Oh what fun! I know it is going to be beautiful.
I saw the invitations Connie, I was with Steph when she picked them up. They are very very nice!
It sounds like you have it all covered....except you! LOL
What are you wearing?
It will be here before you know it. I am so happy for all of you!

Oh shoot I haven't figured out what I will wear! LOL I keep thinking I have plenty of time for that, but it IS getting much closer and fast too! I looked online but that is something that I'd have to see in person rather than take a chance online. Better add that if we have time either this trip or the next one or I will have to go in jeans! ;)

She will order the flower girl dress and probably tuxes for the ring bearers this summer and we shall all cross our fingers the stinkers don't grow much til after the wedding! LOL
Stephanie did one fantastic job on the invites! Heather can't wait for them to come!
BTW, up above thats Gerbera Daisies for flowers! LOL

Heather just emailed me today that they arrived. I was happy with them; I hope her and her fiancee are too.

Yep, she called me a little bit ago and was so excited to get them Steph! I won't see them til I go let "the boys" out at lunch time tomorrow but she said they are great! She still can't get over you offering your talent and is VERY happy with them. THANK YOU sweet Stephanie! You're a treasure and always thinking of others!!!!

Is she doing favors? If so, add that to your list.

Tulle for decorations. Watch Joann Fabrics for a sale.
Pew Bows
Bride's shoes
I helped a friend with a fall wedding, we bought potted mums and cut the flowers off added baby's breath and ferns for centerpieces.
I personally think favors are a waste of money and what do you do with them after unless it's candy.
A simple white basket works nice for cards. You will probably need a gift table.

Gifts for the bridesmaids?

I'd be interested in seeing the invitation. It sounds really cool! Is there a website to see another like it? As for suggestions on what to get, I have none as I have not been thru this before.

Ok making more notes! LOL Thanks guys.

Favors, she is unsure of just yet. She really liked the fall leaf maple syrup in bottles. I wanted to order some and she said nope to much money! LOL She DID order honey sticks so far. I *think* she may still do some Hershey's minature candy bars...but we really should check around on other ideas too.
I do have white tulle if she wants to use some..I think she should, she doesn't think so.
She said no pew bows. I asked her a bunch of times and tried to talk her into it and nope,nope,no! LOL
Shoes she will need! Something comfy for the dance too.
Potted Mums would be cute on the tables at the reception.

On attendant gifts, I am thinking everyone, bridesmaids and groomsmen, but personal attendants I am not sure? I think so?? What do you think? She wants to find something for the GB's (flower girl and ring bearers) but I am lost on that too.

Here is a link to some online.
I don't want to post the one that has names and addresses etc on.
They are soooooo cool and more personal IMO than an engraved invitation.
Have I said I love them?! LOL

Here is a link that might be useful: wedding pic invites

I love the photo invite idea. I had never seen that before.

How about something like this for centerpieces? (Thinking Fall colors...)

Oh Lindsey those are cute!
Looks like there are a few of those red stones in the bottom of the cylinder, with a couple leaves?
Adding another few things to the list! I hope Hobby Lobby has fallish stuff.

I recently came across a few nice cupcake towers somewhere. One used panettone papers for baking the cupcakes. I think they have a nice shape. Another used these cupcake wrappers.

I love Lindsey's idea! Those are very pretty.

The last three Wedding Invitations I have received have been Post Cards w/Photos. I kinda like it.

I think paying $20,000 and up for a Wedding is Ridiculous. Money better spent could go for the down payment of a home for the Couple. My Daughter's wedding was only $10,000, But, her Dad paid half. My Daughter, Myself and My Mom split the rest.
Gayle

Wedding stuff is SO fun, my youngest son just got married on NYEve. Something like this would go with a "fall" wedding, here is what we used for the card box. It was a big moss basket I bought at a garage sale,(it was new with tags still, for $1)I just made a top & added moss to match.
{{!gwi}}

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

Heather emailed me and said she really likes that basket Happytime!
Any idea what store it came from??
Going to do a search and see what I can come up with!

Nodakgal: I just emailed you via your page.

don't do favors.

Oh, wait, I see: "She DID order honey sticks so far.

So get a cellophane bag to put them in, print out something on pretty paper to cut into rectangular "labels," and staple them on.

People don't want favors. They don't need them. The honey sticks are ENOUGH.

Really? You think so Talley? I know she agonizes over all the little stuff! LOL
She wants a little saying on the honey sticks "Meant to bee" with their names and date.

Talley,

You love to make generalizations about what people want (or maybe you think it's your place to judge what people need). Some people still like to get little gifts or favors. Not everyone considers them a burden as you seem to.

I'm not saying that I think favors are a must but if they want to have favors, they can have favors. Minimalists like you can leave them behind for someone else who appreciates them.

I think there are people who like a favor, so I'll take it back--but I don't think they're ENTITLED to one, and I can tell you, a huge percentage of people are quite content without them. And a lot of people would rather the bride saved her money. I hear from them.

But I think the honey sticks are enough. Just a little token, that's all that's needed.

To me favors are just something the bridal industry thought up. Weddings are expensive enough without favors, which most people probably just trash.

Here's the invitation I did, but obviously with their picture and info instead. The cards are printed in a matte finish in a 5x7 size and have cream colored envelopes to match.

Connie said I could post the invite, but to protect privacy, I changed the info. I thought Barbie and Ken posing in this picture was quite appropriate for a wedding invite! ha ha!!

