WOW - it's been a long time...

Well I am very sorry that it has been so long since I have blogged. My husband and I bought a house and it seems like I blinked my eyes and the summer is over. So now back to the fun stuff of writing in my blog and updating my website...

I feel so out of touch with planning events now, I need to read up and get the information you need out there. I will write again very shortly to share some new and cool ideas for your event.

Disney Dream Honeymoon

Do you love Disney, would your dream honeymoon include staying at Cinderella's Castle Suite? getmarried.com is having the following contest:

Get Married Dream Honeymoon includes*:

• Round trip airfare to the Orlando International Airport
• Round trip limousine service from the Orlando International Airport to the Walt Disney World® Resort
• One night stay at Cinderella Castle Suite
• Five night stay at a Disney Deluxe Resort hotel
• 7-Day Magic Your Way tickets for two to the four Walt Disney World® Resort theme parks
• A $500 Disney Gift Card for Honeymoons from Disney's Honeymoon Registry

* Restrictions apply see contest rules for details

Here's How to Enter:

1. Make a short video (30 seconds to 2 minutes long) telling getmarried.com why you are the deserving prince or princess of the Disney Dream Honeymoon.
2. Go to www.getmarried.com to complete the getmarried.com registration form.
3. Upload a video and follow the easy steps or mail your video to: Disney Contest, 3453 Holcomb Bridge Road, Suite 100, Norcross, GA 30092 by 5/26/08.

Videos will be viewable online and the top 3 videos selected by the getmarried.com staff will be voted on by getmarried.com users to determine who is the most deserving prince or princess.

Very exciting - start filming now! Here is a direct link to the offer: http://www.getmarried.com/disney_giveaway_get_married.php?utm_source=DISNEY_honeymoon_giveaway_4_18_08&utm_medium=email&utm_content=main_image&utm_campaign=DISNEY_honeymoon_giveaway

Cheap wedding "stuff"

Want cheap "stuff" for your wedding - try Oriental Trading. I will caution you on their products but I will also invite you to take a look at what they have to offer. Most of the products they offer are very cheaply made and probably not what you want to have at your wedding - but I did order stuff from them for my wedding and it was a huge hit...

Are you debating whether or not to have kids at the wedding? For me there was no debate, I wanted kids at the wedding. I created an activity table for the kids to keep them busy and it was quite a hit. I made coloring books for each of them and had crayons available for them to sit and color. Then I ordered some fun things from the Oriental Training wedding catalog. I had a bunch of multi-color glow in the dark necklaces and bracelets available for the kids and I ordered bride and groom rubber duckies. The kids had such a great time and there was nothing left on the activity table at the end of the wedding...

Oriental Trading has great favor boxes, cute favor ideas, signs, stickers, etc. I will again caution you on the quality, but order ahead and if you don't like what you get - return it within 30 days for credit.

Visit their website now and start shopping: http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=home.jsp&event=catalog&categoryId=377344&tabId=PartySupplies

Try these Coupon Codes (I do not guarantee they will work):

• Free shipping with $60+, use this code RETEM08A - expires 12/31/08


• 10% Off orders of $60+, use this code RLS109 - expires 4/30/08


• 20% Off orders of $60+, use this code RETPY08B - expires 12/31/08

You can also visit my website to download the template I used for my coloring book: http://www.myjennryan.com/Event_Planning.html

Tux Special...

Just a quick post regarding an email I received today from Classic Tuxedo. They are having a 25% off sale. They are offering 25% off the wedding party tux rentals and the grooms tux is free with rental of 5 or more tuxes.

Here is the link to the site and sale information: http://www.classictuxedo.com/

I have said it so many times before - sales and discounts are good so take advantage of it always!

Topics - Coming Soon!

I keep reminding myself of all of the topics I want to write about and when I go to write - I forget what it was I wanted to write about.  So this post is all about upcoming topics and what to expect...

• Out of town guest bags
• Bachelorette party ideas
• Bridesmaid gifts
• Groomsmen gifts
• What to expect that day
• Honeymoon planning
• Destination weddings
• Other ways to customize and personalize your wedding

I have so much to talk about, please keep visiting my site for great ideas!  You can also visit my website for great ideas and templates from my own wedding...

www.myjennryan.com

Bridal magazines, do you need them?

Your first instinct when you get engaged is to go out and buy all of the bridal magazines you can find.  Do you really need them?  I don't think you do, maybe one or two to spark some ideas.  But really you have been dreaming of this day your whole life - don't you REALLY know what you want.  You may not be able to have Cinderella's Castle and all 500 of your closest friends and family - but you can certainly get something comparable within your budget.

I found all of the magazines to be very overwhelming and there was just too much information in there.  I would go through them, tear out the pages/ articles that interested me and then get rid of them.  One magazine I bought in error and actually loved was:  www.weddingstar.com.  They have a whole website of information and also an online catalog.  I ended up buying some things from their website and they were high quality.

Also remember that you are planning a wedding and you should be focusing your money on other things than bridal magazines.  Of course if you are really into them, that is fine too...

The Best Wedding Planner

Almost as soon as I got engaged, the advice started piling in.  The best advice I received was to go out and get the Martha Stewart wedding planner.  I was also told that whenever I found something I liked for the wedding to put it in the planner.  What an awesome idea, I ordered it online right away and then added my own extra pages and pockets and this proved to be my wedding planning bible.  By the time the wedding came closer I had to buy a bigger binder to fit all of the information I had gathered.

Amazon.com has the binder for $19.77, the official name is:  Martha Stewart's Keepsake Wedding Planner (Ring-bound).  Here is the description Amazon has on it and what it includes:  "This planner is overflowing with useful features to help you plan and organize the perfect wedding - in addition, you can preserve those memories for a lifetime.  The three ring binder makes it easier to customize it for your needs.  Inside you'll find":  

• Ten in-depth chapters with planning information, inspirational color photographs, timelines, checklists and diagrams
• Sturdy pocket folders to hold contracts, menus and notes.
• A clear plastic business-card holder and resealable plastic pouches for fabric swatches, paper samples and ribbons.
• A full-color glossary with photographs of hundreds of flowers
  

I highly recommend this planner and really found it helpful.