Some Wedding DIY Reality

You know I am a supporter of DIY so this isn’t going to be a DIY bash. It is however, going to point out some of the things that the amateur should know that the pros already do.

Candle centerpieces are a pretty, cost effective way to decorate your wedding reception. This one from last Saturday is an example of one that the bride did herself (sort of*).

As you can see, it’s  pretty.

Now let me tell you what could have been done to make it spectacular.

Something the pros know that amateurs don’t, is that those candle should have been dripless and protected from drafts. As soon as the hotel’s event manager saw them he had the staff extinguish every one of those tall tapers. Why you ask? Because before they even got all the tables lit they had burnt half way down and dripped wax all over the table cloth. Notice there is nothing under the candle like a mirror or sheet of glass.

See the way these flames are blowing in the draft of the air-conditioning?

Second, there are way too many. Candles provide a lot more illumination in reality than they do in your imagination. We had to dim the lights so far down that you could barely see the amazing chandelier that usually dominates the room and makes it such a special place. You could have eliminated a third of these and had a much nicer effect overall.

The other thing that takes away from the look is the lack of continuity in all the very different candle holders. Creating an effective candlescape is more than just collecting as many different shapes and colors as you can.

Take a look at this one from a pro.

Here is what’s different.

  • There are only 2 different styles of candle holders, the tall ones and the votives.
  • The blue is carried through all the tall ones.
  • All the flames are protected from drafts so they burn cleanly.
  • There are fewer candles and they have “breathing room”.
  • Small flower arrangement help to soften the look.
  • Mirrored tiles are used to both reflect the light and protect the linens
  • The shape of the glasses match the shape of the candle holders. Small thing, but it makes a huge difference.

 

Here is the one other thing that I want to tell you about this stuff.

When a pro does this, they know how to pack this stuff so it gets back to the shop safely. The glass pieces arrive in their own boxes and those boxes are there at the end of the night so repacking at the end of the event is a breeze.

Not on this one. We packed this up as best we could but tissue paper and Ikea bags are no substitute for proper packaging.

*By sort of, what I mean is that the candles were left for the florist to arrange and the break down was left for the wedding planner. I hope they both charged accordingly. This was a ton of work.

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Squeem. The Magical Body Shaper

Visiting Bridal Market is all about discovery for me. Well this one literally grabbed me by the waist and made me a believer!

What am I talking about? Squeem Perfect Waist

Something you probably don’t know about me is that I’m not a Spanx girl, mostly because I’m not a fashionista. You are most likely to see me in jeans and sandals. Needless to say Squeem is not something I went looking for and had Beata from Lee Roski Ltd  not literally dragged me to their showroom and put me in a Squeem waist cincher I  would have never discovered it.

Having said that, let me just tell you that I was so taken by the product that I wore it for both days I was at market and today I am wearing it sitting at my desk. I have weddings on Friday and Saturday-you can bet I will have this on.

Why you ask.

Because it feels that good! I presented in it, I ate in it, I walked around all day on concrete floors. I stand taller, the girls are lifted to new heights, my back feels great. The boning is flexible so it doesn’t roll, the lining is cotton so it doesn’t get icky hot and sweaty and I LOOK GREAT!

So I thought it was just me, but later that day I told a friend about Squeem and off we went to go see them. True to form, Beatta put her in one too and she was sold. So sold that she is now stocking them in her bridal salon. She thought it was the perfect answer for strapless wedding gowns because of  not just the perfect waist but improved posture and subtle boob lift.

Designed and manufactured for over 40 years by a company in Brazil (I mean hey, they know a thing or two about hot figures) they are made of all natural materials. In their words

Squeem uses technology and function to create magic

Magic it is! If you are only going to buy one foundation garment, this is the one. It’s comfy and it works perfectly.

If you are a bridal salon and want to share these with your brides, contact Beata at Lee Roski and tell her Christine sent you. beatamoose@leeroskiltd.com

 

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5 Really Cute, Totally Do-able DIY Wedding Projects

I have a love hate relationship with DIY Wedding projects. Some bore me to no end (can you say mason jars). Some just look cheap, (rose bowl with floating candle) and sometimes brides take on way too many project and then cut corners or get super stressed.

What makes DIY great in my mind is the personal and unique touch it can add to your wedding. There are just some things you can’t buy. So pick just a few that you can create with joy.

This one comes with a great photo tutorial. Just click the image.

 

I love this. Find a  couple of fun vintage forks at a flea market. Click here for the kit to do the embossing.

You know I love pomanders.

This you one you can buy ready made, but could just as easily DIY it with silk flowers. Click the image for the source.

 

This pomander is made by decoupaging lace onto a balloon. If you cut a hole in the top, I bet you could add a light. To see it in use, click the image.

 

Last but not least. Spray paint and dollar store candle sticks. I would use these in mass and add some simple floral at the base. click through the image to see how the original crafter used them on her mantle for Christmas.

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5 Fun Ways to Use Balloons at Your Wedding

Balloons are back!

Long seen as tacky, balloons are losing that image. Maybe it’s because they are now coming in some softer, prettier colors or because they aren’t being whipped and tied into crazy looking arches. Whatever the reason, here are 5 on trend ways to use balloons to lift not only your spirit but your decor with out breaking the bank.

Starting at the top…

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Down the walls, as a backdrop…

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Over the buffet…

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On the tables…

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And to tie it all together…

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Broach Bouquet~sigh

Alternate Wedding bouquets are all the rage, especially broach bouquets. I though this one was particularly pretty.

Vintage inspired, 1920′s Hollywood Glamour beaded flower and brooch bridal bouquet

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Lanterns. Not Just for Candles Anymore!

I ran across this at a recent bridal show and though it was brilliant. It also kind of references the terrarium trend.

Kudos to friend of the Dish, Vicki Sanders at Branching Out Event Florist and special thanks to photographer David Wright for the second image.

Since we are all aware of my craptastic photography skill, I thought you would benefit from a pro shot by friend of the Dish, David Wright.  It is also nice to see it in situ.

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Sunshine in Your Hands: Sunny Yellow Wedding Bouquets

It’s a grey dreary day in the treehouse. So I thought I would bring my own sunshine by way of a collection of lovely yellow wedding bouquets.

There are so many different yellow flowers that you can get almost any look you want in terms of style and still do the yellow thing. What’s more, yellow goes with almost any other color from white to black and everything in between.

Yellow can be…

Soft and feminine

Bright and colorful

Modern and sophisticated

Bold and sculptural

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