Keep your little ones busy with this free wedding coloring book courtesy of Bridal Party Tees.Com. This is a Microsoft Word document so all you have to do it download it and you can personalize it anyway you would like.
Click Here for Your Free Wedding Coloring Book!
Bridal Party Tees is always looking for a way to make your wedding planning easier. Therefore, we have created a free wedding budget calculator. All you have to do is simply change the amount in the budget column and fill out the estimated and actual amounts and the work sheet will do the rest for you! We hope this is just another way we can help you with your wedding planning!
Download here and enjoy! Free BPT Budget Calculator
SERVINGS: 14
TIME: Prep: 25 min. Bake: 30 min. + cooling
Ingredients:
* 1 package (18-1/4 ounces) red velvet cake mix
* 1 carton (6 ounces) raspberry yogurt
* 1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
* 1 carton (12 ounces) frozen Cool Whip® whipped topping, thawed
* 1 cup raspberry pie filling
Directions:
Prepare cake batter according to package directions. Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. heart-shaped baking pans. Bake at 350° for 30-33 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
In a large bowl, combine yogurt and confectioners’ sugar; fold in whipped topping. Split each cake into two horizontal layers. Place one bottom layer on a serving plate; top with a fourth of the yogurt mixture. Repeat layers three times. Spread pie filling over the top to within 1 in. of edges. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Yield: 14 servings. Editor’s Note: This recipe was tested with Duncan Hines red velvet cake mix.
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Reuse, Reduce, Recycle. It’s the mantra to live by in today’s world of Global Warming and rapidly depleting natural resources. But while many Americans are employing the theory in their everyday lives, some have even gone so far to design their entire weddings around the belief system that humans should strive to reduce their carbon footprints on this earth. Check out these 10 couples who planned eco-friendly weddings – they managed to have an environmentally conscious affair without sacrificing any style points.
Michael and Stephanie: This happy couple makes living green a way of life. Michael, a spa and hotel owner, and Stephanie, an artist, decided to not only hold their wedding at an organic vineyard in Napa Valley, but they tried to incorporate reusable materials and sustainable foods into the reception as much as possible. The menu featured only organic and locally-grown vegetarian foods and wines – not a tough thing to do when you are getting married in the lush, agriculture-rich region of northern California! But one of the wedding’s most creative and iconic elements was the long dining table. The groom’s friend crafted the table out of used wine barrels. The couple then had their guests carve their names into the table instead of using a paper-wasting guest book. They then recycled the table into a front door for their new home!
Kate and Barry: Kate and Barry, two diehard outdoor enthusiasts, made their wedding so green it seems hard to make an event any greener. First, the location was set at an organic farm in New York, where guests were invited to hike and take nature tours the day before the wedding. The menu was chosen based upon what foods were available in the fall season and grown nearby, and the same idea was employed for the bride’s bouquet – it was designed using only local, seasonal flowers. Because the reception was held at a nearby golf course, the couple looked for vans that ran on bio-diesel fuel to shuttle guests back and forth. For favors, the bride made each guest a piece of pottery. The couple also used rocks found in nature as part of their décor, which they returned to their native spot afterward. To top it off, Kate and Barry even calculated all of the miles their guests traveled to attend the wedding and then donated money to plant enough trees to offset the omissions.
Beth and Andrew: This couple, who lives in San Francisco, didn’t go over the top to make their wedding eco-friendly, but they are a primo example that you don’t have to obsess over every detail to end up with a wedding that is both easy on the eyes and the environment. Beth and Andrew held their wedding near their families in Pennsylvania and decided to let their lifestyles guide their choices. One choice was to reduce gas emissions from guests by holding both the ceremony and reception at the same location, which is also a tremendous convenience for their guests, as well. The food served was all organic with vegetarian options. And after the wedding ended, they donated all of their flowers to a local hospice.
John and Nancy: To make their wedding as eco-friendly as possible, John and Nancy had to bust out their calculators. Well, at least John’s students had to, because as part of one of their assignments he asked them to calculate the carbon footprint their wedding would have on the earth. By adding up the distances each of their guests were traveling and then factoring in all of the energy it would take to actually power their wedding, the couple concluded that their wedding alone would release 58 tons of carbon dioxide. To offset that, each guest received an 11-watt compact fluorescent light bulb, with instructions to swap it out for a 50-watt incandescent bulb. Guests also received information sheets with tips on how they could further reduce their impact on the earth in everyday life.
