This is danibanani09's Green Wedding!

I am most definitely doing my cake table like this, except in black of course. I think it's going to look so fabulous with our cake! Funny enough, this picture came from BBJ Linens, which is where we are renting our linens from! Shouldn't be too difficult to get them to do it then!

I am starting to feel a little overwhelmed with all the DIY projects I have left. And now added to the list are the invitations. We had previously chosen some online, but after a while we decided they just weren't really "us". We looked everywhere for something that we both liked and came to the conclusion that we'd have to make our own if we were ever going to agree on anything. These are not going to be any cheaper than buying invitations from a company, and will obviously be more work for me. That's the sacrifice I guess I have to make to keep everyone happy! I want them to have an elegant/vintage feel without being too boring, and he wants them to have a bit of a modern/edgy look (he's a total punk rocker lol). This is what we came up with. I am ordering black linen cardstock (awesome quality, but expensive) for the backing and white cardstock to print on. I'm also getting matching black linen A7 and A2 envelopes for the rsvp card and the invitation. This is a mock invite we did, I just wanted to know what everyone thinks. At first I really liked it, but you know how after you stare at something for a while you start to hate it? That's how I'm starting to feel about these invitations. FH really likes them though. I can't emphasize enough what a rough draft this is. The corners are going to be slightly more rounded, I just didn't have the right corner cutter until today. Also, this is printed on copy paper and very hastily cut and glued on black construction paper. Obviously the cardstock we will actually be using will be 1,000 times better. I love the little Swarovski crystal, but I think I'm going to get the clear ones instead of the multicolored.

So, if you got this invitation in the mail, would you like it???

Even though it's going to cost me an arm and a leg, I'm thinking of hiring a professional to do calligraphy for the envelopes. One of my bridesmaids has really nice handwriting and had said she would do all the addressing. I hate to say it but she is just so unreliable due to her busy schedule, so I really don't want to leave such a big project in her hands.

I am probably nuts for doing this, but I've decided to make my own wedding invitations. I was looking on etsy.com at invitations that other people have made, and know I can make them myself just as good if not better. I had previously picked out an invitation from a company in Georgia, and while I did like them they just didn't "wow" me. Up until now the invitations haven't been something that I've given too much though about, but now all of a sudden I want them to be perfect. It's the first glimpse people will get of the wedding so I guess they are a pretty important aspect. ANYWAYS, all of that was to ask this: I wanted to use black linen envelopes, and was going to order them on paperandmore.com. Then it dawned on me, how will I write on them? Silver metallic pen? Is that tacky? I was just wondering if anyone else had black envelopes for their invites and what they are writing on them with. I love black envelopes because I think they look so classy. Is silver ink going to make it look cheap?

At some point yesterday I decided I wanted to make matchbook mints. I found some online you can buy but didn't like how generic they all looked. I love making things so figured I'd just do them myself. My future hubby is a master on photoshop, so I found some general directions online regarding dimensions and told him what I wanted and where. After he got it exactly how I wanted (and I'll be the first to say I'm ridiculously anal when it comes to stuff like this) we took the file to a printing store down the street and had them printed on 8.5 x 11" cardstock (8 matchbook templates fit on one page). I've got about 60 done, 60 more to go, but just couldn't wait to post pics. I don't know why the green always turns out yellow looking on my camera, but I promise it's lime green. I got two cute silver metal trays that I'm going to put them on. I may have to go back and get one or two more though, it's starting to overflow! After everything the project cost me around $22 for 120 of them and the trays. Not too bad considering how cute I think they look! The only issue I'm having is trying to decide were to put them. I don't want to put them on the tables because I think it will clutter everything up, plus they are not the favors. Perhaps at the end of the buffet, or by the door so people can grab them as they leave? Have any other ideas?

We have always thought that the bride and groom exchanging gifts is kind of silly, especially with how much you're already paying on the wedding itself. I still kind of think it is, but I found these cuff links and thought they were just too perfect not to buy for him. They are the absolute perfect shade of green, and the skull and crossbones couldn't be more appropriate for him. Now if only I didn't have to wait until February to give them to him!

