Detroit | 12k Wedding Blog

February 8, 2010 by DetroitGyrl | Filed in: Behind the Scenes

Hey 12K readers!

DetroitGyrl here! I am honored to fill in as a guest blogger here on 12k Wedding (for the next year and a half – or so). I’m newly engaged. the future hubby “dropped down” New Year’s eve while we were on vacation in New York. So romantic! Now we’re dedicated to bringing our friends and family members the best PAR-TAY they’ve ever witnessed. We call it: “The kick-off party for our Marriage.” We have chosen not to use the W word because so many people get hung up in that one day. Instead we think of it as a great time to show our dedication for each other and party with our friends and fam right at the beginning of the second (and most major) part of our journey together. We envision lots of dancing, laughing, eating, spirits… and did i mention dancing?

Here’s a little background… We’ve known each other our entire lives.. our parents know each other and two of them work together. We’ve dated on and off since the nineties and decided to get serious at the end of 2007. Now we’re planning a Summer 2011 PAR-TAY (wedding) in Detroit for 200+ people. Our budget? 10-15K – we’ll just say 12k for now.

So – join me as I highlight some of the GREAT and HORRIBLE things about wedding planning. I’m only doing this once – so it ought to be good!

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Technorati Tags: Detroit, DetroitGyrl, Marriage, Planning

Detroit Love: My Other Dancing Partner

October 13, 2009 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: Detroit Love - The Recaps

So I have this little cousin. She’s 5 and she’s great. Sometimes she’s really talkative and outgoing, but sometimes she likes to act shy and reserved. At the wedding, I stayed on the dance floor for most of the night. At one point I saw her on the dance floor and asked her to dance with me. She was being her shy and reserved self and did this really cute thing she does when she smiles and covers her mouth at the same time. Anyway, I kept dancing and she just smiled. And it was great. Like her. Like this picture.

Dancing with Cousin

p.s. Never mind my face. I may have had a drink.

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Technorati Tags: Children, dancing, Detroit, love, wedding reception

Detroit Love: All the Best

October 13, 2009 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: Detroit Love - The Recaps

I think I’m going to call these posts Detroit Love. Yeah, it’s pretty fitting. This one is all about all the very best things from our wedding. Believe me, there were a few things that went “wrong”, but in the grand scheme of things, they didn’t matter one bit.

When I think back to our wedding the best things, in no particular order, were:

Dancing with my husband
Being surrounded by family and friends
Seeing people we don’t get to see often
Dancing with my dad
My dad’s speech
My sister’s speech
My red shoes
My bridesmaids’ dance

I think sometimes people worry so much about certain details being so perfect that they forget to stop and take everything in. Or you know…Stop and smell the roses

Stop and Smell The Roses

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Technorati Tags: dancing, Detroit, family, friends, love, Recap, Reception, speech, Wedding

Real Wedding: Ja’Lisa and Jaye

July 8, 2009 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: Real Weddings

So I’ve been waiting for these pictures from our friend and photographer, Elton, for a long time. We actually went to school with Ja’Lisa and Jaye. I already knew their day would be beautiful and whaddyaknow, I was right. My favorite, by far, is the last picture. Just something about all that empty space that I really love.

Check out the original post at Elton’s blog, complete with his commentary.

Enjoy

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Technorati Tags: Detroit, Detroit Wedding, Photographer, Photos, Pictures, Real Weddings

Cherry Tomatoes

June 25, 2009 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: Reception

I need your help. Where can I find A WHOLE LOT of cherry tomatoes in various colors, preferably in Metro Detroit? I promise it’s for the wedding and I’ll tell you more details later.