Heather and Matthew: Heather and Matthew made sure that for their wedding, transportation would be kept to a bare minimum. First, they had a nearby friend hand make their invitations from recycled paper. Then they planned floral arrangements and bouquets using flowers that the bride’s mother grew in her yard. Her mother also made wreaths with sticks and flowers from her garden and then found some used ribbon and tulle for accenting. Matthew handmade all of the vase holders for the ceremony from old logs, and the couple employed family members to do the flower arrangements. Heather’s dress was made by a local seamstress, the food was locally-grown and organic, and the reception and ceremony were within walking distance of each other.
Kathy and Brett: Kathy and Brett, a couple from Nevada City, Calif., decided to have an eco-friendly wedding after becoming disgusted with how disposable and “throw-away” traditional weddings had become. They started by renting out the Sierra Friends Center in their hometown, a lovely nature preserve dedicated to environmentalism. Both Kathy and Brett decided to wear organic, natural fiber clothes and outfitted their wedding party similarly in hemp dresses, shirts, and pants. Kathy’s dress was made by a local seamstress. All of the food, which was served potluck-style, was organic and locally-grown, and the couple treated guests to a local organic beer. Before the wedding, the couple sent out hemp invitations and asked each of their guests to bring a small square organic cake, which they pieced together to create one big quilt-like cake. All of the hardware – like vases and glassware – was recycled and everything else was rented or purchased from a store in town.
Kristy and Nik: For this couple, not having a green wedding would have been an insult to their occupations. Nik, an environmental consultant for restaurants, and Kristy, a graduate student in urban planning, live green in everything they do. Even simple things like getting ice cream – always ordered in a cone – is a test of their eco strengths. Like many of the other couples mentioned, Nik and Kristy tried to minimize their carbon footprint from transportation, and while they live in Boston, they held their wedding in San Francisco where all of their guests live. To get guests from their homes to the wedding site, the couple rented a bus and asked others to drive a hybrid vehicle. They calculated the carbon footprint of all the transportation and donated money to an organization that plants trees to neutralize the effects. They also opted against having flowers and asked their guests to donate to environmental nonprofits in lieu of giving them gifts.
Morgan and Alex: Morgan Spurlock, the acclaimed documentary filmmaker behind the hit movie “Super Size Me,” married his vegan chef girlfriend Alexandra Jamieson opted to elope to Fiji for their nuptials. And while the gas it took to get them to the Pacific island was not exactly carbon-neutral, the rest of the affair was very environmentally conscious. Because they eloped, they invited only two friends, and therefore had none of the paper waste associated with a big list of invitees. The bride wore a silk, hemp gown that her mother made in a nice pink shade, so it can be worn again or else remade into curtains or pillows. There were no flowers, huge food displays or other items that could potentially go to waste. When the couple returned home, they had a small, local celebration with their friends.
Natalie and Matt: Natalie began planning for her eco-friendly wedding with the attire. She bought a used-but-not-yet-worn wedding dress off of a bride that ended up calling her wedding off. She then recycled her sister’s bridesmaids dresses for her own wedding party, getting an extra use out of a dress that so often goes to waste. Then she and her husband approached a local jeweler about creating wedding bands for them out of recycled gold – a very popular option for green couples. She even used her grandmother’s ring as part of the recycled mix. Of course the food was all organic, including the wine, and the centerpieces were all given away as favors. The couple arrived at their local wedding spot in canoes decorated with lily pads and also chose to honeymoon on a nearby island.
