DIY :: Tic-Tac Favor Labels (Holiday & Wedding)

These cuties would make awesome stocking stuffers as well as the perfect gift wrapping addition to any gift! They could even take the place of a bow! For your wedding, hand them out as guests enter your reception, have them at each place setting or create a cute little display of them! Pick your favorite label color and choice of tic tac flavor to properly match your wedding.

SUPPLIES:

• Tic Tacs
• 8.5″ x 11″ Sticker Paper
• Home Printer
• Scissors

Download these cute labels at the end of the post and print onto 8.5″ x 11″ white sticker paper. Within the printer settings make sure to check print “actual size” and then if you can choose “high quality” on “matte photo paper” for the best look. Then trim out each label. There are 8 per sheet.

Peel the sticker paper backing from the label, center over the existing tic-tac label and adhere. That’s all there is to it!

Taking into consideration the price of the sticker paper and printer ink, plus the fact that you can purchase tic tacs in bulk at your local big box store – these favors will easily fall under $1 a piece! Which totally makes them cute and cost effective!

Click here for "Mint to Be" Labels

Click here for "Elf Vitamin" Labels

See the original post on Something Turquoise.

Planning Tips :: Fall Weddings

Fall is one of my favorite times of year! I love the foliage and the vibrant color changes to yellows, oranges and reds. Fall is definitely a gorgeous time of year for a wedding or special event, and you can tie in the autumn jewel toned color palette beautifully.

Fall is a peak time of year for beauty! Look into selecting a location or venue that showcases the season. Fall is also the perfect time for a tented wedding, which is always another gorgeous option!

Open fires are perfect for this time of year. Smore's pits make for great entertainment and favors for the guests.

If you're planning a fall wedding and using a fall theme, pumpkins are sure to be included. There are so many creative and lovely ways to use them...hollow them out and use for candles or flowers, spray paint them to sparkle, cover them in fabric or lace for a different look...possibilities are endless!

Blankets, wraps and heat lamps are always a wise choice for fall weddings. Since fall is a time where the weather could go either way; warm or cool....be prepared to keep your guests warm in case your wedding falls on a cool day.

Avoid holiday weekends. Most do traveling on holiday weekends and the hotel rates peak during these times. it will be more cost effective for you and your guests if you choose a non-holiday weekend.

Remember to account for daylight savings time. If your wedding date is around the time change, it will affect sunset time and photo times.

#SignatureSaturday :: Caramel Apple Martini

Perfect fall flavored cocktail for any wedding or event! I'm always partial to martinis though, they're my favorite!

Ingredients

• 1 oz. Baileys Irish cream
• 1/2 oz. apple schnapps
• 1/2 oz. butterscotch schnapps
• 2 oz. half-and-half or whole milk
• coarse sugar
• ground cinnamon

Instructions

1: Rim glass with coarse sugar mixed with cinnamon.

2: For each cocktail, pour all ingredients into a drink shaker.

3: Fill shaker with ice then shake and strain cocktail into a chilled glass, with or without ice.

See the original post at HGTV.

DIY :: Pumpkin Donut Hole Seating Cards

These darling little “pumpkin” treats would make terrific escort cards or seating cards. What’s the difference you ask? Escort cards are usually displayed on a large table at the entrance to your reception, and your guests would take their treat and table info, and walk into their table. Seating cards would be at each place setting, telling each guest where their exact seat is.

SUPPLIES:

• Fresh Donut Holes
• Pretzel Sticks
• Mini Cupcake Liners
• Tag Punch
• Cardstock
• Twine

MAKE THE TAGS

Using a cute tag punch, create your seating cards or escort cards. I used Pages to create this text layout, printed it onto 8.5″ x 11″ cardstock and then trimmed the paper down to punch out each tag.

ADD THE PUMPKIN "STEM"

On a baking sheet, layout as many mini cupcake wrappers as you can. Then add a donut hole to each one. For the pumpkin “stem” break a pretzel stick in half and press into each donut!

ADD THE PUMPKIN "LEAF"

Cut some pale green twine and tie a little knot around each pumpkin “stem” for a cute little leaf look. You could also add a little leaf with pale green frosting instead.

Since you’ll want these donut hole treats to be fresh for your guests, you’ll need to assemble them the morning of your event. If you can’t do that, the night before will work but you’ll need to store them in an airtight container.

See the original post at Something Turquoise.

Planning Tips :: Remember These Details!

When planning a wedding, there are a lot of details to remember and it's possible to overlook some of them in the planning process. Countless times I've heard of brides in a panic the day before the wedding because they forgot flower girl petals, a guest book, a cake knife, etc...

