Finding Vendors on Craigslist...

When we first got engaged I found a photographer on craigslist who was looking to build his portfolio and hadn't done very many weddings. He offered to do an entire wedding for $250.00. So I booked a test engagement session (which he did for free) the pictures turned out great and we would have booked him but his prices went up within a week to $600.00. That makes him more comparable to more experienced photographers. He still advertises on craigslist so see if you can catch him. Other wise his website is http://www.frankjin.com .

Our wedding favors...

I've been reading a lot about the wedding favor debate. Wedding favors can be a big expense...if you let them. I really want to provide my guest with a meaningful gift to take away from my wedding something that will not end up in the junk drawer...

History of Wedding favors

Centuries ago, European aristocrats, most notably those in France and Italy, would send their wedding guests home with a small gift called a bonbonniere or as it’s called in Italian, a bomboniere. These weren’t exclusively a wedding staple however. They were also given out at birthday parties and other celebratory occasions.

A bonbonniere was actually a box made of porcelain, crystal, precious stones or metal. Inside one would find delicacies made of sugar. It was from these boxed and gift wrapped confections that today’s wedding favors are derived.

In my day I've received some dinky wedding favors. Hershey's kisses glued together to look like a rose with a pipe cleaner for a stem (not cute). I want to give something inexpensive, clever, different and meaningful.

What do you think of ... a custom fortune cookie with our own message inside. I found these at E-fortunecookie.com and they are relatively inexpensive. They have an anniversary special ...

Anniversary Pricing:
1-99 $.25 each
100-499 $.18 each
500-999 $.13 each
1,000-4,999 $.10 each
5,000-9,999 $.09 each
10,000-49,999 $.08 each
50,000-99,999 $.07 each
100,000+ $.06 each

200 cookies at .18 each + 12.50 message charge is $48.50 Not bad...

Or you could follow this link to make your own fortune cookie... http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Fortune-Cookie

Paying for my Wedding...

You've probably heard that the American savings rate for 2005 was negative 0.5 percent, the lowest since the Great Depression. The annual savings rate has been negative only twice -- in 1932 and 1933, during the Great Depression. With the economy in the tank and mortgages failing all around us you have to wonder if a wedding is a wise expense. The tradition of the brides family paying for the wedding started because it was the groom's family's responsibility to provide the couple with a home to live in. Ha! I've never in my 29 years seen or heard of this happening.

We plan on paying for our own wedding. Neither of our families are in a position to pay for our wedding and we wouldn't dream of asking them either. So here is the plan... We will pay all our deposits and make monthly contributions to a savings vehicle such as ING savings account online (3% savings rate) . I decided on a online account because it takes three days to withdraw the funds via ACH, which makes it harder to spend. My fiance is not the best saver. He would need a cooling off period to think about whether he really wants to tap into the wedding fund. I also found another cool way to save money. It is a digital change jar. It counts your money as you place it in the jar. this Zillionz Counting Money Jar could act as the flower fund or favor fund.

The RUSH

I went to the RUSH today. I wanted to sign up for a membership. I am determined to loose 40 pounds before my wedding date, April 18, 2008. That's my goal but I simply need motivation. I need a weight loss buddy or some other motivator. My problem is stress eating and drinking (alcohol). Every week, I start my Dr. Giraud diet but I haven't been able to go two straight weeks. I know this will get me past my current hump. So can I do it, can I catapult myself past this current hump (into the next 10's category). Yes, I can that is my goal, from now until June 29th I'm going to follow Dr. Giraud's diet to the letter. I might even join the RUSH. This is a relatively new fitness center in Triad. It is very nice and I could see myself going there. They even have childcare!
It has:

Rows and rows of easy-to-use, color coded equipment for each body part, Selectorized, and free weights
Classes, classes, and more classes including Pilates, spinning, kickboxing, and yoga
Fun, knowledgeable, and friendly staff of experienced professionals
Everything you need to cool off, clean up, and replenish in the locker rooms
and the ultimate hours of operation - 24/7

The enrollment fee is $149 and it cost $49 monthly. Or for a student discount it is $149 enrollment $39.00 monthly I can't afford this and it really doesn't fit into my wedding budget. Would this be considered a wedding expense?