Fab Finds Friday

Posted by Khris in Fab Finds Friday

{ Fab Finds Friday is a weekly column that highlights fabulous idea, happenings, and people in the wedding and craft industries. FFF mentions are never paid; each person or company is chosen based on the merit of their own awesomeness. }

Hi DIYers!

Glue Arts, the makers of my favorite double-sided tape applicator, the Glue Glider Pro (my review), is having a BOGO sale. If you’re assembling invitations, programs, table numbers or any other bulk paper project that needs a lot of double-sided adhesive the Glue Glider Pro is an absolute must. The details:

Buy a GlueGlider PRO or any of the six refill cartridges and receive the same of equal or lesser value FREE! Also stock up now and receive Free Shipping on orders over $150.00. Sale valid through Satureday November 6th 2010. Minimum orders are case lots of 12 per product. To place your order call 1-866-889-GLUE. Mention promo code VOTE6 when ordering.

In exciting around-the-weddingsphere news, wedding website provider Nearlyweds, has acquired wedding planning resource OneWed, to create a wedding-related social network.

Maddy from the beautiful Inspired Bride blog has launched Somewhere Splendid, a new blog that covers “nesting topics from general entertaining and parties to home decor and cooking”. Congrats!

Julie + Chad

Posted by Khris in Real DIYers

I adore this intimate wedding from photographer Jennifer Bowen.

Jennifer writes about Julie and Chad’s wedding:

Julie and Chad’s wedding was whimsical, avant garde and vintage inspired. The bride coordinated the event herself, including most of the details. The flowers were feather adorned and her gown very vintage & romantic. Their ceremony took place outdoors at a Paradise Valley, AZ resort (Montelucia) and was lit completely by candlelight. Their cocktail reception was “station” inspired, so that there was a cigar bar, wine bar, gelatto bar, fondue station and more… and was also light mainly by candlelight. They had a photo booth, live dueling pianists and lots of candles. The bride organized an entry way table to greet guests that was lined with tall vases of over-flowing moss like creations, silver frames, candles and several other silver vintage centerpieces. This small storyboard does not do the full event justice, but it was a very one of a kind affair!

Details:

Couple: Julie + Chad
Wedding Date: March 2010
Location: Paradise Valley,Arizona
Photographer: Jennifer Bowen Photography
Reception Venue: Hotel InterContinental Montelucia Resort

DIY DJ: Halloween Hits To Rock Your Reception

Posted by Khris in DIY DJ

October is my favorite month, including both my wedding anniversary & Halloween. I’ve been eager to write an article featuring some songs for a Halloween wedding playlist, but haven’t been in the Autumn spirit with temperatures in 90s for the past few weeks.  Today is finally a cold, rainy October day and I’m in the mood for all things Halloween.

About 13 years ago, I started making Halloween inspired mix tapes & CDs after growing tired of just hearing “Monster Mash” & “Werewolves of London” at this time of year.  My Halloween playlist for my iPod is now close to 500 songs consisting of rockabilly, goth, metal, horror soundtracks etc.  Among them are quite a few that would be fun for an October wedding.   For this list, I’ve chosen to stick with more upbeat, danceable tunes, leaving behind the more gruesome & spooky songs.

So here, in no particular order, are 10 fun Halloween inspired songs suitable for a wedding:

1.     I Put a Spell On You – Cow Fingers and Mosquito Pie by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins  This bluesy great has also been covered by Nina Simone, Credence Clearwater Revival, & Marilyn Manson.

2.     Dead Man’s Party – Dead Man’s Party Nothing screams Halloween like Danny Elfman & Boingo.  This danceable 80s classic was part of our wedding playlist.

3.     The Ghost of Smokey Joe – Cab Calloway.  The Ghost of Smokey Joe – Halloween Classics: Songs That Scared the Bloomers Off Your Great-Grandma A fun swing ditty that continues in the vein of Calloway’s classic Minnie the Moocher.

