Let them eat cake!

 The wedding cake. According to the Bridal Association of America, the average cost of the cake is $543.  For the very simplest of cakes, you can expect to pay at least $1.50 - $2.00 per slice (times your number of guests), and the price just goes up from there (upwards of $10 a slice!) based on the elaborateness of the design, flavors, fillings, etc. 

Ouch.

But if you dare, you can DIY your wedding cake.

No, really!

With a few simple cake-decorating techniques, a little inspiration, and endless accessory possibilities, you might be surprised at what you can create! ♥

Here's a recipe for chocolate mud cake (or try this white cake recipe, with any of its variations: lemon, berry, liqueur, and white chocolate), with a keep-it-simple decoration idea:

Source: Intimate Weddings

An easy fondant rose:

Source: Traditional Home

A frosting-rose tutorial:

Source: i am baker

Petits-fours from pre-made pound cake, with an elegant chocolate seal:

Source: oncewed

Do you think you want tiers? Bakerella shows you how:

Source: bakerella

And here's a complete wedding cake tutorial from the Etsy blog:

Source: Etsy

I can't wait to hear about your amazing creations! Tell me all about it in the comments below!

Stunning Centerpieces

Today I want to show you some easy and inexpensive ideas for stunning centerpieces!

Check out these paper roses, made from book pages (or use sheet music instead!) I personally cringe at the notion of tearing pages out of books, but those that are already damaged are fair game. Check thrift stores and garage sales. You could even put a request out on freecycle.

If you have a favorite love story or poem, consider photocopying it on vintage-look paper for your petals.

Get the bridesmaids to come over and have an assembling party :)

Source: 100 Layer Cake

Maybe add these sweet-and-simple roses for a pop of color:

Source: dozi

Looking for real plant-life? This tutorial shows you how to drill holes in bricks, but I would think you can skip that headache and just buy red masonry brick. Add some succulents and votives for an earthy focal point.

Source: ReadyMade

Or hit the thrift stores for their seemingly endless supply of milk glass and plant your succulents in those! I think these would be darling with a burlap table runner.

Source: a casarella

For cut flowers, Martha shares her tips on floral arrangements. This bowl centerpiece is genious. The hunt is on for interesting, eye-catching ceramics, pottery, and glassware to match your style and wedding theme!

Source: martha stewart

Here's a colorful idea using mason jars (or any vase) and citrus slices.

Source: Glitz Bliss

I absolutely love this fire-and-ice effect. Find gel beads in just about any color here.

Source: Wedding bee boards

I hope you have a blast creating your tablescapes!

First Christmas Together!

You're newly married, and anticipating your very first Christmas together, ready to create memories with your own traditions.

How about starting with Our First Christmas Together ornaments?

I found this idea on Pinterest originally. I had to do a little hunting, but I finally found its original source, with instructions (if you need them) on Spoonful. Saw off a piece from this year's tree, mark it with the date, and create an ornament for future Christmases! This is a super-simple project that even the craftily-challenged can accomplish.

Source: Spoonful

It's such a sweet way to commemorate your first Christmas together. My family is by no means celebrating our first Christmas, but we are getting our first real tree after many years of a boxed, artificial one! I can't wait (and the children are pretty excited, too)! We are definitely going to do this.

Do you have an extra invitation left from the wedding? Here's a lovely keepsake ornament that you can DIY!

Source: unknown

Is your only wedding invitation permanently adhered to a page in your album? No worries, wife of many years! Grab cardstock and a scanner and make some copies! 

Some of us are short on time, but love the homey feel of the handmade. Craft fairs and holiday boutiques might be the thing for you. Or, get acquainted with a site like Etsy, where you can shop handmade and vintage from the comfort of home! Many artists are delighted to customize an order just for you. I found this ornament there; two pieces of a puzzle, permanently joined, the perfect symbol of forever love:

Source: TheCreativeLaser

 And then there are also, of course, thousands of choices for store-bought mementos. I love this one just because it's so sweet, simple, and pretty, and it will match just about any Christmas tree theme throughout the years:

source: Macy's 2012 Lenox Always & Forever ornament

Wishing you a merry and bright tree-trimming!

Couples costumes!

I don't like Halloween in general. But I love parties, and I love fun costumes. The fun is doubled when your sweetie agrees to let you make a fool of him dress him up, too! Are you searching for the perfect costumes for you and your beloved? Check these out!

The fact that I think this costume idea is soooo funny probably dates me.... but I laughed out loud when I saw it! Publisher's Clearing House Prize Patrol. It definitely needs more and shinier balloons, and possibly a mud mask to go with "the winner's" hair-curlers-and-robe getup. Definitely easy to pull together, and I think it's genius!

            

Source: http://www.coolest-homemade-costumes.com/coolest-publishers-clearing-house-costume.html

Here's a tutorial for a Big Bad Wolf and Red Riding Hood. I love the wolf costume. I wonder if my mister could be persuaded....

