Recent Articles

Ruffles and Stuff by Katie

Any crafty brides out there? I stumbled upon an absolutely fabulous blog (via Mrs. Diane – thanks!) that you simply MUST check out – Ruffles and Stuff!

Creator, Disney, posts some of the cutest projects that anyone can do. Here are a few of my favorites, that might also be a nice addition to your wedding day. Check them out!

“Grannie Chic” Slippers

White Paper Cards

Super Easy Petal Clutch

LOFT Inspired Ruffle Tank

“All the Trimmings” Scarf

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INKtastic by Katie

One perk of writing a blog? Free stuff! I got to pick out a few cute little items from INKtastic and I just had to show them off!

As a newly engaged person myself, I said “why not” to one of those Future Mrs.s shirts. I think it came out quite well!

AND! Probably the more cute of the two little goodies I got to pick out (and this is for a family member, not us)…

Too cute, isn’t it? INKtastic has tons of cute customizable options – something for brides and grooms, bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls and ring bearers, parents, whomever! Shirts, tanks, totes, even customizable unmentionables.

Everything was super easy to pick out and customize, and my order arrived in just a few days. The quality is great, too – something I always worry about when ordering online! The site is actually a family owned business and I love the words they sell by – “If we wouldn’t buy it, we won’t sell it.”

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It’s time to Chocomize! by Katie

You know I’m a fan of SUGAR! I’m also a fan of entrepreneurs and startups. You’ll find the perfect combination of the two with Chocomize!

Nick from Chocomize contacted me a while ago and offered me some samples of the AMAZING chocolate bars they make. I had fun picking out the types of chocolate I wanted and all the good things to mix in. They carry selection of nuts and seeds, fruits, herbs and spices, candy, and other decorations. Check out a few below.

Here are a few pictures of the goodies I received! I picked out a white chocolate bar with oreo cookie bits mixed in. Brandon (the beau) opted for milk chocolate with peanut butter chips, chocolate and peanut butter candies, and gold flakes. Yes, gold flakes (how totally awesome is that?!).

The guys over at Chocomize are more than happy to work with brides and grooms to come up with something special for weddings! Couples can customize to their hearts’ content and even design the packaging to have pictures, messages, or, well, just about anything they want. Side note: orders of over 50 bars get a nice little discount.

If you’re interested in designing your own goodies, click over to Chocomize, or find them on Twitter and Facebook. Also check out their blog – tons of fun things like the History of Chocolate and the Story of Saint Valentine.

If you place an order, type ‘Valentine’ into the coupon section of the checkout to receive free shipping!

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Ways to Pop the Question to Your Bridesmaids by Katie

You’ve found the person you’re going to spend the rest of your life with. Now let’s find those ‘maids!

Whether you have one or twenty, bridesmaids are your go-to gals for all things wedding – while your planning and on the big day. Once you’ve singled out the most important ladies in your life, you have to pop the question(s) yourself. But how shall you do it? We’ve come up with a few ideas that should fit many styles and budgets.

Have more fabulous ideas? Share them in the comments!

Simply ask them in person. Whether it’s as a group or individually, you don’t need to do anything over the top! Just ask! Take them out to dinner or invite them over for a girl’s night in, and pop the question whenever the moment it right. One word of advice – ask your Maid of Honor(s) in advance and separately. She is the “honored” one and this will make it a bit more special.

Send them on a scavenger hunt. If you want to go all out or have a lot of time on your hands, send them (together or separate) on a scavenger hunt. If you’re going to create a custom hunt for each girl, start by sending each to a special place where you share some funny memories or good times. Repeat this idea for the next location or start dropping some hints by sending them to a bridal gown shop or florist, or have them stop by a cake shop or even the place you plan to tie the knot. Wherever the final destination, be ready to greet each one at the end of the hunt with the big question!

We realize you might not live in the same town or city as your future bridesmaids, so read on for some ideas that lend themselves to OOT BMs, too!

Use humor. You get to experience both the good and the bad when it comes to being a bridesmaid – we’ve all heard the stories. Ugly dresses, nail polish color restrictions, uncomfortable shoes and having to deal with Bridezilla (well, it’s a possibility at least). And while many bridesmaids have come to the end of a wedding day swearing to never be a bridesmaid again, others have looked back and just laughed…and created things like UglyDress.com. If you and your girls like a good laugh, try taking a humorous approach to popping the question. Here are two ideas we like that embrace the uglies –

DIY cards that ask “Will you be my bridesmaid?” on the front and feature hideous dresses on the inside along with the saying “I promise. I’ll never make you wear an ugly dress.”

