DIY Wedding: Five Ways To Incorporate Fun Material Into Your Wedding

Once the wedding proposal has been made and accepted the fun begins. Your wedding day will be a labor of love that is sure to incorporate childhood dreams and a grown-up wish list.

SURPRISE AISLE RUNNER

If you are a bride who leans to the wild side, consider a non-traditional aislerunner for your wedding ceremony. What's wrong with using a fun leopard print fabric to glide up the aisle on? Leopard print can be purchased in a variety of shades and you can buy extra fabric for pew bows and to embellish candle stands and reception tables.

LEATHER AND LACE

Anything goes when planning a wedding, so don't be afraid to embrace a daring theme including lace accents. Bridesmaids can don leather sashes to accent their lacy gowns. Leather and lace touches would be lovely on bouquets, boutonnieres and reception centerpieces. Pair these materials with darker wedding colors like chocolate brown, deep magenta and black.

OVERDO WITH TULLE

Lots of brides utilize tulle in their wedding decorations, but consider bumping it up a notch! Purchase three or more colors of tulle for a festive and colorful event. Use the rainbow of tulle to make pew bows, reception table runners and chair accents. You will have instant wedding joy using small layered squares of tulle for candy favors tied up with twine and colorful tags thanking guests for attending.

COWBOY UP

There is a growing trend of cowboy themed weddings featuring easy cotton wedding clothes, wildflower bouquets and fun calico prints with leather accents. Have crafty girlfriends help make calico print table runners, napkins or place mats for each guest. Top your tables with mason jars, simple flowers and a scatter of buttons for the perfect touch. Using leather products by rustico, wrap silverware bundles in leather bows and make candy-filled leather pouches as wedding favors.

BURLAP DREAM

Let burlap be the unexpected star of your wedding reception. It is lovely to work with, affordable and adaptable. Use it for a wedding aisle runner trimmed with rose petals, as well as for the ring-bearer pillow and chair bows. You can stitch drawstring bags filled with spa products as gifts to wedding attendants.


When planning the perfect wedding it is a wonderful idea to incorporate fun materials as they add interest, rich texture and unexpected touches. Be creative and a little daring and you are sure to be pleased with how your memorable day comes together.


Article submitted by Rianne Hunter

DIY Wedding Favors 2012

Many brides and grooms want to thank all their wedding guests for attending their special day. One way that they do this is by sending home their guests with wedding favors. Unfortunately, many wedding favors fly under the radar and sometimes guests forget to take them home with them. If you are planning to have wedding favors at your wedding, be sure to impress your guests with a favor that will not be soon forgotten. Here are a few DIY wedding favor ideas that will be sure to please you and the rest of your wedding guests as well...

Pre-Packaged S'mores

In clear plastic containers, have separate boxes for the graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate pieces. Package each up individually and have one nest on top of one another. Wrap with a decorative ribbon, for a wedding favor that guests will be sure to enjoy!

Flowers, Plants, or Sunflowers

Send guests home with a token that can be enjoyed for years to come. Pre-packaged sunflower seeds or even bulbs placed in special packaging would be an ideal favor, as guests can take these gifts home and have them grow with love. You could have blooms that are already established, planted in decorative containers with a special note from you to your guests decoratively attached to the container.

Customized Stationary

Leave a lovely stack and beautifully wrapped set of monogrammed stationary at each guests' place setting. Personalize each notecard with your new initials and be sure to include envelopes as well. Guests will be sure to use this thoughtful and personalized gift!

Scented Candles

This favor idea is ideal for those having a beach wedding, but would also be perfect for those couples that enjoy candles as well. Place a scented votive candle into a mini pail. Attach a lovely personalized label on the outside of the pail. Have your name and wedding date prominently displayed on the label. You can even customize the color candle to what color dresses the bridesmaids wear. Or you could even choose a scent that you both enjoy to share with your guests.

Jar Gifts

This idea of giving your wedding guests jar gifts has many possibilities! You can simply jar just about anything. Package cookie mix in a clear Mason jar, make a candle within the jar, insert cupcake mix, granola, homemade jam or even hand salve. Personalize the jar with decorative ribbons, color coordinate the jars with your wedding colors, and event attach a personalized recipe if what you packaged needs directions.

As you can see, there are many wedding favors that aren't quite traditional, but do make a big impression with guests and leave a lasting impression with them as well.

About the author: Amanda Cooper is a freelance writer for Wedding Favours Kingdom, which carries an array of wedding accessories, wedding favors and even Christmas Favors. Amanda is a contributing writer for other wedding, travel and home-related websites. When Amanda is not writing, she enjoys reading.

Elaborate DIY Centerpieces For Any Budget

The key is you do not want your centerpieces to look cheap but you are limited on the amount of money you can spend. I could not tell you how many cheap looking silk centerpieces that I have seen in these 15 years of Wedding Planning. Here are some great ideas for any budget even if you do not have a tight budget these centerpieces are spectacular and very easy and fun to make.

These elegant centerpieces are sure to please.

