It’s no secret that Chalkboards are a hot commodity for DIY brides! But when you try to buy them, the price tags can get a little outrageous! Go onto Etsy.com and a cute framed, large size chalkboard can run as much as $150+! Seriously, it’s a chalkboard people!!! The smaller ones are easy, those are only a few dollars, but what about the ones big enough for your wedding program, menu, or seating chart? Those will cost you more than a pretty penny, until now! I’ve gone through the process step by step to show you that for under $20 in materials, and under 1 hour of your time (yes, just 1 hour) you can make your own gorgeous framed chalkboard!

First things first, let’s go shopping!!!

Find your ugly, structurally sound, (wooden) frame from any thrift shop nearby! It doesn’t matter what the art is inside, or if the glass is chipped, or if the frame is a putrid orangey green color! If its the size you are looking for, Get It!!! If you plan on painting the frame to match your style (highly recommended), it is best to get a wooden frame, wood is easiest to paint. Here is my pick of the day, only $7.99!

Now go to Home Depot, or whatever your big hardwood/lumber store is! I lucked out, I headed to the plywood section, and they had sheets of chalkboard pre made! (2’x2′ for $6 or 3′ x4′ for $9) SCORE!!! However, if you don’t get as lucky, have no fear! just by a skinny sheet of plywood and paint it with some chalkboard paint. For best results, paint it on with a sponge brush or spray paint and do 2-3 coats. Let it completely dry before moving on with that piece.

Before you check out of the lumber store with your huge sheet of chalkboard/plywood, have them cut it for you! Yes, they will cut it any dimension you need! To get the correct dimensions, just measure the art or glass that comes out of the back of your frame, or take it into Home Depot with you and have them measure it!

Also, make sure to pick up some super glue, or wood glue. Make sure it is the kind that dries clear!

Now, lets get started…

Take everything out of the frame

Now rough up the coating on the frame with a piece of sand paper. Just a little, you don’t need to do a complete sanding job, just scratch up the paint a bit.

Then paint it what ever color you wish. I didn’t even use a brush. I just dipped a damp paper towel in some paint and rubbed it all over. I wanted the original gold color to shine through. If you want less of an antiqued style, and more of a bold look, I suggest spray painting with a lot of coats!

Now Super Glue the chalkboard into the frame. Be careful not to use too much, you don’t want it oozing onto the visible part of the board. If you plan on using this a lot, nail a small nail into each corner to re-enforce the glue.

The next part, I don’t have a picture for, sorry! But you want to “prime” the board. Just rub a piece of chalk all over it! This will give it a used look, which will be helpful if you need to erase something while you are writing on it. If it is a fresh board, the mistake will be so obvious, even if you erase it.

And there you have it, a framed chalkboard for under $20!

Happy Planning!

-Juliette

Ceremony Aisle Decor

Cheap, Cute, and Easy to DIY!

A while back I posted about how to remove wine labels from bottles! This was part of what I used those bottles for. The idea is simple, simply use the wine bottles as vases for some simple flowers and hang them from shepherd’s hooks, chair posts, or stack some crates or books and set the bottles on them at the end of the row of chairs or benches!

I took the idea one step further, to make it more personal.  This would have been better focused on if the wine bottles were up higher in relativity to the guests. But noticed or not, it is meaningful none the less!

A walk down memory lane

The journey of the couple’s love

However you want to put it, it is sweet and sentimental, and your guests will gush over the idea.

With a camera on us at all times, we are lucky enough to have images of almost every important, and not so important, event of our daily lives. Share images of your relationship that maybe not everyone has seen, or knows the full story behind! I attached photos of the couple to the wine bottles. On one side of the bottle, I placed the photo. And on the opposite side I placed an explanation of what it was about. Insights to your relationship, and funny stories of the couple!

This same idea can be done in several different ways: a simple small frame hanging from a cute ribbon off a shepherd’s hook, stand up frames sitting on crates, childhood photos of the two of you, photos of ancestors or loved ones who have passed on….

What is so nice about the idea is two fold…

One: it is sentimental in that you are walking down the path that lead you to that very moment. Everything that you have gone through together has lead to what is waiting at the end of the aisle! And when you reach that point, there will be photos taken of that moment and every new moment after that!

Two: it allows your guests to learn something about you, or your fiancé, or the life that the two of you have built together. It also gets their mind off of waiting for you to put on that last coat of mascara before making your grand entrance! It will give them something to do, look at, and talk about the entire evening to come!

