TFF Quick-Tips: Wedding Budget Fixes

Welcome back to The Friday Five!

Today we're talking ways to reduce the cost of your wedding with these 5 tips:

1. Trim the guest list. This is probably the most popular tip but it's true. Trimming down your guest list can be a touchy subject but it's basic math - the less people the lower the overall cost. Start by talking to your fiancé and your families. You don't want to offend anyone. Ask politely about that second cousin you've never met and explain your budget concerns. Communication with those involved is key especially if they are helping with cost.

*Bonus tip: you don't HAVE to give everyone a +1 but DO be consistent with it

2. Wedding Brunch. We've talked about the wedding off-season before. Not only can the off-season be a less expensive time to tie the knot but sometimes a different time of day can be too. A daytime wedding can be fun and everyone loves brunch. Am I right? Your guests don't have to know it was a budget conscious decision. Have fun with it!

3. Buy your dress used. That's right! Check out our previous blog post to learn more. 

4. Multi-use decor. Choose floral arrangements that can be moved from your ceremony site and repurposed as decor at your reception. Think about where the bridal party can place their bouquets - those little beauties should not go to waste either. Your florist should have some more great ideas as well.

*Bonus Idea: Place cards that double as favors

5. The signature cocktail. I don't have to tell you booze for a party is expensive and you certainly don't want your guests to have to pay for anything while attending your event. An open bar of beer, wine and a signature cocktail of your choice can still be a hit. It's personalized yet budget friendly.

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We hope these tips helped with some of your budget dilemmas. If you'd like us the elaborate on any of these tips or have any tips of your own please leave them in a comment below.

Happy weekend & as always, happy planning!
xo.

Color of 2013: Emerald

Pantone recently announced that the 2013 color of the year will be one of my personal favorites: emerald green!

In fact, emerald green was the accent color of my own wedding, which I particularly loved in our wedding cake design (by Alliance Bakery):

Some other ideas:

Chic Vintage Brides

J. Crew Mirabelle bridesmaid dress

Kate Spade small studs

Fragrant Design

How would you use this rich jewel tone?

Paper: Table Numbers

Ever since I fell in love with table numbers created by Courtney Callahan for my little sister's wedding (see below!), I've been on the lookout for especially unique ideas. After all, why stick with just a 1 2 3 4 format when you can do something that reflects your couple personality and looks pretty too?

Table numbers for my sister's wedding were African animals, in honor of her now-husband's home country of South Africa! Photography by Amaris Giselle

Some others...

Places you've been together:

Paris!

Sweetchic Events and Dennis Lee Photography

Drawings or paintings of things you like or like to do:

Mallards!

Debi Parker Photography

Significant years in your lives together:

Style Me Pretty

Photos of the happy couple and their favorite spots:

Carolina Weddings & Events

Spring 2013 Wedding Trends: Lace

Lace doesn't have to work hard to conjure up romantic images, both sexy and demure!

For a wedding, we're seeing this delicate element pop up not only on gowns, but also hair pieces, decor, floral, and even cakes.

A beautifully intricate veil:

Source: stylemepretty.com via Amanda on Pinterest

All over on a backless dress:

Source: stylemepretty.com via Amanda on Pinterest

A sweet way to jazz up an all-white cake:

Source: oodora.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Down the middle of a long dining table:

Source: google.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Less literal, in a bouquet, courtesy of some sprigs of Queen Anne's Lace...

Source: google.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Decor: Outdoor Lighting

I dreamed of an outdoor wedding, and planned one too. It went off well... until the storm clouds began to roll in after the first course and we all made a mad dash inside! Thankfully, I was too happy to care about the crazy musical chairs that followed and it's always made for a good story since.

Outdoor lighting, if we'd gotten far enough along to use it before being rushed indoors, was a big point of discussion for us. After all, lights add so much to the ambiance of your event and the right lights, outside, can make for a magical surrounding. I find myself tagging and saving pretty much any picture I come across with outdoor lighting ideas lately... like these:

Glittering orbs of strand lights wrapped around balls of twigs...

Source: stylemepretty.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Simple, straight string lights over party tables on the grass...

Source: fromtherightbank.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Clear glass globes tied to branches from above...

Source: ruffledblog.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Lanterns (that would presumably light up after dark)...

Source: ludemanar.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest

A tent! Could have saved me some misery... Hung with icicle style fairy lights...

Source: google.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Spring 2013 Wedding Trends: Minty Green

As we wind down the summer season (sadness!), it's time to look ahead to the coming year. Spring, 2013, to be precise! Over the coming weeks, we'll highlight a few trends we are forecasting as opportunities for wedding planning inspiration.

First up? The color mint green. Not a vibrant shade of mint, however. More like this - Pantone's Hint of Mint:

Envision it with some romantic blush tones (dusty peaches, roses, blues) or with something more lively, like lemon. It would be fantastic as an accent, such as in statement necklaces for your bridesmaids:

House of Harlow pyramid necklace

Or as the foundation for your table decor:

Society Bride

Or, more subtly, on your invites:

Courtney Callahan Paper