Once you are engaged, it is time to begin preparing for the wild adventure of planning your wedding. There is a lot to prepare and this can become stressful depending on the date of your wedding. If you are working with a tight budget, it is still possible to have an amazing celebration. After some extensive research, it is now time to begin planning this special celebration. Although I am still planning my wedding, I would like to share a few tips that I have learned during my planning process so far.

If you are creative, I recommended designing the invitations yourself. There are benefits to creating your own invitations, which make the time spent worthwhile. I personally did not enjoy shopping for invitations because there were too many styles available. These styles consist of different themes, colors, and designs. When creating the invitations yourself, this process is simplified significantly. This allows you to have full control over what the invitations look like and you can create something that will be remembered well past your wedding day.

After deciding on a design for my invitations, I decided that it was time to begin shopping for shoes. My goal was to find an affordable pair of shoes that could be worn more than once. Most shoes that I found were a color that I was not happy with because they did not match any of the dresses in my wardrobe. This really concerned me because I do not like purchasing something that will not get much use.

I soon discovered dyeable shoes and these were perfect because you can easily change their color. This allows you to wear them many times. I am planning to wear these shoes for many special events after my wedding. There are many different shoes available to choose from, but these dyeable shoes seemed to fit my requirements best. I still have a lot of planning to do for my wedding, but overall, I am satisfied with what my fiancé and I have chosen so far.

Guest Post written by: Cynthia Andrews

Indianapolis is world renowned for its thrilling races, and couples who enjoy the thrills of the track can add fun Indianapolis Motor Speedway details to their wedding day for a celebration that reflects their need for speed.

2009 is the centennial anniversary of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, making this the perfect year for a high-speed wedding theme.  Celebrations could begin with a visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum or a more exclusive Grounds Tour for out of town guests or for a themed pre-wedding party.

For the celebration itself, popular racing-themed options include:

*A racing cake with a personalized race topper, oval track shape, or interior “checkered flag” pattern of both vanilla and chocolate flavors.
*A heavily designed groom’s cake shaped like a favorite race car, speedway logo, or the entire track.
*Choosing tire gauges, toy cars, or other racing or car-themed wedding favors.
*Tire textured wedding rings in black titanium or other dark metals.
*Numbering wedding reception tables after popular Indy or NASCAR cars or favorite drivers.
*Creating a “Victory Lane” design for the head table, complete with checkered flags and trophy floral arrangements.
*Using milk for wedding toasts, an Indianapolis Motor Speedway victory tradition dating back to Prohibition.
*Renting a race car for the getaway vehicle.
*Choosing a gray or black wedding runner to simulate an asphalt aisle.
*Creating race centerpieces with small tires and miniature race flags instead of flowers.
*Choosing a sexy race garter or other race-themed accessories.

While these ideas are only the beginning of the options available for an Indianapolis Motor Speedway wedding theme, it is important for couples to remember not to take an outrageous theme overboard. Well-chosen accents and clever details can create a beautifully personalized event, but too much of the theme can turn what should be an elegant celebration into an overdone affair. Just as drivers need to be subtle in their racing tactics to take the checkered flag, couples need to be subtle with their racing theme to celebrate their marriage in their own victory lane for many happy anniversaries.

Melissa Mayntz / www.melissamayntz.com

Wedding cake prices range from $2 to $10 or more per serving, depending on the cake size, style, flavor, and other factors. A large guest list and more cake services can quickly sour a couple’s cake budget, but there are many ways to cut cake prices without sacrificing this sweet wedding tradition.

1. Go Faux

Once sliced, a wedding cake looks nothing like the designer decoration that graced the cake table. Instead of creating an edible masterpiece, couples can opt for false wedding cakes of beautifully decorated foam, cardboard, and icing, while the cake that is served is a much less expensive though equally tasty sheet cake. If you don’t like the idea of a fake cake on a day that should be filled with trust and sincerity, choose a smaller cake design and augment it with coordinating satellite cakes or cupcakes for extra servings and extra savings.

2. Make the Cut

Some wedding reception venues and wedding caterers charge hefty fees for slicing and serving a wedding cake. If your venue is one of these, learn how to slice the cake yourself and use it as an opportunity not only to save money, but also to greet each of your guests individually as the cake is served. This also creates numerous photo opportunities and fun memories past the ceremonial first taste.

