Wedding Favors

I have been thinking a lot today about how I want to do the favors. I have put together a list of a few options that I could do myself, in varying difficulties.

Candles

S'mores Kits

Recipe Jars

Tiny Herbs (planted in jars)

Tree Saplings (Cedar or Spruce?) Planted in Biodegradable pots

Packets of seeds

Loose Leaf Teas in Test Tubes

Wildflower Seeds

Flower Bulbs

I've come up with some pretty cute ideas, and all of them are inexpensive, especially in the quantity that I will be doing them in.

I really love the cute little jars or the idea of the saplings in little glasses! Depends on what costs more, if I can get a better deal on biodegradable pots then I will have to go with that instead!

http://www.savvyhousekeeping.com/plants-as-wedding-favors/

Red Cedar Saplings

1-3	$3.34
4-24	$2.23
25-99	$1.56
100-499	$0.83
500+	$0.71

http://www.coldstreamfarm.net/p-202-red-cedar-juniperus-virginiana.aspx

According to my calculations, unless you are ordering under 54 tree saplings, it is better to buy 100 because it will be the same price.

http://www.galasource.com//libbey-glassware--bar/restaurant-glassware/beverage-glasses/ProdDesc-2310-29554.aspx

This is where the favors above are from (the glasses they are in)

http://www.itascagreenhouse.com/page18.html

Here is another company who sells seedlings, however they are not priced as well as the first place I found.

Well, nevermind... My dad has shut down my ADORABLE idea of planting white cedar saplings in cute little mason jars...

So I have decided to go a different route instead! I'm going to still get the cute mini old-fashioned mason jars, but instead of planting a sapling in them I am going to make a mini cookie recipe! I've found some contestant recipes and I still have to pick one!

http://www.theppk.com/2011/08/punk-rock-cookie-jar-mixes/#.UOYXRLGYI0E.pinterest
This one is good since its vegan my MOH can even use it!

http://www.bakerella.com/mix-things-up/

I like the way this one sounds though, minus the pink m&m's, maybe I'll special order some coral ones :)

http://www.bhg.com/christmas/gifts/food-gifts-recipes-jars/#page=3

Or it could be blondie or brownie mix, that is yummy too!

S'mores are also a cute idea, although they don't require the mason jars.

http://naomi-sugarspice.blogspot.ca/2012/10/easy-dark-chocolate-truffles-recipe.html

Could make dark chocolate truffles too, although I might eat them all before hand!

http://cookiesandcups.com/avalanche-anyone/

These are no-bake rice krispy treat bars, another option 

These look really good, I'll have to find the original recipe, but cookies with lots of different textured ingredients will look better in a jar :)

http://taracooks.com/?p=2611
Not really sure that these would go well in a jar but they look good!

http://zestycook.com/salted-caramel-chocolate-chip-cookies/

I actually just made a batch of these, they need a little extra flour but they are so good!


Anyway, I am really just looking a cookie recipes right now, I should do something productive! Happy Planning!
-Rachel

Getting Fit

I have been working out minimally lately, since I don't have a stocked fridge I don't want to push myself without the nutrients to back it up. However, I have found some interesting work outs that I intend on trying and adding onto my current workout routine! And considering that I have only 92 days until the wedding, I have got to get going!

http://pinterest.com/rachelcook325/fitness/

That is a link to my fitness pinterest board which I have been using for keeping tabs on all of the little things I find :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZB-Ml6R28A&feature=share&list=UUgBTevPW8fsH4pQNrLufOsQ

I really want to get the Bikini whatever thing that Tone It Up just did, but I'm not big into buying work out dvds. I still can't believe there is just three months left! It sure will shorten my Winter quarter at school to be anticipating my wedding :)

Here is a break down of planning by month:

Hopefully I'm on track, I'll have to jot down a calendar tomorrow to see! Me and Barrington are gonna start whitening our teeth when we get back after christmas I think! So excited to plan the next thing, now that my invites are out! Happy Planning!

-Rachel

Wedding Wishlist

These are some things that I really want, and I have been wanting them for my wedding since before it was a tangible thing! But in order to get them, I'm going to have to make room in the budget, which is already just as basic as it can be. We are definitely using the family card for this occasion in many categories! Also, I am exploiting my knack for designing, which I will hopefully never have to do this much again! Except for my sisters weddings... Hopefully that is a ways away though... Fingers crossed... Point being, here are the things I want. There might be some strings pulled to fit them in, but we'll see.

Luxy Hair Extensions, 120g in Chesnut Brown

I think I am going to tone my hair down a shade from what it is now to be more of the natural color. Right now it is still sunbleached from summer!

$119

http://www.luxyhair.com/collections/luxurious-120g/products/chesnut-brown-6-120g

Too Faced Romantic Eye Classic Beauty Shadow Collection

I love these colors, and it would fit perfectly with my rustic wedding!