4.     Grim Grinning Ghosts – Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion from Grim, Grinning Ghosts – Mickey’s Monster Bash)  I love the HM at Disneyland!  Thurl Ravenscroft sang on the original (voice of Tony the Tiger & You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch).  Los Lobos also recorded an awesome cover of this tune.

5.     Evil Night Together – Diabolical Streak by Jill Tracy.  This sultry cabaret singer reminds me of a “gothy” Tori Amos.

6.     Boogie Man – Lee Press-On & The Nails.  No, not KC & The Sunshine Band’s song, this is jump swing from hell.  Many songs from LPN’s Swing Is Dead album would be a perfect fit (I Prefer A Coffin, Ghostriders in the Sky, Waltz of the Damned).

7.     Time Warp – The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture).   It’s just a jump to the left…’nuff said!

8.     Oogie Boogie’s Song – Nightmare Before Christmas (Special Edition).  I just had to throw in this one.  Two new great covers by Tiger Army & Rodrigo y Gabriela show up on the Nightmare Revisited album.

9.     Howl At the Moon – The One And Only.  Here’s an awesome rockabilly tune that’s great for dancing.

10. Thriller – Michael Jackson. I’ve never been a huge MJ fan, but this song has “the funk of 40,000 years and grizzly ghouls from every tomb are closing in to seal your doom…”

Happy Halloween from the DIY DJ.

Real Etiquette: Unwanted DIY Projects

Posted by Khris in Real Etiquette

This is an interesting contrast to our last R.E. post that dealt with getting people to help with DIY projects.

Dear DIY Bride: My fiance’s aunt is insisting that she make my bridal bouquet. She’s well-known in our family for making silk arrangements. They’re nice but not even close to what I want. How do you suggest dealing with unwanted projects that are being pushed upon you? (Please don’t suggest having her do a toss bouquet; we’re not doing a bouquet toss! Thanks!) — Kayleigh

Dear Kayleigh,

Have you flat out told her “no, thank you” yet? It is my experience that being direct – but gentle – is often the best approach for dealing with helpy helpertons. “Thanks, Auntie, but I’ve already decided on using fresh flowers for my bouquet.” should be sufficient. If pressed for more details be honest but vague. “Fresh flowers are intensely meaningful to me.” “We’ve already found our perfect florist and signed a contract.” Don’t give room for negotiation with statements like “Silk flowers aren’t as pretty as real ones…” Stay firm but be polite as possible. If she ultimately leaves angry, that’s on her – not you or your fiance.

It’s actually lovely that she wants to contribute and in a way that’s meaningful to her. It is your wedding, however, and you get to make the decisions about what you carry down the aisle. In the grand scheme of things this shouldn’t be a big deal but we all know how family politics in a wedding setting can go haywire.

If you’re not totally against the idea of her helping out, I do recommend giving her alternative projects or ways to chip in. How about corsages for the moms and grandmothers? Decorating the guest book or gift tables?  The altar? Guest chairs? Adding flowers to the guest book pen or the cake knife? Decorating the getaway car? Or a faux bouquet for the rehearsal?  There are a multitude of floral projects that can successfully be done with silks without distracting from the fresh florals that you love.

Chelsea + Kurt

Posted by Khris in Real DIYers

There’s something so intimate and sweet about winter weddings. Chelsea and Kurt hit the mark with combining vintage, handmade, and recycled to create with their cozy February wedding in Illinois.

Chelsea wore her mother’s wedding gown from the 1970s. For favors, Chelsea and Kurt gave handmade jam that they picked the berries for themselves. Taking advantage of nature’s bounty, they used a fallen tree in the woods near them to use for homemade decor, including the cake stand, envelope holder and candy buffet.

Details:

Couple: Chelsea + Kurt
Wedding Date: February 2010
Location: Hoffman Estate, Illinois
Photographer: Laurie Peacock Photography
Reception Venue: The Stonegate
Floral Designer:  Blooming Flowers