More 'Cheap' Stuff

Keeping with cheap week here are some fun finds from free to down right cheap!


FREE INVITATIONS!
How to Cater your own wedding!

Lower your Budget, NOW!
and MORE!

'Frugal' Dress Finds

My good friends Shelby shared Ms. Cheap's Link with me about great places to find an inexpensive dress!


• Encore Bridal, 106 N. Church St. in Murfreesboro, always has about 100 dresses in stock, priced between $99 and $300. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday.

• Second Time Around, 121 Indian Lake Road in Hendersonville, specializes in consigned wedding gowns and usually has at least 200 wedding dresses, most selling for between $200 and $250.

• Memories, 4983 Lebanon Road in Old Hickory, also focuses on gently used bridal gowns and has as many as 500 wedding dresses, priced between $95 and $400. Memories rents some of the dresses for between $100 and $150. 391-4931.

• Fashion Boutique and Alterations, 2120 Crestmoor Road in Green Hills, usually has 15 or more designer consigned wedding dresses for $150-$450.
383-9558.

• Arzelle's Bridal, 2926 West End Ave., has a sample sale every year in the late summer/early fall with great dresses for $400 or less.

I'm NOT cheap!

...I am frugal, I hear myself saying this a lot. I just like to bargain hunt, you give me a price I will find a competitor who is willing to sell it to me for less. So friends I have found a great "frugal" site to share with you. They have everything from isle runners, bubbles, table number cards, favors, all VERY CHEAP!

So Happy Shopping.

Cudge.net

Blog Love!

I love the Wedding Chicks Blog, they are not only stylish, but they give some really good information to help you plan your dream wedding. Sign up with them and get free planning guides and SOOOO MUCH MORE!

Have a great weekend!

How to include Children

I get a lot of questions about Children and weddings, or about 2nd weddings in General. I am going to touch on a few ways you can include your children in your wedding whether it is your 1st or 5th Wedding.

1. Unity Ceremony's in a traditional setting, your mother would be the one that starts this, but you can have your children involved as well. Try Sand, kids and fire are a bad combo!

2. Invitations say Bob and Julia "with their families" should cover the kiddo's.

3. Your kids make great flower girls, maid of honors, ring bearers, and best men!

4. Vows, find a way to incorporate the children into the vows, by making a vow not only to your husband/wife but to the child/children as well.

5. First Dances, make them a part of the first dance, just not all of it. After all this is about you and your honey, not just the kiddos.

Find more information at idotaketwo.com

Signature Cocktails!

I love a good cocktail, add one scoop of ice, two parts creativity, and one part fun and you got yourself a party in a glass!

You can save a great deal of $$$ by having a signature cocktail instead of a traditional open bar. You can even match the color of the cocktail to your wedding colors, and give it a creative name like "The DAMBER" Dave + Amber = DAMBER (nickname given to us by my Bridesmaids).

Here is great link to Fun and creative Signature Cocktails for your receptions, shower, engagement party, or just because!

CHEERS!

Feathers & Buttons

The lovely and talented Whitney McClure is now making these stunning boutiners made from buttons and feathers. Check out her crafty work. If you are interested email her at whitney.mclure@gmail.com

its all in a Name

Here is a neat gift for that Bride to be or maybe even that Groomsman or Bridesmaid (who maybe engaged as well). It is an Architectural Name Frame. We were given one of these as a wedding gift and I thought it was so neat and personable we loved it!!!

You can find them everywhere on the web by doing a Google Search.

March Maddness

We are out of town today cheering on my brother in laws High School basketball team, they made it to the Elite 8 of the Kentucky State Championship!!!!!!!!!! More Wedding fun to come on Monday!!! Have a safe, and happy weekend!

The Boro Bridal Ball

The Boro Bridal Ball is this Saturday from 11-4pm at the Stones River Country Club in Murfreesboro. Check out their website, and take a mom, or a bridesmaid or two and check it out this weekend.

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Sláinte "to your health" in Honor of St. Patrick's Day here is a Kelly Green Inspiration Board.

Shower the Men too!

