Halloween Weddings

Happy Halloween. Halloween weddings can be elegant and a little kooky. Having a wedding on Halloween, I think, allows you to add more fantasy to your wedding that any other date. Here a few photos of some Halloween wedding ideas.

(Photos from The Knot and Yahoo images)

Invitation SOS

I have been looking for invitations for my wedding. I have flip flopped between making them and buying the kinda that you run through your printer. I want my invitations to be pretty, memorable and not to expensive. I guess my philosophy is that I people are going to throw them away once the wedding is over. I am asking my blogging community for help. Please post your suggestions, resources and help on this subject on this post. I will greatly appreciate it since I need to make a decision by the end of November since they need to be mailed at the end of February.

Give-a-way: Preppy Little Dress

Shh...it is a secret. Preppy Little Dress is having a give-a-way. We will not know what the prize is or the who the winner is until the 200th post. Check out the site!!!

Monogram Winner

While reading one of my fellow bridal blog The Savvy Bride and entered a contest for the creation of 4 monograms from http://www.sweetchicdesigns.blogspot.com/. Well, wouldn't you know it...I won!!! I can not wait to see what they create for me.

Halloween Wedding Ideas

With Halloween being next Friday, several couples will be celebrating their special day in a ghoulish way. Not all Halloween weddings have to be scary they can be quite elegant. There are several website that can assist you with your last minute Halloween wedding ideas or give ideas for your wedding for next year. Here are a few of the sites and articles that I have found that are specific to Halloween wedding planning.

• Halloweddings


• Apples for Teacher


• Wedding Photo USA


• Wedding Insight

If anyone out there is having a Halloween wedding and would like to share your ideas or photos, contact me at broomjumpingbride@yahoo.com and I will post them. Happy Hallowedding!!!

Wedding Recipes: Mexican Wedding Cookies

I like to bake. If looking for some easy, fun, tasty favors to give to your guest try these. I have made these in the past for the holidays and they are yummy!!

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
8 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups chopped walnuts
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
Mix all the ingredients together with a mixer until well blended. Roll dough into round small balls.
Bake for 10-12 minutes.
Cool completely then roll in additional confectionery sugar.

This recipe makes 21 servings.

Cake Update

I kinda of hit panic on Monday when I got an email from my baker stating that she needed to know the status having her create my wedding cake. I emailed her back and stated of course, I still wanted her to create my cake. She stated that she needed to know because she has 2 other brides asking for the same date as mine. PANIC, PANIC. I got myself together quickly and emailed and call my dad to see when I could pick up the deposit check. Luckily, I will be able to pick it up this weekend to drop off to the baker. Whew!! Another crisis avoided.

Dressing the Groom

Well, it was time this past Saturday for the Broomjumpinggroom and his groomsmen to go and pick out their attire. In a previous post I talked about how my fiance and I went to a store to look at suits and the sales clerk told me that my wedding colors did not go together. Well, he went back to the store since he really liked the suits there. His groomsmen are all different shapes and sizes, so I was thinking that it would be easier to get the smaller sizes than the larger sizes...WRONG. When they got there the sales clerk ( and we think that she was the store manager), at first, she could not measure them correctly and secondly did think that she could get all the sizes like we were told when we went there the first time. The Broomjumpinggroom got so frustrated he called me to see if there was anywhere else that they could go. So super bride to the rescue. I called the other store that I went to when I was doing research on the suits, to see if they were open and they were. I let the Broomjumpinggroom know. About a half an hour later, I got a call from the Broomjumpinggroom stating that they loved the suits and why didn't I send him there in the first place. They loved the suits so much and were getting such a deal on them that some of the grooms men were thinking about ordering another suit. I guess I really do not care what they buy as long it is that brown suit that my fiance checked. I was kinda tempted to call the store to go and see the suit. I am sure that the Broomjumpinggroom pick out a fabulous suit. He does have good taste, which is evident since he is marrying me.

You vs. The Tattoo

I have been wanting a tattoo for a long time. I think will be kinda cute to have one on my foot. My fiance', who has several tattoos, said that I am to much of a sissy to get one. All I want is a small, and I mean small, tattoo on my foot. I think I still be able to be professional with it. I have been watching several wedding shows where the bride is going off about her bridesmaids having tattoos. First of all, how do not know that your bridesmaids, who are suppose to be some of your closes friends have tattoos. Several of my bridesmaids have tattoos and some of them will be noticeable in their dresses. I have had some people say,"They are putting make up on their tattoos, right?" WRONG. How can I ask them to cover their tattoo when I will have one, hopefully by then, and my fiance has several. I think that would be rude. Now, I will say that if the tattoo is inappropriate, based on what you think is inappropriate, it should be covered. Well, wish me luck on Saturday..I think I might try to get my tattoo then. We will see if I chicken out.

