DIY: Build Your Own Chuppah

No, I am not Jewish...but I loved the concept of having a chuppah (which symbolizes the home that the couple will build together) at my wedding ceremony, so I made one (with some help). You can click on the picture, to get a better view. I had previously posted about having a chuppah before my wedding. Here is what you need to make one of your own:

• PVC pipe
• 4 PVC joint connectors
• 4 Paint buckets
• 4 Quick drying cement

You will need to start this a day or so before you need it. I assembled most of mine the 2 nights before the wedding. I thought it was really easy to do. Here are the steps:

• You will need to measure your space to see what length that you need to create the chuppah. I used 4 ten foot PVC polls and 4 five foot PVC polls. Make sure that you have your measurements when you go to the hardware store to obtain your pipe, so that the you get the hardware stores staff to cut it to the length that you want. I could have used shorter polls ones, but wanted a grand effect.
• Mix the quick drying cement. Be mindful of what the temperature is when mixing it. You do not want it to be too runny or too thick.
• Fill the paint buckets half full. Place the long PVC polls ( for me the 10 foot polls), in the center of the bucket. Make sure that you secure the polls with rope or wood to ensure that the polls dry in the cement straight. I thought that I had them straight, but when Mr.Broomjumpinggroom came home he immediately said that they were not and got busy making sure that they were.

Once at the site....

• Space the buckets with the polls in them where you want them.
• With using the connectors, connect the shorter polls to the longer polls. Once connected you should have created a square.
• Decorate how you want. I used fabric, ribbon and flowers on my chuppah. The only issue that I had was ensuring that the numbers printed on the PVC pipe were covered up. To fix this I turn the buckets to the back of the altar and covered the polls with ribbon. You may want to use light fabrics because extra weight may not work well on the PVC polls. Make sure that you have good tape and/or stick pins to attach your decor to the PVC polls.

In creating a chuppah, make sure that you have many hands to assist with assembly at the site. It is quite helpful. Depending on the height make sure that you have a ladder, it makes it so much easier. At the end of the night, taking it apart was easy....my husband (who was ready to to leave) pulled on one of the polls and it just popped apart. Even though it came apart so easy, the chuppah was really strong. If you want to ensure that it does not pop apart you can always, use constructive adhesive to link the PVC connectors and pipes together. In the end, the buckets and polls that I used went in the trash, mainly because I do not have anywhere to store it after the ceremony and I kept all the decor.

Cost:

• PVC pipe $3.22 a piece ( the 4 short pieces was two pipes that were cut in half)
• PVC connectors $1.55 (4 connectors)
  
• Quikcrete $ 2.77 (4 bags)
  
• Paint bucket $ 1.00 (4 buckets)
  

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Total $40.60

( I love this picture. It shows my mom's handy work off. She made the table cloth, chair bows and the napkins for my sweetheart table. Thanks mom!!!)

There will be additional cost for the decor that you want to add to it. I loved the way that it looked for my wedding. My husband and I stood under it with our minister for the ceremony and had our sweetheart table underneath it for the reception. It added so much to our wedding. I was proud that I made it.

DIY:Petal Cones

Petal cones are completed. The cones will be given to guest, probably 1 per couple or 1 per person, when they enter the ceremony. I would like my guest to throw the petals when we take our walk down the aisle after being introduced as the Mr & Mrs. They were really simple to make. Here is what you need:

• petal cone template


• decorative paper or vellum paper


• double sided tape


• scissors or a shape cutter

On the template you can change the names, quote, font and colors to anything that you want. It did not take me long to make them. One day I printed them and cut them out. Another I put them together while I watched CSI and part of The Eleventh Hour. The most time consuming part, I thought, was cutting them out. I will be filling them with the petals that I talked about in a previous post. I think that they turned out nice. I can not wait to see the photo of the rose petals showering us as we walk down the aisle.

Guess Who is Coming to the Wedding?

At this point..I really do not not know. I have a preliminary guest list that I need to review. Since time seems to be speeding up towards my wedding day and so many other things need to be finalized, but they are all based off of one thing..the guest list. I know that I can not invite everyone that I know, but how do you determine who stays and who goes?My mom has broken down the list to church folks, friends and family. I know that everyone who is invited will not show up or I will have persons who RSVP and do not show up, but I have to be prepared if they do. Which means I need seating for guest, tables for reception, linens, favors, and on and on and on. Whatever I do I have to have it figured out before the end of the month so that other deposits and plans can be made. How are you going to finalize your guest list?

Chairs

You have to have a place for your guest to sit while they witness your vows and enjoy the celebration at the reception. There are several types of chairs to choose from.

• Chiavari--These chairs are usually gold or silver and have a bamboo design on them.


• Dining Room--These are the standard chairs that are used at most banquet halls.


• Resin--These chairs generally come in white or black. They are wood with a padded seat.


• Folding Chair--We know that these are. They come in metal with a padded seat or in black or white plastic.

