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Budget Savvy Wedding of the Week: Alyssa & Dan

Where did you get married?

The Griffin House Bed and Breakfast in Warrensburg, New York. Their restaurant, called Grace’s, was the site of our reception. The grounds were gorgeous and full of flowers, so we chose to have the ceremony outside near their guest house.

What was your budget?

Our budget was around $5000, and we were able to keep within that amount. Our goal was to keep it simple and elegant, and to make sure everyone felt welcome.

What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?

My husband’s family is Scottish, so we wanted to share those traditions with our guests. We had a Scottish ceremony, which included me receiving a sash of his family’s tartan. It also meant that the groomsmen were dressed in kilts and our ceremony music was performed by a close friend who is a bagpiper.

Other things that meant so much to me were how many friends offered their services to help us have a wonderful day. Besides the bagpiper, we had several people all help out to make things happen. My college roommate, an amazing pastry chef, did our wedding cake while doubling as a bridesmaid. Another wonderful friend who attended the same art program as I did graciously supplied the photography for the entire day.

What was the biggest thing you did to save money?

Our wedding was an 11:00 ceremony, so we had a luncheon reception rather than a dinner. This helped a lot with the cost, and it meant that we could spend more time with our guests throughout the day.

Also, we didn’t do it with the goal of saving money, but we found that when items were purchased locally, handmade, or we made them ourselves, we liked the results much better and they ended up being less expensive. Cheeses in the appetizers were from Oscar’s Smokehouse , which is just down the road from the reception site; most of the wedding party’s gifts were purchased through Etsy , as were our wedding favors; and our wedding rings were made by a friend of the groom’s family, Walker Metalsmiths .

What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?

Choose 3-5 details that are really important to you – if you need to worry, be concerned with these things rather than stressing about every little detail. For example, the color of my bridesmaids’ dresses were really important to me, but not so much the style, so I let each girl choose her own dress. It was worth it in the end – I felt pretty peaceful and was able to enjoy the day.

What was your biggest splurge?

My shoes. And lots of nice scotch for the guys.

What was your favorite detail? What project are you most proud of?

One of the gifts I gave to each bridesmaid was a small personalized scrapbook tin (from Waisze on Etsy) and on the patterned paper inside, I collaged tiny photos of myself with each girl.

My other favorite detail from that day was entering the reception room to find a row of tiny vases, each with a black-eyed susan, lining the fireplace mantle. Grace’s manager had picked them from her garden that morning especially for us.

What is the most memorable moment of your day?

Besides ending the day with a husband? In between dancing traditional Scottish reels, our bagpiper “Rickrolled ” the guests while my maid of honor sang along. It was hilarious.

Vendors:

Venue: Griffin House Bed & Breakfast
Photographer: Alison Tyne Photography
Cake: Holly King, friend of the bride and groom
Tartan and Kilts: Burnett’s and Struth
Flowers: A Lasting Impression Florist
Rentals: Advance Rental Supply
Ceremony Music: Hollis Easter , friend of the bride and groom
Hair: Touch of Class
Makeup: Spa Studio at Union Square
Wedding Gown purchased at Lily Saratoga

More Free Wedding Photography!!

Fantastic Nashville Photographer Michael Howard is currently accepting entries for his pro-bono photography contest, ‘The Annual Wedding Gift.’ It is so wonderful to see so many photographers give back in this way, especially ones who are as amazingly talented as Michael. His images have been featured in publications such as Southern Weddings Magazine and Modern Bride Magazine, as well as the Southern Weddings Blog and Style Me Pretty!

Michael was actually the first photog we interviewed for our wedding, and I am still in LOVE with his clear, crisp images. He is amazingly creative as you will see if you check out his portfolio and blog.

Here are the guidelines for how the program works:

- E-mail all stories to me at michael@howardphoto.com
- All stories must be submitted by midnight on March 20th, 2010.
- You must provide the couple’s name, contact information, wedding date and location
- You may send in your own story or the story of a couple that you know
- The chosen couple will be notified privately by the end of March
- The couple that I choose will be required to meet in person and to sign a written contract

The chosen couple will receive the following:
- Complimentary wedding coverage by me for up to 8 hours on the wedding day
- A complimentary high-resolution disc of the images with a written copyright release

UM, HELLO! Get on over there and enter if you are still in need of a photographer! The contest is open to any bride, even if you don’t live in Nashville, or Tennessee for that matter. Last year’s winner was out of state and Michael just required his travel expenses be covered. So worth it for such a fantastic photog!!

Here’s some pics from a recent wedding he posted.

all photos by Michael Howard Photography

Tales from Newlywed Life: How I Ruined my Birthday Present

Us at a wedding this past spring!