If you really do not want your bridesmaids tattoos, or your tattoos, be the star of your wedding day there are several products such as Tattoo Camo , Dermablend and Secret Camouflage.

Do you have this dilemma in your wedding?

Wedding Organization

Do you need to get organized? Do you have a super wedding planning book but do not know how to use it? Here is a little help from Russell and Hazel. Their website gives you wedding templates from budgets to seating charts. The best part is that they are FREE!!! I found this great resource on the Bride in the Making website (You will be missed). Click here to check out some of their great templates.

Picture Perfect

Bride Turns Into Consultant

My Cleveland Wedding bride, Meg, has started a new buisness called the Savvy Bride. If you live in the Washington D.C. area or in Northeast, Ohio check her out. Congratulations.

Cubic Zirconia or Diamonds?

The only thing on my wedding that will be real diamonds will be wedding ring. If you want to wear real diamonds on your wedding day but can not afford them, you can rent them. Check out Adorn Brides. This website has diamond jewelry that you can rent . When renting the jewelry, you have to check out to see if the pieces you would like are available for the day that you want them. If they are you then reserve them for your day. You will receive the items a day or so before your event. So if you want to feel like a celebrity renting Harry Winston jewels for the Oscars, this site is for you.

5 Months and 29 Days To Go!!!

Well, time is winding up and I need to be doing something almost every day. Let's see where I am on my list.

• Contact newspapers to announce your engagement (you may need to have an engagement photo taken as well). I still have not done this. I will check this week to see how much it is to put it in the paper.
  


• Finalize the guest list. I am pretty much done with this, but I still need to review it.
  


• Book reception band or DJ. We are going to have a DJ and I just need to finalize things with him and get the contract.

• Start looking into registering for gifts. We probably will not do this until after the holidays, we pretty much know where we are registering.
  


• Choose your florist and send a deposit to reserve their services. I have visited a florist for my bouquet and will be making the rest of the floral arrangements with a friend.
  


• Register for your wedding gifts, and don't forget to include some choices appropriate for your upcoming bridal shower or engagement party as well. I have not do this yet. My bridal shower is not until March so I probably will not do this until January.

• Set aside blocks of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests. Have been looking into this since my fiance's family lives out of town, should have this done my the end of the month since I want the information on my save-the-dates.
  


• Purchase and send guests save-the-dates if your celebration is over a holiday weekend or at a faraway locale. I will be ordering these by next month since I making into Christmas card and want them out before the holiday rush.
  


• Book ceremony musicians and send deposit. We will be using out DJ and we need to talk my fiance's sisters about singing at the wedding.
  


• Start planning the rehearsal dinner. We are having the rehearsal dinner at the same place that we are getting married at. I just need to decided if I want to have it catered or just cook.
  


• Start working on your invitation wording and design. I just spent this past Saturday looking for wedding invitations and how I want them worded.
  


• Finalize menu and service details with caterer. Still working on this.
  


• Finalize your invitation wording. Still working on this.
  


• Order your invitations and announcements (don't forget plenty of extra envelopes). Will try to have this done before the end of November.
  


• Research and purchase wedding insurance, if necessary. Probably not going to get this. Is anyone getting this?
  


• Decide on a floral scheme, choose flowers, and negotiate prices with florist. Be sure to sign a contract outlining what you agreed upon. I have pretty much worked out what I want the scheme to be with the person who is doing my floral design.
  


• Start thinking about flower arrangement styles you like, and figure out what flowers will be in season on your wedding day. Per previous posting..I have this part figured out.
  


• Grooms: Decide what style of formal wear you will be wearing. The men will be wearing brown suits. Actually they are going this weekend to pick them out.
  


• Reserve tables, chairs, and/or other rental equipment you'll need (unless caterer or site is taking care of it). I need to reserve tablecloths, chairs and some table. I will have to work on this with my mom.
  


• Grooms: Start looking to buy or rent tux suit, or other formal attire. He will be buying a suit like the groomsmen.
  


• Book a calligrapher. Probably will not have one of these, too costly.


• Book rehearsal dinner site. The site will be the same as the wedding site.

This is a long list. I will check in a few weeks to let you know where I am in the process.

Are You A Bridezilla?