I'm trying really hard not to buy things that aren't necessary for the wedding, but sometimes I just can't help myself. Etsy.com is my new favorite website. In the last month I've bought three things on there from different sellers. My last purchase, and reason for this post, was for personalized cocktail napkins. They were such a great deal, only $30 for 200, that I almost feel bad! Like I feel like I'm stealing from someone or something! Anyways, you get to pick everything, napkin color, ink color, text, fonts, etc. Ours will be black with silver ink, and keeping with our chandelier theme will have a very similar design to our table numbers. We are going to put half of them on the cake table to be passed out with the cake slices since the cloth dinner napkins are always disgusting by dessert time. The rest are going to go on the table with the martini fountain and at the bar. I get them in about two weeks. So excited!

Since there's a tropical storm going on outside I decided to stay in tonight and make our monogram sign. Overall I am pretty happy with how it turned out. The only thing that kind of disappointed me was the crappy selection of wood letters at the craft stores. Maybe it's just that H, D, & J are not cool letters, but I couldn't find any that I was crazy about. If I found a big "H" that I liked, there wouldn't be a smaller matching "D" and "J", or vice versa. I found some places online that I could get them made, but I really didnt want this to turn into a huge expensive project. When I first decided to do it I thought "hey I already have most of the materials". However I easily get carried away with stuff like this so I tried very hard not to go overboard spending tons of money on a little DIY project.. I settled on these letters from Joann's, which aren't exactly what I wanted but I suppose they get the job done. I am not sure if I want to hang the sign with the ribbon showing at the top, or have the ribbon lower in the back so it does not show at all. What do you think? (I took the pics without flash so they look a little dull).

We have quite a few cousins who will be bringing their children to our wedding. They will inevitably make noise during the ceremony, but I figured a coloring book would at least somewhat entertain them and cut down on the commotion. There are a lot of links online to coloring/activity books that other people have made, but I wasn't crazy about any one in particular. I decided to take different aspects of the ones I've found and make my own. We are going to get them printed and bound at Kinko's. Shouldn't cost too much for one of those plastic spiral bindings. When back to school supplies go on sale in a few weeks I'm going to stock up on crayons. They usually go down to 10 or 25 cents for a box of 24. If anyone is interested I would be more than happy to send you my files so you can use them. You can edit them in photoshop I think. If not, it would take me 10 seconds to change the name and dates on each page for you. I especially love our tribute to our alma mater on the last page. Go Gators!

the person who's damask cake I stole commented on my old post, so I followed the link she posted. She had this really awesome monogrammed thing hanging up on the wall at the reception, and I totally fell in love with it. We are going to hang it on the wall behind us at the reception (we are having a sweetheart table). Lucky for me I already have green paint and damask print fabric that I bought for the table runners (and I got extra because I knew something else would come up). Now I need to get a canvas to stretch the fabric over and wooden letters to paint. should be easy to find between Michael's, Hobby Lobby, Joann's, and AC Moore. I'm also going to get a damask rubber stamp to replicate the detail on the letters. Does anyone know if a regular ink pad that is sold in the stamp section will work?

I was just wondering how many of you are completely changing your name and how many are hyphenating. My sister and I are the last to have our family name (no brothers or male cousins on our dad's side), so neither one of us want to change it. I know it's going to end with us no matter what because our children will certainly take their fathers' names, but for some reason we both have this strong desire to keep our last names. I would just as well not even hyphenate but I know my FH would be very upset if I didn't use his name at all. I tried to get him to change his name (partially kidding) but I'm sure you know how that went. I love his last name, so it's not like I don't want to use it because it's a dumb name. And I don't think it means I love him any less just because I want to keep the name that I've had for the last 24 years. So how many of you are hyphenating like me? What is your reasoning?

I already mentioned my guest book and pen in a previous post, but I wanted to post pictures of the new updated version that has the ribbon and lime green feather that I added! I was so excited to come across the green feather in Hobby Lobby, especially because it is the exact color green we are using. They also had blue and light pink I believe for anyone who might need them for something. I wasn't sure at first how to attach the feather so it was seamless and not obvious that I did it myself. I ended up cutting the very end of the pen off with a small handsaw so there was a little hole at the end. Then I stuck the feather in there and glued a tiny bit of green ribbon around the connection to cover it. It looks like it came that way so I'm really happy with it. For the guest book page marker I used a piece of ribbon and attached a small crystal on one end as a weight, then glued the other end inside of the spine. Overall I love the way it turned out....the feathered pen is a bit dramatic I know but I still like it!

