Author: Ashley Gold

Posted on by — 1 Comment

DIY – Preserve Your Bridal Bouquet in Resin!

Completed resin bookends

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through some of my links. This is at no cost to you and helps us be able to create more content.

Table of Contents

picture of a fresh wedding bouquet next to a picture of completed resin bouquet bookends

Many brides preserve their wedding gowns after the event, but did you know you can preserve your bouquet, too? There are many different options for bouquet preservation that appeal to different aesthetics. 

Examples include:

  1. Hang drying your bouquet 
  2. Getting your flowers pressed
  3. Preserving them in resin
  4. Freeze drying
  5. Getting a painting or other piece of art depicting the flowers (memory preservation)

Some of these may be better left to the professionals so be sure to consider that for your budget. I’ve been crafting with resin for the last year or so and wanted to try my hand at bouquet bookends. Lucky for me, my florist gave me a sample of my bouquet a couple months before my wedding and that’s what I ended up using! This was good because I could learn from my mistakes, or choose a different preservation method for the real one (nothing wrong with having two sets!).

Tip: By the way, if you’re already married and wishing you had preserved your bouquet in some way, see if your florist is able to recreate it for you!  

Preserving Your Bridal Bouquet in Resin

I wanted to preserve my flowers in resin because it’s a great way to preserve color and dimension. Your flowers will lose their color with hang drying and I love the idea of seeing them in their full form. What’s more? With extra flowers you can create additional little trinkets, such as ring holders or bookends (if the latter wasn’t your main project).

Materials Needed

Click the photo to go to the product listing.

Silica Gel

 I recommend having at least 15 pounds on-hand. This is the brand I bought.

Plastic Bins 

These are used for drying the flowers. I bought this set of two.

Bookend Molds

These are what I used but you could use circular molds, as well.

Mixing Cups & Stir Sticks

These come in one package which makes it easy. I just started using these myself.

Respirator

Safety First!!! This is the respirator I have and highly recommend it.

Cartridge for Respirator

A respirator won’t do you any good without the cartridge!

Nitrile Gloves

To protect your skin, as well!

Casting Resin

Highly recommend the Counter Culture DIY casting resin. One gallon is more than enough for this project.

Artist Resin

Counter Culture DIY’s Artist Resin gives you a tough and hard top coat. The 8 oz set is more than enough.

Photo Summary of Steps

how to preserve your bridal bouquet in resin

Drying the Flowers

You can’t resin fresh flowers. I repeat: You cannot resin fresh flowers! Your bouquet must be dried before your submerge the flowers in resin. However, the flowers should be as fresh as possible when drying.

If you are immediately traveling on a honeymoon or generally unavailable the day or two after your wedding, see if you can get a friend to help with this step. 

The easiest way to dry flowers is with silica gel. You know those packets of tiny balls that come in your packages and clothes to keep things dry? That’s the same thing! Silica gel is non-toxic but it’s still best practice to wear nitrile gloves and a respirator when working with it since it comes in fine particles.

  1. Deconstruct your bouquet
  2. Cut off the stems 
  3. Pour a shallow layer of silica gel into your plastic tub
  4. Place your flower heads into the silica gel, keeping space between each one (don’t let them touch)
  5. Gently cover the flowers with additional silica gel until they are fully submerged
  6. Close the lid and set aside for 3 days
  7. After 3 days, give your flowers a check and remove any that are fully dry. These are going to be smaller flowers with low petal counts. Use a paint brush to gently wipe off excess silica gel. Store dried flowers in a cardboard box.
  8. Check again after a few more days to see if the bigger/high petal count flowers are dried and follow step 7
  9. When all flowers are dried, you are ready to begin the next step: Resin!
fresh wedding bouquet in vase
Start with a fresh bouquet of flowers
Deconstructed bouquet
Deconstruct the bouquet by flower type
deconstructed bouquet with stems cut off
Cut off the stems
Drying flowers in silica gel
Dry them in silica gel
flowers dried in silica gel
Freshly dried flowers!

Putting your Flowers in Resin

This blog post assumes you are familiar with using resin. If you are interested in seeing a detailed post for resin beginners, drop me a comment below!

Now that our flowers are dry, it’s time to preserve them in resin! Depending on the mold you chose, this process could take 8+ days considering the cure time between layers. You want to make sure you have a casting resin for the bulk of your mold, and an artist resin for your top coat. I linked to the resins I used in the Materials section above. I am not an affiliate for Counter Culture DIY, I simply like their products.

