Favors

Do it yourself wedding favors are a huge money saver and add that perfect personal touch.

Some simple, cost effective ideas include:

Make it yourself mojito kits











Make it yourself cookie jars
- this is recommended for smaller weddings - get firends and family together to bake an assortment of cookies - purchase decorative jars to allow you to see the cookies

Make it yourself flower pots











- Going green is a huge theme these days because it is cost effective - contact and purchase mini daisies, saplings, or violets from a flower distributor. They usually come in burlap bags, which can easily be cellophane. Another option is purchasing little clay flower pots.

Something...

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue!
Wow there is a mouthful! Tradition says that all brides should incorporate these somethings into their big day. Realistically, who is willing to chance tradition?

Here are my budget friendly ideas:

Something old
- A parents, friends or family members jewelry




Something new
- Brides wedding dress
- Brides hair accessories

Something borrowed
- A parents, friends or family members jewelry can double as something borrowed
- The Brides hair piece and accessories

Something blue
- The ring boys pillow
- incorporate it into your flowers
- garter belt

What's a Maid of Honour to do?

A Maid of Honour is similar to the Groom's Best Man. The difference is that the Maid of Honour is responsible for bringing the couples vision to fruition. Often time consuming and stressful, being a Maid of Honour is hard work- the Bride must always come first. When asking your best person to be your Maid of Honour make sure you are clear about what responsibilities the the Maid of Honour will be responsible for.

Below is a list of the Maid of Honours responsibilities:
- Help the Bride shop for her wedding dress and the Bridesmaid gowns.
- Visit reception sites with the Bride and offer a second opinion

- Help the Bride choose the wedding flowers
- Ensure that the Bridesmaid dresses are ordered on-time
- Help make wedding guest favors for the wedding and Bridal Shower
- Help plan the wedding shower
- Host a bachelorette party
- Attend rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
- Hold the Grooms ring
- Sit to the right of the Bride at the reception
- Conduct a final walk through at the venue for the Bride the day of
- Make a speech
- Help bring wedding gifts to the Bride and Grooms home

What's a Best Man to do?

The Best Man is the Groom's best person. The Best Man serves as the Groom's personal advisor, confidant, and time-keeper. Duties include, but are not limited to:

- Plan and pay for the bachelor party with other grooms men and the groom's family
- Rent and pay for a tux and go for fittings
- attend rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
- Help bring boxes to rehearsal, ceremony and reception

- Help the groom dress and make sure he gets to the church on time
- Keep the brides wedding ring until the ring exchange
- Sign the marriage license
- Groom and Bride will give you payment to pay the officiant before the ceremony

- You sit to the left of the Groom at the reception
- You will have to dance with the Maid of Honour
- Make first toast to Bride and Groom
- Collect and Return formal wear rentals for both yourself and the Groom after the wedding
- Assist the Maid of Honour with bringing gifts to the Bride and Grooms home

Affordable Flowers Year Round!

Baby's Breath * White
Bachelor's Button * White, Pink, Red or Blue
Calla Lily * White is widely available, other colors, available as well, particularly in mini size
Carnations * Many Colors
Delphinium * Blue, White, Purple

Eucalyptus * Blue, Silver
Gardenia * White
Gladiolus * Many Colors
Heather * Pink
Lily of the Valley * White and Pink
Orchid * Pink, White, Purple, Other Colors
Protea * Pink
Rose * Many Colors ***February at a premium
Scabiosa * Purple, White

Do It Yourself Leaf Placecard

A natural fall look:

- By simply collecting leaves from your lawn you can create this beautiful, rustic splash of colour.
- You will need to collect these leaves early( right when leaves start falling from the trees). This will help ensure the colour is bright and the leaves in the best possible condition they can be
- You will need to purchase a small can of varathane from the hard ware store.

- Purchase some string, clothing pins, and drop cloth

Directions:

• Step 1: Begin by collecting your leaves- you have the option of purchasing some spray paint to add some colour to your leaves.
• Step 2: Allow the leaves to dry for a few days before working on them. Make sure that you lay the leaves flat to allow for extra moisture to evaporate.
• Step 3: Purchase a tin foil roasting pan. Pour the varathane into the pan. Proceed to delicately coat the leaves by dipping them into the varathane. Hold the leaf upside down to allow excess varathane to drip off
• Step 4: Hang the Varathane coated leaves upside down with a clothes pin. Make sure that you clip the stem so you do not ruin the leaf.
• Step 5: How you assemble the leaves is entirely up to you. Just remember to be careful when handeling the leaves. This leaves can be completed a few weeks ahead of time.

Seasonal Fall/Winter Flowers

Fall:
Aster * White, Pink
Casa Blanca Lily * White * January-October
Chrysanthemum * White, Yellow, Orange, Pink, other colors
Dahlia * Many Colors
Delphinium * White, Blue * April- October
Dried Leaves
Marigold * Yellow, Orange, Red
Star Gazer Lily * Pink and White * January-October
Statice * Purple
Zinnia * Red, orange, pink *

Winter:
Amaryllis * Red, White
Anemone * Blue, red, pink, white * Jan-May and Aug-Dec.
Bells of Ireland * Green * January-October
Camellias * White, Pink
Casa Blanca Lily * White * January-October
Cosmos * Pink, White, Brown, Other Colors
Daffodil * Yellow * January-Early May
Forget-me-nots * Blue
Holly * Green with Red Berries
Jasmine * White
Narcissus * White, Yellow
Poinsettia * Red, White
Ranunculus * white, pink, red, orange and yellow * February-May
Star Gazer Lily * Pink and White * January-October
Star of Bethlehem * White
Sweet pea * white, pink, red/coral, and lavender/purple * December-May
Tulip * Many colors, including white, pink, yellow, red, and purple * December-April
Waxflower * Pink, White

Bridesmaid Dress Trends

Dress trends are always changing. It is important that you stay true to yourself and choose a bridesmaid dress style that not only reflects your style, but also the personal style of your attendants. This means choose a dress that you like- weather it counts as something that is in style or not. Look at these stylish, but affordable dress options. They range between $130-$190 (CAD), not including alterations.