Personalizing a DIY Wedding Invitation

My sister’s wedding weekend is officially over. We managed to pull it together in less than three months and for less than $5,000. Although, the savings were huge, we did not skimp on the chic details.

Let’s start with the invitations. We went back and forth. We thought about designing our own, we searched etsy and found some beautiful designs, and we even thought about using a local printer. In the end, we went with a classic diy kit from Joann’s. Not only was it classic, and elegant, but we also had a coupon for 40% off. Luckily for us, this wedding was small. (But print out a few coupons, make a few trips, and you could save big!)



Note: The invitations we used were slightly different. It’s always important to go to the stores. They always have more options than you will see online.

Now for my brides that scoff the idea of having such a generic invitation for such a grand event as your wedding, let me give you my best tip on dressing up a basic invitation. Nothing says personal like your a wedding monogram. It sets the tone for the event, and it’s a simple way to add consistency. We went with a digital monogram from Etsy. She created the digital logo for only 6.00! We used this logo on the programs for the Engagement dinner, the wedding programs, menu cards and other touches that helped create a cohesive link to this wedding. You could also purchase a Monogram Stamp from your local print shop or Expressionary.com

Ten tips to make your invitations set the town, for a fabulous wedding.

1. Take your time. If your rush it will show.
2. Make sure your hands are clean. Sounds simple enough, right.
3. Use glue dots. I know its tempting to bust out your kid’s Elmer’s School Glue, but trust me…You will see the difference.
4. If you don’t have beautiful penmanship, save yourself and your guests by using mailing labels.
5. Make sure you include postage on your RSVPs.
6. Make sure your postage is pretty. The post office has pretty postage. Also check out perfectpostage.com
7. Make sure you include your return address!
8. Make sure you have enough postage on your invitations.
9. If you are having a small wedding, don’t feel bad about emphasizing the importance of RSVPs and adhering to the number of guests invited.
10. Check out this post about wedding invitation etiquette and basics.


Next wedding post, I'll talk about the details...and when to splurge.

Chick Recipe: Engagement Chicken

So, this is not an original post. An engaged friend sent me this article from Glamour. If you try it and it works, let me this chick know!



First comes chicken, then comes marriage? Be skeptical if you must, but this recipe may be charmed. It all began 26 years ago, when then-Glamour fashion editor Kim Bonnell gave the recipe to her assistant, Kathy Suder, who made the chicken for her boyfriend, who, a month later, asked her to marry him. "It's a meal your wife would make. It got me thinking," says Jon Suder, who now has three children with Kathy. Details of the simple dish passed from assistant to assistant like a culinary chain letter. When Bonnell heard that her recipe had inspired three weddings, she dubbed it Engagement Chicken. Try the recipe, give it to a friend--oh, and let us know when it works!



Engagement chicken
Serves 2 to 3

1 whole chicken (approx. 3 lb.)
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
Kosher or sea salt
Ground black pepper
2 lemons, plus 1 for garnish
Fresh herbs for garnish

Place rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 400°F. Remove giblets, wash chicken inside and out with cold water, then let it drain, cavity down, in a colander until it reaches room temperature (about 15 minutes). Pat dry with paper towels. Pour lemon juice all over the chicken (inside and outside). Season with salt and pepper. Prick two whole lemons three times with a fork and place deep inside the cavity. (Tip: If lemons are hard, roll on countertop with your palm to get juices flowing.) Place bird breast-side down on a rack in a roasting pan, lower heat to 350°F and bake uncovered for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and turn it breast-side up (use wooden spoons!); return it to oven for 35 minutes more. Test for doneness--a meat thermometer inserted in the thigh should read 180°F, or juices should run clear when chicken is pricked with a fork. Continue baking if necessary. Let chicken cool for a few minutes before carving. Serve with juices. Garnish with fresh herbs and lemon.

Source:http://www.glamour.com/sex-love-life/2006/07/engagement-chicken-recipe

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

My friend Shawanda is a personal finance blogger. Her blog is You Have More Than You Think. She has been ragging me about not updating my blog. I have a million posts in my head, but oops I forget to put them on paper. So I'm thanking her in advance for inspiring this post. Follow her on twitter (@theycallmecheap) or read her column on Savvy Saving Sister on SistersSpace.com

So here is a recap of a few things that I've been up to last month. Hopefully they will materialize into more substantial posts sooner rather than later.

Breakfast at Tia's - My Top 5 for Your Tiffany Wedding

Ok, so not really... And I guess I must be honest, I've never even seen the movie. But I do like the sound of a Breakfast at Tia's brunch type doo hickey.

While I'm planning my Breakfast at Tia's I wanted to be honest... I got the ideas from a few friends and friends of friends that have used the Tiffany theme for their bridal showers and weddings. I've always thought that it was a beautiful color palette, ever since my girl Toni Braxton tied the knot in 1998.




On to my list of my favorite things for the modern Tiffany Bride...

1. Invitations: Modern Tiffany
Wedding Paper Divas has a lot of nice invitations. This invitation has the Tiffany blue, but the black & white toile adds a modern spin to the them.

2. Favors: GO Green

What better way to show your commitment to each other, than by showing your commitment to Planet Earth. These Seed Cards frolm Beau-Coup are a great way of going green, being chic, and still carrying out the Tiffany theme.

3.Bridesmaid Gifts: Jewelry

Jewelry is always a nice touch, especially with a Tiffany theme.
But a customized box like this gives it a contemporary edge.

4. BridesMaid Dresses

Saw this dress on David's Bridal. It seems very modern day Audrey Hepburn.

5. Reception Decor

This picture is from Garcelle B.'s Baby Shower. I think the colors are perfect and the decor is simple and elegant.

Hope you enjoyed this post. For more Tiffany themed inspirations check
out these blogs:

http://www.weddingbycolor.com/weddings/color/blue

http://queencitybride.blogspot.com/

http://www.favorideas.com/wedding-themes/beach-themes/aqua-blue-wedding-theme/

http://www.thoughtfullysimple.com/blue-wedding-ideas-tiffany-blue/

DIY Wedding Invitations

A few posts ago, I showed you guys my friend's cutie patootie Engagement Announcement. Well their wedding is slated for May 2009, which means that there will be more wedding posts!

Right now, they are shopping for wedding invitations. Who knew that there were a million options. I'm not sure of their budget just yet, but here are some of my favorites.

There are many DIY Kits for Wedding Invitations. I have a few ideas on how to make your wedding chic, even if its on a budget.

Even though you are purchasing DIY invitation kits, take it to a professional printer. For about .07 per invitation, Office Depot will print your invitations for you. Checkout mountaincow.com, target.com, or your local Michaels.

1. Proofread and Spell Check your invitations. Nothing says homemade like "Weding Cerimony."



2. Match your color scheme. If your wedding colors are blue, do not have a purple invitation. It will confuse your guests...that like to color coordinate for your big day.



3. Etiquette is everything. Even if you are an untraditional bride, please make sure you have the right wording. Real Simple.com has a great article.



4. Less is more. If you can not afford the invitation of your dreams, don't embellish keep it simple.

Some of my new favorite invitation sites include:

• weddingpaperdivas.com


• rexcraft.com


• papershouts.com