Weddings are a major expense, and for the couple just starting out in life, saving money on the wedding can leave a little more money in the bank. Outdoor weddings are one way to save some cash, as they don’t require you to rent a church or large meeting place for the ceremony, and the reception can often be held at the same location. Furthermore, in an outdoor garden setting much of the décor is built in. With just a few simple DIY additions, the outdoor space for your wedding can look romantic and magical without breaking your wedding budget.

Arbors

An arbor makes the ideal central focal point for the ceremony itself, and it also works well for pictures afterwards. You can purchase a simple, undecorated one at your local craft or hardware store, and with a few power tools you probably already have on hand, you can decorate it to match your wedding theme. Ribbon, flowers and even lights quickly turn the arch into a decorative centerpiece for your wedding.

Rustic Signs

Outdoor weddings lend themselves toward rustic décor, and a rustic sign directing the guests to the ceremony and reception areas is quite simple to make. Purchase some small chalkboards, add a rustic wood frame and paint the frame with the colors to match your wedding. Use chalk to write whatever message you want on the board, and you have an instant piece of décor that also serves a vital function for your big day.

Outdoor Centerpieces

If your reception will be outdoors, consider creating your own centerpieces for the tables. Using the natural beauty of your reception area, create floral designs that highlight the flowers and trees growing around you. For instance, if you are getting married under cherry trees, use cherry blossoms as the central focus of your centerpieces. A clear glass jar or vase with wildflowers arranged inside is not only affordable, but also beautiful. For an evening wedding, a large glass dish with floating candles and a few floating flowers works well and won’t cost much.

Paper Lanterns

If your wedding or reception will take place after dark, paper lanterns are an inexpensive way to not only create ambiance in your outdoor space, but to also add some light. Purchase rice paper from an import shop along with tea light candles. Paint the paper with designs from stencils to match your wedding. Then, arrange the paper into lanterns and use these as centerpieces or hang them from wire to add light to the garden. A modern trend at outdoor weddings is releasing paper lanterns into the sky as a sendoff to the couple, so you could add this tradition as well.

Your wedding needs to be a day to remember, but that doesn’t mean it should cost a fortune. Each of these ideas costs very little, but looks charming in an outdoor setting. With the right tools in hand and a little bit of creativity, you can decorate for your own outdoor wedding and save substantially, all without detracting from the ambiance of the day.

About the Author: Holly is an Indianapolis native who loves to bake, regularly tackles DIY projects and blogs for Sears in her free time.

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One thing about glitter toes is that they can be incredibly expensive, especially if you have multiple bridesmaids. I was at a wedding a few weeks ago and the bride (my best friend) had twelve bridesmaids… twelve!

If you are trying to do your wedding on a budget, and most people I know are, then you will probably want to do your own glitter toes for you and your bridesmaids. This may sound scary, but it is actually very easy to do, all you need are the supplies.

Here is a fun little “how to” graphic that we put together this afternoon walking you through he simple, four step process.

Enjoy!

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Recently, Spotify, a digital music service pulled data from almost 66,000 user-created wedding playlists to find out which songs brides and grooms all over the world were listening and dancing to on their weddings. Leading the pack was LMFAO’s high energy song, “Party Rock Anthem”.

The other songs which rounded out the top five tracks include the power ballad “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey, “Marry Me” by Train, “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the well known romantic classic, “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.

According to data released by Spotify in 2011, they experienced a 390% increase in the number of wedding playlists created from April to May (peak wedding season). They also saw a nearly 70% of all playlists were created by men, not women. Analysts believe these lists are probably created by grooms or best men.

From this data, it is clear that interactive wedding playlists are most likely here to stay. Angela Watts, VP of Global Communications for Spotify had this to say in a recent press release: “It makes sense that so many are now using the service to create their wedding playlist. Couples want their family and friends to be part of the celebrations, and often invite guests to submit their favorite tracks before the event”.

Here is the complete list of the most popular songs being played at weddings. You too can create a custom wedding playlists by visiting Spotify.com.

1. Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO
2. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
3. Marry Me – Train
4. Home – Edward Sharpe
5. What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
6. Marry You – Bruno Mars
7. Lucky – Jason Mraz & Colbie Callet
8. Make You Feel My Love – Adele
9. I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
10. I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas
11. Better Together – Jack Johnson
12. Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
13. Forever – Chris Brown
14. Just The Way You Are – Chris Brown
15. We Found Love – Rihanna
16. Pumped Up Kicks – Foster The People
17. Cupid Shuffle – Cupid
18. Come Away With Me – Norah Jones
19. Everything – Michael Buble

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Planning a wedding and all of the events associated with it can be very stressful. The honeymoon is supposed to be a special and romantic getaway during which a couple can relax, enjoy the time together and decompress from all of the stress associated with a wedding. To be able to fully enjoy the honeymoon, a couple needs to be completely prepared for every aspect of their trip, and potential unexpected emergencies.

Planning the Honeymoon

The process of planning a honeymoon requires careful consideration of your shared interests as a couple. Although this is supposed to be a special vacation, that doesn’t mean you have to go overboard on spending. Decisions on how long to stay, where to go, which is arguably the toughest decision, and how much to spend should be joint decisions, even though the honeymoon is often considered the responsibility of the groom.

Understand the importance of planning the honeymoon long before the wedding. Many popular honeymoon destinations book quickly, especially during the peak times of the year. Your ability to plan things and make your reservations far in advance may also help you get better deals. If you’re traveling by plane, the sooner you can book your plane reservation, the cheaper it’s likely to be. A honeymoon timeline can help you through the process, starting as far as nine months to a year before the actual wedding.

Different Honeymoon Destinations

Traditional destinations typically include cruises and all inclusive resorts. There are all-inclusive resorts throughout the Caribbean and in some parts of the U.S., Mexico and other tropical hot spots. These are best suited for longer vacations. To get the best bang for your buck, do some comparison shopping. Other traditional destinations include beach locations like Hawaii, Vanuatu, French Polynesia, and more.

Consider a short but romantic honeymoon to one of the great cities in the U.S. Chicago has a wealth of cultural, dining, shopping and recreational activities to offer, and compared to other places, is quite affordable. San Francisco has incredible dining, great architecture and wonderful culture, as do other cities like Philadelphia, New York, Miami and New Orleans.

Adventurers might consider something like white water rafting, skiing in Colorado, New Hampshire or Vermont, or camping in the vast open spaces of National Parks in the Wild West. For adventurers who prefer something more relaxing, consider a visit to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, a relaxing time in the Hamptons on Long Island, or the Florida Keys.

Get Your Passport in Advance

Don’t put yourself in a position where you are waiting for your passport just before the wedding and are unable to leave without it. Passport processing takes at least three months. By making your passport arrangements as soon after you’ve decided on your destination as possible, you’ll be able to have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you won’t be awaiting its arrival at the last minute.

Plan for Health Requirements and Needs

If you’re going to a destination where you need to get immunizations, check the CDC website for all information you’ll need about health and travel. Be sure you know which diseases are associated with traveling to specific destinations. Pay attention to the CDC’s Survival Guide to Safe and Healthy Travel. Be proactive, prepared, and protected.

Investigate short term health insurance as part of the planning process. It is designed to provide transitional coverage for people who need extra protection for however long they choose, and to protect a couple from any unexpected medical situation that may arise on the honeymoon.

Pack Appropriately

Pack a travel health kit so that you are prepared for any contingency. Before packing, check the TSA website to make sure that you don’t pack anything that violates their regulations. Some things may have to go in checked luggage because they can’t go through security. If you are traveling abroad, check the State Department’s Custom and Travel Restrictions so you know what you can’t bring into other countries and what you can’t bring back into the U.S.

Travel Safely

Don’t over-pack or take things that aren’t suitable for your destination. Don’t travel with expensive jewelry or fancy clothing. On the flip side, don’t be overly casual in your dress, because that will peg you as a tourist. Pack clothing to suit the area where you are going and the activities you’ll be pursuing. Check to see if the hotel or resort provides a safe in your room or if you can put important or valuable things (including passport, other important papers and information, etc.,) in the hotel or resort safe. If at all possible, avoid staying on the ground floor because it’s too accessible to thieves.

Carry the minimum amount of cash, and have a credit or debit card and traveler’s checks that you can use for additional expenses. Make photo copies of everything, and be sure you get phone numbers for your credit card provider or bank. Also keep track of your balances, and what you are spending.

