Day of Wedding Tips - For Brides to Be

Hello everyone!

Now that my wedding is over and I can finally sit back and breathe. I wasn't given any advice on how the actual wedding day should go. When I was invited to weddings I was just a casual guest and at my sisters wedding I was a bridesmaid to a pregenat bride. Not that my sisters advice wasn't helpful, its just she was in a state of mind of pregnancy so I'm not sure if she would've felt the same way as me who isn't pregnant and on a destination beach.

Now that my wedding is truly complete I thought I would give 6 tips for Brides and lessons I’ve learned from my outdoor beach wedding. 

Tip One: If your wedding is in the late afternoon don't rush to get ready.

My wedding was at 4pm so I had tons of time to get dressed, makeup, hair, etc. OF COURSE, I was constantly wanting to get ready early but I had to slow my roll. A good thing to do is to have a schedule planned out and how long each task should take (example my hair took over an hour but makeup only took 25 minutes). During your hair and makeup consultations time how long it takes to do the finished product so you can map out a good bridal blueprint for you big day.

Tip Two: Don't Starve Yourself.

This is a big one. Luckily, I love food and I was very SET on having my meals. But, back when I was working as an ANF manager I would skip meals during big floor sets or major visits. For your wedding the worst thing to do is pass out from starving yourself. If you're not comfortable eating a full meal eat small snacks throughout the day.

Tip Three: To pre-game or not to pre-game?

Bryce's family loves to celebrate. So before the wedding there was bottles already being popped! Having a few sips or a glass isn't bad but I don't think having 3/4 a bottle of wine is a smart idea (gotta say those vows gal!). I have seen some of my gal friends who party hardcore before the vows and some who all drink their La Croix beforehand.

Tip Four: Don't Stress Over Spilt Milk.

No matter how many instagram or Pinterest photos you look at, perfection DOESN'T exist. It took me years to learn this wisdom. So when things went wrong or wasn't done correctly, I didn't flip. It's life. So what if the center pieces didn't have enough shells + driftwood? Grab a glass of wine and roll with the fun!

Tip Five: Wedding Photos + Water.

So at my wedding of course there was water - ocean water. The biggest choice Bryce and I had to make was do we want photos of us in the water (as in my dress getting soaked and his suit getting wet) When deciding on this choice for my beach wedding brides... Have a back up outfit! (unless you're down to wear a wet dress!).

Tip Six: If there's alcohol remember some people's moods change.

I like weddings with alcohol. I'm the gal who loves to have something to sip on and have fun. Of course, not everyone acts the same way as I. So if you're having a bar at your event remember some people might act differently and consider if you’ll have to be babysitting or will they be able to handle their brews. 

Today is my Wedding!

Hello Everyone! Today is my Wedding Day!
At 4pm Central Time; I will be walking barefoot in the sand with my Dad at Navarre Beach, Florida to marry my best friend, my rock, the father of my darling daughter, and the one person who has seen me at my best and worst but still loves me.

The island that I'm getting married on is the same island I was proposed to. It's where Bryce and I went on dates. It's where I decided I was moving away from North Carolina to settle at. It's where we announced to my parents Bryce and I were expecting a baby. The white sand on this beach and the emerald waters isn't just a beautiful backdrop for my Wedding, it's the location that so many great memories were made. And many more to come.

I've been asked why did I wait to get married after Hollys birth. I waited because I wanted to feel 100% at my best. I didn't want to feel tired from pregnancy pains or feel uncomfortable about my weight + sore feet. I wanted to be able to celebrate with family and have a true Champagne toast as the sun sets (And eat foods that wouldn't make me feel sick afterwards)! I wanted the photographs taken to reflect Bryce and I in pure confidence. I knew if I was pregnant during my wedding I wouldn't feel confident or truly appreciate all the beautiful images the photographer captures. To some that might be silly but for me it's not. Yes, Holly was born before a marriage license. Yes planning a wedding while raising a infant is a challenge. But that's okay. I rather it be that way than not at all.

I hope everyone has a beautiful Saturday. I hope today everyone finds a reason to smile. I want today to not just be my happiest day but also for whoever is reading this to have a happy day as well.