Vendors involved in creating this amazing ceremony space:

Photos: Nathan Petty Photography

Venue: The Bradford Ranch

Rentals- Arch, Vintage Frames, Wooden Benches: Farm Tables and More

Design, Planning, and Coordination: Simply Elegant Weddings

Flowers: Jamul Flowers

A great way to save money on centerpieces is to use all one kind of flower. An even better way to save more money is to do it yourself!

In this article, I explored a few different looks using just one kind of flower, Daffodils! If you are planning on getting married in the spring, you have a lot of fresh blooms to choose from, including daffodils! If you are getting married in a different season, do some research and find out what flowers will be in season. Ordering flowers that are in season and locally grown will cut down on cost!

For buying flowers on your own, I suggest going to a farmers market or a wholesale flower market in your local area. Go there ahead of time to scout out prices and how large the bundles come. Make a friend with a marketer who can tell you what you will be able to expect when the big buying day arrives! They usually can not take specific orders (you would go to a florist for that!), but they can tell you what will be in season, and what to expect the prices to be like! For those in San Diego, I recommend Wholesale Flowers and Supplies (and No, that is not a paid endorsement!). They have earned it by being the most amazing store ever! They have everything you could ever dream of for decor and flowers, and they sell it all at wholesale prices!

Here is a brief list of flowers by season:

Spring: Amaryllis, Anemones, Baby’s Breath, Carnations, Daffodils, Delphinium, Freesia, Forget-me-knot, Gardenias, Lilac, Iris, Ranunculus, Sweet pea, Tulip, Roses

Summer: Asters, Baby’s Breath, Calla Lily, Canterbury Bells, Mums, Daisies, Lily, Orchid, Iris, Roses, Stephanotis, Geranium, Delphinium, Larkspur, Sunflower

Fall: Aster, Anemones, Baby’s Breath, Carnations, Calla Lily, Mums, Daisies, Day Lily, Zephyr Lily, Zinnia, Roses

Winter: Amaryllis, Baby’s Breath, Carnations, Mums, Orchids, Roses, Daisies

What is nice about Daffodils is they last a few days in water after being cut. No need for refrigeration overnight! When you DIY centerpieces, make sure you use flowers that will last, or have access to a refrigerator that you can store them in until you are ready to use them. Also, when you refrigerate the flowers, only use enough water in the vases to touch the end of the stems, and lay a piece of newspaper loosely over the top of them to keep the flowers from getting too cold! For more delicate petals (lilies, orchids, Iris…) the refrigerator temp should be set to a little warmer than usual.

Add personality and style with the vases and what you set the flowers on. Collected jars and bottles work great as vases. They also usually have smaller openings, allowing you to use less stems for the same amount of appeal as a regular vase! Group an odd number of them together to fill more visual space on a large table. Be creative with what else goes on the table. Signage, books, tree slices, knik knacks, hat boxes, wooden crates, frames, doilies, or vintage handkerchiefs can add style under or next to your floral centerpieces, and add another element of visual interest on the tables. If you are looking to combine two or more styles that don’t normally go well together, this is a great way to combine them without one style looking like a random afterthought.

As always, Happy Planning!

-Juliette

DIY Wedding Projects

This blog post from Estate Weddings and Events is well worth the RE-post!

To view the original post, go here to DIY Wedding Projects 

10 Things You Should DIY Rather Than Buy For Your Wedding

– See more at: http://www.estateweddingsandevents.com/wedding-planning-2/things-you-should-diy-rather-than-buy-for-your-wedding/#sthash.Dt88BeeX.dpuf

Happy Planning!

-Juliette

Wine bottles have to be one of the easiest and most affordable make shift vases to use for your wedding decor. They are perfect for centerpieces, table numbers, candlesticks, you name it! But, let’s face it, those beautiful labels are unwanted clutter once the bottles are empty. You know if you try to just peal it off slowly, the whole process will be ruined! So how do they come off so you can achieve such decorative versatility? Let me show you!

