This is bonafedesgirl's Yellow Wedding!

I have to thank Marta for the amazing monograms she whipped up for me in no time! I love them, and they were free!

Take advantage of her generousity ladies, because she will probably start charging because she is in demand these days!

Thanks Marta!

Ok...So I posted B4 about the Martha Stewart Balls, but after hearing how time consuming they were, I changed my mind. Also, I didnt know how the tissue would hold up if I started my project in advance to save time/stress.

So I found this blog on oncewed.com...Check it out for step by step directions. I have made one ball so far, and I was very happy with the turn out.

To save time/$$$, Im going to try and paint the ball instead of wrapping it with ribbon, I dont think you can really tell unless you stare at it. I will try it and blog about it later. I am waiting for the balls to go on sale!

I still have to add the bow, but here is my first ball!

http://www.oncewed.com/index.cfm?postID=280&title=DIY_Paper_Flower_Pomander_Ball

So my dressed that I ordered in March came in last month, but it was not what I expected. When I tried on the dress, it only came in the trunk show size (so it was too small). I had my model-like consultant try it on, and I fell in love with it!

I love the dress, but It does not fit my body shape the way I expected it too. I was not going to get another dress, but decided to after having a talk with my family. My papa said, "People dont remember the food they ate, the music, or the food...but everyone remembers what you looked like in your wedding dress"

So I went out and found another dress... I am in love with it, and I feel like a million bucks! Its simple, but has just enough detail to make it special. I love the neckline, I think its a twist on the traditional sweetheart neckline. My favorite part, it looks expensive, but this designer knock off was only $599 dollars!!!!

The dress zipped, but was a bit snug, so I am getting a size bigger than I have on in the pictures. I am also getting ivory, this sample was white...

I never wanted my BM dresses to look like BM dresses. I found these dresses at White House Black Market and fell in love! They are very classic, simple, but sheek! The style is very sex and the city, and all the girls are excited about them!

They are $178, but we are having a girls night out party and they give us 10%-15% off! All I had to do was give the store of my choice all the sizes that I need, and we just show up. If we change our mind, we are not obligated to buy, which is great!

The girls and I go this Sunday to purchase, I am so excited!!!

So here are some pictures from my dinner night! It turned out so amazing... everything was perfect--the decor, the food, the wine, and the conversation!

It was fun to see the table done up, it was kind of like a trial run for the real thing. The only difference is that I have white napkins at the reception, but after seeing it like this, I think I might be renting yellow :)

The party was held at my S.I.L's house... her house looked so beautiful and I was so greatful for her hosting the dinner night. My M.I.L sewed the beautiful linens and decorated the entire table-- she even made napkin rings out of the damask fabric! She was also our server for the night(I don't know what I would have done if she wasnt there)... she served us wedge salads, spinach and cheese ravioli, veggies, and garlic cheesy bread (that my cuz made, it was so yummy), and a five star dessert that Aly just whipped up!

Thanks to everyone for making my party extra special, and for making my vision come true, I could not have done it without all of my helpers!

So this is the final product! My S.I.L Aly's friend Riva is a graphic design master and whipped this up for me in no time! The yellow uploaded a little different (this is a shade darker), but you can get an idea of what they look like!

Riva sent me three awesome designs, which made it hard to pick one, but this one was just so elegant and simple. I am so pleased with the final product, and I am so grateful for Riva's help!

So after hearing numerous good things about vistaprint I decided to order through them as well! I got 100 save the date postcards for $4.89 + shipping. It was originally 100 for free, but I uploaded my own designs which was a little extra ? I got the promotion code off the internet, and ordered them the same night Riva sent me my final product! I cannot wait for them to arrive!!!

HERE IS THE THING... I DONT WANT TO SPEND MILLIONS ON A WEBSITE, BUT I WANT IT TO LOOK NICE!

HERE IS A COUPLE THAT I AM CONSIDERING...

#1: NEARLYWEDS.COM
#2: WEDPAGEDESIGNS.COM

WHAT ARE YOU USING?

I have gone back and forth trying to find the perfect wedding invitation for the perfect price... My cousin's BF Monica is getting married a week after me and told me I had to check out these invites at target! So the FI and I went to Target and feel in love...They are simple, yet sheek, and the price tag is unbelievable! The box included (50 invitations, 50 envelopes (check out the black flap w/damask design--love it), 50 response cards w/envelope for...$34.99!!!!!

After a couple months of searching, I decided that this would be the best bet... I plan on adding a band to go around the cardstock, so I can stuff the rsvp's response cards and map!

So excited about my bargain finds :)

So I will have 3 different centerpieces so that all of the tables do not look the same...

#1: Clusters of three: I will have tables centerpieces created to look stylish and sophisticated using a trio of square glass vases, each with their own distinct flower inside each vase. One filled with yellow tulips, another with yellow ranunculas, and the other filled with yellow spider mums or roses. SEE MAIN PICTURE for similar look, also #5.

#2: Sheek Box: For a clean look, I will encorporate a black square box, lined with yellow spider mum, votives, and maybe some lemons--in the center of the box will be a glass cylinder (to add some height), and that will be filled with a stem of flowers (some sort of yellow flower, not sure on which one yet). SEE PICTURE #3 for similar look.