I get really excited when I find anything in the perfect shade of green for our wedding. Usually everything is too neon green, apple green, grass green, etc. I have always liked wedding pictures with parasols, and since I found one in just the right shade of lime/chartreuse I feel that I need an excuse to buy it. With 7 bridesmaids plus myself it's really not in the budget to have one for everybody, but I was thinking about getting one in case the photographer can think of something just the two of us can do with it. It's only $7 so I don't have much to lose, I know it's not a summer wedding but we're in Florida. It can be in the high 70's that time of year, and it's not like there's snow on the ground.

well I was tired of missing out on things because I wait too long, so the other day I made the deposit on the photobooth for the reception!!!!! I think it's going to be so much fun! We paid for three hours, plus one hour of idle time (to be used during the dinner hour when everyone will be eating). The photos will be strip style (not sure yet if I want to do color or black and white). They print out in doubles, so the guests can keep one as a favor and put the other one in the scrapbook. The company offers a scrapbook for $95, but I decided to make it a DIY project. I bought a ring-style scrapbook on sale at Michael's and made a cover for it using the same general image as our table numbers. The inside of the scrapbook has blank black pages. There will be a small table set up with double sided scotch tape and silver metallic Sharpies, so the guests can quickly stick their strip in the book and write us a message! I can't wait!!!!!!

I promise this will be my last post for the night!
These are some pictures of bouquets I really like. My flower selection is limited since I want the perfect shade of green. The pic of the boutonniere is exactly what Joey wants, except for silver wire instead of copper. The bridesmaids will probably have all white or white with lime hydrangeas. My mom will be thrilled with the orchids since they are her favorite flower! And if you've been reading any of my posts, you already know that my mother and I don't agree on much!

I just wanted to post some pictures of the location where we will be getting married! I love the fact that our wedding and reception are in the same place!

Well we waited too long to book the photographer that we had originally wanted and her date filled up. We were kind of bummed because she was really good and was within our budget. We had to go back to square one, searching high and low for someone who fit our style but wouldn't cost us an arm and a leg. Then we came across Curtis Smith, who was way more than I had wanted to pay but we fell in love with his stuff. Some of you would think I was crazy if you knew how much we are paying.... The photography is really important to us though, because everything else will be but a memory, the pictures last forever!

I found this really neat website where you can buy pre-made garters or design your own! There are so many options available its unbelieveable. Ribbon color, charms, feathers, satin, organza, lace... the possibilities are endless! Because they are handmade you can also choose the diameter you want. This might come in handy for some of the more voluptuous brides out there who are having trouble finding a garter that fits right. I can't wait to order mine!

www.mygarter.com

so after going to David's Bridal and Alfred Angelo with my mom, and trying on a hundred wedding dresses that could not even compare, I finally went back to my original choice. See post below re how my mom didn't like what I picked out. I think the girl at Jay's Bridal (where I finally bought my dress) was sick of me coming in during my lunch hour every other day to gaze longingly at it. I wanted it so badly ever since I first laid eyes on it two months ago, but I never bought it because my mom didn't like it. Well I finally realized that we are just not on the same page, so it's either she's happy or I'm happy. I'm the bride so guess who wins? My mom never said I couldn't get it or anything, I just hate dissapointing her. However, I think when she sees how happy I am in it she will finally understand. I seriously never believed it when people gushed about "the one", but now I know. When I put that thing on I was the happiest girl in the world. Now just wait until I can put one on in my size, then it will look great! (I smuggled my way in to a 10, and I wear a 16) haha

I am toying with the idea of wearing a birdcage veil. I really like them, but some people who I've mentioned it to have given me awful looks. For some reason there are peaople who just think they are so weird. I know they don't look good on everyone, but my friends tell me I can pull it off... the only thing is I don't want people to think it's ugly. I know I know, it's my wedding, my day, all that jazz.... but I do care what people think, and if they are going to be so distracted by it that they don't pay attention to the other things that I worked so hard to make perfect then it's not worth it to me. So what do you guys think about birdcage veils?

Oh, and please pay specific attention to the pic of the birdcage veil/cathedral veil combo, because I'm kinda liking that one (the regular tulle veil will make my overly traditional mom happy).

