I'd rather spend my money on cutlery

Our trip to Moskatels on Friday was semi productive. I was able to look at a prices of a few things like vases, fake flowers, favor stuff, Pris ee ee was a little (lot) appalled at my suggestion to use sandwich baggies with ribbon to hold the favors (at this time, still pineapple tarts and Mexican wedding cookies). I think that's not pretty enough, but for a bag of 25 cellophane wrappers @ $1.99 (approx $20 for 10 sets) vs . $0.28 for those boxes (approx $70 for 250), there's a $50 difference! Maybe we can incorporate the origami box bottom and then the cellophane bags to wrap it up? What color origami paper would we use? And can you buy very specific colors? I eonder if I could find a teal/turquoise and stamp gold swirly designs on it. Buuuuut that might be too much work....

Pris ee ee asked if she didn't spend money on the favors, what would I like her to buy: cutlery? And that became my slogan for the day. I'd rather spend money on something practical like cutlery than on 250 boxes that will be pretty to look at, but thrown away before the night is over. Although, I guess anything that we wrap the cookies in will be tossed.

A centerpiece option that may be reusable, or at least that will make it out of the night without meeting with a dumpster is: Pris ee ee, Joy ee ee, and Mum are pushing for live orchid centerpieces. Wrap them in plant sack material (?) at the bottom or put them in a painted wooden box. Would that be too plain? I guess toss a few votives or such around and you're all set.

I'd be interested in seeing how we could use the hurricane lamps Michelle has, if we have the wedding at TN Gardens.

Invite Template

For the invites, I was thinking of having the outside become a folder that holds the response card/envelope etc.

Here's a template I found online... not sure that it would be as big as the template though... I'm thinking of something more square.


I'm thinking of having two sets of invites: 1 for people invited to the ceremony and reception and 1 for people only invited to the ceremony.

There are lots of people I'd like to invite (esp. church people for Mum and Dad), but we can't afford to have them at the reception, and they're not super close to me...

I was also thinking of what to do about maybe not having to mail back RSVPs for some of the guests?... Probably more of my friends and family who are proficient with email? That way there's that much less paper to use... Then again, I also heard about how one bride didn't get any RSVPs because they were online. And Eddie's saying no one on his family would know how to RSVP online and like 5 of his friends would...but I guess that's 5 friends less of paper?... Bah... I don't know if it's worth the hassle?...

Maybe we wouldn't need a pocket. We could use the vertical ribbon to hold the RSVP cards.

Guest Book Ideas from The Knot

How it's done: Think about the stories and sentiments you'd like to read (and revisit) most and have cards printed with these type of questions (like "who are you happiest to see today?"). Spread them out on a table next to a big glass bowl where guests can drop their completed cards. Whatever you do, make sure to include a space for guests to sign and date them.

Tip: The key to getting good responses? Do not make your guests feel as if they're doing a homework assignment. Stick to one or two fun-to-answer questions per card:

• How did you first meet the bride and groom?
  
• When did you know they were in love?
  
• What's the secret to a great marriage?
  
• Can you share a funny memory about the bride and/or the groom?

Other ideas for questions we could ask in the guest book?

Branch Out

What it is: Just about anything, including tree branches, can serve as an easel for your guests' sweet sentiments.

How it's done: Purchase a small sapling from a local nursery or take a piece from an existing tree with sentimental value (like a willow tree in your parents' yard), and plant it in a decorative pot. Cut paper flowers from card stock and have guests sign the blossoms and attach to the tree's branches with ribbon. To make hanging a breeze, punch a hole in each card and loop a ribbon through. Double knot it to make a loop that can easily slip on the branches. At the end of the night, you'll have a tree in full bloom. After the event, gather the blossoms in a book, and for those who used a real sapling, plant the tree that has now been anointed with the loving and supportive words of your guests.

Not so sure that we'd want the real tree to plant...probably because I'd end up killing the poor thing... I wonder what we'd make the tree out of? Actual branches? Michael's fake flower stuff?

Green Note: Save space and paper by doubling the guest book cards as escort cards. On the back of each guest's calligraphed table card, print, "A note to the newlyweds." Place a pen at every place setting (favor idea!) so guests know to fill them out.

I like this idea to reuse the "escort cards" - escort cards being those cards that tell you where to sit? Maybe we could combine the note to the newlyweds on the back of the escort cards with the questions from the first guest book idea?

Supplies we'd need:

• Cards with printed questions and table assignments
• Ribbon to hang cards
• Pens