Like you I typed into google, “how to remove wine labels.” I tried baking them, Fail! I tried dipping them in hot water, Fail! I tried nail polish remover, Fail! I even tried pouring Goo Gone straight on the sticker and let it set 5 minutes. And guess what, another Fail! This is what I found that works the best! Keeping in mind, it is still work and not magic!

step 1

Collect more bottles than you think you will need. This method works the best, but it is not fool proof. I think it has to do with the type of glue or maybe the type of paper used, but some labels are not going to come off. Where to get free wine bottles. I suggest contacting a wine bar in your area. They are sure to have empties at the end of the evening. Ask them to set them aside for you instead of throwing them in the dumpster right away.                    Free and Green, can’t beat that!

step 2

Get out your biggest pot and fill with water. Heat up the water, not boiling, but really hot! Fill the bottles with warm water from your sink, about 3/4 the way full. Place a couple bottles in the pot at once, to speed up the process. Let them simmer in the hot water and steam for 4-7 minutes. Pull one bottle out of the water (don’t forget a heat mitt), and immediately use a razor blade to peal a corner of the label. Once the corner lifts off easily with no sticky or paper residue, carefully peel the label back. Remember the bottle is hot! If you start to peal off the corner and it is not a clean peal from the start, stop trying to peel right away. Put the bottle back in the pot of water for another minute or two. This should help it to come off without leaving stuff on the bottle.

Step 3

Like I said, this is not fool proof! You will occasionally get some stickiness that wont come off. For this part, make sure you do have some Goo Gone handy. Set the bottle aside and let it cool for a while.                                     Then pour some Goo Gone on a paper towel, and scrub as fast as you can to get the stickiness off.

Step 4

Inset a candle or flowers, wrap them in lace or yarn, paint them, draw on them. The options are endless! Enjoy!

Happy Planning!

-Juliette

How to Create your Bridal Emergency Kit

On the day of your wedding, there will always be issues that will need dealing with. And even if you do hire a Day of Coordinator to handle last minute situations, they are not able to be with the bride every minute of that day. A wedding planners job on the Big Day is not limited to being the guardian angel of the bridal party, there is set up and vendor coordination that will be taking place in various different locations. This is why I create a Bridal Emergency Kit for each of my brides. I pack it full of goodies for the bride for any emergency situation that may arise while I am off doing the other things that planners do. I am happy to share this information with everyone! Just know that if I am your planner, you will not need to worry about scrambling at the last minute to pack this extra bag. I got your back!

wardrobe malfunctions

First Step: Find a bag – I prefer a make up clutch, it is compact for easy travel, but not something that someone is likely to dismiss or leave behind.

Second Step: fill with necessities that people do not usually carry with them.

In case of a Wardrobe Malfunction

• A mini sewing kit, or at least a needle and white thread
• safety pins, in multiple sizes
• Sewing Pins (can also be used as floral pins if a bouquet starts to unravel or a boutonniere breaks)
• 2 sided tape – or fashion tape

In case of a Spill:

• Tide ToGo is Awesome for Wedding Dresses and Veils! Get the Pen, it will save your dress.
• A stick of White Chalk. (Great for getting out red wine, and for temporarily covering up a noticeable stain on anything that is white!)

For Beauty and Skin:

• Make sure to pack your regular, non-tinted chap stick to apply throughout the day so your lips don’t dry out, you’ll be smiling a lot!
• A file or an emory board – there is nothing worse than a chipped nail or a hangnail snagging on your veil!
• A Pair of Tweezers
• Lots of Bobby Pins
• Band-Aids
• Bug Repellant – if any festivities are happening outdoors, especially at Sunset/Dusk
• Lotion (baby lotion is great. It will leave your skin moisturized without interfering with your perfume.)
• Q-tips (great for touching up under the eyes if you get a little teary eyed)
• Wisps- the one use toothbrushes from Colgate. (Use after dinner, but before toasts!)

Other good Ideas to include:

• your lip color – if it is not yours, ask your make up artist to provide you with some so you can re-apply
• regular tape – (for taping things, yes. Also, use it as a lint remover for those black tuxes and bridesmaids dresses!)
• Clear nail polish – if anyone is wearing stockings
• Advil and Tylenol
• Benadryl
• Tums
• A piece of SEALED dark chocolate – coco releases endorphins, good for when you get anxious!

Third Step:

I always give this to the bride either the night before, or the morning of, when she wakes up. I give it to the bride, but I make sure that the Maid of Honor knows that she is in charge of it! The Maid of Honor or the Mother of the Bride, who ever will be with the bride more, should be in charge of knowing where this bag is at all times of the day. The bride has enough to worry about! But if something ever happens, everyone knows that the solution is close by!

I hope this is helpful.

Happy Planning,

-Juliette