This is ralais's Pink Wedding!

Today I am celebrating another wonderful year with my husband. To spread our anniversary joy, I am giving away 10 monogram designs for no charge ($10 - $25 value).

Head over to my website www.ten23designs.com and click on the Contact Us link (scroll over the ABOUT US section) and let me know what monogram style you would like as well as your details (names, color, etc).

First 10 responses will be created at no charge. All requests after the first 10 will be done at 1/2 off for the remainder of the week.

Designs exclusive to the decal line are not included in the free giveaway.

New to my shop...

I am now making "Just Married" vinyl decal stickers - Approx. 23" in length. Decals are just $10 plus shipping (limited time only).

Other sizes, colors, designs & fonts are available.

This design is removable (without leaving behind sticky residue) and looks great on the rear window, trunk, or side doors.

If desired, you can personalize this design with a monogram, names or other personal touch for an additional fee.

Apply to any smooth, clean, flat surface; walls, mirrors, doors, etc.

Easily removable, but not repositionable.

Decals are professionally die-cut using high-grade vinyl. Vinyl is paint safe.

Email me @ designedbylauren@yahoo.com for additional details.

This is the damask monogram dance floor design I just made for a WBC bride... I am working on a Tiffany themed one now for another WBC bride.

Email me @ designedbylauren@yahoo.com if you would like a custom monogram decal made for your wedding or home.

Looking back at the day, I think it might have been helpful for one of the newly married brides to post this. Nearing the day & even during planning, I had several "curiosity" questions that weren't major enough at the time to warrant research... or so I thought.

So here I am, at your service to try & help with some "day of" and / or planning questions.

A few more photos of our special day taken by our caterer (Susan @ Catering By Robert).

A few of MANY photos...

Well folks, this is my last pre-wedding post. I will be finishing up projects tonight but highly doubt I will have the time to post them. I'm going to miss this place (WeddingByColor.com)... *sniffle*

We are down to the last few days until the BIG DAY... and only 2 nights left to get things down before we head down to central Florida (where the wedding will be).

I received my Gator garters... his Gator Cufflinks (which I will be giving to him for a graduation gift... he is also graduating with his Bachelors Degree in Computer Science this weekend).

I also complete the EASIEST DIY project yet this morning... it only took me about 7 minutes. They are my something blue, "Just Married" boyshorts.

If you are planning on ordering a pair of these, I would recommend trying to make them yourself first. I was going to order a pair but the delivery time was too far out. The pair I was going ot order look pretty much the same as the ones I made... but quite a bit cheaper!

They only cost me about $8 to make opposed to buying them for $32.

I am having an outdoor, waterfront wedding (see photos)... The chairs I will be using are white garden chairs that have that little lip on the side where something can hang.

I already painted a monogram aisle runner but I still need more of a design for the ceremony.

I made some cones to hang flowers in along the chairs down the aisle but I do not like how they came out. So now with 3 days to go, I need some help with the aisle design.

I have a ton of silk carnations that match the other elements but am running into a road block as to how to use them.

Any ideas... ???

Are any of you hosting a kid's table? What type of things are you planning on using for decoration on it?

So far I have began to design a coloring book... which I will have to thrown on the printer tonight of tomorrow if I am going to use it (4 days left).

I was also thinking about having some type of special centerpiece for them but have not figured out what to use.

Any kid's table ideas / suggestions?

With only 3 days left to complete projects, I have officially kicked it up a notch.

This weekend I completed the flower pens for the guest sign-in table, the flower cones for the aisle (not pictured), the flower girls's halo & basket... reprinted the table numbers with the new design... & put the FI on program duty. I designed them & printed them, now he is putting them together... teamwork!

They were not the programs I started out to make... but they sure were a lot easier to make.

The original program I designed was also a fan but consisted of 5 circular pages which bonded at the bottom to make a fan.

Being that I am getting short on time... and I am trying to hold stress at bay, the paddle program fan was a good alternative.

Now on to the next project to complete.


P.S. I also finished the table numbers today & near completion on the placecards.

*deep breathe*

7 days to go...

So much to do... so very little time.

This week I must accomplish a list of items:

- Laminate the paper for the centerpieces

- Reprint the table numbers (I redsigned them)

- Finish the placecards

- Print the cookie labels

- Make the cookie buffet signs

- FInish off the guest book with photos

- Prepare the floral decor for the aisle

- Paint more table runners with the monogram

- Finish the flowergirl's halo

- Finish the MOH Jewelry

- Print & finish the programs

- Finish the card box

- Finalize the music

- Finish the parasols

- Touch up the vases

- Prepare a gift list

- Take a deep breathe...

