DIY – Table Centerpieces from The Yes Girls Events

Earlier this year we featured the marriage proposal story of EB Bride, Kendall (from The Yes Girls Events).  Her oh-so-romantic fiance planned the perfect proposal complete with a custom painting depicting their proposal, a self-made scrapbook of their life together, and a love note.  Read More.  Kendall and Tommy were recently married with a beautiful outdoor ceremony and reception in Southern California.  Here is a sneak peek…

Kendall is one crafty gal including many DIY elements to her wedding, including her table centerpieces.  With floral centerpieces starting at about $50 each, these centerpieces are fun to do and will keep some money in your handbag.  I’ve asked Kendall to share how we can create something similar:

What you’ll need:

*3 empty frames (glass removed) per table either 5×7 or 8×11 — Kendall found hers at flea markets and garage sales

*Spray paint to paint frames – optional

*Hammer and small nails

*Wired ribbon

*Wire

*Beads/pearls for center of flowers (optional)

*Hot glue gun

*Velum

*Votive candles

*Battery Operated Candles

HOW TO:

1. Cut lace to fit opening of two of the frames and glue onto the two frames.

2. Cut velum to fit opening of the third frame.  Use your printer to print your table numbers or words directly on the velum.  Or, you can have Kinko’s print these for you.  Kendall and Tommy used words that represented the characteristics they wanted their marriage to have (laughter, grace, humility, honor etc..)

3. Hot glue the fabric and ribbon flowers you’ve made onto the frames.  Watch the video to see how to make your own fabric and ribbon flowers…

4. Hammer a small nails approx 1″ down from the top on both sides of the frame.  Wrap wire around the nails connecting the frames together to form a triangle.

5. Place the battery operated candle in the middle to create a glow through the frames and scatter votive candles around the outside of the frames.

There you have it – a lovely DIY centerpiece that is a fantastic alternative to the traditional floral centerpiece, at a fraction of the cost.

Tags: diy fabric flowers, diy fabric weddings, table centerpieces, wedding reception decorations, yes girls events

Real Wedding – Georgina and Chris 11.10.09

First of all, you have to know that if you purchase a dress from Encore Bridal, it literally makes my day when I get to see pictures of you in your dress on your wedding day. I love to see how your look came together and to see the smile on your face as you marry the love of your life. Many times my smile is as large as yours or you might even catch me wiping away tears as I look at your emotion-filled wedding photos. You should have seen my smile when I first saw these photos of Georgina and Chris. Georgina is one of our e-Boutique brides, so I’ve never met her in person, but through our phone calls and emails I feel like I have. She was nice enough to share snapshots of her wedding day as well as the vendors she loved. Isn’t she gorgeous!! Wishing Georgina and Chris a lifetime of happiness!

A Note from the Bride:

My wedding was held at the Royal Crest Room located in Saint Cloud, Florida. It was set on a golf course, which was the perfect fit for us since Chris loves Golf as much as I’ve always envisioned having my wedding in an outdoor garden setting. The location made for great photos with the help of my talented photographers, by ‘Simply Different Photography”. The centerpieces and floral bouquets for both the bridesmaids and myself were all done DIY style and I’m very thankful for the help of close friends and family to help organize many of them within minutes of the wedding! Sometimes, not even the most organized bride can do without her family and friends. The Votive candle holders were used as escort cards for Guest which doubled as favors! I’m all about practicality, down to my shoes, which might I add were by Jessica Simpson bought at my ever favorite style for less store, ‘Marshalls’ and boy were they comfortable!

**All photos by Simply Different Photography, Orlando, Florida

Vendors:
Banquet Room: Royal St. Cloud Golf links – Royal Crest Room in St.Cloud Florida
Photography by Simply Different Photography, Orlando Florida
Bridal Dress: by Watter’s & Watters found in the fabulous – Encore Bridal.com
Seamstress: by Judi at the ‘Seamstress Inc” – Winter Park, Florida
Veil: by birdcageveils.com – 16″ Russian net
Bridal Shoes: By Jessica Simpson – found in Marshalls – Altamonte, Florida
Bridal Bouquet: Individually bought from – Wishing Well Florist, Kissimmee Florida
Bridal Accessories/Sash/bridal comb/with matching brooch by Icing101 at Etsy.com
Votive Candle labels: www.Etsy.com
Hair/Make-up: Mariana Dalmasi, Orlando Florida
Music: Academy DJ’s – Richard Barker
Video: Cinematique Films – Winter Park, Florida
Cake: Publix, Saint Cloud Florida

Want Georgina’s chic look?

Monique Lhuillier Geisha

Monique Lhuillier Jacqueline Jacket

Tags: discounted designer wedding dress, stylish weddings on a budget, watters wedding dress

Real Weddings Post – Chanel and K.C. 05.09.09

I first met Chanel at one of our large sale events at the Belamar Hotel in 2008.  She purchased a gorgeous lace Sophia Tolli gown and was such a delight to meet.  This was then…

Chanel and me Belamar Hotel Event 2008

Today, she is happily married to K.C. and was willing to share some of her favorite photos and vendors from their wedding day — as well as some post wedding planning insight.

