A new dessert idea - popsicles!

I gotta admit, Martha Stewart is the queen of crafting and entertaining. Today's entry featured gourmet popsicles. What a cool idea to serve your guests mexican papaya or sweet corn flavored ice treats! Fascinating. AND there would be no cake cutting fee. Very tempted...I wonder if I should serve half ice cream cake/half popsicles... do people like ice cream or popsicles more?

Real life is funny

Brides, office workers, gardeners, whoever - we all need to laugh sometimes.

I don't know why, but I get the Urban Daddy newspaper (basically a guy's guide to food, nightlife, etc.) and discovered Texts from last night. Hilarious.

Seriously, some people are just ridiculous. I do not claim to know any posters. Though who knows right?

DIY ideas for everything!

Who knew I could turn into such a DIY girl?

I just discovered My DIY wedding and love the idea of DIYing fun socks, sugar face scrub (my friend just told me these are the best), and this adorable pillow box. She seems to gather DIY projects from other bloggers. I hope my brother brings some cute boxes! Otherwise I wouldn't mind DIYing them!

Easy DIY invitations using rubber stamps

My invitation design is coming together. I'll definitely use stamps because it leaves a lovely imprint and can be heat embossed! I love the texture, color, and ease of heat embossing (haven't started but it seemed easy!)

I was inspired by:

1. Rebecca Minkoff who created the calligraphy for her main invitation and imprinted it onto a stamp via Picture my Stamp (prices start at $49 for a custom stamp and it looks like letterpress)

2. Custom small stamps that can create a design - Etsy shop Blossom Stamps starts at $3.85 and I love the doily

3.Multiple stamps to create a unique landscape - like the flowers within flowers and stems at Impress Rubber stamps (stamps starting at $5.75 and they have occasional coupon codes)

I'm going to emboss a floral or lace motif, intersperse with hydrangea craft punch outs, and lay them on top of my invitation. I just ordered these (metallic, A7, $14.95 on sale) from Envelope Mall and am so excited!

More to come on my invitations...

New hopefully more personal bridal community

I was invited by the fussy designer to BridalTweet - a new community directly connecting brides, vendors, and other wedding experts. It looks like it could be more intimate than the other bridal website giants and could theoretically really highlight smaller calligraphers, designers, apparel shops, etc. Love it!

The first featured wedding for Kasey and Nick is also adorable. I wish Carnation Farms was in NYC (and operational). It has the perfect combination of rustic, yet elegant touches.

Top discount wedding gown/dress (or bm, reception, or suit) websites

I am a new convert to online shopping and love the multitude of websites that offer lovely wedding dresses (or bridesmaid dresses) for less!

Here are my top picks:

1. eBay (my dad's $56 tux, hopefully Mr. Chic 'n Cheap's tux, my $50 silk tulle, hopefully my reception dress for ~$100) - best selection and see my post about saved searches
2. Preowned wedding dresses - amazing quality, selection and user interface
3. Once Wed - dresses and cute craft projects
4. Save the dress - sometimes slow interface, smaller selection
5. Bride to Bride Boutique - dresses, bm dresses, reception decor - smaller selection
   
6. The Knot - look on your local board or The Dress board
7. Wore it Once - decent number of dresses, somewhat clunky interface
   

eBay has the most control if you pay via Paypal. Remember to ask if there is a return policy as well.

My Publisher photobook contest

I had been thinking about using a photobook for our guest book for a while. It would be a nice collection of our favorite pictures and funny anecdotes. I also love the fact that it would be enhanced by signatures from our guests.

iDIY is sponsoring a fabulous contest here. Good luck!

Let them eat (ice cream) cake!

So Mr. Chic 'n Cheap had joked about having a cake in the shape of an HP12C calculator or an Amazon Kindle (yes, he is a nerd). He also thought it would be cool to have ice cream cake but I didn't take him seriously. We mentioned that idea to another couple and they were SUPER excited! The guy said he never remembers any wedding cake, but would remember ice cream cake.

So I'm getting Carvel cake with crunchies! We may even cut into Fudgie the whale for fun.
It will be pretty great for a summer wedding. They even have a Fudgie Fanatics club (occasional coupons) here.

