iPod Music at Reception/Wedding

I've read many different "opinions" on this matter, but liked what I read here even though it's a few years old.

I've got a long playlist going for my iPod/Laptop and since it's a very informal wedding and very intimate, I don't think hiring a DJ or renting a dance floor is necessary. Knowing my family, they'll start dancing when the mood strikes them, right Mom? :-)

Drink Calculator

Hmmm..this is interesting! A way to determine how much alcohol you need to purchase for your wedding/reception at evite.com

Guestbook Alternative

Oh, I like this! They had guests sign a pair of skis. Neat idea.

Rings

I know nothing about wedding rings. I don't know what I'm supposed to look for. What will go well with the antique engagement ring Dave gave me, or even what size ring I wear! I know it's small. Thankfully, my fingers don't show my weight gain like the rest of my body does! LOL

During the Martha Stewart Weddings Luxury Wedding Expo in November, someone mentioned to me that I should look for an "enhancer". Not really knowing what that is, I have now located some on a couple of jewelry websites.

Zales
Kay Jewelers

Ah, HA! That's what I need. LOL I like the ones that have their own bands that don't wrap so completely around the actual ring. Makes it look like more I guess, but doesn't hide the actual engagement ring, which I do not want. Some only have one band, others have two bands (like the one pictured here). Some are VERY expensive, others are not.

Enhancers are also called inserts, wraps, or guards. I never would have known that. NOW I know what to look for.

Floating Flowers

Well, if we can't come up with something to disguise the hot tub at the chalet in some fashion, it might be fun to leave it open and float something like this in it.

Bummer

As most women know, not all clothing can be worn under other clothing. Especially wedding dresses. I'm trying to locate strapless slips and bralettes to wear to start trying on dresses. Apparently I either don't know my REAL bra size anymore, or I've just gained so much weight in my mid-section and hips that I'm going to have to start shopping in the women's section! Depressing.

I have ordered three very nice bralettes, body shapers and a bra-slip and all three are far too small. I can't even get the bustier bralette around me. Depressing! The other two items I couldn't even get over my hips or shoulders. You know it's bad when you almost get stuck in your clothing! I was afraid I was going to have to call Dave to help me get out of the one..normally not a bad thing to ask your fiancé, but in this case it was just damn embarrassing and depressing.

Now I'm starting to dread trying on wedding dresses. I haven't gone dress shopping for even normal dresses in such a long time and since they say all wedding dresses run two sizes smaller, I'm fearing I'll have to delve into the women's sizes to get one to fit me and, OF COURSE, that's more money....which I cannot do.

I've lost five pounds in three weeks, but at this rate, I don't see major reduction in dress sizes for June. We'll see.

Embrace my curves....embrace my curves....embrace my curves......Hmmmmmmm.....

Saying "Yes" To The Dress?

I'm very excited...I just called for an appointment at David's Bridal in Portland for my first EVER bridal gown try-on session. I think it would be quite fitting if I found a gown at "DAVID's" bridal. LOL

I've seen several dresses on their website that are within my budget and hopefully some good "Valentine's Day Sales" will be going on around that time. My appointment is February 12th at 11:00. I'm hoping Dave can drive me, but not stay with me as I'm a traditionalist in the respect that I don't want him to see me in my dress until the wedding. I'm not sure how I'll "hide" it from him in the car, at the chalet and in the house, but seeing it ON me can wait until the big day.

When the woman who scheduled my appointment asked me if this was my first visit to their store, I said it was my first time trying on bridal dresses EVER! And at the ripe-old age of 46, I was VERY ready. LOL

Wish me luck!!!

Neat Idea

Well, if your Chef bails on us at the last minutes, this is an interesting option!

OPT FOR A RECEPTION REGISTRY
An elaborate spread will obviously please your guests, but what about your pocket book? Not everyone can afford to provide a five-course meal. If an informal affair is your idea of a good time, consider setting up a reception registry. Much like a pot-luck, guests sign up to bring a dish to pass instead of a gift.

Budget Ideas

Buy Wholesale

Buy your own wine wholesale. You'll pay your caterer a corkage fee to pour it, but wine purchased through him can cost twice as much.

