 Leffand Studio
Here are the wedding blog awards for the week of 3/8/09-3/14/09:
The Most Inspiring Blog of the Week: Snippet and Ink
Every week this fabulous blogger posts wedding discounts and giveaways. It’s a great place to get a list of contests to win free stuff for your wedding! But the real reason that I choose this blog as the most inspiring this week is due to their multiple inspiration boards for brides on a budget: Apricot and Rose Gold, Fiesta Means Party, Good Morning Love, and Playful Minimalism. Check them out to find budget friendly ideas regarding wedding dresses, centerpieces, and stationery.
The Most Creative DIY Project of the Week: Style Me Pretty – DIY Centerpiece by Amelia Occasions
Do you want to impress your guests while saving money on centerpieces? Go with this unique centerpiece that only costs around $15 to $20.
The Most Useful Post/Article of the Week: Simply Dazzling Events – DIY Bling on the Centerpieces
I usually leave this category for a well-written, advice packed article, but I stumbled upon this adorable, affordable centerpiece idea. If you want your centerpieces to sparkle but can’t afford crystals, take a peek at this post.
The Most Stunning Real Wedding of the Week: An Atlanta Bride – Carnival Wedding
This wedding looks like so much fun that I would have loved being a guest at this unique event. If you’re looking to do things a little different on your big day, this wedding will be inspirational.
The Best Budget-Friendly Idea of the Week: 100 Layer Cake – DIY Veil
Many veils are ridiculously priced considering what they are made out of. Put that money towards something else in the wedding, and make your own veil with these easy to follow steps.
March 12th, 2009
Real Wedding – Sharon and Francis
How adorable is this Memorial Day weekend wedding?
Images from Martha Stewart Weddings
Learn from Sharon and Francis: Ask your bridesmaids to choose a dress in a shade that you pick. Secure your bouquet with a sash made from vintage kimono silk. Share a special moment together before the reception. Decorate the venue with paper accordion lanterns. Have the wedding guests shower you in tissue dots when you’re leaving the event.
March 9th, 2009
Wedding Blog Awards of the Week
Copyright © 2009 Leffand Studio
Here are the wedding blog awards for the week of 3/1/09-3/7/09:
The Most Inspiring Blog of the Week: 100 Layer Cake
100 Layer Cake is an adorable blog that can inspire any struggling bride. This week they posted an inspiration board including these colors: canary, ink, sky, cloud, and turquoise. Also, they posted TWO fantastic DIY projects that come with easy to follow instructions and pictures. The first project is a DIY spa day which every bride needs during the planning process. Invite your bridesmaids over and have a spa day without the hundred dollar price tag. The second DIY project is farmer favors, and they’re really cute.
The Most Creative DIY Project of the Week: Once Wed – Favor Bag Place Cards
If you know how to use a sewing machine and you’re looking for a cute favor/place card idea, then check out this DIY project. It seems pretty easy and it’s affordable.
The Most Useful Post/Article of the Week: With This Ring – DIY Monograms
Getting a monogram made for your wedding can be an expensive investment and to have it included in the stationery, favors, and decorations can make prices soar. What if you could find an affordable way to include a monogram in your wedding? This post will tell you how.
The Most Stunning Real Wedding of the Week: Snippet and Ink – Amber and Mark
This $15,000 wedding will be an inspiration to any bride who is trying to have a dream wedding on a budget. This couple had 200 guests and kept the costs under $15,000. The DIY projects that the bride completed for the wedding look pretty simple and make the wedding stand out.
The Best Budget-Friendly Idea of the Week: Hostess with the Mostess – Fantastic Table Centerpieces
The eleven centerpieces shown in this post look budget-friendly, simple, and fun. You should definitely take a peek at this post if you’re having a spring wedding and need ideas for inexpensive centerpieces.
February 8th, 2009
Real Wedding – Jane and Bryan
Okay, okay….you guys can stop begging for more pictures from Karen Wise. Here is another wedding that she photographed.
Images from Karen Wise
Learn from Jane and Bryan: Wear a stunning Jim Hjelm gown and get married in Brooklyn in November. Get married under an arch of fall leaves and carry a bouquet of autumn colored flowers. Take wedding pictures on a rooftop and of course, hire a fantastic photographer so you can always remember your stylish wedding.
January 30th, 2009
Real Wedding – Ally and Kristian
Images from Yun Gen Yang Photography
Learn from Ally and Kristian: Plan your ceremony outdoors where you will have beautiful green scenery in the background. Have a small, intimate wedding with a simple yet elegant table setting. Use white pumpkins for name cards, decorations, and favors. Make the wedding cake stand out with delicate, stunning flowers on the top. Throw on sneakers to dance, and show your guests that you’re ready to get down!