I was looking into red velvet cupcakes or flourless chocolate cake too, but the reception places will have 1 dessert as well so that and our ice cream cake should be great! Hmm, I wonder what we should choose to accompany the ice cream cake...

Finding Hot Deals on apparel from eBay and Effectively searching for what you want

I got my dad's tux from eBay and it arrived! It is in perfect condition and fit both him and Mr. Chic n Cheap. It is a Southwick label tux and cost $56 from eBay. It also has grosgrain detailing vs. more shiny satin and is more subtle than typical tuxes.

I highly recommend eBay for apparel, favors, and fabric. My favorite tool is "Saved searches". Here is how it works:

1. Type in something like "44R Tux" in the Search field.
2. The list of items will appear.
   
3. Near the top of the page on the left side, click on "Save Search".
4. A pop-up window will appear with "Email me daily when new items match my search."  Click the "Save" button to confirm.
5. You will get an e-mail daily with links and pictures of up to 12 items that match (and the full list).

I got my silk tulle on eBay as well for a bit under $50 (great considering it is usually more than $120 a yard!). There's a lot of crappy stuff on there too so be careful about what you buy!

Next search - reception dress! What is everyone else getting on the internet for their weddings?

Food and decor - Abigail Kirsch

Ok, I attended my first Abigail Kirsch wedding and agree, her food really is awesome. There is a good reason why she is the exclusive caterer to some of NYC's best spots (NY Botanical Gardens, Lighthouse, etc.)

Cocktail hour:

• beef sliders
• shrimp cocktail
• shrimp scampi dumplings
• mini crabcakes
• pasta station
• carving station - beef and smoked salmon

Seated dinner

• fried mozzarella and vine tomatoes
• arugala salad with tomatoes and parmasean
• steak or chilean sea bass
• toffee, chocolate mouse with marshallows
• chocolate wedding cake with buttercream frosting

The presentation and food itself were well executed. I also loved the multiple dimensions at the Lighthouse - slightly raised dance floor, outdoor terrace, tables flanking the dance floor. The nicest part was the hanging votives from the ceiling - it created a feeling of being outdoors somehow.

Our top contenders also feature multi-levels or indoor and outdoor decor. What do you like best about your reception venues?

Hair jewels for $25 and under!

Ever since I saw Georgina Chapman in a Marchesa gown with feather appliques in the shapes of flowers, I knew I wanted that. I have to make my veil, but wanted a hair band with jewels or a feather band for the reception.

Here are some nice choices:

1. Etsy Laura G Bridal hair combs - I like the Sara, $25
   
2. Jennifer Behr overlapping crystal twist, $188 (not $25, but really lovely)
   
3. Urban Outfitters (Recommended by iDIY), side feather flower headband, $24

I'm definitely checking out Urban for more inspiration. Etsy has some great sellers as well or I could be adventurous. How cute and vintage!

Housewares - Le Creuset deals and a lust item

ALS, lE cI have loved Le Creuset for years and purchased several pieces when Amazon had deals several years ago (e.g. buy a 7 quart, get a 3 quart free!) They are great wedding gifts (retail is usually over $200), last a lifetime (lifetime warranty), and are beautiful in the kitchen.
The best Le Creuset deals are at their factory outlets. My FI's friend had this on their Williams Sonoma registry.

• $305 retail
• $230 Williams Sonoma price
• $162.71 AFTER 8.375% tax (bought 2). I saved almost $90 and got them EXACTLY what they wanted!

The Le Creuset outlet was having an Easter egg promotion - 20-30% off depending on the egg. The associate at the beginning of the day wasn't willing to have me purchase over the phone. But the one at the end of the day did and I got a 30% off egg! Sign up for their mailing list to get the 30-35% flyer semiannually.

I love housewares and am also lusting these dishes from Working Class Studio. They're pretty expensive, but they're so colorful and unique! Definitely an idea for the registries...What kind of housewares do other brides love?

Paper flowers for everyone!