So over the years, I know that it’s been hard for E to come up with gift ideas for me for Birthday, Christmas, anniversaries, etc. So I really try to drop hints like CRAZY to ensure that I get something that I want, because I know my husband is not a mind reader. Everybody wins this way, because it makes him happy to make me happy, and frankly, surprises make me anxious. So more often than not, I will expressly tell him flat out what it is that I want.

Because I work on a computer all day and am often huddling over my laptop like a hunchback, I’ve been experiencing some back pain and tightness in my shoulders, so since before thanksgiving I’ve been dropping the hint that I want a massage. ATTN MEN: You can NEVER go wrong with a spa gift certificate as a gift for your lady. Every woman loves to feel pampered and getting a massage is just so relaxing, not to mention good for you! Anyway, when I didn’t get a massage for Christmas, I obviously wasn’t too upset since E had gotten me a puppy! That was understandable. But I had it in my head that if I did not get a massage for my birthday I was going to scream! LOL. Especially since lately my back has really been bothering me, and we’re not in a place financially for me to just run out and get a massage whenever I feel like it.

us on our honeymoon in Costa Rica!

Anyway, so E and I are in the car on Saturday, heading to our friends’ house for dinner, and he mentions that he ordered my present the day before and he hopes it makes it in time for my birthday, (which is THURSDAY, btw).

Sooooo, my brain jumps into pissy mode and I’m all like, “Well I GUESS you didn’t get me what I ASKED you for if you had to order it online!” Because I mean, who could order a massage online?

So then E responds, “What did you ask for?” which causes my blood to boil because I realize that he doesn’t listen to me, obviously, if he doesn’t know what I asked for like a hundred times!!

So I was like, “UGH, I’ve only been dropping the hint that I need a massage for MONTHS because my back is killing me… not to mention I have told you explicitly, straight up, ‘I want a massage for my birthday, please get me a massage!!’

**silence from E, which leads me to believe he is feeling very guilty and knows he messed up**

I continue: “And you complain that it’s hard to shop for me but when I tell you exactly what I want and you don’t get it that makes me crazy!! So you know what, I don’t care- I’m just going to get myself my own dang massage because I need it and it’s my birthday!”

To which E blurts out “I got you a dang massage!!!”

And I’m like, Really? What kind of crazy place sells massages online?

So then he tells me that the Sports Talk Radio station he listens to runs deals for local businesses where you can buy gift cards for half price, and this week they were running a special for a local spa, so not only did he get me what I wanted, but he got it for half price! I’m a proud, and happy wifey.

And then I died of embarrassment after realizing that he was just playing dumb because he wanted to surprise me, because he loves me so very much! I turned to him and said, ‘I’m glad you love me just the way I am because I don’t know if I’ll ever change… “ LOL

Me & E on my 22nd birthday.

So goes the story of how I ruined my birthday present…haha

Just a little lesson in newlywed life… give your hubby a little credit.

I love you honey!!!

Free Photography and additional wedding services!

In honor of their 10th wedding anniversary, husband and wife photog team Hope Photography based in Knoxville, TN is giving away a free $3,000 wedding photography package, and teaming up with some other vendors to help out one special couple. If you are located in or around Knoxville, and want to get married on 10-10-10 check it out! Here’s some info from their blog:

The Details:
We are holding a contest to give away a wedding package consisting of photography, planning, videography, reception lighting, and a bridal bouqet/boutonnière combo. This package can only be applied to a wedding on 10/10/10 and has to be in the Knoxville area. The total value of the package is $7,670!

Who is giving what:
Hope Photography: $3000 photography package that includes two photographers (us), a coffee table book, an online gallery and a proofbook.

One Enchanted Evening: Princess Package including Pre-Wedding services, Day of Wedding services and After Ceremony services. ($2350)

Ambiance Light Design: Color wash and eight uplights ($1500)

Midnight Magic Studios: Video of the ceremony coverage ($655)

Lisa Foster: Bridal Bouquet and groom’s boutonnière ($165)

Head on over to their blog to get the other deets and enter!

Budget Savvy Wedding of the Week: Stephanie & Aaron

Where did you get married?

The Wherehouse, Holyoke, MA

What was your budget?

Approximately $5000 for 80 people

What was the biggest thing you did to save money?

We have a really great group of friends! Our photographer, invites, cakes, centerpieces were all friends and family, and they all worked with us to make it personal and affordable.  We also selected a venue that was very reasonable in price along with having character.

What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?

Go with the flow! Planning is GREAT but know that things change! Whether it is fitting a groomsman who lives in Scotland and converting stones to pounds or having 90% chance of rain the day of your planned outside ceremony (which we moved inside), things come up, just as long as you keep in mind that it will be a wonderful day even if there are last minute snafoo’s, just go with the flow and you’ll be just fine!

What was your biggest splurge?

