OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA

SOME PEOPLE THINK ITS NOT COOL TO TALK ABOUT POLITICS ON A WEDDING SITE. SOME PEOPLE DONT LIKE OBAMA AND SOME PEOPLE EAT OLD TUNA SANDWICHES!

this is not for any of those people...

YES WE CAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OBAMA IS PRESIDENT BABY!

The Dutchess gets MARRIED!

Stacy Ann Ferguson and Josh Duhamel got hitched! yea just like me you heard all sorts of rumors...but here's what she had to say to the naysayers "I'm married, Bitches!" Spending 1 million on their wedding they had the works: custom made dress from Dolce & Gabbana and tons of flowers! Hail to the Dutchess, may they reign forever!

I love Wild Hibiscus Flowers!!!!

Inside this Jar contain the secrets of life....Just Joking ! However this jar is a great way to excite your guest during the wedding toast! Put the raspberry favored flowers into the champagne glasses and pour the bubbly. The bubbles from the champagne instantly open the flower and it blooms before your eyes. After the toast eat the flower. Awesome! Wild Hibiscus Flowers in Syrup Party Pack contains 50 flowers for $35 dollars and its definitely on the must have list.

I LOVE COOKING & I LIKE EATING!

I love cooking its my favorite thing to do. I mean at first it was a big chore that I didnt see the point in.I am the oldest and only girl in my family and i had to cook for my brother. ( I never learned how to clean up AFTER cooking but that is another blog post).I really hated it but now I'm so in to it, its crazy. I was at Borders today and the FI and I saw this book: "400 Best-Ever Budget Recipes" for only $4.99! SCORE! I was kind of in a cooking rut -its like getting writers block only with your kitchen. Then boom I opened this book and the creative juices went to work. I started really noticing what I had in my fridge...."Blood oranges"? And then I looked at the pictures...."smoothie"? And add some magic of machines..."Blender?" And I was getting the job done..."Orange Rum on The Rocks"! Yup I am eating large and gaining weight baby, oh yea! Yup when everyone is losing weight I'm getting bigger. C'est ma vie.

Awesome Song

I love this song. It not really a wedding song but i think It will be a request. The words are so meaningful. It is a song for both of my parents Spice Girls, "MAMA": Ok my friends are like "find a wedding like song" so here is Headlines also by the Spice Girls:

GOLD RUSH- and the hunt!

I am so excited about the Pier 1 sale next to my house... man, its awesome i got some glittery gold stuff for $0.68 per pack! needless to say I got six packs. Some plates for $9.99! Got like two plates (which are great for appetizers)! Its funny where you can find stuff. Since my wedding isnt until 2010 I still have tons of time but I'm on a hunt for pretty much everything at cheaper prices...and I won't budge. I mean why should I? America is a pretty big place someone out there has great deals...I just need to find them and then tell you guys! Oh yea I will soon have pics of great finds on my blog!!!!

Pimp my Venue, Please!

As you know most budget brides don't get top pick of venue sites. Most budget venue sites are anywhere from the $300- 700 dollar for six hours and while they are easy on the pockets they may not be easy on the eyes. So How do you make your venue classy and posh with out the celeb budget. Find a focal point and build around it! Got a wall that is plain and just boring? Wonderful Graffiti is what you need! Put the meaning into your wedding day with words from the heart. The crafty company makes cool vinyl words to stick on your walls. It will definitely get the attention of your guest. They also do monograms! Priced at in the $30-500, you are bound to find something to tickle your fancy. Another tip is butterflies! Yes, butterflies they make a whimsical touch to any room. Clear Cut Crafts2007 an Etsy boutique owner has the "largest range of 3D Transparent Critters on the Internet"! super cool, you can add them to your table, your centerpieces, your bouquets, favors and more. You can also customize them to match your wedding colors! Also going with seasonal flowers is a great way to save money and still have an elegant wedding. Go green with potted living flowers. Candles are one of the oldest ways to add posh ambiance to an evening receptions. Some brides opt to forgo flowers using candle light instead. It makes for a very relaxing and romantic glow in an otherwise less perfect room. Your family pixs can be used to make great centerpieces along with flowers. Old (meaning antique ) bird cages with flowers on them can make for great centerpieces. Paper lanterns are really cool outside especially at night. They also look cool in pictures. Use bowls of fruit or displays of edible fruit. Put trees in spots like corners or near other less desirable places . Add some drama with feathers! Putting huge feathers in tall illuminated vases makes for a glamorous display. It makes for an great alternative to traditional flowers. The website Save on crafts.com has tons to choose from. The prices there are a steal.

