Tickled Pink Brides - Orlando, Florida's Premier Wedding Planner

DIY Wedding Projects from Martha Stewart

    These days we're all looking for a few DIY projects to help us save money and add personality to our events.  And now you don't even have to look very far for inspiration and how-to's.  The latest Martha Stewart Weddings is brimming with great ideas that will add style to your event, keep guests entertained and won't cost you much at all. 

Ribbon flower boutonniere

Fabric flowers: Boutonnieres, shoe clips, and gown accessories

 

Printable Border Place Cards

Printable Programs

Photo Postcards-- perfect for Save the Dates or Thank You's

Flowerless Centerpieces

    For brides looking to save money on their floral budget, or for those who just like doing things a little differently, flowerless centerpieces may do the trick.  Using decorative alternatives, your wedding tables can be just as gorgeous sans flowers, if you use your imagination.  Try branches, crystals, tons of candles, lamps, various sized vases, edible centerpieces, favor centerpieces, candelabras...the possibilities are endless! 

 

Fruit centerpieces, Photo courtesy of Entertain Exchange

 

Create a candlelit glow on tables using lacquered candelabras

 

Silver or gold manzanita branches dripping with crystals (or hang votives from the branches!), Ethereal Decor

 

Line the center of the table with light appetizers for guests to serve themselves, such as olives and breadsticks, as seen on Martha Stewart Weddings

Moroccan-Inspired Wedding Ideas

    Inspired by Moroccan lanterns we're using to decorate an upcoming wedding ceremony, today's post is dedicated to Moroccan wedding ideas.  Whether you are a part of Moroccan culture or just appreciate its aesthetics, the jewel tones and intricate details can be incorporated into all parts of your own wedding.  Here are a few ways to add Moroccan spice to your own wedding:

• Lounge style seating with rugs, pillows and cushions in shades of reds, oranges and purples.

Photo from Oh How Charming!

• Mix and match colors and textures for a "thrown together" look on tables and centerpieces.  Try flowers, branches, mismatched votives and vases, and thick, layered table cloths.  Remember, each table does not need to look alike!

Courtenay Lambert Florals and Simply Timeless Photography

• Line tables with lanterns to save on flowers and create a dreamy, candlelit atmosphere.  This makes a beautiful display down a long table, as well as grouped as a centerpiece on round/square tables.
  

Lucia|Paul Design and Brian Widdis Photography
Lanterns available for purchase here

More Moroccan-inspired ideas to try:

• In place of cigar rollers, set up a hookah lounge.  In larger cities, many event rental companies can provide hookahs.
• Hire belly dancers to entertain during dinner.  Search for a belly dance troupe or school in your city and call to hire dancers.
• Serve family-style or passed hors d'ouevres that include hummus, tabbouleh, and stuffed grape leaves.
• Have henna artists available to guests during the reception so they can take home an artistic memory of your wedding.  Or, hold a henna party with your female family and bridesmaids the night before the wedding.

Modern Bridal Shower Themes

When you get to a certain place in life, it can seem like your friends are getting married every other weekend, and the blur of bridal showers runs together in a stream of sameness.  But as the hostess or the guest of honor, why not infuse the party with a signature style?  Hostess With The Mostess is such an inspiration for party planning on small or large scales, with trends and theme ideas for any occasion.  

    This week I'm inspired by the Modern Moroccan shower theme, complete with colored glass lanterns and beads for centerpieces, Moroccan chicken and spiced almond cookies, and plenty of gold and jewel tones.  Gather guests around low tables on comfy floor cushions to really take the theme up a notch.  This is a bridal shower sure to be remembered. 

  My next favorite theme is the Lavender, Lilac and Lime.  I'm loving lime this season and infusing it into my home decorating everywhere I can.  The shade and smell of lavender is so relaxing your guests will feel pampered right when they enter the party.  Use real lavender and lilac stems as centerpieces with lime vases, and offer lavender sachets as a parting gift for guests.  Turn the bridal shower into a spa party using lavender salt scrubs, candles, and purple soaps.  Better yet, bring in a couple of nail technicians for lavender pedicures!  (My mind is running away with this idea...)  Hostess with the Mostess suggests lime Caiphirinhas as a refreshing drink to be served with sweet treats like blueberry turnovers and lime sorbet.  Yum!

