Two – Free Win Your Wedding Contest!
Here are two free win your wedding contests that I've found.
The great thing about both of these contests is that you can actually win the wedding for a friend too! So if you're organizing a stagette/stag consider entering and you could win it for your bride/groom!
The first is super simple to enter and literally takes 20 second. Simply enter your email address and you'll be entered into the draw! (how simple is that?). Click HERE (or the image below) to enter.
To enter the second draw you need to complete a simple 3-minute survey. Click HERE (or the image below) to enter
Unfortunately both of these contests are open to US residents only. Sorry everyone else!
Ten Top Stagette Party Item Ideas
Having some Stagette party supplies at a Stagette can be really fun. Here are 10 great ideas to have at a stagette party which will either embarrass the bride-to-be or remind her why she's getting married. Check them out below!
1. Pecker Party Straws
Pecker Party Straws at Bachelorette.com!
2. Pin the Macho On the Man
Pin the Macho On the Man at Bachelorette.com!
3. The Bachelorette Tiara
The Bachelorette Tiara at Bachelorette.com!
4. Captain Pecker – 6’ Inflatable Penis
Captain Pecker – 6’ Inflatable Penis at Bachelorette.com!
5. Bridesmaid Sash
Bridesmaid Sash at Bachelorette.com!
6. Bachelorette Party Veil
Bachelorette Party Veil at Bachelorette.com!
7. Penis Pop
Penis Pop at Bachelorette.com!
8. Bachelorette Party ID Buttons
Bachelorette Party ID Buttons at Bachelorette.com!
9. Pecker Pinata Bachelorette Party Kit
Pecker Pinata Bachelorette Party Kit at Bachelorette.com!
10. Peter Pecker Inflatable Doll and Ring Toss Game
Peter Pecker Inflatable Doll and Ring Toss Game at Bachelorette.com!
Wedding Present Help
What to get the happy couple can be a tricky thing to decide. If you are like me and have 5 weddings this summer (the seem to come in waves), it can be difficult financially especially in this time of economic turmoil.
It can also be difficult if you don't like to purchase gifts off of registries. Sometimes you want to find an original, perfect gift for the bride and groom but don't have the time to spending shopping or the energy to be creative.
Here I offer some advice on overcoming these gift hurdles: GIVE CASH.
In years past it was considered tacky to give cash as it seemed unoriginal and impersonal. Now, it is more widely accepted for these reasons:
1) Weddings are VERY expensive. Any financial help you can get from family or from opening envelopes of cash is extremely helpful.
2) Money allows the couple to get exactly what they want. They can pay bills (boring, but useful), go on a honeymoon, buy things for around the house, or entertain themselves. You may argue that by purchasing something from their registry they are in fact getting exactly what they want. Yes and no. I remember getting so caught up in adding items to my gift registry that I added way more than I needed, including some useless items that I eventually returned.
3) You may be deterred from giving cash as they will know exactly how much it cost. If you buy a gift on a registry it's the same thing. They will know the value. You should never worry about this. Give what you can and the couple should not judge and should be thankful for anything they receive. Definitely don't give more than you can afford.
4) Bringing a gift to the wedding can be cumbersome, not to mention having to wrap it.
5) This is the major reason why I'd recommend giving cash or gift cards. I'm not sure if this applies to all gift registries but The Bay works this way. The bride and groom have 1 year from their wedding to add and buy items from their registry. The biggest factor is that they get fantastic discounts. In the year after my own wedding I bought things from The Bay for as much as 70% off. The minimum is 10% and we probably saved an average of 30% on most things over the course of the year. So, if you buy them a toaster, either from their registry or some other store, you are paying full price. If they buy it after the wedding (using cash or a gift card given to them by you), they will save immensely
I received very many wonderful presents for my wedding, but the best thing I got was cash!
Summer Stagette – Amazing Race
This summer I went to a stagette. The bridesmaids hired a company to put on the bachelorette party and it was supposed to be like the Amazing Race. It was more like a scavenger hunt but still very fun. We were in teams of two. The object was to collect a list of items as you went throughout the city, finding clues to your next destination. We had 50 objects to collect including: boiled egg, pickle, bag of dog food, a photo of Christmas dinner with my family, construction helmet, 40 business cards, hickey, stripper poster, piggy back ride from a cab driver. While collecting objects we had to complete several tasks: play croquette blindfolded, act out a scene from a play, etc
You could easily organizing something similar without hiring a company. It would take a bit of work, but would definitely be worth it. Be sure not to forget prizes!
