Save The Date

Fred would marry me today at city hall.

But I am a girl, well an old girl, but still a girl.

I want family, a few friends, romance, celebration and sweet memories.

Unfortunately I also do not like being the center of attention so I am a bit hypocritical in this whole idea since sharing the most intimate promise of your heart with the one you have chosen to spend forever with, right smack in front of people sort of puts you at the center of attention.

But a wedding there will be.

In 4 months.

Crap.

I have a lot to do.

Our wedding will be mostly DIY for many reasons.
1. I love doing this stuff
2. Cost
3. Size, 30-36 people
4. Originality

Once you decide the date, colors and theme then the first thing to send out is 'Save the Date' cards so everyone will put you on their calendar instead of deciding to have a yard sale that same day.
Since the wedding is new years eve it helped me decide on the look of the cards, glittery, scrolly writing, a bit formal.
Well of course, you also have to decide your guest list first because you don't want to send these out to people and then not invite them to the wedding.
It would really suck if someone got a 'save the date' and then was sitting around on that day all dressed up thinking they would get the call any minute cause perhaps it was a flash mob wedding not realizing that they actually have nowhere to go.
And you would suck for it.

You can always invite more, you can not un-invite, so definitely keep track.

I decided to do the paper stuff myself....save the dates, invites/rsvp and thank you's.
Have I ever created cards before?
Nope.
Did I know what I was doing?
Nope.
Are they perfect?
Actually not too bad.

It is important to tie things together.
If you go to a custom stationer, a good professional will create a set of 'save the dates' 'invitations' 'rsvp's' and 'thank you's' that are all of the same papers and print, just a little different in each one, which is also what I am attempting to do on my own.

I decided to find a font online that was formal and pretty.
There were some that were beautiful, really really scrolly (yeah, it's not a word) and elegant, but in reality, scrolly doesn't work if you can't read it.
What did those people do in the scrolly word days?
Seriously, many couldn't read anyways, but then the scrolly stuff comes out and well you might as well have stuck your pointy snobby nose up in the air at all the peasants around you.
So, back to my less scrolly font.
It is called 'Respective' and was free, and took me a ridiculous amount of time to figure out where it ended up on my computer since I am not very techy (yeah, probably not a word either).

And this is what it took, plus a bit of courage....
12 x12 scrapbook paper in a light gold glitter
Gold velum
Respective font
Paper cutter
Corner and edge punch
Velum tape
Champagne envelopes
Large & and small (detail) paper scissor

On The Eve Of The New Year

The date has been set.

Decisions can be made.

Forever begins

December 31, 2012

Taste The Rainbow Part 3 ~ Reception

This is the final of three posts on Rainbow themed weddings.
And it is a long one.

We began with ideas for the bride.

The second was about the groom and everyone else, AKA the wedding party.

This last one is mostly about reception decor, etc..

How do you create a rainbow themed wedding without looking childish?

Less is more.

Decide where you want the emphasis of color and then stay more neutral on the rest.

Blatant screaming is never good, even without words.

The most magical thing would be to be married under a rainbow.

What a blessing.

AISLE RUNNER

How pretty is this?

Just try to not smile while you walk down the aisle.

ENTRANCE

I do believe that the entrance to your ceremony and your reception set the tone and are so often overlooked by brides.

It is like the entrance to your home....the front door and porch and then the inside foyer, even if it is just a space.

Make a welcoming statement to everyone who is coming to share this day with you.

If you are marrying at a church or other venue, the door is the perfect place to start especially if your budget is small.

You could easily display on the ground simple pottery with a different color flower in each one like these.

Or even DIY paper pinwheels in a variety of colors perhaps some with pattern to bring more interest and hang on the door like this if allowed or strung like flags from poles anchored in the ground.

I also love the idea of using these flowers down the aisle, either on the floor or hung from the pews or chairs.
Okay, really, the pinwheels would look so cool down the aisle on the pews also.
I seriously need to have a hundred weddings so I can do everything I like.
Donations?

Or how about painting pottery in colors sort of like these lit ones and using just greenery in them.

Even a ribbon or fabric garland like this would work well hung across the entrance.

It could even be done with paper.

This is so fun over the table, like flowers in the air.

So often brides forget to look up in regards to decor but it can make such an unexpected impact.

Balloons are more fitting for the reception making it fun and festive.

Pinwheels, so many uses....down the aisle, at the entrance, in centerpieces, etc..



Mayday pole for fun and games.



Flags, maybe not so blatant but this gives you an idea. 
I prefer the long triangle ones you sometimes see at wineries and fastened loosely at the bottom.

CHAIRS

I love chairs at weddings when they are done correctly.

Please skip the satin full chair cover on every chair.

It is just too much shine and too much fabric.

Besides, men hate them.

Now these chivari chairs are so pretty.

I am not sure you can find them but how about using white or wooden chivari chairs and adding ribbon or flowers in a different color on each row.

Sort of like this....

Plain chivari with different colored cushions and napkins to match.

And this look with ribbons on the chair backs.

Although this is modern and minimal, just bling it up to your level of lovely.

Cafe chairs.

FLOWERS

You could spend way too much and have this gorgeous floral runner with overhang.

I love the purple orchids on the end.

And these beauties, small groupings of 4 down a table.

Yarn wrapped bottles, or painted, or glittered.

LIGHTING 
A good lighting expert could do this for your dance floor.

DECOR

Again, from above.

These umbrellas add a great touch of whimsy.

An easy and affordable paper garland.

These are lights I believe, but the same could be done with balloons (I have read to place a marble in them to give them weight), or hang silk flowers, just think outside the box and be creative.

Tissue poms.

Hang fake butterflies from the ceiling.

This would look really pretty if you also hung flowers and interspersed them at different heights, sort of like a garden.

Who knew ribbons and sequence could look so good.



Collect colored bottles and use them as centerpieces.



Again, umbrellas have all sorts of uses, hanging, in upper corners to soften the room edges, photo booth props, as backdrops, etc..



Pretty straws are cheap and easy to find online.



Get really creative with paint swatches....table numbers, invites, art, coasters, etc..

EATS
Cotton candy on glow sticks.



God gave us rainbows everywhere, in the sky, in flowers, in fruits.





And veggies



You could make these pops ahead of time.




Or an ice cream bar with pretty cones.



Or go back to your childhood with a switch, rice krispie treats made with trix.




A variety of sodas, we will just assume the dyes are natural.




"You can never be jello!" ~ Julia Roberts from My best friends wedding.
Jello layers, hell, make them jello shots and have a jello (jolly) good time.
Bahahaha



More good stuff....
Skittles Vodka.




CAKE

'Let them eat cake.' ~ Marie

Lots of options for cake, inside, outside, topper, pedestal....

FAVORS?

OMG there are so many fun ideas.

Cool shades.

Bow ties for the gents, if you are crafty you can make them and save money.

Paper flower topped candy tubes.

Rainbow colored test tubes with skittles.

Crayons in the 7 colors.

Pretty and cheap party/mardi gras beads.

THE SEND OFF

In the daytime....

Confetti.

Ribbon wands for waving goodbye.

At night....

Glow sticks, pretty and actually a bit nerdy which is so cool.

If you follow my 'I Do....All The Colors Of The Rainbow" on Pinterest you will find more ideas.

And I'm spent.