DIY | 12k Wedding Blog

August 27, 2011 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: Behind the Scenes, DIY

So, don’t judge me, but I just picked up my dress from the cleaners yesterday.

Sure I got married two years ago and I put my dress in the cleaners almost a year ago. But whatever. Life happens.

Anyway, being the miser that I am, I didn’t want to pay the extra money to the cleaners to have them put my dress in a preservation box. They simply cleaned it and hung it back up for me in a white bag.

Aside: I’m pretty disappointed that they couldn’t get all the dirt and marks out of the hem area. The rest of the dress looks good, but I was had my hopes up for that part I guess. Oh well.

Anyway.

So my dress is hanging up and I need to find a way to actually preserve it. One day I may sell it, but I’m not really planning on it any time soon. So I need to figure something out for now.

Here’s what I gather from doing a little research.

The dress should lay flat to avoid undue stress and sagging on the seams from hanging
The box should be lined with acid free paper and be acid free itself
The box should be taped to keep out any bugs while the dress is in storage

A lot of the DIY preservation kits I’ve seen online are in my opinion too expensive. My other issue with them is that the creators of the boxes tried to be too fancy and ended up putting gold Victorian features all over it and making it look super gaudy.

It’s like wedding dresses have come up since the 80’s but the preservation boxes haven’t.

So as usual, I’m trying to figure out how to make my own preservation box.

So far, I’m thinking I’ll get a big white box and some acid-free tissue paper from Jo-Ann’s or Michael’s. Some of the pre-made boxes have windows into the box, bu I don’t need to be able to see into the box to make sure the dress is still there. I’m sure it’s not going anywhere. Since the box won’t be going on display in a museum and will likely end up on top of my portable closet in the basement, I think this should be sufficient.

What do you guys think? Have you seen any decent DIY preservation kits or should I just do it my way?

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Technorati Tags: acid free paper, acid free tissue paper, Bridal Gown, Bride, DIY, Preservation, preservation boxes, storage, Wedding Dress

Take a Picture – Click! Click! DIY: Boudoir Pics

March 26, 2010 by DetroitGyrl | Filed in: DIY

Yeah.. I think it’s a brilliant idea. Not that the professional ones aren’t a great idea too.. In fact – they’re pretty inexpensive.. But for someone like me who doesn’t want to get all sensual in front of someone else.. or who has an FI who doesn’t want you to get all sensual in front of someone else. I have a few tips.

1. Lighting, Lighting, Lighting. The best way to get great shots in your own room is to make sure the lighting is JUST right. You have to try different things – opening a curtain, turning all the lights off and using the flash, putting a lamp by the bed but out of the shot, etc.

2. Clothing Optional. You can strip tease on film. Start in something he loves to see you wear and make it all the way to ALMOST Bare! (yeah – I rhymed that myself). Some guys like to be teased. Some guys like to see it all – and if you do them yourself – that IS an option. Just make sure you don’t let them get into the wrong hands.

3. The bed.. Make it pretty or pretty messy. Set the scene. Take test shots to make sure the bed looks the way you want it.

4. Creative angles. A tripod is ideal.. if you don’t have one – try sitting the camera on a movable table, the dresser, a drawer chest, etc. That’s what an automatic timer is for.

5. Set the mood. Have a glass of wine and play your favorite Jill Scott, Norah Jones, etc CD. Light some candles and remind your self how beautiful you are.

6. Try poses and faces. Take as many shots as you like.. Look them over and try again. They don’t have to be perfect because you’re the only one who’ll see them – until you’re ready to share them with your FI.

7. Have fun! Don’t be afraid to be daring in your pics. And laugh at yourself if you catch yourself in an awkward pose. It’s a chance to have fun with yourself.

If you’re really daring.. Get your FI to take the shots! It could turn into a REALLY fun date night.

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Technorati Tags: Candles, Cheap, DIY, Free, Inexpensive, Pictures

Getting Things (MYSELF) In Order

February 12, 2010 by DetroitGyrl | Filed in: DIY, The Bride's Stuff

There is so much to do…how will I manage to organize everything?

A Binder. A Binder?

Yes. A Binder.