While I liked the idea of having a candy bar set up for favors... I'm just not a big candy kinda girl. I'm much more of a cookie kinda girl. As a matter of fact, I may be considered somewhat of a cookie monsteress.

Last weekend I added my chosen papers which I am using throughout the big day and made a lining in each of the 5 cookie jars.

There will be about 5 dozen cookies of each of 5 different types:

Chocolate Chip
Sugar
Peanut Butter
Macademia
And the Misters favorite... Oatmeal Raisin.

Next weekend I will be finishing off the jars with the ribbons & labels.

I few weeks ago I posted the water bottle labels I designed. This week I printed them... they came out great & look really sharp on the water-proof labels.

The hardest part of this project was actually lining up the labels on the bottles. I'm glad I only design labels for other brides & do not offer the service of adding the labels.

The Nutrition Facts Read...

Amount Per Serving:
LOVE 130 Calories from Love 0
Total Bliss 2g
Saturated Smiles 14g
Fear 0mg
Trust 26mg
Happiness 23g
Loyalty 20g
Faith 10g
Patience 3g

Marriage 100% Commitment 100%
Support 100% Laughter 100%

Each of the numbers above have a special meaning for us.

Can you say "YUM?" I don't even eat / like cake... I thought this cake was amazing. I especially do not eat chocolate cake but... the chocolate cake the baker made tasted like a slice of heaven.

I do not know what was used to make that cake, but bless the baker who came up with that recipe.

I want to start off by saying, that after all of the DIY projects I have done so far... and many aren't even posted yet... THIS one was by far the MOST tedious (sp). I seriously think we should start a support group for brides who take on the "crystalization" of monogram topper projects.

With that said... it's done. Not many crystals were added, as you can see. Appearantely adding crystals is not so much my fortay.

Oh... but don't think that will stop me from "crystalizing" the rest of my scheduled DIY projects.

I only have a few more table numbers to make & about half of the place cards to finish. These projects should be finished by next weekend.

Hopefully!

The table numbers each have 3 sides, each with a different photo. The pictures either have a pink or green tint with the opposite color number & border.

The place cards are each two seperate pieces (see directions in a previous post) & stand on their own.

Sa-weet!

Finally... almost done.

I am going to paint a few more parasols this week & that should complete the project(s).

This is still a work in progress... I'm just glad I got the difficult part done tonight.

I'm hoping to kick out quite a few projects during this long holiday weekend.

Now presenting... The NEW monogram aisle runner.

Hopefully by this weekend I'll have most of the other painted monogram elements completed.

I changed my official monogram today... which means I will be painting a new aisle runner & parasols.

Yes, I am that picky that I am willing to start over from square one just to have everything just the way I want it.

If anyone is in need of personalized items & happen to need the inital "A" let me know.

These are some of the floral ideas I've collected.

I like all of these but will probably incorporate carnations into one / some of them.

An obvious work in progress. I know it's missed something... maybe a lot of something... but what?

The pockect folds hold an RSVP card & directions. I wish I had more time to add additional elements but I suppose they came out okay for the time I had.

These are the three designs I am using sparatically through the ceremony & reception.

Ann Taylor: Celebrations

Ann Taylor's website www.anntaylor.com has a section titled "celebrations" which has tons of dresses in an assortment of colors & styles.

You can select your desired color & select from many styles for everyone in your wedding party.

<--- These are the dresses that my sister (MOH) & my niece (Flowergirl) will be wearing.

I just can't get enough of these DIY projects.

The parasol painted with the "A" (still needs to be touched up) will be used by me & the FI for photos... the parasol with the blossoms (which is not yet finished) will be used for photos with my niece / flower girl.

I figured I would try to create the custom clay cake topper several times before it came out the way I want it.

This was my first attempt... not too bad for my first time. I already have a few ideas of how to improve it for the 2nd attempt.

Each of the 3 layers are the different paper patterns I am using throughout the wedding. I will be calling the baker tomorrow to see if they can create the cake to look like the card box using rolled fondont.

This is still a work in progress... I need to add some enhancement but I'm not sure what to add yet. Any ideas?