Source: http://www.lemonsqueezyhome.com/2011/11/little-red-riding-hood-and-big-bad-wolf.html

    Kinda dorky, but pretty great: Google Maps :D 

Sorry, I couldn't find a tutorial for this one!  You'll have to wing it!

How about lovebirds? Incredibly simple (or you can be as elaborate as you like!) Start with a pair of glasses frames and matching feathers, and see where inspiration takes you!

Source: http://www.marthastewart.com/274294/halloween-masks-and-headpieces/@center/276965/halloween?xsc=eml_crd_2011_09_17&#/end

Other ideas:

News anchor and cameraman: 

Anchor: business suit, microphone, chunky necklace, and big hair  

Cameraman: jeans, t-shirt, headset and huge camera (raid the thrift stores for an 80's videocam and paste a station logo to the side)

Charlie Brown and the little red-haired girl: 

CB: a yellow t-shirt with a black zigzag painted, sewn, or glued on, with black shorts;

LRHG: a minidress and red wig, with Mary Janes

Peace and quiet:

Peace: (hippie) bell-bottoms, long, straight hair (or wig), flower crown

Quiet: (mime) white face make-up, beret, black clothing

Weatherman and "Chance of Rain": 

Weatherman: business suit, side-parted hair, an earbud, maybe a weather-themed necktie?

Chance of rain: (described in link above) a rain cloud, carrying a water pistol. 

I hope these ideas get you started! Have a great time!

Lifelong love: Debbie and Jake

30 years ago

Debbie and Jake are a shining example of college sweethearts turned forever love! Their first meeting was very Romeo and Juliet-esque, with Debbie sitting, reading, in a third-floor dorm window, legs dangling. Jake and a roommate were passing by on the ground below. The fellas hollered up to her, and went on their way, and Jake was already hooked. He had a bit of a job ahead convincing Debbie, however.

He was patient, and made an effort to be a friend to her, and it was with this kindness and friendship that he gained her heart. When she told him that her favorite M&M's were the green ones, he bought every bag in town and sorted every green one out to fill a shoebox as a surprise gift for her. She decided he was the man for her!

Now, 30+ years later, Debbie reflects on a life built together in Christ: learning to be patient with her spouse but quick to deal with her own sin, and embracing trials as a chance to grow in the Lord and draw closer to Him and to each other:

"Draw near to God. Cherish your spouse as a precious gift from God chosen especially for you. Treat each other with kindness and respect. Laugh together often. Enjoy the sweetness of each day as you walk through life together."

"Laugh together often..."

Debbie and Jake view their marriage as a precious thing, to be treasured and protected, no matter what it takes. And they're enjoying it every step of the way!





If you'd like to share your lifelong love story, please email me at foreversweetheartsbridal@gmail.com

Giveaway!

Hello, lovely brides-to-be!

In honor of fifteen (beautiful) years with my Sweetheart, I'm sharing the love with you! Starting this morning, you can visit my facebook page and  enter to win your choice of a white or ivory ring pillow!  ♥ ♥ ♥ This giveaway ended on 10/3/12 ♥ ♥ ♥

Satin ribbons are interwoven by hand to form a lovely, textured pillowtop. It is accented with a sequin accessory for the ring ties and elegantly trimmed with lace; a classic and versatile design! 

Add caption

The winner will be randomly chosen on Wednesday, October 3rd ♥

Best wishes for a blissful wedding, and an even more blissful marriage, with many happy years and memories!

Lifelong love: Kimberly and Tim

newlyweds

Kimberly and Tim were chosen to play a version of The Newlywed Game at a couples' shower, against three other couples (including the shower couple and the host couple). The competing wives were asked, away from their spouses, the following question:

"If your marriage was a movie at Blockbuster, what section would it be in? Drama? Romance? Action? Or Top Ten?"

Kimberly said, "You didn't say, 'Comedy.'"

This same question was posed to the husbands at the very end of the game, when Tim & Kimberly were tied  with one other couple.

Tim answered, "You didn't say, 'Comedy.'"

Ha! They won.

In marriage, when you're dealing with struggles and crises and just plain ol' reality, a sense of humor can really go a long way. Kimberly: "You have to be able to laugh ~ at yourself, and at difficult times."

Kimberly and Tim have had plenty of opportunities to exercise this theory. Their early years were rough ~ they even contemplated going separate ways. But on their 8th anniversary, they welcomed God into their marriage and renewed their vows and their commitment to each other. Together with Him they have overcome health issues, parenting struggles, financial troubles, and problems with family. Rather than blaming each other, they have resolved to be on the same side, "holding hands instead of pointing fingers."

They've now been married 23 (and a half!) years, and they give God the glory for holding them together. "A marriage is made of 3 people - the husband, the wife, and God. It doesn't work without God. We know; we've tried it."

If you'd like to share your lifelong love story, please email me at foreversweetheartsbridal@gmail.com