Thanks again for everyones love and support.
I plan to post a blog of my wedding and as always follow the instagram for photos in the moment.
If you want to help make our wedding magical; donate to wedding registry! Our Honeymoon Fund! Our wedding costs has left us without a beautiful Honeymoon.
 - Pomp and Palms

7 Tips for Wedding Set Up Prep!

I wanted to touch base about some tips for wedding set up prep! This might be an easy topic but I witnessed first hand from my sisters wedding what could happen if you don't have a system planned for wedding set up. Not bashing her wedding, because it turned out beautiful... But she had many opportunities to delegate tasks and many projects was waited until the last minute (which meant MAJOR STRESS!)
If you’re planning a wedding without a wedding planner, please look at these 7 simple tips and try to utilize opportunities to make your wedding hassle free!

Tip One: If you have access to the Venue 24 hours BEFORE the wedding, take advantage of it.
A lot of venues like victorian houses, barns, churches, and some pavilions grant you access 24 hours before the wedding in your contract agreement. Take that day before to decorate! You might not be able to line up the ceremony chairs in the Courtyard but you'll be able to roll out the table cloths and have them steamed or even set up the entry area/gift table beforehand.

Tip Two: Rehearsal dinner is a good time to prep.
If having the rehearsal dinner at the venue take that chance to set up small things. For example: the venue my sister rented we had the rehearsal dinner there. It was the perfect opportunity to get some decorations in place especially with groomsmen around that can move tables. If planned properly she could’ve had the entire indoor area set up the night before!

Tip Three: Box and Label properly.
Items that go on the sign in table, flowers + candles that go on the fireplace mantel, decor for each of the dinning tables, and photographs that are to be placed in the foyer - have the boxes of items stored in labeled and easy to set up.

Tip Four: Map it out.
I literally hand drew my pavilion and the set up I wanted. Then I'm able to hand it to the 'set up team' and know they'll be able to place things with ease!

Tip Five: Do a mock set up and take pictures or draw it out!
Just like having mock hair and makeup pictures for the big day, do this for the table center pieces and how you hope the Sign In area to be. You can set it up in your house and send the pictures to the 'set up team' along with a drawn layout to give ideas.

Tip Six: Delegate Tasks in an appropriate manner.
When assigning who is to set up what make sure it's an area you've went over thoroughly with him/her and a area that person can handle (so don't give your pregnant bridesmaid the job of hanging lanterns in a tree). If you assign the tasks off to members who can handle it, you'll be happy with the outcome. Also assign tasks at appropriate times. Don’t expect your bridal party to be setting up the reception hall when they should be getting dressed.

Tip Seven: Don't do it yourself.
Many brides have the “It'll only look good if I do it” mind set (cough cough, my sister). Though that might be true, it's your wedding day and you need to be relaxing and getting beautiful with your mother and bridal squad! Put trust in other family and friends; if something isn't 100% perfect it's okay! Life isn't perfect.

What am I doing? In the beginning I planned to have a few friends of Bryce’s family set up the wedding reception with my mom and Bryces aunt. I hand drawn the pavilion layout, snapped photos of mock table arrangements, and purchased crates labeled where the items go with the EXACT number of items needed for that location. I found out yesterday (September 13th) that a relative has paid a decorator to do the entire set up and to direct guests where to go and monitor non-guests from tampering the decor. I’m extremely grateful for this generous gift of having someone create my vision for me so my family can enjoy the day. 

Wedding Photos

Wedding photos are super important. The photographs collected will be a key item to reflect on from that beautiful day. These photos you'll show your daughter when she's a little girl and she will admire how beautiful her mother looked in a white gown. Not to mention, photographers are super costly. So like many brides, you want to get the photos right.

Question: How should you shop for a photographer?
Finding a photographer isn't a walk in the park. You need to view the photographer just like the venue or baker. You need to see their work, hear what their strengths + weaknesses are (Everyone has a weakness and if someone says they don't, you MUST walk away), you need to communicate with the photographer and see if she/he is someone who understands your vision but also a person you're comfortable talking to, and of course the price needs to be within your budget.

In my opinion, the photographer should get to know you and your family. After shooting your wedding it shouldn't be just a person but more like a friend. If the photographer just views you as a paycheck or a job, it's not going to be a good match. There's no bond. The photographer needs to truly care for the client and strive to capture the most beautiful moments from this important day.