  1. Mix your casting resin. I generally used 6 oz for every layer of my bookends.
  2. Pour a thin layer onto the bottom of both bookends/whatever mold you are using.
  3. Remove air bubbles via heat gun/torch/toothpick.
  4. Arrange your leaves (or flowers?) in the way you like. This is where you can really let your creativity shine. I wanted to start with a base layer of greenery but you don’t have to do that. 
  5. Let cure for 24 hours or however long your resin instructions indicate.
  6. Repeat steps 1 – 5, this time applying your second layer of flowers and greenery.
  7. Repeat steps 1 – 5, this time applying your third layer of flowers and greenery, if applicable.
  8. By now you may not have much more room for additional flowers, so repeat steps 1 – 3 daily until the mold is nearly full.
  9. Once there’s a tiny sliver of space left in the mold, mix your artist resin and pour the top coat. Remove air bubbles. Let cure.
  10. Demold your project and sand the edges as necessary. I used 1,000 grit sandpaper to take off the sharp edge.
  11. Wipe down your project with rubbing alcohol and be proud of your accomplishment!!
first layer of resin diy resin bouquet
second layer of diy resin bouquet
third layer of diy bridal bouquet
4th layer of diy resin bridal bouquet
nth layer of diy resin bridal bouquet

The Finished Product

I’m so thrilled with the results! I really look forward to seeing these on my bookshelf and being reminded of my gorgeous wedding bouquet.  If you take on this project, let me know how it goes! Best of luck!

Completed DIY resin bouquet bookends
Completed resin bookends
completed wedding bouquet bookends made of resin
preserved wedding bouquet in resin on bookshelf

Want to See More DIY Tutorials?

The current query has no posts. Please make sure you have published items matching your query.
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Ten Things Your Wedding DJ Needs to Know!

wedding dj

This page may contain affiliate links which means if you buy something through our links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us continue to release new content and products.

Hey, Mr. DJ

Your wedding DJ typically acts as the official MC of the event, making him (or her!) a very important vendor. Of course you are going to give your DJ a song list so they know what to play for the processionals, recessionals, special dances, etc., but there’s a lot more the DJ should know to ensure your event is exactly how you want it. Here’s a list of TEN things your wedding DJ needs to know!

1. For what parts of the event they are DJing and/or need to provide mics

This is important if, say, you have a live string quartet for the ceremony, and the DJ only needs to provide a microphone for the officiant and won’t play music until the cocktail hour. Will you have a speaker during the ceremony (as in, someone who is reading a poem or verse), then the DJ may need to provide an extra stand mic.

2. Timing and location of wedding ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception

This is especially important if venues are changing or there are multiple hours in between the ceremony and cocktail hour.

3. Whether the ceremony, cocktail hour, and/or reception are indoors or outdoors

DJs need to understand the elements in which they will be working. If outdoors, will there be shade cover? What is Plan B in the event of inclement weather?

4. If guest tables will be positioned between the DJ and dance floor

This will impact the location of the speakers which are normally situated next to the DJ, but can be adjusted if that would be a nuisance to adjacent tables.

5. If the DJ will announce the bridal party and/or newlyweds

Will parents/grandparents be announced? How about bridal party? Will the gents escorts the ladies or will they be announced individually? How do you want the DJ to announce you and your new spouse? This all feeds the timeline, as well.

Did you know some DJs offer lighting packages, too? If they don’t, or if you are looking for a more affordable option, don’t be afraid to rent! The company Rent My Wedding has amazing rental options for monogram lighting (pictured), uplighting (a must!), starry night lighting, etc.

Monogram Lighting Rental Package from Rent Your Wedding

6. Desired "motivation" level during open dance time

The motivation level is the amount of interaction above and beyond acting as DJ and MC.  Do you want the DJ to play songs and make announcements only? Then you’re looking for a low motivation level. Do you want the DJ to use the mic and encourage dancing, but not get on the dance floor? You’re looking at a moderate motivation level. Do you want the DJ to get on the dance floor, set up special dances (e.g., soul train), and be a ball of energy? Then you’re looking at a high motivation level. The latter may require the use of a DJ assistant.  It is super important to be on the same page as your DJ when it comes to motivation level.

7. Information for Announcements

You will be creating a timeline with your DJ and you should ensure that there are no surprises. Are you doing a choreographed first dance that requires you to be in-place?  Do you want to do a bouquet toss? Is your cake going to be placed on a dessert table and not handed out to guests? Is there an early shuttle departure time? Will you  be giving centerpieces away? The DJ needs to know all these things.

8. Music Style and Allowances

What kind of music do you want for cocktail hour? What kind of music do you want during dinner? What decades of dance music do you want played during open dance? (50’s to today). Are there certain genres you want to focus on or exclude? Are you a yay or nay on line dances? How about song transitions? Do you like speed mixing (when only a short amount of the song is played before switching to the next) or do you prefer songs to stay on for a littler longer? 

Moreover, do you want the DJ to accept guest requests? And if so, should they be allowed to play requests even if the song is on the “do not play” list?

Is the DJ allowed to read the room and play music accordingly or do you want to provide the whole playlist?

9. Guest Demographics (Age)

It helps the DJ to plan if they understand the age demographics of the party. Are there going to be a lot of children? Is it mostly going to be young adults? Or maybe it’s mostly older family members.

10. Vendor List

The DJ needs to coordinate with the other vendors to ensure everyone is ready for the events of the day. If the DJ starts playing the processional music but the bridal party isn’t ready yet, that’s not going to go over very well.  Alternatively, if things begin before everyone’s ready, your photographer may miss photo ops which would be truly devastating! People in the industry tend to know each other too, so it’s possible your DJ has worked with your officiant, or day-of coordinator, or photographer before. If they know that in advance, they can prepare for the interaction (whether it’s a good or bad thing).