Kristen and Todd: As this bride blogs, her husband proposed to her without a ring, saying that the couple should design one together. That set the tone for a do-it-yourself wedding-planning mentality that eventually resulted in a fun, lighthearted and eco-friendly wedding. The wedding was held in their resident town of Oxford, Ohio, and the couple chose an organic vegetarian buffet served with reusable plates and flatware. Kristen got her dress at a second hand shop and let her bridesmaids pick out their own dresses to be sure they would wear them again. They used all recycled paper products and gave their guests carbon credit cards as wedding favors. The cake was homemade; the flowers organic. They enlisted their family and friends as help instead of outsourcing duties and tried to go second hand as much as possible. Their one splurge? A photo booth for fun wedding memories.Wedding days are really the bride’s day. It’s the event she’s been dreaming of since she was a little girl, the one she’s been building up in her mind her entire life. Grooms must put aside their childish whims and be on their best behavior. Despite it being a day for both to celebrate, grooms must really be on their best behavior – even the most minor offense will not be tolerated. So that being the case here are a few other things a groom should definitely not do on your wedding day, lest he want to be publicly ditched at the altar.
Show Up Hungover: While it’s inevitable that the groom and all of his rowdy friends will want to celebrate and/or mourn his loss of bachelor status the night before the wedding, a groom who shows up reeking of Wild Turkey, urine, and cigarettes is not going to win any brownie points with his intended. If your man has a penchant for booze, make sure he’s stocked with the necessary hangover elixirs the next day. Especially if you sense he has cold feet – the more frightened he is, the more likely he is to go on a bender in the days leading up to the event.
Show Up Drunk: The only thing worse than showing up hungover is showing up fully drunk (though one could argue that arriving at your wedding after consuming a large amount of psychedelics might rank a little higher on this scale.) However, few things would put you more on edge than a groom who is spontaneously “wooing” and cheering, slurring his vows, laughing and snorting through the ceremony, basically falling over at the altar, or worst of all, carrying a beer down the aisle. Consider the story about the woman in India whose husband-to-be showed up so drunk to his own wedding that his bride married his brother instead. Do you have a back-up plan in place?
Rhyming Vows: Exchanging vows is one of the most special moments of a wedding ceremony, so it’s certain to say a bride would be less than amused by a groom who decided to “lighten” the moment with his comedic or musical debut. Rhyming or rapping his vows is both embarrassing for the bride and ridiculously cheesy. What bride wants to hear her husband declare his love by saying, “Hickory dickory dock, our hearts will soon be locked. I tried to run, you wouldn’t go away, and that’s what brings us here today!”
Invite an Ex: Remember when your groom asked you if he could invite his skanky ex-girlfriend who likes to call the house and hang up to the wedding? Remember when you said no? That should have been the end of it, right? Well, apparently not, because as you are walking down the aisle concentrating on looking misty-eyed and gorgeous there the harlot is in the fourth row on the groom’s side. It may take all the inner strength you possess to keep yourself from hurling your bouquet in the groom’s face and kneeing him in the groin. Inviting an ex behind the bride’s back is the ultimate no-no.
Get a Facial Tattoo: Can you even fathom the feeling of horror you might experience if you showed up to the church to find your groom had fulfilled his longtime fantasy of tattooing his entire face before the wedding? Marking his face with tribal art the day before your wedding is definite grounds for immediate deportation to Papua New Guinea or northern New Zealand. Getting a tattoo to commemorate the big day is one thing, but it has to be discreet. Writing your name across his forehead in permanent ink is neither endearing nor attractive. This is the kind of faux pas that just might get some grooms left standing solo at the altar.
Book His Favorite Styx Cover Band: You argued over the music for weeks. You wanted traditional DJ fare, maybe a sweet little string quartet during the ceremony and reception. He argued – quite passionately – for his favorite 80’s glam metal cover band, the kind who come complete with leather pants and eyeliner. You said no; he seemingly obliged. But then behind your back he canceled the viola player and booked the band. You show up to your reception to find a troupe of Alice Cooper look-alikes screaming racy lyrics to your horrified grandmother.
Ditch His Pants: The Ralph Lauren tuxedo the two of you picked out for the wedding was so very nice. You knew your groom wanted a more casual feel, but you’d been dreaming about having a traditional, formal wedding all your life. You appreciated the fact that your man seemed so willing to sacrifice his wishes for yours. Until you hooked your arm in your father’s and looked to see your intended waiting for you at the end of the aisle in his tuxedo jacket, bow tie, and pair of plaid shorts. Hopefully, he at least wouldn’t have his groomsmen follow his lead, but, then again, maybe it would help him blend a little better. And let’s hope also that he at least had the good sense to switch from his black knee socks and lace ups to a more appropriate pair of flip flops.
