Ideas for Inexpensive Wedding Centerpieces

Your wedding decorations don't have to break the budget. Try some of the ideas in this article:

Inexpensive Wedding Centerpieces: Five Ideas for Affordable Table Decorations

Take a look at the attached photo. That small centerpiece uses just a few flowers, but with vibrant colors that make a big impact. Definitely not that expensive, and easy to do yourself if you are so inclined.

Sharyn

PS - Also read Inexpensive Wedding Centerpiece Ideas on our website, for more budget table decoration alternatives.

A Wedding Bouquet - Made of Rocks?

This wedding bouquet was part of a geologically inspired wedding. I'll bet you haven't heard that one before! The wedding was recently featured on Style Me Pretty and has to be one of the more creative examples of a wedding theme I have seen. Here's what they said about the bouquet:

Amanda worked with Krislyn Design in Los Angeles to create her custom bouquet ~ containing pieces of coral, balsa wood flowers, Barite Rose and crystals.

At first glance you would never know that the bouquet wasn't made of real flowers. It just goes to show that you don't have to use flowers at a wedding to make an impact.  

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Love Birds Wedding Cake of the Day

The white love birds on this wedding cake are so adorable.  Look closely. I think one of them has a little crown - presumably the bride. 

The other thing that's so brilliant here is the way they put a pair of desserts on separate little porcelain boats around the cake. Beautiful decoration and ready to serve.

Giveaway! Wedding Stationary

Check out this gorgeous wedding stationary giveaway through The Wedding Chicks.  You have to go there and enter by December 10th, so hurry!

New Vintage Wedding Dresses

Straight out of a romance novel, the wedding dresses from The Vintage Wedding Company have me running to my bookshelf to find an old Jane Austen novel. Feast your eyes in some of the top picks on One Lovely Day from Project Wedding.

Sharyn
Just Weddings

Tips for Doing Your Own Bridal Makeup

Most brides hire professionals to do their bridal makeup, but there are more and more women who are electing to do it themselves. Here are a few tips for applying Bridal Makeup yourself so that you look gorgeous on your big day. I've also included a link to a full series of Bridal Makeup Video Tutorials that I've started reviewing. So far, they look amazing and very thorough.

Win Handcrafted Jewelry from Fine & Fleurie

Check out this Project Wedding contest to win three custom necklaces and a floral fascinator from Fine & Fleurie.

If you don't know what a 'fascinator' is, now's your chance to find out.

Photo of crocheted heart cake topper

Here's the image of that DIY heart cake topper from my previous post. It is from an article on Project Wedding which steps you through how to make it. Sorry, but my mind is on turkey today and I'd better start moving if I'm going to get it cooked in time!

Sharyn

DIY Heart Wedding Cake Topper

When I first saw this diy crocheted cake topper I thought, "well, I don't crochet so that's not for me". Apparently, though, you don't have to know have to crochet at all.  This must be one of the easiest diy toppers I've seen. I think it would look great on a more elaborate cake than they've shown here, but the simplicity of it makes it adorable.

Want something a little more polished looking? Check out this vintage double heart cake topper, or the heart shaped glass photo cake topper at Just Weddings.org.

Spectacularly Tacky Weddings

Just like a sexy creamsicle. Ooh la la!

Now that is some serious hair. Keeping the hairspray companies in business.

Guess this is one way to save a few bucks on your wedding dress.

And, lastly:

I really don't have the words for this one. It's just, well....yuck!

Matching monograms?

Here's a cute idea for a wedding ring from With This Ring. You could even match it to a monogram wedding cake topper to tie everything together!.

Signet Rings

via With This Ring... by Darci on 11/11/10

Wouldn't these signet rings be a great alternative to a wedding band? They are so classic and preppy - I love their simplicity and the idea of using your new married monogram for the engraving. It would also make a great anniversary gift! {Found via A Cup of Jo}

PBJ wedding cake topper - again

Here's the actual picture of that last topper, hopefully. Technology is being fickle with me again.

