Wedding Planning Guides

There are a lot of wedding planning guides out on the market; however I have found a few in the past that have come in handy over the past few years, especially for brides looking to have a DIY wedding. One that I have found especially helpful is the eBook "Master Wedding Planning Guide". This guide delivers budgeting advice, DIY decorations and even etiquette information so that you know what is proper, what is tradition and just what you need to save for.

More recommendations to come.

How to Decorate a Wedding Arch Like a Pro

One of the most important points of focus in any wedding is the wedding arch. This is not only the spot where couples exchange their vows, it is also used to present the wedding cake and for photographs to be taken under. Setting it up is relatively simple and inexpensive so it is possible to wait until the day before the wedding to set it up.

Besides the arch itself some other items are required and they are as follows:

Tulle or some other kind of fabric

Ribbon

Floral garlands

Strands of lights

Faux flowers

Hanging candle holders and tea light candles

The first thing you want to do is start at the top middle section of the arch weaving long pieces of the tulle or fabric toward the outer right corner, while keeping the tulle held in place by tying small bows using the ribbon.

Next you will want to spiral the tulle all the way down the posts until it reaches the ground, do this for the opposite side until all support posts are covered with the tulle. Be sure to allow the tail pieces of the tulle on the ground so they cover the feet of the wedding arch.

You will now want to run the floral garland along the tulle from the top center all the way down the sides of the arch and if you are doing a night wedding run some strands of white lights along the floral garland to light the arch instead of using a spotlight during the ceremony and reception.

The last thing you want to do is be sure the front of the arch is covered by tucking faux flowers in any gaps or openings as to not expose any of the support pieces. Then hang one to four of the candle holders, depending on the size of the arch, from the top middle section of the arch. Finally place the tea light candles in the candle holders and light them right before the ceremony or reception.

Note that you can omit the tulle altogether if the wedding arch is already white wooden lattice or wrought iron and just use the strands of lights and garland on it.

Crepe Paper Flowers: Tulip

Crepe paper flowers are crafty, fun and still elegant for a wedding. Create your own crepe paper tulips for your wedding decor using a few supplies and a little crafty bride know-how with the Martha Stewart Wedding’s Crepe Paper Tulip.

Supplies:
Tulip Petal Template
Colored Crepe Paper
Scissors
Decorating Stamen
Green Floral Tape

Step One: Cut out the Tulip Petal Template from Martha Stewart Weddings by clicking here.

Step Two: Use the template to cut out six petals using the template and desired color of crepe paper.

Step Three: Shape each petal to cup inward just slightly and set aside.

Step Four: Create pleats on the bottom portion of each petal and pinch the folds into place.

Step Five: Hold the decorating stamen in one hand and wrap three petals tightly around it. Wrap the remaining three petals on the seams of the first three, leaving them a little looser than the first.

Step Six: Secure the petals in place by pinching the bottom of the crepe paper petals and stretching a piece of tight floral tape around them. Repeat the process to make several flowers.

How to Start a Wedding Budget

You're engaged! Now it is time planning a wedding of your dreams, but before you start picking out the florists, interviewing the caterers or even purchasing the dress, you need to sit down and create a wedding budget. A wedding budget will give you a breakdown of how much you can spend on the food, the decorations and of course, the dress.

Who is Paying?

While tradition states the parents of the bride pay for the wedding, in today’s economy that is not always the case. Sit down with parents of both the bride and groom and find out exactly who is paying and how much they are paying. Get specific amounts rather than just a ballpark figure.

The average wedding costs $25,000; therefore, if the parents are not covering the entire average, the couple needs to sit down and decide how much they can afford to pay toward the wedding themselves.

What do You Really Need?
Sure you want doves to fly away at the wedding after you exchange the vows, but do you really need that? Make a list of the bare essentials for the wedding. These are the things you absolutely need in order for the wedding to happen.

Some examples of must-haves at a wedding are a venue (or place to get married), officiant, wedding dress and tuxedo.

What is Most Important?

Some couples have certain aspects of the wedding that are more important to them than others. Ask yourself and your groom what items are “musts” in the wedding. Only select two or three musts such as a gorgeous wedding dress, a certain caterer or a specific venue. Sit down with the groom and create the must list, but be realistic.

Set Limits on Items

Give the most money to the “musts” of the wedding or reserve enough funds to be flexible with them. The rest of the items in the wedding need to have some sort of monetary amount listed by them so that while shopping, you are aware of just how much you can spend on each item.

Not sure how to prioritize? Use Crafty Brides Wedding Planning Questionnaire to prioritize.

Welcome to Crafty Brides!

After being in the wedding business for over a decade I have learned my fair share of how it works, especially in the wedding planning process. Over the past 10 years I have helped family and friends plan affordable, gorgeous weddings and now it is my turn to share it with the rest of the world. As a former wedding planner, cake decorator and caterer, I will give you the inside scoop on what makes vendors charge what they do, how you can get a deal out of any vendor and all of the wedding decorations and planning you can do yourself to save thousands of dollars.

Do-it-yourself wedding decorations are not tacky. In fact, a bride can decorate her own classy, elegant wedding while everyone thinks she spend a fortune. All she has to do is be a little crafty…

So become a crafty bride! Take action and create the wedding of your dreams and spend the savings on your honeymoon.