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Tip No. 1 – Flowers on a Budget!

Leah — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:00:26 +0000

Top 10 Tips to Getting the Most Bang for Your Wedding Planning Budget Revealed!!

No matter how much money you have in your budget for your flowers, there are always ways to be smart about where to save and where to splurge.

Flowers can be that pop of colour in a conventional reception venue, or that subtle detail to a tented back yard wedding. But regardless of how they’re going to be displayed, flowers are one of those things that start to add up unexpectedly. So whether you want lots or just a few, there are a few ways to help cut the cost.

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1. Hire a good florist

I have heard time and time again from brides that the easiest way to cut costs on the flowers is to do it yourself. Now, while I am a firm believer in DIY projects, taking on your wedding flowers can be a huge task. You could hire a florist to do the bouquets and centerpieces and do some other DIY floral arrangements and décor pieces yourself. Finding the right florist will save you a lot of frustration and will also save you money (believe it or not). They know where to find the specific things that you’re looking for and at the best price.

2. Do your research

Flower prices will vary depending on the season of your wedding and the city you live in. So do your research and find out what flowers will be in season when your wedding day arrives as well as which flowers will be the most most cost effective for you. Although a bouquet of deep purple peonies would be stunning for your winter wedding, you will have to pay an arm and a leg to have them shipped from overseas in the off-season. And when they arrive, they will be nothing like a local peony would be in June. So research some other viable options of flowers that could create a look similar to that of your desired flowers. Your florist (as mentioned in tip #1) will be able to help you to do this!

3. Keep it simple

Sometimes keeping it simple can be just as beautiful as having many different types of flowers, when done the right way. Why not have your bridesmaids each carry a small bunch of lavender or baby’s breath rather than a large bouquet? If you can use all of the same flowers for the bouquets and boutonnieres, you’ll be able to reduce a lot of the waste as well. And for centrepieces and other floral arrangements, large groupings of one type of flower often appears more full and luxurious than a smaller arrangement of mixed flowers anyway!

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4. Shop local

If you’re gung ho and you plan on doing any of your flowers yourself, you can buy them from local growers or even large wholesale stores, such as Costco. The mark up is much lower than in a traditional flower shop and you can usually even pre-order the flowers that you’re looking for, as long as they typically carry them! How awesome is that? Just be sure to check to see what day they get their shipments in to ensure the freshest flowers.

5. Look into alternatives

Although many brides love the traditional feel of floral bouquets and centerpieces, there are some great ways to incorporate unique and personal touches without using traditional flowers. Alternatives such as origami paper flowers or a brooch bouquet are great ways to add those handmade touches. Let your table décor double as your thank you gift and place a group of mini potted plants such as succulents, herbs, or cacti as your centerpiece. Potted plants are very shabby chic and can be extremely cost effective if you grow them yourselves. Centrepieces can be anything you want, from fruit, to some old mason jars with floating candles. Get creative!

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6. Reuse, reuse, reuse

Finding a way to reuse your flowers will definitely save you money. If you’re planning to have ceremony arrangements, make sure you find a place in the reception to reuse them. Also – ask your florist to bring a few empty vases for you and your bridesmaids. This way when you arrive at the reception you can put your bouquets in some water and they can be displayed on the gift table, the guest book table, or even on your head table for some added oomph! Anything you can do to reuse your flowers means more money in your wallet!

By: Leah Vander Kooi

What are you doing to save some money in your floral budget?

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Pinning Your Way Through Planning Your Wedding

Kate — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:05:32 +0000

Happy (belated) Valentine’s day!! I hope you got a chance to relax and spend time with your love yesterday! Why does Valentine’s day have to get so much more complicated as we get older? Remember being in grade school and making some sort of decorated paper bag device that hung off the side of your desk and getting like 30 cards from everyone in your class that all said “Be Mine” or “I like you”. I miss those days. Now we spend all this time, energy and money trying to figure out how to make everything perfect when truthfully…just hanging out with that special someone with a card that says “I like you” should be enough.

So…last night in an attempt to practice what I preach I literally had Bryan hide my BlackBerry (so I couldn’t respond to emails or anything) and we had an amazing meal that I ordered from Mama and Papa Catering and then watched a movie and went to bed BEFORE 10:00pm. It was literally the perfect evening!

Anyways…I should get to the point of the post!

Pinning Your Way Through Planning Your Wedding!

How many times have you been to a website and found something you loved that you don’t want to forget? Lots I’m sure! So what do you do? Save it on your desktop? Bookmark the website? Print out a copy and put it in a file or a bindersomewhere? All of the above? Now…how many times have you later found that picture and thought…”now where the heck did I get this from? The rest of that wedding was so cool! I’ll never find that again”…Like a million?!

Well I’m pretty sure I used to do that on a daily basis. I would have images saved in a folder on my computer with a corresponding word document with links to where I originally found the photos! So time consuming! It was irritating and I would inevitably lose a link or forget to copy one and then close the website without knowing the path I’d even taken to get to the site in the first place, then searching through the browser history…it was just a pain.

