Brides Against Breast Cancer

17 Jan 2008 — admin

Everyone knows weddings are pricey, no matter how you look at it. I was comparing photography brochures last night, and the least expensive option is over $1,000! The median cost is closer to $3,000.

The bride’s gown also often carries a hefty price tag, averaging about $800. After a bit of shopping around with my mom and maids of honor (yes, I have two!), I’m leaning toward one for half that price, and love it. I haven’t ordered it though, so after reading about Brides Against Breast Cancer in a fellow Portlander’s blog … I’m thinking I need to check it out.

The Making Memories Foundation was co-founded by mother-daughter team Fran and Anna in 1998. The organization, which has received national coverage by such entities as Oprah, MSNBC, Martha Stewart Living, Newsweek, Woman’s Day, Modern Bride and Family Circle, works to grant the wishes of terminally-ill breast cancer patients and provide an opportunity for quality time with family that might not otherwise be possible. Their website message states, “Our hope is that every metastatic breast cancer patient will be able to pass from this world comforted with the joy of having left his or her family a final beautiful memory—something the family will look back on and remember for a lifetime.”

The funds for such wish-granting mostly comes from the Brides Against Breast Cancer project. Each year, they accept thousands of new and used bridal gowns from both private and corporate donors, then sell them at prices drastically below retail at events across the country such as the one I plan to attend this weekend at the Lloyd Center Doubletree Hotel.

Just how reduced are these prices? Well, divebarwife writes that she “tried on a dozen or so dresses, and ended up finding one I really liked. My price tag? Less than $200. The original price tag? Nearly $2,000.”

Read my other articles about breast cancer and related fundraisers.

Posted in fashion, health, philanthropy, Portland, shopping, ways to save, wedding. Tags: , , , , , . No Comments »

All About Dyeable Shoes

16 Jan 2008 — admin

Weddings, proms, and other special occasions are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. How can you ensure everything will be perfect, right down to the shoes on your feet? One of the best options when you want a perfectly put-together look is a pair of dyeable shoes.


read more | digg story

Posted in color, fashion, shoes, wedding. Tags: , , , , . No Comments »

Tips when attending a Bridal Show

14 Jan 2008 — admin

Yesterday, my mother, maid of honor and I attended “Portland’s Premier Bridal Event,” the Portland Bridal Show. None of us had ever been to a bridal show, and since we’re still undecided on certain elements like a caterer, baker, photographer and florist, it seemed like a good place to get ideas and maybe even a discount or two. It was, but I also have some words of advice for other brides-to-be in the same position:

  1. Don’t go alone. As I mentioned, I had two companions to help ward off over-eager vendors, share the load of endless brochures and business cards, and even just to laugh with (like when a sample I accepted from a baker ended up more on my hands and face than in my mouth!)
  2. Bring self-adhesive address labels. Probably two-thirds of the booths offer some type of drawing. If you can stick a preprinted label (including your email address and phone number) rather than writing it all out, you’ll save so much time. It may seem silly, but trust me, it’s not. They actually had a booth that did this for you if you could spare the five minutes!
  3. Wear walking shoes. And prepare to use them! This is NOT, for the most part, a sit-down affair. Yes, there was a Fashion Show portion but honestly, I could have skipped that. You’ll be walking from booth to booth with hundreds of other women, one hand holding all your goodies and the other constantly filling out some form.
  4. Keep it short. With around 200 vendors, you don’t have time to speak in-depth with each one. Unless they’ve really got a good deal or you have a specific question that shouldn’t require a lengthy answer, just get their contact information and move on. You could even star their card to remind yourself to contact them later in the week.
  5. Be selective. Depending on how soon your wedding is, you might already have some details out of the way. I’ve already booked a location (which includes DJ services), for example. So we skipped all the venue booths and the DJs. I also delegated the honeymoon planning to my fiancé, so unless a resort was giving away a free night, I skipped that too.

If I had to describe my experience at the Portland Bridal Show in one word, it would be “exhausting”. Still, I’m glad I went and I think I picked up some valuable information. I do hope, though, that my tips will keep your experience from being quite as tiring as mine was!

digg_url = http://digg.com/educational/Tips_when_attending_a_Bridal_Show;

Posted in family, friends, laughs, music, Portland, wedding. Tags: , , , , , . 1 Comment »

Benefits of a Wedding Website

08 Jan 2008 — admin

About a month ago, I wrote a post in my other blog about choosing a wedding website. Since then, I’ve been using my personal wedding website (also called a wedsite) fairly regularly, and I’ve gotten several comments on it, so I decided it was time for an update about how I’m using it and how it’s working.