TIP: Not all DJs are MCs and we encourage you to clarify this during your search. Some don’t want to make announcements and just want to play music. Some have assistants for the announcements. Just make sure when you are interviewing companies and DJs, their role is clear.

Related Product

Posted on by — Leave a comment

What is Wedding Insurance and Do I Need It?

wedding insurance checklist

You may have heard of wedding or event insurance, but is it necessary for you specifically? The short answer is YES!

Read on for the long answer.

What is Wedding Insurance?

Just like car insurance protects you if you have an accident, wedding insurance protects you if there is an accident or issue at your event. 

If you are getting wedding insurance, you will be purchasing Liability coverage. You will have the option of adding on cancellation or postponement coverage, but you cannot purchase that alone.

Liability Coverage:  Protects you against bodily injuries that occurred at your event and for damage to the venue’s property. If your Uncle Joe tends to drink a little too much and damages a light fixture, the insurance could cover the repair or replacement cost after your deductible is met. Or, if he slips and falls on the dance floor, the policy will cover his medical bills up to your selected limits. Venues often require minimum liability coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 in aggregate.

Cancellation/Postponement Coverage: When, and only when, you are purchasing your liability coverage, can you also opt to purchase cancellation/postponement coverage. This insurance will reimburse you for deposits made to vendors if your event needs to be cancelled or postponed due to circumstances outside of your control, such as severe weather that prevents most guests or the honorees from attending. It also protects you in the event of a vendor bankruptcy. Some insurance companies include a Cancellation Coverage Package which also includes coverage up to a specified limit for loss or damage of photographs and video, gifts, special attire, special jewelry, and deposits if the wedding continues as planned. For companies that don’t include a whole Cancellation Coverage Package, you can often buy optional insurance riders for those particular circumstances.

via GIPHY

Luckily she’s okay, but sometimes people fall and really hurt themselves. Hope they have wedding insurance!

How Much Does it Cost?

Costs will vary depending on the amount of coverage you need, but also based on the venue, location, number of guests, and if there are certain extras (animals, bounce houses, firearms). On the average, a general liability policy providing up to $1,000,000 in coverage costs around $125-$150. Cancellation coverage is more expensive, and the cost increases with your coverage amount (i.e., the more of your wedding costs you want to insure, the higher the premium).  Cancellation can run from around $150 upwards of $1,000, on top of the liability coverage. 

Do I Need Wedding Insurance?

If you’re asking me, my vote is YES! Better safe than sorry – isn’t that what insurance is all about? Most venues require liability coverage so you won’t have a choice anyway.  If you do have a choice, Megan Hiltbrand, a wedding planner in Syracuse, N.Y., suggests buying liability coverage at a minimum. “The cost is a drop in the bucket compared to your total expenditure. I don’t see a reason not to have it.” If you are having a wedding in a backyard, then the homeowner’s liability or umbrella policy could cover events, but sometimes when alcohol is involved, extra host liquor liability coverage is necessary. Talk to the insurance provider to confirm your best course of action in that scenario. 

If you’re still questioning it, just read this Reddit post from someone who wishes she got insurance:

Where Do I Get Wedding Insurance?

Glad you asked! There are many different providers of wedding or event insurance and you should get quotes from multiple to ensure you’re getting what you need. Below is a list of a few companies to consider. This isn’t a sponsored post and I have no connection with any of these companies, just want to provide resources to make your life easier. 

1. Markel – Can be used for weddings or other events and came recommended by my venue. This is who I used and the cancellation coverage came with a package so I didn’t have to get a bunch of individual riders. Total cost was around $150 for liability and $200 for cancellation up to $15k.

2. WedSure – Made specifically for weddings with liability coverage from $125. Also includes change of heart insurance.

3. WedSafe – Offers a bundle deal to save 15% when you also purchase cancellation/postponement coverage with your liability coverage.

4. Travelers – No deductible and great for destination weddings.

Have any more questions about wedding insurance or a personal experience to share? Drop a comment below!

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Pros & Cons of the First Look

groom covers eyes as bride approaches him from behind for first look

Are you uncertain about whether or not you want to do a first look with your future spouse for your wedding day? We’ve provided a list of pros and cons to help you decide!

first look, groom facing away from bride
first look - bride and groom high five

PRO 1: You'll have more time for photos (read: less stress).

 Since you’ll have already seen each other, you can do some or all of your formal wedding portraits before the ceremony. As a bonus, you will probably get more photographs since you aren’t limited to the time between the ceremony and reception. Since you have more time, you can make sure to get all the pictures on your shot list.

CON 1: Your day will start earlier.

You’ll have to work with your photographer to ensure you are dressed and ready to go with enough time to get all the desired portraits taken before the wedding. Depending how early your ceremony is and how many people are getting ready with you, this could result in your hair & make-up artist charging an early arrival fee. 

PRO 2: You get to see each other for the first time privately.

A quiet moment together before the wedding is something special that you can cherish. If being the center of attention is not your thing, this is one moment of the day where not all eyes have to be on you.  If you’re worried that the groom won’t be as genuinely emotional if he sees you beforehand, remember that him watching you walk down the aisle is more than about seeing you in your wedding gown. It’s an experience that is going to trigger all the feelings and emotions as you share such a sacred moment.

