Wedding Week Blog Crawl: Budget Bridal

We all know today is a big day for Britain.  I got up at dawn to watch the wedding because I'm cool/sad that way, and since everyone has weddings on the brain, I'm excited to participate in the Breakfast at Toast wedding week blog crawl!

I decided to share some ways that I saved money on my wedding in the event that you're planning your own soiree and need some budget friendly inspiration.

Flowers

I love gorgeous bouquets as much as the next girl, but when you have 20 tables, 7 bridesmaids, 1 bride, and an alter to decorate that equates to lots of flowers and a 4-digit price.  My solution was simple: hydrangeas.  They're cheap (mine were $1.25 per stem wholesale) and elegant when combined with smaller flowers for color.  Plus, you don't need many of them to make an impact.

 my wedding

The Favors

People love them some candy.  The more the better.  Unless you can afford some awesome favors that people will take home and use, a generous serving of candy they like will make everyone happy.  I opted for a simple candy buffet with classic varieties in a rainbow of colors and my guests ate almost all 40 pounds of it by the time they left our reception.  The final cost was about $1.10 per guest.  (The gummy worms and Reese's Pieces went the fastest, by the way)

The Wedding Party

After being in lots of weddings, I can safely say that I speak for many when I say that a $60 dress that's cheap to alter is the holy grail.  The chances of someone else choosing a dress that you'll want to wear again are slim, so I decided to pick a $54 black strapless dress from The Limited for my bridesmaids and have worn two of the dresses from their line in other weddings.  They've got the decent but cheap market cornered and are doing it well.

The Limited

Overall, I think the key to saving money and not showing it is picking what you really care about and making cuts elsewhere.  Plus, it leaves more money for a honeymoon!  Happy weekend, ladies!

Things Every Girl Needs: The perfect ballet flat

Today's guest blogger for the Things Every Girl Needs series is the lovely, newly-engaged Julie from the blog Love, Julie.  She's one of my newest blog friends and I'm so excited she's here to post about an item that I strongly agree to be a necessity year round: ballet flats

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Image

Flats are pretty much my go-to shoes for most months of the year. I think they are prefect for picnics, baseball games, parties at the pool or dinner with friends. They are also good for those occasions when you just aren't sure how formal people will be dressed and you don't want to look out of place in heels or totally under dressed in flip flops. So pretty much, I end up wearing them everywhere!

Another thing to love about flats is that there are so many different styles, colors, and patterns, you could never get tired of them all. Here are a few basics I think every girl should have:

Black Flats:  You need a pair of solid, black flats for wearing with anything from jeans to a little black dress. I love the bow on this Steven Madden pair.

Classic Flats: These ballerina flats from H&M are just perfect don't you think? They would look good with anything from jeans to a light summery skirt.

Fancy, Fun Flats: These are perfect for that outfit you really like but keep thinking, this needs a little something to spice it up. For go with something sparkly and fun like these Tory Burch Flats

Light, Girly Flats:  I have had these Sundance Ballet Flats on my dream wish list for a while now and I just love the way they look so soft and breezy.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Thanks so much, Julie!  I LOVE those Sundance flats - they're perfect!  

If you'd like to submit a post for this series, I officially have no more bloggers lined up so please send me a note and I'll get you on the calendar.  Happy Thursday!

I love you, West Elm.

Every time I walk into West Elm, I get so excited about all the things I could do to my house.  Unfortunately, my purchases are pretty limited to the sale corner of the Dallas store, but you can bet I will be taking the long way home from work more often to stalk these beauties from the spring/summer collection!

 1. Art  2. Art  3. Recycled glassware  4. Zebra pillow  5. Coral pillow  6. Pleats pillow cover  

7. Pomegranate pillow cover  8. Honeycomb tassel towels  9. Bath mat  10. Trays

I keep thinking about that color blotches print and the gray zebra pillow.  Both would be perfect in my living room, dontcha think?  ;-)

Let there be white!

It's official.  Easter has passed and we Southern folk now feel no guilt wearing white pants, skirts and dresses.  I want to work some new light and bright items into my wardrobe and make myself get over my fear of spilling things on myself or sitting in dirt. 

Here are some items I have my eye on at my go-to stores:

Lands End Canvas

 

LOFT

The Limited

Modcloth

White House Black Market

 

Gap

What's your favorite piece?  How are you going to be wearing white this year?

Must. Have. Monograms.

Happy Monday!  I had a wonderful long weekend at my sister and brother-in-law's wedding.  The event was gorgeous, my hair stayed up (!!!) and I got home on Easter Sunday for a relaxing evening of internet and DVR.  When I made my way over to Gold and Gray I literally squealed and could not wait to re-share these fabulous items from Luxury Monograms.

I can't even decide what I want most.  It's all so perfect and full of color.  What would you buy if you got to pick just one thing?

 

 

I would love a set of monogrammed placemats, but I think I'd be too scared to eat on them!

I don't need these... I know.

Not to state the obvious, but I love a good cardigan.  Lately, I've been looking to expand my collection after cleaning out my closet and letting some of the older ones go (Yes, really.  It was hard.)  I keep coming back to the idea that I need some fun, printed cardigans to go with my solids and stripes and here are some of my favorites right now... I'm waiting for rock bottom prices this summer  ;-)

Anthropologie Floral Rendering Cardi

Lulus Forget Me Not Floral Sweater

MNG by Mango Argyle Cardigan

Asos Spot Cardigan

Bluefly Autumn Cardigan

Bluefly Magaschoni Cardigan

Happy weekend, everyone!

Check me out on Lilac and Grey today!

Instead of hosting a guest blogger today, I'm writing a guest post for the lovely Cara over at Lilac and Grey.  If you haven't already, check her out and follow her wonderfully glamorous style. 

My post is about how versatile one skirt can be... here's a sneak peek:

Batik date by Cardigan Junkie featuring nine west handbags