#3: I am still debating... not sure yet-- I think I might just do floating tulips/cala lilys in a vase OR a square vase with a yellow pomander ball of yellow flowers. SEE PICTURES #2,4,6 for similar look.

Ok...So this weekend my Fab sis-in-law went to a wedding and they had the cutest/DIFFERENT idea for a replacement for the wedding cake...

The bride/groom cut a small cake for the traditional "cake cutting" event, but for there guests, they put a spin on tradition...

They had...
~large cookies
~Ice Cream (choc/vanilla)
~nuts
~sprinkles
~fudge
~etc.

***Not only would this save tons of $money, but it would also cut out the $2 cake cut fee per person ($400!!!!!!!)

Our venue will be used for both ceremony/reception. This venue was a steal!!! $1900 for the rental, security fee, and table/chairs (enough for 300 people). The best part is the alcohol is B.Y.O. and needs to be served by anyone over the age of 21!!! We have all the freedom, except the require a DJ from their list.

The grounds are so well kept, and the historic nature is gorgeous. With the spanish courtyard, gorgeous backyard, pool with light/fountain spray, and bamboo for backround setting...we were set! The website does no justice---Needs to be seen in person!

The pictures that I provided were random ones I found on the internet...different photographers blogs.

So I got the quote for my pomander balls and I
decided to pass... I think flowers are huge for
decor, but come on, they die within hours. So I
found my alternative. One of my favorite blogs is
a bride who had a grogeous wedding for $15,000!
Her ideas are cool! One of them-->PAPER
POMANDER BALLS! She gives directions
and sample pictures!!! CHECK OUT HER SITE...

http://community.theknot.com/cs/ks/user/page.aspx?
username=99vintageglam&MsdVisit=1

Step-by-Step DIRECTIONS:
http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/
menuitem.3a0656639de62ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=efb9608f8532f010VgnVCM1000003d370
a0aRCRD&autonomy_kw=tissue%20pom%20
poms&rsc=image_1


**$1 a pack of tissue goes a long way... I can make
the balls for my ceremony for about $10-15!!!!!

Since part of my bridal party already knew that they were in my wedding, I had to come up with a way to ask the other three. I was trying to suprise them at the dinner that Im hosting, but it was not working out, so instead I sent this emal... (It was centered on a damask background and the writing was yellow)


Well girls the time is finally here,
and the time is drawing near.

My wedding is a mere ten months away,
and of course I’m looking forward to
that beautiful day.

The one thing that would make this day so sweet,
is if you’d be a bridesmaid so
the party's complete.

Your presence in my life is gift enough you see,
all I ask is that you stand
next to me.

When I marry Kyle my dreams will come true,
a memory that will not be the same
without YOU!

So I was trying to pull a fast one on all of you, but I
made the decision to send e-mails instead. I realized that
it would be hard to get all of you together without telling you what
I was doing. I have a night planned for just us girls…I wanted
to have you over for some food, drinks, and conversation
to show you how much I appreciate you being a part of
my big day! I cannot begin to tell you how much fun I’ve
had planning my wedding so far, and I can’t
wait to tell you about all my ideas!

The details…
When: August 9, 2008
Time: 6:00 pm

? Gena

So one of my inspirations bloggers did this for her wedding and I love the idea. I thought it would be cool to have a dress with a print. Here are some of my ideas...

Her BM dresses have a little more ivory showing then I would prefer, but I love the idea!

On monday I went and picked up the material for wedding! So excited! I have 50 yards... The M.I.L (mother-in-law) is a master with the sewing machine and is going to make all of them! I plan on doing runners, and square overlays-- they will go on the cocktails tables/reception tables-- I will have runners on the cake,guestbook, and bar---to spruce them up a bit. The standard linens will be in black (provided by the caterer)

These are some pix... the material is just folded over, it has not be sewed yet. I will post pix of the finish product.

Do you think a damask aisle runner would be to much???

So I am having a dinner night with my BM's... I recently asked my family/friends to help make my day complete. I am hosting a dinner/wine night so that all the girls have a chance to mingle/meet. I wanted to show them how much I appreciate them taking the time out of their lives to be a part of this adventure...

My mom and I went to Wal-Mart the other night to get some b-room stuff, and I was looking around--- they had the cutest damask section( planners, notebooks, journals, paper, pens, etc)... Even better---One of the themes had black/white damask with yellow writing!!! They were $4--I had to get them! I got 8 pockets planners for my girls, and one for myself! It will be perfect for the dinner I am hosting! I will go over some important dates, and they girls can have the books to go with it!

So this is my first post...I am loving every minute of the planning process, and I am looking forward to the blog world.
I decided to creat a blog because I have so many ideas that I need to share, and I am looking for other ideas too! I am having a "budget" wedding in Southern Cali--which is not easy to do! I have looked high and low for deals because I will not settle for Cheeseball! My colors are a little different, but I love different-- my underling theme will be a damask print-- the yellow will come in from the flowers, candy bar, signature drink, etc. Not loads of yellow, but just touches of it so it pops! I have read other posts where brides think this combo is bumble bee... I think If the color combo is constructed in the right way, it will not present itself as bumble bee-- but instead scream a cross between vintage/modern...a classy wedding with a bang!