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)
  

___________________
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.

Let The Grooms Eat Cake

I got my groom a special cake just for him. It really reflected him. He loves his tools and is quite handy. Lots of my guest were impressed with the cake. Not only did it look good, it tasted good. It was made of red velvet cake and it had butter cream icing under the fondant. I was impressed that I got a piece of the cake since when I brought the sample cake home, I did not get any.

(before at the wedding reception)

The baker that make the cake, added a little personal touch to the cake, by adding my grooms initials to the top of the tool box.

(after)

As you can tell he really enjoyed the cake. He liked the cake so much that he wanted to save the tools once the cake was gone (I told you he likes his tools). I had to remind him that they were not really Craftsmen tools, but fondant molds. I am happy that he enjoyed the cake and that it added an extra "WOW" factor at our reception. I think that he really appreciated the extra little touch just for him.

Are you doing a groom's cake? If so, why or why not?

Wedding Tip of the Week: Custom Drink...Drink of the Week

The Wedding Toast



1 part Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
1 part ginger ale
1 part simple syrup
Juice of ½ lime
4 skinned cucumber slices
5 sage leaves (without stems)
Dash of bitters
Muddle fruit, add ingredients (except ginger ale) shake with ice strain into a martini glass and top with ginger ale. Garnish with a floating sage leaf.

Information found here

Reception Meal..Yummy!!!

My mom and I met with the cater, my friend Reggie, last night. I am sure glad that he cooked, because talking about all that food made me hungry. The broomjumpinggroom and I wanted comfort food to be served. I came with ideas of what I wanted and my mom came with what she wanted (which she should since she is paying for it. Thanks Mom!!). Luckily, we agreed that we would be having a soul food meal. Some of the goodies that are going to be served are mac-n-cheese, green beans, sweet potatoes, chicken (got to have chicken) and corn bread muffins. There will be more on the menu, but that is just a tasting. Yummy!!! I told my mom at the meeting that we needed to order another table cloth to wrap around me to so that I can eat, ( and I am going to eat) and not get anything on my wedding dress. Yeah!!..one more thing off of my list.

Linens

When I looked at linens for the wedding, I originally wanted white linens with Tiffany blue runners. My mom and I went about two weeks ago and priced linens again for the reception. We went to two linen places in the area, one I already knew was expensive and the other was more reasonable. I had my heart set on using the less expensive company, which makes sense, but the linens that they had were not long enough. The round table linens stopped in the middle of the table leg, instead of brushing across floor like I wanted. Needless to say, I am having to use the linens at the more expensive linen place. Luckily the difference in price is only about $2.00 per table. The runners that I wanted to use are $15.00 a piece...way out of the budget. Due to the price I have decided to go in another direction for my tables. I am going to use chocolate brown table linens on my tables and use Tiffany blue tulle circles in the middle of the table to get both colors on the tables. On the circles, I will be using the vases with white flowers that I talked about in previous postings. Even though it is not what I originally wanted, I think it will be pretty regardless. Besides, I will not have to see all the food on that people would have spilled on the tablecloths if they were white.



Have you had to make any changes to your wedding design due to cost? If so, what did you have to do?

How to Have a Rockin Reception

I have attended a few weddings in my time and it seems that the same thing always happens...people eat, cake comes out, people get some and leave. After spending all of this time planning a wedding you really want your guest to have a really good time and not just to eat and leave. So what are you doing to keep things lively and keep the party going at your reception? Share your thoughts!!

Wedding Tip of the Week: Custom Drinks--Drink of the Week

The whole new rage is to have a custom drink at your wedding. Keep looking out for the next couple of Wednesdays for a "Drink of the Week".