Keg Stands: Frat party staples like Jager bombs and keg stands should not be brought into your wedding reception, especially when it’s your groom demanding the action. A groom encouraging and pressuring your skirt-wearing Aunt Millie to hoist her legs over her head and drink beer straight from the tap while your groom and his friends lead a chorus of “Chug, chug, chugs” is not a man mature enough to handle the institution of marriage.
Criticizing the Bride’s Appearance: This one is something of a no-brainer, but you would be surprised at the level of insensitivity some men possess. Despite what a bride chooses to wear or how she has cut or styled her hair, grooms should never be heard or seen making gagging noises, pretending to vomit, or blatantly asking the bride, “Geez, did you go drinking before hitting the bridal salon?” or “How did you get the ax?” Some things are better left unsaid.
Dirty Dancing : If your groom really appreciates his cheesy dance moves you might want to cut him off from the reception early before he tries to wage some freaky-deaky dance warfare on your grandmother. The “running man” you can tolerate – heck, you’d even stand for a few “sprinklers” and a “Roger Rabbit” or two. But let your groom know beforehand that grinding on the guests is strictly prohibited. I mean seriously can you really imagine or would you even want to imagine Granny grinding up on Grandpa to the tune of some new Kayne West track? Classy right?
Guitar Solo: If your groom has recently taken up guitar, or if he’s been at it for awhile but really just sucks, then you would likely not be too psyched if he decided to demonstrate his musical chops for your entire guest list. Avoid unwanted guitar solos or off-key serenades by opting to not hire a band and go with a DJ instead. Keep instruments far away from your husband-to-be and eliminate the risk that your man will follow through on his flamboyant urge to imitate David Lee Roth.
Having his Groomsmen Wear Matching Oakley Blades: Warning: If your husband-to-be was a Phi Delt in the 80s or is just hopelessly stuck in the era, constantly reminiscing about water skiing outings made in neon pink swimming trunks, then you could be in danger of him pulling a stunt like this – asking his groomsmen to all wear matching iridescent Oakley Razor Blade sunglasses throughout the ceremony. Not only is this trend hugely unattractive and about as “with the times” as a wooly mammoth, but it’s just a sign that he can’t be trusted and will never leave the past behind. If any artifact of that decade should be left behind and forgotten, it’s this one.
Moonwalk to the Altar: Your wedding day is the one day of the year – possibly of your life – that you get the hands-down right to make as grand of an entrance as possible. That’s why you have every reason to be mad as hell if your groom tries to upstage you with a grand entrance of his own. If he does anything beyond calmly and deliberately walking to his post at the altar, turn on your heels and hightail it out of there. Any moonwalking down the aisle or entrance that involves a Rush song playing in the background and special effects like smoke and lights is fair grounds to call the whole thing off.
Reveals a BIG secret: Hopefully, by the time you and your intended are actually tying the knot, you will know just about everything about each other. Which is why it would be deeply disturbing if your groom decides to use the occasion as an opportunity to reveal something personal and awkward about himself. Sure, having all of your family and friends gathered together in one place makes it easy for him to get the admission off his chest in one swoop, since everyone who is important to him will be present. But having your groom steal the spotlight by confessing he’s bisexual, revealing a former drug habit, or introducing the crowd to his illegitimate, secret 10-year-old son will certainly ruin your entire day – especially if it’s news to you, too.
Switch Out First Dance Song: The ceremony is over and you are gathered before your friends and family, standing in the spotlight on the dance floor, ready for your first dance with your new husband. You smile demurely, waiting for the DJ to kick on the song to which you both agreed was the perfect mood-setter for your first twirl as man and wife – “A Whole New World” by Peabo Bryson. The lights dim and the DJ hits the switch. Before you know what’s happening, your groom is grinning like a maniac, jumping around the room, and doing the chicken dance. The jerk switched out your wedding song without telling you. Horrified, you have two choices: either walk off the floor or tuck your wrists under your armpits and start clucking.