What did I do? When deciding on my photographer I didn't care if the photographs were 5 star quality.... YOU HEARD IT HERE, I'm okay with some flaws. I wanted the trust and support to be 5 star. 
I had quite a few options. All were very costly and some did chip the price. The person I selected was one who didn't just know Bryce's family but she lived in the same neighborhood. She watched Bryce grow up and she was honored to be asked if she can help with the wedding. She does photography on the side and admits to a weakness; she hasn't done wedding photos in awhile. But she offered many perks that no one else did: to take family photos a few weeks before for free so we can get to know her, to do the ceremony and reception + if we want to have more photos done another day she'll gladly do them, and to take us to other parts of the island for different style photos. Lastly, she loves Holly and wants to spend time with her.

This one I love. It's actually from this part of Florida so I have a good idea on how the water and sand will look. I hope Anita can get a photo like this with the sun setting.

This is another photo I really like. I want to get photos of us in the water SUPER bad. Of course, these are hard to do because the dress is getting wet. We might take these on a separate day.

Question: Should you give the Photographer pictures you want to recreate? 
Yes and No.
I told Anita (my photographer) I have photos from Pinterest to show her and maybe she can recreate them or something similar. She told me that's ONE THING a photographer should be honest with: recreating an exact photo you find on Pinterest is about impossible (photoshop, the time of day and location, the style of camera, presets, etc are all factors). I appreciated she told me the photos I collected might not 100% look the same as mine but she said she will do some of her creative work to make something beautiful.
She DID suggest for me to write down any photo line ups I want.
For Example: Who did I want included in family photos? Do I want to have photos with only parents or photos with siblings partners? Did I want Holly in all my photos or would I prefer to keep her out of some? Would I want photos of random guests?
She also suggested that I look at her usual schedule for Wedding Day photos and see if I want to omit any of it (I’m not having a bridal party so I don’t need 45 minutes invest in photos of bridesmaids getting ready and I’m getting ready at Bryce’s Sisters salon; might want to omit hair and makeup prep photos).

I hope this gave some good information on Photographer shopping and Wedding photos. The images shown I found on Pinterest and are the ones I plan to show my Photographer to see if we can do something similar.
- Pomp and Palms

Wedding DIY Projects

Weddings on a budget require some creative tricks, a little trip to Hobby Lobby and a tall glass of wine (or beer). AKA: the Wedding DIY projects! You'll be so surprised at how much money you can save if you take a weekend to do some crafting. My goal is to keep my wedding budget as low as possible so I scouted my Pinterest boards for some wedding decor ideas.

Can you DIY for any style of Wedding?
Of course! Glitzy wedding, Rustic wedding, Halloween theme wedding, Beach wedding, etc. I believe all wedding theme/styles have DIY projects. Todays post I will show you all the DIY projects I'm doing for my Seaside Destination Wedding. Many of these projects can be altered to fit any wedding theme/style. And I'm more than happy to give further details if needed!

1. Table Center Pieces.
I decided my center pieces will be a table runner, some shells + drift wood, a few flowers, and battery power candles. I was shocked to see the florist was going to charge me over $750 to do 6 tables! With this center piece I designed, I was able to DIY it for under $200 (some of the shells and drift wood I found on the beach!) After my wedding I will post images of the finished product on a special blog post. 

So shells was purchased in bundles.

I sorted and cleaned some of the shells to get an idea of how I want my arrangements to look.

I have quite a few extra large shells. Here’s some for example. I plan to tissue paper wrap these in a crate.

My super delicate shells like small sand dollars, urchins, and unique rare pieces I used tackle boxes to store.

2. Guest Sign In Book.
I decided to do a creative Sign In Book. I found this wooden shadow box frame for $5.00. I'm going to glue a few shells on the front and paint inside the shadow box. I bought a pack of wooden hearts for only $3.00 and will have guest write their names on them! I will have images of this after my wedding on a special blog post.

3. Paper Lanterns with Lights.
I found some paper lanterns for $11.90 (for 6 in a pack) and these lovely battery power lights that I'm going to stuff into the lanterns then hang them throughout the pavilion for a romantic and beachy feel.

