Centered, Once Again

What do you get when you cross tin cans, tea lights and faux flowers?

Rehearsal dinner centerpieces!

After several weeks of going back and forth (mason jars or glass vases? MASON JARS OR GLASS VASES?!?!) and sales on neither, our RD centerpiece idea kind of fell into my lap. I had headed to Michaels to round up the last of the pink peonies we would need to adorn the cake, when I went a-wandering past the dollar bins. Fate, I tell ya. I found these adorable swirly tin cans for a dollar apiece:

They had a little metal ring already set up on the inside to hold a tea light. Off in search of tea lights! I was hoping I wouldn't have to deal with real candles, but I knew how expensive LED tea lights could get, and let's face it, this was (another) zero-budget project. I figured it couldn't hurt to see what LED options Michaels had though, since I was already there and everything.

Believe when I say luck was on my side! Somehow I got a box of 20 flickering LED tea lights for $1.49!  Somebody mislabeled the shelf they were stocked on, down from its original $19.99. Win!

I know you can't really tell the size of the tin cans from the pictures, but they're kind of on the smaller side. Since we'll have one per table on the 10 picnic tables in the covered park pavilion where our rehearsal dinner will be, I didn't think this alone was quite enough. I don't want wimpy centerpieces! Back to the floral department!

Much better! Don't those colors look familiar? How lucky that Michaels had a bunch of the tin cans in varying shades of maroon-ish, pink-ish, and ... well, they only had one lime green, but I snagged it anyway. :) Who's counting?

As the sun fades, and the party continues into the evening ... the soft glow of the tea lights will emit from the swirls ... assuming the giant florescent lights in the pavilion don't drown it out.

Now, here's how I made this happen. Obvs, with the flowers on the top, it would be difficult to get to the tea lights to turn them on and off. So, when I cut the flowers to fit into the cans, I kept some of the greenery, and hot-glued the whole mess of foliage together into one piece. Now, before the rehearsal, we can just dump the flowers out, turn on the LEDs and put the flowers back in, and they'll look exactly the same. Done and done!

The only thing left before I wrap up this little project is the tablecloths to cover up the metal picnic tables. There will be a plethora of beer and barbecue on the tables (which I'm sure will not be messy at all), so I bought some cheap white plastic tablecloths from the dollar store to cover the tables.

Tell me about your rehearsal dinner! What are you doing for centerpieces? And most importantly, what food are you serving? ;)

In which I am really proud of myself for being cheap

Okay, so I promised you a cost breakdown for my faux flower pretties. Let me preface by saying, I used several items for multiple floral projects, and I did not count those prices twice, unless it was something easy, like two rolls of ribbon or something (not confusing at all, eh!). Also, I am kind of math stupid and didn't keep the best track of breaking down receipts, so this is absolutely to the best of my ability, but it may still be slightly off. Now, let's get to it!

Bride's bouquet: $70.93 (includes flowers, floral tape, berry filler)

Bridesmaid bouquets (4): $75.48 (includes flowers, ribbon, pearl stickers) = $18.87 apiece

Corsages and Boutonnieres: $44.76 (includes flowers, berry filler, baby's breath) = approximately $3.20 apiece for 5 corsages and 9 boutonnieres

Centerpieces (8): $121.81 (includes floral foam, flower pots, flowers) = approximately $15.23 apiece

Altar Flowers (4): $49.68 (includes floral foam, stands, flower pots, flowers) = $12.42 apiece

Toss Bouquet: $7.55

TOTAL SPENT: $347.75

Oh boo. I realize if you add up the numbers I over-accounted by about $20 somewhere in there. Regardless, I know for a fact that I've only spent my final total. (It's likely that the cost comes out of the centerpieces and altar flowers.)

I also mentioned previously that Mom Hyena thought our altar decorations were too small, so we came up with a solution that requires no work on my part (yesssss). Mom Hyena went on her own search, and found these pre-made arrangements at one of the craft stores!

She offered to have two of them made for us, with the white gladiolas on the top and brighter pink hydrangeas than the ones pictured. We will use the original altar flowers to decorate the lobby outside the sanctuary, so they won't go to waste!

Anyway, to make a long story short ... I'm really proud of this. I think we ended up with some really cute real-flower alternatives, and I'm excited to display them at the wedding. I am also THRILLED by the cost savings, and the fact that I can continue to use these around the house after the wedding, or give them to guests if they want them.