Ideas for a wedding under $ 2000.

There are so many tips on having a budget wedding. Any site you go you can find tips on having affordable weddings. The truth is it isn't hard to have an affordable wedding. Anyone can rush to a chapel and get hitched, anyone can save some money, get family and friends together and have a little party. The most important thing about a wedding, any wedding is love. Love begins the party and love is the final say. A lavish wedding means nothing if there is no love behind it.

The main purpose of this blog is to save people money during this special time. I believe money or a lack of it should not stop people from having a wedding they can be proud of. Anyone regardless of race, age (exception: HAS TO BE OF LEGAL AGE) , sexual preference, class or appearance should be able to celebrate their special day with dignity and pose. My original motivation was my upcoming nuptials but now its also all the brides I have met on this Earth.

So here are my ideas:

Dress and Formal Wear:

1. Buy on Sale or on a discount. period. Most retailers inflate prices which isnt bad (if a dress is beautiful then its expected to get top dollar) However, if you can't afford it then look for something closer to your price range.

2. Shop during sale season... holidays like Labor Day, Easter, etc and at the end of each season like spring, fall. These are usually when you can get the best deals on anything really.

3. If you must buy full price be willingly to cut funds some where else. This is about being realistic, if you are not a celeb you cant have their wedding...at least not without their cost. So if your dress is x amount then take that amount from other things like your reception.

4. Think outside of the bridal box...i say this over and over and over again. Its ok to go to a bridal salon but if you go they had better give you a great price cus there are too many places to go if they don't.

5. Resell or save it for the future. A wedding dress is as useful as its owner. if you don't want it sell it on ebay or a resale shop, donate it to charity or save it for your daughter but whatever you don't stuff it into a closet.

6. Guys go to a formal wear shop that has discounts. guys stuff can also be pricey.

7. Guys here's a tip: everyone wears a black suit or black pants. Most guys have a black suit or black pants. The blacks don't have to match but no navy allowed. Then wear matching ties in the bridal colors.

8. simple boutonnieres don't always need to be floral. Feathers, greenery, ribbons and even silk flowers are good for lapel pins.

Ceremony

1. Decorations are not necessary for an outdoor ceremony. Chairs and fans are nice on a hot day but flowers on each chair are not really a must have. On a nice day, all you need is just the people you care about and maybe a simple arch just to have a frame for the ceremony.

2. Its okay to use silk flowers or add silk flowers to a real flower arrangement if its far away from the hands of guest. Two columns with great floral arrangements are all that people will see however please use real flowers on reception tables.

3. Bouquets are not the only thing brides/grooms can hold. Prayer books, Rosary, Bible, even a scroll with a special message to your groom or bride can be used instead.

4. Bridesmaids can hold one long stemmed calla Lily with a ribbon tied to each.

5. One bunch of hydrangea makes for a great bouquet. Any bunch of flower will do.

Transportation

1. Hire a bus instead of a limousine. You can carry more people to the venue.

2. Use your own cars, one for the groom and one for the bride.

3. Rent a car....its alot cheaper than limousines.

4. host the ceremony at the same site as reception. which is also a greener way money and earth wise!

Food

1. Talk to independent caterers, most site caterers are pricey. some are not but most are.

2. Negotiate but be polite. tell them your budget.

3.DIY the easy stuff but buy professional the hard stuff. Face it some things take a long time to make. Don't spend the day b4 your wedding over the stove. If Giant has a great pasta salad buy in bulk there.

4. Costco, Bjs, Sam's Club etc wholesale retailers are your friends as long as you are choosy. Know how everything taste before you serve it to people. Also be sensitive to allergies, people shouldn't die because you decided to get married.

5. Provide many food options. I'm really tired of folks saying that because you are having a budget wedding then everyone should eat carrots and dip all night. Its a bunch of goo. If your mom can host a bday when you were six then your guest should be able to eat real food. hungry guest aren't happy guest.

That ends the tips for now but I will soon have more awesome tips. Clipart courtesy of http://www.webweaver.nu/clipart/wedding.shtml Ciao!