The evening was finished off with a summer BBQ with girlie drinks and a very stagette appropriate cake!
Recycling your wedding flowers – Lilies
The flowers I chose for my wedding were gerber daisies (the bridesmaid's bouquets) and star gazer lilies (bride bouquet). Unfortunately the gerber daisies did not last very long. They are a very pretty flower, but not very durable. I'm not sure the gerber daisies didn't even last the entire evening.
The bridal bouquet had tons of lilies, with the perfect amount of buds open on the wedding day. It continued to flower for about 2 weeks after the wedding and was gorgeous in full bloom and so fragrant.
In addition to the star gazer lilies in my bouquet, I also had lilies in pots all over the reception hall. I tried to keep them restricted the the gift table, guest book table, etc. and away from the guest tables as many guests are sensitive to their potent aroma.
After the wedding, I took the potted lilies home to decorate my livingroom. Once they died (in the fall) I planted them in my flower gardens. I wasn't sure if they were going to come up in the spring but they did and by August they were in full bloom and beautiful! Here is a photo of the flowers growing in my flower garden:
I'm not sure if these lilies grow in all climates, but I say give it a try. They are perennials and should come up every year. They are a great yearly reminder of your wedding day!
Looking to save money?
If you are looking for more ways to save money for your wedding, think about disconnecting your cable or satellite for the summer months. Not only will you save money (probably an average of $50/month at least), but you will have more time to spend with your fiancé and plan your wedding.
I just disconnected my cable as it is too nice to be inside wasting time watching reruns and bad television shows. With my cable provider I had the option to suspend my cable or disconnect it. I chose to disconnect it since as an added bonus, after 3 months I have the option of reconnecting as a new customer and receiving the new customer discounted rate. Hopefully you have the same option.
You will have more free time and can save a few hundred dollars to put towards flowers, a gown or something else for your wedding!
 Dave and Johnny Formal Gown Prom Dress Sz 10  US $49.99
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 Tiffany Formal Homecoming Gown Prom Dress Sz 10 US $49.99
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 Faviana Formal Gown Prom Dress Sz 14 US $49.99
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 Xtreme Formal Gown Prom Dress Sz 14 US $9.99
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 Dave and JohnnyFormal Gown Prom Dress Sz 10 US $49.99
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 Wow Formal Gown Prom Dress Sz 20 US $59.99
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 Gorgeous Beaded Gown Size 14 US $.99
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 Victorias Secret Womens Green Night Shirt Gown Sz M US $2.99
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 WOW Formal Gown Prom Dress Sz 18 US $89.99
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Mother’s day is approaching; get your mom something special
I'm sure your mother has been super helpful lately and putting in many long hours assisting you in planning your wedding.
Be sure to get your mother (and your mother-in-law) something special to let them know you appreciate everything they have been doing lately.
This Sunday, May 4th , order a nice bouquet of flowers, pick up some chocolates or find the perfect card to say "thanks mom"!
Busy planning your summer wedding?
As spring approaches, it is an exciting time of year. Approximately 65% of all weddings happen in spring and summer. If you are one of those 65% getting married in the upcoming seasons of 2008 you must be busy planning right now!!!
I personally am getting ready to attend a wedding this summer. It will be an outdoor wedding in Calgary at a golf course. I must say that I'm very happy to be attending a wedding this summer as the guest instead of last summer as the bride! Although it was one of the best days of my life, the months of planning were extremely difficult.
If you are one of those brides out there getting married this summer, my advice to you is to take some time to yourself to relax away from the hectic planning. Slot some relaxation time. Head to the beach (work on your tan!), settle down in the shade with a good book, head to the spa to be pampered or even just buy an exfoliating scrub and take some time for yourself.
I hope my website can help you through some of the planning!
