The Clever Bride's Wedding Guide

I'm back

2011-02-03T13:01:00.000-05:00

think I will start doing wedding invitations again...

Cheap Wedding Dresses

2010-02-09T09:59:00.000-05:00

Can't vouch for the quality or anything, but from what I can tell this site has some great deals or dresses. A lot of the ones I saw were $200 or less... http://www.milanoo.com/

The Blessing of Marriage

2010-01-14T10:57:00.001-05:00

I always thought when I was in my teens that I would struggle to find a husband. It always seemed like I was that last one of my peers to reach every milestone. I never had a boyfriend, though I dated some in college. For the most part, I was happy. In March of 2004 I was in the final months of finishing my bachelor's and preparing to go to graduate school. I wasn't looking for a boyfriend. Then it happened, as I was walking in the hall I past a guy I talked to before when I worked in the residence hall we lived in. The rest is history. We will be married three years in May. Everyday with him is a blessing. God has not only provided me with a husband, but also a true friend. I am so very thankful. I pray for the people I know in my life who are single, that they may have the blessing of a partner. And one time my prayer got answered big time! I was praying for my friend at work who was single and was struggling and praying for another coworker who was a widower. Well, God must of had of plan (of course) because he killed two birds with one stone- just three weeks ago they got married! God is good!

Buy wedding invitations from me and 100% goes to charity!

2010-01-11T11:47:00.000-05:00

Starting today, 100% of what I make from these invitations from now until June will go toward me raising money to participate in the Tour de Cure in Indianapolis on June 12, 2010. The Tour de Cure is a series of fundraising cycling events held in 43 states nationwide to benefit the American Diabetes Association, whose mission is to to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. We all know have people in our lives that are affected by diabetes.
I am riding for my brother's best friend, Joey, who is 26 years old and has had diabetes for 22 years. Joey's twin brother also has diabetes, and both have insulin pumps. Joey has a good life despite diabetes, but I wish this is something he and is brother wouldn't have to deal with their whole lives. Too many people suffer from this disease. Here is the link if you would like to check it out. Tour de Cure

When to Order Your Wedding Invitations

2009-12-22T13:28:00.000-05:00

Most experts suggest say three to six months before the ceremony if you have the venues and date arranged. But I would suggest give yourself as much time as possible to not be rushed. Stuffing and addressing envelopes takes more time than you think, especially if it has to be done when you have a lot of other things going on, like other wedding stuff you have to do or stuff that you are busy with at work. One bride who ordered wedding invitations from me was a teacher who decided to order invitations in December for her July wedding. She chose to do that because she planned on stuffing and addressing the invitations during her holiday break from school. I would say, look at your own schedule and see when its the most convienient for you to do these. Venue arrangements are not likely to change. If in the unlikely event they do change you can call, send them an email or even a postcard, it's not a big deal if you give people notice. Unlike a lot of things you have to do for your wedding, the deadline to get this part of your wedding stuff done is entirely up to you. My advice? If it makes you feel better to just get them done and checked off the list, and you have the time to do them, I would say get them ordered sooner than later.

How to Buy Wedding Invitations

2009-12-06T17:52:00.001-05:00

This site is not mine, but I think gives a lot of good advice. When I did my own wedding invtations I had a lot questions and I wish I could have came across this site:

How to buy Wedding Invitations

And, I might be biased because I actually sell wedding invitations on eBay (very nice ones I might add) and this tip is a bit crass to admit to anyone else, but I think it's true:

•Don't skimp on wedding invitations! Seriously, recognize secretly if not publicly that for every dollar you put into an invitation, you're going to get $40 in gifts in return

I agree with that and also think that a wedding invitation is one of the few things that you will end up saving from your wedding through the years. I know many couples who have a framed wedding invitation in their homes. So picking wedding invitations that you truly like is important...

Very Random Bride and Groom Cake Toppers

2009-11-13T12:50:00.002-05:00

I saw this on a website and loved this: Over the Top Cake Toppers

(a couple on their cell phones)

So sweet, the little family...

Wii Mii's!!! I love this one!Get it here (they are a little pricey though at $150 and up)

Doing a search on wacky/ funny wedding toppers was a good way to amuse myself. You should try it.