Finally, for Tickled Pink "Bling Brides", throw the ultimate girl party where pink is the theme, adorned with rhinestones galore.  Offer each guest a tiara, Ring Pop, and glass of pink champagne upon arrival.  Use acrylic ice and large diamond paper weights to decorate the tables.  Add rhinestones to votive holders to dress it up even more.  This is the perfect time to break out those "Bride" and "Bridesmaid" rhinestone tanks, or make your own as part of a shower game or project.  Throw in touches of orange and silver for fun, and you've got yourself a girly gathering!

UF Gator Weddings!

  

    In honor of my alma mater's National Championship win last night against Oklahoma, I'm dedicating today's post to orange and blue Gator weddings.  There are ways to be subtle and incorporate your favorite team into your celebration, using a groom's cake, favors, and/or a specialty cocktail.  I've also seen a bride and groom run through a team banner as they made their introduction into the reception, which was totally funny and cute.  Try orange frosted cupcakes in royal blue to-go boxes as favors, or maybe an orange and blue rhinestone monogram cake topper. If you want to go all out, use some (or all!) of the below ideas.

Five DIY Wedding Projects You Can Handle

    There's no doubt about it- weddings are expensive.  Every bride I have been working with in recent times has incorporated at least one do-it-herself project into her wedding planning, saving money on supplies and labor.  That extra couple of hours of work can surely pay off when you have a final product that you put your own time and energy into.  Be as creative as you wish-- it's your wedding!  Here are some of the easiest DIY wedding projects I've seen that will make your day even more personalized.

1.  Personalized favors:  Create a short poem or fun game that tells your own engagement story.  In a glassine or cellophane bag, pair your original creation with your favorite cookie or candy.  Need something even easier?  Skip the story, and go right for the cookies.  Outsource the work to Mom or Grandma, who might bake them for you!

2.  Welcome bags for out of town guests:  With gift bags and tissue paper that correspond with your wedding color scheme, package a token of gratitude for guests who have traveled to be a part of your day.  Snacks for the hotel room, a split of wine or champagne, Tylenol just in case, and a couple bottles of water will be greatly appreciated.  Proud to show off your city?  Draw out a map of the town, placing your favorite restaurants, date spots, maybe the place you got engaged-- this gives guests a feel for the places you spend your time, and gives them weekend ideas for wedding festivity downtime.

3.  Escort cards:  To keep it super simple and affordable, print guest names and table numbers on small sheets of colored card stock.  Embellish with a wax seal or rubber stamp that features your monogram.  Take it up a notch with a surprise for your groom: Affix escort cards to the backs of his favorite team's trading cards, like The Fairmount Bride did in the photo below.

4.  Polaroid guest book station:  I've mentioned it on the blog before, but I'm reiterating because it's always such a hit!  Hang a funky fabric as a backdrop, set out a Polaroid camera and plenty of extra film, and let guests snap each other's photos to place in the guest book album.  Adesso sells Polaroid albums, or make your own using any type of scrapbook and double-sided tape.  I can tell you from personal experience that these albums are so much fun to look back on later, and to read notes from guests written next to each picture.

5.  Boutonnieres:  A single bloom will do, or add a touch of greenery.  Leave about two inches of flower stem and use two straight pins to keep the flower in place.  Going tropical?  I love these starfish boutonnieres, idea courtesy of a Style Me Pretty reader: 

Money-Saving Wedding Tips

  

    

    Recently I've heard more brides than I could have expected tell me that due to "this economy" they'll be cutting back and spending less on their weddings.  Sometimes the bride and groom have been hit by the economic downturn, and usually their parents have been hit even harder.  Every morning I open the newspaper and read about financial woes while I drink my coffee.  Today my local newspaper heard all those brides' voices and devoted the Style section to scaling back on wedding spending!  In it, some of our Central Florida wedding planner friends compiled a list of savvy ideas that allow more wedding at a lower cost.

• Establish priorities
• Trim the guest list.  Invite your nearest and dearest only
• Change the day and time from Saturday evening.  Prices are lower on Fridays and Sundays, as well as brunches and lunches rather than dinner.
• Hire a photographer for fewer hours.
• Use online resources for save-the-dates, invitations, programs, menus, etc.
• Accept offers of help or gifts of goods and services, ie. a homemade cake, a friend to make bouquets, etc.
• Get creative with flowers.  Reuse flowers from the ceremony at the reception.  Use fewer flowers, and add more greenery, branches, or candles.
• Cut back on the amount and/or variety of food and drink.  Choose a few less hors d'ouvres and two specialty drinks rather than an open bar.  Skip the champagne toast and let guests toast with whatever is in their hand.
• Hire a dj instead of a band. 
• Skip elaborate decor.  Use LED lighting to set a mood.
• Skip the Rolls-Royce or stretch limo.
• Skip the favors.  Most guests won't take them anyway.