If you’ve got the budget (or a great stock of old prom dresses), pack up some of the most hideous dresses you can get your hands on, mail them to your maids, along with notes that read “If you’ll be my bridesmaid, I’ll never make you wear a dress like this!”

A less frightening but still humorous approach? List all the reasons your maids shouldn’t fear accepting the challenge of being one of your bridesmaids. Or, offer up all the things you’ll vow to do (or not do) as a bride. Some examples –

If you’ll be my bridesmaid, I promise to…
…never make you wear taffeta and tulle… AND lace on the same dress.
…not care if you change your hair color right before my wedding (unless, maybe, you go with a bright blue or purple…)
…not ask you to loose 10 pounds before you walk down the aisle in front of me.
…not ask you to gain 10 pounds before you walk down the aisle in front of me.
…be understanding of the fact that puce green, though it may match my tablescape perfectly, doesn’t necessarily coordinate with your skin tone.

Be sentimental. Do you guys watch sappy movies together and cry your eyeballs out? Or maybe you’re just a sentimental bunch. Put together a small scrapbook of some of the good times you’ve shared as friends and on the last page, include a short note about what her friendship means to you along with the question of the hour – Will you be my bridesmaid?

Indulge the sweet tooth. If you stop by WeddingFanatic often, you know I love anything with a nice dusting of sugar and sweetness. If you have any bridesmaids like me, ask them very sweetly – with candies, cakes, or cookies! There are a lot of good options out there, check out a few of my favorites – cookies from the too-cute Flour Pot Cookies and cakes from the always fabulous Pink Cake Box.

Spoil them. Who doesn’t like to be spoiled!? Being pampered isn’t bad either. Why not do both by gifting your gals with a monogrammed tote full of spa goodies and wedding day essentials – a robe, comfy slippers, a few candles, delicious smelling lotions, and a small zippered bag with things like stain removing pens, safety pins, mints, mini sewing kits, and whatever else you think your girls will need on W-Day!

Give them some tips. Think your ladies will be clueless about their responsibilities? Or maybe they just happen to be bookworms? How about a nice How-To guide book just for bridesmaids! There are tons of options, check out a couple below.

The Bridesmaid Guide: Etiquette, Parties and Being Fabulous by Kate Chynoweth

The Bridesmaid Handbook by Sharon Naylor

Razzle Dazzle ‘em. If your ladies are drawn to sparkly things, consider presenting a piece of jewelry along with your question. It could be a piece that you’d like for them to wear down the aisle on your big day. Just beware – if for whatever reason one of your girls turns you down, you’re stuck with giving her the item anyway or awkwardly taking it back.

Get personal. You don’t have to do the same thing for each girl. Try picking out a little something that you know each will like and present the gifts to your ladies before, during, or after you pop the question!

What did you do (or do you plan to do) when asking your girls to be Bridesmaids? We want to hear your fabulous ideas!

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Black and White Wedding Cakes by Katie

I’d be alright with a diet made up entirely of wedding cake. And candy. But, since that would probably land me some unwanted flab here and there and a few clogged arteries, I’ll stick to just looking…

These bold beauties feature simple white cakes with touches of black that really pop. They make great focal points in a reception and well, are almost too pretty to cut into. Enjoy this sugar free, calorie free eye candy!

Brides

Two Peas in a Bucket

Real Simple

My Wedding Cake Ideas

TheWeddingPlanner.ie

Brides

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Escort Card Trees by Katie

I am absolutely OBSESSED with escort card trees. Whether you go all out and pay a ton to have one done for you or roll up your sleeves to DIY, you simply can’t go wrong with these eye-catching beauties! Check out some of the inspiration photos below!

All images from Brides

Before you go, check out this FABULOUS video on how to make your own crystal tree!

Wedding Ceremony & Traditions:
How To Make A Crystal Wedding Tree

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Happy Matrimony Monday by Katie

Newly Engaged? Happen to be sitting at your work desk right now at the very beginning of your wedding planning roller coaster ride? That’s no surprise! The first Monday back to work after the holiday season might just be the biggest wedding planning day of the year.