When I first created it, our site didn’t have much. One photo gallery, names on the wedding party page but no photos or details, no blog, events or registries … you get the idea. Even after a busy holiday month, however, I’ve added quite a bit … and I still love it!

First, we’ve got photos! There are now 3 galleries, each with more than a dozen images, and I’ve also added pictures for all but one of our attendants. I added our gift registries page, and an event page listing our wedding date and location. But my favorite part by far is … the blog!

The website didn’t have a template for a blog, but it also 4 custom pages, so I choose to make my own. We’re up to eight posts now (there’s even one from Fidhlear (my fiancé!), and it’s so much fun to be able to share with friends and family about how are plans are going. I’ve gotten feedback in person, in emails, and in guestbook comments about how they love the idea of the site, too.

I definitely recommend mywedding.com to anyone who’s engaged!

Posted in blogging, email, family, friends, networking, photos, wedding. 2 Comments »

Quiet Weekend & Cute Cake Topper

10 Dec 2007 — admin

This morning I had a terrible time getting up for work. And not because it was a rough weekend. On the contrary … it was a fabulously quiet weekend and I didn’t want it to end!

My fiancé and I drove down to Grants Pass to visit his family. While he slept in til noon on Saturday, I spent the morning discussing invitations, dresses and the guest list with my future mother-in-law. We all played Rummikub that night, then on Sunday at church I was introduced to at least a dozen friends of the family … thank goodness I wasn’t expected to remember names … who of course all had to know when the wedding will be.

After a lunch of leftovers and dessert (Snickerdoodle cake with cinnamon ice cream … mmm!), we had to take a slew of photos to send to the extended family with the in-laws’ new camera, which Fidhlear and I had been teaching them how to use ;) Maybe I’ll post a few when I get the chance.

Anyway, on to the point of this post and the reason for the accompanying picture here. Thinking about wedding stuff … and that cake LOL … somehow got me on the track of looking at wedding cake toppers today. I think the top right one is my favorite so far. It’s called Wedded Bliss, and I think the bare feet and overall casual attitude is just very fitting for us, and the way they’re sitting like they’re on the edge of a dock would match our lake view ceremony, too ;)

Posted in family, food & drink, handpicked, photos, travel, wedding, wishlist. No Comments »

Choosing a Wedding Website

04 Dec 2007 — admin

In today’s technical society, it seems like almost everything has a website. Your doctor’s office, nearly every store in the mall, that little mom ‘n’ pop shop down the street, and now … your wedding. And when it comes to your wedding website (also known as wedsites), there are many options to choose from, ranging from free to $1000-plus. How do you choose? Why should you create a site in the first place?

A wedding website can be a valuable asset, especially if you’re web-savvy and/or plan on a lot of out-of-town guests. It can also be a great place to share photos, allow RSVPs, and provide registry links. However, a wedding website is not a necessity. With the average wedding costing around $20,000, there’s no need to spend money on something you don’t need. So I’ve decided only to consider the options that cost nothing but my time.

The first that immediately comes to mind is TheKnot.com. In fact, that’s where I created my first wedding website, and it was decent enough. There were 40 themes to choose from, a guestbook, and a link to registries. However, it didn’t leave much room for customization, it’s mostly one long page, and you can only include one photo.

So a few weeks later when I had more time, I did a search and found a few more options. One was EWedding.com. This site allows several pages and extra features, including a page on stories of how you met, an entire page dedicated to photos, background music, a quiz and poll, and more. There’s also an option to upgrade to a “premium” account” with additional features, at a monthly cost of $9.95 or a year for $89. Check out the feature comparisons here. The premium account also includes a free personalized domain name and keepsake CD option. However, you can only get those, as well as a guestbook, unlimited photos, and other important things by paying for it, so my search wasn’t over.

But then, I found MyWedding.com. I’d used their local planning guides before, and they’re decent enough, but their free wedding sites are great! You’re allowed 15 pages total, 4 of which are a bit more customizable than the rest, and each can be turned on or off individually. There’s a guestbook and registry page, a “contact us” section, and room for unlimited photos. Yes, that’s right, unlimited photos. I’ve even found that you can add a bit of HTML code into certain areas to further customize your look.

All in all, MyWedding.com is my favorite for a free wedding website.  I highly reccomend it!

Posted in design & decoration, how to, photos, reviews, wedding. No Comments »

Reblog: Back to the Future Wedding Cake

20 Nov 2007 — admin

Back to the Future Wedding Cake

Star Wars fans have gotten married in Stormtrooper outfits. Trekkies in Star Trek uniforms. But what do Back to the Future fans do when they tie the not? I wonder if Universal has ever rented out the Town hall backlot set for a super-fan’s wedding?