Adorable wedding cake topper

wedinator.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/d868747d-3505-48b5-977d-0b3acf436e67.jpg

Peanut butter and jelly meet Mickey and Minnie in this bizarre and unique wedding cake topped that I just saw on Wedinator. I don't really understand the theme here, but the topper is strangely captivating.

I love pink flowers

After creating my first fondant cake with pink roses, I thought I'd deflate my ego a little and look at some real roses.  Here are a few of my favorite pinks, not just roses.

Credits (Clockwise):

Unknown

Scobey Photography via Sparkle and Hay

Simply Bloom Photography via Style Me Pretty

Amy Beck Cake Design via Wedding Bee

Mike Larson via Wedding Bee

My first attempt at fondant - Take 2

The first photo of this cake really didn't do it justice, if I say so
myself. Here it is in its true colors. I don't think I'd like to work
with black fondant again. Not easy for an absolute beginner like me.

- Sharyn

The New Ace of Cakes?

Just came back from a fondant decorating class with my daughter. Had to share our amazing cakes.  Well, at least they are amazing to us.

It is so much more difficult to work with fondant than it looks like on those cake shows.  Those cake artists are seriously underpaid.  Next time you think you are overpaying for a wedding cake, go try one of these classes. You'll have a whole new appreciation of the art that is wedding cakes.

- Sharyn

P.S. - My cake has the big roses and my daughter's has the little ones.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Candy Bar Confections Galore

Halloween is over and I thought I'd had enough candy.  One look at this array of sweets from Cocoa Confections on Etsy has my mouth watering all over again.  Forget those Hershey's bars and Snickers.  Give me something different that is a feast for the eyes.

Images from Cocoa Confections via The Inspired Bride

A 'prickly' wedding cake topper

Now here's one you just won't see in the US.  A hedgehog wedding cake topper!  It's almost bigger than the cake!!!  Sorry the picture is so small.

Obviously, this is not from the US, but from an Australian cake designer - The Cake Woman.

Elegant Halloween theme wedding cake

This one is here so that you know that it is absolutely possible to have an elegant Halloween wedding cake.  Not like the last one I just posted.

This is also from the wonderfully talented people at Pink Cake Box.

Total grossed out Halloween wedding cake

Now, that is extremely scary and not very romantic.  Still, to each their own and I'll bet this cake tasted great since it was by Pink Cake Box.

Funny Halloween Wedding Cake Topper

Just wanted to share this cute little Halloween cake topper I saw on Earth Friendly Weddings.  Puts me right in that Halloween spirit.

When I followed the credits back, it said the cake was from the North Hill Bakery in Seattle.  

- Sharyn

Funny Wedding Cake Toppers

Stunning hand painted wedding cakes

There's rarely a day that goes by that I can control my cake indulgence.  Not necessarily eating it, but browsing all the incredible cake masterpieces I see around the web.  Here are two great examples from Sugar, Sugar Creations. The first one, with the little handpainted birds, is just crying out for a cake topper.  The design is so exquisite that it would need something truly elegant and simple.

The second cake just takes my breath away.  The bold, pink flower painted on the side and wrapping around the top must have been incredibly difficult to do.  I would just want to stand back and stare.  I'll bet it looked amazing next to the bride and groom.

PS - I found these on a blog I just discovered recently, OMG I'm Getting Married.

Something for the Bridezilla in all of us

Usually I'm not big of the whole rage about 'bridezillas'.  We all have a bit of that creature in us, especially when we are emotional, nervous, and want things to go well.  This little magnet, though, just made me giggle.  It could just as easily be me, 'mom on a rampage' (sans veil), so I can relate.  Except for the glasses.  How about putting a little of that wedding budget towards some contact lenses?

The magnet is $6 from Simply Cute by Karin, on Etsy, and I found it in a post on Beyond and Beyond.

Eco-friendly wedding event company

Just heard about this event planning company that is eco-friendly, 360 Design Events.  They use recycled products where possible and recycle or donate leftover supplies and food.  For NYC area couples who want to have a 'green' wedding, their worth looking into.

Surprise roses!

Had to share this picture of a gorgeous bunch of roses that my husband just surprised me with when he came home today.  Aren't they so romantic? Fyi, we've been married for almost 20 years!