3. Be Simply Delicious

The easiest way to take a slice out of wedding cake costs is to simplify. If you have your heart set on a gourmet cake flavor and exotic fillings, choose a less expensive, less elaborate cake design. If you’ve always envisioned a highly detailed cake with exquisite edible flowers and other accents, opt for a simple cake flavor such as vanilla buttercream or classic chocolate. By simplifying, you ensure that the cake is not overwhelming and is simply delicious, not only to your guests but to your budget.

Your wedding cake is a decadent dessert and a first sweet taste of married life, but it doesn’t have to take a hefty slice out of your budget.

Melissa Mayntz / www.melissamayntz.com

So, your big day is quickly arriving. It’s hard to believe, but it’s the day you’ve dreamed about since you were a little girl, you’re nearly hitched! As a soon-to-be Mrs., you’ve got a lot on your plate-picking out the perfect dress, deciding on table decorations, researching places to hold the reception, and as you certainly know, this list is never-ending. You probably never imagined all the little details that go into planning this big day, not to mention the cost of these little details.

I know exactly how you feel as I was a bride myself just a few short months ago, and like so many others out there, I was hardly blessed with an open-ended budget. My husband and I footed most of the bills ourselves, so finding ways to save on wedding essentials was, well … essential. While it can be hard to skimp on certain areas, namely food, venues and entertainment, there are areas where your creativity can leave a few extra bucks in your pocket. For my husband and I, this area was our wedding stationary … invitations, RSVPs, direction cards, etc. After designing all of our wedding materials and getting such a positive response from lots of guests, I thought, ‘Wow, inexpensive and apparently impressive!’ My idea to help all future budget-conscious brides began to form, and today that idea is called Nearly Hitched.

So, what is it that separates Nearly Hitched from the thousands of other invitation vendors out there? Well, there are a few things. First, I work with brides one-on-one to develop wedding stationary that is unique for their big day. So, the chances of your best friend’s cousin’s younger sister’s friend having the same invitation as you is nada. Most brides like to have the final say in the details of their big day, and this should be no different with their invitations. As a bride, you shouldn’t be forced to pick from 3 pre-determined colors that neither match nor complement your wedding colors. With Nearly Hitched, the designs, colors and fonts all have endless possibilities. Another advantage of Nearly Hitched is that, well … it’s just me! One designer, that’s it. No middle men which means that if you have a problem, question or concern, you’ll be working one-on-one with the
person who is personally designing your invitations and materials. We will work together to come up with a style and design perfectly suited for your big day.
So you might be thinking, ‘Wow, sounds great but not cheap.’ I must say, I do enjoy proving girls wrong on the thought. I honestly enjoy the work and love the creative freedom. By working together, we can come up with materials that are not only unique to your wedding day, but also materials that won’t deplete your budget. And let’s face it, in times like this a few extra bucks in your pocket is something to feel good about.

Guest Post by Ashley McClure of www.nearlyhitched.com

Erin captured some pics of a set of really cool toasting flutes that were personalized by the bride.

So, hop on over and check these out!

April posted some great wedding day hairstlyes on her blog today.

Click here to check them out!

There’s a new wedding service that is catching on for wedding videographers
to offer to brides called “Marryoke” or “Lip Dub”.

Here’s a brief explanation of the services…

Get your guests singing along to lines from your favourite song, then leave the rest to us as we create your very own music video. And don’t worry if you’re out of tune, because we dub the original track over the video making it look as though you are all singing superstars!

So, you and your guests can star in your very own music video!

Here are a couple examples…

Guest Post by Phillip Gray from My Bar To You
You could bake your own wedding cake, but would you?
You could take your own wedding pictures, but would you?
You could plan your own wedding (what a nightmare), but would you?
You could make your own wedding dress, but would you?
You would hire a professional for these services, so why would you act as your own bartender?

I am certain you have many friends that would be willing to mix drinks for you as you can find drink recipes all over the internet. However, which of your guests would you ask to miss out on the fun and activities to be able to mix drinks for everyone? In Indiana, you are required to hire a bartender if your party is in a public place and you serve alcohol.
Some people think that bartenders only mix drinks, not true! Professional bartenders are trained to spot underage drinkers and fake IDs. We are also trained to recognize when someone has had too much to drink and how to handle this situation in a manner that does not cause a scene. Further, bartenders know which alcohols go best together and how much is too much. Have you ever gotten ill from a drink? If you put too much of certain alcohols in a drink you could actually make someone sick. For example, a concentrated liqueur like Triple Sec can make someone sick if more than a half ounce is used. To be a liqueur, the alcohol must be at least 20% sugar, but we are taking about a CONCENTRATED liqueur, think about how much sugar is in this one half ounce of Triple Sec. There are many other type of alcohol that if too much is used you could take the fun out of the party. Many people think that more alcohol in a drink makes for a better drink, not true, more alcohol can not only get you intoxicated faster, but most likely make the drink taste bad. When baking a cake, would you add more sugar to make it better? Instead of pouring more liquor, give them a better liquor and this will improve the quality of the drink. Instead of pouring McCormicks Tequila for a Margarita, use Jose Quervo or 1800, not more Tequila. These are things Professional Bartenders know how and why to do. A Chef once told me “A cook knows how, a chef knows why”, the same with Professional Bartenders.