{{!gwi}}

Mothers' and grandmothers' corsages or very tiny bouquets. I opted for the bouquets. Gift for bride from parents. Song for bride to dance with father and for bride and groom first dance--and for groom with mother. Cake cutting knife for bride and groom to use. Table cover and decorations for the gift table and the table with the seating assignments.

Our florist said to look at department store jewelry counters for rhinestone initials to be put in bride's bouquet. I found a J & M, which were cute to add to the bouquet, but I could not find the last name initial, so we used just first name initials.

What do you mean by something for card holder? Is this outdoors and you want something to hold seating assignment cards? We typed the names on lists and put them in 3 large picture frames which wouldn't blow away in the breeze. Everyone could look for their alphabetized name and see their table number.

We didn't do favors. The kids all said how they didn't even bring home favors from weddings--they left them there or threw them out. That is a lot of wasted bother.

Outfit for Rehearsal Dinner and accessories. We bought DDs necklace the day of the event--decided her dress was too plain and she needed a necklace, and neither of us had one that would work. Found just the right thing at her favorite shoppe, ran into her Mini Girl Scout Leader who was also shopping with her DD and lo and behold, they were getting married on the same day!

Have her make up done while you are shopping, and buy what you need to get the look. We bought a special lipstick to help offset the pale cream dress.

Have fun.

Cake cutting knife

This is a nice touch, but it's totally optional. If she'd like to have one as a keepsake, put it on your list.

But if anyone in the family has a nice knife they'd let her borrow, great. Or if a friend or family member has one from THEIR wedding, she could borrow that (might be a nice sentimental touch). Or she could ask the cake maker or catering hall to loan her one. It's not necessary to create a keepsake with that.

Good for her, no pew bows! I know people like them, but they just seem like a silly way to spend money, to me.

Something for the cards: In some circles, people bring greeting cards w/ money in them as their wedding gift; by having a box or birdcage for people to slip them into, then the bride or groom doesn't have to hold onto them all night, and nobody can steal them.

there are SO many categories of "things to buy" that it gets ridiculous. There are lots of companies who want to make money off of brides & grooms; you really have to think a little defensively.

No cake cutting knife needed, she wants the mini cheesecakes in 3 different flavors. I did ask her if she's like a bridal couple on the cheesecake table, she said no and I am trying to convince her, but ultimately its her wedding, her decisions. I am proud of her for wanting "heartfelt" rather than the "show" so many weddings turn out to be. I just thought a bridal couple she could have for a keepsake too.
I do LOVE the idea of rhinestone intitals!! I am going to mention that too!
For cards I was talking about the cardholder and well wishes like Happytime posted.
Placecards we can just fold out of stiff cardstock...
I think we are going to be busy the next few months! LOL

I love the invites, they look so classy. About favors, they can be expensive, but something sweet to eat is always appreciated, so sticking with the honey sticks, and maybe another "munchie" if you feel its necessary, because people DO forget favors at the end of the night, unless they have already eaten them! A few other thoughts, since Heather's ideas for her wedding sound alot my my son & DIL's, they wanted a heartfelt and natural theme.
what is the ring bearer carrying? a pillow or box? this is what I made for the ring bearer.
{{!gwi}}
Also whats nice is incorporating family wedding photos on the table where the sign in will be, something like this.
{{!gwi}}
since our last wedding is so fresh in my mind I have a ton of thoughts. Also did you get my email?

Yes Happytime, got your email, I replied too! Didn't you get it?

We put wedding photos of the brides Grandparents (deceased)on the Guestbook table at other DD's wedding. I will have to ask Heather if she wants to use them. Thanks for reminding me! I'm not sure if the Groom has Grandparents still alive or not.

ok,Thanks I just got the 2nd email.
as far as the photos don't forget your own wedding photo, we put, each parents, grandparents and we both had photos of great grands too.

I had a very simple (ie cheap) wedding. I sent out about 100 invites and 100-130 attended. I didn't do RSVP because I really didn't care who came. I had a set amount to spend on the reception food so if we ran out I figured they could just go to any of the many fast food places near the church. The wedding was for me (Eric would have been fine with running off to Vagas) so I didn't worry about what others thought or anything. LOL

That said. I had little favors. I bought small clear tube thingies at Party City, I think they were 25 or 30 cents each (in 2000). At that time, Hershey had the HUGS version of the kisses. I made little stickers on the computer and used decorative scissors to cut them to the right size and make them prettier. The messages had "Hugs and kisses from the Mr. and Mrs.". I was industrious and made them way in advance (a bonus of using chocolate!). The night before, my maid of honor informed me that I used the wrong Hersheys!!! I had kisses and almonds. I didn't change them and no one else ever noticed (or mentioned it!).

I also refused to make bird seed bags- I had made WAY too many (I was the last in my circle to get married). I bought two plastic bird baths the season before when they were on clearance. I think I paid about $10/each. I had extra flowers from making the bouquets and window decorations (I cannot be around live flowers so they were all artificial). I used the flowers and ivy to decorate the edges of the bird baths and placed them by the reception doors. Right before we left, someone filled the bird baths (too many little boys around to do it ahead of time, LOL). Everyone grabbed a handful as they lined up. After we left, there was no netting or ribbons to clean up so my family was happy!

I don't think you have a bride's book listed. If you do I just overlooked it.

errrr brides book?
Spill the beans on that one Ya-Ya!
I am not sure what it is you are talking about, so I'd say its safe to say she doesn't have one!