With all of the wedding planning, have you changed into a different person than who your were when you got engaged? Well find out, take the Bridezilla test to find out. What is your Bridezilla score?

Wedding Hair: Down Styles

If you are not sold on the whole updo idea, here are some down hair styles. I am not sure if I am crazy about a bride having her hair down for her wedding. I think that it looks more elegant with a brides hair up for her wedding ceremony and if she wants to let lose wearing it down for the reception. I think that there are some exceptions to this thought, like brides who are doing an outdoors themed wedding would look like one with nature with her hair down. My hair is not long enough current for any of these styles and I would need lots of hair extensions to pull any of these styles off.

Bridal Workout

Well, I am trying to keep up with this healthy bride thing, but it is alot of work. A couple of month ago I started the 100 Push-up Challenge. It really was not working for me and I fell off the wagon. I have sinse received some good work out advise from An Excited Bride (who looks great) and has inspired me again. I have been hitting the gym 3 days per week and attending a dance class another day. I have been really working my arms and back on the machines at the gym and have even started jogging for 10 minutes while working out on the treadmill. Wish me luck!! How is your workout going? Have any bridal workout advise?

Wedding Tip of the Week: Wedding Money...Top 10 Mistakes

Even without planning wedding, we all try to live on some sort of budget. At least we try to. When planning a wedding you have to budget even more. According to Bridal Guide magazine, there are 10 money mistakes that can help halt your plans to the alter. Today I will give 6-10.

10. Trying To Do It All Yourself

- You can not handle every detail of your wedding ( am going to try) and if you are not careful being a DIY bride may cost you more. Hire a wedding planner, even though they have their own cost they maybe able to save you some money. Enlist the help of the family and friends, you never know how talented that they can be.

9. Not Thinking Creatively

- Be creative. Think outside of the box. Just because your friend have $50,000 in flowers does not mean that you have to. Brides now a days are using a variety of items from feathers to stones to pictures to make their dollar go farther but their decor still beautiful. Check out local stores like Jo-Ann Fabrics for classes, a local library for books of ideas for weddings or comb the Internet for ideas.

8. Stuffing Your Guest

-You do not need to have enough food that every guest could have 5 plates. It is not the last supper. Make sure that you have enough food for every and not to little. When working with your caterer, let them know what your budget it is and that way that their will be enough food there just to feed your guest.

7. The Guest List

- Figure out how many guest that you can afford to have at your wedding. Be mindful that the more people you invite the more you will have to spend.

6. There Is No "I" In Us

-Know what you and your fiance want on the big day. Make a wish list of the top 5 items that you both want at the wedding. This will eliminate over spending and unnecessary purchases.

Wedding Hair: Updo

Between the dress, the shoes and the invitations you have to pick out a hair style. There are many different types of hair styles and in this post I will be looking at updo hairstyles. Depending on the type of wedding that that you are having, updos seem to be more elegant and at times seem like the standard for most brides. Are you wearing an updo?

(hairstyles are from here)

Wedding + Economy = Budget

In recent days there has been lots of talk about money and state of the economy. I realize that there are more important things that you can spend your money on besides a wedding, like a mortgage, car payment or paying on a credit card. Like with anything else, planning a wedding budget is just like a household budget. You need to live within your means or for the purposes of this blog plan your wedding within your means. So what, if you have to be a little more of the DIY Diva or you have to substitute one thing for another, still make your day all that you want it to be. Really the day is just a day, what you really are planning for is life. Are you changing anything about your wedding or cutting anything out due to the state of the current economy?

Engagement Pictures: Part IV

Go Sarah, Go Sarah. Thank you. Sarah is my photographer. I went to her house last night and picked up my engagement pictures. Sarah is wonderful photographer and really captured who the broomjumpinggroom and I are. Even though we were a little late to our session, she still got some great shots of us. I am really pleased with them and can not stop looking at them. I need to sort through them to see which one that I am going to use for our save the date cards that I want to order by the end of the month. Since I have just got them last evening, I have not selected the one or two that I am going to post. Give me a couple of days and I will get some up.

I Am A Winner

Becoming Mrs. Jones held a contest for brides to tell a story about how they chose their MOH. I talked about my both my maid of honor and my matron of honor. They are both important me and have a special place in my life. Well, anyway before I get to mushy..I was selected a one of her winners!!! As a prize I won a lovely bracelet that has beautiful sentiments on it by Carolee's Sterling Sentiments. I can not wait to receive mine. You should check them out. Thanks for the contest Becoming Mrs. Jones.