Ok – where do I get a binder from? You can make it?

Whoa.. Make it?

Yes – DIY!

Things I used:

1 – 1.5 inch Binder

2 – Inserts from Russell and Hazel (these inserts cover everything from Budget to Wedding time line to Vendor Contact Lists) http://www.russellandhazel.com/content/wedding-templates

3 – Section Dividers

4 – Time

I also found some pictures online and used them for the front cover, back cover and side outer inserts to make it pretty.

You could also go to a bookstore and buy one.. but who wants to do that???

I also bought one of my favorite mini 3 subject notebooks (costing under $3) to take with me to meetings with vendors, to dress shops and to meet with the wedding party… because no one wants to carry that big binder every where they go..

But if they do – I also got a $1 bag to carry everything and keep it all together.. because I’ll probably take the binder every where I go – but just break out my notebook when the time is right.

What are some of the ways you have found to stay organized?

~DetroitGyrl

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Wedding Invitation Mailing Tips

January 5, 2010 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: Behind the Scenes, DIY

If you’re planning to make your own wedding invitations, I’ll be your biggest cheerleader but I’ll also be your biggest cautionary tale.

From the start I had so many issues with our wedding invitations and when they finally got mailed, I only halfway liked them. So, consider this post my gift to you, the die-hard DIYer, queen of crafts, and budget bride.

And now, my words to the wise:

Pick Up a Shape-Based Pricing Template From Your Local Post Office

USPS Shape-Based Pricing Template

I got mine (free from the post office) pretty late in the game, but if I would’ve known about it earlier it would’ve saved me a whole heap of trouble. Basically it’s a 12×16 cardboard guide that gives guidelines for allowable mailing sizes. Postage rates aren’t listed on the board, but I’m guessing it’s because they change more often than the measurement restrictions. I almost made the mistake of printing our Save the Date cards too small for mailing, by some stroke of luck went to the larger size at the last minute. If I’d have had my handy-dandy First-Class Mail Shape-Based Pricing Template, I wouldn’t have found myself in that situation. Just sayin.

Double and Triple Proofread All Text

We’ve lived at this address for years. And somehow, I managed to let the wrong address slip past me on the RSVP cards. Great. With no time, or budget to have them reprinted, I had to write on every single one of them, changing a 1 to a 0. Really, it could’ve been changing a 1 to a 4, but clearly that would’ve been too easy. So even after you’ve checked the text 3 times on all pieces, check it 3 more times, just to be sure. Avoid the tackiness of handwritten corrections at all costs.

Research Envelopes Beforehand

Again, another one of things I wish someone would’ve told me. I was so excited to order the wedding invitations that I didn’t pay any attention to the envelopes that they would eventually have to fit in. Never mind the fact that I got the bigger invitations because they were “still so reasonably priced”. Come to find out, envelopes come in standard sizes (e.g. A5, A7, etc.) and cards used for invitations can be ordered in a variety of other sizes. I ended up having to have our wedding invitations reprinted because to order the special envelopes in the right-sized would’ve put us waaaay over budget. Just do yourself a favor and stick to the standard stuff.

Buy Stamps Early

Especially if you’ll have standard letter-sized (and letter-weighted) wedding invitations, do yourself another favor and buy Forever stamps early in the process. I’m not sure when the next rate increase is, but you’d rather be safe than sorry. Yeah, the special wedding stamps are nice sometimes, but they cost more and do the same thing which is get the invitation from point A to point B. Sure you’ll only save a few pennies per mailing, but depending on your number of guests, those savings could add up quickly.

And that my friends is my two cents based on my wedding invitation debacle…uh…I mean experience. Feel free to share your wedding invitation mailing tips in the comments.

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Technorati Tags: envelopes, postage, RSVP, Save the Dates, USPS, wedding invitation mailing, wedding invitations

Headpiece: Splurge or Steal

August 5, 2009 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: DIY, The Bride's Stuff

Now that it’s getting down to the wire (T minus 17 and counting), I’m trying to figure out my accessories.

Bridal headpieces come in all different styles and designs but I think I’ve narrowed it down to two I really like. One, the mantilla veil, I think is a little more formal and I think I’ll wear one like that for the ceremony. But for the reception, I don’t want to be weighed down by a veil, but I would like a little fancy in my hair.