Which ever chair you choose there are several choices on how to decorate them. You can use chair covers, which can be a little expensive, but make the room look really nice. I know I can not afford chair covers , but I might want to use one of these ideas to dress up the chairs at my wedding.

What are you doing for your wedding?
(Pictures from The Knot)

Deal or No Deal...I Got a Deal !

What did we do before the Internet and the dollar store? I do not know...but I love the Dollar Tree and Ebay. I always find good stuff when I either go into the store or I am shopping for bargains on the Internet. Here are some of my latest finds. I got these candles for my the unity candle holder. I bought for my mom and my future mother-in-law and of course one for myself and the Broomjumpinggroom to use during the ceremony. There were a whole $1.00 for all 4.

I thought these were a great deal. If you are using silk flowers in your ceremony or anywhere in your decor, I would definitely check out your local dollar store. I bought 14 packages ( I think I got enough) of these white silk rose petals that have 300 count per package to put into petal cones for guest to throw at Broomjumpinggroom and I when we walk down the aisle after we are pronounced as husband and wife. They were $1.00 per bag.

You can not see me, but I am doing the happy dance. I have been bidding for months for a unity candle holder and have been losing. Until a few weeks ago, I won this baby for the low, low price of $7.00 plus shipping. It is brand new. Go Dana!!

I need to keep finding deals like these, to keep wedding cost low and my pockets a little full. I do not want to end up like one of those brides on Rich Bride, Poor Bride or on Wedding SOS trying to figure out where all the money for the wedding went. What cost cutting ideas are you using?

Wedding Tip of the Week: Jumping the Broom

The title, "Jumping the Broom", is really not what you think is the name for a blog about someone planning her wedding. To bring everyone reading up to speed about what " Jumping the Broom" actually is, I decided to share a few facts behind the title.



Jumping the broom was always done before witnesses in order for members of the slave community to know a couple was married. No form of marriage was recognized for African-Americans during slavery, therefore jumping the broom solidified this ceremony within the slave community.



Placing the broom on the ground symbolizes the couples new home together. Jumping the broom symbolizes the sweeping away of the past and the jumping into a new beginning.



Jumping the broom fell out of practice due to the stigma it carried, and in some cases still carries, among African-Americans wishing to forget the horrors of slavery. Once slavery had ended and African-Americans were able to have European style weddings, many African-Americans wanted nothing to do with anything associated with that era and discarded the broom jumping practice altogether.



Today many African-American couples add this practice to their ceremony once they are pronounced as husband and wife or when the couple first enters their reception. African-American couples do this today to honor their past and ancestors and to look forward to their future.



Here is a picture of what a broom would look like that would be used in a ceremony today. I did not want you to think that it was just an ordinary broom that you use for sweeping the floor. You can decorate the broom to reflect your wedding colors or theme.

I will be having this custom as a part of my wedding ceremony. I think that I want to do it right after we are pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Jumping the Broom. Are you having any special customs or traditions in your wedding ceremony? Like to share. Respond to this post.

(information from Wikipedia)

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Green?

It has become hip to become green or concerned about our environment. This fact of keeping an eye on the environment has been shown to me since I was little, but then it was called pollution. Does anyone but me remember the Native American on the horse looking over the freeway at all the trash and smog then the one tear ran down his face because what was going on with nature or who remembers Woodsy the Owl ? "Whoo, Whoo, don't polloute." Even though I have not been the best at doing my part with recycling, partly because I was either too lazy to take my recycling to the local recycling center or too cheap to pay for curbside service. I have recently started making a few changes in my home to do my part for the environment, such as purchasing recyclable shopping bags to take to the grocery store, purchasing the old standard for cleaning products like ammonia and bleach instead of purchasing more toxic cleaning products and using reusable containers for my lunch instead of using foil or plastic wrap. I recently attended the Columbus Bridal Consultants monthly meeting (to learn more for my side business) and the topic was Eco-friendly weddings. I thought that the topic was so interesting that I wanted more information to see what I could use for my wedding.

First off..in looking at information for an Eco-friendly wedding, these weddings are typically 20% higher that other weddings, but more and more companies are offering products in this area and prices are starting to drop. Below I have found some resources that may be helpful if you trying to go green for your wedding.

Invitations

There are many paper companies offering either totally recycled papers or partical recycled papers. If you do not want to go the recycled paper route and still do not want your guest throw their invitations in the trash, you have them tear them up and throw them in their yard. There are papers that are being offered that have seeds in them that you can shred and place in the ground that will eventually bloom in a beautiful floral display.

• Eco-friendly Invitations
• Etsy
• My Sunflower Expressions

Favors

Why do we spend money on favors? I know because they are fun, cute and if you do not have them at your wedding you can be considered cheap. Today many Eco-friendly brides are opting to not have wedding favors, but are using the money that they would have on favors on making a donation to her favorite charity in their guest names instead. Other Eco-friendly wedding items are edible items, such as chocolates or other candies. Check out the companies below for more ideas.

