Saturday, December 20, 2008

Following my Passion




So many thanks to Laura McClean from the Standard Times for her wonderful story in today's paper. The spirit of Christmas is alive and well.


http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081220/LIFE/812200313

Friday, December 19, 2008

Tis the Season to think Value Wedding Planning

Here are some stylish ways to save money during this wedding season:

1. Consider a Friday or Sunday night for your wedding.

Many venues will give you additional price consideration for not booking a Saturday night wedding. I love the thought of a Sunday wedding filled with your family and closest friends.

2. Check out vintage options for your wedding attire, if the celebs are doing it on the red carpet, then it must be cool.

Not only will you save thousands, but you will look like a million bucks. Be sure to use the services of a good seamstress. God there is nothing worse than a buxom bride tugging at the gown all night.

3. Use local resources to source the romance.

What says romance more than the flicker of candles and the scent of fresh flowers? There are so many places out there that have good stuff cheap. Look to your local dollar or value store for glass vases of varying size and shape. Fill with water, add floating candles and cluster them as a centerpiece with fresh petals for a modern and inexpensive look.

4. Think Intimate when it comes to your guest list.

Inviting only the closets of family and friends will allow you to entertain and decorate the way that you have always wanted. It is so much easier to think about budgets for 50 vs. the heart attack that your father will have when you say that you want to invite 250 guests to your wedding.

5. Plan a local honeymoon.

Check out honeymoon destinations within one hundred miles of where you are getting married. I bet that you will be surprised to see how many romantic get aways are actually affordable and offer special discounts for off season vacations.