Also, I plan on wearing my hair down in soft curls, and perhaps wearing chandelier earrings if it's not too much.

I wasn't going to post any pictures of my ring originally. We have been engaged for 4 years (long story, but we pretty much wanted to finish our master's degrees before we got married), so the proposal and all that exciting stuff is ancient history. HOWEVER, I had been wanting a new setting for a little while now. The setting I had before was beautiful, but we got it simply because the jeweler gave us a good deal on it, not because it was ever really my style or my favorite look. Well, now that my mom is dating a jeweler (score!) and Joey knew how much I wanted a different setting... voila! I think it is SO beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm keeping the old setting of course and plan to put my birthstone or maybe some other gemstone in it. The only problem with this new ring, and I really don't even want to call it a problem, but because it has diamonds on every possible surface, there is no way in heck I could wear a wedding band with it. I know some people wear their engagement rings on their rght hand and their wedding bands on the left, but I've been wearing an engagement ring on my left hand for so long now that I don't think I could switch hands. I know it's unconventional, but I may just wear the band on my right hand (of course for the ceremony it will be on my left though). We are not very conventional anyways.

I hate when my posts get deleted!!!!! Aaaahhhh!!!!!
Anyways, these were the first things I ever bought of the wedding and have been wanting to put pics up for a while now. These plus Carmen Electra's wedding cake topper (see post below about cakes) were the initial inspiration for me to add a bit of a chandelier theme to the wedding. That and I think it looks great with damask. I bought these at Hobby Lobby (aka my new fave store!) and they were half off. Still kind of pricey but I just had to have them. I plan on putting the two in the first image on the table with the green apple martini fountain (one on each side of the fountain maybe). The other one holds three taper candles, and I want to put it on the table with the guest book at the entrance. I found some candles online that were the perfect shade of lime, but I think it might be too much. Plus, to get some white candles at walmart will be much cheaper.

As most of you damask brides already know, damask print is showing up everywhere recently! Lucky us! I wanted to share some stuff that I had gotten for the wedding, in the event that it might be helpful for some of you!

The first picture is of notecards and a little notebook I got from the dollar section at Michael's. The notecards come in packs of 8 for $1 a piece, can't beat that. They are pretty nice quality too, blank inside so could even be used as thank you cards for the wedding if you could find enough of them. I plan on using them as thank you cards for the bridesmaids and groomsmen with their gifts. The little notebook with the pen (on the left).... well what can I say? I bought that because it was only $1 and I'm a dork! I'm always needing to jot down little wedding related notes, so for a buck why not do it in my own wedding themed notebook!

I didn't buy them (although I tried to think of every reason I should!) but Michael's also has damask print tissue packs in the dollar section! They would be too cute for those of you doing baskets in the bathrooms at the reception. Or you could pass them out at the wedding to catch some falling tears!

The second pic is of an oil lamp I got at hobby lobby. I got two of them for $5 each. They are on clearance in the garden section. I believe they are more for outdoor use, so we are going to place one on each end of the buffet table (the buffet will be outdoors on the terrace).

The third pic is the most exciting find to me. Hat boxes I found at Hobby Lobby that I plan to make a card box out of. I am going to cut a hole in the bottom of the smaller one and a hole in the top of the larger one, then glue them together so it will be one hollow piece. I am going to make it look like a gift, using some of my green ribbon to make a large bow on top and have some ribbon cascading down the sides. The opening for the cards will be a slit on the front. I got both of the boxes for $15 total. I want to get started on the project, but for now they are working so well as storage for all my wedding related craft knick knacks!

Also at Hobby Lobby I bought a guest book and pen for $25 total. I couldn't believe how perfectly it matched my theme, the design is right in between a chandelier and damask look. Plus it has a little heart on top, and that is going to be my new last name (Hart) :)

The frame with the damask/scroll look was half off for $7 (another Hobby Lobby find). I'm going to put it at the bar with the drink menu inside.

Last but not least, damask rub ons from walmart. One sheet in $2.97. I may return these, because they don't match the rest of the damask print as well as I'd like, but I still though I'd share in case any of you were looking for them. As I understand it they can be put on glass, wood, paper, etc.