Sharyn
Sent from my Droid

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Silver monogram cake topper - with diamonds!

This unusual cake from Intricate Icings just caught my eye since it shows how you can use a monogram cake topper even with the so-called 'couture cakes'.  

It always seems to me that the really high end, pricey cake designers look down on cake toppers. It's true that, in some cases, a cake topper might detract from the design of the cake itself. However, this cake shows how it can also be a key element that actually highlights the design.

I especially like the diamonds that adorn the cake.  I believe those must be blown sugar, like the ones the Cake Alchemy does. And are those actual lights on the cake?  

- Sharyn

Funny Wedding Cake Toppers

How much does a wedding really cost?

After the elation of deciding to get married, one of the first things couples think about is "how much is this going to cost?"  This is especially true if the couple is paying for some or all of it themselves.

According to The Wedding Report, the cost of weddings is going up:

In the first half of 2010 the average cost of a wedding increased 21.9% from $19,581 (2009) to $23,867. 

 

Don't panic! The key word in this statement is 'average cost'. You can certainly find ways to get the cost down, and many couple have done this through diy and help from family and friends.

The biggest costs that have increased were in areas such as wedding planners, gifts, and travel.  The last one is no big surprise to me.  The last time we checked on the price of a ticket to London from New York, to go visit my husband's family, it was $900 for one ticket!  Needless to say, we're not all visiting any time soon.  

What should you do to keep costs under control?  Look at your priorities first and what you can do yourself.  Just don't cut back too much on the important parts of the wedding that are best done by professionals, such as the photographer and entertainment.

- Sharyn

Just Weddings.org

Another cute wedding cake topper - crocheted

Don't you just love Etsy?  I just saw this cute little crocheted bird wedding cake topper on Project Wedding that is from Etsy.

I wonder how you clean off the icing at the end of the party so that you can save the topper without getting ants in the house?  Just thinking of the practical side, once again.

- Sharyn

Unbelievably Pink Paper Wedding Dress

Watch out for paper cuts!  I found this on Wedding Chicks, and it has to be one of the most amazing wedding dresses I've seen.  It is actually made completely of paper.  I think it rivals the dresses that were made of candy and candy wrappers on an old episode of Project Runway.  Just a few tips to keep in mind if you are ever in the situation to wear a dress like this:

- Bring bandaids for potential nasty little paper cuts

- Do not send it to the dry cleaners after the wedding

- Stay away from the fireplace or any other heat sources (like the chafing dishes at the buffet)

- Don't let your loved one squeeze too tightly (crumpled paper just doesn't have the same effect)

- Love kids? Bring crayons and let the little ones decorate the dress....or not

Finally, take lots of pictures.  This dress is not, unfortunately, going to be a hand me down for future generations. A yellowed paper wedding dress?  Not a chance.

- Sharyn

Just Weddings.org

Funny Wedding Cake Toppers

Wish Upon a Wedding

Please read about this very worthwhile cause.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BridalBuds/~3/1lj5um7Qwao/

Sharyn

Whimsical Chair Covers Give a Fairy Tale

These unique chair covers from Wildflower Linen are made from strips of organza, taffeta, and chiffon.  I love the soft look they give the chairs.  But even more, I love the fact that they dress up the whole table with just that one accent.  The effect is soft, frilly and fun. 

I suggest keeping the rest of your table decorations simple and elegant when using this type of chair cover.  Too much detail on the table will look busy and detract the eye from the covers, which deserve all the attention they can get.

They even have matching tablecloths! Too much?  You be the judge.  

Custom cake topped for penguin lovers!

http://ericaobrien.blogspot.com/2010/09/penguin-cake.html

I laughed out loud when I saw this adorable penguin wedding cake topped and the cake designed by Erica O'Brien Cake Design.  You can see some of her other work on her blog at ericaobrien.blogspot.com.

This particular topped was custom designed and made from fondant well before the wedding so it could dry. Have any creative instincts? Get yourself some fondant and start sculpting!

Sleek, modern table and chair covers for weddings

You have to either love or hate these spandex chair and table covers. I've seen them done at a couple events and they definitely have their pros and cons.