The more you know about your destination, the better prepared you will be. This will take a lot of the hassle out of planning for this all-important trip, and will put the ‘honey’ back in honeymoon once again.

Happy travels!

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A few days later, Brad confirmed the news stating, “Yes, it’s confirmed. It is a promise for the future and the kids are VERY happy! There’s no date set at this time”.

The engagement ring, designed by Robert Procop also had a few words to say about the ring, “Brad had a specific vision for this ring, which he realized over a year long collaboration with Robert. He wanted every aspect to be perfect, so I was able to locate a diamond of the finest quality and cut it to an exact custom size and share to suite Angelina’s hand. Brad was heavily involved, overseeing every aspect of the creative design. The side diamonds are specially cut to encircle her finger. Each diamond is of the highest gem quality”.

The engagement ring was estimated to cost Brad about $500,000 and is seven (amazing) carats. Brad has decided that he will sport a black tungsten band (we can only wish) and will treasure it every minute of their marriage.

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Wedding Thank You Notes: Basic Etiquette

Couples planning on being married are generally quite busy. If you’re planning your wedding, you have to think through decorations, venues, food and ceremony details. You’ll also need to order wedding invitations and set a guest list. You can make wedding planning easier by combining several tasks into one. When you purchase invitations, be sure to buy thank you cards and custom envelopes. Thinking ahead to after the ceremony will save you the headache of trying to come up with thank you cards on short notice.

Sending thank you notes to your wedding guests is absolutely essential. Thank you notes express gratitude and let guests know that you truly appreciate their contributions to your new life together. Use the following tips as a guide when preparing your thank you notes.

Never, ever send preprinted cards. It can be tempting to have a generic card made up to express thanks to your guests. Nonetheless, this approach is very tacky. Recipients will feel as though they did not make a special contribution to your new life together. It is essential that you set aside time to write thank you notes. Remember that this isn’t the bride’s duty alone. The groom should be actively involved in writing thank you notes.

Timeliness is important. Most etiquette specialists recommend sending thank you notes within three months of your wedding. One of the best ways to ensure that you can do so is to stay on top of sending out thank you notes. Some guests may send gifts before your wedding. If you receive a gift in the mail, open it and write a thank you note as soon as you possibly can. Gift givers will appreciate your timeliness.

When you write thank you notes, it is essential that you be specific. Guests want to know that you’ve taken note of their gift. Mention what was given to you in the card. You don’t need to be overly descriptive, but be sure that Aunt June knows that you are thanking her for the beautiful crystal punch bowl. This attention to detail is meaningful to guests.

After you’ve specifically thanked your guest for the gift, tell your guest how you plan to use the gift that he or she gave. Again, you don’t need to go into too much detail. You can simply note that the new piece makes a great addition to your bedroom or that you are looking forward to using the waffle maker on Sunday mornings. Let your guest know that you value what they’ve given. If you don’t plan on using the gift, fudge a bit. No one wants to know that you’re going to return a gift that was specially chosen for you.

In addition to thanking your guests for gifts, you should also thank guests for attending your wedding. Your guests sacrificed their own time to attend your special event. Sending such notes is very important. Some guests, especially those who traveled, may not be able to give you a gift. Instead, they’ve given you their presence.

Writing thank you notes to wedding guests is a wonderful way to embark on your new life as a couple. It shows that you are classy and care about others. Remember to add the little personal touches to your thank you notes so that guests can treasure them for years to come.

About The Author

Jessica is a specialist in the manufacturing of custom envelopes. When she is not writing for Print360.com, you can find her cooking up a storm in her kitchen.

Image Source:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenosaur/5461377850/

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Bridesmaids are an interesting thing. They can either be a huge help or a huge pain in the @$$! Fortunately for my wedding, they were the biggest help a girl could wish for. So here’s the data on bridesmaids…

Most brides have an average of five brides maids. I only had three, booyeah!

Each year there are about eleven million bridesmaids. That’s a lot of rented or purchased dresses. No wonder the wedding industry is booming.

64% of brides have their bridesmaids wear their exact same dress. I can’t imagine how expensive that would be since my dress was upwards of $3,000.

The average age of a junior bridesmaid is 9-14. Yes, its true, brides typically have at least one little sister.

