thi is my reality, the wedding, the wedding planner

So you have to get all your vendors on a budget.....

I was encouraged by a story in Modern Bride magazine. The country was going through Sept 11 and brides were putting down the diamonds and picking up a craft book for a ring.

A sister of the editor was getting married. She married by candlight at her sister, the editor home surrounded by family and friends.  She brought many things on sale.

So.........I went to yellow pages......

geico insurance building
I rented a reception room complete with my lunch.

florist
me, family, and friends..the night before

cake
I went to the mall for my wedding cake. I refused to have a cake that looked great was dry like
corn bread mix. I did not want jiffy corn bread mix  cake.

photographer
I found someone who worked at home.

wedding planner
I am a control freak, and I had drama, so, a wedding planner instead of the florist.

the dress
David Bridal

music
The room was small, I brought my own honey.. DJ Michelle in the house.

this is my reality, my wedding, the miniwedding planner

So.....

so to cut budget...had candles....3 tier buttercream cake...cut the down 75


dress shopping...I am a complete control freak..... I went dressing by myself.

So i went in grandma underwear..... tried on five dresses...end up with one....

which broke all the wedding rules...petite person in big dress... but I wanted to be a queen and there
at least three more wedding that year. My wedding was going to be the best honey.

three months later...omg....a case of girl scout cookies later. I was too big for my dress. Where is the usher cd?

this is my wedding, the reality, the miniwedding planner

So I am sitting in hotlanta...we were living in sin...

Anyway, I sit at the computer, go on the wedding planner site, and put my hopes and dreams in
the spaces. I came out with $30,000.

Target Job plus Webvan Job was not going to equal $30,000 in cash.

I did think about the Amercian Express, Discovery card in the drawer.

Then I realized I wanted a house....oh well.

So I spent all afternoon looking at budget sites, back then, broke ass bride wedding sites
was not there. It was 2000. Party time where everything was dipped in diamonds.

At the evening, I found a budget site.....under $4,000....

You may need a million dollars for an event but not so much for a moment.

this is my wedding....the reality, the miniplanner

So I had a very romantic proposal....

We went to Warner Robins, sat in the car, he gave me a note in  front of the truck he wanted.
He gave me the ring......

I am not going to lie...i remembered the ring...

Anyway, excited, I went home, a family member did my nails.  The next day I showed off my ring to Everyong....

hey....

Then I did what every bride does....I brought about five wedding magazines.

Then I realized it was the 1999.......a cake that has real diamonds on it.

my now ex husband......he is known to be a little cheap. My dad, saw my ring and held at the light to see if it was real....laughing

say cheese

pictures are important. there are many ways get it done.


old school
yourself. get a digital camera or even camera phone.....print it on the computer.

student photographer
get someone and look at their work.

cermony photos only
have the professional to takeyour pictures for the cermony.

the fashions

Even though I am cheap, I get joy from going in a thift shop. I do love the fashions. When I was bride, I had more than a hundred dresses. With a family member, I went through the pictures. Big dress moment in white. So what, I told a lie...

Anyway.....

big dress
for a average height. If you aren't not...bring attention to neck with a choker.

the fitted gown
A fitted gown that flares at the bottom is a beautiful evening moment. It is great for
well fit body with a bit of curves. You can fake it with padding. Bring layers on the bodice
to hide a tummy with great undergartments.

the mini
The mini is great for cocktail moment or dessert reception. Wear underwear(smiling).

beauty on the budget

So maybe you don't have the funds....

go to Avon or mary kay

find makeup counter

beauty schools

creating a moment

When I was getting a married, there were many events...it was overtop time. So when I put in the numbers in the spaces. I knew I was going to redefine what I wanted. Things were cut but moments
were added for free.

My day was beautiful...we had soap opera moment that  many wedding have. Besides, the bold and beautiful moment, it was a great day.

the inspiration
a beautiful piece of art, a romantic novel, or a funny movie

the wedding dress
from a sophiscated suit to rented designer gown

the food
the student caterer to a do it yourself dessert reception

the cake
from one layer heart or just a great dessert from your first date

love
Share love in having enough chairs, keeping your cermony and recpetion guest friendly,
having enough fans  or portable heaters. Please feed the people.

You may need a million dollars for an event but not so much for a moment.

Benita Michelle Wheeler

the remix

So.... a year later or even seven years....I think it would be great to have a remix.


Find your favorite restraunt and recite your vows to each other. Then kiss. Share a piece dessert.
Wear something inspired by your day.

the after party

The party is for those bride want to get a little more wild in the music or activities or just a more laid back vibe.


choose the place
the best place is  the reception to save cost....have a little cards that explains it at the table.

choose activities
it could be just more hip hop and harder cocktails.

choose the time
All night or four more hours. Provide snacks, even it is only bar snacks.

the party

the reception....plan it well


menu
find one online, wor your caterer, family recipes, or ideas from family restr aunt

the music
party all night by the radio and get great ideas

the cake
a cake is a great way to end the moment......it can something elaborate or simple.
you can cut into your favorite dessert.

centepieces
make sure your guests can still interact with one another.

the plot

A ceremony is a romantic story told to your guest by song , by prose or poetry, and by background.
Be creative

Add dance

Add creative songs that may reveal the first date

Add piece of prose from your favorite romance book, keep it rated G for everyone


Be sure to get the rules from your officant or your wedding or reception site.


Write down the plot and review with the groom.

the set

The setting means everything for a wedding...

so to get done...you need the following...

flowers
front of cermony, ailse decor, and maybe something for the doors. You also must have ailse runner.
Centerpieces, decor for cake table and sign in.

music
You need great music for cermony and reception and even some romantic music on the way to your
honeymoon.

You can also use:

people in costume in a creative manner to serve drinks
lights in trees and unexpected places
candles always provide a romantic glow.

the white ailse moment

for many women, their wedding days are one their best fashion moments.


get a dress
6 months in advance of the day

work out
be realistic of your goals...5 days 30 minutes

have a glow
eating citrius. lot of water.

manicure
make you get your nails in a neutral color..

makeup
look natural....you don't want to walk down the ailse with who are you?

.

the supporting cast

so.....a bride can be the ultimate diva. i was.

i sat down at the computer with pretty paper to write notes which our family and friends found strange for small wedding but to me it is essentil to properly plan a moment. To ask, write down
your requirments, and get a proper response by phone or by mail.


the planner-friend, family, or professional
the honor attedants...maid or matron of honor, best man
bridesmaids
ushers
grooosmen
cermony -singers, readers,
sign in attendant
gift attendant

Keep everyone updated by twitter or website. Make sure when a person does something extra special to write a thank you note.


be a diva...but be asnice as possible...it is just white ailse moment.

set the stage...the invitation

so...to the set the stage...inivaition...


cardstock card.......ink matches shoes

postcards....of the city......or your favorite art piece

poem....with info in the corner

the city diva moment

i am more a city baby...i love to have things to do.....even though i like where i live, i do get
excited when i get on Marta

lithonia, it is more a wife with 2.5 kids kind of city when you want to read book and sleep.

dress
short white dress....blue short boots

centepriece
a square container with...blue rocks...

cake
two tier cake with a camera....

favors
shoe shaped cookies

casual moment

When I was a planning my first moment, I saw a wedding in a Martha Stewart book. It took place in NYC. Dreams of saving money and creating simplicity danced in my head.

enjoy a simple moment.

invitation...a letter on pretty paper. a dress....a blue dress silver shoes. a purse with a rose pinned to the purse. food...a buffet room for ten. a cake....a simple dessert with the date of the groom and bride written in sauce on their plate for display purposes.