What's your best money-saving tip?

How to avoid wedding projects and influence no one.

Remember when I was working on our boutonnieres, and I was all gung-ho about getting the corsages done too?

Pile o' crafts

Yeahhhh ... I had been effectively avoiding this project for weeks while I tried to figure out what I should do with them. See, I got about this far in the project:

... and then I didn't know what else to do. I wanted the flower to face outward instead of upward, but these flowers are a lot bigger than I think most corsage flowers are. I was stuck, so instead of coming up with a solution, I let my one sad lone corsage sit. And sit. And continue sitting a couple weeks more. I showed it to Mom Hyena via webcam. I showed it to MIL Hyena. One suggested I make wrist corsages:

One said she didn't want a wrist corsage because they look too much like something you'd wear to prom. But I didn't want to have a monstrous flower chillin' on anyone's chest either, and I didn't know how big was too big.

Why hello. I'm rocking this big-ass flower.

But something was still missing! Finally, this weekend I got to show Mom Hyena the One Corsage to Rule Them All in person, and she thought they needed more than just the one flower to look complete. I added a smaller ranunculus bulb, got her stamp of approval and then proceeded to make the other four corsages we will need. HALLELUJAH, finally a project complete after weeks of nothingness!

The completed corsages:

Two moms, two grandmas and one aunt that would kill me if she didn't get one.

The only difference between these and the boutonnieres is the added flower and no ribbon wrapping. Also, because the backs of the corsages were covered in spiky stems of "baby's breath" and "berries," I covered them with felt and hot-glued that down too:

I'm thinking this will make it easier to pin to clothing as well, since no one will have to look for a good place to jab a pin though the back of the flower itself.

I apologize that the cost breakdown will have to wait a bit longer, because today Mom Hyena and I discussed her opinion that the church altar decorations will be too small. More flowers may be added, and our budget continues to whimper in the corner.

Have you taken on any projects that were a pain to complete?

Boutie-licious

I failed to find out what Mr. H was looking for in man-flowers until after I did my first round of flower shopping. When I finally did ask (er, bug him endlessly), he said he wanted a single white rose with baby's breath for the dudes. Okay, that shouldn't be too difficult in theory.

I found the perfect flowers for our corsages and boutonnieres at Hobby Lobby. I didn't have the first clue about how to put these suckers together, but a search on the 'Bee brought up a couple of tutorials, which I used as a jumping off point. I started with the bouts since they seemed less scary than the corsages. As I was working on these, I wondered how some brides can figure out how to do this with real flowers the day before their wedding without freaking out.

I gathered my supplies:

• Approx. 1-inch thick ribbon

• Artificial ivory roses, one per bout (save the leaves)

• Artificial baby's breath

• Artificial berries

• Hot glue gun

• Scissors

• Wire cutters

• Netflix movie to keep you entertained (it took me a long time to get the hang of this project)

Step 1: Trim your rose to a more manageable size (stem should be about two or three inches so there is room to hot glue things to the stem).

Step 2: Cut a sprig of baby's breath and hot glue it to the side in an attractive manner.

Step 3: Repeat step 2, but with berries.

Steps 1-3

Step 4: Take the leftover leaves from the flowers. I only wanted to have one leaf, so those other two gotta go.

BAM!

Step 4 continued: Hot glue the leaf to the back of the boutonniere, still gluing directly onto the stem. I tried to hot glue the leaf right onto the flower, but that didn't want to stick. I'm still trying to figure out how to make it stand up the way I want it. H-Dad recommended epoxy?

Step 5: Now that everything is attached to the main stem, trim it down further so it's normal-boutonniere sized.

Step 6: Starting at the base, hot glue the end of the ribbon and attach to the stems, then wrap upward. Secure with more hot glue.

Step 7: Repeat steps 1-6 for each bout (we needed nine). Bask in the triumph of another completed floral project.

Hooray! I love them! They look so good! I am awesome!

Now I just need to figure out the corsages. I read somewhere that a corsage is just a bunch of boutonnieres stuck together, but that seems like it'd be awfully large. Also, I'm using ranunculus for the corsages, and those are somewhat big on their own. I sense an adventure!