1. Go to your craft store and purchase tall and large vases. These clear vases are priced around 8-10 dollars. They should at least be 2 feet tall and up the taller the better for a more dramatic look find 4 feet vases.

2. You want to fill the vases, here are some examples that you can choose from that would look great; glass stones any color to match your theme or use clear stones, clear stones look nice because it captures different colors from the lights, marbles, silk pedals, rocks any color or choose natural for the ECO look, coffee beans, fruit; lemons, limes, oranges, apples, clear water or you can use food coloring in the water to match your theme.

3. Search the craft store for the isle that has the plastic silk flower bowls these bowls vary in prices you can get one for $2.00. Purchase a large bowl and you will glue that bowl onto the top of your filled vase. I suggest you use a strong glue that will adhere glass to plastic.

4. Purchase a foam floral arrangement ball or flat form to fit your bowl, cut to size.

5. Begin to build the floral arrangement. Use dripping flowers for edges at least hanging 12-40 inches outside bowl and secure glass crystal shape string of beads with floral pins into the foam do not crowed the bowl just use corners for dripping flowers and glass crystal strings between alternating. Then you can begin to cut stems to fill in bowl with silk flowers.

For the table, purchase a pack of square tile mirrors, they usually come in packs of 8. Set one on each table and place your tall centerpiece vase on top. On the four corners of the mirror tile place coordinating votive candles.

Finishing touch, depending on your budget you can use real rose pedals or thin rubber or silk pedals of any flower to sprinkle along with a metallic confetti on the table, some craft shops have confetti letters, you can use that blended with the pedals it makes for a nice conversation amongst your guests.

Using this same idea for your centerpieces you can create the vases and have your florist sit their already made arrangements that you chose with your florist on top of your pedestals for a more dramatic affect on any table.

Note: Some florists have vase stands for rent. It is much cheaper to make them yourself. They can be as high as 900.00 each to rent or 200.00 low balling it. If you create these pedestals yourself you are saving a lot off money and getting the same results.

I rate this DYI project as easy. Fun for you and your wedding party to create.

I hope this has inspired you to create your own spectacular centerpieces easy and elegant.

Submitted by Carolyn Fairley, CWEP, www.premierweddingplanning.net

DIY Wedding Flower Guide

When it comes to choosing wedding flowers, many brides may know the wedding flower they want in their own bouquet, but are a little mystified about the rest of the wedding flowers needed to fill out the ceremony and reception.

While you can leave all your wedding flower selections in the hands of a capable professional florist and get great results, you may want to take a more hands on approach. We hope this wedding flower guide will help making planning your most special day just a little easier.

Your first decision should be whether you plan to use a professional florist to create a wedding flower arrangement and bouquets, or if you would rather visit a wholesale wedding flower retailer and order flowers to make your own bridal bouquets, boutonnieres and so forth.

If you are the creative type, a simple floral craft book will give you all the tips and tool lists necessary to create your own custom wedding flowers that reflect your personal style. It's a good idea to purchase some flowers to practice with ahead of time to make sure you'll be happy with your results. Whatever you decide, there are some standard traditions and suggestions to help make sure you've covered all your wedding flower needs.

Wedding Flower Guide

Wedding flowers for the church would include:

* Altar wedding flower arrangements
* Pew markers/decorations

Wedding flowers for the reception would include:

* Wedding flower arrangement for the bridal table
* Table centerpieces
* Buffet table decorations

Wedding flowers for the bridal party would include:

* Bridal bouquet
* Small Bridal bouquet to toss
* Groom's boutonniere
* Maid/Matron of Honor bouquet
* Bridesmaid bouquets
* Best Man boutonniere
* Groomsman boutonnieres
* Flower Girl bouquet or petal basket
* Mother of the Bride/Groom corsages
* Father of the Bride/Groom boutonnieres
* Step-parent corsages/boutonnieres
* Grandparent corsages/boutonnieres

A Few Extra Wedding Flower Tips

Maid/Matron of Honor wedding bouquets should be slightly more elaborate or in a different color shade than the rest of the bridesmaid wedding bouquets.

The Best Man boutonniere should be slightly more elaborate than the rest of the groomsmen boutonnieres.

The corsages/boutonnieres for the parents should differ slightly from the step-parents, and all grandparent corsages/boutonnieres should be different as well. It makes it easier for guests to keep track of who's who.

Wedding flower arrangements from the church can be transferred to the reception hall for double duty.

Bridesmaid wedding bouquets could be set in waiting vases and used as decoration for the bridal table.

Remember, these are just wedding flower guidelines. When it comes to your special day, your wedding flower selections and arrangements should reflect your personal taste and style. You can keep things simple or get as elaborate as you like, as long as your wedding flowers help you create the perfectly romantic wedding day you've always dreamed of.

Submitted by Muzrak Maksidov

How To Make A Birdcage Veil

Birdcage veils -- sometimes called net or face veils -- have recently become more popular, partially due to movie and celebrity brides wearing them. Most recently, in 2007, Katherine Heigl wore one in her real-life wedding and Jessica Alba's character wore a birdcage veil in the movie Fantastic Four 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer. While it's possible to buy birdcage veils, brides on a budget may prefer to make their own.