Well no more! Pinterest has come to save us all from these frustrations, and simplify our lives. And I’m proud to say that I’m happily addicted!

Sure you can pin things for your home, or your kids, or your favourite fashion…and I totally do all of those things! But where I find Pinterest the MOST useful is when I’m trying to gather my thoughts for a wedding! You can take all of those inspirations that have been flying around in your head for months and finally organize them all in one place. Creating an inspiration board will allow you to see all of the ideas and design elements right in front of you so you can get a more cohesive vision of how everything will come together!

The concept of Pinterest is to “Pin” your “Interests” to various boards just as you would with an actual physical board. And it keeps those boards organized by category or however you decide to label them.

If you don’t yet have a Pinterest account, I am encouraging you to get one. Just get one setup and get started…you’ll get the hang of it before you know it and will be an addict in no time!

Once you set up an account you can specify what categories of things you’re interested in and then your ‘feed’ will only funnel things through that are of interest to you! It will take a bit of time for Pinterest to figure out exactly what you like, so don’t get discouraged if it gives you a few bizarro things the first few times you use it!

Check out this article on Mashable.com that shows you how to get the most out of your Pinterest account titled “7 tips for Planning a Wedding on Pinterest“

Happy Pinning!!

Be sure to check out my own Pinterest boards here! And if you’re not already following my Facebook page for daily inspirations make sure you check it out too!

Are you on Pinterest? Do you love it? Are you hesitant about getting it?

Leave me your comments below!

For more Inspired Bride articles that will go right to your inbox, sign up for your FREE eReport “How to Get the Most Bang for Your Wedding Budget”!

I hope this article has helped make you an Inspired Bride!

Want to use this article in your Blog, E-zine or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement:

Wedding Planning expert Kate Vanderlugt publishes the “Inspired Bride” weekly e-zine. Get your FREE eReport:

“How to Get the Most Bang for Your Wedding Budget” at www.thelittlewhitedress.ca/freeereport

{Inspiring Decor Thursdays} Mixed Metallics

Leah — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:30:39 +0000

Do you love old vintage pieces? Why not incorporate them into your wedding decor?

Decor can bring a plain reception hall from drab and boring, to showstopping. There are so many elements that bring a look together, and so many options to choose from with florals and decor, but why not bring in some unique pieces that will set the tone for the evening?

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Old vases, brass candlesticks, pewter, silver, copper…they look stunning with any colour and really make a statement. Using tarnished vases and mismatched candle sticks is a great way of adding that extra punch to your decor that your guests will love. It can also be a great way to save on decor costs, because you can collect them over the course of your planning or borrow them from family members. Thrift stores offer good quality pieces that can either be sprayed or left as is to add that vintage look, and I think it adds a bit of playful sophistication as well.

Image via Style Me Pretty

Do you like the eclectic, mixed metallic look?

Leave your comments below!

For more Inspired Bride articles that will go right to your inbox, sign up for your FREE eReport “How to Get the Most Bang for Your Wedding Budget”!

I hope this article has helped make you an Inspired Bride!

Want to use this article in your Blog, E-zine or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement:

Wedding Planning expert Kate Vanderlugt publishes the “Inspired Bride” weekly e-zine. Get your FREE eReport: “How to Get the Most Bang for Your Wedding Budget” at www.thelittlewhitedress.ca/freeereport

{Alluring Attire Wednesdays} Bold Statement Necklace

Leah — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:05:58 +0000

Are you bold and daring? Why not add a pop of interest to your wedding attire with a bold statement necklace?

Most brides will make a statement with a luxurious wedding gown or hairpiece, or oversized bouquet, but we’re seeing more and more non-traditional necklaces for the upcoming season. Brides are now stepping out of the box and individualizing each aspect of their wedding right down to their jewelry.

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I love big, oversized jewelry. Pair it with a wedding gown… brilliant! Wearing your grandmother’s pearl necklace is a beautiful sentiment, but why not send it to a local jewelry designer and have it redesigned into something that suite’s your own personality? I love the layers in this necklace and the varied shades of pearls. It represents the bride’s traditional side, but with a new and fun twist. (And of course the cute pups don’t hurt either)

Image via Weddingchicks

Big bold jewelry is my absolute FAVE?

Would you do non-traditional bridal jewelry on your wedding day?

Leave your comments below!

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{Taped & Wired Tuesdays} Traditionally Romantic Bouquet

Leah — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:45:46 +0000

Modern? Traditional? How do you picture your wedding bouquet?

When you imagine your wedding day what is your colour scheme? Certain colours exude a specific feel and set the tone of the wedding. A monochromatic colour scheme is very modern, but can also be very traditional when using a soft colour palette. White has quickly become the easiest way of creating an extremely modern look and using small statement pieces to add interest.

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This beautiful bouquet is both unique and modern, yet still classic with the mix of traditional white roses. The variety of white flowers and the colour scheme is so soft and romantic yet still has those distinct elements that add interest. Using alternative greenery such as lamb’s ear and Bruna Berries (yes, these adorable little grey balls are real plants!) brings this bouquet from traditional to modern, while adding some beautiful texture to the mix.