CON 2: You could feel awkward since it's not candid.

Since the photographer is there for the sole purpose of documenting your reactions at the reveal, it could feel a little awkward. If you prefer to not see each other until the altar, all those photos will be naturally candid. 

PRO 3: It can ease the jitters.

Seeing each other before the ceremony can help take the edge off. This is your life partner and you will be naturally comforted by the fact you are able to be with each other before the biggest party you will ever host. 

CON 3: You will break with tradition.

Traditionally speaking, it is bad luck if the groom sees the bride before the wedding. Even if you are not superstitious yourself, it could upset more traditional family members (but I am a big proponent of planning your day for the two of you and not based on others’ opinions).

PRO 4: You will have more time to spend with your guests.

If you take some or all of your formal portraits before the ceremony, you can actually attend some or all of your own cocktail hour! There are so many obligations during the wedding day and you may feel that you don’t have enough time with each guest. How many weddings have you been to where you’ve barely spoken with the bride and groom? If it’s important to you to ensure you get time with everyone, getting photos done beforehand is key.

CON 4: Your bridal party and family may get bored or tired.

Since your family and/or bridal party will also have to be ready hours before the event actually starts, they could get bored when they are not in the photos and they could get tired early from being on their feet most of the day. Try to ensure there is seating available for people who aren’t actively being photographed and plenty of water bottles to go around. 

Two First Looks?

It’s fairly common to do a first look with your future spouse. Something new that is gaining in popularity is doing a first look with your dad. If you have the time and the logistics work out, consider this special father-daughter moment. It’s sure to make him beam with pride (and shed a bunch of tears if your dad is anything like mine 😉 ). 

What Did You Decide?

Did you have a first look or did you wait to see your partner until the altar? Share your experience and perspective in the comments below! 

Need help organizing your wedding day schedule? Our Wedding Day Timeline Creator is here to help! This product includes space to add timelines for the bride, groom,  bridesmaids, groomsmen, family, and up to ten different vendors! 

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Black Friday Deals 2022

black friday 2022

We only recommend products that we would buy/have bought ourselves. This page may contain affiliate links and we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you, if you purchase through the links.

We’re happy to announce we will be having our own Black Friday/Cyber Week sale! Be sure to stop by then for some discounts on our planning tools and customizable printables!

But don’t stop there – there’s so many other deals of which to take advantage! Whether you are shopping for some pre-wedding essentials (fashion, cosmetics, skincare, etc.), furnishings & décor for your home with your new spouse, or maybe even a gift for yourself, it never hurts to get it at a discount! November is the perfect time of year to stock up on pre- and post-wedding supplies thanks to all the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales going on, some of which have already started! We’ve curated a list of sales and deals here to make your search a little easier! All prices are at time of publishing and are subject to change.

Found some good deals you want to share? Drop in the comments below!

Health & Wellness

Bluetooth Cardio Stair Stepper

$119.00 (40% off)

Save 40% on this bluetooth cardio stair stepper with adjustable resistance bands. It’s hard to get to the gym sometimes, especially when it’s cold outside in the winter months. Put this in front of the TV and move while you binge – multitasking at its finest! We just ordered this for ourselves and are excited to use it! Buns o’ steel, right??

Gaiam Yoga Mat

$18.60 (15% off)

If you’re planning on getting in workouts before the wedding, you’ll need a yoga and/or exercise mat. This one from Gaiam Essentials is 72″L x 24″ W x 0.39″ thick and comes with a carrier strap. It is available in many different colors.

Weight Sets

$46.60 (33% off)

Toning up requires strength training. Signature Fitness offers different sets of weights. Featured is the 32-pound set which comes with one set each of of 3lb, 5lb, and 8lb dumbbells. They also offer 20-pound and 50-pound sets.

Massage Gun

$49.99 (72% off)

You’re likely to have some built-up tension during wedding planning, so help yourself relieve it with this massage gun. It has 6 different massage heads to help relieve back, neck, and shoulder pain.

Women’s Probiotics

$16.12 for 30 capsules

Get your gut in check for the big day!  This product helps boost digestive function, fortifies the immune system, and enhances feminine health. These are shelf-stable and vegetarian capsules

Raw Green Superfood

$25.41 (16% off)

Time to get in those greens! This is 12.7oz, 60 servings, vegan, gluten free, non-GMO, and Kosher.

Home & Living

Fire TV Stick 4K Max streaming device, Wi-Fi 6, Alexa Voice Remote

$34.99 (36% off)

Amazon’s most powerful streaming stick yet, with Wi-Fi 6 and an Alexa voice remote. Have an old one? Save an additional 20% with a trade-in!

Eddie Bauer Throw Blanket

$20.87 (50% off)

A reversible Sherpa fleece blanket that comes in multiple different color combos. Time to get cozy on the couch! Funny story – my fiancé went to a bachelor party and the Airbnb had this blanket. He and another guy were using it and they both thought it was so soft they went to Amazon and ordered immediately. 

Humidifier

$29.99 (25% off)

If you’re getting married in the cold months, it’s important for your skin to stay hydrated. Use this humidifier from LEVOIT to ensure your indoor relative humidity is high enough during the dry season. This is the kind we bought for ourselves last year and per my hygrometer it’s been super helpful!