A fun alternative to the traditional shower with finger foods and dainty napkins, a a couples shower, it can feature hearty food and drink and loads of fun. Just remember to make it Guy Friendly!

Step 1

Ask for the bride's and groom's input before planning their couples shower. Develop the guest list with their help, remembering that all shower guests should also be invited to the wedding.

Step 2

Select a date and time that will be convenient for couples. A Friday or Saturday evening affair or a Sunday afternoon barbecue may be the best bet.

Step 3

Consider a location other than your home. Restaurants and public parks are good choices, especially if you cannot accommodate a lot of people in your home or backyard.

Step 4

Choose a theme. While an elegant tea is not out of the question, create an atmosphere in which men will feel comfortable and have fun.

Step 5

Decide whether you want formal or casual dress. Bear in mind that most people enjoy dressing down, especially on a weekend. Indicate "casual" or "dressy" on the invitation.

Step 6

Plan a menu. A party with wine and appetizers may be appropriate, or you can arrange for a catered dinner, deli sandwiches or a full-scale outdoor cookout. A potluck affair will be easiest for you and will allow everyone to contribute.

Step 7

Decide whether you want to play games or not. If so, try to come up with games that will involve the men without seeming too corny.

Step 8

Consider the gift-opening segment of the party. While men might be interested in the groom's gifts, they might also become bored. Provide alternatives such as a sports event on TV or an outdoor activity.

Step 9

Try to limit the shower to a couple of hours. To avoid people lingering far beyond your expectations, include both a starting and ending time on the invitation.

Small Wedding? No Problem

Here is a great local venue in Downtown Nashville that is quite reasonable, and will give you a great place for a smaller more intimate wedding and/or reception. It is also a great place to keep in mind for a rehearsal Dinner, Small Corporate Event, or even that High School Reunion!


Events @ 1418

Events @ 1418 offer Standing occupancy at 120, Seated @ 100, and rooftop @ 50. Check out their website and BLOG for more information.

Got it at Goodwill?!?!?

You read that right, On March 20, Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee invites you to the Goodwill Wedding Gala where bridal wear will be sold at deeply discounted prices with the proceeds going to benefit Goodwill.

Don't believe me? Check out the Goodwill Look Book!

Favor time!!!

We went back and forth on favors for our wedding, in the end we decided on Cigars and Matchbooks. Here is a cute Personalized Margarita Mix Set you can give as a gift or as favors.

From My Wedding Favors

Bridal Shower Etiquette

Bridal Shower: Who's Invited to a Bridal Shower?

Q.

My matron of honor asked me to give her a bridal shower guest list. Do I invite all the women who will be invited to the wedding or just close family and friends? Also, I will be inviting several people from the East Coast to my West Coast wedding. Do I send them bridal shower invitations, even though I know they won't be able to attend, or will this look like a ploy to get more bridal shower gifts?

A.

You don't have to invite every woman who's invited to your wedding (think of the expense for your bridesmaids if you did!). The guest list should include your closest female pals and relatives (and your fiance's mom, sis, and other close female friends and family). As for far-flung guests, sending a shower invite is a nice gesture even if you know they can't attend -- it shows them that they're important to you and that you would have wanted them there.

always read the fine print...

you say "My location has an on-site coordinator that will take care of me the day of."

"Right?!?!?!"

Will the on-site coordinator do all for you that your wedding coordinator will? From many, many weddings and past experiences, day of coordinators do a variety of things for brides, each wedding being out of the ordinary, and to this day I haven't met an on-site coordinator that will do any of the following. Before you make the statement above, think about if your on-site coordinator will go above and beyond for you.