This weeks "Drink of the Week" is a

Strawberry Watermelon Mojito

- 1½ oz. Smirnoff Strawberry Vodka

- ½ oz. fresh lime juice

- ½ oz. mint-infused simple syrup

- 1 cup fresh seedless watermelon, cubed and chilled

- 1 bunch fresh mint leaves- Club soda

To make mint syrup, bring 2 cups of sugar and 1 cup of water to a boil. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove from heat and add 8 to 10 mint leaves. Let cool for 30 minutes. Strain. Combine vodka, lime juice, simple syrup, ½ cup of watermelon and about 10 mint leaves in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake for 10 seconds. Strain into a glass with ice and remaining watermelon. Top with club soda. Garnish with additional mint leaf.

This drink was originally created at the Four Season Resort in Pair Beach, Florida.

Recipe found from Brides

They Are Here!!!

They're hereeeeeeee!!! Anyone else remember this from the movie Poltergeists. Well, I am not speaking of ghost, but about the vases for my tables at the wedding reception. I talked about them in previous posting. I bought these on the Bride to Bride Boutique website from a woman named Jill, who used them for her wedding. Jill was nice enough to bring them to me and drop them off at my home instead of me paying for shipping. I am sure shipping would have been more than what I bought the vases for. I got them for a great price.My basement is starting to get full with all of the goodies I have purchased for the wedding. If you are still in need of stuff check out the Bride to Bride Boutique website, you might find something that you are looking for as well.

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?

Recent Purchases

I have picked up a few things for the wedding over the last few weeks....take a look!! I got these square aqua colored gems at my local Dollar Tree. Yep, they were only a dollar. I bought 20 bags. I have my mom on the look out for some more at the Dollar Tree near her. I think about 20 more bags will do. I think that I am going to mix them with clear gems for my centerpieces.

For my wedding I wanted to have a variation of vases for centerpieces at the reception. I think that it would make the environment more interesting. I had been looking all over for these vases. First I would find the shorter ones at stores like Jo-Ann's and Michael's, but they would be two small. I found the shorter vases at a store called the Flower Factory. It is kinda like a Sam's Club for crafts. You had to have a membership to able to get in there, but there was one catch..you had to have a vendors license to get one. One day my mom was driving past and saw a sign that individual memberships were available for a limited time. You know what I did on my lunch hour...I went and got a membership. After I got my membership, I found them. I believe I paid $1.75 a piece for 15 of them.

The taller vases I had found in other stores as well, but I had refused to pay $10-$12.00 a piece for them. Well, thanks to the Budget Savvy Bride, I was on the Bride to Bride Boutique and located these vases from another bride who no longer wants them. I am getting 21 of them from her for $5.00 a piece. What a deal. If you have not been on the site, you must go.

Other items that I recently purchased are a ring pillow that I bought at the Dollar Store and am going to cover with some aqua satin that I got off the clearance rack at Jo-Ann Fabrics. Plus when I bought the fabric, I had a 40% off coupon so it made it an even better deal.

I am slowly but surely moving along with projects for my wedding. Have you purchased anything lately?

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)

Sweetheart Tables

Among many bridal trends in weddings, the sweetheart table is a recent one. I know when I mentioned to the broomjumpinggroom that I wanted one he stated that he wanted the tradition set up. This long table, where people who sometimes do not know each other are asked to sit next to one another for hours on end while their date sits at a table with cousin Joey. I know that it has been done for years, but I think that long table set up is out dated. I have been to lots of weddings were I have watch the bridesmaids and groomsmen running back and forth from the head table to where their date is sitting. I just did not want that for my bridesmaids and groomsmen.
Another reason that I like a sweetheart table is because it offers a time that the bride and groom can enjoy each other for a little alone time. They will be kissing Aunt Sally and hugging their mom's boss the rest of the every and not spending time together. Have some time away amongst their family and friends. I will be having one at my wedding and I am sure after the broomjumpinggroom sees it he will appreciate it.

For more pictures of sweetheart tables check out the postings on African-American Brides: The Blog and The Wedding Decorator. What are you going to have at your wedding? The traditional head table, a sweetheart table or something new?

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?