10.1 Inch Wi-Fi Digital Picture Frame

$67.99 (15% off)

This is the perfect gift for your parents or in-laws. This isn’t just your ordinary digital photo frame. Download the app and upload photos whenever you want! The photos (and even 15 second videos) will automatically display on the recipient’s frame. Share real-time photos from your travels or of their grandkids. This is sure to be a hit! (It is in my family!)

Save 50% on a Wyze Home Monitoring System + free hub!

Save 50%
Wyze hub

Get 50% off all of your Wyze Home Monitoring hardware when you buy an Annual Plan, plus get the Wyze Sense Hub free. Offer ends 1/1/23 at 6am PT. (We personally love our Wyze Cams and find them to be reliable and affordable.)

Travel

Tech Accessory Organizer

$13 (54% off)

Keep all your cables and cords organized when you travel! No more digging around all your bags to find what you’re looking for!

Packing Cubes

$29.99 (10% off)

When you’re packing for your wedding night or honeymoon, stay organized with these packing cubes. Comes with 7 pieces in 4 different sizes. Multiple colors available.

Panasonic LUMIX G85 4K Digital Camera

$697.99 (22% off)

You’re going to want to capture great photos on your honeymoon (or when you have kids, just saying!). Plan ahead and get a nice camera when it’s on sale! This one is a 16 megapixel micro four thirds camera that allows for interchangeable lenses. What’s that mean? Shoot like a pro without the bulk of a DSLR. Easy to take in your bag on excursions!

Fashion & Beauty

David’s Bridal – 5% off 

5% OFF Everything
davids bridal promo

Now through December 19, Diamond Members at David’s Bridal get an extra 5% off everything, including clearance. Becoming a Diamond Member is easy and FREE!

Kennedy Blue Bridesmaid Dresses

$99 (40% off)
kennedy blue promo

From $139 to $99, tell your bridesmaids to purchase before by 11/30 to take advantage of this discount! While supplies last.  This is Kennedy Blue’s biggest sale of the year. They offer multiple different styles of dress in a wide variety of colors.

Unbox the Dress

$25 OFF
kennedy blue promo

Give an old dress new life with Unbox the Dress! This service creates beautiful heirloom products from just about any dress. Products include getting ready robes, bouquet wraps, pocket squares, veils, cake skirts, etc. During the month of November, get $25 off with code 25OFF. 

Heatless Curling Rod Headband

$8.99 (47% off)

Save 50% on this heatless curling rod headband! Protect your hair but get the curls you are after with this EVA foam hair roller. 

Make-up Brushes

$11.69 (31% off)

Fresh brushes are always a good thing, particularly if you haven’t cleaned yours in awhile. 

Flower Girl Dress

$28.89 (15% off)

Get your flower girl dresses while they are on sale. This one features an embroidered lace bodice, fixed satin waist belt and rhinestone decorated bow – sure to make any little princess smile!

Kitchen

NutriChef 3 Buffet Warmer Server Professional Hot Plate

$59.20 (15% off)

This is a 3-tray food warmer perfect for all hosting occasions! Prepare your food early and keep it warm with a maximum temperature of 175 degrees F.

Frigidaire 8 Qt DUAL Zone 2-drawer Digital Air Fryer

$147.50 (13% off)

Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, all without the oil and mess of traditional deep-fried cooking.  In addition to air frying, it has functions to dehydrate food, ferment, stew and keep warm.

Breville Smart Oven Pro Toaster Oven

$223.95 (36% off)

Save 36% on this high performance countertop oven. Choose from ten different cooking functions: Toast, bagel, bake, roast, broil, pizza, cookies, reheat, warm, and slow cook.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

DIY – Bridesmaid Proposal Boxes

*This page may contain affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you. This allows us to continue making new content and products.

Table of Contents

Bridesmaid proposal boxes or gifts have become all the rage lately. Opinions on this seem to go two ways – either you think it’s cute or you think it’s overkill. While it certainly isn’t necessary to put together a custom box, it can be a sweet gesture if you have the time, made more meaningful by the fact you arranged it yourself! 

Searching for bridesmaid proposal boxes online can seem daunting because to include all the items you want and to make it personal, it’s going to cost you. Don’t be discouraged by the high prices you see for pre-made boxes on sites like Etsy. Even if you don’t consider yourself crafty, you are absolutely capable of putting your own together! Not only will you save money, you’ll be proud of what you’ve accomplished.

Here’s some ideas on how to put together and what to include in your bridesmaid proposal boxes: 

Making the Box

First things first, you need a box in which to put your gift(s). 

This gift box set comes with ten 8″x 8″ x 4″ boxes that are perfect for this! They even come in different colors, including white, black, pink, red, and brown. Pick the one that matches the vibe and aesthetic of your wedding.

You can’t just put a bunch of things into an empty box. For an extra wow factor (and let’s face it, some cushion), add crinkle cut paper to the bottom of your boxes. One 2-pound bag goes a LONG way! Any you don’t use can be saved for future gifts.

