15 DIY Steps - 12 Months Before Your Wedding Day

It takes approximately a year to plan a wedding and there are 15 basic steps you should start with 12 months before your special day.

1. Announce your engagement
2. Set your wedding date    
3. Create a budget and keep a folder for receipts
4. Create your guest list
5. Start brainstorming ideas and themes
6. Reserve your Ceremony location
7. Book an Officiate
8. Make reservations for your Reception area
9. Book a Photographer and/or Videographer
10. Book a Caterer, Florist and Music (Band, DJ, etc.)
11. Look for a Wedding gown and Tux, schedule time for alterations and fittings
12. Register for gifts
13. Select and call the bridesmaids and groomsmen.
14. Agree on a date to order bridesmaids’ dresses and groomsmen’s tuxes
15. Choose a destination for your Honeymoon (Apply for Passports)

If you do not plan to hire a Wedding Planner, you can delegate certain tasks to a friend or family member who you both agree would be the best person to handle finding a photographer, florist, or who might know a really great caterer. Planning a wedding can get hectic so don't forget to take time out and have fun too.

Renee'

Something old, something new, something vintage inspired...

Whether you call it vintage, shabby chic, rustic, french bohemian, or country, the theme draws inspiration from the same place - real life with a touch of whimsy and a strong dose of nostalgia. Styles like these remind everyone of a more innocent and playful time in our lives when we were playing dress up in grandma's attic and catching fire flies in mason jars.

The great thing about this effect is that it is so easy to create! Thrift stores, attics, garage sales, and junk yards (yes, I did say junk yards) are just begging to be picked through to find the perfect something old to be your something new!  Mason jars, various mismatched wine glasses, vases, and toasting flutes can be found in abundance at these places for next to nothing. Also, never underestimate what can be found for free in some of the above mentioned places. Of course it takes a little work to clean it up and make it fabulous, but that is part of the fun!

You can play up this theme by incorporating vintage accessories in your wedding as well. Cute vintage inspired flasks and engraved compacts with an old hollywood look would be great gifts for the wedding party. Lacey flower girl baskets and accessory sets also fit right in. Check out the pictures below for more inspiration!

Photo Credit:

Vintage Inspired Flask, Flower Girl Basket, Round Compact, and Ivory Favor Boxes - myweddingreceptionideas.com. All other images courtesy of Green Wedding Shoes Blog.

Have fun!

~ Jenna

Easy Ideas for Edible and Fun Fall Wedding Favors

Fall isn’t that far away and for brides who are planning fall weddings it’s time to start thinking favors. Here are a few easy, edible and fun fall wedding favor ideas.

Caramel or Candy Apples:

For this fun favor I would make both candy and caramel apples to give your guest a variety. This would be great project for getting a group of your girlfriends or bridesmaids together. Crack open a bottle of wine and spend the evening making beautiful apple treats for all of your guest. The apples can be displayed nicely using apple favor boxes that can be personalized with your names and wedding date.

Candy :

Another creative and money saving idea is making chocolate candy leaves. The molds can usually be found very easily at any craft store with directions on how to make the chocolate candies. Maple candies are also a nice fall treat. Look for a recipe on line and place a few candies in either a fall favor bag or a beautiful fall leaf favor box.

Fall Leaf Cookies :

Cookies are a fabulous fall wedding favor. To incorporate the fall theme make the cookies in the shape of maple leaves. If you are not much of a baker, use a store bought sugar cookie dough. You can either make or buy red, orange and green icing to match your cookies with your fall color wedding theme. The cookies, like the candies can be placed in a small favor bag and tied with ribbon. You could even give each one of your guest there own leaf shaped cookie cutter as a favor.

Any of the above ideas would be a creative and economical fall favor for your wedding. Edible wedding favors are becoming more and more popular. Set up a candy and cookie buffet and use all three ideas. Your guest will love it!

Carrie

Vintage Sweet Shoppe Inspiration Board

Don't you wish we could all go back to the days of old-fashioned ice cream parlors and soda fountains?  Back when life was simple and the hardest decision you had to make was what flavor of ice cream to have.

Well, while I wander off and continue to have visions of ice cream cones and trips to the water hole, I hope you enjoy this vintage inspiration board I've put together in honor of past days.  Combining the light and airy shades of my three favorite flavors of sherbet ice cream; orange, raspberry, and grape.  What flavors would you put together? ~ Allie

Row 1: Bridesmaids dresses via Martha Stewart Weddings. Row 2: Mason Jars from Emerald Weddings, letterpress invitation by Starshaped Press of etsy.com. Row 3: Wine barrels via Jason and Anna Photography, purple bouquet from Martha Stewart Weddings.  Row 4: Bride and groom courtesy of Jason and Anna Photography.  Row 5: Flower bouquet and vintage bird seed favor via stylemepretty.com, photography by dandelionandgrey.  Row 6: Hanging dresses courtesy of Jason and Anna Photography

Delicious DIY Summer Favor - The Watermelon Cookie

Just in time for summer weddings, these adorable DIY watermelon cookies are compliments of the ultra-creative and talented Meaghan from the decorated cookie.  How adorable.  These would be perfect for a backyard wedding or summer bash, don't you think?  I can already picture them sitting at each guest place setting; right next to a nice cold pitcher of pink lemonade.  Such a conversation starter and almost too cute to eat....almost.





What you'll need:
dough
frosting
3 inch (or larger) circle cookie cutter
sharp knife
frosting food coloring
5 disposable, 12" decorating bags
5 couplers
5 decorating tips (1 of size #5, 2 of size #4, 2 of size #3)
5 rubber bands
squeeze bottle or spoon

To pull it off, just gather up a couple friends and family members and start baking!  I bet these could even be refrigerated for a few days ahead of time so you aren't scrambling at the last minute to finish your favors.  Read the full how-to here and enjoy.

Happy Planning!

Allie