I’d have to say our invites were the biggest splurge but so worth it! My lovely friend Laurie May Coyle offered to work with us to create lovely Gocco invites around our theme (outdoors, lots of wood grain elements-our last name is Wood, go figure!). From creating the invites to designing a logo that we used on our table cards, programs and on our favors.  They were made with love and us in mind so it was 100% worth it!

What was your favorite detail?

My favorite detail was the head piece that I work in lieu of a veil. I am a crafty person by nature and love the sentimentality of handmade goods, so I HAD to incorporate something handmade into by outfit, it’s just who I am.  I love this headband and it has inspired me to make more for my line! It was the perfect touch  to my outfit  (especially the hint of orange to match Aaron) and close to my heart.

What is the most memorable moment of your day?

The first time Aaron and I looked at each other after going down the aisle.  We were grinning ear to ear and both were in awe of the day, of each other and our families.  It was a magic moment to start off a great evening!

Phototgrapher: Jeanine Dargis
Invites, Logo, Cake Topper, Photos: Laurie May Coyle
Cake: Ellen Cunningham
Centerpieces: Sharon Ostiguy
Venue: The Wherehouse
Headpiece: Stephanie Gravalese-Wood/atomsatwork

Blue Wedding Shoes

Since the most common question I get is about my wedding shoes, which have been out of production for over a year, I decided that maybe a shoe post was in order. Even now, over 8 months post wedding, I get emails weekly about those shoes!! It cracks me up! So, during my sick time, I’ve scoured the net for some of the hottest blue shoes I could find under $100. Here are the top contenders:

For the glamorous bride:

These deep turquoise d’orsays are so glamorous!  
Nine West at Zappos for $66.02

Glitz and glamour! These sparkly slingbacks are hot hot hot! Even better, they’re called “Jessica”
Amazon for $88.95

These satin pumps are delicious!
Fergie on Amazon for $89.95

For the vintage, or eclectic bride:

These blue suede shoes are perfect for a bride with spunk!
Poetic License on Amazon. Price ranges from $97-128 depending on size.

These peep-toe pumps would be perfection for a vintage bride. I just love the double straps and buckles!
Pink Studio on Amazon for $34!!

These blue peep-toes are channeling Marie Antoinette!
Amazon for $54!

For the classicly stylish bride:

these gorgeous satin peep-toes in classic turquoise just stole my heart! love the rosette detail!
RSVP on Zappos for $88

These Ninas are super adorable and come in a variety of colors. I also loved the mint green! go check ‘em out!
Nina on Zappos for $89.95

These pointed toe metallic pumps are super chic!
Martinez Valero on Amazon for $59.58

Super budget friendly options:

Blue felt pumps from Forever 21 for $19.80

Teal blue satin pumps from Forever21 for $20.80

Posting will be light this week

Posting will be light this week as I’m feeling a little under the weather. But fear not, I’ll have a BS-WOW for you all on Wednesday!

Under the weather card available on ETSY.

Jack Cards Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to Holly Watson! For contests like this, I have to make a big fancy spreadsheet and list each commenter chronologically since you had the opportunity to post either here or on facebook. Her facebook comment was the 16th comment, so she is the lucky winner! I will be contacting you to get your info for the sponsors. Thanks to everyone who entered!!!

Tales from Newlywed life: When Your Home Needs Repairs

Last Friday morning, I was enjoying a bowl of cereal on the couch when E came down and informed me that we had no hot water. He’d just taken an icy cold shower. Now, the thought of a cold shower pretty much makes my skin crawl. E says that my showers are almost nuclear temperatures, and that he can’t believe my skin doesn’t burn off. What can I say, I just like it hot! Well we didn’t know if it was a temporary problem because the temperature has dropped pretty drastically in Nashville and we even got some snow, so we decided to wait it out. When we still had no hot water on Saturday, we decided to call a plumber.

They were all booked up on Saturday, so we would have to wait until Monday. Considering our water heater is only 2-3 years old since our house is only 2-3 years old, we were a little concerned with why there would be a problem. We were able to take showers at E’s parents house on Sunday when we visited for dinner, thank goodness! Well the plumber came out on Monday and it ended up being the thermostats on the water heater that needed to be replaced. Bummer! So there goes an unexpected $250… *sigh*

The good thing is that we have an emergency fund set up for just this purpose. Unexpected expenses such as home or car repairs come out of our emergency fund. It’s important to have an emergency fund so you don’t find yourself piling debt back on if something bad happens. I learned about emergency funds by reading Dave Ramsey’s book, Financial Peace, when I graduated college. Supposedly you should have 2-3 months worth of income in your emergency fund in case you lose your job or something prevents you from working, so you have time to figure things out before you can’t pay your bills anymore. Either way, $250 is alot of money… and i’m sad to see it go…

Do you have a special fund set up for major repairs?