Wearing Heelys: If your groom decided to forgo his tux-issued shoes for a pair of brand new Heely sneakers – the shoes with wheels in the heel – then you can take it as a sure-fire sign that your groom is one of the most immature people on the planet. Remind him that the law states a person must be over the age of 18 to get married without parental consent and then roll him out of the picture. Lets be honest if this is really something you need to explain to your groom ladies…you two are probably not going to be a match made in heaven for long. Five years from now I can see your future now and I have two words for you DIVORCE SETTLEMENT!
Shave Your Name into His Head: Romantic gestures from the groom on your wedding day are very nice. One standard act of love would be sending the bride a gift – maybe some roses or some jewelry. It would even be kind of nice for him to hire a small prop plane to write your name in the sky. But shaving it into his head the morning of the wedding is not included on this list of sweet and acceptable gestures. If this happens, just hope you can catch him before your debut at the altar so you can find him a hat or shave the rest of his hair off. If your man comes to the wedding with this going on kindly send him back down the aisle with his 4th grade text book and tell him to call you in 10 years!
Crying Uncontrollably: Again, sentimental gestures from the groom are nice, and tearing up a little when he sees you walking down the aisle is completely fine – even a little desirable one would think. But the man must show a little self-control. Body-wracking sobs are not the look and feel you are going for here. If your groom is crying so loud that you can’t hear your cue to say “I Do” then elbow him in the side and try to get the situation under control. If that doesn’t work, you may want to join him.
Objecting, Jokingly: You know that part in the ceremony where the preacher asks that if anyone knows any reason why the bride and groom should not be married that they should speak now or forever hold their peace? It’s a moment where the crowd, and by all means the bride and groom, are really expected to remain silent. Anyone who would actually pick that moment to express their disapproval with your relationship is not a friend you want to keep. But it would be wholly worse if the person to “speak up” during the ceremony was the man you were marrying. No matter how sarcastic or joke-prone your husband is pretending to object to your own wedding is not even remotely funny.
Getting Beat Up : If your groom has a nasty temper, then one thing you might be wary of is the likelihood of him showing up in suit and tie with a black eye and broken nose. That photographer is expensive for Pete’s sake and nothing is going to ruin your lifelong memories more than photos of your groom smiling broadly with missing teeth. Don’t let your groom get beat up before the wedding. Make sure any raucous behavior he engages in prior to the ceremony is far away from the town dive bar.
An orderly arrangement of seating cards can get jumbled as guests find their names. Tuck flat cards into the creases of accordion folds, and they’ll stay in tidy rows. This display is not only elegant, it’s easy to put together. Just fold a long piece of colored card stock, punch holes, and thread ribbon through. For the seating cards, we used store-bought note cards with blue borders that coordinate with the hues of the ribbon and folded paper. Names appear on the front, table numbers on the back.
Tools and Supplies
43-by-7-inch pieces of card stock for each stand
Ruler
Bone folder
1/4-inch hole punch
Two 26-inch pieces of 9mm ribbon
Six 6 1/4-by-4 1/4-inch note cards
Stand How-To
One stand will hold six cards and stretch to about 25 inches. If you want a shorter one, subtract 7 inches from card-stock length for one fewer space. Mark folds on both edges: On front of paper, mark 1/2 inch from top. Then, mark every 7 inches. Line up ruler with each set of marks; score across paper with bone folder. For back, measure 4 inches from top, then every 7 inches; score. Fold at each score line, bending it toward indentation. Unfold end flaps. Punch holes in bottom corners. Thread ribbon through, and knot ends; trim. Set cards in creases.
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SERVINGS: 36
TIME: Prep: 1 hour + chilling Bake: 10 min./batch + cooling
Ingredients:
3/4 cup sugar, divided
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 egg yolks, beaten
1-1/2 cups milk
1/2 to 1 teaspoon rum extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
2 packages (17.3 ounces each) frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 jar (12 ounces) seedless raspberry preserves
2 cups fresh raspberries
Confectioners’ sugar
Directions:
In a bowl, whisk 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch, salt and egg yolks. In a large saucepan, bring the milk and remaining sugar to a boil; remove from the heat. Stir a small amount into egg yolk mixture; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in extracts. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours or until chilled.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream until soft peaks form. Fold into custard. Cover and refrigerate until serving.