Ok, I have this bad habit of being inspired by EVERYTHING. But I was already thinking of giving flowers to all the ladies at the wedding. It would be so cute to make one for everyone to wear in some way at the wedding! I was inspired by this offbeat bride.

I think I'm following Jennifer's instructions on Elizabeth Anne Designs. Man, here I come Michael's!

Bridal workouts - my initiation

Ok so I read about the various at-home workouts by Steven Spiers and was pumped to try them. He has these 3 programs:

1. One Hundred Pushups
2. Two Hundred Squats
3. Two Hundred Situps

One and two are pretty freaking scary to me. I can however do 3 already (crunches). Ten thousand only is vowing to run every day for 30 days. THAT is awesome. I do salsa but am not jazzed about cardio.

How, oh wow, do brides get motivated to work out?!

Download awesome fonts!

While MS Word is great, it doesn't have the range of fonts us discerning brides look for. There are a million free font sites though and others may charge $100/font (like Feel script which I love)! Not cheap...

I just got AT Mahagony and like it a lot.


But if you're willing to use a free font, remember to install the font on your computer. Easy instructions are posted here.

In addition, Gartner Studio has 50 to get you started (registration required).

Design Inspiration

I've just discovered this lovely blog from the fussy designer. I love her whimsical touches and damask motifs. I've wanted to incorporate some damask touches with my hydrangea cut-outs from embossed, handmade, or colored paper.

Components:

1. hydrangea craft punch (Michael's, $5 after 50% off coupon):
2. Various hand-made/textured/colored papers (Target, $2-clearance)
3. Lattice edge punch (Michael's, $7.50 after 50% discount)
4. All on linen paper (no image yet but the ivory resume like paper, $12/100 sheets, $12/50 envelopes, will need to look for Staples coupon)
   

I was thinking of using A10 size envelopes and halving an 8.5" x 11" linen sheet lengthwise. There will be a little bit of overhang and our initials and lattice edge would take care of that. I wanted to minimize waste and postage (I plan to have people RSVP on the website anyway).

I was inspired by the summer (my previous centerpieces and invited had fall images, may still use the colors). What other things inspire brides and their stationary?

Another reception venue

My friends and family are going to kill me, but I found Sunset Terrace through another bridal blogger, Brenda's wedding blog.

It's right around my pricing and it's by the water! Hmm I'll have to call tomorow...

I also have to hound the Tribeca event coordinator for his proposal.

3 Manhattan choices for under $75/person...will update later!

Top Ten Reception Venue Tips

My personal tips when looking for reception venue bargains:

1. Last-minute booking can = great prices (we were offered $70/person for a Sunday in October but I didn't want the cheesy catering hall aspect, that however is now my price barometer)
2. Off-peak times of year = savings (Nov. - April bookings at great venues offer great pricing)
3. Don't be afraid to negotiate - you're giving them money!
4. Compare - vendors can show flexibility if they know someone else is giving you a better price
5. Restaurants are a great option - it's all in there (furniture, servingware, glasses)
6. Think outside the box - galleries, old mansions, event spaces
7. Provide your own F&B when possible (alcohol prices can be insane so if you can supplement, great!)
8. Provide your own rentals when possible (glasses, tableware, etc.)
9. Barter - can you offer your talents in exchange for a lower/free price? Have this in writing and detail agreement (a NY Magazine tip!)
10. Mix up the menu - enhanced cocktail hour and stations vs. a full seated meal can provide great movement and lets your guests interact more (and saves you money)

Bonus Tip:
Talk to brides in your area - they can give you tips for deals!

Less than 4 months to go and no venue!

Hi and welcome to my wedding planning and savings blog!

So am I crazy for planning a NYC wedding in less than 4 months? Possibly. My wedding was actually scheduled for October and we had to change everything because we're moving out of the country. So the adventure begins!

The challenge: finding a reception venue (preferably in Manhattan) that will be chic 'n cheap!

Top choices:
1. Tribeca restaurant - still waiting for proposal
2. Desmond Tutu Center - a Daily Candy suggestion from their new lovely wedding section
(Hopefully that's it because we have to tell our guests this week.)