1. Your bridesmaid's are wearing strands of pearls and pearl earrings. 3 of your 6 bridesmaid's didn't get that memo and now we are 3 short, meaning we make a run to the nearest location that would have that item and pick up those 3 sets you need for a complete look. Would your on-site coordinator do that?
2. You have a gorgeous Monique Lhuillier wedding dress, your dream design, that has an incredible French bustle, and before you and your new husband step out onto the dance floor, you need the incredibly difficult ribbon system decoded to create this one of a kind bustle you spent months, and many dollars, designing. To create this, your wedding planner is tucked between your legs :) to make this incredible design happen.
3. Unfortunately, one of your dear guests didn't RSVP for themselves and their wonderful boyfriend and now we're in a seating dilemma for your plated dinner. They don't see an escort card for them as a couple and now we need to make rearrangements for your guests to join the party.
4. Your DJ has made a terrible mistake on the song choices and is completely screwing up. He or she most definitely needs some redirection and we are there to put them back on track!
5. Your petticoat to give your dress the extra oomph that it needs was left at home, as you discover 15 minutes before your pictures begin. Many calls later, a petticoat is found close by at a bridal shop and is purchased just in time for pictures!
6. Last minute, after months of deliberation, you decide that you would like to have that makeup artist come in and treat you to your own personal beautifying application, 3 days before your wedding. Will the on-site coordinator swoop in as the wedding hero and track down a makeup artist to not only do your makeup on the day of, but will also do a makeup application for your mother for free as well, and will come to you?
7. Will your on-site coordinator come over to the ceremony site and make sure that your ceremony runs smoothly, bridal party gets down the aisle, and you become the Mrs. that you have dreamed of for so long?

Getting to know you....

I think pre-martial counseling is VERY important, couples should learn what their spouse to be's goals are for the marriage and themselves before taking the plunge.

Marie McKinney-Oates with Nashville Marriage Studio is offering a discounted rate of $30/session (sessions are regularly
$50/session) on premarital counseling if your wedding date is after July 1st, 2010. Don't forget you get a $60 discount on your license if you complete a pre-martial counseling course.

Here is how she breaks down her sessions:

Premarital Counseling consists of 8 sessions:
Session 1 – Initial meeting and evaluating what the couple’s strengths and weaknesses are.
Session 2 - Meet individually with each of partner for approximately 30 minutes to find out about any anxieties/concerns about marriage.
Session 3 - Determine how the families you come from will impact your marriage.
Session 4 - Practice skills that will help you communicate in a healthier way.
Session 5 - The couple will have an argument over a typical problem and will resolve it using conflict resolution skills.
Session 6 – Finances are one of the biggest reasons couples give for getting divorced. We’ll look at how to avoid frustration surrounding money.
Session 7 - Sexuality can be another confusing issue during the 1st year of marriage. We’ll talk about what each partner needs in the bedroom.
Session 8 - A great marriage won’t happen without goals. We’ll layout what you

Who pays for what?

There are no longer any hard and fast rules as to "Who Pays for What", but this general guideline follows the traditional breakdown.


