

Hello weddingbee readers! It’s been a long time since I’ve blogged, but I read something yesterday on WB that piqued my interest. I’m talking about budgets, of course! In response to one of the comments, I’m going to break down my budget for you. Hopefully it will help some brides budget their wedding. Just a quick note - I don’t actually remember the exact amounts anymore, so these are the closest estimates that I could come up with.
Total Budget - $40,000
Reception: $22,000
Florist: $4,400
Photography and Video (excluding albums): $4,100
Invitations, STD’s, Programs, Menus: $1,000
DJ: $1,350
Officiant: $400
Tea Ceremony: $1,350
Wedding Dress (including alterations) & Shoes: $1,750
Groom’s Tux: $700
BM and GM (everything including clothes to gifts): $1,200
Hair & Makeup (for everyone): $600
Transportation: $1,600
Quartet: $500
Hotel for 2 nights: $1,000
Tips: $1,500
Other and Miscellaneous: $1,500
Total Cost: $44,950
Ok. Let’s be candid about this. How many of you like your mother-in-law (MIL)? Anyone? Anyone?
I’m just kidding. I know there are plenty of you who get along fabulously with your MIL. For the rest of you, I found a hilarious blog called MILDEW (Mothers In Law Do Everything Wrong).
They’ve recently moved to another site (click here), but all of their old stuff is on the MILDEW site. I have been laughing my ass off for the last hour reading this stuff (I should be working…. oh well).
Enjoy!

I am an infomercial whore. I love watching these paid commercials late at night. I love all kinds of informercials - skin care, kitchen gadgets, cleaning gadgets, and most importantly, fitness inventions.
Admit it. When you first saw one of these:
…you wanted it too, right? Toned abs without doing anything!!! How cool is that? Just push a button and it works out the muscles for you. Wow! But, logic won out and I didn’t end up buying it. I mean, if it’s too good to be true, it usually is.
However, the last few nights, I’ve seen some products that really makes me want to pick up the phone and order. (I blame my addiction on insomnia.)
Read more…
Ok, not a star, but I am starring in my own wedding video! My videographer sent over the link for the highlight video yesterday and I couldn’t be happier! I only wish I were more…..telegenic or videogenic…or whatever word is the equivalent of photogenic for videos. Click below for a peek into my wedding day!
I have to take this moment to thank my photographer/videographer, 5 West Studios. Spencer has been amazing throughout this process, and I am extremely excited about the pictures and the videos. Just watching this video brings a smile to my face. I highly, highly recommend them! You won’t regret it! ![]()
My husband is such a sweetheart. Whenever he sees something interesting and wedding-related, he sends me the articles so that I can blog about it. Today, he sent me something that is really blog-worthy and combines my two favorite things: weddings and Disney!
On Sunday, February 11, 2007, I said goodbye to my wedding dress. Part of me is actually very sad. I loved that dress. I loved the way I felt in it. But my practical part won the battle in the end for these reasons:
I kind of wish I had spent more time on Sunday looking over the dress. I did get to see it briefly at the Bridal Garden (where I donated my dress). The lady kept telling me how pretty the dress was, and hoped to sell it that same day.
Congratulations to edamam3 on winning the veil giveaway contest! Please email me your information (name, address, etc) to butterfly@weddingbee.com.
Maybe after you’re married, you can pass the veil on to someone else as well.

MTV has a new show, Engaged & Underage. Now, I don’t usually watch MTV, but I think I may have to watch this show for an episode or two, just to see what it’s all about.
Engaged & Underage
Series premieres 1/22/07 at 9:30pm. Airs Mondays at 9:30pm. Ends 3/12/07. (30 min.)
Engaged & Underage is a half-hour verite documentary series. In each episode, we follow a young couple, between the ages of 18 and 21, during the final weeks of their engagement, leading up to a wedding (which may or may not be called off). In addition to showing all the drama, tension, and humor inherent in the days before a big event, Engaged & Underage also portrays a young couple as they take their first steps towards adulthood, and begin to define themselves as people outside the confines of their parents and home life, young people who feel they are ready to start homes and families of their own.
This show really brings to light a controversial question: Can you be too young to get married?
For those of you who asked about the petal cones, here is the website where I got the directions.

I used the 8.5″ x11″ paper template, but cut off the bottom square area to make the cones. I got the paper and the ribbons from Kate’s Paperie. You will need a paper cutter, a self-healing mat, and some adhesive. I used my trusty 3M ATG tape gun (recycled from making my invitations).