BRONZE BUDGET BRIDE

These "Chocolate Truffle" Scented Candles look as if they came right out of a box of chocolates and they would make such lovely wedding favors especially if one of your wedding colors is brown. So buy a few cases here at www.DollarTree.com today because there is no telling when they will be gone!

Ok, so as weird as it sounds, one of my favorite characters in the Beauty and the Beast was Chip – the cute little teacup! Imagine my delight when I found this adorable DIY on Factory Direct’s blog featuring just that – adorable little teacups! They would be a beautiful touch to a romantic wedding – or even at home! You can probably find most of the items needed around your house: old candles, castaway teacups, dowels or chopsticks. Anything else (such as the wick, extra candles, and candle scent) you can find at your local art store or online retailers in the craft supplies category!

 

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw these tall, glass, tealight candleholders at DollarTree.com just moments ago! They are only a dollar each and come in three different sizes: 6", 7" and 8". They would look so beautiful grouped together or set around a simple centerpiece like you see in the photo below.  It's an affordable way to add a romantic, warm, inviting look and feel to your event.



Be sure to buy your candleholders soon because items like these go out of stock quickly! So make your purchase as soon as possible!

                                         

These fun and fresh candles would be perfect reception table decorations! I'm making mine out of lemons to match my colour scheme, but you could do this project with any citrus fruit. Here's the tutorial.

Materials:

1 dozen lemons
A sharp knife
1 pound of beeswax 
A package of candle wicks with wick holders
A melon baller
Citronella oil (optional)

1. Cut the lemons in half lengthwise. Sqeeze out as much of the juice as you can, being careful not to tear or puncture the skin. Use the melon baller or a large spoon to scrape out all the pulp. You want them to be as clean inside as possible.

2. Melt the wax in double boiler or a small metal bowl over a pot of boiling water. Remove from heat once it is completely liquid. At this point you can add a few drops of citronella oil if you like. It has a nice lemony scent and repels bug as an extra bonus.

3. Cut three inches of wick and tie a knot at one end. Thread the free end through the wick holder and pull until secure.

4. Dip the wick and wick holder in the melted wax. This will stiffen it and make it stand up straight.  Press the wick holder into the bottom of the lemon and let the wick harden.

5. Pour the melted wax into each fruit half. Voila, you have a candle! Let the wax set overnight, and that's it!

This tutorial makes 24 candles. Being made from fresh fruit, they look their best within a day or two of making them.

By the way, save all that lemon pulp and juice for homemade lemonade or cooking. I'm going to use it to make lemon risotto for the reception. Killing two birds with one stone, groceries and decor!





 

Look at the beauty that floating candles can create and I am so glad that DollarTree.com is now carrying them. They are 1¾ inches wide and would burn at your event for about 4-5 hours! If you are lucky you may be able to find these floating candles at a Dollar Tree near you but if you don't, they can be found here on their website in a pack of six (6) for $1.00! You would have to buy 64 packs for $64.00 and if that's too much for what you are planning for your wedding then perhaps you can sell 32 packs to another bride!

You know I love the Dollar Store because you can count on them to find a bargain every time you visit and now you can get 96 tealight candles for $6.00! The candles are sold in bags of 16 so for $7.00 you will have more than 100! You can find them in Dollar Tree stores right now but they are also available here online for the same price.

Have you visited WicksnCandlesticks yet?

Well, at WicknCandlesticksticks, which is owned by one of the most wonderful ladies I know, Carla Lowery, you will find a beautiful assortment of luxurious gift baskets and products! I've had the pleasure of sampling some of bath & body items and oh my goodness, they are exhilarating.

My personal favorite is the Mango Coconut Shower Gel that smells sooo good and leaves the skin delicately scented for hours. I could shower with this for the rest of my life and never get tired of it. The smell is so vibrant, yet the gel is so gentle and calming that I spent almost 15 minutes in the shower lathering over and over again the first time I showered with it.

After using the shower gel, a perfect compliment to it is the handmade Emu Oil Body Lotion which is the most amazing body cream that I've come across. It is rich, creamy, smells incredible and there is not need for perfume once you've covered your body with this lusciousness. My husband noticed it the very first time I wore it and his reaction was "Is that a new perfume, you smell really good, I like that, what is it?" It is now the only lotion I want to buy!

For the quality of the products, everything is reasonably price and would make wonderful gifts for anyone in your wedding party or for yourself. So hurry to WicksnCandlesticks today to get free shipping on the Candle Gift Baskets using the Promo Code: FREESHIP during check out!