You can deliver/send a plain box, but it’s fun to jazz it up a bit. If you have a die-cutting machine, you can easily cut out vinyl with your bridesmaids-to-be’s names to put on the box. Alternatively, you can use some simple letter stickers! *Pro-tip: If you like the look of custom vinyl but you don’t want to spend the money on a die-cutting machine, like a Cricut or a Cameo, check your local library’s maker space. Many libraries are now carrying these machines and are free of use! All you have to pay for is the vinyl (and your time).  I used this rose gold vinyl which was super easy to weed and apply.

Lastly, I added a ribbon around the box that matched the color of the name. For me, that was this rose gold ribbon.

white box with rose gold names and ribbon
Flower Girl Proposal Box for two sisters

Adding the Gifts

Now that we have a box in which to put gifts, it’s time to solidify those gifts.  Common items include personalized tumblers, ring pops, candles, and hair ties. My advice – don’t focus on what the norm is, focus on what is meaningful to you and/or your friends. If your friends are not the type of ladies who are going to use things with “bridesmaid” written all over it, then forget that stuff. 

This is what I ended up doing for mine:

1. Cherry Blossom sheet masks (our wedding’s during cherry blossom season so it was fitting)

2. “Diamond” proposal pens

3. Custom-made tea tins – This was a bit of a project, but very up my alley (may or may not be fun for you). This involved the following: 

a.) I purchased bulk tea tins and applied beautiful washi (Japanese paper) around the tins using mod podge. The washi is totally optional.

b.) I designed, printed, and cut the labels to fit on the tea tins.  I’m going to see if I can sell the SVG file for my labels so if you wanted to make something like this, it’s easier. 

c.) I filled them all with loose leaf tea and provided steeping bags.  I tried to choose tea based on the recipient (i.e., I know one friend’s favorite is Earl Grey so she got that).

4. The last thing I included was a custom card with a handwritten note on the back. I designed the card face in Canva and then got each one printed at Office Depot for no more than $1/card. 

custom tea tins

There’s so many different things that you could consider adding to your friends’ boxes that are thoughtful –

  • A small photo album showcasing your friendship, or a framed photo.
  • Nail polish in your friend’s favorite color
  • A heartfelt letter
  • Delicious treats
  • Face mask/hand sanitizer
The same process can also be followed for flower girl boxes! It made me so happy to give my flower girls the full experience, and I filled their box with flower sunglasses, pink nail polish, and floral temporary tattoos. 

Delivering the Package

If you are lucky to live by your bridesmaids, then hand delivery is the best option! No need to continue reading. 

If you’re like me, where the majority of your bridesmaids live out of state, you’ll need to ship these. If you live in the US, the USPS medium flat rate box is the perfect size. There was a little extra space on the sides which I just filled with newspaper/plastic bags. To save money on the shipping, I highly recommend creating an account with Pirate Ship. It’s completely free and gets you commercial pricing. I don’t work for them and this is not an affiliate link, I just enjoyed my experience. One of my bridesmaids, who is also a bride, recommended it to me and I’m just passing on the advice to all of you!

So there you have it! Hope this gave you some ideas for your bridesmaid proposal boxes. And just remember, it doesn’t have to look designer or professional to be appreciated by your squad. 

Posted on by — Leave a comment

What’s a Bro-dal Shower Anyway?

bro-dal shower

Why yes, that is precisely what it is! 

This day in age, anything goes when it comes to your wedding. Tradition, be damned! It’s all about following your heart. A bro-dal shower, while atypical, is just that – a shower for the groom. This is not to be confused with a grooms’ shower (for two grooms) or a couple’s shower (aka a Jack & Jill Party). At the bro-dal shower, a singular groom is the star of the show.

Shower Origins

According to World Bride Magazine, bridal showers date back to 16th century Holland. In the event the father of a bride were against the marriage, or too poor to afford a dowry, friends and family of the bride would provide her with small gifts to help her begin the next chapter. In slightly more modern times (think late 1800’s), the term “shower” originated from the tradition of putting gifts inside a paper parasol and opening it up over the bride, so she was “showered” with them. To this day, bridal showers remain meaningful events in which others offer their well wishes, advice, and thoughtful gifts to help the bride begin her new married life.

Do Bros Really Want That?

Depends on the bro! Sentimental men may appreciate the meaning behind the shower and relish in a few hours spent with loved ones, honoring the next chapter of his life. On the other hand, a lot of grooms could do without, so long as they get their bachelor party! The two are not mutually exclusive. You may have a sentimental groom who would appreciate it in theory, but doesn’t want to appear as if the event is just a gift grab, or doesn’t want to add another event to a seemingly endless list of wedding-related events – both for his sake and the guests’!

So When is The Right Time to Have a Bro-dal Shower?

A bro-dal shower isn’t for everyone, but there are circumstances where it may be a good option:

  • Your colleague is getting married and you want to celebrate this milestone, so you throw him a low-key bro-dal shower at the office.
  • The groom is part of a large family of women who want to celebrate him but would not get to go to his bachelor party.
  • The groom wants a shower but not for the gifts, so insists guests just bring themselves instead (your presence is the present).
  • The bride doesn’t want a bridal shower (hey, it’s 2022 – anything goes!)
  • Your culture celebrates grooms in a similar fashion to how the US celebrates brides.