In addition, did you know that in Indiana, if you serve a minor alcohol it is a Class A Misdemeanor and serving someone who is already intoxicated is a Class D Felony. In addition to criminal liabilities, there are Civil Liabilities as well. If you were to serve alcohol to someone that is already intoxicated you could be setting yourself up for Civil Actions. Suppose you serve someone and they leave your party, driving intoxicated, and on the way home they have an accident that injures or kills someone. The last person and/or place they were served could be held civilly liable. There have been legal cases where this has happened, with judgments in excess of ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. These are just a few of the things Professional Bartenders are aware of and watch for.  (Laws vary from state to state, call your local Alcohol Authority to check the Laws in your state)

Finally, a good professional bartender can be fun and funny. I know when I am behind a bar, I have a great deal of fun with those that come to me for drinks. Don’t get me wrong, when it comes to mixing drinks, I am all business, but when it comes to guests I am all fun and games. I have stated on many occasions “I can teach anyone how to mix drinks, I cannot teach anyone how to be a bartender” bartending is, like so many other professions, something that comes from inside your own personality.

So to answer our original question, Hire a Professional Bartender or do it yourself, you decide, base your decision based on the facts though. If you would make your own wedding cake, or take your own wedding pictures, then perhaps you could do it yourself. Bartenders are just as much professionals as any other professional that caters, plans, or entertains for parties. Hire the Professional Bartender, you’ll thank yourself later on, and so will your guests.

Post Written by: Phillip Gray from My Bar To You

To start with it ISN’T if the band is not quality enough to perform a version of the songs your guests will recognize and appreciate. If you can get a band like that, then there is just no comparison with a DJ and the price difference becomes well worth it.

Dancing in front of professional musicians performing just the song you chose for your first dance…well, many brides still smile remembering that moment! Your guests will feel more at ease joining in the fun while dancing and talking with a great band like your parents used to when they were younger. Great live music will let your guests relive their memories at the very same time you are creating your own. It is a traditional American art form and very real generational “bridge” for all your family and guests. Experienced performers will give your reception and the music life!

Post written by: Mike White from Cool Chilies

The wine shoppe is a great little place to stop in and relax with a glass of wine and a tasting platter. I’m actually writing this post while enjoying a glass of “Garde Dog” beer & some delicious spinach artichoke dip. They have a wide variety of micro-brews with a great taste and unique names – there’s nothing like a 6-pack of beer named “Holy Sheet” or a 4-pack named “Horse Piss”. Ok, I’m not just going to mumble on about beer… I’m gonna get to the good stuff that can help you plan your Indianapolis wedding.

This place is an excellent beginning for your Indianapolis bachelorette parties… just be sure to keep these in the car, because there is a certain level of sophistication to this place. There’s only seating for less than 30 people, so they definitely have that small/intimate thing going for them. The owner of the shoppe, Jill, says they host a lot of bachelorette parties for local Indianapolis brides.

The great part about their wine selection is that almost all the wine is less than $15 per bottle. For a wine novice like myself this means that I’m not going to end up picking out a $50 bottle of wine and end up feeling like a cheapskate for putting it back, because it’s too expensive. The staff are all willing to help you pick the best wine for your taste. So, whether you’re looking to pick out a unique wine for your reception or find a few bottles for the out of town guest’s gift basket, this is your place. You can purchase the wine by the glass, so you can actually give it a try before buying a case. Another cool feature to this place is that fact that they have wine tastings each Tuesday

evening from 5:30-7:00pm. So, you and your fiance can actually make an evening out of sampling 3 or 4 wines to see which is perfect for your wedding reception and guests.

Be sure to check out this great little wine shop on Mass Ave. The service is great and just sitting in here enjoying a glass of beer makes you feel like a hip millionaire – ok, maybe that’s just me. Time to fold up my Macbook and head out for the evening with my wife.

Mass Ave Wine Shoppe
878 Massachusetts Ave

Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-972-7966
Monday-Saturday 12pm-9pm

www.massavewine.com