4. Shell Aisle Runner.
I love Sea Stars. So I had to add them to my ceremony. I plan to have the sea stars line the wedding aisle. Each Sea Star only cost $1-3 dollars each and after the wedding I plan to use them for another project. * I was lucky enough to find Sugar Starfish's to use. These are very rare to find now because of the disease that's killing off the breed. I'm very blessed to have them for my wedding.*

5. Guest Favor Boxes.
I really wanted my guest to leave my Seaside wedding feeling loved and with some memory of the beach. I found these coral boxes for $4.99 (24 per pack), some Sand dollar "Sea Cookies" for $4.00 (a basket with 50-75), and this Jute $3.00. Inside the box I'm putting Sugarfina gummy tester packs $2.50 per pack. I'm going to tie the rope to keep the box secure and then glue a shell on top.

1. Supplies. Sugafina gummy tester, Jute, shells, and 2x2 gift boxes.

2. Once assembled the box I placed the gummy pack inside and decided on which shells will be insides the box and with on the outside.

3. This is how I visualized which shells will look best. I tied the Jute and then placed the shell options until I was satisfied.

The finished product! I mixed the shells and did some different looks but each box has 3-4 shells, 3 small square pieces of tissue paper in sea foam blue, and a Sugarfina gummy pack!

6. Cake Topper.
My Cake Topper cost under $5.00! The two wooden beach chairs were only $1.00 each, the paint was on clearance for $0.75 (the bottle had lost some paint), and the 2 shells I purchased in a giant jumbo pack and once I did the math the shells were only $0.75 each. I had some leftover wooden hearts and my sister wrote "Mr" and "Mrs" with some pens she had in a drawer. * The image below is the example I channeled when creating mine (I will post photos after my wedding) These are an Etsy set that's priced at $35.00 while mine is totaled to cost under $5.00* After my wedding I will post images of the finished product on a special blog post.

7. Dust the Sand Off Your Feet Brushes with Jars OR Jars for Silverware
This is a cute idea I found on Pinterest but I plan to make it 3x more budget friendly. I have some mason jars that I found at a thrift store for 5 cents each! I'm going to wrap some of the Jute rope from the other projects around them and glue a shell on the jars. I considered using these jars to hold the brushes in OR for Silverware holders! I found some brushes from dollar tree (obviously they were $1.00) but to add some extra detail I plan to wrap some of the Jute rope. I might even add a shell or two just for fun.

1. Mason Jar, Jute, and Tacky glue. Simply glue the Jute to the jar.

2. Added some beautiful medium- large size shells for the perfect utensil jars!

Other DIY projects
8. Food Trays
My family and I are preparing food trays and using our Sam's Club cards to get the food in bulk. We have some fun different style platters to display the food on and surprisingly a lot of the trays are from the dollar store! We're going to make custom style tooth picks with little shells glued on the tops and have a jar to collect all the shells afterwards for other projects.

9. Rentals
We plan to rent all the chairs, the arbor, and a few tables. My family is pretty amazing and said some friends will help set the reception up in exchange for a beer and snack. For the entire ceremony chairs, arbor, arbor decor it ended up being $600 (this was the most costly part of my wedding). After my wedding I will post images of the finished product on a special blog post.

10. Wedding bouquet
My mom and sister are going to help me create my wedding bouquet. The ceremony vendor is sending photos of what the arbor arrangements look like and we'll mimic the look. We did the math and this should cost no more than $25.00. After my wedding I will post images of the finished product on a special blog post.

After my wedding is over I plan to be 100% authentic with you all and show how much the wedding cost. I will pin point the most expensive parts for any of my brides-to-be that needs a good budget spreadsheet idea. Being straight forward right now... The most expensive part about my Destination Beach Wedding has been the rentals (like I said I will give a spreadsheet of the totals once the Wedding is complete!) 

Catering for Weddings

My favorite thing about weddings is food. My least favorite thing about planning my wedding... Food! I can't believe how costly it can be! I keep having to go back to the drawing board and re-balance my budget. Today I'll give some tips on how I decided on the Food/Catering budget.

Deciding on what type of food to Cater.

This is where you have to ask your family what type of reception were you having. If you're doing a relaxed 'come and go' reception you won't need to order a massive 4 course meal service. If you were only wanting a dessert theme reception then obviously, you get to grab the dessert menu! One of my favorites is a brunch theme! I also enjoyed the 'family style BBQ' theme my neighbor Amanda had. The importance on decided what style of reception you'll be having is so you can target the right Catering service and focus solely on that style of menu.