Image via Style Me Pretty

Modern or Traditional? What style of bouquet will you have?

Leave your comments below!

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{Scrumptious Mondays} Modern Charm

Leah — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:30:34 +0000

Round? Square? Why not put them together?

Modern design is clean, simple, and fresh, which means inspiration can be taken from something as simple as your favourite vase. Clean lines and fresh colours are the main focus for modern weddings, and can be pulled into every element of the overall design, right down to the cake.

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When picking a cake, there are so many factors to think about; the size, the design, the colour and more. Most cakes are typically round or square, but both? Who would have thought that mixing these two shapes would create such a stunning modern design. The varied tier heights and shapes on top of the pedestal cake stand, with the added touch of the flower complete this beautiful modern cake.

Image via WeddingWire

Do you love the round and square mixed together?!

Leave your comments below!

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Welcome Leah!!

bvanderlugt — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:45:33 +0000

Now…without further adieu…I think it’s about time that I introduce the newest member of The Little White Dress!! My new and FABULOUS intern – Leah!

I could not be more thrilled to have her on board interning with me for the next 6 months! Not only is she extremely organized, hard working and a perky breath of fresh air (which I sooo need sometimes! lol)…but she’s ridiculously talented and I can’t wait for what the next 6 months have in store as we put our brains together to create some fabulous events!!

So please everyone, give a warm welcome to Leah who even manages to look adorable amidst kitchen appliances! haha Only you!

Welcome miss Leah! I love ya already!

Elie Saab – Spring 2012 Couture Show

Kate — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:00:23 +0000

As an extension of our Alluring Attire Wednesday post on Alternative Bridal Wear I thought I’d give you a whole bunch more coloured gowns to oogle over on this dreary Friday and over weekend!! The Elie Saab Spring 2012 Couture Show was to die for. He completely captured everything beautiful about pastels and put it on the runway. It totally confirmed my prediction of pastels coming into gowns this year…and I couldn’t be more thrilled! I’m so excited to start seeing this trend implemented by brides!

Oh – and if you have about a half hour…go to the Elie Saab website and watch the entire show. It’s so beautiful, and so worth the time! (Not to mention the music is awesome) So grab a glass of wine or a cup of tea and enjoy!

Happy Weekend!

xoxo

Are we still loving the pastel gowns?!

Leave me your comments below!

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{Alluring Attire Wednesdays} Alternative Bridal Wear

Leah — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:10:46 +0000

Want to make a statement in a whole new way? Why not try a coloured wedding gown?

Every woman wants to stand out on their wedding day, but choosing a coloured gown brings the ante up to a whole new level. Colour can have specific meaning and reference depending on your culture, but traditional North American brides have always worn a shade of white. With modern brides, personal style and taste are taking precedence over tradition in every aspect of the wedding. You don’t want to get married in a white dress? Here are some of our favourite’s to spark your imagination for some alternative bridal wear.

Gradiated Peach?

Grey?1, 2, 3

Check out this Sherbet Lazaro! Isn’t it beautiful?

It’s the perfect touch of colour, combined with a classic tuille princess skirt that every girl dreams of. The beautiful satin bodice and the floral belt… and I don’t even know how to put into words that stunning open back. Besides the fact that Lazaro designs some of the world’s most desired wedding gowns, what do you think of the colour? Do you think it’s a trend that will stick?

Images via Lazaro

Would you ever wear a coloured wedding gown?

Leave your comments below!

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{K+B=LOVE} One Year Anniversary Shoot!

bvanderlugt — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:00:26 +0000

Our one year wedding anniversary was coming up, and I’d been thinking and thinking about what to get my husband. I thought of all your typical gifts – scotch, clothes, electronics – but nothing about them was exciting to me. They were all things that I’d given to him before, and I wanted to think of something that would be really special…I mean, we’d made it through our first year of marriage!!! Not always an easy feat!! haha It took me a little while to come up with the idea of doing a photoshoot…but once I did, I couldn’t believe it hadn’t come to me sooner. It was perfect! Not only was it a chance to re-connect with my hubby after a full year of marriage and bring us back to the roots of why we got married in the first place…but it was a chance to wear my wedding dress again! I pitched the idea to Bry and he loved it too. And so it began…the planning and coordinating of what we would wear, and where we would shoot. I knew that I wanted to wear my wedding dress and we decided Bryan would wear dress pants and a dress shirt, but not a full suit. And then…LINDOR! We thought that it would super fun to turn our one year anniversary shoot into a little family shoot and include our fur baby. And so we did exactly that!

I hope that this photoshoot inspires you to do something spontaneous and fun after your wedding, giving you a chance to get all dolled up again and put on that gorgeous gown! You won’t regret it!

All of these shots were captured by Alex Lee of Young Hearts Photography and we love them. I hope you do too!

Would you do a post-wedding photoshoot?

Leave your comments below!

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