It costs about $1,700 to be a bridesmaid. Think about it, you have to travel to the showers and wedding, you have to purchase a gift for the bride, you have to contribute to the bachelorrette party costs, you have to often times buy your dress and other clothing, you have to pay for your hair and makeup, and you have to buy a wedding gift and show gift.

91% of all weddings have a maid of honor and the maid of honor’s responsibilities typically consist of the following:

• Plan the shower
• Let guests know where the couple is registered
• Keep a record of all gifts
• Go dress shopping
• Coordinate the bridesmaids during the wedding
• Be the brides right hand woman
• Keep track of the grooms wedding ring
• Give a toast during the after party or reception

And that pretty much wraps up the data behind the infographic. I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.

Image source: http://www.looklovesend.com/blog/index.php/bridesmaids-by-the-numbers/

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Your wedding is one of the most important events of your life. You’ve probably spent countless hours (and thousands of dollars) planning and preparing so that it will be perfect in every way. One item that is often overlooked is signs. At the last minute, you end up making handmade signs with poster board. These are tacky and distracting. Design your signs in advance. You can stay within the theme and colors of the wedding and create professionally printed signs that add beauty and elegance to your big day.

Directional Signs

Have you ever gotten lost on your way to a wedding? Private residences and even some country clubs can be tucked away behind lots of foliage and three miles from the nearest major road. This lends a feeling of privacy to your event, but it also means that it might be hard for your guests to find.

Design directional signs that get guests pointed in the right direction. These signs should be easy to read and shouldn’t have too much text on them–the last names of the bride and groom, and a large arrow should suffice. Start with the nearest major road, then place a sign every quarter mile or at intersections.

Don’t get too crazy with the calligraphy–cursive fonts are really hard to read.

Point to the Parking

If it’s not immediately clear to guests where they should park, place signage to guide them.

Restrooms

All that champagne and reception punch has to go somewhere. Hopefully your guests will stay long enough to need these facilities. Point the way so they don’t have to ask.

Point the Way to the Party

A directional sign at the entrance to the reception will enable your guests to see everything that’s happening and know which direction to go to join in on the fun. One friend rented a fun photo booth for her reception, but it was placed in an out-of-the way corner of her outside venue, and many of the guests didn’t even know it was there.
Point the way toward the cocktails, the dance floor or reception games.

Signs to Encourage Participation

Place a sign near your guest book to encourage people to sign it even if your hostess isn’t there.

Seating Chart Sign

If you have numerous tables and are assigning seats, a large seating chart at the entrance will help guests find their spot. Coordinating table number signs at each table should be easy to see and read.

Signs for Safety

Maybe the cobblestone path to the outdoor venue is a little slippery or uneven. Warn guests to watch their step with a sign that coordinates with the rest of the decor. It’s much classier than a big, orange hazard sign.

Photo Credit: http://creditcrunchbride.wordpress.com/2009/07/28/the-coolest-wedding-signs-since-wedding-signs-were-invented/

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Photo Organization

The first thing you need to do is gather all of your photos and organize them into your wedding story. You should first start with all of the photos you collected during the time you were dating. Then move on to your engagement, your wedding shower, the wedding ring ceremony, and all the way to the end of your wedding reception.

Album Supplies

After you organize all of your photos, you should pick out all of your wedding scrapbook supplies. You can find these at a local craft store, here in Utah we would get these at Hobby Lobby, or you can order them from an online store like Scrapbooks Plus.

When choosing your supplies, you should think about the theme of your wedding. Was it formal, did it have a theme like The Nightmare Before Christmas? You should then choose stickers and papers to reflect that. Just remember that your wedding story is unique, so you should pick supplies that match your wedding theme and personalities.

Photo Arrangement

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Courtney was probably one of the most hated contestants to date and even Ben has admitted that he made a big mistake by choosing Courtney. Luckily for Ben, he only has to pretend that he is in love for just a few days more until the season finale airs on Monday evening.

Ben proposed to Courtney with a $65,000 Neil Lane engagement wedding ring which she has reportedly already returned and did so before she made an appearance on the “women tell all episode” that aired this past week. We tried to dig up a picture for this post, but had no such luck.

We at AffordableTungstenRings.com are thrilled that Ben will not end up with Courtney as she was never a favorite of ours. What are your thoughts? Please share with us in the comments below.

Image source: http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/ben-flajnik-lied-to-courtney-robertson-about-his-flings-201283

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