How to shop for a Caterer:

- Read reviews online!

- Check local websites and do local google searches near where your venue is! (you don't want to pay an additional travel cost!)

- Visit grocery stores! A lot of grocery stores now do catering.

- Check out your favorite restaurants and see what service they provide.

What to Ask a Caterer:

- Options of food?

- Pricing by tiers or types of food?

- Are they including drinks in the pricing?

- Is there a pouring fee with Alcohol?

- Last date you can confirm guest number?
- Is this a buffet line or a sit down and waiters will bring out the courses?

What did I do? I'm having a "Cocktail Style Reception". This means I plan to have drinks (Wine, Beer, and some non-alcoholic choices), Some simple food trays: Fruit tray, Veggie Tray, Meat Tray, Meat balls, small finger sandwiches, and for dessert Cake and Cookies. 
I wanted to keep my reception simple and wasn't wanting to have a full Dinner for everyone. This was because of price + we're going to be out on the beach! My goal is to have the food compliment the beach vibes so super chill and relaxing. 

Wedding Hair and Makeup

As I've been planning my wedding I kept throwing 'hair and makeup' on the back burner. But lately I've caught myself staying up till midnight on Pinterest searching hair styles and makeup looks. The hard part isn't visualizing how the look will turn out but deciding what is best for the location.

A very important thing to remember when selecting hair and makeup is your venue location. 

Is the event in a hot area? A cold area? Is it indoors? Or outdoors? Will you be doing a lot of dancing and moving? Or do you plan to relax and talk? 

Since I'm getting married on the beach it might not be best to have a ton of makeup on. (No Air-conditioning, sunshine + sweat, if we do pictures with water splashing... yeah, messy makeup!). Hair is very similar to makeup. Being outside in the sun and the ocean breeze certain hairstyles might not hold up as well as others. 

Hair Options

This is option one: having my hair down and wavy with some pieces pinned up.

This is option two: It's more of a updo but still relaxed and has a beachy feel.

Makeup Options:

This first makeup option is very sparkly. I like the eye lid color cause it has that beach bronze glow.

My second makeup option is more of a soft smokey eye.  I like that its not dark and has those earthy brown neutral tones. I also enjoy this look cause its not as sparkle glittery.

Next is deciding to do it yourself or hire someone.

Many girls now stick to watching a few youtube videos or having a girlfriend come by and help them style for the wedding. This is definitely the more affordable option and also gives you a chance to create a look that is authentic to you and using the products you already own and trust.

Then the other option is hiring. When having your wedding hair and makeup appointments tell the stylist where your location will be, what time of year, and what all is going on. She can help create a look that will hold up for the entire event. Once she does have you hair styled walk around with it, stand in front of a fan or toss your hair around to see how the look holds up. If you notice something doesn't feel right - rework it. By the time you leave your appointment make sure you're 100% in love the entire look and confident in the look lasting through the ceremony and reception. Another great tip is to do a look that in 20 years you won't regret. Instead of sticking to big beauty trends go for a look that will last a lifetime but also a look that truly represents you. 

What am I doing? I plan to have Bryce's sister Blair do my hair and help me with some of the makeup. She is a hair and makeup stylist. I also plan to use all my own products cause I'm comfortable using the brands that my skin is used to. 

Unique Wedding Gift Registries

Everyone has received wedding invitations with registry ID numbers to Bed Bath & Beyond or Target. But in today's day and age, most couples are already living together before marriage. And most likely already have all the home items they need.
So what do you ask for??? Today I rounded up other options for the Newlyweds that doesn't want a set of handtowels as a wedding gift.

1. Honeymoon Fund
Everyone is having to pay utilities, pay rent-car payments-medical-student loans- etc. Its hard to save up for other things. Like the Honeymoon.
Consider asking for "honey funds". There's many websites that you can set accounts with where your wedding guest can select what part of the honeymoon to pay for! Like a massage, a dolphin tour, a bottle of Champagne at dinner, or rental cars.
For Bryce and I we haven't set money aside for a Honeymoon and its the one thing we truly need help with. If you want to view our Honeymoon Fund you can by clicking here! Or if you were wanting to donate.

