New Product: Wedding Day Survival Kits!

I have been gathering supplies by buying in bulk and on sale in order to create a new product for you all.  Wedding Day Survival Kits!  Anything can happen on your wedding day and you want to be prepared.  I made three of these awhile back for my friends who were getting married and everyone that received one used at least one part of it on their special day.

When I browsed wedding vendor websites and Etsy I realized that others are making these kits but they are extremely expensive.  And, when I made them myself before I wasn't able to price out items as I am now so the cost ended up being rather large.  By buying in bulk and utilizing sales I am now able to keep my prices down and offer these to you at a very reasonable price.

Because everyone is different I have come up with three different options!

"I Wanna Be Ready for Anything" - This is my all inclusive option.  Perfect for the bride or the maid of honor who needs to be ready for anything.

• Advil
• Chapstick
• tissues
• stain removal stick
• bobby pins
• pack of gum
• Crest Wisps
• safety pins
• travel sewing kit, complete with scissors
• bandaids
• mini-hand sanitizer
• Emergen-C drink packet

Cost excluding clutch or cosmetic bag: $12.00

"I Wanna Party All Night" - If your bridal party is likely to party hard all night you'll want to help them stay in one piece and recover quickly by providing them with this specialized kit.

• Advil
• Chapstick
• tissues
• bobby pins
• Crest Wisps
• bandaids 
• mini-hand sanitizer
• Emergen-C drink packet

Cost excluding clutch or cosmetic bag: $6.50

"I Wanna Be Looking Good" - Perhaps your bridal party isn't big on partying but they want to make sure they don't have any wardrobe malfunctions.  This is the kit for them that will keep them looking picture perfect all day and night!

• Chapstick
• tissues
• stain removal stick
• bobby pins
• Crest Wisps
• safety pins
• travel sewing kit, complete with scissors
• bandaids

Cost excluding clutch or cosmetic bag: $8.00

We will work together to find an appropriate vessel in which to put your kits.  If you already have a clutch or bag in mind we can use that, I can find you options, or I can just send along paper gift bags for you to utilize.  Each of these kits is customizable.  

Add Ons (anything can be added but these are the most popular)

• Travel Sewing Kit $3.00
• Mini-Hand Sanitizer $1.00
• Advil $0.50
• Travel Hairspray $2.00
• Emergen-C $0.50

Contact me and we'll work out the details!  I can make kits for bachelorette parties or any other event as well!  For ideas check out this Etsy listing for customizable bags! (I'm not affiliated at all, but they look cute and are relatively reasonable.)  

DIY: Thanksgiving/Fall Centerpieces

using jugs in fall colors and dried fall themed filler I bought at marshalls along with three types of fresh flowers i created these centerpieces for thanksgiving. silly me didn't get a picture of them in action but here's a picture of them with my cat, titus. on each table i also placed a burlap table runner. the look was cohesive with just a touch of country. how did you decorate your table?

Eco-friendly Parties- Part 2

attire: 
wedding dresses are not in general very eco-friendly at all.  they involve a lot of fabric, a lot of energy, and usually require quite a bit of shipping.  not to mention that you typically only wear it once.  if you want to reduce your impact on the environment while buying your dress consider these options:

1.  buy a used dress.  this way your dress has not been made solely for you and therefore you aren't requiring the energy to be expended a second time.  if you can find a used dress locally so it doesn't require the carbon emissions associated with shipping.

2.  buy a dress made from hemp, cotton, or other eco-friendly fabrics.  there are now several designers that are using these fabrics regularly.  double points for you if you find a used dress made from one of these materials.  check out www.thecottonbride.com  and or www.naturalbridals.com for some beautiful dresses.

From Natural Bridals (for just a little more than $1,000)

3. go vintage.  hit the thrift stores, vintage shops, and perhaps consignment shops to find a classic shape from another era.

4. rework your mother's dress.  this isn't always a possibility, but i've seen some really neat ones done!

bridesmaid dresses are also often worn only once.  i again suggest checking for natural fibers and try looking in typical department stores or off the rack stores so the dresses are made with wearability in mind.  you might just find a dress that your bridesmaids will be willing to wear again!

tuxedos/suits- renting tuxes is actually rather eco-friendly- nothing new is being made for each male in your wedding party.  another option is finding something that everyone can buy and wear again.  there are suits and tuxes made from natural fibers as well.

think about selling or donating your wedding dress and bridesmaids dresses after the wedding.  if someone else gets a use out of it it's one less new dress that needed to be ordered and made!

this post got a little long so stay tuned for eco-friendly parties part 3 where i'll discuss centerpieces, place cards, etc.

Inspiration Board: A Fall Wedding + A Giveaway!

many brides plan their wedding a year in advance.  those of you planning on getting married a year from now could have a gorgeous fall wedding.  in that spirit i put together a fall wedding inspiration board.  i wanted the feel to be elegant with rustic touches.  i focused on gold, deep burgandy, brown, orange and yellow for the colors.  i like the use of leaves for decor.

want a personalized inspiration board created for you?  send me a message with a few key words that describe the vibe you want for your party, a color scheme, and or any pictures of items you've already decided on and i'll make you one.  the first 3 people to take me up on this offer get it for free!

Charger:Bed Bath and Beyond Centerpiece: Kevin Monahan Photography Tablecloth: Norris Party Rentals  Favors:2 as 1 Wedding Favors Bridesmaid Dress: Dress For Wedding Tuxedo: Wedding By Color Wedding Dress: iOffer Bouquet: Weddingbee 

Tree Guestbook: Etsy  Cake: Perfect Wedding Day

Signed, Sealed, Delivered- Stamp Woes

just this week the united states postal service announced that in january of 2012 they plan on changing the price on stamps.  standard stamps will go from 44 cents to 45 cents.  postcard stamps will go from 29 cents to 32 cents.

why is this on my party planning site?  well, lots of parties, especially weddings require a lot of postage.  if you're sending 100 invitations with 100 stamped rsvp envelopes you'll be paying an additional 2 dollars.  then add in your thank you cards for the shower(s) thank you cards for the wedding and other essentials and you have another dollar or so.  it's not the biggest increase ever, but when it comes to the budget every penny counts.

it is also important to note that if you're using postcard stamps for your rsvps you need to consider when  your guests will be sending them back- if your wedding is in 2012 don't buy the cheaper stamps or you'll be stuck adding extra postage.

to get ahead of the game check out the forever stamps that are good for, well, forever at the lower cost!