Wedding Vase

Archive for June, 2010

Every bride wants her wedding to be memorable – for herself and the groom, but also for their guests. A big part of making her wedding memorable is to select carefully from the myriad of memorable wedding table ideas. That selection begins with a dream, but it involves more than that.

Four Considerations

When searching for the most memorable wedding table ideas, you should keep four things in mind.

1. Significance: Whatever idea you use should have significance for you and your guests. This does not mean everyone attending your reception would have chosen the same wedding table ideas you chose, but there should be a meaningful reason for your selection. If you choose from among the many Irish wedding table ideas, and you are Asian American, there would seem to be no significance. If, however, you are getting married on St. Patrick’s Day, and your color scheme is green and white, Irish wedding table ideas are fine.

If you are having a themed wedding, you should select from among wedding table ideas that will carry out that theme.

2. Color Scheme: Most memorable wedding table ideas carefully adhere to the color scheme of the wedding. If you will be dressed in white and your bridesmaids will be in soft summer yellows, look at wedding table ideas that can naturally accommodate soft yellows and white. In this case, the Irish wedding table ideas mentioned above would be out of place.

3. Budgetary Concerns: No matter how many beautiful wedding table ideas you find, you will be able to use only those that fit within your budget – and you should have a budget for your wedding. Plan how much you will allow for the centerpiece on each table, and how much each guest’s wedding favor will be. Give yourself a firm budget before you begin looking, and stick to it.

4. Commemorative Favors: You will want wedding table ideas that incorporate wedding favors, and mark the favors in such a way that they will commemorate your wedding day. The marking may be as simple as a small paper tag imprinted with your names and the date – or the same information might be inscribed on glass or metal. If the favor is candy, cookies, or other edibles, have the rappers imprinted.

Flower Baskets

Brides who use flower baskets for weddings can carry the theme into wedding table ideas for receptions. One clever idea is to construct centerpieces of flower baskets, each filled with miniature bouquets. Use flowers similar to those carried by the wedding party, and tuck them into tiny silver or glass vases inscribed with your names and the date. Set a tent card on each table instructing guests that each may take one of the mini bouquets at the end of the reception as a wedding favor, thereby dismantling the arrangement.

Flower basket wedding table ideas go another direction when you place regular flower basket centerpieces, and echo them in miniature flower basket favors. Again, consider your colors and theme. Small folded cards attached with a bit of ribbon will give a place for your commemorative note.

Floating Candle Centerpiece and Favors

Most people enjoy candlelight, and if your wedding is in the evening, you might want to consider wedding table ideas that make use of candles. Arrange a large floating candle on a slightly raised stand in the center of each table. Surround it with small candles, each floating in a pretty container engraved with your names and date. Twine flowers or ivy among the candles, and advise guests that each of them may take one of the smaller candles as their wedding favor at the end of the reception.

Hurricane Lamp Centerpiece and Favors

Nostalgic wedding table ideas are always in vogue, since weddings are romantic occasions. Set the mood for nostalgia by placing on each table a tall hurricane lamp chimney mounted on a candle holder. Place a tall candle inside, matching your colors, and surround the candle holder with real or artificial flowers. Do not use thin tapers, as you want your candle to burn throughout the reception. Prepare a miniature edition of this for each guest’s place, and light them also. Use very small hurricane lamp chimneys and shallow glass candle holders for guests’ candle favors. Place short white candles in the candle holders, set the hurricane lamp chimney in place, and surround the bottom with delicate artificial flowers and ribbon to match your colors. If you wish, the candle holder or lamp chimney can be engraved.

Oriental Wedding Table Ideas

If your wedding is to follow an Oriental theme, you will want to consider wedding table ideas to continue the theme. Bright red tablecloths are a good place to begin, as red is traditionally used in many Oriental weddings. Gold or silver favors will stand out against the red. Center each table with a floral arrangement of red and green, with white, silver, or gold touches.

For a distinctly Chinese theme, use white or off-white tablecloths, and make your centerpiece of wedding favors. Arrange bare branches in a bamboo or black lacquer container. From the branches, hang miniature red Chinese lantern favors. To each, attach a commemorative tag. If your budget will allow, use silver or gold colored fortune cookie place card holders as additional favors.

Your Own Wedding Table Ideas

The best wedding table ideas are those each bride creates after doing her homework. There are many galleries of ideas on the Internet. Look until you find something you like, and then tailor that idea to be your own.

Tips on Keeping a Wedding Affordable

Let’s face it; we can’t all have a Beverly Hills style wedding. If the thought of your wedding day makes you cringe at the thought of the bills you will have to pay to afford it, it is time to plan a budget. Yup, that B word.

That doesn’t mean we can’t have fun with what we have. You too can have a beautiful wedding on a budget. It just takes a bit of extra planning and knowing where to go.

