Bridesmaid Gifts on a Budget

Okay, so I can't give away everything on here, but I just had to share the adorable packaging for my bridesmaid gifts!

Thrift Store Finds

Yesterday, I spent $120 at Goodwill. This is probably the most I have ever spent there at one time, however, I got a cart full of items for the wedding! I was able to purchase everything I still needed to finish up my centerpieces! I also found an adorable "here comes the bride" tote and brand new H&M flats for the reception!

 Teacups for the centerpiece candles.

An adorable 3 tier cake plate someone else whipped up!

 Fun books to stack under the teacups and flowers.

My "here comes the bride" tote!

Paper Flowers

As much as I love flowers, I can't justify spending lots of money on them for one night. So instead, we are having book page flowers! We  have been collecting candle stick holders as we find them at local thrift stores, all costing less than $2 each. The paper flowers are pinned into foam balls which cost less than 50 cents a piece. And so far, I have only had to use one book I already had. We plan on making at least 30, three for each table, however I have a feeling we will end up making a few more. On average, flowers for a wedding cost $2,000. By the time all of mine are completed, we will have spent less than $100!

A Mood Board - Centerpieces

Source: Unknown 

I love this idea of using teacups & old books. It completely captures Marc & me in a centerpiece!

Source: Emmaline Bride

Source: Paper Blog

Source: Country Living

Source: Style Me Pretty

Source: Craf Tea Cafe'

This would be perfect since we met at a coffee shop!

Source: Brinton Studios

Source: Oh Lovely Day

Lace is a must!

Unplugged

We have made the decision to have an unplugged ceremony. While I love the idea of guests wanting to capture our special day, I don't love the idea of the professional photos we are paying for being ruined by cellphones being lifted up into the air to get an Instagram worthy shot. Of course we are allowing cellphone and camera usage at the reception! We will even be encouraging it with signs at each table!

Our sign for the entrance of the ceremony space.

A few small (4x4) friendly reminders on each row. 

Instagram reminders for each reception table.

Will you be my Bridesmaid?

Although money is tight and we are working with a small budget, it doesn't mean we can't ask our bridal party to be apart of our big day in a special way. We are still working on asking everyone, and I don't want to give away too many details, but here is how we are doing it. I made albums for each of my bridesmaids, with only one space filled. The very first photo slot is where I ask them to be a part of my wedding day, with the idea that we will fill the album as we go. Marc is asking the boys with cigars. It may not be the most extravagant & Pinterest worthy way, but I feel it is still unique and special. And our amazing friends seem to love it too!

Our Engagement Photos

Okay, so this might not work for everyone, because not everyone is a photographer or has a family full of photographers. While we will be hiring a professional to shoot our actual wedding day, it was awesome not having to spend a dime on our engagement photos. I am a control freak when it comes to our photos (because after all, I am a photographer) so I did all of the editing on our engagement photos after my sister shot them. Whether you choose to spend lots on engagement photos or your budget is pretty tight, I highly recommend showing your photographer ideas you like. This can be as simple as creating a Pinterest board. When I shoot weddings, I always have the brides create a board of shots they like and show me what shots are important to them and what styles they like. 

#vancewedding2015

Although we are planning on having a photographer, we want to encourage our guests to share all of their photos of our special day! So of course, an Instagram hashtag is a must! I hardly ever take pictures with my phone, my professional side cringes at the thought of it, but we never would have pictures from our engagement night without it! They might not be the sharpest photos, but they still make my heart completely melt!

How He Asked...

My day’s diet consisted of cornbread and cookies & I hadn't even changed out of my pajamas. It was a lazy day and I had no plans of putting real clothes on. The evening rolled around and all of the crocheting and catching up on t.v. shows caught up to me. So I figured it was best to shower, change into new pajamas, and get ready for bed. While drying off, I heard Marc come home, so I went out to the kitchen to kiss him hello. He was in his normal gym clothes and I was in the most unflattering pajamas and had my hair wrapped up in a towel. As he turned around he had a tiny green box in his hand. The moment I saw it all I could say was “Are you serious?!” 

He smiled, got down on one knee and said, “I got to pick it up today, I was planning on proposing on Christmas Eve, but there is no way I could wait a month.”

And he paused.

“So, are you going to ask me?!”

“Will you marry me?”

And of course I said yes! He slipped the gorgeous little ring on my finger and it fit perfectly! Thank goodness, because I don’t think I could have ever taken it off, even to get it sized. 

I Said Yes!

After 482 days with the most amazing man I could ever ask for, he popped the question! I have never felt more blessed. I get to marry my best friend! And how gorgeous is the ring he designed!? I was never the "traditional" type and so instead of a traditional diamond in the center, he picked out the most amazing sapphire. The inside diamonds are from his mother's original engagement ring, and the outside diamonds are from an amazing friend. The idea was to represent the most important things in life, us, family, & friends. How perfect is that?! Eeek! And now along with work and school, I get to start planning a wedding...and as crazy as it will be, I have never been more excited!