Most merchants offer a 10 percent discount for buying wine by the case, and they'll often increase that if you purchase several cases at once.

Check into wine that's available in magnums (bottles twice the size of regular ones); several quality wines are. Wine sold in a magnum costs less per ounce, and because the corkage fee goes twice as far, you'll save on two counts.

Forgo Full Dinner Service

How dinner is served affects the price. French service, in which guests are served by waiters from a platter at the table, and regular plate service are the most expensive. More economical is family style, where diners help themselves from serving dishes brought to the table.

Champagne for Toasts Only

Instead of pouring Champagne all night long, serve just a single glass to each guest at the appropriate time to toast the bride and groom.

Select In-Season Flowers

While most popular bridal flowers are available year-round, some traditional ones -- peonies and lilies of the valley, for example -- can be difficult to find and expensive out of season. Seek your florist's advice before deciding on your flowers.

Arrange Fruit-Filled Centerpieces

Bowls or compotes filled with seasonal fruits from a farmer's market can take the place of expensive floral presentations.

More Flowers Can Cost Less

Don't overlook such floral standbys as daisies and carnations. They're available year-round, are quite affordable, and when arranged en masse make delightful centerpieces and bouquets.

Skip Reply Cards

Eliminate reply cards and have guests handwrite a note instead. You'll save on stationery and postage, and the responses will be great keepsakes.

Know Your Priorities

Prioritize aspects of the wedding that are most important to you. By compromising in some areas, you can afford to splurge on other.

Initiate an Officiant

There are many unexpected costs that can inflate your budget; an officiant can be one of them. If that's the case for you, consider having your vows administered by a trusted relative or friend. Universal Life Church (ulchq.com) and Esoteric Interfaith Church (northern way.org) are two organizations that "ordain" laypeople so they can officiate weddings, which most of the 50 states will recognize. Laws in a few states, such as Virginia, are strict, requiring officiants to be active in their ministry. To be sure you're in the clear, check with the county clerk about the laws where you'll be wed.

Focus on You

When it comes to your ceremony site, you don't need to deck the guest-book table and every pew with flowers. Get the most bloom for your buck by asking your florist to design two lush altarpieces, which will direct everyone's eyes exactly where you want them to be: on you and your groom.

Boycott Overpriced Bubbly

Technically, Champagne is sparkling wine that's from the Champagne region of France. But there are plenty of worldly competitors without the high price tag. Substitute with Cava, the Spanish take on Champagne, or Prosecco, from Italy, which is smoother, sweeter, and a better fit for a small budget. It's even true of French sparkling wine: "The least expensive bottle of Champagne we sell is $57," says Boutillier. "And Cremant, which is made the same way but isn't from Champagne, is $33.

SOURCE: Martha Stewart Weddins

Scottish Wedding Symbols

Scottish Wedding Symbols.

Maybe use the explanation of the Thistle from the above website on the program, or somewhere.

Wedding Favor- Jordon Almonds

I read this on a Scottish Wedding Favor's website. I might try to get some to fill my little pails.

Use Jordan Almonds as wedding favors.

No discussion of Scottish wedding favors is complete without Jordan Almonds. Specifically, five somehow nestled together. The color is whatever strikes your fancy, but there must be five.

The sugar symbolized the sweet aspects of life, while the almond symbolized the bitter.

The five almonds represented health, wealth, fertility, happiness and longevity.

Also found this website: Jordon Almonds

Save-The-Date magnets sent out!

We sent out our Save-The-Date magnets last week to those invited to our wedding. They were small and Dave had a lot more printed than we really needed, so we included two magnets in each envelope. Dave printed out the addresses on the envelopes and I put them in the mail.

I designed the magnets using the color scheme and theme of our wedding.

I was going to stop at the post office and get stamps that were a little more fitting for the event, but then decided no one would remember the stamps we used on the envelope, so why spend the extra money when we had stamps already at home. Silly.

I think some of the folks we sent them to had never heard of Save-The-Date cards, but they seem to be the "thing to do" these days. Granted, I doubt we REALLY needed to do it for a wedding of our size, but we had fun doing it and it was terribly easy.

Here is some more info on Save-The-Date.