Once I get the corsages completed, I think I'll be done with all our flowers, so I'll put together a cost breakdown for all our floral arrangements.

For those brides who are DIYing real flowers the day before the wedding — HOW are you doing it?! For real, I want to know!

Single Ladies

Of course I'm doing a bouquet toss. I've been made to stand up at every single wedding I've been to, even since I got engaged, and it's time for revenge! I want people to CRAWL FOR IT! :-D Hee hee.

I purchased some random pink and maroon flowers awhile back in an attempt to find something Mr. H would like for the groomsmen boutonnieres, and he didn't like any of them. I put them back in the Hobby Lobby bag and forgot about them, and I rediscovered them months later. I haven't decided whether or not I want to throw my actual bouquet for our bouquet toss, so I figured I could create a toss bouquet and decide later. :)

I started out by following Mom Hyena's technique for my real bouquet: arrange the stems the way you want them, and rubber band them together.

So much easier than last time! (Also, about 1/4 as many flowers...) Then, I trimmed the stems so they were all even, then wrapped the whole thing up in pink ribbon. It looked a little plain, so I spiraled some pilfered green ribbon around the pink, and hot glued it all together.

Heads up!

You know you love my "100% baaaaaaaaad" sheep pajamas. Hee hee.

I guess I've covered all my bases when it comes to the bouquets. Last time Hyena Sis came into town, I tossed it to her, and she said the end was a little sharp, so I'll trim the wire in the stems or stick something on it so I don't end up putting someone's eye out.

I haven't totally decided what music I'd like to play during the bouquet toss. I've always liked Beyonce's "Single Ladies," but I think it's a little overused. I'm considering using this song, even though it's kind of old:

What do you think? What song are you using for the bouquet toss?

I want you, I need you, oh baby, oh baby.

I don't know how this will work with my veil, or whatever hair style I end up choosing, but I waahaahaaaaant a hair flower. I NEED one. I don't know why, but I will not rest until I get one! I've yet to make any purchases from Etsy, but that was the first place I looked for some purty hair doodads, and here's what I came up with:

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Or maybe I want a little pop of color. Do I want a maroon pop? My shoes and bouquet are pink...

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Oooh shiny! I love them! I want them all!

How would you/did you pull off a hair flower with a veil? Both together? Hair flower only for the reception?

Peonies and Potted Plants: Part 2

Okay, I can't hold off any longer on this!

Despite trips to various places to look at potted plants (because I can't let the idea go...), I was never really satisfied with the way real potted plants looked. The flowers seemed to be too damaged, or too sparse, or in the wrong colors. It wasn't something I wanted to chance, hoping the right colors would be in at the right time, and that they'd magically be full and healthy. (Also, I don't trust myself to keep plants alive between now and then.) But alas, I couldn't. let. go. Pots are so cute!

I had stopped thinking about flower pots, though, in favor of thinking more generically about centerpieces. Mom Hyena and Aunt Hyena had some nice glass vases they were willing to let us borrow, and I was on board with that, even though they would be a lot taller than I originally envisioned. I was also a little worried it would be obvious with glass bases that our plants are fake. I've done a lot of searching for flowers in order to find high-quality ones that look realistic! My cover will not be blown by see-through vases!

Then, Mr. H and I went to go visit his family (hi future family!), and on the way we stopped at IKEA. ZOMG I love IKEA. You never know what wonderful things you will find in there!

I picked up these cute pots in light pink and bright green for about $2.50-$3.50 apiece.

But when I brought them home, Mom Hyena thought they looked more purple than pink. I didn't think they looked purple, but she suggested spray painting them a brighter pink, and I'm always on board with BRIGHTER!

Pretty! Have I mentioned that Mom Hyena is awesome?

She was right, the hot pink is even prettier! The green pot we didn't change. Also, see how good I'm being at being a laid-back, accommodating, not-freaking-out-too-much bride? :) I am collaborating!

While at IKEA, we also got these stands for a couple bucks apiece. I got two tall ones and two short ones. Bear with me, you'll see what I'm envisioning for the church altar ...

Then, I gathered my supplies and put on some How I Met Your Mother, and I was ready to craft some centerpieces! (Note to other budget brides — buy your floral foam in bulk and cut it into the size you want. Each block was going to be over $2 for about the size you can see below, but I bought a big pack of foam bricks for $4, cut them up with a steak knife, and had enough to make 12 centerpieces.)

