How to RECYCLE....a Wedding!

In honor of Earth Day - here are some tips that will not only save our planet, but will save you $$ in the bank! Not every wedding as to be as royal as William and Kate's (although you know we are all dying to see what her dress looks like!) Planning a wedding doesn't have to break the bank - yes, it might be the biggest party you will ever throw...but why not make it sensible, and using items that can be used again...if you think about it, they will just remind you of your Big Day whenever you see them!



Let's start with the dress - you love the Vera Wang you saw in the magazine, but it's WAY over your budget, Recycled Bride has a variety of gently used wedding apparel, you are only wearing it once right?

Invites - Etsy I can be on this website for hours.. not only is that a page full of eco-friendly invites, but they are all hand-made and you are supporting a local artist. 

Centerpieces - We mentioned them in our blog before, and we plan on blogging about them again - Mason Jars! Flowers, candles, herbs, spices - fill them up with everything and anything and use them for centerpieces and/or favors. After your Big Day use them to hold your pasta, grains or flowers!

Place cards - These Seed Paper ornaments are perfect for place cards - picture them hanging from a ornamental tree or clothesline.. you can even give them away for favors at the shower or wedding - the guests will get to plant them and always have a memory of your Big Day when they look at the flowers!



So as you think about what kind of wedding you want, consider these ideas. If you need help along the way - just contact us, Big Day Planners!

Happy Planning!
Dana & Shannon

Bridal Show - April 20th

Why should you go to a bridal show? It is a one stop browsing experience of various wedding vendors. You will meet photographers, videographers, entertainers, invitation companies, bridal and tuxedo companies, and the list goes on. Of course you will also have the opportunity to meet wedding consultants too. If you come out to the WeddingSetGo bridal show this Wednesday (see details below) you can meet US, Big Day Planners! We will be handing out coupons for our services and also a few of our preferred vendors. We also will have a guestbook and if you sign it we will enter you in a drawing to win one of our packages with absolutely no cost to you! If you can make it please stop by and say hello.

Versailles Ballroom at the Ramada

2373 Highway 9

Toms River, NJ

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Doors Open at 6PM

Want to register for this event? http://www.weddingsetgo.com/view-showcases-and-register/april-17-2011-ramada-inn-toms-river/

Hope to see you Wednesday!

Dana and Shannon

What's Your Bridal Style?

Maybe you have been planning your BIG DAY since you were a little girl, or you just got the ring and don't know where to begin. Either way you have a style that will inspire one of the most important days of your life. So what kind of bride are you?

Are you a Traditional bride? Do you imagine...

• Ballgown with tasteful embellishments
  
• All white bouquet with a tight round shape
• Ceremony at the church/temple you grew up going to
• Banquet hall with elegant chandeliers
• 5 course sit-down dinner
• Drinking wine and champagne
• 10 piece wedding band
• Sister reading a poem at the reception
• A 3 tier wedding cake
• Personalized candy bar or box of treats for favors
  
• Honeymoon in Hawaii
  

Are you a Bohemian bride? Do you imagine...

• Flowing Goddess Gown
• Bouquet of wildflowers with various shapes and colors
• Ceremony and reception at a garden
  
• A fancy barbecue reception
  
• Sipping on Spiked Lavender Lemonade
• 2 guys playing acoustic guitar
• Variety of pies and cookies
• Smores at the end of the night
• Card detailing the donation made in lieu of favors
• Backpacking through Europe for your honeymoon
  

Are you a Unique, but Sophisticated bride?

• Lace gown with A-line silhouette
• Modern bouquet of a single calla lily
  
• Ceremony and reception at historic mansion or estate
• 5 hours of small bites and fancy drinks
• Frozen martini bar
  
• DJ playing the classics and hits of today
  
• Photo-booth filled with costumes and accessories
• Venetian table
  
• Bottle of wine for couples to take home
  
• Tahiti and Bora Bora for your honeymoon
  

Are you a One of a Kind bride?

• Tea length wedding dress with pockets
• Bouquet of a single variety of flower, such as hydrangeas
  
• Having a clam bake reception
  
• On a farm under the stars
• Gin and Tonics in mason jars
• Playlist from the iPod or New Orleans style jazz band
• Choreographed dance performed by you and you bridal party
• Bag of sweets from the candy truck
• Chocolate dipped strawberries for favors
  
• Honeymoon in Thailand
  

So now do you know what kind of bride you are?

Dana and Shannon

10 things that make us think of Spring!

Now that April is here, Spring is in the air, and everyone knows April showers bring May flowers, which is #1 on our list.

1. Spring flowers include tulips, lilacs, hydrangeas, poppies and peonies just to name a few.  You don't have to restrict your Spring wedding to Spring blooms but seasonal flowers are the most affordable and also healthier and more substantial during their time of the year.  For centerpieces consider fresh cut flowers or even potted plants, both cost effective options and something your guests can take home.

2. Moss is very versatile, it's not just a filler, but can be the center of attention! Look how moss inspired us for a centerpiece. We love to use moss in our #10 favorite, terracotta pots.
 
3. Everyone needs a watering can to help their gardens grow, why not include some cute little ones for place card holders or favors filled with your favorite candy or seeds. You can even use one for a centerpiece filled with fresh cut flowers!

4. Raffia is the perfect added touch for a rustic garden feel, you can use it as accents around napkins, vases, favors and more!

5. Also a great accent to a garden wedding is herbs! Look at what we did with the raffia and rosemary to dress up a place setting, you can steal it right from your garden! A great favor idea is to fill a tin with your favorite herb or spice.

6. Purple, yellow, green and pink are colors that remind us of Spring - focus on one using a light to dark spectrum of a single color, similar to how we used purple in this tablescape. Use this graduated color scheme for your bridesmaid dresses as well.

 7. Mason jars are an affordable, reusable and versatile option. As shown here they make a perfect vase and you can use a variety of sizes. The smaller mason jars are great for votives and tea lights to add that ambiance your table needs. Have your guests sip on one of Martha's suggested herbaceous cocktails from a mason jar, our favorite is the Tequila-Thyme Lemonade.  Last but not least fill them up with something savory or sweet for your guests to take home as a favor.

8. Twigs are a natural accent to a centerpiece. It works lovely on a long banquet table laying across to create an earthy look.  For a round table they can be a great accent to floral arrangement.

9.  We love burlap! It's simple and affordable. You can dress it up with any accent color, and fits perfectly for the setting of a garden wedding. You can wrap it around a vase, use it as a table runner or use small strips instead ribbon or raffia.

10. Another simple and affordable item we love are terracotta pots. Leave them their original color or paint them to your liking. Whether it's potted centerpieces or mini pots used as place card holders, they are a perfect touch to a Spring wedding! In addition to a garden and outdoor wedding, they are also great for a Mediterranean themed wedding.

Stay tuned for a future blog about our Mediterranean wedding ideas!

Happy Spring!
Dana & Shannon