Let's do the Cha-Cha Slide

Whew!! I am tired. I had such a workout this evening. My sorority Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc Columbus Alumni Chapter held "Steppin with the Sigmas" this evening. At this event we were taught several different line dances and how to do Chicago two stepping with a partner. The event was taught by Marc, of Steppin in the City Productions, and he teaches classes all over Columbus. I have been trying to get into his line dancing classes for years, but they fill up so quickly. It was great. I knew some of the line dances and look forward to having a 20-30 minutes of line dancing at my reception. A couple of my bridesmaids were there and I told them to get ready to work it out at the reception. It was fun, but it was definitely a work out. I came all cute in my shorts, t-shirt and flip flops and I really needed to have on was my exercise clothes. I am sure since I danced for almost 2 1/2 hours I had to sweat off at least 10 pounds

(I wish).

Some of my sorority sisters and I at the event.

The second part of the class was Chicago two step. This type of dancing is done with a partner. It was nice to see the couples dancing. It made me wish that my fiance was there so that we could learn it. Watching them, I think that I am going to have my fiance and I look into taking a dance lessons with Marc instead of taking the same ole' ballroom dance that everyone takes for their first dance. I think us doing Chicago two step would make our first dance more interesting.

To the left, to the left, to the right to the right.

This my cousin Nicole, in the skirt, and my sorority sister Robinette getting their step on.

If you have different dance ideas, reply to this post. I would love to share your thoughts of what your first dance would be like or different forms of dance that you take part in.

Wedding Tip of the Week: Cocktails....Anyone?

Open bar or pay? When having a bar..you need to think of how much you want to spend on the spirits that you will be serving. To cut cost, have a signature drink at your wedding. Having a signature drink allows you purchase on type of liquor instead of purchasing several different kind. Since my colors for my wedding are tiffany blue and brown, I have been looking for an aqua blue spirit to serve. In my search for the right drink, I have come across a few websites that have given me some ideas on what to have. The websites are:






Cocktail.com
Cocktails Recipes
All Recipes

When looking on these websites I found a few recipes for aqua drinks ( that I would of course try out first) that I would rename for my wedding to make it my own signature. I have listed a few of the recipes below:

Blueberry Martini (renamed Blue Love)

• 1 wedge of lime
• a few fresh blueberries
• 1 part blueberry syrup
• 2 parts vodka
• Shake together with ice and enjoy.

Kamikaze Blue (renamed Karma Sutra)

• .5 shot vodka
• .5 shot DeKuyper Blue Cuacao
• .5 shot lime juice
• Shake with ice and strain into a shot glass.

When having a bar, have your bartender be mindful of guest who may of had a little to much. Having the bartender do this allow for them to make the call if the guest has had to much and switch that guest gin and tonic for a glass of Sprite. This can be done at an open or pay bar and also make you not look like a bad host. You want your guest to have fun and to be safe. Always remember to drink responsibility, so that your day can be a day that you and your guest can remember forever.

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.

Something Aqua, Something Brown

Well after being asked for weeks," What are the colors for your wedding?" and my only response being "Aqua". Well sound the alarm another color has been chosen, chocolate brown. When I went to my linen appointment this past Saturday, my mother spotted some beautiful brown linens. We began to play with the brown napkins on the aqua table runner with a white table cloth and we loved it. Chuck likes the idea of brown, especially since one of his fraternity colors is brown. He said that he just needed to see it together. I think that the men being in chocolate brown suits with a white shirt and an aqua (or what I call Tiffany box blue) tie would look really nice. While surfing the net ( all photos found on The Knot or Yahoo Images), I found some other bridal stuff that fits my theme.

I plan on using chair covers for my wedding, since I am having everything in one place. I was thinking of alternating aqua and brown sashes since colored chair covers are more expensive and so that I can stay within budget I will need to use white.

I like all of the above as some options for my tables at the reception.

I even found some cake ideas with the colors.

At some point when I was planning my wedding I had originally thought that I wanted some kente cloth (African fabric) put in there, but it becoming to hard to find. The aqua and brown is starting to grow on me. I think these colors help with the "classy casual" vibe that I want for my wedding. Now that I have made the color selection, I can not start applying to different aspects of my wedding.