Why? Well, according to The Wedding Report, nearly 40% of engagements happen between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day (that’s 650,000 engagements!) and the first day back to work is filled with less “getting work done” and more wedding planning as brides officially start the process

In honor of the bridal industry’s version of Black Friday or Cyber Monday, OneWed has dubbed this day Matrimony Monday and is sponsoring the “Off-the-Chart” Wedding Giveaway, with “nearly $15,000 worth of wedding day essentials”. To get more info or to enter, check this out.

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Newly Engaged? Read This! by AFS

Let me be among the first to congratulate you and your Beloved! You are making it officially official.

If you are one of the women who first freaked out or cried, and then immediately thought, “OH MY GOD WHAT DO I DO NEXT?!” then welcome to the club. Nearly every newly engaged woman at some point will feel scared and excited at the very same time. So, what should you do after you tell your family and friends (and co-workers and neighbors and strangers at the bar)? Here’s a good place to start:

Step 1. Give yourself seven days – one FULL week – of not buying anything; of not thinking about how much money you’ll need to find to pay for the wedding; of not purchasing your dress. Give yourself one full week of being happy in your situation. Impulse purchases – even if you feel they have been “planned” for years – are likely to cause anxiety in the long-term.

Step 2. (This is a super important step.) BEFORE talking money with your parents and your partner’s parents, spend some quality time with each set of parents. By taking time to focus on your families you will bond over the promise of your future, and not over the stress of the money being spent.

Step 3. Now that your families are happy and on-board, it’s time to sit down with each set of parents and talk about the realities of the financial obligations of each family. Modern weddings often bring equal financial assistance from both sets of parents. However, if your partner’s family is more traditional, and if your family is not able to support the full cost of the wedding and reception (especially if there is food involved), then you will need to openly discuss with your partner the best way to broach the topic of conversation with your future in-laws.

It should be noted that reality often sets in, and many couples soon discover that their families are unable to provide the type of financial support to give them a “Dream wedding.” Please know that ‘by the numbers’ very few couples are fortunate enough to truly experience their ideal wedding… especially as our view of modern weddings is purely excessive and over-consumptive by nature. In the situations where there is not enough money to get what you think you want, it is best to remember one thing: You are not getting married to have a wedding. You are getting married because you are very much in love with your partner. If you are unable to have the wedding of your dreams, make yourselves a promise that as soon as you can you will go on a fabulous vacation, or perhaps have a rockin’ anniversary party for all of your family and friends! If it comes down to money and you absolutely have to have what you want, fore go the marriage and enjoy being engaged for as long as it takes.

Step 4. Now that you are aware of your financial situation, set a wedding date that makes financial sense. There is zero point in planning a wedding date that is too soon for your finances. If you do not have the money to pay for wedding vendors and services, then you should absolutely not be signing contracts because the legal ramifications are just too large and the risk too high.

Step 5. Find a qualified wedding planner. A wedding planner’s services will range from $1500-$25,000, depending on your financial situation and the level of hired talent, but you can be sure that the wedding planner will save you TONS of cash and time and frustration and confusion. It is logical to assume that if you are relaxed and excited during your engagement, then you will start your marriage off on the right foot.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your new life together!

Best,

Alisha Forrester Scott
La Ruche. event design studio.

You can contact Alisha with comments or questions by visiting http://www.enterlaruche.com.

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Happy Holidays! by Katie

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

A little update from me – I’m officially finished with school (graduated with a BSBA from Mizzou), engaged to the love of my life, and back to BLOGGING! It’s been much too long, but I think 2010 is going to be an absolutely fabulous year. I’m planning on lots of new things (and a few changes here and there) for WeddingFanatic – I do hope you like them!

Anything you’re dying to see on WeddingFanatic (or on any wedding blog for that matter)?! Just let me know! Leave a comment or email me at WeddingFanatic{at}gmail{dot}com.

I shall leave you with one of my favorite Christmas scenes from Blueprint, or as it’s now called, Bluelines.

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Short Story by Katie

A fabulous friend of mine shared this cute little story with me and I simply had to share it with you! I do hope you enjoy.

Today, I attended a co-worker’s wedding. A little boy who looked about 6 was coming down the aisle and he took two steps, stopped, and turned to the crowd (alternating between bride’s side and groom’s side), put his hands up like claws, and roared. Step, step, ROAR, step …step, ROAR, all the way down the aisle. The crowd was near tears from laughing so hard by the time he reached the pulpit. The little boy, however, was getting more and more distressed from all the laughing and was almost crying. When asked what he was doing, he sniffed and said, “I was being the Ring Bear!”

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