A couple hours of arranging later, and we had this:

This is kind of what I'm thinking for the church altar. One tall and one short stand on either side of the altar, with a pot on each. The church is very simple on its own, and we don't want to detract from the natural beauty, but we needed something small to decorate with!

Another option (and the one I'm kind of favoring at the moment), is to drape the stands with some type of maroon fabric that is not this one, because it's too wrinkly:

Cute! I wish I'd gotten a better picture of some of the centerpieces, but you get the idea.

Which do you prefer, the fabric or the undraped tables?

(All photos personal.)

Peonies and Potted Plants: Part 1

You may recall my newfound love for peonies.

Oooh pretty!
via The Knot / Photo by Cayton Photography / Bouquet by Design Works, Colorado Springs

Well, I've had my eyes peeled for quite awhile, and I found some peonies at Michaels that I adore ... when I touch the petals they feel like real flowers!

Hyena Sis' cat, Audrey, wants to help hot glue!

I was struggling to put together my bouquet on my own, so all the credit goes to Mom Hyena. She arranged them and rubber banded the stems together, and handed it back to me, and I wrapped the stems in floral tape and then again with maroon ribbon. (Wrapping it took like an hour and a half. Ugh.)

My awesome sister helps hot glue the whole thing together.

Once we were done with the wrapping, we spiraled some pearls around the ribbon to match the pearls on the bridesmaids' bouquets.

And ... you ready for this?!?!

Booooouquet! Sorry for the wonky photo color. It was nighttime.

I can has it when I walk down the aisle?!

It's byoooooooteeful! I'm glad it turned out so well! Not going to lie — I was a little scared to see how the artificial flowers would turn out, but I am very pleased with the results. Mom Hyena and Hyena Sis are awesome. :) With this out of the way, next I focused on getting the centerpieces put together! But you'll have to wait to see those... ^_~

Any other faux-flower brides? A prize for whoever wrapped theirs the quickest!

DIY Fails and Successes

I have realized that my true calling is to not be a florist. I was attempting to put together my bouquet, and failing miserably. Hyena Sis asked how it could be that hard, when I did the bridesmaids' bouquets and they looked so good.

Well, I have a deep, dark secret...

As I have mentioned, we decided to go the artificial route for our flowers. I found these flowers at a little tchotchke store next door to our venue. Mom Hyena was in town and she noticed them first. I fell in love with the beautiful ranunculus (the white-ish ones are actually a very pale green). So cute!

But these were totally pre-made. The stems were already stuck together in a "bouquet." The only thing I did to these is wrap the glued-together-looking stems in ribbon and stick the pearls on the front. Those aren't even round pearls. They're sticker half-pearls that I also didn't have to line up because they were all in one strand. It was the easiest/laziest DIY project ever, and also probably one of my most successful.

My bouquet is a little more ... challenging. Individual stems of flowers and I do not get along. After about 10 minutes of struggling, I had to ask for help from Mom Hyena, and she put the whole thing together while I watched and made suggestions. *FAIL* All the credit goes to her. She did a wonderful job, and I'm super excited about it.

If nothing else, at least my kitty-boo "helped" me "put together" the bridesmaid bouquets - this was the bag they came in, which took her about half a second to crawl inside. Awww.

(all photos personal)

What was your "laziest" (or easiest!) DIY project?

I need some potted plants in my life.

Long ago, I thought it would be adorable to use potted plants as our centerpieces. Flower pots are so cute, and I hate the idea of using cut flowers that are just going to die in a few days. With potted plants, the flowers could thrive long after the wedding!

While wandering around Wal-Mart one evening, Mr. Hyena and I stopped in the gardening section to take a look at what types of plants were available. I was undecided about whether actual potted plants were a good idea, especially because I was so underwhelmed with the quality of the flowers (but then again, it's Wal-Mart. I did look at Home Depot and HEB as well, and was still a little disappointed). They didn't have much variety and the ones they did have weren't the best quality.

Here are some cute pictures I'm using as inspiration:

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By Mrs. Beagle

Hmm, apparently not too many people have used pots in their wedding decor. Oh well, that's cool, something unique for me! Even without concrete inspiration photos, I think this idea might pan out...

Did you have a vision in your head of your decor and then it not work out? What did you do?