Traditional Breakdown of Expenses


Wedding Gown, Headpiece & Accessories- The Bride's Family

Wedding Ring for Bride- The Groom

Wedding Ring for Groom- The Bride

Wedding Gift for Groom- The Bride

Wedding Gift for Bride- The Groom

Bridesmaid Gifts- The Bride

Groomsmen/Usher Gifts- The Groom

Bride's Bouquet- The Groom

Bridesmaid Bouquets- The Bride's Family

Mother's Corsages- The Groom

Grandmother Corsages- The Bride's Family

Groom's Boutonniere- The Groom

Groomsmen Boutonnieres- The Groom

Usher's Boutonnieres- The Groom

Ceremony/Reception Flowers- The Bride's Family

Altar Baskets/Arches- The Bride's Family

Canopy/Carpet- The Bride's Family

Kneeling Bench/Candleabrahs- The Bride's Family

Rented Items for Wedding- The Bride's Family

Rented Items for Reception- The Bride's Family

Invitations/Announcements- The Bride's Family

Wedding Programs- The Bride's Family

Napkins/Matches/Printed Items- The Bride's Family

Marriage License- The Groom

Medical Visit for Bride- The Bride

Medical Visit for Groom- The Groom

Church Fee- The Bride's Family

Clergyman/Officiant Fee- The Groom

Musician/Soloist- The Bride's Family

Church Janitor- The Bride's Family

Reception Hall Fee- The Bride's Family

Catered Reception/Professional Services- The Bride's Family

Wedding Photography- The Bride's Family

Video Photography- The Bride's Family

Orchestra/Band/DJ- The Bride's Family

Wedding Cake- The Bride's Family

Wedding Favors- The Bride's Family

Groom's Cake- The Groom's Family

Rice Bags- The Bride's Family

Rehearsal Dinner- The Grooms Family

Bridesmaid Luncheon- The Bride

Bachelor Party- Best Man/Groom's Attendants

Wedding Breakfast- The Bride's Family

Bridal Brunch- The Bride's Family

Bridesmaid's Gowns- Bridesmaid's

Maid of Honor Gown- Maid of Honor

Matron of Honor Gown- Matron of Honor

Best Man Formal Wear- Best Man

Usher's Formal Wear- Ushers

Groomsmen's Formal Wear- Groomsmen

Gloves/Ties/Ascots for Attendants- The Groom

Father of Bride Formal Wear- Bride's Family

Father of Groom Formal Wear- Groom's Family

Children's Formal Wear- The Children's Parents

Limousine Service- The Groom

Honeymoon Arrangements- The Groom

Travel Expenses to the Wedding- The Out-of-town Attendant or Family Member

Accommodations for out-of town Guests- The Bride

Gifts for the Couple- Guest, Attendants and Family

MOG duties!!!

The mother of the groom is often at a loss as to exactly what role she plays in the marriage of her son. This is even more true when she has not participated previously in a wedding for a daughter or other sibling. The following rules of etiquette are shared to increase the joy and fulfill the traditional responsibilities of the mother of the groom.

Her responsibilities include:

* The first rule of etiquette to be followed upon receiving news of the impending nuptials is to initiate contact between the families. Introducing herself and her husband to the bride's parents is her first responsibility. This may be as simple as making a call to the bride's mother and telling her how happy she is about the engagement or an informal invitation to dinner at their home. If preferred, dinner at a nice restaurant is always in order. This may be with or without the couple in attendance.

If the parents live far away, a friendly letter is appropriate. A snapshot of the family and maybe even one of her son as a small child is always welcomed by the bride's mother and is a kind gesture.

* The importance of providing an accurate and timely guest list can neither be over emphasized, nor the importance of sticking to the guidelines given her as to the number of guests she many invite. Remember to include zip codes.
* It is the bride's mother who will first select a dress for her daughters wedding. A gown of complimentary color and similar styling is then chosen by the mother of the groom. She must wear long if the bride's mother wears long or short if she wears short. The color should not match the bridesmaids, nor the brides' mother, but compliment both.
* Reservations for out-of-town guests, invited by the groom's family, are the responsibility of the mother of the groom. It will be much more convenient if a block of rooms are reserved at a nearby hotel, which is near her home.
* It is the responsibility of the groom's parents to host the rehearsal dinner. This can be as simple as a salad potluck with paper plates in the backyard or as elaborate as an exotic dinner with live entertainment in the finest restaurant. Everyone who takes a part in the ceremony is invited to the dinner. It is proper etiquette to invite the spouse or significant other of those participating, and the parents of children in the wedding.
* Scheduled family photographs, prior to the wedding, will dictate the groom's parents time of arrival. If photos are not scheduled to be taken before the ceremony, the arrival should be no less than one hour before the appointed time
* As the wedding begins, the groom's mother will be escorted down the aisle, to the first pew, right-hand side, by the head usher or a groomsman who is a family member. A nice touch includes the groom escorting his mother down the aisle. As the groom's mother is escorted to her seat, her husband will follow along behind. However, if the parents are divorced, the father of the groom will have been seated previously, two pews behind the mother.
* The role as mother of the groom, in the ceremony, may include lighting the family candle on the altar, along with the mother of the bride. Family candles are lit after the candle lighters have left the altar area, and prior to the entrance of the wedding party.
* The first official duty of the mother of the groom, during the reception is to stand in the receiving line greeting guests and introducing her friends and family to the bride and her family. Traditionally she stands between the bride and her mother. If the fathers of the couple choose to stand in the line, she will stand between them.

* Be familiar with the responsibilities of the Maid of Honor. You may want to have a conversation with the Maid of Honor to coordinate and avoid stepping on each others toes.