Weddingbee Blog

Since Mr. Sweet Cream and I moved into our own adorably cute mid-century house that just needs a little tender love and care, we didn’t get a computer until just recently. I can already hear jaws dropping around the bride community—but it’s true. I did have my work laptop that I took home (of course to do work but also) to browse wedding blogs, research vendors, create detailed Excel sheets, and all the other things essential in the new millennium of wedding planning. So I am not entirely living in the Stone Age.

We were thrilled to finally get our own computer, but I didn’t realize what an absolute pain it could be for a do-it-yourself-er like me. I can’t download fonts on my work computer, so it was off to Mama Sweet Cream’s house to download cursive, bold, and retro fonts from Da Font, Urban Fonts, and Kevin and Amanda.

Here is the font that makes me swoon.

Image via DaFont

I also had trouble when it was time to print out mailing labels for the save the dates—I accidently printed out the last few on the wrong side, so when I got home to cut all the adorably fonted labels out, I realized that I would have to truck back over in the next day or two to print the stragglers…holding up getting them out in the mail.

So you can imagine my excitement when we finally got this long-awaited, much-needed computer and printer. I actually felt like a real 2011 bride again—with everything I need and want at my fingertips.

But…thank goodness during this whole time I did have my paper cutter that Mr. Sweet Cream got for six dollars after haggling with a flea-market vendor. Brand new and in the box. I don’t think he even knew how important it would be and how magically straight it could cut things—he just knew that his bride-to-be wanted it. (When I did show him the finished envelopes he did notice and say, “Geez, those labels are straight!!”)

I also got a wood-burning tool with my coupon for Joann Fabric that I have been using to cut out stencils from sheets of plastic (which I am using to make cloth napkins and fabric banners and plan to use in hundreds—OK—maybe dozens of other projects that I have in mind).

And I would also DIE without a hot glue gun. Seriously. Die.

I see lots of brides using fascinating tools to do amazing things.

Mrs. Dumpling’s invites were gorgeous, thanks to her talent—and her Gocco:

Image via Mrs. Dumpling

Mrs. D’orsay totally rocked out her invites with her Stamp-A-Majig while embossing her heart away:

Image via Mrs. D’orsay

A saw was totally needed for this adorable DIY woodsy cake stand (and I know that I will be calling on Mr. Sweet Cream, his tool box, and his handyman skills sometime in the next few months).

Image via Once Wed

Check out the DIY tutorial!

I know that I cannot do without a computer, printer, sewing machine, or paper cutter.

What are your tricks of the trade that you hands-down cannot do without to make your day beautiful? What tools are you using to create things you will look back on and cherish? Did you pick up a new skill from DIY-ing something for your wedding?