Flower Girls , Ring Bearers, Flower Children

I'm not a kid person. I have yet to decide if I would want kids at my wedding i'm leaning towards yes but somewhere inside there is a girl with a wine cooler shouting "heck no!" Do I think kids are cute, yea sure I do. Do I think that kids are our future, yes I can agree with that. Do I want kids crying at my wedding.....um....not really. Does this make me selfish, heck yah! And I'm proud cus that means I actually give a damn about important events in my life. However, for my guest sake I may have kids there, I guess I can put the little dudes to work since they dont pay rent. Get all of them together and make them waiters. lol....jus joking.

Seriously, kids are cool and they make great flower girl ring bearer people. they are so cute in pictures and it makes your special day even more wonderful!

Here's some cute combos for the special kids in your life:

1. Got a baby flower girl and an older flower girl, Put the baby in a wagon and have the older one tug her down the aisle. I saw this in a picture and it was super cute.

( Quick Note: pre-teens and teens ARE NOT flower girls they are bridesmaids, please STOP at puberty, folks)

2. Got alot of gals: flower kids alert have them hold ribbons and run down the aisle or skip down the aisle. or have them toss rose petals. or have them say: "the bride is coming"

3. Got a team of boys: drummer boys are super cool as long as they are not too loud.

4. Have wedding fairies, buy the wings at a craft store and let all the girls be fairies....it sounds weird but looks get in pictures

5. Boys or girls can be train bearers.

6. Present giver: giving flowers/favors to guest is a great way to begin a party.

Now, my favorite part what to dress them in:

The best tip I have is to use a pretty dress or suit you already have just make sure that whatever you choose goes with the wedding colors. If you dont have any thing in the house try these sites:

1. Tutucuteforcadence is a cute (Etsy) boutique that has tutus and tutu dresses for cute little flowergirls. The dresses come in many colors including this cute pink flower dress for $49.99

Other great affordable flower girl sites are:

1. Another tutu place on etsy: BugaBoo tutu for 12 months and 6 years for $25.

2. Childrens clothing stores like Gymboree have dresses at affordable prices.

3. Ross, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Kohls, Walmart and Kmart have deals on really pretty dresses. Plus they can be found almost everywhere.

4. Old navy and Target also have great deals.

5. Flower Girl dress and Boys formal sites like: sophiastyle.com, cutieclothes.com, flowergirldressforless.com, kidsformal.com and wholesalekid.com have awesome steals online.

pics courtesy of tutucuteforcandence

Cool, Colorful, Classy, Bling!

Anyone who knows me knows I'm an Etsy head. I love the site and all the sellers there. There are so many talented people on Etsy...its nuts. One of my favorite shops is ShadeJewelry's. All of their is handmade, they only work with titanium ( the finest titanium), they only use purchased or graded gems by a local Professional gemologist and they 'now carry a full line of "hearts and arrows" diamonds, a long with many major brands of diamonds, including Canadian diamonds( which are known for helping with the Conflict diamond Crisis).'

I love ShadeJewelry. Their rings are works of art. They can make their rings in any color imaginable. Plus they are very durable. here are some of my favorites. beautiful!

I love this ring Because it has my two wedding colors: pink and gold. $90

I love the classic look of these rings plus the price is super hot $44o for Both Rings! It isn't Gold but it is titanium however the color isn't painted on its the color of the metal... permanent color. "A permanent coloring process known as anodizing is used to produce the rich GOLD COLOR on these bands. The anodized coloring will not wear off. It is not a paint or a stain of any kind, and it will not fade. It actually changes the color of the titanium metal. "

This ring is utterly beautiful and unique. $90

Beautiful Engagement ring,Tension Set, real diamonds (.10 carat SI-1) for $250! The ring at top of the post is the Titanium Ring Band Anodized Blue Circles Design this stunner is $95!

Still soaking up info...like a sponge babay!

I'm on my wedding stuff hunt...And I am loving my fellow bloggers sites...first I went to Broke-Ass Bride (cus I am a...you get it), Then I jetted to Wedding Chicks and I am so into DIY Brides....Need less to say, I'm not a Bridal Blog hater cus I am also a future bride as well so the more info to save a buck the better! I also LOVE wedding porn!