This veil is very short -- usually just long enough to frame the face but can also be eye-length -- and typically worn alone, without additional tiers or a separate blusher. You may choose to attach a traditional veil in the back, to a bun or mass of curls. The birdcage is made of coarse-weave French or Russian-style netting rather than typical fine-mesh veil fabrics. Historically, the veil was attached to a hat. The modern bride, however, often prefers to wear her birdcage veil without a hat. Today, most brides attach this short, circular veil directly to their hair with a pin or comb, so that it hangs down around the head. The front serves as a blusher over her face.

Making a Birdcage Veil

Because of the short length and because netting is stiffer than tulle, creating the effect you want when making a birdcage veil can be trickier than when making a regular veil. For this reason, purchase extra netting and plan to make one or two trial runs before the veil is perfect. Also note that the width of the netting will be the length of your veil (from the point where you attach it to your head to the where the veil falls in front of your face).

Materials You Will Need:

- Up to three yards of Russian or French netting.
- Two or more hair clips (the kind used to secure hair extensions to short hair are most stable).
- Sturdy thread the color of the netting (button thread works well).
- Scissors

Step 1: Cut 36" of 9" French / Russian netting

You can make a relatively full birdcage veil, with many gathers, from a yard of netting. These instructions are for making a relatively full, gathered veil similar to Jessica Alba's in Rise of the Silver Surfer. Cut the netting shorter for a veil that lays closer to your head, with fewer gathers. If in doubt, cut the piece long at first. Then shorten it if you find that the veil is too full.

The short, cut ends will be the sides of your veil and the long, finished edges will be the front and back. These instructions explain how to gather the sides and attach them to clips as well as gather the back more loosely than the sides.

Step 2. Sew on two clips, one at each end of the long (finished) edge of veiling.

The clips will go at the front corners of the veil, with the teeth facing the finished edge. The outside, short side of each clip should be parallel to a raw, cut edge. Position them so that, when worn, the clips' metal bars will face outward, but remain under the veiling. The clips should curve against your head when closed.

Step 3. Gather the cut sides of the veil and sew them to the clips.

Using a slipknot, attach thread at the corner of a cut edge opposite a clip. Weave the thread in and out of the diamond patterns along the cut edge between the attached end and the clip then thread it through the hole in the clip.

Pull the thread tight so the entire cut edge is gathered against the clip. Secure to the underside of the clip (the non-bar side, which will be against your head) so the thread will be hidden when you are wearing the veil. You may want to tidy up by clipping off the frayed pieces of netting. One entire side should now be gathered and sewn to a clip.

Repeat on the second side, gathering and sewing the raw edge against the clip.

Step 4. Make the back gathers.

Attach doubled or heavy button thread to the inside edge of a clip. Weave the thread in and out between the diamonds or holes in the netting. Do not secure the thread to the second clip yet. The length of the thread determines how full the gathers and how closely the veil hugs your head. You will want to adjust the length of the thread so the veil looks perfect on you.

Step 5. Experiment with different veil widths.

Looking in a mirror, adjust the thread length between clips. When you are happy with your veil's width and fullness of the gathers, secure the thread by looping it through the inside holes of the second clip and tying it off. With 8" - 9" netting, you will need to attach the veil near the top of your head for it to hit just below the nose. Attach it farther back for a shorter look.

Leave time to practice attaching the veil exactly as you want it, and you will look like a star on your wedding day!

Bobette Kyle-Wagner is publisher at www.MyOnlineWeddingHelp.com, a Website helping engaged couples get the most use from Internet wedding resources. The site includes online wedding tips, original articles, tutorials, and shopping sections. For instructions, with pictures, on how to make a birdcage veil visit the website at www.MyOnlineWeddingHelp.com/make-birdcage-veil.htm

Submitted by Bobette Kyle-Wagner, www.myonlineweddinghelp.com

DIY Wedding Tips

I did all of the decor, flowers, and music for my wedding. I also made the groom's cake (to die for) and we did some really unique things to personalize The Big Day. I want to share my ideas because my wedding was gorgeous and nobody could tell we didn't pay thousands of dollars to have it just right.

First off, I want to say I save literally thousands of dollars to do it all myself and it was pretty easy. My way won't be for everyone though. It wasn't hard but it did require prep time and I worked a little every weekend for several weeks on my decor, flowers, favors, and music.

For starters, I did have a couple of months to plan. I started early watching Hobby Lobby and specialty stores for wedding sales. HL has them all the time. I checked out tons of DIY wedding books at the library! That is a great resource. I did my flowers all with silk from HL and they looked amazing! I also got a garden arch there $10 at half off and bought yards of tulle while it was half off too.

More to come...

Update: Check out books at the library for free floral arrangement ideas, DIY party favors (big $ saver there), decorating ideas, and cake recipes! Wedding industry is big, so there are a lot of these books available! Watch your local craigslist for good stuff from another wedding, hey it's only been used once for a couple of hours right?

Submitted by syderial