Wedding tip of the Week: Top 10 Money Mistakes II

With times the way that they are, saving a buck really essential. A couple of weeks ago I posted about the Top 10 Wedding Mistakes. Here are the 1-5 top wedding mistakes.

5. Getting stuck on the "shoulds"

- The "shoulds" are all of the extras that so many people think that they need at wedding, such as favors and fancy linens. What you need to look at is it something that you really care about or it will be something that you will be upset about.

4. Leap before looking

-Do not walk in to the first place reception place that you see and book immediately, (This did not really work for me since this what I did) and then find out a week later about a place that you like even more and is more budget friendly. Take some time and do research. Weigh your options and look at what is most important to you for your wedding.

3. Falling prey to peer pressure

-You went to a wedding where your friends had 6 champagne fountains and enough chocolate cover strawberries to last a lifetime. If all of that is not in your budget, do not do to keep up with the Jones. Make your day special, your way even if it does mean that you have a fountain filled with Kool-aid.

2. Not reading the fine print

-Do not skip the fine print. Read every contract and know exactly what you are getting into. You need to know when balances are due and what deposits are owed. Make sure that you know all of the unknowns. Make sure that you ask questions. If you do not ask questions, you might be paying for a $400.00 cake with a $500.00 cake cutting fee.

The number 1 wedding money mistake is.......(I feel like David Letterman)

1. Not setting budget priorities

-I know that you do not want to think about priorities when you are thinking about Cinderella dreams. Setting up a budget and setting what priorities that are important for your wedding will allow for you to have things that you want within a budget that you can live with.

Jon and Kate Plus 8 Get Married

Well, Jon and Kate are already married, but this season they are renewing their vows with their children in Hawaii. I had wondered what Kate was doing when I saw her on the TV show Say Yes to the Dress a couple of weeks ago, in Kleinfields picking out a wedding dress. This is the dress that she decided on with her sales associate Keisha. I really like her headpiece. I think it goes well with her haircut and the style of the dress. This past Monday and next Monday you can see them in their Aloha special. Happy viewing.

Julianne Smith Garter Contest

Something old, something new win a garter just for you. In this contest you can win a beautiful custom garter with a toss garter to go with it. The rules of the contest are as follows:

• Describe your wedding using the word GARTER.


• Make your submission by December 10, 2008.


• A winner will be selected by December 13, 2008 and contacted and announced on my blog by December 15, 2008.

Please be mindful when entering the contest that with the contest ending right before the holidays and it being a custom garter, delivery of the garter may not occur until the beginning of the year.

To see more of what Julianne had to offer please click here. Good luck ladies..I can not wait to see what you come up with.

Save the Dates

Time is winding up towards by wedding ( as my mom keeps telling me) and I figured last night would be a good night as any to order my save the dates. I did not want to make them and I could not afford to get magnets, so I made postcards. I went to Vistaprint and made postcards to send out as my save the dates. I added one of our engagement pictures on the front of the postcard and added a holiday motif on the back ( a two for one). I also added Happy Holidays and save the date information on the back. I think that they will be really nice. I order 250 and got them for $19.99 plus $6.00 for shipping. I know that I probably will not need that many of them but I figured that if I mess up on someones address, I had a few extras to work with. They should be here in about a week or so, just in time for me to address them and mail them out right after Thanksgiving. Now I just need to update my guest list with addresses within the next two weeks. The best thing about them is that I can purchase postcard stamps for them (saves me some money). Check ....another item off of the list.

Are you doing save the dates? If so, what are you doing?

Get Blingy With It

Well, my friend wanted something blingy to wear with a suit to celebrate the election of Barack Obama. We both looked on line for a blingy shirt and both decided that paying $25.99 or more for a tank top or t-shirt with rhinestones on it was a bit silly. So since I think that I am the "Black Martha Stewart", I thought that I could give it a try at making one. Here is what I came up with. Even though it was a little bit time consuming, it was actually fun to make. I think it really looks good on her. Here is what I created.

After making this shirt, I thought why could I not make one for me stating, future Mrs. J or ones for my bridal party as part of their gifts. If you want to get blingy with it for your wedding contact me and I can make you one.

Our Dream Has Been Realized

I have cried. I have worked. I have hoped. My dream and the dream of so many others has come true. Congratulations.. Senator oops I mean.. President Elect Barack Obama. Thank you for allow us to realize our dreams through you!!!

Khadija=Monograms

Here are the monograms that were created by Khadija from Sweet Chic Designs from the contest that I won. If you want more information on her designs or want her to create some for you please contact her at here or on her blog. I can not wait to start using them.