Here's some stuff that raised an eyebrow or two:

• Boudoir Pictures- Not nasty porn like pictures with butts and tatas but sweet pictures of you in your undies for vip eyes only. A nice gift for your partner especially before the day of your wedding. Tasteful yet sexy. I am loving this idea..i think i may do it! Check out this from KLK Photography : http://klkphotography.blogspot.com/2008/11/boudoir-not-just-for-brides.html and Woman Captured by Boucher: http://www.womancaptured.com/index2.php
• Unique Vintage- this page just makes me say yum. I am so in love with these dresses its sickening. They are so affordable and yet so posh.I think I may get my reception dress from here! Check this out: http://www.unique-vintage.com/
• Save yourself and your beloved from messy wedding vendor issues with Wed Safe. Wed Safe Insurance protects your wallet from wedding cancellations, liability issues etc.Take charge of your day invest in peace of mind. http://www.wedsafe.com/

So there you have it for now. lots of love to my fellow bloggers and my future brides and grooms.

sites i kind of noticed and love!

Its pretty hard to get my attention. i can go for months without seeing something in front of me (esp with no glasses). However when I do see it...I obsess over it. Today I was doing my regular vendor scouting cus I'm getting married. I found two amazing and USEFUL sites! Bravobrides and Preownedweddingdresses http://www.preownedweddingdresses.com/ I really like BravoBride cus its like an exclusive market for brides. its like the chain of life or something. A bride buys tons of stuff, uses it and then sells the stuff on BravoBride then a Bride buys from BravoBride and uses the stuff and then sells to Bravo Bride which another bride then buys....you get the idea. Thus nothing is wasted...its affordable , green and oh so posh! http://www.bravobride.com/ Same idea with Preowned wedding dresses. You see a dress that you love but its $2,500. So you say forget about it and feel bummed out right? WRONG! Check it out on preownedweddingdresses.com! You may get the same dress for $200-400! Most times its been used once but sometimes not at all! SCORE! So there you have it posh divas till then...peace!

A Must Do for Your Hair Do!

Last Time it was Flowers. Today its Birdcage Veils. Why do I like Birdcage or French veils? Because they are fun and whimsical. They kind of look like your grandma's stuff....the hot vintage stuff you coveted. Plus this funky style looks really cool with a cute short white or ivory dress. Go to the chapel or to city hall and look super cute! First is an all time favorite of mine: Twigs & Honey! Myra is super cool. You would think she would be a complete diva because everyone has featured her products but she is not. I told her I wanted to write about her work in my hair do section and she was like "yea thanks for asking" totally cool gal! Anywho, her work is amazing. Here are some of her CUSTOM products for other clients. They are priced around $ 40.00 -$60.00 for a customized bird cage veil. Check it out: Wanna see more? Myra's Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5060316 And her Twigs & Honey Page: http://twigsandhoney.com/splash.html I Love this birdcage veil by Birdcage Veils.com. The Emma birdcage veil is custom made with 9-inch Russian netting. It has one wire comb that attaches to the top or side of the head. Its only $37.99! Check out more: www.birdcageveils.com Love ya folks!

Super Deals: Wedding Flowers

I love love love flowers...i know I'm a hopeless romantic. Being a hopeless romantic is sometimes a bad thing but it can be good if you have a practical spirit. My romantic side says "I want roses everywhere" and my practical side says "Ummm...who is paying for that? Not you stupid!" I guess alot of women have this problem especially on their special day. So I have found some great sites that have great deals and tips some you know, some you dont.

First deal is from Organic Bouquet. Organic Bouquet is the "market leader in organic flowers and is recognized in the trade as having established the natural products industry's newest category--organic floral." Their flowers are grown naturally with no harsh chemicals . Organic Bouquets also use a Truck Stop Electrification Program which helps reduce gas emissions. Plus you can give to your favorite charity just by buying a bouquet!

Deals I love:

I love all of the bouquets which can be used as a bridal bouquet. The Crown Majesty (long lasting cream Esperance roses with pink centers, $49.95), Deluxe Lily Bouquet ( which was "rated as the #1 Mother's Day Bouquet in 2007 by Smart Money magazine",$59.95), Snowy White Roses (Creamy white roses $49.95), One Dozen Wanted Rose Bouquet ( Velvety dark red beautiful roses, $49.95), Chartreuse Roses ( a pale pretty green rose bouquet $49.95) , and the Blue Iris Bouquet ( blue flowers that are lovely $ 44.95) are all great choices.

packages :Grower's Harvest Passionate Pink and Sunshine Gerbera Daisies. 84 Gerbera Daisies in cool shades of every pink imaginable or yellow, orange shades for only $179.95!

