Introducing the new Mr. & Mrs. DeLumpa!

The pictures are coming but here is the wedding video from Jeff & Marianne's wedding on August 8th, 2009! If you look quick when Jeff & Marianne are entering the ballroom, you'll see me opening the doors for them!

Bay Area Weddng Videoproduction for Marianne & Jeff's wedding from www.bayareavdoproduction.com on Vimeo.

Happy Turkey & Pie Day! 2010 Special!

Well the holidays are fast approaching! I can't believe this year is coming to an end so quickly. In some exciting news, I just completed my training with the ACPWC (Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants) and received my certificate in the mail the other day! I am so excited and can't wait to work toward my "Certified" title!

Other excited things (and this pertains to all of you), The Test Of Time Weddings is offering a great special for 2010! For the first five couples who book a date with us in 2010 will get $300 off our "Wedding Day Management" Package (valued at $1,100) or our "Full-Service" Package (valued at $2,500). Don't worry, if one of these packages doesn't fit your needs, we can create a package as unique as your relationship!

Happy Holidays and remember, as the holidays approach and the stress can build, don't forget to breathe!

Going Back To School!

On Monday I start my wedding planner certification class through ACPWC! I can't wait! I got a late start enrolling so I have been swamped in homework preparing for the class. That is why I haven't been posting much lately. Well, I decide to take a short break from the piles of work and let everyone in on the news!

Appart from that, I got a review on OneWed.com so I get this neeat little badge I can put on my site! Yippee!
You can click on the badge to read the review. Thank you Marianne & Jeff DeLumpa!

More good news! I got my business cards finally! Next step, my actual website!

Well I will try to keep everyone updated on how the class is going. Hopefully I will have time but I am sure next week I will be buried in homework! I can't wait! I am so excited to finally be taking the next step toward my dream!

Put it on Ice - Inspiration Board #5

I found this great idea in The Best of Martha Stewart Living: Weddings . There was a beautiful four tiered wedding cake made of ice with chilled jumbo shrimp laying atop each layer like beautiful flowers. Well, how about I just show you the picture?

Isn't it so elegant?! Well, I was inspired. Although ice sculptures can be expensive, they don't have to be. This one is pretty simple to make as they are just blocks. If you have the freezer space, why not? Just get some cake pans in the size that you want fill them with water and freeze.

Now, a few tips as it isn't exactly as simple as making ice cubes.
1. Put the pans in the freezer before adding the water. Once they are filled they can be pretty heavy.
2. Allow them to freeze for at least two full days to make sure they are good and solid.
3. When you are ready, take them out of the freezer and allow them to melt slightly and they are easy to remove. Do NOT run hot water over them as that will cause them to crack.
4. Get creative! Add food coloring or glitter. Or use distilled water for very clear ice.

Now if you are doing tiers like this one, obviously, you can just stack them. Ice is slippery. Drill a couple holes near the center (make sure you measure so your tiers are straight) and insert dowels. Make sure they are strong enough as ice is much heavier than cake.

Have fun!

Now for the inspiration board... All related to ice! So chill out, relax, and enjoy!

Click on it to view it larger.

DIY - High Style Glamour!

I happened to stumble across this as I was looking for photos of what was in my head for my own wedding and these were nealry exactly it! They are so easy to make for a completely custom, one-of-a-kind look.

The vases are from Ikea and are 30" tall. You should be able to find something similar anywhere. Get creative with the shape too. As long as they are translucent so the light shines through and narrow at the top so you don't need 8 million feather, they'll work.

For these, they covered the vase with a peach colored girl's tights though you can use any color to match you decor. Then they wrapped the vase in tulle to give it texture.

They are lit with lights from Instalyte. There are orange, yellow and white lights used in these for a soft, peachy glow. They rigged a styrofoam light holder with tiny mirrors to reflect the light and attached this to some thread. On the morning of the wedding, the lights were turned on and lowered into the vases using the thread.

I would suggest attaching all the ostrich feathers to florist wire and sticking them into a piece for florist foam that will fit into the neck of the vase. This will make them more sturdy and you can sick them upward to make it look fuller.

Ostrich feathers are rather expensive but shop around. I found them on eBay at a great price. The people that did these got them through a place called Mother Plucker. You have to call to order them as online only sells boas and wings.

You can scatter faux crystals, tealights, or anything else around the base if you'd like. Gorgeous!

Big Dreams, Small Budget - Inspiration Board #4

Just because you have envisioned your big day as an large extravigant event, doesn't mean you need to take out a loan to pay for it all. There are many ways to save and still wow everyone, including yourself! Why start you life together with a ton of debt if you don't have to?

Detail for each image clockwise from upper left.

Hydrangra Centerpiece - Simple cut flowers make a beautiful centerpiece. Depending on what flowers you choose, it can work from anything from and casual garden party to and elegant affair. Choosing large blossoms like hydrangeas means you only need a few. Being there is very little "arranging" to these arrangements, they will be much less expensive.