• Bliss Weddings market
• Little Things Favors
• My Bridal Needs

Flowers

We all have our own ideas for what type of floral designs for our wedding. I know that I am a hydrangea type of girl myself. If you want to be green about your floral design and save some money buy and use local and seasonal flowers. Seasonal flowers are more plentifully than flowers that are not. Buying locally helps local farmers. Check with your florist on what is in season during your wedding.

Another way to be Eco-friendly is to find other alternatives, such as candles, for bouquets or table decor.

Reception

Alot of times food goes to waste at receptions, due to guest RSVP and then not showing up, getting to drunk to eat the cake or the no one likes the sushi that you selected for the reception. Some ways that you can not waste food is to check a locate non-profit in your area, such as Second Serving, who comes to get food prepared by a cater and gives it to the homeless. Some of these agencies are disappearing due to strict health laws in certain cities.

Another way that you can do some environmental good is to purchases local or organic foods to be severed for the meal. Some stores such as Trader Joe's and Whole Foods carry foods and even wines that are all organic.

Also, I know it is expensive, you can use washable linens,plates and silverware instead of plastic. If you can not afford that you can have your guest scrap their plastic plates and place the trash in one container and the plastic plates and cups, not forks, knives or spoons, in another. This bag with all the plastic in it can be taken to a recycling center.

Transportation

Cars pollute our environment with emissions daily. One of the ways to be green and to cut down some of that pollution is to have your wedding and reception all in one place so that your guest do not have to travel. Another way to do this to have your guest to travel to one location and to have buses, trolleys or ask them to car pool to the reception site.

Attire

There are many sites that offer green or Eco-friendly wedding attire. These companies offer Eco-friendly materials or Eco-friendly in the way that they process the fabric. Here are a few companies:

• Style Dash
• Threadhead
• Aisle Dash
• Green Elegance Weddings

I know many of us, myself included, have a picture of what we want our dress to look like. To save some money and recycle clothing, there are stores that sell or rent gently used or donated wedding dresses. Also, when you are done with your dress, I know this will be hard, you can donate your dress to many non-profit organizations that have sells that the profits benefit breast cancer research, children's programming and other social causes. Check out Get Married, to find out more information about agencies in your area.

So that you bridesmaids do not feel left out in keeping that gorgous dress that you picked out for them, they can donate their dress and even their shoes to locate charities like The Fairy Godmother, that help give prom dresses and accessories to young ladies that are unable to obtain the attair for their prom. Put those dresses to use.

Check out resale shops, consignment shops or thrifts stores (all my favorite) for jewelry for your big day. Utilizing these places you can reuse something that was already used, instead of purchasing something new. Many of these places donate to charity or support local social programs.

Lastly, on attire is dry cleaning. Instead of having your attire dry cleaned the regular way you can have it wet cleaned. You would have to request this service for a dry cleaner. Please check before using this option with your bridal shop and with dry cleaner if this method is right for your fabric. Wet cleaning use alot less energy and does not use harsh chemicals.

For my wedding, I am looking at the amount of paper that I going to use in the invitations, having the guest scrap their plates and place the plastic in another bag and ordering just enough food so that there is not alot of waste.

We can all do little things, even if it is as simple as serving organic wine at your reception, that will help us all in the future. Heck, it is just one day (so I keep telling myself), but our world is here for a lifetime.

3 Things done...1,000 to go

I have gotten three things off of my checklist, confirmed the date with my pastor, selected my venue and my photographer. I am getting married at the Olde Gahanna Sanctuary. It is a beautiful church that was built in the early 1900's, that in 1997 turned into a rental facility after it was restored. It has lots of space so I will be having my ceremony in the sanctuary and then my guest will go to the the other side of the building for appetizers and then return the to where the ceremony is for dinner. Having the guest go to the other side allows for the tables to be set up in the room. I was glad I reserved the space when I did, since they were already becoming booked up for next year. No wonder they book up so quick, they are very reasonable, unlike other venues. People ask my mom and I all the time why I am not getting married at my church. My mom says it is because I am vain and my church does not have a center aisle. I have to admit, sometimes that is part of the reason. The main reason is that I wanted to have everything in one place. I love my church, but I had never imagined myself getting married there.

Another item I have off my list is my photographer. My friend Sarah Gee is an excellent photographer. I think that it started as a creative outlet for her, since she is an art teacher. She has taken several pictures of various weddings, baby photos and senior pictures. I have always known since seeing her photography that she would do my wedding. She also makes those beautiful storybooks with your wedding photos. I can not wait to see mine. Here are a few photos that Sarah took of a wedding at The Sanctuary, you get two for one, you get to see her beautiful pictures and where I am getting married. For more information on Sarah and her photography please contact her at.. vicphotogee@yahoo.com.