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Technorati Tags: Cherry Tomatoes, Detroit, tomatoes

101 Ways to Save on Your Wedding: 51-75

June 3, 2009 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: Behind the Scenes, DIY

If you missed the first 50, you can find them here:

101 Ways to Save on Your Wedding: 1-25

101 Ways to Save on Your Wedding: 26-50

——————————————————

51.   Search the internet for DIY videos done by other people. You can find them for everything from bouquet arrangements to cake baking. DIYnetwork.com is a good place to start
52.   Grow your own flowers for your wedding. If you start early enough, and grow flowers native to your region, you should have plenty to use in bouquets or centerpieces
53.   Use fruit as centerpieces. Apples, Oranges, Pears and Lemons have good color and are far less expensive than flowers. Plus, what your guests don’t take with them, you can donate to a local food bank
54.   Search etsy.com for handmade goods that are unique and customizable. Some items are just as expensive as mass made goods, but if you do a little digging you can find some good values
55.   Watch wedding related forums and message boards, especially those local to your area. People will often post about their good experiences with little-known vendors who offer a really good deal. Theknot.com and partypop.com are good places for this
56.   Stay on top of your budget. Keep all your contracts in one place so you know exactly where they are if you need to refer to them. Question every line item to be sure it’s something you should be paying for
57.   Keep a spreadsheet or use software to manage your budget. Know exactly how much you owe each vendor and exactly when that amount is due
58.   Sew your own garter
59.   Rather than pay someone you don’t know to officiate your wedding, ask someone close to you to become ordained. You can do so online without much trouble.
60.   Instead of hiring a and or a dj, enlist the help of a friend and use your iPod to keep the crowd entertained. Create your playlists beforehand and have your friend keep an eye on it.
61.   Plan your wedding yourself. Wedding planners are nice when you can afford them, but if you’re working with a tight budget, you can take on the role yourself.
62.   Be willing to compromise on the food you serve your guests. Lunch is always cheaper than dinner and buffets are generally cheaper than plated meals. Work with your caterer to find the best balance between your ideal situation and your budget
63.   Everyone wants whiter teeth for all the pictures they’ll be taking on their wedding day, but instead of splurging for zoom whitening, use a drugstore kit. It may take a little more effort, but the results should be comparable
64.   Find non-bridesmaid dresses for your bridesmaids. Just because they’re not labeled as such, doesn’t mean they can’t be worn as bridesmaid dresses. Shop department store websites, where they’ll usually have a decent amount of stock and in many different colors. And chances are if it doesn’t have the bridesmaid dress label, your girls will be more likely to wear it again.
65.   Ask only your closest friends to be your attendants. The more attendants you have, the more you’d spend should you choose to give them gifts.
66.   If your ceremony or reception venue are already very ornate or make a statement by themselves, go light on the décor. Years from now, no one will hardly remember what your centerpieces looked like
67.   Use address numbers from the hardware store for your table numbers
68.   Use saveoncrafts.com for DIY supplies
69.   Keep all your receipts for everything you buy. You may not use something and need to take it back. You’ll want to get back every penny you can for it.
70.   Shop Black Friday sales the day after Thanksgiving in brick and mortar stores for deals on things like craft supplies, dresses and shoes.
71.   Shop Cyber Monday the Monday after Thanksgiving online to find deals similar to those on Black Friday
72.   Take advantage of free shipping for anything you order online, even if it means you have to wait a little longer for it. Patience is a virtue
73.   If you have a vintage feel to your wedding, visit antique stores and flea markets to find deals on décor. As a bonus, you can use the pieces in your home after the wedding.
74.   Use a site like bagborroworsteal.com to find jewelry and other accessories for your wedding day that you might not be able to afford otherwise.
75.   Use a wholesale club like Sam’s Club or Costco to purchase flowers for your DIY bouquets and centerpieces

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Technorati Tags: Bridal, Candleholders, Candles, Detroit, Florist, Flowers, fonts, Hair, hairpiece, Headpiece, Invitations, letterpress, Makeup, postcard, Save the Dates, Shoes, veil, vendors, Wedding

101 Ways to Save on Your Wedding: 26-50

May 27, 2009 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: Behind the Scenes, DIY

If you missed the first 25, you can find them here:

101 Ways to Save on Your Wedding: 1-25

——————————————————

26.    Sew your own veil with tulle from the fabric store
27.    Create your own hairpiece from silk flowers and feathers from the craft store
28.    Send postcards as Save the Dates and save on postage and paper costs
29.    Avoid letterpress printing for your invitations. Although it might be one of the nicest printing methods, it’s also one of the priciest.
30.    Use construction paper as one element of your DIY invitations. It will add lots of texture, with only a little expense
31.    Avoid hiring a calligrapher and use a computerized script font instead
32.    Limit the number of pieces in your invitation suite and save on postage, since it’s based on weight
33.    Use flowers that are locally grown and in-season and avoid the cost of flying them in during the off-season
34.    Use a storage or organization box or basket for your card box that you can re-use in your home after the wedding for storage
35.    Befriend someone in the event planning industry. They often have access to discounts to wholesalers and rental vendors
36.    Do your own makeup, hair and/or nails
37.    Have your hair, makeup and nails done at a cosmetology school like Aveda. The cost is lower and the results are usually just as good
38.    Design your invitations yourself and have them printed by a company like gotprint.com. Once you get them, add a little interest yourself either with embossing or a similar technique
39.    Serve cupcakes instead of cake. Cupcakes are often cheaper and can help you avoid a cake cutting fee that most caterers will charge
40.    Depending on your décor, you may be able to find some things at a site like Oriental Trading Company. While most of the items aren’t necessarily for a wedding, you might find a diamond in the rough
41.    Watch sites like craigslist.com and freecycle.org for free and inexpensive items that people are just looking to get rid of.
42.    Repurpose mason jars as candleholders
43.    Shop the brick and mortar outlet versions of your favorite stores like Crate and Barrel, Pier 1, and Pottery Barn
44.    Get your wedding shoes from the clearance section. This is easiest to do when they’re off-season, but make sure you check the clearance area often as the selection often dwindles quickly
45.    Support local business. They are often more flexible and willing to work with you to achieve your goals
46.    Barter services. If you happen to be a talented computer progammer, offer to create or update a website for a vendor in return for their services
47.    Let vendors know when you’re dissatisfied. They’re often willing to accommodate you and knockdown the cost, rather than risk a bad review or unhappy client
48.    Look for your honeymoon travel on sites like priceline.com, cheapcaribbean.com, travelzoo.com, and farecast.com
49.    Travel during the offseason for your honeymoon, even if it’s months after your wedding. Rates will be cheaper on airfare and your hotel
50.    Dafont.com and 1001freefonts.com offer a range of free fonts that you can use for your invitations and any other paper projects

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Technorati Tags: Bridal, Candleholders, Candles, Detroit, Florist, Flowers, fonts, Hair, hairpiece, Headpiece, Invitations, letterpress, Makeup, postcard, Save the Dates, Shoes, veil, vendors, Wedding

Alltop Sighting

May 15, 2009 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: News and Notes

Just in case you were wondering if the rumors were true, wonder no longer – 12k wedding is now listed on Alltop!

Of course we’re listed in the Weddings section with all the other fabulous blogs helping you navigate your wedding planning escapades.

Spread the word!

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Technorati Tags: Alltop, Blog, Brides, Budget, Detroit, Wedding

DIY Street Signs as Table Names

March 18, 2009 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: DIY, Reception

You may have noticed we have an undercurrent of Detroit running through our wedding. From the Save the Dates to the possible favors to the location of the event, it’s definitely present.

Here’s another idea.

Use the major streets, or those that mean a lot to you as names for the tables. So for us, we might use Woodward, Grand River, Michigan, etc. Or maybe its the street you grew up on. You could take pictures of the signs and use photo clips to hold them.

Source: Jena D Events

Or, you could try to DIY some street signs. I imagine it would go something like this.

Ingredients:

Wood skewers or popsicle sticks
Pail, glass, or jar
Pebbles or sand
Corrugated cardboard from old boxes or foam board from a craft/office supply store
Green paint
White paint or letter stickers

Judging by my list, you probably know where I’m going with this.

Cut out your signs from your cardboard or foam board. Paint them green. Write on them with paint or use your sticker letters to give them their street name identity. Glue the signs to the wood sticks. Anchor the signs in the jars with the pebbles or sand or some other filler to keep the signs stable. Simple enough. And cheap.

Obviously I haven’t tried this myself yet, but if one of you is willing to take a leap of faith and DIY this yourself, let me know and I’ll post the pictures here.

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