I want this.

When David & I buy our house, one of the very first things I'm going to do is order my very own address stamp by Paperwink. Check them out here.

Flowers & Colors.

I booked my first flower consultation today. Next Monday, I will be going over my ideas & seeing if they will be affordable on my budget....*bites nails*....haha.

Of course, the flowers need to match the color scheme. Originally, I thought I would just stick with lapis and silver (very elegant and simple). However, the more I get into planning the more I am feeling like using silver very sparingly and sticking to a main scheme of lapis and ivory (my dress is ivory) with a splash of either lime green OR hot pink.

If I can afford orchids...we're going with the lime green. Don't you just love green orchids?! I do.

I think the flower consultation will really be the clincher for me. So, after I see what flowers, I guess I'll know what final colors! Lapis and ivory are really the only ones set in stone so who knows....

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Bridesmaid Dresses

I'm having a rather large wedding party.
As in 12 girls.
I have four sisters, and my fiance has three, so add to that four more friends and one niece and you have my bridal party! The breakdown: oldest two sisters = maids of honor; sister-in-laws + friends = bridesmaids; niece = junior bridesmaid; two youngest sisters = flower girls. It's a lot, I know, and often a "budget" tip is to limit the size of your wedding party. However, for me, I would rather have a large wedding party and include those who are really important to me than leave someone out. In my mind, the more the merrier!
However, I would hate to force everyone to go out and buy a super-expensive dress, so I opted for the common but nice wedding retail chain, David's Bridal, for my bridesmaid and maid of honor dresses. Check them out here! I'm going with the 'lapis' color choice.
The dresses have a sort of elegant but breezy, almost Grecian feel to them, and they compliment my bridal gown nicely. Also, when I went with some of the girls, they all loved this dress and it was universally flattering on every body type - something key to keep in mind (at least if you want your girls to feel comfortable!)

For the flower girls, I will be going with traditional Chinese silk dresses in either a silver or coordinating white or purple shade. I decided to go with the Chinese dresses for a few reasons: 1.) both of my younger sisters are adopted from China, 2.) they're gorgeous and stylish, and 3.) my fiance and I both love Asian-inspired details and decor. So it just worked well, and you can get them for super budget-friendly prices (try less than $20...yeah).
The girls will also be carrying parasols (like the ones in the photo above - credit goes to theknot.com for the photo, btw) rather than the traditional baskets of flower petals, for no other reason than I just like the idea and think it will look adorable. I love my little Chinese princesses and can't wait to show them off at the wedding ;)

The junior bridesmaid dress is still undecided, as her mom is an amazing seamstress and has free reign to design a matching dress however she likes!

My dress....well, that's top secret until the big day! Ha!

Rachael's Budget-Friendly Tips for Bridal Parties:
* Check out chain retail stores like David's Bridal, especially during their annual sale.
These stores offer stylish designer copies for far less than actual designer or boutique dresses (something your friends will appreciate).

* It also can't hurt to check out your local department store's prom dress selection.
Buying dresses off the rack can be a great budget-saving option for you and your bridesmaids, and stores often offer a great selection of cocktail or prom dresses that work just as great as bridal party wear. Who knows, you might even find a great white dress that could double as a wedding gown!

*Don't forget stores like Nordestrom's Rack, Loehman's, or Marshall's.
These stores offer great designer fare at a discount price. I swear by Nordestrom's Rack for jeans - how else could I ever afford the True Religion and Joe's Jeans I so adore?! They're just as great for dresses and evening ware, too - you just need to be willing to do some digging!

*Be creative.
Opting for something less traditional but still as fashionable can be a great way to save cash. Chinese silk dresses are elegant and affordable, and add an ultra-fashionable Asian flare to your event. Be creative - what about a beautiful sari? a Bohemian sundress? Creative, unique touches like this will set your wedding apart and make it a true reflection of your personal style.

Engagement Photography

David and I lucked out that one of our close friends, Luke, just happened to be a fantastic amateur photographer. Luke took our engagement photos as a wedding present, and I did the editing myself in Photoshop CS4. I think they turned out pretty great. Thanks Luke!


Rachael's Budget-Friendly Tips for Engagement Pictures:
* Use your talented friends and/or family!
If a close friend or family member has a good camera, go to a scenic location (or just one of your favorite hangout spots) and take a ton of pictures. Candids and posed pictures both work well, just try to capture the personality of you and your fiance. The key here is to take lots - and I mean LOTS - of pictures so you have a few really great shots.

* Edit your photos yourself using photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop.
If you don't have it, you can download a free 30-day trial from www.adobe.com. I used Adobe Photoshop CS4 for my photos, and am a self-proclaimed PS addict. It's pretty easy to do simple enhancement, perhaps I will do another post on do-it-yourself simple photo editing....

* Enlarge & print your photos yourself.
Sites like Wal Mart's online photo center allow you to chose from a variety of sizes and finishes and also allow you to preview your prints before you purchase them. It's extemely cheap, and I've always had great results. Stick them in a great frame, and you're done!

Mission: Wedding

David and I got engaged on May 17, 2009 - the day after I graduated from college with my BA in English Communications (Journalism, basically). We both decided on a short engagement, and settled on August 1, 2009 as the official date. With less than three months to plan and organize the entire event, I have made it my mission to create a stylish and budget-friendly dream wedding for around 100 guests. This blog will detail the what and how of the event planning as it develops, and hopefully give others some ideas on how they, too, can accomplish the wedding the want for the budget they have.
Happy planning.