 CHERRY AND VANILLA exfoliating scrub US $5.99
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 OLIVE OIL WITH SALT SCRUB exfoliating scrub US $1.99
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 CILANTRO PINEAPPLE SCRUB exfoliating scrub US $5.99
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Setting up your hall for the reception
The owner of the hall should be a great resource on this topic but in case they aren't or you don't have time to discuss it with them, here are some things to keep in mind.
At the entrance you should have a table for your guestbook. It is important to have it as the first point of contact as guests will want to sign it upon arriving. If you are having arranged seating, you should a seating list available on this table. There is an option to have someone in charge and man the guest table. This is a great way to involve someone important in your wedding. Do you have a close family friend with a son or daughter old enough to take care of the guestbook table?
The gift table placement is extremely important. It must be close enough to the door that guests do not have to carry gifts all over the hall looking for a place to put the gifts. However, you do not want it so close to the door that anyone can enter and make off with your gifts. I recommend having a basket or wedding chest for cards so they don't get lost.
At most weddings the bar will be a high traffic area. Be sure not to position anything near the bar, allowing room for guests to form a line.
Sometimes the dance floor can double as the buffet area. Once the speeches and dinner are done, the buffet can be moved to make room for a dance floor and a DJ booth. The booth should be out of the way as cables and equipment can be an eyesore and there will not be much traffic to this booth apart from guests requesting songs.
For the comfort of your guests, be sure not to put more than 6 or 8 people at each guest table. Ideally you want every guest to be facing the head table and have an unobstructed view, if space will allow. Immediate family and parents should occupy the tables closest to the wedding party table. I recommend raising the head table on a platform so that is visible even for those guests unfortunate enough to be positioned at back of the room. If possible, avoid setting it up in front of a window. This will cause reflections for the photographer or any guests trying to take pictures during dinner.
If you are getting married in the summer, be sure to consider the sun. You will not want your cake sitting in the hot sun, melting the icing. Place your cake table somewhere shaded so it keeps it's shape until it is cut.
Tips on Saving Money on your wedding
There are many ways to save money on your wedding and decrease / maintain your budget.
Here are some tips from my experience:
1.) Decrease the number of guests to only friends and family who are very important to you. You can save hundreds of dollars by shrinking your guestlist slightly.
2.) There is no need to rent a fancy car, in my opinion. When I showed up to my ceremony no one saw me getting out of my car. Plus, if they did, guaranteed they wouldn't remember what my vehicle looked like since they were too busy looking at my dress and hair. After the ceremony I stayed to take pictures so not a single guest saw me get into my vehicle. To stress my point further, when I arrived at the hall most people were inside getting a drink and socializing and were not waiting outside for my arrival. Once I entered I had all the attention but the vehicle is not important. You can save hundreds of dollars going without a limo or a car rental.
3.) If you would like to have a variety of alcoholic beverages to offer, hold a bachelorette party or a shower and have each person bring a different type of liquor. This should greatly decrease your beverage tab at your wedding.
4.) Alternatively, you can make your own wine or beer for your reception. Be sure to check your local liquor laws as in some areas (Calgary, for example) it is illegal to bring homemade alcohol into a hall.
5.) Get your make-up done by a friend. Or, if you would prefer a professional, get it done at MAC. As long as you spend $40 on products they will do your make-up for free! At least you get make-up for your money instead of paying upwards of $100 for make-up for one day.
6.) Buy silk flowers - JustFlowers.com
instead of real ones. If you are worried about the lack of fragrance, light candles. Candles will also work to decorate. If you are very insistent on having real flowers, choose flowers that are in season. They will be much cheaper if you are willing to be flexible. Supermarkets will be far cheaper than a florist.
7.) Rent gray chairs instead of white. Think of the last wedding you were at. Do you remember the color of the chairs? I sure don't. Gray chairs are cheaper to rent and are more widely available.
8.) Make your own invitations.
9.) Hold your wedding on a Friday or a Sunday Most halls will be available and have cheaper weekday rates than on the Saturdays. The other option is to have it during the low season (winter). Supply and demand. During the off-season there is less demand and the rates are lower.
10.) Have your guests RSVP to a website. Websites (http://www.weddingannouncer.com/) are very user friendly and reduce waste, but most importantly the reduce the cost of invitations, reply cards and postage. Be sure to include a phone number for some guests who may not have internet access.