Very cheap decorating ideas

2009-11-13T10:19:00.003-05:00

I am planning the holiday lunch at my work- for 60 or so people- and I have been obsessed with trying to find the perfect, centerpieces for the long rectangular tables. The catch is they will have to cost next-to-nothing since they are coming out of my pocket (I won't get reimbursed and I don't want to ask anyway). So I have been been looking at ones that use paper, with the idea I can get cute scrapbook paper very cheaply. Here are some ideas I am considering:

Paper Rosette Decorations

Make a gift bow from magazine page

Make a Paper Loop Tree

Easy tissue paper candle holders

These all could work in a wedding reception if you were so inclined... personally, I like the rosettes. I would use a paper with a metallic finish or spray some clear glitter spray paint on these to get them to catch the light. I also like the tissue paper candle holders but I still would have to buy a bunch of little glass candle holders- and at even a dollar apiece they still are more than I want to spend. Oh well, I'll think of something.

Bible Verse I like

2009-10-27T12:23:00.000-04:00

Not pertaining to weddings, but I wanted to put this up here:

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as the do, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.

- 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Bumpits- My review

2009-10-23T14:07:00.001-04:00

So this not exactly a wedding themed post, but it kinda could relate since it could be used for wedding day hair. Yesterday I got this: Bumpits.

and me, being so bad at doing my own hair I don't even try anymore (I just wear my hair straight by blow drying or curly by letting it dry naturally) found this actually not to be too bad. A nice little vintatge looking bump. Kind of like Joan from Mad Men (you know, the redhead). I need to play around with it some more to get better at it, but so far its a 7 out of 10. I read a lot of other reviews before I got mine at Walgreens for $10. They were mixed, but I kinda got the feeling you had to have the right kind of hair for it (longish, straight and THICK which mine definitely is). So, for $10 this is not a regrettable purchase. I could get into this whole polished/ kinda retro look.

10/24/09 Update: I have yet to wear it in public and after a few days of playing around with it I can feel a decent amount of short, frizzy hairs at my crown from all the little hairs I probably broke as I was trying this out. I don't know if I have the confidence to pull off having big hair- that's probably why I was trying it over and over again and damaging my hair in the process. Maybe if I could find someone in real life to show me how to use it I might be more confident in wearing it.

I love this idea- personalize your dance floor!

2009-10-19T12:42:00.002-04:00

I love looking at wedding stuff and recently I found this for only $22 on eBay. Go here if you want to see it yourself.

Using eBay to Get Wedding Stuff

2009-10-14T15:35:00.001-04:00

When I got married I knew I didn't want to spend a huge amount of money (or have my parents spend a lot of their money). I knew I could have a very nice wedding for about $5000. And I did, complete with a sit-down dinner, a DJ and free beer and wine at the reception. I saved some money by shopping on eBay. I got my flower girl dress for $30, an aisle runner for the church for $25, personalized cocktail sized napkins that looked lovely arranged around the cake table for $30 just for some examples. And looking on eBay provided me many hours of entertainment. I even saw you can get complete centerpiece sets that people used for their weddings but obviously have no use for after the wedding. Try searching for "wedding centerpiece lot" to see what's being offered. Happy hunting y'all. :-)

Evelope Liners

2009-10-06T10:42:00.002-04:00

I saw this on another website and I love how this looks, you use a template to cut out sheets of paper to slip into and glue inside of envelopes. It looks like a lot of work, but it looks so pretty! With so many scrapbooking papers available these days, you could pick the perfect paper to match your wedding theme. I use A9 evelopes (the invitation envelope) and A2 envelopes (the response card) and there are templates in this kit for those. http://www.mydiyweddingday.com/page/2/

More bling for the buck I guess...

2009-09-24T12:39:00.001-04:00

I came across this website that specializes in resaling jewelry- but there's a unique business angle to this site, I Do Now I Don't http://www.idonowidont.com/.

The site offers an outlet for people ready to unload their leftover “assets” from a failed relationship, or a diamond ring they have not worn in years. The item descriptions have stories on them like "this was worn for a few months by by fiancee but it wasn't meant to be." I like this ring above. I don't think I would mind if I had gotten my ring this way.

Would you mind getting a ring with "history"?

Now offering Quinceañera Invitations!

2009-09-23T15:36:00.000-04:00

I am now offering Quinceañera invitations and response cards. Email me if you would like more info, I'm not sure if I will keep them continuously listed on Ebay.

Neat Dollar Store Craft Idea

2009-09-14T15:54:00.000-04:00

You know those clear oval or round glass stones you can buy at any craft store or even the dollar store? Well, if you glue something to the back of them- a word or a photo or even little bits of scrapbooking paper- they look really neat.

http://www.frugalbride.com/magnetfavour.html

They would look great decorating the cake table- or even the guest tables.