Roll out pastry on a lightly floured surface. Cut with a 3-1/2-in. heart-shaped cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Bake at 400° for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool.
Just before serving, warm preserves in a small saucepan; drizzle some onto dessert plates. Split puff pastry hearts in half. Place bottom halves on plates; spread each with 2 tablespoons of filling. Replace tops; drizzle with remaining preserves. Garnish with raspberries and confectioners’ sugar. Yield: 3 dozen.
If you are having a beach wedding, then here is an inexpensive favor idea that your guests are sure to love! If you live close to a beach collect a variety of shells and make seashell candles. If you are not close to the sea, have no worries! Shells can be bought fairly cheap at your local craft store. To make these candles, simply follow the directions below.
What you’ll need:
• Bar of paraffin
• Wicks
• Metal wick holders
• Double boiler with a pouring lip
• Shells
• Stubs of colored candles
Most of these items can be found at your local craft store. If you can’t find metal wick holders, remove the wicks from inexpensive tea lights. Use stubs from colored candles to make candles in various shades.
Method:
Clean shells in a 10% bleach solution. Rinse with cool water and let dry.
Cut up the paraffin block into smaller chunks with a sharp knife. Melt them in the top of the double boiler by heating the water below to a slow simmer. Use the paraffin as is, or you may wish to add bits of colored wax for different color combinations. This is a great way to use up your old candle stubs. Experiment with color blends, but remember that the wax will be a shade darker when it dries.
Cover a steady surface with plastic or newspapers. Balance one of the shells on a small cup and slowly pour in the melted wax. Immediately place the wick and wick holder in the center of the shell. Leave wax to cool for at least 30 minutes so all the wax will harden fully.
Enjoy your beautiful seashell candles!
Some of us aren’t endowed with trust funds or uber-rich parents. If that’s the case, it means preparing for your wedding can be something of a stressful chore. With the average cost of weddings these days topping $20,000, it certainly can cause some worry. But don’t fret – there are many ways to cut costs and still have a fabulous wedding. Here are some tips on how throw a classy wedding on a dime.
You will clearly need to save, save, save if you’re going to foot the bill for your wedding, but the good news is that some of the costs can be financed. In the unfortunate addition to racking up some credit card debt, you can rack up some old-fashioned bank-loan debt, as well. It may sound somewhat formal and heavy for such a happy occasion, but it’s pretty common to take out a loan to help cover your expenses. And lots of banks have plans to suit your financial needs. But a warning to the wise – while it’s easy to get a loan, it’s also easy to fall into a money-sucking trap. Try to go for loans that allow for a short payback term to reduce the amount you’re spending on interest and stay on top of your payments!!! Don’t let the most joyous day of your life lead you to financial ruin. Loans can get great if used properly, but its advisable to pay with saving for the wedding… be responsible!
How to Save Money
So now you know that if push comes to shove you will be able to get some financial assistance for your wedding in the form of a loan. But you may want to save that for a last resort. The very first thing you need to do when planning a wedding on your own dime is start saving! You many not think that you’re a spendaholic, but you would be surprised at how many extra costs you can cut out if you just put your mind to it. Here are a few ways to start fattening up your bank account.
Doing it yourself could not be more hip these days. And honestly there are so many things you actually can do yourself. While it may sound daunting at first, armed with a few simple guidebooks and instructions, you can essentially make anything that you would possibly need for your wedding even if you aren’t the craftiest bride. Making things yourself will help you cut costs, while also earning you the admiration of all your guests.
General Tips to Keep Your Costs Down
Cutting back on the amount of hired help at your wedding is one solid way you can keep costs down. Here are some general rules to employ so you can pull off a great wedding without working too much overtime.
Brides everywhere were flocking towards the trapeze style dresses but not anymore! The big thing this year is showing off that sexy waist. You have worked so hard to get into great shape for your wedding. So…why not show it off? The Spring 2008 Fashion Week showcased one thing in particular, the cinched waist. Models were adorned and accented with wide belts that allowed them to show off their mid section. Look for wedding dresses to follow suit, with a reinvigoration of the obi belt, and contrasting color sashes.