2. Charity
Many couples want to use their celebration as a moment to give back to others. Charity gifts is becoming a big trend. It can be giving to a foundation the couple supports, helping a go-green project within the community, or supplying a elementary classroom.

3. A New Home
Just like the honeymoon fund, there's couples who are hoping to ditch the apartment and find the forever home. There's many funding registries where guest can help pay closing cost, insurance, taxes, etc on the couples dream home.

4. Becoming More Well Rounded
Something seriously amazing is having a registry to help fund learning something new. Like a new Language. To truly grasp a language it's not just a full collection of Rosseta Stone. It's also traveling to that languages homeland and learning the tongues from the natives. Many are requesting this as a unique gift option.

5. Future children college funds
Some are requesting help in creating a savings account for future children to have funds for college. The account can be locked for X-amount of years and as you have children you can divide the money into smaller accounts. Then when each child graduates high school he/she will have collected some interest as well.

6. Help teach the Newlyweds how to cook
This is a super fun idea. Have your wedding guest help fund cooking lessons and/or with online sites like Blue Apron! Then the happy couple will learn how to create unique dishes for meals and become more well rounded in other cultures meals.

Wedding Invitations: Save the Date, RSVP's, and When to Mail

One question I’ve been asked by many is the details on invitations.  

- When to mail “Save the Date”?
- When to mail the actual invitation?
- Is the RSVP important?
- On website it states “as low as $___” so is how much will I actually pay, etc?

Today I will answer all the questions I’ve been asked, details on selecting the best way to purchase invites, and be very open about my invites too (Yes, I will tell you where I purchased mine and how much I spent!).

“Save the Date” vs The Invitation + When to mail out.
I like to think “Save the Date” as a 'look who's getting married!!!' flyer. The “Save the Date” isn’t the invitation and doesn’t guarantee an invite either. Many couples send out these cards to literally EVERYONE (family, friends, coworkers, people you attended school with, etc) but only send a fraction of Invitations. “Save the Date” can also preview the theme your wedding too.
- Are they necessary? No.
- Are they costly? Possibly. It depends on how detailed the card is and how many you have to order (don’t forget postage cost!).
- When to send? Send your “Save the Date” minimum 6 months before your wedding.

The Invitation is the official invite. This tells your guest the date your wedding is, the location, and any other important details. This is where you showcase the theme as well.  I’m big on having beautiful invitations. I think it’s important to set aside a budget on the invitations because the is where you (the bride and groom) are requesting your guest to set aside a day to celebrate with you!
- What can you include in the invitation? Anything. RSVP response cards, directions, food allergy requests, wedding gift info, formal or casual attire, etc.
- Are they costly? Depends. If you add additional cards like food allergy requests, directions, etc it can add up.
- When to send? Send your Invitations 6-8 weeks before your wedding.

What did I do? Continue reading to find out!

RSVP Information
- IS RSVP’s important? Yes and No. Sadly, about 75% of guest don’t reply to RSVP’s (even when you include the response envelope with address already printed). The RSVP to me is very important especially if the wedding is a destination or on a major holiday. RSVP's also help with final chair rental cost, food catering costs, and venue size.

If you do RSVP, I recommend including an area on the card where guest can write number of attendants too. Tip to get people to reply to RSVP's: Post a reminder on Facebook for family and friends to reply to the RSVP or send a massive group text. 

The “as low as ” trick when ordering your invitations.
When it comes to ordering invitations online you will see “as low as ___”. What does this mean? This is the lowest possible cost per card. Sounds great but the only way to get the card at such a low price requires you to order a bulk amount (sadly if you only order 50-300 invitations you won’t be getting that low amount). To be frank, the only way to get that low price is to order a massive amount of invitations (some websites the ‘low’ price requires you to order 1,000+ invitations!). 

When I shopped for invitations I ignored that “as low as” badge. I shopped for what style I liked and when it came to customizing I kept the budget low by only ordering white envelopes and keeping the colors simple (so no glittery stones or special custom ribbons that I can add on myself). 