I can't decide whether or not I want to send out Save the Dates. If money was no concern I would go ahead and do it, but I am already over budget for other aspects of the wedding so I'm trying to cut things out that aren't totally necessary. I'm just wondering who has and hasn't sent them out. For any of you who maybe didn't send them out, did you later wish you had because a lot of people couldn't come?? In a way I feel like the really important people already have it on their calendar and will be there hell or high water. What do you think???

For any of you needing shepherd's hooks for your outdoor ceremony, JoAnns fabric has several different styles and heights that are 60% off right now. I didn't want to buy them yet since the wedding isn't until February, but since it's a seasonal item I figured I better get them while I could. We got tall ones, originally $15 each on sale for $5.99 each. We are going to hang green pom balls (probably made out of mums) from black ribbon, just like in the pic.

So I originally wanted a chuppah at the wedding instead of an arch because I couldn't find any arches that didn't remind me of a 70's style wedding. My mom, being quite traditional, was totally freaked out by the fact that we aren't Jewish. I explained to her that you don't have to be Jewish to have a chuppah at your wedding, but she really wasn't having it. It's not her decision but I hate for my mom to be unhappy, so I rethought the whole arch idea. The bottom line is that we wanted to hang a chandelier under whatever we got, so it had to be tall enough that it won't hit us in the head! I found this 11 ft victorian style arch on ebay, by the time I battled it out with a couple of bidders I ended up paying $66 plus $25 S&H (so $91 total). Not too bad especially if I can somehow sell the thing on craigslist when we're done with it. I plan on using some white sheer fabric and green flowers to decorate the arch.

The chandelier we got on amazon, I think it was $30. To tie it in with everything we are going to place little green pom balls on the 4 discs that are supposed to hold the candles. My inspiration for this was the 4th photo, and the 3rd photo shows in a rough photoshopped way what I envision them looking like. The pom balls will be made out of the same flowers as the pom balls that will be down the aisle, probably mums.

I think I have decided on the BM bouquets. They will be wearing black dresses, and their flowers will look almost identical to the pic of the girls in green. I love that hanging green stuff, I'm always forgetting the name of it! Hanging Amaranthus maybe? The other picture is a close up look at how I want the bouquets, white hydrangeas with lime green berry looking things! Guess I need to brush up on my knowledge of flower species!

I am just curious to know from people ordering custom aisle runners, where did you order from and how much did you pay? I have looked on several different websites, and the one I like most is chicuniqueinc.com. However, I sort of think paying over $200 for an aisle runner is ridiculous. I really don't want a crappy one (it must be pretty durable fabric, not that thin see through stuff I keep seeing), but it seems like you have to be willing to pay a lot for quality. I'm just wondering if any of you have found a company that has quality runners at a more decent price? If not I guess $200 it is!

I have only looked at one dress shop, but I am 99% sure I found he one I'm going to end up buying. I feel really bad, because I went to the shop just for fun with my friend (not really expecting to find anything right away), and my mom found out and got upset that I went without her! I told her that I didn't even see anything I liked, just to maker her feel better. I will probably go shopping with her (go through the motions) just so she feels apart of it, but I know I will end up going back to this one! It's by Maggie Sottero, and it's a little different from the traditional wedding dress, but I really wanted something different that not every other bride wears these days. I need everyone's advice though. I have long blonde hair and plan to wear it down in loose curls (like the girl in pink). What I want to know is, do you think I should put some kind of hairpiece in to pull the sides back, maybe something small with rhinestones to match the brooch on the dress? Or do you think the dress is already enough on its own? I think the girl with the feathers on her head looks a little over the top...

I just wanted to share this picture/idea with anyone using crystal trees or trees for their escort cards. I am pretty much copying this exactly, except for a couple of details (black pots with green ribbon, but still using the jewel in front). I have already purchased the crystals to hang off the cards. I plan on getting the branches from save-on-crafts.com. Just though I would share because I think this is such a neat idea, and looks easy enough to do for all you fellow DIY brides out there!

We are going with a damask and chandelier theme. I ordered 5 billion yards of black Dandy Damask fabric by Michael Miller to have custom table runners made. I also ordered lime/chartreuse satin ribbon for the edges. I plan to cut all the fabric myself, and a friend of my mom's said she would sew them all for $100. I think once she sees all the fabric she's going to change her mind!!