I've been talking about making these for a while since I bought the supplies months ago. This past week-end I finally made about 60 shell candles that I intend to give as favors.



I got the kids involved and they helped pull the wicks from the candles after I removed them from the metal thins. We then placed the wicks carefully into the shells while waiting for the wax to melt.



To melt the wax, I filled a medium sized pot about half way to the top, put the wax inside an old ceramic mug, then place the mug inside the medium pot and put it on the stove to boil on medium-high heat.

After about five minutes past, the wax was all melted and it was then that I used an old ice cream scope to dip and pour the wax inside the shells.



I added a small amount of cinnamon to some of the wax and vanilla to other so that they'll have a comforting smell when lit.

I'll be making at least 120 more once I find more shells and this time I will use blue and green tea light candles so they'll have a more interesting look.

What do you think?

When booking the wedding venue, table seating is the most important because the event will be either successful or unsuccessful based on the style of the wedding seating. The one thing couples have to keep in mind is if the guests are comfortable and if there is enough space allotted for the band or DJ, cake table, restrooms, dance floor, entrances/exits, and buffet table. Couples want their wedding guest to be able to social and network within the room, so movement is very important for the wedding couple, but for the wedding guests as well.

Other things to consider with wedding seating is the room size. Important questions to be asked will be, where couples will face the wedding guests and the way guests will enter the wedding venue where it is held. Always try to visit the room or wedding venue so couples will have an idea what will work best for wedding guest, participants, and speakers. Always make sure if there are other rooms booked that the room walls cancel out any noise as well.

The typical room layouts are classroom style, hollow square, theater style, banquet style, conference style and u-shaped style. If possible work with a caterer, banquet department, or even the wedding coordinator at the wedding venue location and discuss how many people can sit comfortably at a table.

The wedding tips I have found beneficial while working at wedding venues:

• Use either use a poster board or use our wedding table software named TabulaRasa

• Keep track of RSVP guest attendance by placing the confirmed guest cards in one stack, and then follow up with other wedding guests who have not confirmed. Make sure couples have enough seats and tables for each guest.

• Table Seating Numbers are most helpful and try to seat people next to each other that have something in common and have similar personality types, it just makes the wedding easier.

• Have wedding guests that are elderly, children, pregnant, or a guest with a disability at the top of the RSVP stack because these guests need priority seating near the front and closest to the bathrooms. Consider close family and friends at the top of the RSVP stack as well.

• If there are many children attending the wedding consider using a children’s table.

If couples do not have a wedding coordinator, be sure to check with a caterer, banquet department, or even the wedding planning at the wedding venue location and discuss how many people can sit comfortably at a table. Be sure to go over the seating chart and layout of the wedding venue multiple times and obtain advice regarding seating arrangements.

If couples do have a wedding coordinator, be sure he/she has the seating chart the day before the wedding, so they can check to be sure venue is properly set-up the day before the wedding. The last detail and final detail are place cards. Be sure the place cards in alphabetical order, so wedding guests and the wedding coordinator will be able easily find wedding guests names the day of the wedding.

Hopefully, this gives couples some insight on wedding seating and if you have any more questions or want to speak to our wedding expert, email us at weddingexpert@wicksncandlesticks.com. Happy Wedding Planning!

There is a lot of planning involved with a bachelorette party and this type of celebration should not be thrown together at the last minute, so brides inform matrons of honor (maid of honor) about being prepared and organized when it comes to designing the bride’s bachelorette party!

Things to consider when hosting a bachelorette party for the bride is the budget, guest list, timing, activities, entertainment, location, menu, and decorations. If brides are on a strict budget then consider a bachelorette party at the home with simple decorations, entertainment, and appetizers. Once all the important details are made, this this will give the matron of honor (maid of honor) and bride an idea on a budget and planning can begin from that point.

Now, it is time for the Bachelorette Party Responsibilities:

1. Price Comparison: Start by doing some price comparisons, but make sure you write down the name of the person, the date, and time of the person you spoke with regarding the pricing. Remember, prices are always subject to change.

2. Always Ask for Discounts: Do not be shy about asking for discounts or find out the lowest rate is for service and if you can get it in writing that is even better. Companies usually work out special deals for customers.

3. Time Frame: Do not book services at the last minute especially during wedding season.

4. Organization: Get organized by using a PDA, notebook, filing system, and guest tracking list.

If you follow all these bachelorette party tips for hosting a bachelorette party, then I can guarantee this event will be a successful one! For more wedding tips, wedding planning, or wedding advice, please be sure to visit www.theweddingdiaryonline.com.