FREE SAVE THE DATE POSTCARDS!!!!!!!

I just ran across a site that will allow you to send a postcard you design for free (with a small advertisement). I wonder how many you can send. I've just tested the site twice. I sent my daddy a postcard picture of my daughter and a silly message. I also sent my fiancee a postcard picture of one of our engagement pictures. I'll post how they look when I get them. I may have just solved one of my wedding expenses for FREE! I'll post the website after I receive my test postcards.

Cakes..Ummmm... Cakes!

Cake cost in this area around $2.00 to $10.00 a slice (CRAZY, BUT TRUE). So, for 100 guest that is about 200 dollars. That would represent 4% of the budget. That usually takes into account the bride and groom saving the top portion until their first anniversary. We will not be participating in this tradition. For a bunch of reasons that I'll list...

• I do not eat leftovers
• Our freezer is too full
  
• I'm not very familiar with the freezing process
• Year old frozen cake...YUK!

Now, I'm sure some family busybody would disagree, but it ain't gonna to happen. So what style cake do I like. I really don't have a preference. Wal-mart has a really nice 3 tier cake for $139 that will feed 119. You can have them decorate it to your taste.

My next idea is cupcakes the are simple and elegant and cheap. And no frozen top...

Wedding in a Box...Updated!

I went to talk to the lady at Wedding in a Box yesterday. It was a very interesting meeting. If you are in the process of getting married a thinking of planning on your own wedding but are stressed this is the complete package (minus the tux, dress, cake, videographer,and florist). She has basically developed a relationship with vendors who offer her a lower rate for repeat business. So she in turn is able to offer brides a wedding in a box for a surprisingly lower cost. I still do not believe it is lower than DIY. My challenge between now and April 18, 2008 is to see if that is true. She is a good sounding board and she offers consultant only services at $35.00 per hour.

So what does she offer.... for 100 guest for a total of $4999 plus tax.

• Invitations and RSVPs Stamped, addressed and mailed
• Catering Fruit and Veggie display, 6 other hors d' oeuvers, mock champange punch in fountain
• Photographer
• DJ
• Reception Venue
• Decorations for wedding site and reception venue
• Coordination and direction of wedding
• Programs
• Staffing for behind the scenes

I would suggest you check the link above and call the wedding in a box. Especially if you don't have the time to do the research yourself. Or use this blob to help you plan.

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