Here's a good list to go by so you don't forget one of those needed details for your wedding...

Printed Materials
Save the Date Cards
Invitations and Envelopes
Postage
Ceremony Programs
Escort Cards
Place Cards
Table Numbers
Menu Cards
Thank You Cards
Favor Boxes/Tags
Calligraphy
Personalized Cocktail Napkins

Attire & Accessories
Bride's Dress
Headpiece/Veil
Bride's Shoes
Lingerie/Undergarments
Jewelry
Groom's Tuxedo or Suit
Groom's Accessories
Alterations & Cleaning

Photo by Danielle Luc Photography

Entertainment
Pre-Ceremony Music
Ceremony Music
Cocktail Hour Music
Reception Music
Specialty Entertainment

Photo by Z Media

Photography/Videography
Engagement Photos
Photographer's Package
Wedding Album
Parent's Albums
Additional Prints
Videographer's Package
Video/DVD Copies
Photo Booth

Flowers/Décor
Ceremony Decorations
Bride's Bouquet
Maid of Honor/Bridesmaids Bouquets
Flower Girl Accessories
Corsages
Boutonnieres
Reception Centerpieces
Table Linens
Lighting

Ceremony/Reception
Wedding Planner
Ceremony Location
Officiant
Marriage License
Reception Site
Food/Waitstaff
Wedding Cake
Groom's Cake
Cake Knife/Server (Generally Engraved)
Bar/Bartenders
Rentals

Transportation
Couple's Transportation
Bridal Party Transportation
Guest Transportation
Parking
Tips

Photo by Terra Sol Studio

Gifts/Favors/Misc
Maid/Matron of Honor Gift
Bridesmaids Gifts
Best Man's Gift
Groomsmen's Gifts
Child Attendant's Gifts
Couples Gifts for Each Other
Parent's Gifts
Hotel Welcome Baskets
Bathroom Convenience Baskets
Favors
Ring Pillow
Guest Book & Pens
Card Box

#SignatureSaturday :: Rosemary Citrus Punch

Skip a pricey open bar and let guests help themselves to this spiked punch served in a striking bowl instead. They'll think "how chic!" not "how cheap!"

Makes 6 drinks                  

Ingredients
                                         

1/2 cup sugar

1 large rosemary sprig

1 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 12 lemons)

3 cups London dry gin

1 cup orange juice

Orange slices, for garnish

Rosemary sprigs, for garnish 

Directions

1. Bring sugar and 1/2 cup water to a boil in a saucepan. Cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Add rosemary sprig and let steep for 2 hours; remove sprig. Refrigerate simple syrup up to 2 weeks.
2. Combine lemon juice, gin, orange juice, and simple syrup in a punch bowl. Garnish bowl and glasses with orange slices and rosemary sprigs, if desired. Add ice cubes as needed to keep chilled.

See the original post at Martha Stewart Weddings.

Planning Tips :: Wedding Budget Breakdown :: Accessories

In the final installment of our Wedding Budget Breakdown feature, we're covering the final details! Your accessories are the details that go along with your attire to add that special touch...veil, tiara, undergarments, shoes, gloves, garter, handkerchief, jewelry, handbag, or any other detail you want to add to your wedding day ensemble.

Suggested budget for accessories is 1%, so if you have a $20,000 budget you should be spending $200 on your attire accessories. As with any other area of the budget, if you need more in this category you can shift the other areas around. Take a section of the budget you won't be using all of and move the extra to your accessories category.

Photo by Z Media

Photo by Becky's Photography

"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue..." is a good-luck saying originated in the Victorian era. Brides today often incorporate special items into their wedding attire and accessories according to the rhyme.

"Something Old" symbolizes a link to the bride's family and the past. A family heirloom, such as a piece of antique jewelry or a family member's wedding dress can represent the old object. Or, a bride can sew lace or ribbon into the hem of her dress.

"Something New" represents good fortune and success in the bride's new life. A bride may wear a new string of pearls, or use her wedding gown as the new item.

"Something Borrowed" symbolizes the love and support of family and friends in times of need. A borrowed object can be a token from a happily married friend, such as a lace handkerchief.

"Something Blue" is an object that symbolizes faithfulness and loyalty. Brides commonly choose a blue garter or ribbon. 

-Yahoo

Photo by Leach Photography

Photo by Leach Photography

:: TIPS ::

1. Accessories for your wedding day attire are sometimes passed down by family members or loaned to you by your best girlfriends...take advantage! This option is not only sentimental and sweet, but the extra bonus is that it doesn't cost you anything.

