For most of us, spring means the start of new life. Flowers bloom, and the earth wakes up from a long hibernation. If you live in a warmish climate, the perfect place for your spring wedding might be outdoors in a garden that’s bursting with fresh flowers.
As the weather begins to heat up and gardens start to bloom, many brides find the perfect setting for their special day among the greenery and budding flowers. There are so many ways to set off an outdoor wedding in springtime! Here are a few, with an eye towards elegance:
Make use of formal props such as candelabras and urns, and drape containers and tables with vintage linens and lace. Arbors look their best when decorated with simpler, unfussy garden materials — as opposed to over-the-top heaps of greens and garlands, a heavy look that’s less popular now.
Centerpieces
Try clean-looking centerpieces with one consistent bloom. For example, pots filled with tulips or urns holding only anemones are really making the scene for spring. Color
Vibrant color is hot! Try cool greens mixed with eye-popping hues like coral or hot pink. Garden herbs also look (and smell) wonderful for weddings in spring. Try potting combinations of rosemary, thyme, and other herbs for green centerpieces that also make great take-home gifts.
Bouquets
Many spring brides are choosing bouquets filled with color – structurally simple, but daring! Brides are calling for stunning bouquet made up of tulips, or anemones: a Dutch flower with dark black centers, and vibrant petals of red, purple, or fuchsia. Lilacs or nosegays filled with sweet peas, miniature grape hyacinths, and ranunculus are popular, too.
A big trend right now is to mix and match contemporary with vintage – in other words, pure Shabby Chic. Dried lavender bound with dried grasses and tied to the pews lends a uniquely pleasing Shabby Chic feel. Dress windowsills with wreaths and candles in colored mason jars. Later on, reuse these same decorations to brighten up the reception tables.
Spring Wedding Gowns
Wedding gowns with a touch of color are in! Try a dress with sophisticated tan, beige or pink overtones — champagne tones are especially popular.
Nostalgia rears its head here as well — many brides are choosing gowns reminiscent of the 40s, 50s or 60s, while others are opting to wear the gown their mother or grandmother wore (either literally the same — or a loving copy).
Outdoor Candles
Candles lend a soft and romantic aura to any event. But to make the most of them, marry a bit later in the day, or have the reception run into the evening and light your candles then. To add a touch of spring to your candles, wrap bright satin ribbons around clear votive cups. (Multiple layers and colors lend an especially contemporary look.) These can double as guest wedding favors.
Don’t Forget the Backup Plan
Spring weather can be unpredictable. Have your Plan B worked out in case of rain, fog or strong winds. Look for a nearby elegant indoor hall nearby to serve as a backup. Alternatively, line up an event tent for the morning of the wedding, just in case (guests enjoy tents even in perfect weather, too — they help soften the sun’s strong rays). Having a backup plan for any outdoor wedding, anytime of the year, is a wise move.
A wedding in spring can be romantic, elegant, and fun! Knowing what you want — and lining up great planning and event staff — are the keys to a successful spring wedding.
Excerpt from Today's Bride MagazineWritten by Michelle O’Connor www.favorideas.com
Custom Wedding Postage - A special touch for your wedding invites!
You may have already seen one show up in your mailbox. If not, you will soon. Personalized wedding stamps add the "wow" factor - and brides across the country are taking notice.
Since the Post Office allowed customized stamps, thousands of brides across the country have stamped their invitations with their own personal touch.
So where do you find great wedding stamps?
The USPS website has several wedding stamp designs - the 44 cent wedding rings and the 61 cent wedding cake stamp. 
With this ring ... Here is the 44 cent stamp with two gold wedding rings. Photographed by Renée Comet of Washington, DC, the rings rest on a small white pillow united by a slender ribbon of white silk. 
3 tier Wedding Cake Stamp -
The 61 cent stamp features a wedding cake with intricate scroll design on the fondant. Sure to add a touch of beauty and romance to wedding correspondence, the 2009 Wedding Cake stamp is issued at the two-ounce mailing rate in order to accommodate the heavier weight of an invitation.
You should be able to find these at your local post office. If not, call toll-free at 1-800-STAMP-24 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-STAMP-24 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-STAMP-24 end_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting or shop online.
If these don't suit your taste, you do have options.
Create your own or choose a pre-designed stamp from thousands on the web. When choosing a custom stamp, you'll pay a bit more. A sheet of 20 1st class 44 cent stamps from the post office is $8.80. A sheet of 20 custom stamps from Zazzle runs about $18.00 when you buy in bulk (10 sheets or more). If you buy only one sheet, the price goes up to anywhere from $19 to $22. If the cost of custom postage for ALL your invitations is out of reach, you can purchase just one or two sheets for special wedding guests. (Note to scrapbookers: one sheet of stamps fits perfectly in a standard scrapbook page.)
There are thousands of beautiful postage designs available - one sure to match your colors, flowers, monogram or even destination! Many graphic designers will work with you personally to create that special look that will make your envelope pop.
Colorful calla lily love from Perfect Postage is one example of customized postage. This vibrant gold, orange and red calla lily bouquet make a dramatic postage stamp.
No matter what your theme, colors or design, you can have the "Perfect Postage" for your wedding correspondence.
Tips for The Penny Pinching Bride
Hillary Capes, Nashville Wedding & Event Planner
So you are officially engaged and you are starting the planning process. You have done your research, you have even set a wedding date, but where do you go now? The first thing you should do after you have your wedding date selected and have spread the word about your engagement is to set the budget.
Many websites can provide you with an easy formula to distribute your budget easily once you determine the budget, but how can you determine how much you can spend.
Once you have created the initial budget you then need to break it down by category.
Here is a breakdown from Bride’s Magazine I love!
This chart is pretty accurate and that’s why I like it! I did make one change and included a portion of the budget for wedding planner. It’s a small portion of the budget to save you a day of hectic and scurry.
With these helpful tips, you are on your way to planning the perfect budget friendly wedding!