I Want to Throw a Bro-dal Shower!

That’s great! Making someone feel appreciated and celebrated during important moments of their life is never time wasted. If you’re looking for a bro-dal shower invitation, be sure to check out our template below! The invite is fully customizable and you can either send it digitally or get it printed to send in the mail. If you want a different design for the bro-dal shower invite, send me a message and let me know! I want to create things my readers want and I’m happy to take your feedback! 

Posted on by — Leave a comment

DIY – Make Your Own Wedding Centerpiece Vase for $5!

Make your own wedding centerpiece vase

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links. This is at no cost to you.

Table of Contents

If you’re willing to DIY a little, you can save a lot of money by making your own wedding centerpiece vase or compote. Even better, you can sell it for a profit when you’re done! 

DIY gold compote vase. Added some faux flowers for effect.

I spent a lot of time online looking for inspiring table settings that would trigger a desire in me to replicate it for my own wedding. Once I stumbled upon a gold compote vase, I knew it was meant to be. These pedestal vases are so elegant and charming. I couldn’t believe they were going for $19 a pop on Etsy. A floral budget will quickly skyrocket when you start adding in all the various vessels. I questioned how the sellers were making these and after some digging, realized they were just using some stuff from the Dollar Tree. Off I went on my quest to replicate these compotes and save some money!!

Materials Needed

  1. Glass Bowls – The Dollar Tree – $1.25 at time of publishing (yes, blame inflation on the extra quarter. These should be available in-store).
  2. Glass Candlesticks – The Dollar Tree – $1.25 at time of publishing (you may have to order these online and pay for shipping because they are not always in store. If you order 10, it will come out to a reasonable ~$2.25/stick)
  3.  E6000 Adhesive – Amazon/Home Depot/Michaels
  4. Spray Paint– Amazon/Home Depot –  you will likely use one can for all your materials. Here’s where you can customize. Do you want gold, silver, or bronze? Do you want to give it a mercury glass effect? Do you just want it clear? Choose what looks best with your desired aesthetic!  
  5. Top Coat – Amazon/Home Depot
That’s it! While some of the supplies cost more than $5 individually, you will be able to use them for all the vases you make, therefore spreading out the unit cost among all of them! 
The supplies you need, plus a top coat enamel if you'd like.

Painting the Glassware

Follow these steps for painting your glass bowl and candle stick holder.

  1. Remove labels. You may need rubbing alcohol to assist with this.
  2. Thoroughly clean and dry the bowl and candlestick holder.
  3.  Choose a well-ventilated spot to spray paint the glassware. This could be the garage or outdoors. 
  4. Prepare the area. This could mean finding an old cardboard box on which to put the glassware, or creating a makeshift spray booth that protects the surroundings from overspray.
  5. Put the bowl upside down and the candle stick holder right side up. I recommend painting the outside of the bowl versus the inside because the inside will have the potential to get scraped up during the flower arranging process.
  6. Spray paint! Don’t overdo it. Thin layers are best to prevent drips. Follow the instructions on your spray paint can regarding recoating times. It’s not a bad idea to do at least 2 coats to ensure you are giving it an opaque finish. 
  7. Let dry for at least 24 hours.
  8. Optional: Top coat with a clear enamel and let dry for at least 24 hours.
After spray painting a bowl and a candlestick outside. I transported these inside the garage to further dry.
About to top coat with clear enamel. Be careful to choose an appropriate sheen. I chose satin.

Attaching the Glassware to Create the Compote Vase

Once you are satisfied with your paint job (double check that you can’t see through it and it looks good), it’s time to affix the candle stick holder to the bowl!

1. Turn your bowl upside down.
2. Draw a bead of the glue around the rim of the candle stick holder.
3. Draw a bead of glue on the base of the bowl (around where the candle stick will be affixed – test this out first).
4. Secure the candle stick to the bowl, ensuring it’s centered properly.
5. Let it dry and cure for at least 24 hours (check glue label).

Make sure you have your E6000 adhesive! I'll explain why one bowl is darker than the other below.
Let the glue cure for at least 24 hours to ensure the connection is solid.

Curing

After Googling how to cure paint, I decided to bake my bowl and candle stick (before I secured them with glue). I put them in the oven at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. This is the color they were when I took them out:

NOT the bright, shiny gold I had put on them.

Moreover, they had a really weird texture to them that was very irritating on my hands. 

Needless to say, I do NOT recommend curing these in the oven. Learn from my mistake! I ended up re-doing these so they are now the appropriate bright, shiny gold I intended for them. However, since I am only painting the outside of the bowl, the inside still shows darker (as per the photos above). That’s okay, because no one is going to see the inside when it’s full of beautiful flowers!

The best way to cure them is time. And a top coat doesn’t hurt either.

 

Ta-da! Beautiful DIY wedding centerpiece compotes

So that’s it!!! If you’ve tackled this project, I’d love to see your results in the comments! Happy DIYing!!

If you’re still looking for a florist, be sure to check out our Florist Comparison Tracker!