I’ve decided to wear my hair down, something like this, but with tighter curls:

I love the idea of a casual headband dressed up for the occasion. It should stay put and hopefully I won’t have to fuss with a comb or bobby pins while I’m cuttin a rug on the dance floor.

The steal option would involve a little DIY, but it shouldn’t be too involved. I’d by a regular headband and just wrap it in ivory ribbon before securing the flower to the headband.

Splurge ($675):

Source: Jennifer Behr Bridal Collection

Steal(~$55):

Source: Etsy Seller jennypickle

So I need a little reassurance before I order the steal flower. Help me out here – should I do it?

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Technorati Tags: Bridal Headpiece, DIY, fascinator, feather, flower, headband, Headpiece

Ringbearer Pillow – A DIY Tutorial

July 25, 2009 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: DIY, Wedding Party

Ringbearer pillows often fall into the too lacy, too traditional category. After doing some searching I found a few that fit my more modern sensibilities but you know me, I didn’t want to shell out the dough for them. So, of course I went the DIY route, and my trusty sister and sidekick came through with her sewing machine and crafty skillz.

Step 1: Cut out enough fabric for your pillow plus about a half inch for your seam. Pin along the edges so the material doesn’t slip when you sew.

Fabric for Ringbearer Pillow

Step 2: Sew along the pins. We sewed in an arch instead of straight across. I can’t really tell you why but I thought about pictures of other pilows that I’d seen and I always was drawn toward the ones that curved in on the sides. Sew all the way around the pillow except for the last 3 or 4 inches. You’ll need this space to stuff it.

Seamed Fabric for Ringbearer Pillow

Step 3: Turn the pillow inside out and stuff your pillowcase with polyfill. Stuff it pretty full and make sure you push the fill into the teeny tiny corners too. As you stuff, flatten the pillow out to give it the shape you’re looking for.

Pillow Stuffed with Polyfill

Step 4: Whipstitch the final few inches of the seam after filling the pillow. A whipstitch is just a hidden little stitch done by hand with needle and thread sans sewing machine.

Whipstitch on a Ringbearer Pillow

Step 5: Decorate your blank canvas of a pillow anyway you’d like. We wrapped our pillow like a gift in wide ivory ribbon with a half bow on one side . And we added a piece of then red ribbon to hold the rings. We pulled apart some silk hyndrangeas and put pearl buttons in the center where the plastic pieces used to be. All of the ribbon and flowers were sewed into the center of the pillow by hand just to make sure everything was secure.

And voila! A ringbearer pillow!

Ringbearer Pillow

Rings on a Ringbearer Pillow

Have you tried your own DIY Ringbearer Pillow? Any tips or tricks?

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Wedding Cupcakes It Is!

July 21, 2009 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: DIY, Reception

We just recently decided to go to with cupcakes instead of cake for our wedding. We’ve talked about it before but kept going back and forth. After getting a quote from our preferred cake baker and listing the pros and cons in this most recent conversation, we’ve decided cupcakes are probably best.

Cupcake Pros:

Cheaper than cake, at about $2 each
No cake cutting fee
Allows for a variety of flavors
Opportunity to do a DIY stand (!)

Cupcake Cons

I don’t get to use any of the cake inspiration pictures that I found

So as you can see, cupcakes are the way to go. I posted one inspiration picture that I really liked before, but on second thought the frosting kind of reminds me of piles of poop on the cupcakes. So, needless to say, I need more inspiration. Here’s what I got so far:

Source: The Forever Wedding Blog

Source: Prima Donna Bride

Source: WeddinGo

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Technorati Tags: Cake, Cake Cutting Fee, Cake Stand, Cheap, cupcake stand, cupcakes, DIY, Inspiration

DIY Contest at The Bride’s Cafe

June 27, 2009 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: DIY, Free Stuff, Discounts, Contests

I just found out about this contest over at The Bride’s Cafe. All you have to do is send in pictures and a description of your DIY project by 6/30/09. That means you have this weekend to get it done. If you win, you get: