DIY recycled coffee can table numbers

I saw this idea on 100 Layer Cake a while back and bookmarked it hoping we could use it somehow in the wedding. After figuring out our table look it turns out it fits in perfect so we (or should I say 95% my Guy) started working on tin can table numbers over the weekend.  We used the tutorial from 100 Layer Cake but changed it up a bit (used spray paint inside can vs paper).  Also the one thing it doesn't tell you is the size tin can to use.  We only had the two pound coffee cans and thought they looked massive but turns out that is the size they use in the tutorial and you almost need that size to make a statement.

Items you will need: 

Two pound tin cans

Tape

Drill

Spray paint (one color inside, one color outside)

Numbers (you can print them off from 100 Layer Cake tutorial)

I wasn't sure about the purple spray paint for the inside color - it seemed way to bright but turns out when the lights are low and the candle is shining inside it doesn't appear so crazy bright.  I think they actually turned out quite nice!

This one is My Guy having fun and playing with fire!

And I think we'll probably have several cans left after we finish the table numbers so we may do something like this for luminaries.  

WooHoo! I WON!

I WON! 

I sign up for contests all the time and actually won this time - I can't believe it

I get custom designed wine labels from I Do Labels compliments of Discovery Street.

Thank you Ruthy for offering this great contest - so perfect for our vineyard wedding!

Check back soon for the next Bridalhood giveaway...

Cost Cutting Decisions

There are several folks posting about money saving tips and there are actually entire blogs like 2000 Dollar Budget Wedding dedicated to this very thing.  I think that most couples have no idea what a wedding will cost until they actually start planning one.  We "somewhat" set a budget for our wedding but knew we wanted to save wherever we could.  It's a good thing we have a very creative, helpful and resourceful network of friends to help us out.  I think it's a good idea for every couple to do a budget but more importantly to figure out what items are most important and really try to save or do without the things that are not as important.

Here are some ways we have tried to save:

• My friend is helping me plan the wedding = no wedding planner cost
• I'm having my dress made by a friend (although the material wasn't exactly cheap)
• My save the dates, invites and select other paper goods were a "gift" from a friend
• Created a wedding site for online RSVP's (you could do this in place of invites and just do save the dates electronically to save even more)
• Using Ipod for our ceremony and reception music
• Our friend is serving as our officiant
• Making our candle wedding favors
• Decor - most everything will be made by friends (guestbook, ceremony chair decor, ribbon curtain, rustic wood signs, name place cards, DIY table numbers, DIY seating chart, fabric flags, picnic decor)
• Small wedding - trying to limit the number to 60 people
• Flowers bought at U-pick flower farm - minimal arrangements and using a woman trying to launch a flower arrangement business so keeping the costs low

Don't get me wrong - it's still not cheap to plan a wedding but we are trying to cut costs where we can and likely giving up some things we maybe would have liked to have. Some costs you really can't avoid and the things we found most important were food (feeding people isn't cheap unless you want to try to do it yourself), cocktails (although we are just doing beer and wine) and photography. 

Another thing we are really trying to do is save where we can now during the planning stage to help pay for a lot of these things and for our honeymoon.  It may be a small thing but here is something my Guy whipped up this morning that over time can really save some money. 

Homemade Laundry Detergent - all you will need is:

1 cup washing soda (we used Arm & Hammer)

1/2 cup borax

1 bar soap (We used Ivory)

5 gallon tub with lid

Approximately 3 gallons water
 
Check out a full tutorial here

Step by step image via My Guy

For all the ingredients you can likely get by for under $10 but with all the leftover ingredients from the first batch you can make about 6 more batches.  For the cost rationale check out the same link as the tutorial.

Long story short, nine loads using the homemade detergent has the same detergent cost as one load of Tide with Bleach Alternative or a cost saving of $65 a year.  Maybe not a lot of money but every little bit counts!

Inspiration Board: Fabulous Fiesta

I was so stoked to see this inspiration board from Flights of Fancy - it's exactly how I'm thinking about our post-wedding next day picnic.  Given our love for and ties to Costa Rica we are going to have traditional Tico fare on the menu and a fun and festive color palette and decor.

And this rehearsal dinner represented on the board via Style Me Petty is really above and beyond anything I could ever afford for a picnic but are you serious???  It's probably the best party post I've seen, well, maybe ever!  Did I mention I think I was Hispanic - quite possibly Mexican - in a past life?

The End of a Long Search - Our Photographer!

I figured finding a photographer would be one of the easiest things to do for the wedding...finding them is actually pretty easy - selecting one is the difficult part.  We are fortunate to be getting married in an area with so many creative and talented photographers and artists but it makes the decision that much harder.  My Guy is an aspiring photographer so he really likes a certain kind of photography and has questions I would never even think about and I tend to like...well, I like most styles of photography. 

After much deliberation we landed on a duo of brothers that we feel will capture our wedding with a unique and creative approach and fit in with our crazy crew quite nicely.  I found them while searching for photos from our wedding venue and have had a good dialogue going with Boone since I first saw their two weddings from the Gorge Crest (previously posted here and here).

Gabriel Boone Photography are two Portland and Seattle based brothers who seem to have a lot of fun shooting wedding together and we are excited to have them capture our story.  Check out some of my favorites from Gabriel Boone.

And this is Gabriel and Boone...I think they'll fit right in

Think this is my favorite of the bunch

This makes me want to get a bagpiper

This is taken at our wedding venue - Gorge Crest

To see more great photos from Gabriel Boone Photography browse through blog - yesterday they posted a really cool wedding venue in Seattle.   

Travel Tuesday: Honeymoon Dilemma

I had hoped that when I finally revealed our honeymoon location it would be with a title more along the lines of "Found: Perfect Honeymoon Destination" and not "dilemma."  And we did...find the most perfect hidden gem for our honeymoon - we've read all the reviews, delighted over all the stunning pictures and talked about all the things we would do at this spot - starting with the tequila tasting upon arrival!  Since we are doing a "destination wedding" our travel plans are all over the map - fly from Florida to Portland and then Portland to honeymoon location and back to Florida.  Trying to find plane tickets that don't take us through three connections with an overnight stop and that don't cost over $1000 is almost impossible.  I'm finding that Portland doesn't offer all the non-stop flights of a major hub airport and that Zihuatanejo, Mexico has even fewer options. 

Staying true to my travel obsession - Mexico - we decided on Zihuatanejo, a quaint fishing village on the Pacific Coast.  I've been wanting to go there since the final scene of Shawshank Redemption!  In recent years it has become more popular but not nearly as crowded as other over developed areas like Cabo, Cancun and Acapulco. Apparentely still not that easy to get to though which is what we love about it but also what is killing me!  There are some flights but may be too cost prohibitive for us especially since we were already planning to splurge for this great place we found.

Amuleto - oh Amuleto - I have been dreaming about napping in our hammock next to our private plunge pool with a margarita and a warm breeze coming off the Zihuatanejo Bay cooling us off.  Read the reviews on this place on Trip Advisor and fall in love - I couldn't find one negative thing said about Amuleto.  I even emailed a well traveled woman who had written a review about the place and compared it to another resort (the best reort I'd even been to) and she said Amuleto was even better, more quaint and couldn't even compare with any place she'd ever been.

This boutique hotel only has six suites so very private and you'll feel right at home!

Ah...there is that hammock!

Zihuatanejo Bay from Amuleto lobby

Amuleto lobby

Private Suite Patio view with plunge pool, lounge chairs and hammock

Outdoor shower

Yes please!

View from a suite

We are still trying to make it work but may have to go with a backup plan unless we can find easier and cheaper flights.  Not to mention it's getting a little stressful since we really need to book our travel ASAP to at least Portland since that part is the really important!   Any suggestions?  Other options were Hawaii and other areas in Mexico.  Alaska was on the list but we really think we just want to relax and unwind with a margarita in a tropical paradise but we could always be convinced! Would love your feedback on places you've seen or considered.  Stay tuned.

Weekend Recap and Upcoming Giveaways!

On Friday I posted a wedding update and several things on our "to-do" list - I'm happy to report we are chipping away at the list one-by-one.  It was a windy and rainy weekend here on the Central FL coast so we took advantage of that by doing projects indoors. 

I don't think I've ever done one post about our soy candle line.  It's been a work in progress and we are just getting ready to launch our website and hopefully start online sales. Much more to come on those including a giveway very soon.  We are going to be making the candles for our wedding favors and spent some time this weekend trying to figure out the perfect scent to create for our special wedding candle.  We made a few that probably won't be "the one" for the wedding but definitely scents we can sell.

Our Soy Candle Line - giveaway coming soon!

One of the major items I can cross off the wedding to-do list is our wedding day photographer.  I know this is something normally confirmed early in the planning but with so many phenomenal Pacific NW wedding photographers this was not an easy decision.  We are so excited now that we have finally landed on one and can't wait to share it with you later this week.

via - our wedding photographer - coming soon!

My mom suggested any couple about to get married or who is recently married should watch Marley and Me as it's more a story about a young couple starting a life together and their up's and down's through the early years of marriage than it is about a dog.  I hadn't seen it since I'd heard it was super sad and I was somewhat skeptical that it would offer any marriage insight since it seemed like a kids movie about a dog.  Well...it is REALLY sad especially if you've ever had a dog but I guess mothers are "usually" always right.  It was a great movie for us to watch together since we are about to be in that same boat and making some of those very same decisions.  I did look over at my Guy once during the first part of the movie though and think he might have been having second thoughts about the whole marriage and kids thing! So...for all you recently married or engaged couples check out Marley and Me - it might spark some conversation about things/topics/issues you haven't already discussed. 

Check back this week for another giveway that I'm really excited about since it's some handmade goodness by me and My Guy.