The Details: Chanel and K.C. used their wedding date, 05.09.09, as the theme of their wedding, engraving this on their DIY invitations, menus,  and even on their cake.  After the ceremony at Palisades Park at the  Santa Monica Bluffs the couple and guests celebrated at the  Santa Monica Woman’s Club.   The wedding cake topper was used by both the brides parents and grandparents — proof of which is in the picture on the cake table (brides grandparents cutting their wedding cake with the same cake topper).  Chanel wore her recently deceased grandfather’s ring as a bracelet — a way to keep him close throughout the day (lower left corner).  She also pinned his already purchased boutonniere on her dress petticoat.  Chanel designed and made her floral hair pin as well as the headband and hair pins for her bridal party (bottom row).

Wedding Day Re-cap:  “Everything went great!  We did A LOT of things ourselves and learned the lesson that sometimes it isn’t always worth the money you save.  However, we loved how everything turned out.  The only scare was that our wedding planner called us an hour before our ceremony on the bluffs in Santa Monica and said the police were trying to shut us down.  ”Oh well” I told her.  If they do, we’ll move inside, or take the fine.  They went away, threats denied, and our day went forward uninhibited.

Two weeks before our wedding  I lost my dear, dear grandpa that I was super close to all growing up.  The  memorial service was on Wednesday and our wedding was that Saturday.  It was a hard go for my family but made all the small unimportant things quickly go away and all of the important things come to the surface.

Finally standing at the alter with my man, all my girls behind me, looking over at my parents and my surviving grandmother all the struggles of planning flew away and I was filled with pure joy and not a care in the world.  (Adorned in a gorgeous dress and enveloped by my perfect veil, all thanks to you. )”

Vendors and Accolades from the bride:

Dress, Veil, Petticoat:  Encore Bridal “stress free and easy”

Hair Piece:  DIY by Bride

Catering:  Wood Ranch – “very inexpensive, very tasty, and overwhelmingly helpful”

Alterations:  Joseph Mattucci, Redondo Beach, CA – “put my heart to rest”

DJ:  Jason Jones, Elegant Event Entertainment – “Was like a friend. We gave him full reign and it was GREAT!”

Hair:  Lauren Wilcox

Makeup:  bride

Earrings:  ICE, Fred Segal

Engagement Ring and Wedding Bands: Daniel Mitchel LLC, Private Jeweler handcrafted in America

Cake:  Vanilla Bakeshop

Rentals:  Classic Party Rentals and Plush Lounge

Photo Booth:  Classic Photo Booth Rental – “my favorite thing!”

Photographer:  Michael Gardner

Centerpiece Florals:  Orchid arrangements DIY by bride  (they’re even for sale — comment if you’re interested!)

Bouquets/Corsages/Boutonnieres:  Boulevard Florist Wholesale – “AMAZING help.  Exactly what I wanted and SO affordable”

Invitations:  DIY by couple

Flower Girl Shoes (see picture):  DIY by bride

Transportation from Ceremony to Reception:  Father’s antique Dodge Dart

Love Chanel’s Lacy Look?  May we suggest…

Christos 4015

Save over $2000!  This gorgeous organza wedding gown with Alencon lace appliques is now available at Encore Bridal.

Tags: discounted christos wedding gown, DIY weddings, Los Angeles Wedding, Sophia Tolli Wedding Dress

DIY–ers Save on Invitation Paper This Week

Calling all DIY-ers: Paper Source is offering 20% off all internet orders this week. If you were planning on designing your own custom invitations, now is the time to purchase your specialty papers for less.  Ahhh, doesn’t saving feel so good!

Use Promo Code:  20OFF

Sale ends July 4th

Tags: custom invitations, DIY invitations, wedding invitations

Contest- Portovert.com’s DIY Wedding Challenge

Portovert.com’s DIY wedding challenge is on!

Take National Craft Month add two parts National Wedding Month and what do you get? The Portovert.com DIY Wedding Challenge! Enter your wedding to win a prizes worth $150-$650. Portovert is looking for personally designed creative weddings with an eco-friendly element. To enter, the DIY wedding must have taken place in the last 12 months (February 28, 2007-March 1, 2008). Deadline is March 31, 2008. For more information and to enter this contest: http://www.portovert.com/diy_contest

Portovert is a well-edited wedding guide that demonstrates how to have the wedding of your dreams while balancing an eco-friendly way of life. Portovert.com shares a variety of ways to “go green” on your wedding day, from vintage looks to local, heirloom tablespreads, with an emphasis on ways to create the wedding of your dreams while protecting the Earth for future generations.