Dress - This dress is from David's Bridal and is currently on sale for $850 yet has a very high-end, designer look. It looks straight off a top designer's runway without the designer price tag.

Invitations - These are through Paper Source where you can get all you paper, envelopes, stamps, etc. for a great price. You can take them into a copy store or some you can even print off your home computer. Need help creating a custom design for you invitations? Email Jeffrey O'Connell. He can create beautiful custom invitations, save-the-dates, favor tags, escort cards, etc. All at a great price!

Lavendar Bridal Bouquet - This one I just fell in love with it! It is so simple you can do it yourself, yet so elegant. And can you just imagine the smell!

Potted Plants Centerpieces - These are, again, such a simple DIY project. Clay pots can be found anywhere. You can buy them in such an array of colors or patterns to fit your decor. Or why not buy plain clay pots and paint them yourself? Then you can fill the pots with any type of flowers that are in bloom. What's best about these is they could double as favors if you include enopugh per table. Or whatever pots your guest don't take, you can have in your garden at home to remember your wedding everyday!
For more info on these two photos click here.

Wedding Cake Alternatives - Who says you have to have cake? There are so many options now. Shown here are cupcakes and tiered puddings or mousse. Arrange sweets on tiered platters. Serve puddings or mousse in champange flutes. When opting out on the cake, remember, it is all about the presentation.

Shoes - These shoes are from Payless and were just $25! If you want something other than white, you can get them custom dyed for about $45!

Make sure to come back tomorrow for step-by-step instructions on a great DIY project!

High Price Look for Less

Why should you have to go deep into debt in order to have the perfect wedding? Unfortunately, not everyone is an A-List movie star with millions of dollars to blow on their wedding day. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a wedding worthy of a magazine cover.
• The Dress – You do not need a top designer wedding gown to look beautiful. Big designer names set the wedding trends for the season. However, those designs are then copied and reproduced in mass at much lower prices. Watch for sample sales or end of season sales. Forgo the expensive silk fabric and look for a polyester blends. They are much less expensive, easier to clean, and don’t wrinkle as much.
• Dresses for the Girls – Save your female attendants money as well by shopping for their dresses in department stores. Check out the sales after prom or the holidays.
• Flower Power – Make sure your flower choices are in seasons for your wedding. Most florists can get nearly any flower any time of year but it will cost you. Your florist should be able to suggest alternatives to your out of season favorites that will be just as beautiful and be able to give you the same, or at least similar, look for a lot less. This also goes with less expensive alternatives to high end flowers. Add in fillers to your bouquets and centerpieces. Lots of greenery, baby’s breath, and large bushy blossoms are great ways to fill space without emptying your wallet.
• Décor – Shop around. Buying from specialty stores always costs more. For vases or candles, check out the dollar store. For unique touches, check out discount stores like Ross, Marshalls, or my favorite, T.J. Maxx/Home Goods. Wal-Mart, Kmart, and Target are also great discount stores to check out. Shop online. Sure you have to pay for shipping but the internet has some great deals and you can often find things you can buy in bulk and wholesale prices. Ebay is amazing!
• You’re Invited – Make your own invitations. Craft stores like Michaels and JoAnn have invitation kits that you can customize and print with nearly any printer.
• Where? – Look for ceremony and reception sites that need little decorations. Having your ceremony in a lush and beautiful garden are usually fairly inexpensive to start with. They also provide all the décor for you. Why add lots of other fuss when the natural beauty of the gardens already takes your breath away?
• Drinks – See if your caterer will allow you to provide your own alcohol and other drinks. Stocking up on drinks from places like Beverages & More or Costco can save you a ton of money.
• Gifts – Nowadays, it seems like more and more couples are living together before the big day. If you are one of these couples, it is likely that you already have more than enough towels, dishes, and small appliances. Ask your guests to contribute to your honeymoon fund. There are websites, such as Travelers Joy where you can register for your honeymoon. Your guests can buy you one night stay at that villa in Venice or a romantic dinner for two at the restaurant overlooking the Caribbean shore. Websites like this make gifts a bit more personal than handing you a check.
• Make Money Off Your Wedding – Ok, I know this sounds crazy but there are tons of brides out there just like you who are trying to save money on their wedding. You can sell you wedding items after your wedding that you don’t need/want. Really, when are you ever going to use 15 vases and 150 tea light holders ever again? Sell the extras you bought and never used. Sometimes it is even cheaper to buy your tablecloths or other linens and then sell them when you are done than to rent them. Check out sites like Weddingbee or Craigslist.
• Hire a Wedding Planner - I know this may sound silly as a wedding planner could be pricey. However, most wedding planners, such as myself, can work within your budget and help make sure you plan within your means. A wedding planner can also help negociate better prices with your other vendors. They know the ins and outs of what works best and can take care of it all, saving you money and even more importantly, time. Time is valuable and this is time you could spend working and making more money!
Why break the bank if you don't have to? Need more help with planning your wedding and staying within your budget, shoot me an email!