The Flower Exchange.Com is an online floral wholesaler who have awesome prices. All flowers are Fed Exed with priority shipping from growers located all over the world ( Ecuador, Holland,Costa Rica just to name a few). The Flower Exchange has great variety. Orchids, hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, tropicals and of course roses are some of the flowers that are on this site.

Some deals I love are :

All the Wedding Combos....you can get so much here for less than $500. The prices for the combos start at $155 so any one can afford their wedding flowers! yah!

Next Stop is the Fifty Flowers.com. At Fifty Flowers.com, its all about customer service that touches everyone across the globe. Fifty Flowers.com has offices all over the world and a great variety of flowers including hard to find specialty roses. I am also loving the fact that their CEO is a woman. Girl Power!

Some of the deals I love here are:

Wholesale Bulk Roses 200 Stems Your Colors package: 200 Ecuadorian Rose in 25 stem bundles . The great thing is for each bunch of 25 stems you can pick your colors so if you have your heart set on red, pink, hot pink, white or whatever you can have that not just your standard two color choice all for $209.99. Excellent!

DIY Wedding Pack 50 Orchids Dendrobium and 40 Mini Calla Lillies: 5o stems of Dendrobium orchids, 40 mini Calla lillies, 5 growers bunch of hearty choice and you get to pick from a vast number of colors all for $279.99!

Pro Flowers is a great site to get your pre made bridal bouquets. They are great and affordable. ProFlowers started as a small company that had a farm in California. "Shipping just 500 rose bouquets for Valentine's Day. 10 years later, we serve more than 7 million customers with 185 fresh cut varieties from eight different countries around the world." They also have a whole wedding page where you can get a package for your wedding party with wedding specialist you can talk to. Deals That I love Are:

I love the beautiful artistic vision they use to make their flower bouquets. I think that their bouquets would make lovely and affordable bridal bouquets. Three Dozen Purple Carnations ( 36 purple carnations in different shades of purple only $39.99), All The Frills ( 7 dark pink petite roses, 8 light pink petite roses,3 green anastasia mums and4 pink bouvardia only $34.99...its my favorite!), Purple Dendrobium Orchids ( 15 multiple bloom stems purple Dendrobium orchids only for $29.99!), Deluxe Autumn Days ( this is so beautiful 12 Autumn colored roses,5 Stems of red, yellow, or orange Peruvian lilies,Yellow solidago Only for $39.98), White Dendrobium Orchids (15 multiple bloom stems of white dendrobium orchids only for $29.99) and many more!

There are tons more. Check out your local Whole Foods, Grocery Stores, Nurseries and Wholesaler Markets! love Ya!

pic from Organic Bouquet.

A Must do for your Hair Do!

Tiaras, Bird Cages, Wreaths, Flowers, Veils, Hair Pins...The Stuff we ladies put in our hair! Its important but I noticed that alot of people are spending waaaayyy too much for their bridal accessories. I mean $100 is too much for a veil, seriously. I dont care if people laugh....I will spend alot less then they will on their weddings. Yea when looking for a discount...its true you have to be careful. Their alot of places that give discounts for items that are just trash. period. Today I'm writing about the folks who have great products at discount prices. Todays topic is : Flowers for your hair! Mikiye Creations: When I decided to get married. I knew I wanted something less traditional I wanted a flower. I still may do a veil but the flower is just my thing. I was so glad to find this artist who makes amazing accessories and great jewelry. "Mikiye Creations is a luscious and romantic blend of semi-precious stones, metals, freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals, silks and feathers. Vibrant color, rich texture, attention to detail and dazzling shine have become my signature. Every piece is delicately handcrafted by my hands for you to enjoy." Enuff said. These are some that I love: Delightful Baby Pink Rose Wedding Hair Flower With Swarovski Crystals and Freshwater Pearls $62.00 I love the Blush Pink Color.

Having a winter wedding but still love the flower look? Try Winter Princess for only $24!

Silky Petals Rose Hair Accessory for only $29.00! Is really cute and great with a simple ivory dress.

If you would like to add more glam to your day maybe you should try the Heavenly Rose Silk Flower Wedding Hair Pin. The feathers give it an old school holly wood glam! Price : $48.00.

This is for my goth gal Stephanie.....I love these two alternatives to white and ivory. The black flower is called Black Satin Silk Wedding Hair Pin and its priced at $ 56. and the pink one is called Sultry Fuchsia Hair Flower. Priced at $38.00.

CHECK OUT MORE mikiye's creations at Etsy.com

or click this lick:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=110867