Where to get Invitations
Just like wedding dresses, invitations can be purchased many different ways. Chain stores, specialty stores, or online.
- Chain stores range from Hobby Lobby, Target, Walmart, etc. I've even seen invitations at Homegoods and TJ Maxx! These cards are basic but in current trends. The cost is SUPER affordable and great if you need to mail out extras. This option is great for brides who don’t want to invest a lot in invitation. 
- Specialty stores have A LOT of varieties and can do customization. The cost is pricy but results are amazing. Some require appointments and you will need to invest time to give the designer details on what you envision. Some specialty stores can be mom + pop boutiques, Paper Source, and Swoozies.
- Online is a combination of chain and specialty. You can get the budget price + the customization. Online you must shop around for the best price, look for promotional codes, and invest your time in customizing (you're in charge of the customization).  When ordering you HAVE to proof read and accept your order has been finalized. If you accidentally approve the wrong date its not the websites fault (so no refunds).  Online shops are Shutterfly, BasicInvite, VistaPrint, and Minted.

What did I do? I ordered my invitations online from basicinvites.com. For about 3 weeks off/on I customized my cards. I wanted to add special touches. I ordered invitation, rsvp cards, and gift info cards. I kept the budget low by using stock envelopes and opted to hand write the addresses, ordered the amount I truly needed + used stock paper to create my own direction inserts. My invites was exactly $200.00. I ordered a total of 25 cards, 20 rsvps, and 20 gift info cards. *remember my wedding is very exclusive*

If you have any questions about ordering invitations, what websites I created sample cards on, or need a opinion just drop a question below, email me, or DM me on my instagram!

These Shells seen in the photos will be used as center pieces at my wedding reception tables! 

have a Sunny Day

- Pomp and Palms

Shopping for Affordable Wedding Decor

My opinion, wedding decor is the icing on a cake. The decor helps shape your wedding theme into a reality. The decor is a valuable tool to use in transitioning from the ceremony to the reception. Have you ever been to a wedding and the ceremony theme was polar opposite of the reception? But you could tell they DID try to blend the two? This is a fear many brides have. Attempting to make two match but it just doesn't pan out.

For my wedding I want the reception to compliment the beautiful ceremony. I don't want one to over power the other and I don't want the two to look sloppy.. Oh! And I CAN NOT break the bank on decor. Therefore my decor has to be spot on in price and style for this to be successful. Today's post I'm going to give you my secrets on how to shop for affordable decor pieces.

Ask if the wedding venue has decor pieces or your florist. Many wedding venues have a closet full of random decor pieces. Make sure its not an additional charge (most just request the item replaced if it breaks). Florist that are big on weddings sometimes have a collection of rental decor pieces as well. The florist I'm using has lanterns, signage, candles, and more.

Shop for unique pieces at off price retailers.  TJMaxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, HomeSense, Ross, Stein Mart, and Burlington Coat Factory are all "off- price" retailers. I LOVE these stores for finding unique and name brand decor pieces. I wouldn't recommend trying to purchase every artificial floral arrangement from one of these stores cause the drop shipment varies. But unique pieces or pieces that you want 1-3 of you can find here!

Shop for DIY, Artificial arrangements, and favor accessories at crafting stores. Hobby Lobby, Michael's, AC Moore Crafts, and Old Time Pottery are perfect for finding those 'do it yourself' pieces.  I love scouting these stores for things I need many units of. Don't forget to log onto their websites to see if they have coupons available! 

Perfect DIY crafts. For this I would add some shells or Spanish moss as well.

Super simple craft. Grab some Sugar Starfish, straw, and hot glue!

For rare pieces, custom pieces, or something you rather have shipped; hop on the internet! A good google search will help you find some of those rare items, fun custom favors, and well things that you may not want to purchase in store. Example:  Purchasing artificial palm fronds in bulk from a online retailer instead of in-store. Hobby Lobby was charging $5.99 per 6 pack but online you can get the same fronds in a dozen for $8.99.  *Tip: read reviews before purchasing items online. I'm big on finding reviews that have images of the product to make sure it's legitimate!*

Hobby Lobby $5.99 for 6pack

Oriental Trading Post $8.99 for dozen

Friends, Family, and Facebook. If you recently seen a friend or family member have a wedding/party with some decor you really liked.. Ask! 98% of the decor gets thrown in a closet or pitched. Most people I've seen gladly donate it but I've seen some sell the items for a very fair price too! If its a piece they're actually keeping see if you could borrow it for the day.