2. The bridal salon where you buy your gown will have accessories as well. Sometimes if you buy them at the same time as the dress, you can get a discount that will help you out. See what's available at the bridal salons when you go looking for your dress.

Previous Post :: Wedding Budget Breakdown :: Hair + Makeup

Planning Tips :: Wedding Budget Breakdown :: Hair + Makeup

Your wedding day is obviously a day you want to look your absolute best, so hiring a team of hair and makeup professionals is always a good choice to make yourself and your ladies look fab! Suggested budget for hair and makeup is 2%, so if you have a $20,000 budget then your hair and makeup budget would be $400. Depending on how many ladies you're reserving services for, you may need to adjust the hair and makeup budget higher to cover everyone. In that case, just lower the percentage of another section you won't be using some or all of.

Photo by Terra Sol Studio

  

Photo by Terra Sol Studio

:: TIPS ::

1. Try to find a team or service that will come to you. You'll have enough to do getting ready on wedding day. It will really help you save time and not rush if your beauty team comes to you and your 'maids, rather than you all going to a salon.

2. Make sure your team or service includes a trial run so you can see what the final result will be before wedding day. Make sure it's something you're comfortable with and you like the look of! If not, another trial can be scheduled before the wedding. Keep in mind, trials may be an additional charge so make sure to ask.

3. Is the fee per hour, per stylist, or per person being worked on? Be sure to take this into consideration if you have a large bridal party, flower girls, and mothers that you're booking hair and makeup services for. 

Photo by Z Media

Photo by Z Media

Previous Post :: Wedding Budget Breakdown :: Printed Materials

Planning Tips :: Wedding Budget Breakdown :: Printed Material

Invitations set the tone for the entire event. Save the dates, invitations and RSVP cards are all included in the printed materials category...along with escort cards, place cards, menu cards, table numbers, ceremony programs, thank you cards, favor tags, calligraphy, etc...

Suggested budget for printed materials is 2%, so if you have a $20,000 budget you should be allocating $400 for your printed materials. Keep in mind you can shift from other sections of the budget around if you need more in this category.

Photo by Terra Sol Studio

:: TIPS ::

1. Remember to include postage in your budget! The heavier your cardstock is, the higher your postage will run...keep that in mind as you make your invitation selection.

2. Your invitation designer may be able to create a sample or prototype of your invitation selection so you can see the final product before ordering. Make sure to see if this is included, or if there is an additional fee for the sample.

Previous Post :: Wedding Budget Breakdown :: Transportation

Planning Tips :: Wedding Budget Breakdown :: Transportation

While weddings generally need rented transportation for moving large groups of people, some choose to take it a step farther and ramp it up to make a statement with their choice of transportation! You can choose anything from a classic car, town car, limo, trolley, bus, golf cart, boat, motorcycle, bicycle, rickshaw, horse & carriage, and many more options...

Suggested budget for transportation is 3%. For example, a $20,000 wedding budget should allow $600 for transportation services. Shifting other sections of the budget you may not use could increase this number if need be.

Photo by Trejo Photography

Photo by Terra Sol Studio

Wedding Party Transportation

If you have a large wedding party and multiple locations for events on wedding day, you'll need to look into providing transportation for everyone to travel together and stay on the same schedule. Moving everyone from ceremony to photos to reception always keeps things more on schedule rather than waiting for late arrivers...plus, everyone together in a party limo bus is super fun!

Photo by Z Media

Photo by Z Media

Photo by Z Media

Guest Transportation

It's possible that you may have out of town guests who drive a long distance or fly in for your wedding. If this is the case, look into hotels close to your venue for them to stay at. The hotels generally offer free shuttle service to hotel guests, so you could give the hotel a call and arrange for your wedding guests to take advantage of that.

Grand Exit for Bride & Groom

I've seen so many different endings that drew ooh's, aah's and attention with their choice of exit vehicle! This is a (photographed) moment where an amazing vehicle would be the perfect end to your night! 

Photo by Digital504

Photo by Trejo Photography

:: TIPS ::

1. Be sure to ask about additional charges you may incur; overtime charges, fuel charges, etc... The hourly rental cost doesn't always include everything and anything extra should be taken into consideration before booking.

2. If you're booking services for more than one evening (maybe you're doing bachelorette party one night, rehearsal one night, and wedding one night) be sure to ask about package deals. No matter what vendor, if you book multiple services or multiple packages they're likely to give you a discount.

3. If you have drivers or valet involved with your transportation rentals, be sure to tip the drivers. :)


Previous Post :: Wedding Budget Breakdown :: The Dress