I came across a photo of a Back to the Future themed wedding cake topper (?) while doing my daily Flickr searches. Great Scott! Appears to be a custom creation for the wedding of Mark and Jo Howells. How cool is that? Extra points to the bride for allowing such a cool geeky creation at this most important day.

Reblogged from: http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/11/20/cool-stuff-back-to-the-future-wedding-cake/

Posted in design & decoration, food & drink, movies, wedding. Tags: , . No Comments »

Bargain Blooms: Hitting the Fall Flower Sale at Michael’s

15 Nov 2007 — admin

Normally I’m not one to brag, but I am so proud of my thriftiness last week. All thanks to a good friend, of course.

I needed some girl time. So I snuck out of work early (the boss didn’t care because there wasn’t much to do anyway) and texted my best friend, “What are you up to?” Ninety minutes and twenty-odd texts later, we were ordering holiday drinks at Starbucks before heading off do to some shopping. Because what’s an afternoon of girl time without a little shopping?

And our favorite places … because like most sensible women, we love a great bargain … are thrift stores. So Goodwill was of course our first stop, where I couldn’t resist this fantastic shoe music box that plays “If I were a rich man.” Once I get it cleaned up, I’ll take a photo and blog about it.

We’ve also been on the hunt for unique vases and realistic silk flowers in good condition, because I’m getting married next September and I want to use them for the centerpieces on each table during the reception. I’ve gotten quite a few vases, but flowers are harder to come by. Then, my shopping partner-in-crime had a brilliant thought. Michael’s Craft Store. “It’s the end of autumn. They’ll be putting all their fall flowers on clearance. I bet we can get some great deals!” she said. So off we went. And hit the jackpot.

The colors were perfect. Since my wedding will be in early September, I want an autumn color palette: chocolate browns and golds and oranges and my bridesmaids in sage green. We picked up sunflowers and hydrangeas and mums and who knows what else … it was so much fun (that’s some of them in the photo on the right). But the best part was, when I was unpacking them all a few nights ago, I added up all the price tags to see how much it would have cost at regular price. The grand total was $87.35. But everything we bought was 70% off or more. So you want to know how much I actually spent? $18.24.

Yup, I saved almost seventy bucks by buying my flowers on clearance at the end of the season. At that price, I might have to think about not using any real flowers in my wedding at all! Just kidding, Mom.

Posted in arts & crafts, design & decoration, shopping, ways to save, wedding. Tags: , , , , , . No Comments »

Persistence of Pedicures is Worth the Price

14 Nov 2007 — admin

Ask any man what the purpose of a pedicure is, and he likely won’t have a clue. Ask a woman, though, and her answer will probably be something like one of the following:

A: The chance to get out of the house for some “me” time or spending time with the girls.
B: The feeling of being pampered and indulging in a special treat.
C: The sheer joy of feeling pretty … and getting it done by a professional instead of doing it yourself!

And I’m in agreement with every one of them. That’s why I asked my mom to join me for pedicures for my birthday more than a month ago. I’d only done it once or twice before, and this was the best by far (check out my review on Yelp.com). And then, yesterday I discovered yet another excuse to get pedicures: their endurance!

Here’s what happened:
I decided I needed to take off my toenail polish. Being the klutz that I am, I broke the nail on my big toe and inadvertently took of some of the polish on that one already, and I’m wearing open-toed shoes to a friend’s wedding on Friday, so last night I sat down with a handful of cotton balls and a bottle of non-acetone nail polish remover and went to work. More than half an hour later, I finally had it all off.

Remember now, it’s been over a month since that pedicure. I’ve never had nail polish last that long! My hand and back (cramped from the position of leaning over and pressing a soaked cotton ball to each toe) weren’t too happy, but otherwise I was pleasantly surprised at how long that pedicure lasted, and how it still didn’t want to come off!

For a girl like me, who prefers having painted toenails but hates doing it herself, and doesn’t mind having the same color for a month or more at a time … a pedicure just seems like the perfect option. And while it’s too expensive to be a regular occurrence for me (most other women too … only 20% get them routinely), I will definitely have to consider indulging a bit more often. At least for my own wedding ;)

Posted in fashion, Portland, shoes, wedding. Tags: , , . No Comments »

The day they’d been waiting for …

03 Sep 2007 — admin

~ Detroit Lake ~

They walked across the dam.
Down a windy road,
Hand in hand.
Climbed up a slope,
To a tiny clearing
Looking out across the water.
He turns to her.
“Close your eyes.”
He puts a tiny wooden box in her hands.
“Open it.”
Could it be?
She slides the top back.
Diamonds sparkle in the sunlight.
She looks up into his eyes.
Her hands in his,
“Will you marry me?”
Barely a whisper … “Yes.”

We’re getting married!


Posted in family, poetry, wedding. No Comments »
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