I still enjoy waking up on a Sunday morning and reading the Sun Sentinel , my local paper . Not digitally , the real newspaper which eventually takes up your entire kitchen table.  In the Money section, the  Savvy Shopper column, Fauzine Arain and Joel Gray from  Tribune Newspapers  wrote an article on few ways to save some cash on your wedding day which we would like to share with you.

Signature drink

As we know an open bar can very  $$$$. They offer the tip of creating one  signature cocktail along with beer and wine  and suggest the cocktail should have a broad base and then built with flavors of the season.

Cocktails made with Prosecco

For the bubbly’.  Yes, we love the French champagne but there  is an outstanding selection of  less expensive  sparkling offerings  such as  Cava (Spain) and Prosecco (Italy) which can  be used as a base for your signature cocktail mixed with a fruit juice. This will certainly keep your guests happy.

Selection of Prosecco

Most venues  will have a Mixologist  who will assist you in ” designing ” your signature cocktail

Place Card and Favors

Another fun suggestion was  Event Blossoms , ” Please be Seeded” place cards. They are packets of  wildflower seeds your guests can take home and plant.  They can be found on a number of wedding favor websites and prices vary depending on amount ordered . A great way to combine your place card with a favor, be eco-friendly and create a lasting memory for your guests when their seeds blossom.

Garden Flowers

A fun tip ,  providing you have friends with  green fingers is to skip the floral centerpieces , which can be expensive in favor of home grown bunches of flowers . These can be obtained from your friends , family or your own garden . They need to be approached well in advance with your idea so you can discuss what flowers will be blossoming at the time of your wedding.  These flowers can be supplemented with  grocery store blossoms.  Eclectic vases in glass or pottery can be acquired at extremely low cost from dollar stores or your local  craft store. My tip is you always will have a friend which a keen eye for design  or your  wedding planner ,  ask them to assist you in putting together the perfect  DIY  table arrangement. We do not want the bride making centerpieces the week of her wedding so make sure to get help.

Martha Stewart Wedding Florals

Martha Stewart Wedding Florals

Martha Stewart Wedding Florals

The best  website for  ideas and step by step directions for DIY wedding florals is Martha Stewart weddings. Don’t forget the votive candles. Brides loves candle lighting , they are inexpensive obtainable in dozens and available almost everywhere.

This week I worked with Pam at Cupcake Couture to design a signature cupcake for the volunteer fair at my daughters school. My daughter attends Saint Andrews School in Boca Raton. The school colors are  red, white and Scottish plaid so we created a cupcake with this in mind.The parents who attended the fair where given cupcakes as a delicious going home favor , sponsored by the Parents Association.

Two different designs were created. A  red velvet cupcake with  butter cream icing and chocolate drizzle  and a vanilla and chocolate cupcake with  butter cream icing  beautifully decorated with swirls of icing. A tartan edible  chocolate disc finished the look to make it a true Saint Andrews school cupcake.

Linzi  and Anita Kreilein, President of the Parents Association arranging the cupcake display. As  the team at  Cupcake Couture say : Life is short, eat Desserts first. What a great idea for your next celebration,  to create a signature cupcake especially for you with a your personal theme in mind.