Fun Ideas for a Picnic Wedding Reception
Late summer is a great time to have an outdoor wedding. Things start to cool down, there's a renewed crispness in the air, and it's the perfect time for a picnic! Wait ... what? Picnic? Wedding? YES. For those of you who are scrambling for casual, fun ideas for a late-summer wedding outdoors, why not have a picnic wedding? Throw some blankets and pillows down on the ground. Scavenge some old picnic tables. Get your caterer to whip up some mini-sammiches and finger-lickin' desserts....
Featured Virginia Wedding: Christy and Matt
Featured Wedding by GrantDeb Wedding Photographers When Matt popped the question in Florida, and Christy accepted, she signed herself up for the daunting task of planning a wedding 13 hours away! Despite a tight wedding budget, Christy was determined not to sacrifice style for her wedding! To create the wedding of her dreams without breaking the bank, Christy rallied the troops (her mom and closest friends) to help with the planning, and it was smooth sailing from that point...
Budget Wedding Tips: Saving Money on Your Wedding Cake
Looking for a delicious way to save a little money? Alissa Levine of Pastry Girl Cakes was recently kind enough to share these money saving ideas for your wedding cake. FAKE IT Get a smaller tiered cake (or dummy cake) for the reception and ask your baker to make sheet cakes that your caterer can cut and serve to guests KEEP IT SIMPLE Cakes from magazines are usually very expensive because they are so ornate. The less decoration on your cake, the less the cake will...
The Man Registry: Don’t Let the Economy Ruin Your Dream Wedding
About the Man Registry All signs may be pointing to the economy as a whole starting to gain momentum and crawl out of the doldrums of the past year. However, most of us are still feeling the crunch when it comes to personal spending. The financial pain can be especially tough if you’re planning a wedding. Lucky for you, The Man Registry’s resident groom planning expert Simon Daykin of Firefly Occasions has some tips to share this week on not letting the (still) slumping economy...
Ask the Wedding Maven: Potluck Wedding Reception, Can it Be Done?
In this week's column, the Wedding Maven looks for a way to combine: a tight budget, a desire to feed people, and good manners. Do you have a question about wedding related traditions, etiquette, or relationships? Why not write the Wedding Maven at weddingmaven@onewed.com
Looking for New Budget Wedding Ideas?
Hey, did you know that having 50 guests will cost you less than having 200? Well, yes, you probably did. So many articles on how to have a wedding on a tight budget give you "helpful" advice like this. That's why I loved my conversation with Stephanie Berenbaum, co-founder of Fabulous and Frugal, Stephanie gave me real examples from her own wedding of how you can reduce costs while increasing the personal nature of your wedding. Come over to the advice section and check it out.
Pre-Wedding Party Idea: A Wine Tasting
Are you looking for a way to make some of your wedding planning decisions a little more fun? Why not involve your friends? When my friends Michael and Matthew were getting married they were lucky enough to have a venue (Chicago’s Newberry Library) that allowed them to provide their own bar. We’ve written about this idea before, because it’s a great way to save money. Michael and Matthew both like a nice glass of wine, but neither of them are exactly Alpana Singh. So, to...
Specialty Drinks for Your Summer Wedding Reception
Happy Monday and Happy Memorial Day! Welcome to the start of summer. One of the best ways to cut down on bar costs is to serve one or two “specialty “ or “signature” drinks instead of a full-service bar. If you’re having a summer wedding, you’ll want your drinks to have a summer flavor. Here are five classic summer cocktails to consider: Daiquiri Margarita Sangria Long Island Iced Tea Mojito Here are five more you may not have heard of, but are just as...
Budget Idea for Dresses: Think Prom
As a mom, I hate that kids’ clothes look so adult these days. As a short shopper on a budget, I love it! It’s one of the few benefits of being short, kids’ clothes and shoes cost less than adult clothes and shoes. I’ve found a few places where the smallest adult size and largest kid size are identical, except for pricing. Even if they aren’t short, your bridesmaids can take advantage of a similar “youth discount.” Instead of looking for bridesmaids’ dresses in bridal...
One, Two, Dye My Wedding Shoe?
Although there are alternatives, most brides expect to spend money on a wedding dress they’ll only wear once. But what about shoes? Shoes don’t really become heirlooms, and I haven’t seen anyone successfully pull off white heels and jeans since the 80s, so what exactly are you supposed to do with wedding shoes? Here’s an idea, don’t buy white ones. I bought blue shoes for my wedding and let them do double duty as my “something blue.” I don’t feel bad that they’re...