Budgeting On The Small Things – To Spend More On The Important Things

The trick to planning a wedding is to be realistic as well as knowing what is important. Do you really need to have expensive roses at every turn? Do you need for your wedding party plates to be porcelain and gold? Realize that the more you can save on certain aspects, the little bit more you could spend on the things that matter to you most, like the wedding dress.

Start with knowing how much you would like to spend, and be realistic. Here’s a list at the necessary expenses you can expect from a wedding:

Ceremony site

Reception site

Food/Caterers

Wedding cake

Bride’s dress

Groom’s tuxedo

Bride’s maids’ dresses

Invitations

Photography/Video

Tables and other equipment rentals

Transportation

Flowers

Decorations

Wedding favors

Music

Thank you cards (for after the wedding)

You might notice that really, it can be a very simple list when you put it all together and know what you will need. You can go through the list one by one. Note what will be most important to you and where you would be willing to budget. There are tricks to getting the wedding you want, and spending what you want. You don’t need a wedding consultant or a high priced caterer to help. In fact, you’ll save money if you can do it yourself.

Locations For Your Wedding On A Budget

It all starts with where the wedding will take place. It could be something as simple as a park and gardens. Imagine you might have to decorate less if you pick a location that is already beautiful.

If it will be a church, perhaps see if the church might already be decorated itself. Many churches do not need much decorating additions at all; some already have flowers already in place. If many weddings happen at a particular location, see if you can conspire with another bride and split the cost on flowers and decorations at the place, by having your wedding a little later in the afternoon on the same day.

The location itself doesn’t have to be expensive. This is especially true if you call ahead and plan early. The earlier you pick a location, the easier it is to get what you want and at a good price. Remember, a weekday wedding might actually be more affordable than a weekend wedding.

Wedding Cake and Food

Let’s start with the cake. There are now tricks that many bakeries are doing to be able to help you get a nice cake without spending a lot. One of the newer tricks is to make a ‘fake’ cake. The cake has only certain parts that are real cake, like a certain corner of the cake where the bride and groom will cut into, and the top part for saving.

After the cake is cut into, it can be carted off, or it can remain on the table as a decoration only. Pan style cakes are then passed to guests. You could even have mini-cakes created for each guests, which is still cheaper. In the end, it is more affordable to do it this way. Ask a baker about making a ‘fake’ cake for a tight budget.

For the food, a buffet style wedding is highly recommended by most. It relieves the problem of having to ask, “Chicken or vegetarian?” Imagine all those lost cards and the occasional surprise guests? Buffet style is certainly the way to go.

Plus, if you still want to skimp on the caterer, you can ask the cooks in the family to conspire with you and help out. What could be better to share with friends and family than the favorite dishes you grew up loving? It is a great way to share some memories with all.

Wedding Gowns and Tuxedos

There is so much to consider here. It is an important part of your wedding, though you will only wear a wedding gown once. If you think it will be an important memento that you will want to keep for a while, the best part is to plan ahead and shop early. Perhaps if you consider it a little more, you might think of borrowing a wedding dress, or reselling the dress after on consignment.

Consignment shops are great locations to get designer wedding dresses that are still in like new condition. You’ll save so much money and you’ll still get a dress, and you might find a wider selection in one or two locations. Don’t forget about bride’s maids’ dresses. Check those same locations for ideas.

Tuxedos are a bit easier to deal with, but what you want to remember is to call in as early as possible. Get all the men fitted and make sure the tuxes arrive at least a day early, so you can make any needed changes if there are problems. You’ll save time and frustration by doing it early.

Wedding Invitations, Flowers, and Favors

Other places you can save are in the small things. Buying flowers that are in season can be more affordable. Favors can be bought in bulk online at a variety of stores. Again, shopping around and planning ahead can help.

Wedding invitations are probably a place where you will want to save money by planning early. One of the very first things to think about is what to say and how many invitations you need. You can shop online for wedding invitations and you might find them cheaper online. You can get a copy of an invitation before they are printed off, so you can make any needed corrections before they are sent off.

Music, Decorations and Wedding Photography

Music for during the wedding and at the reception can be selected before hand and made to play on speakers. Ask a music and tech savvy relative to help with burning disks of music and setting up the system. You’ll save money on a DJ.

Decorations can be easily bought online. There are many you can buy in bulk and you can purchase ahead of the event, especially to ensure you have enough. Centerpieces can be as simple as a glass vase with candles or a bowl with fancy candies inside.

The photography can be easily worked with. Digital cameras have a very good quality and are relatively cheap. You can give some to photo savvy relatives who can be in charge of taking photographs at the wedding and after. If you want to ensure professional quality, hire a photographer for the wedding only, and select how many shots you want ahead of time.

