{All About Texture}

Want a new way to add variety to your wedding without a plethora of colors?  Try involving textures.  Perhaps you want one color: navy blue, yellow, pink, etc.  You do not NEED to create a color scheme.  Here are some ways to add variety to your wedding by involving texture.

1. Use burlap: It makes great table runners, centerpieces, and more. Check out the burlap ideas on the knot.

2. Use wood: A stump of wood with votive candles, wood  place cards, etc.

 Look at this awesome crafty centerpiece.  It can also be made into a candle.

and this from Design Sponge is awesome

3.Use Lace: Doily runners or centerpieces, lace tablecloths, doily garlands.  LOOK HERE

 

 

4.  Use Paper: fake flowers are becoming popular!  Martha Stewart's tissue paper balls are also a hot trend.  Pinwheels, banners, etc. Check out luna bazaar

or visit 100 layer cake

5.  Use Buttons:  For corsages, bouquets, centerpieces, and more.

Style Me Pretty highlighted button table numbers! 

You can find great boutineers at ETSY

6. Use Metal: For centerpieces and more!

100 layer cake sells these

HAPPY PLANNING!  Be sure to check out my website!  www.chapter13weddingsandevents.com

{Website is Live}

That's right folks.  The Chapter 13: Weddings and Events Website is live!  Check it out to see pictures of my wedding, events I have coordinated in the past, and soon-to-come events.  Learn about what inspired me to start my business and check into my package pricing.  Enjoy!

xoxo Jenny

{Wedding Mixer. Mingle. Mingle.}

I am so excited to enter the Wedding Industry World. 

This Sunday I will be attending the Central Coast Wedding Professionals Expo in town as an observer.  I can't wait to meet all you wedding professionals out there! 

Then, in February, I am attending a local mixer for Wedding Industry Professionals. I am ecstatic to have these opportunities for networking, advertising, and growth!

My website will be up by the end of this week: stay tuned.  Business cards are on their way.  Let the merriment begin!

Keep checking back in for updates and advice and some fun and inspiring GUEST BLOGGERS!

Happy Wedding Planning

xoxo Jenny

{D.I.Y. Save the Dates}

Save the Dates are becoming increasingly creative and, often, homemade.  Here are some of my favorite ideas for Save the Dates:

1.  Take a picture (professional or self-shot) and create a postcard using your own computer or a photo upload site (shutterfly, vista prints, snapfish, wedding paper divas, etc.).  This allows you to make your postcard or image, exactly the way you want it.  Add a calendar, a cute phrase, information, etc.

2.  Photo Booth save the dates.  This can be done a number of ways.  You could actually hold up signs with the pertinent info in a real photo booth, or you could take separate pictures and create your own photo strip using a photo editing program. These can also be made into magnets (you can buy magnetic strips at any craft store.

3.  Creative paper.  I love colored paper and shaped paper.  Even better, is when it is in a translucent envelope.  Fill an envelope with papers in your various wedding colors an each with a different piece of information and/or picture.  Try scalloped, circled, rectangular, square, and heart shaped papers.  This can easily be done by purchasing colored cardtock, printing from your computer and using a paper punch.
4.  Ticket stub or vintage fold out.  There is a vintage craze occuring right now, which offers so many great Save the Date options.  I love the ticket stub idea and even used it for part of my reception program.  Check out some of the templates at www.marthastewartweddings.com.  Creating paper that folds out creatively is also a fun way to send information.

5. Techological Announcements.  Are you a movie buff or a music fan?  Create a playlist of your fave songs, burn them on a CD, make a unique Save the Date label and send each guest their own disc!  Or, create a video announcement to send via DVD. Check out this website:

6.  OK.  I love this one, but it is not for everyone.  Check out the World's Smallest Postal Service.  I found this at www.todaysletters.com :  Very unique!

Get creative and show your personality with save the dates!

{The New bud vase}

Lately, I have been seeing these flower arrangements everywhere!  Not only are they a great way to decorate your home, but they can make a wonderfully whimsical centerpiece while cutting down on flower cost.  It is unique simplicity and I love it!  This can be done with bud vases, old soda bottles, apothecary bottles, vintage white vases, and so much more! Check out these images from http://www.stylemepretty.com/.

{The Perfect Touch}

As I planned my wedding, I remember the frustration of havng a visual in my mind of exactly what I wanted, but not being able to find it anywhere!  For example:  I wanted a white satin garter with rhinestones on it.  No lace. No bow.  Simple.  I looked EVERYWHERE!  I could not find one.  Finally, I searched etsy and found many fun and funky garters.  I bought this one and LOVED it.  It matched my vintage theme, my colors, and was totally unique (just like my green shoes!).


If you are having trouble finding the perfect garter, clutch, centerpiece, hair accesory, shoes, etc. consider looking at non-wedding vendors.  This way, you will find something totally unique and, perhaps,  exactly what you had in mind!

Happy Hunting!

{Finances and Flowers}

Although not all brides have a strict budget, some do.  Today's economy may also be causing brides to cut back in certain areas.  Consider what is most importnat to you at your wedding and then make cuts elsewhere.  One big way brides can save $ and also make sure they get EXACTLY what they want is through their floral selections.  Traditionally, brides hire a florist to design and create the arrangements and bouquets.  This can cost a pretty penny.  Here are a few alternatives that can cut down on this cost.

1.  Make your own floral centerpieces and only hire a florist for the bouquets.
2. Use candles or potted plants/succulents for your centerpiece instead of flowers.
3. Purchase flowers from a wholesale florist or farmers market and find a crafty friend to make the arrangements.

One advantage to choosing a wholesale florist or a local grower is that you may have more options when it comes to choosing exactly what you want.  I purchased the flowers for my bouquet and for my centerpieces from Aztec Dahlias and Sequoia Wholesale florist.  I was able to walk through a field of Dahlias to pick the exact shade, size, and shape of flowers I want!  What a blast!  I also looked through the floral books at the wholesale florist to see which flowers were in season.  Purchasing in season flowers saves money!  My bridesmaids and I made our own bouquets using items purchased at the wholesale florist, online instructions, and a knowledgable friends.  For all my centerpieces, bouquets, boutineers, and additional flower decor, I spent under $300.

Central Coast Brides: Check out this wholesale flower company in Nipomo!