$36 at Ulta, and they often have coupons

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod2980109

This is literally the first thing I saw on etsy, years ago. But I don't think I'll be able to have it now haha, since I'm having a flower head band it would be a bit much to add on.

Three Orchid Real Touch Hair Pin

Etsy, $17

http://www.etsy.com/listing/70111592/three-orchid-real-touch-hair-pin?ref=usr_faveitems

These of course, are too late anyways, but how cute would this have been as an invitation? :)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/75143065/viewmaster-invitation-100-qty?ref=usr_faveitems

These aren't really a stretch, and I like them :) Depends on the length of my sleeves whether I'll need them or not.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/100048407/wedding-gloves-lace-wedding-accessory

This is already in the budget, but I thought I'd share it anyway since its pretty!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/89765013/bridal-hair-acessories-wedding-headpiece?ref=usr_faveitems

I love the saying on these, but they are just out of my price range since I have so much family coming to the wedding. I was thinking of doing wildflower seeds, which is close to this. Maybe I can find some custom baggies like this.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76939958/boho-chic-vintage-inspired-wedding-favor?ref=usr_faveitems

I absolutely love these straws, I just have to find a reason to have them haha! I'm sure I'll think of one, they aren't expensive!

 http://www.etsy.com/listing/106799997/100-choose-your-color-striped-paper?ref=usr_faveitems

These aren't expensive either, I think I'll use them as decoration.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/75581539/garland-home-decor-christmas-garland?ref=usr_faveitems

These as well.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/82712151/a-vintage-home-mirrored-glass-bunting?ref=usr_faveitems

I could do this myself, but I just like the way it looks!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/89354865/hand-painted-mason-jar-lantern-violet?ref=usr_faveitems

If Barrington and I were having a beach wedding these would be perfect.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76517144/sea-shell-stud-earrings-sterling-silver?ref=usr_faveitems

I could probably find a way to do this myself with the laser cutter and some chalkboard paint, I think its really cute though. Cake topper?

http://www.etsy.com/listing/107538017/custom-wedding-cake-topper-bride-and?ref=usr_faveitems

Originally, I really wanted to put vintage stamps on my invitations, but it was way too much extra.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/116782806/50-pieces-vintage-unused-1984-20-cent?ref=usr_faveitems

If these were gold they would work cute as my earrings.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/117110461/silver-wire-infinity-earring-stud-ear?ref=usr_faveitems

If I wear a bracelet.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/110360618/aphrodite-gold-leaf-bracelet-grecian?ref=usr_faveitems

Since it will be freezing outside, I will definitely need a shawl.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/114939664/the-ptarmigan-shawl-ivory-feathered?ref=usr_faveitems

Another option for earrings.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/112030585/vintage-cream-rose-posts-earrings-ivory?ref=usr_faveitems

If I could find some wood thin enough, I could make something cute like this myself with the laser cutter.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/106036737/custom-beach-wedding-favors-seashell?ref=usr_faveitems

Then of course, there is after the wedding!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76921439/dots-printed-cotton-slit-boxerstyle?ref=correlated_featured

And these are adorable.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/94621702/girl-and-boy-pillow-cases-double-set?ref=usr_faveitems

I think I'll post another time with more, if I can find it! Also, I'll do a wedding shower wishlist :)

Happy Planning!

-Rachel

Engagement Pictures

Here are a few more shots from what Taylor took! :)

We are such dweebs!

Happy Planning!

-Rachel

Invitations

So I have not posted anything in the last two weeks due to the sheer amount of time and effort I've had to put into the invitations. Every free second I've had everyday has gone into getting them finished and sent out! Just today I brought them to the post office and hand cancelled them to be mailed out. So exciting! But it has taken every day of two weeks time to complete them to a standard that I am proud of. So, to the futures brides out there, be prepared to spend a very large chunk of your time on invitations if you plan to do them yourself! 

Ready to line the envelopes...

I thought I was ready to stuff the envelopes, but it turns out I totally forgot a ton of items!

50 Coral envelopes lined, still had to line the yellow ones too!

I designed the maps that I put into the invitations, pretty sure I used 3 yellow ink cartridges through this whole process!

A lot of things to put together!

Everything was designed by myself :)

More lining of envelopes...

The pretty wedding stamps I bought :)

I loved the cute pattern on my rsvp's.

Rounded so many corners...

 

I had some really cute buttons!

The first part of putting together all the materials in the invitations, I forgot the registry cards and the engagement photos!

The stack of engagement photos, so cute of us :)))

Finally got everything ready to be stuffed into envelopes!

50 envelopes later, and 150 stamps they are all ready to be taken to the post office!

So many invitations!

 

Happy Planning!

-Rachel

P.S. We've hit 500 views! Yay!