So you too can take steps to ensure you will have a beautiful wedding, even if you have a limited budget. Take it easy on certain elements to spend more on things that matter. Keep it simple, and keep it fun.

ften referred to as the “most important day of your life,” your wedding day should be perfect and exactly what you imagined it to be. And what better way to insure that everything turns out precisely how you wanted it without breaking the bank than to have a DIY wedding? Becoming increasingly popular, the handmade wedding (also called a homemade wedding or do-it-yourself wedding) is a great way to save money, bond with your bridesmaids or spouse-to-be as you create all the wedding elements, and still have the wedding of your dreams. Here at FaveCrafts.com, our Wedding Craft Editors have put together this comprehensive guide to our favorite homemade wedding centerpiece ideas, do it yourself wedding invitations, how to make your own wedding cake, and other great wedding craft ideas!

Favorite handmade Wedding Invitations:

Create these gorgeous wedding invitations using craft punches and calligraphy pens.

By Sue Eldred for Uchida of America, Corp.

Materials:

Clever Lever Super Jumbo Scalloped Heart Punch
Clever Lever Jumbo Daisy Punch
Clever Lever Standard Daisy Punch
DecoColor™ Extra Fine Silver
DecoColro™ Silver Calligraphy Pen
Paper Trimming Buddy: Straight Blade
Mini Glue Tape
Wedding Faded Paisley (Dé ja Views )
Vellum 40 lb.
Adhesive Pearls (K & Company)
Black & Grey Cardstock
Accu-Cut Die A-7 Card Foldout #4
Xyron Sticker Machine with Permanent Adhesive
Glue Stick

Steps:

Cut Invitation base out of black cardstock using an Accu-Cut Die Cutting Machine and the Accu-Cut Die A-7 Card Foldout #4.

Size computer generated Wedding Information so that it can be cut 4 ½” x 6 ½. Print Wedding information onto 40lb. Vellum and run through Xyron Sticker Machine to get an even coat of adhesive on the back of the vellum. Adhere to the Wedding Faded Paisley scrapbook paper and cut to 4 ½” x 6 ½”. Add glue tape to back of paisley paper and adhere to a piece of dk. grey cardstock 4 ¾” x 6 ¾”. Adhere to inside of black wedding invitation base.

Cut a 1” x 11” strip of Wedding Faded Paisley, adhere to 1 ¼” x 11” piece of black cardstock, then adhere layers to a 1 ½” x 11” piece of grey cardstock. Gently fold around invitation so that each end of the layers meet in the middle of the invitation. Adhere ends together.

Punch two Super Scalloped Hearts one from the Silver Wedding Texture scrapbook paper the other from black cardstock. Glue the two hearts together. Using the Silver Calligraphy Pen, add a thin silver line around the front of the scrapbook heart. Add small dots with the Extra Fine Silver Deco Pen in each scallop.

Punch two daisies from both the standard and jumbo daisy punches. Adhere both daisy sets together so that you can see all petals. Glue smaller daisy on top of larger daisy, add small adhesive pearl to middle of daisy. Adhere to middle of the Invitation Band to cover seam.

Do It Yourself Wedding Centerpiece Tips and Video

Click here for great tips and ideas for DIY wedding centerpieces ­- http://www.favecrafts.com/Wedding-Crafts/Homemade-Wedding-Centerpieces-DIY-Budget-Receptions

How-to Make Pick a Vase for a Floral Wedding Centerpiece

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA_bT_oICG8

Make your Own Wedding Cake Tips and Video

Click here for great tips and ideas on how to make your own wedding cake – http://www.favecrafts.com/Wedding-Crafts/Homemade-Wedding-The-Cake-DIY-Thrifty-Reception

DIY Wedding Cake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBZ1lMrP43g

I decided, after looking at many wedding suggestions, to have a themed ceremony and reception party. Now the decision was which theme to use. It sounded like a lot of fun to have a country western themed wedding. I thought maybe we could have an old fashioned barn dance at the reception. Then there was the seasonal wedding themes, and since we were getting married in the summer, I thought about a beach wedding. We could have a great time, swimming, partying on shore and watching a gorgeous sunset in the background. There were a lot of themed weddings and receptions to consider. There were all kinds of accessories and supplies for themed weddings, from decorations to a gorgeous wedding cake knife set. With all the themed wedding suggestions they had, I decided to go with the gorgeous fairytale wedding.

Now it was time to look for the fairytale themed accessories and supplies I needed for the theme I chose. First I ordered the lovely wedding invitations for our wedding guests. After that I went on to the wedding décor and the other accessories I would need. I wanted a wedding fit for Cinderella. First I needed to get the decorations I wanted to use in the church. Tulle swags were draped from each row of pews with a bow of satin pinned on each end. Tall vases filled with flowers were all around the altar, and tapered candles in fairytale holders were place on the sides of the unity candle.