No products were found for this query.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Dare To Be Different: Floral Wedding Dresses

floral wedding gown

Choosing a dress is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when planning your wedding. Do you want to go classic? Boho? Simple? Detailed? Do you want to have long sleeves? No sleeves? Be tea length or short? Don’t even get me started on silhouette. There are so many, too many, options to consider.

The most important question you have to ask and answer yourself when shopping for your wedding dress is:

DO I LOVE IT?

Who cares what your best friend thinks? It doesn’t matter what your mom thinks. What matters is what YOU think. Be true to yourself and you’ll have no regrets.

In this spirit, I’m going to share some really amazing floral wedding dresses that I adore. The women who choose these dresses in real life are 100% themselves and don’t succumb to the industry expectations of what you should wear. They didn’t listen when their mom said they wouldn’t look like a “traditional” bride, but that’s not what they’re going for.

This wildflower dress is so whimsical.

Floral Wedding Dresses
Dress: Natalie Wynn Bridal | Photography: Megan Robinson

Wow! Talk about a showstopper! I’ve got such a thing for Marchesa everything.

Marchesa floral wedding gown
Dress: Marchesa | Photo: KT Merry

Real bride alert! 

Dress: Celestina by Ronald Joyce | Photography: Imogen Eve

Just stunning

Dress: Frida Jonsvens | Photography: Annie Hyrefeldt

Imagine going to a winter wedding and the bride walks down the aisle in this dress.  *Jaw drops*

Dress: Frida Jonsvens | Photography: Maria Broström

Maybe you want a traditional bridal gown but also want a unique accessory to stand out. Enter this cottagecore wildflower veil!

floral bridal veil
Veil: David’s Bridal

These were just gorgeous. Looking for some bridal gown inspiration for yourself? Be sure to check out our wedding inspo page! 

Want to get updated when we have new products and posts (+ get access to exclusive discounts)? Sign-up for our newsletter! Don't worry, we won't spam your inbox.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Welcome / Introduction

Hi Everyone! It’s so good to be here. If you’re reading this, that means you are here, too! Thanks for the support! I’m really excited to launch this new website and venture. Having my own little Internet storefront has always been a goal of mine, and I really feel that this is the perfect fit.

Background

Before we get into things, let me first take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Ashley Gold. I am California-born & raised, currently residing in the Washington, DC Metro area. I live with my wonderful fiancé, Kevin, and our beautiful cat, Kona. Since moving out to the burbs/buying our first home, I have focused a lot of my energy on home renovation and design. I can’t believe how much I have learned. If you need someone to help you pick out supply lines and quarter-turn shut-off valves at the home center, I’m your gal!

I must be equal parts right- and left-brained, because as much as I love design, I love order and analysis. I enjoy making tools in Excel and using them to track, well…everything! For example, I have personal finance budgets for every year since college and all of our vacations have extremely detailed accompanying planning spreadsheets. There’s so much that spreadsheet programs can do, and it’s fun to keep learning and to get better at all the features, functions, and formulas!

I was honestly scared to start planning our own wedding because it sounded extremely daunting and intimidating. As it turned out, my equal love of design and analysis made it so wedding planning was actually fun for me.

Our Wedding

When it came time to start planning our wedding (which is on 3/31/23), I downloaded some free budgeting templates from online, but I didn’t like them that much. I used a couple different ones, edited them to make them better, but was still ultimately unhappy. I decided to make my own. One spreadsheet led to another, and soon enough I had a whole collection! I mean, how else could we track all our expenditures to automatically feed into our budget without a spreadsheet? Or compare multiple vendors side by side? It’s not that it’s impossible, but it’s easier and more enjoyable to use tools that are built for this kind of stuff. Tools that allow you to input minimal information that is automatically calculated and displayed in an organized format.

As much as I wish we had all the budget in the world to plan some super elaborate wedding, we don’t. (I think I might even be too practical to do that even if money weren’t an issue.) In the early days of planning, I got quotes for various levels of wedding planning services. It’s tempting to hand over at least part of the reins to someone who specializes in this for a living.  As expected, they were very pricey. Besides the fact it wasn’t in the budget, I felt like it was something I could tackle – not only out of need, but want. I love to be able to say “I did that!” I found this awesome vendor. I made these décor items.

I don’t regret the decision to plan on our own one bit. It has been a super smooth and organized process. I used all the spreadsheets that I sell, except I made them better for the general public after I was done. All our major vendors were booked with about 9 months to go. It’s all details now.

Gold Standard Weddings

I launched Gold Standard Weddings  in June 2022 as a way to help other couples plan their own wedding. I started out with just planning spreadsheet tools but quickly began offering various customizable invitations/paper suites, as well as gifts & apparel for wedding-related events. I’m continually adding new product. I’ve already spent hours and hours creating these tools and products so you don’t have to. I want you to be able to come here and download whatever wedding planning spreadsheet tools will help keep you organized (and sane), read some of my forthcoming DIY/tips & tricks blog posts, find invites that are suitable for events you are hosting, and enjoy apparel that matches your personality. Most of all, I want to help others through this wedding planning process because it’s a lot. It’s the biggest party you will ever throw, it’s expensive and time consuming to plan, but it’s also extremely meaningful and important.