Free Printable Wedding Planners, Online Organizers, Shopping Checklists, Expense Sheets - Yahoo Voices - voices.yahoo.com

My husband and I paid for our own wedding ourselves with no help from family. We paid wedding expenses, including the honeymoon, beforehand and incurred no debt. The total cost for wedding plus reception was less than $1,800. Granted this was in 1987, but we could do it again now. We kept costs down, did many things ourselves, including wedding planning. Brides and grooms, if you're having a budget wedding, 1) well done! and 2) use these free printable wedding planners. Print organizers, gift registry trackers, shopping checklists, guides, schedules, calendars, budget tools and expense sheets to manage your big day.  Free Printable Wedding Planners, Online Organizers, Checklists, Expense Sheets 

Digital Receipts for Wedding Budgeting, Savings, Returns

Picture this, brides and grooms: the wedding flowers aren't right. You paid a bundle and need the receipt to return them. Annddd, you can't find it. Here you are trying to save money, keep in budget, not go into debt. But for lack of a tiny piece of paper (in the ocean of paperwork), that refund might be lost. Commence panic attack, argument, blaming over whose job it was to organize the receipts...in short, chaos! Well, with digital receipts, accessed from your smart phone, that crisis can be averted. I first used them at Menard's.  Read on  Digital Receipts Help with Returns, Book-Keeping

How I Lost 100 Pounds With Mind, Attitude and Habit Changes

I've lost almost 100 pounds. It's taken about two years. That sounds like a long time. But don't let that daunt you, fellow dieters. It took me longer because I didn't "crash" diet. Also, I lost weight faster the longer I stuck with it. Ergo, I learned to diet effectively. Losing weight meant changing several things. Here's how.  How to Lose 100 Pounds With Mind, Attitude and Habit Changes

Cheap, Easy, Fun Bridal Shower Mimosa Bar

Our oldest daughter got married in May and we threw her a bridal shower. She and her fiance live in Louisiana and frequent New Orleans. The Mimosa (an alcoholic cocktail) is a common menu item and my child has developed a taste for them. She wanted a mimosa bar for her bridal shower and found some ideas on Pinterest.  Our DIY Bridal Shower Mimosa Bar

Our Under $800 Wedding Reception, Frugal Yet Memorable

My husband and I paid for our own wedding and reception. Grandparents paid for food, but we covered everything else. And even though they bought food, we kept costs frugal. We paid everything off in advance, incurred no debt and charged nothing. Our cheap wedding reception cost under $800 for 150 people, including food, cake, decorations, music, flowers, equipment and hall rental. This was 27 years ago, but I could still do it today and so can you. Just follow our penny pincher example. My Cheap Wedding Reception Under $800

Save Money with Antique and Pawn Shop Wedding Rings

I'm a cheapskate. We did our whole wedding under $1,000. We're both old-fashioned and like vintage styles from different eras, particularly 1890s to 1930s. So when it came to the wedding rings, we did it simple and shoe-string. Try antique stores and pawn shops. You can find awesome bargains, like we did.  Vintage Bride, My Antique Wedding and Engagement Ring Set

Vintage (and Budget) Bride, Antique Wedding and Engagement Rings

Can't afford a big diamond, bride and groom to be? Don't you worry. No need to spend big, nor should you. Save it for the bills of married life. We paid only $160 for my antique set. And they have been securely on my finger for 26 years and counting. The middle diamond is very small. But I don't care. Better a humble carbuncle and a happy couple, than a skating rink and strife. Our oldest daughter and son-in-law loved our story so much that they got vintage rings at an art dealer in New Orleans when they got married last year.  Read moreVintage Bride, My Antique Wedding and Engagement Ring Set

Worst Oscars Red Carpet Fashion Fails--Too Much and Too Little Breast

 I don't pay a lot of attention to the Oscars, clearly, as I wrote this article inadvertently about last year's Oscar fashions. I confess to copping my schadenfreude fix off the red carpet. The biggest names in the business are vying for the right to have their gowns worn. And celebs presumably want to look nice. Sadly, many don't. Beautiful girls still look bad in the wrong dress. There are lessons to learn for the bride-to-be about choosing bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses. The biggest issue with this crop was breasts: too much or too little. Worst 2014 Oscars Red Carpet Fashion Fails--Too Much and Too Little Decolletage and Pink Burqas

Guest Advice Crafts for Bridal Shower

My youngest daughter and threw a bridal shower for the oldest last May. Besides be a ton of fun, we learned a lot about shower couture--thank you, Pinterest. A common activity is to have each guest write advice to the bride and groom on a household item and present it them as a gift. For lack of a better name, I call them "advice gift crafts." We found two cute ones, couldn't make up our minds and so did both. Wedding Shower Advice Gift Craft

 

Free Printable Valentine Crafts, Perfect for Weddings, Bridal Showers

Throwing a bridal shower? Why not use printable valentine crafts and clipart? You could do a Valentine wedding theme too. Same idea, cute decorations, inexpensive...I wish I'd thought of that when I got married! Here are printable s Free Printable Valentine Crafts