On the plus side, they have a very modern look, with smooth lines and sharp angles.  Manolo for the Bride has a mixed attitude about them:

There’s no graceful draping here, and no chance that you’ll accidentally pull the tablecloth off (though you might slide out of your chair if you’re not careful). Spandex on a reception table acts just like spandex does on us – you see every curve, every angle, everything jutting this-and-that, and every bulge. 

The bows on the back of the chairs in this picture do soften the look a little, though you can see all the details of the chair underneath the cover.

In both the events that I attended, the reception was in the evening with dancing, a DJ, and the lighting that comes with that.  My recommendation?  Use these for a modern, clean look, but stick to night time events only.

Source for photos: Manolo for the Bride

Wedding Cake Alternative - Jello?

Here's another wedding cake alternative that really took me by surprise.  A jello cake (or jelly as they say in the UK).  This is something I would not have considered in my wildest dreams, or nightmares!  After all, jello is reminiscent of childhood or those horrible jello rings with fruit and marshmallows that my grandmother used to make for Thanksgiving.

On the other hand, if you really think that a jello wedding cake will be fun, take a few tips from Christa Terry at Manolo for the Bride:

You can have individual jellies presented on cupcake stands (like the one above from Bompas and Parr), jelly parfaits, amazing jelly squares with thin layers in different colors and flavors, or a molded jelly shaped to look like almost anything. Get creative, and have fun. As long as you *like* jelly, that is.

I have to admit, the photo does make the jello kind of interesting.  Maybe it just needs a little bobble head cake topper of the bride and groom.  That would be the ultimate, final touch.

- Sharyn

Just Weddings.org

Funny Wedding Cake Toppers 

Vintage Headband Giveaway

Having a vintage style wedding?  This beautiful headband is from Bel Canto Designs, who are giving it away!  Go to Project Wedding to see the details and get an extra bonus discount through October 19th if you shop through their link:

www.projectwedding.com/wedding-ideas/bel-canto-designs-vintage-headband-giveaway

Elegant Silver and White Wedding Cake

I haven't posted a picture of a wedding cake from my favorite bakery in a while, so here's a simple and elegant one from Pink Cake Box.

As trends dictate, they have used elements of the wedding in the design of the cake.

The detail from the brides wedding dress formed the inspiration for this 3 tier round wedding cake with crystal accents. We included silver and white floral embroidery patterns from the dress across the cake along with thin silver bands across the base of each tier.

I also love the fact that they are willing to do different flavors on different tiers.  This one had carrot cake for one, chocolate with peanutbutter cream for the second, and red velvet cake with raspberry buttercream for the last.  Yum!!

 

As a final touch, I think the cake would also look great with a crystal or brushed silver monogram cake topper on the top.  Nothing too large or flashy that would take away from the simple sophistication of the cake itself.

- Sharyn

Just Weddings.org

Funny Wedding Cake Toppers

Finding a Photo Cake Topper

It's not always as easy as you think to find a good photo cake topper for your anniversary or wedding cake.  You'll have to consider a number of factors, including what the cake is iced with and how heavy it is.  Don't forget to leave enough time to get a great photo done and instruct the photographer as to the size you need also.

At Funny Wedding Cake Toppers, I found a heart photo cake topper which would be great for a heart theme wedding.  Although hearts are always a romantic option to use, no matter the theme.

Satin Drapes and Fondant Lace Wedding Cake

I've just fallen in love with another cake designer.  This beautiful cake comes from Ana Parzych Custom Cakes in Cheshire, CT.  If you are having a wedding anywhere in the area, this is the place to go.  Look at the exquisite detail of the fondant lace and the realism of the drapes on this cake.  This particular cake was made for a wedding in Dubai which they posted in their blog, so I guess they are willing to go to great lengths to deliver their cakes!  The lace matched the couple's invitations, the drapes were designed with the bride's dress for inspiration, and the sugar flowers (which took weeks to make) matched the flowers in the bouquets.  A masterpiece for the eyes. 

Sharyn 

Just Weddings.org

Funny Wedding Cake Toppers