Don’t think I have skipped Thanksgiving and gone straight to Christmas.. BUT I came across this great DIY wreath and had to share it.  I know so many families who spend the weekend following Thanksgiving putting up their Christmas decorations together, and while reading the cb2 Blog this project jumped out!

This is also a great DIY idea for your wedding, get ornaments in your weddings colors and hang them on the doors of the church or reception.  An easy way to add decorations to you event!

Supplies:
1. Strong stiff wire that can be bent into a ring. We used aluminum wire gauge 20, about 55” long–due to the scale of the products in the shot, our wreath was rather large, about 28″ in diameter. A wire hanger is also a simple way to go.

2. Ornaments. We used a total of 81 ornaments. For a smaller version, we’re guessing you could make a 14” wreath with about a third of the ornaments depending on how full you wanted it.

3. Strong tape to fasten the ends of the wire ring together or, pliers to twist the ends of the wire ring together.

4. Ribbon to hang the wreath.

Directions:
1. String one ornament at a time onto the wire ring, alternating colors, using smaller ones to fill in the gaps.

2. When the ring is completely covered in ornaments, fasten the ends together.

3. Use a ribbon to cover the spot where the ends are fastened together, and hang!

Tip: best not to go too large in diameter as the wreath could become too heavy and stretch out.

Hopefully I will get a picture of mine when I finish it! Wish me luck!

Source: cb2

For all of you just married couples and soon to be wed, plan to send a Holiday card this year to your friends and family.  If your wedding is close to the holidays you can combine this holiday card with your thank you note.  If you have been married for 6 + months this is a great time to let them know how much you are enjoying marriage and some of the exciting highlights of firsts together!  You don’t need to spend a lot of money, the pictures below were taken within 10 minutes in my living room!  With a little touch ups and color adjustments they are ready to add to a snapfish photo card and send away.

The great thing about sending these cards out after your wedding is that you still have that never ending excel spread sheet with everyone’s most recent addresses. I highly suggest you keep that excel sheet and continue to update it over the years, it is already a great tool to have for seasons such as this! Have fun with the photos.. let your personality show! Your family will enjoy to begin collecting the new family card from the first year you two were together.  Finally don’t forget to keep a copy of each card for yourself, you will be surprised looking back over the years how much of a fabulous story they will tell!

Great places to make photo cards:

Tiny Prints

Simply to Impress

Snapfish

Next time you take your fiance cake tasting, consider all of the options from sweet cakes to meat cakes.  Let me clarify, I am not suggesting serving your guests a 4 course dinner and then surprising them with a slice of meat for dessert instead of buttercream sweetness.

Personally I think this meat cake is semi disgusting… but I am sure my husband thinks otherwise!  As much as I might not crave a meat cake, I do think it is a fun idea for a grooms cake.  Present it at the wedding as a late night option for the guys who are getting hungry again around midnight, or have it at the rehearsal dinner for a manly touch in honor of the groom.  Instead of creamy icing spread on typical cakes… get creative and spread creamy mashed potatoes around your meat cake to add a sweet touch.  If anything this cake will add some humor and I guarantee that a few of the gentlemen in your group will appreciate it!

What other creative cakes have you seen at events?

DJs and Bands are the life of the party, when everyone is getting tired they can keep you dancing on the dance floor.  You want to definitely put time into choosing which DJ or Band’s style fits your wedding, and always let them know your expectations for them during the reception.

While you want a DJ who will be able to help direct your reception, at the wedding ceremony you might also want live music, but the costs will start climbing when you are hiring more than one band/DJ.  Harps, Violins, Cellos and Pianos will all create beautiful music for the day of your wedding, but how do you hire within your budget?

You don’t need to think past your hometown high school.  Yes, where you spent 4 years of your life – can finally give back to you.  Schedule a meeting with the orchestra director and explain to him what type of music you desire for your ceremony and ask to hire some of the senior students for an hour on the weekend.  The kids will love the experience, and you will be surprised how professional they will treat the situation.

If you are a more ‘hands on’ bride and get nervous about kids playing at your wedding, give them enough time to practice and then schedule with them to hear it for yourself about a week out.

I think this is a great idea to help you save money and incorporate your old high school into your wedding.  Your guests will enjoy the youth participation and be impressed at how beautifully they play!

Serve your martini’s in style with a Martini Luge at your wedding.  Have your guests hold their glass at the bottom of the luge, while the bartender prepares their next drink and sends it down a ‘chiller’ ride through the martini luge.

Use a chic monogram or up-lighting to highlight the luge for your guests, making everyone notice it right when they walk in.  Consider having a special martini recipe, one created just for you and your husband using your favorite drinks.  Or make it a true martini bar offering a variety of flavors, fun names and garnishes—your guests will love creating their own martini.

What is your favorite Martini that you would send through the luge?

Source: Krystal Kleer Ice, Luge Doctor, NadeauIce