Thanks, Just Marry!, Eventfully Yours, Weddings Unique, and Wonderful Weddings for the tips.

Each of these little tips add up.  Try just a few and you'll save hundreds (or thousands!) on your wedding without sacrificing much.  The first bit of advice is the most important.  Prioritize and spend your time and money on things that matter to you.  Go a little less on everything else and remember, there is no "right way" to have a wedding.  If unity candles, favors, and a fancy wedding cake don't sound exciting, nix them altogether.  It's all about you, your groom, and sharing a day with those you love the most. 

Wedding Grand Exits & Finales

    Forget sneaking out quietly- most brides look for a big bang exit from their wedding reception to finish off the night and leave guests with a spectacular grand finale.  Most of our brides choose sparklers, which guests hold while the bride and groom run through on the way to their getaway car.  Sparklers make for fabulous photo ops, and while I see them over and over, I can't help but to recommend them for brides looking for a special way to end the evening.

  Photo courtesy of Garrett Nudd

    Other exit favorites for the ceremony or reception include a dove release, bubbles, and rose petals that guests toss.  Personalized toss cones are available to store petals in and also serve as a decorative accent along the center aisle during the ceremony.  Surprise your new hubby by hiring a choir or singer to perform his favorite song for the recessional as you leave the aisle, or hire a vintage or luxury getaway car for your big escape!  Some couples choose tiny bells that each guest rings, creating an absolutely heavenly sound!

    This past weekend we ended the reception at Erin and Mike's wedding with confetti canons, which were shot out over the dance floor during the last dance to Bon Jovi's 'Living on a Prayer'.  That finale was so fun and unexpected as colorful confetti rained down on dancers- I'm hoping more brides will choose that soon!

Photo courtesy of Garrett Nudd

    For brides wanting to end the night stylishly, change into a short party dress in white, black or a metallic color to head to your hotel or attend the after-party.  Switch out your accessories to change up your look-- try adding colorful jewelry, remove your veil and add put up your hair with a jeweled clip or hair pins, or add a fur stole or cashmere shrug in cooler weather.

Martha Stewart Celebrates at Wal Mart

    There may now be a reason for me to shop at Wal Mart.  Martha Stewart's crafty and chic wedding accessories give off such a clean and coordinated style at a low price.  The "eyelet" print comes on everything from invitations to hanging paper lanterns-- a theme you could carry through an entire celebration. 

The prices are completely affordable, and great for spring/summertime, outdoor events, weddings, showers, or even casual dinner parties or brunches.  Having a taupe and pink wedding (one of the season's hottest trends)?  Try this flower girl basket and ring bearer pillow set:

I love that you can shop online to make it easy, and take it right back to the store if it doesn't work.  Clicking on any Celebrate item will lead you to a list of coordinating products, helping you to match pieces and cross more off your list at once!  Planning on saving the planet?  Martha also came up with tissue paper bouquets and centerpieces (not sure if the flower harvesting or trees used for these is worse?).  Either way, Martha says "It's a Good Thing."

Outdoor Weddings

    I love the idea of having a backyard, informal wedding that's all party, no fuss.  Living in Florida, weather is unreliable and bugs are terrible, but for those of you in parts of the country with real seasons, the option for an outdoor soirée in late summer/early fall is so appealing.  Outdoor weddings in a back yard or park can be intimate and elegant or large and boisterous (with the right group!).  Dress it up, dress it down, but however you do it, show off your own style.

Wedding style ideas to consider:

-Bring indoor furniture outside to create a living space
-Serve finger foods that are easy to mingle with
-Create drink stations with lemonade, rum punch, sangria, or frozen margaritas
-Decorate with white lights in the trees, paper lanterns, banners, or big white balloons
-Wear something cool and comfortable.  A breezy sheath and a groom in khakis will do just fine
-Mismatched fabrics and textures are perfect.  Throw in splashes of bright colors, too
-Offer shade during a daytime event using big umbrellas or open-sided tents
-You don't need seating for everyone if you aren't having a sit-down dinner.  Chances are, guests will be up moving around the whole time.