Gel Candles

2009-09-14T15:41:00.000-04:00

I saw this and think it's neat: how to make gel candles in a martini glass. http://www.superweddings.com/projects/gelcandles_martini.html

I may have to make these- and make a mess ;-) -when my husband goes out of town later this month

Ebay

2009-08-28T15:44:00.001-04:00

Ok, I was going to take a break selling wedding invitations on Ebay, wedding season being over and all, but you know, even when it's stressful it's still worth it. It's fun, I get to use my creativity for a change and it makes me some money. (so I feel a little less guilty about the stupid crap I buy ;-)

Here are my listings: (and by the way, my feedback is awesome)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330355525817&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330355815746&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

I think I am just going to leave them up indefinitely...

Drink Calculator

2009-08-28T13:56:00.000-04:00

Serving drinks at your wedding? Here is a neat drink calculator to get an idea of how much booze you need to order. Check out the Drink Calculator

I would recommend NOT going with a cash bar. The last wedding I went to (ironically at the same venue as my wedding) had a cash bar. You could just hear the grumbling among the guests when they got there "It's a cash bar?" with a tone of disappointment. It's ok if you don't want to serve any alcohol or limit it to beer and wine, but making your guests pay alcohol at all it is kinda tacky. I think most peple expect to have a drink or two (or more if you have a family of big partiers) at a wedding once they walk in and see alcohol is being served.

I guess I am one to talk though. During my wedding, against my previous request to NOT have the bar open and just serve the beer and wine I ordered, the bar was open when we got there and some of our guests were happily paying for their own mixed drinks, so I let it stay open. So I guess there are exceptions to the NO CASH BAR rule, but, overall, I'm of the mindset that alcohol+a DJ='s a fun reception

New Monogram Design

2009-08-27T16:23:00.000-04:00

I like how elegant the header of this invitation is. Probably works better when the couples name's are about the same length though :-)

More wedding ideas

2009-08-06T16:07:00.000-04:00

Soda Bar: Might cost a lot, but it's cheaper than alcohol! If you are having a booze-free reception this is a wholesome alternative.

http://www.projectwedding.com/wiki/show/diy-an-old-fashioned-soda-bar

Wine glass table lamps: Brilliant!

http://www.save-on-crafts.com/wincanlamfro.html

New: Save the Date Cards

2009-08-04T13:55:00.000-04:00

Now offering Save the Date cards. Love this verse!

Great Reception Idea

2009-08-04T12:59:00.000-04:00

I made the mistake of having disposable cameras at the tables at my reception. Most of the pictures were really bad- not worth the cost to print them. Here is a better idea I saw on another site: instead of disposables, have a business cards printed up with an web address for an online photo-sharing site (I like Picassa) on the reception tables. That way, your guest can upload their pictures from their disposable cameras and you will have an abundance of good pictures that you would want to print!

http://www.chicaandjo.com/2009/03/05/photo-sharing-after-wedding-or-big-event/

I love this idea, but the camera card holder is a little cheesy. I would just get some simple silver business card holders from an office supply store as not to take away from the centerpiece. I would also print the business cards myself- office supply stores and even Walmart has business card paper for printing at home.

Monogram Invitations

2009-07-24T09:25:00.000-04:00

Our Love Wedding Invitations

2009-07-24T09:13:00.000-04:00

This is my most popular wedding invitation, in color this time.

My Discover Card

2009-07-17T10:56:00.000-04:00

I had this idea in my head last winter... start a small business printing wedding invitations. Since getting my Discover card I am amazed at all the stuff Discover has on their site, I mean they have all kind of services, like getting a tow for your broke-down car, or calculating how long it will take to pay off your balance.
Another neat thing I found I really like, it's the Shop Discover section. You can get money back on many major online retailers for simply linking through the Discover site to the retailer’s website. I love deals, I’m always checking for a deal somewhere! Little did I know I already had an abundance of deals available to me because of my trusty Discover card. I bought supplies for said small business -some paper- and it was so easy. Just click, click pay. I advise small business owners to look at the Shop Discover section and make their purchases using a Discover card. Every little bit helps when every expense for your business comes out of YOUR pocket.

I've had credit cards from other companies before, but with them I just felt kind of taken advantage of. I was getting absolutely no cash back, rewards, bonuses, discounts, or services but I was paying a bill of thousands of dollars... we'll I transferred my balance to Discover and never looked back.

I wrote this in part because Discover is offering $50 gift cards to people who blog about Shop Discover, that and the fact I really like this card! Hopefully I'll be one of the lucky people who get one, because, as I said, every little bit helps as I develop my new small business. And did I mention I have a pink card? I love it!

New Design: ThisDay

2009-04-22T16:08:00.001-04:00

Great new design in honor of today, Earth Day.