As our guests entered the church they signed their names in our fairytale themed guestbook, which was absolutely gorgeous. I couldn’t have dreamed a more perfect fairytale ceremony than the one I had. The flower girl and ring boy did a wonderful job at the wedding ceremony and really looked elegant in their wedding attire. We took a carriage ride to the reception, just like Cinderella and her Prince left their ceremony.

The reception hall was really beautiful with all the lovely flowers everywhere and the lovely tables all set up with crystal and silver. Every table in the reception hall had gorgeous crystal champagne flutes with decorated stems to go with our storybook theme. I found these very exquisite castles to use as place card holders on the reception tables. I also got the idea to purchase little carriage favor boxes and fill them with candies for each guest at their tables.

All the reception tables looked elegant, but the wedding table of the bride and groom outshined them all. It had all the elegance of a king and queen. Our cake of five gorgeous tiers, with a fairytale wedding topper, sat at the end of our wedding table on a smaller table. They have everything where I bought our reception supplies, even the perfect wedding cake topper in a storybook theme for our gorgeous cake. There was even a storybook wedding cake knife with lovely designs on the handle. I really liked the wedding knife, but the wedding knife set with the server was what I decided on. The knife set just added to the décor of our wedding cake and topper.

After we were toasted with our lovely crystal champagne flutes, it was time for the bride and groom to have their first dance together as man and wife. We danced to our favorite song, “I Swear” by all for one. After our song was over, couples filled the dance floor, for the next song. I’m glad I bought the gorgeous fairytale photo album to store my wedding pictures in, because I’m going to have quite a few of them to treasure. Many of our friends and family commented on what lovely storybook favors we had given them as gifts.

Our wedding and reception was truly unbelievable and I know now that fairytales can come true.

I decided, after looking at many wedding suggestions, to have a themed ceremony and reception party. Now the decision was which theme to use. It sounded like a lot of fun to have a country western themed wedding. I thought maybe we could have an old fashioned barn dance at the reception. Then there was the seasonal wedding themes, and since we were getting married in the summer, I thought about a beach wedding. We could have a great time, swimming, partying on shore and watching a gorgeous sunset in the background. There were a lot of themed weddings and receptions to consider. There were all kinds of accessories and supplies for themed weddings, from decorations to a gorgeous wedding cake knife set. With all the themed wedding suggestions they had, I decided to go with the gorgeous fairytale wedding.

Now it was time to look for the fairytale themed accessories and supplies I needed for the theme I chose. First I ordered the lovely wedding invitations for our wedding guests. After that I went on to the wedding décor and the other accessories I would need. I wanted a wedding fit for Cinderella. First I needed to get the decorations I wanted to use in the church. Tulle swags were draped from each row of pews with a bow of satin pinned on each end. Tall vases filled with flowers were all around the altar, and tapered candles in fairytale holders were place on the sides of the unity candle.

As our guests entered the church they signed their names in our fairytale themed guestbook, which was absolutely gorgeous. I couldn’t have dreamed a more perfect fairytale ceremony than the one I had. The flower girl and ring boy did a wonderful job at the wedding ceremony and really looked elegant in their wedding attire. We took a carriage ride to the reception, just like Cinderella and her Prince left their ceremony.

The reception hall was really beautiful with all the lovely flowers everywhere and the lovely tables all set up with crystal and silver. Every table in the reception hall had gorgeous crystal champagne flutes with decorated stems to go with our storybook theme. I found these very exquisite castles to use as place card holders on the reception tables. I also got the idea to purchase little carriage favor boxes and fill them with candies for each guest at their tables.

All the reception tables looked elegant, but the wedding table of the bride and groom outshined them all. It had all the elegance of a king and queen. Our cake of five gorgeous tiers, with a fairytale wedding topper, sat at the end of our wedding table on a smaller table. They have everything where I bought our reception supplies, even the perfect wedding cake topper in a storybook theme for our gorgeous cake. There was even a storybook wedding cake knife with lovely designs on the handle. I really liked the wedding knife, but the wedding knife set with the server was what I decided on. The knife set just added to the décor of our wedding cake and topper.

After we were toasted with our lovely crystal champagne flutes, it was time for the bride and groom to have their first dance together as man and wife. We danced to our favorite song, “I Swear” by all for one. After our song was over, couples filled the dance floor, for the next song. I’m glad I bought the gorgeous fairytale photo album to store my wedding pictures in, because I’m going to have quite a few of them to treasure. Many of our friends and family commented on what lovely storybook favors we had given them as gifts.

Our wedding and reception was truly unbelievable and I know now that fairytales can come true.