I will do a post on Wedding DIY decor pieces I make (So far I'm making my own cake topper, table center pieces, gift favors)! After my wedding I will do a thorough post on where I purchased ALL of my decor (for any of my ladies who want to have a simple beach-costal- seaside wedding!)

Have a sunshine kind of day!
-pomp and palms

Wedding Series: Beach Wedding Venue Field Guide

If you’re having a beach wedding like me there’s many affordable options. At first I thought my only choice is paying a high price for a resort wedding or selecting a glitzy area with Homeowner Association rules I must follow. But once I started doing my research I found out I can have it all (wedding & reception) without pulling a loan from the bank!

First things first, deciding what beach. Living in the Fort Walton/Destin area it wasn’t a hard choice. But for anyone who’s not near the ocean I highly recommend doing some homework. A simple Google search isn’t going to cut it. 

Example: If you Google “Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Beach views” you’ll get beautiful beach pictures. But being a North Carolinian (I vacationed most of my childhood in the NC/SC beaches) I know Myrtle Beach has a bad reputation for being a dirty beach. Instead, go the extra step and check social media sites like Instagram and search the hashtag “Myrtle Beach” (or search with terms that concern you "Myrtle Beach dirty?" "Shells on Myrtle Beach" "Beach Trash" etc). Also go to websites of news stations that are local to the beach area you want. News websites always have current images of the beaches and you can see how the weather was in that area last year too. [Below I have pictures of Myrtle Beach]

Just searching "Myrtle Beach" on Google

Searching "Myrtle Beach In Real Life"

Next is seeing if the State your beach location is in allows public beach weddings. Most do! Just double check. Some require a permit if the event is attracting a large crowd. I know in Florida ANY public beach you ARE allowed to do weddings, parties, photo shoots, etc. But if it’s over 50 attendants you must get a permit from the county and fire department. Some states require a ‘request’ that has to be approved as well. Some request a detailed itinerary of what you plan to do.

After you look into a general location + requirements, your next step is deciding a more specific spot for your special day.

Options for beach front wedding views:

• Resorts. Resorts LOVE doing weddings. They can get a bit pricy but it’s always an option. Pros of a resort: they will make sure no one is on the beach when you’re having the wedding ceremony. The beaches is ALWAYS clean! Cons: some Resorts have strict contracts with vendors and require you have to follow their list of catering services, decorators, Dj’s, etc. Some resorts also require you to rent rooms there within your wedding package. Resorts sometimes have noise regulations (so at a certain time of day you can't have specific music or partying).

• Renting a large beach house for the wedding. This is a good choice for having the entire wedding party under one roof! Here in the Destin, the houses were a bit too expensive for my price point & many affordable houses stated in the contract “No weddings or reception celebrations”. This is because the owners don’t want any property damage. BUT there is houses you can rent for events! You just need to request a copy of the rental agreement before payment or request the rental agency to send you options that meets your specific needs. Pros of a large beach house: rooming the entire wedding party. You can host both ceremony and reception at the house. In case of bad weather you can quickly get to shelter. Cons: some houses have extremely strict rules on what you can have on the property. Some houses request no inside photos. Some houses only allow a certain number of people and cars on the premises. Some require Homeowner Association regulations. 

• State Park Pavilions or State Beach Pavilions. Park Pavilions are SUPER affordable and you can locate pavilions that have bathrooms, electricity, and well, ones that are literally on the beach! Some park agreements state you can not have glass bottles, no smoking, no fireworks, etc but this is stuff you can work out. Instead of glass wine bottles do plastic or boxed wine (simple right?). Pros of Pavilions: the cost to rent goes back to that community unit. Many pavilions are at great location/views. If rain, you will have a shelter to stay under. Cons: its a public place so there will be some people still using the adjacent pavilions, majority won't allow glass or heating trays (fire reasons), most request the event to be over by dusk. 

And there you have it! The first major steps on planning an affordable beach wedding location!
After you figure this out you can start the next step which is finding a florist/vendor that has beach wedding arches, rental chairs/tables, and floral arrangements. My next post will go into more depth about this topic.

What wedding venue route did I choose? I went with the state park pavilions. My wedding will be at the end of September at Navarre Beach Marine Park. I rented two beach pavilions for the entire day (sun rise - sunset) for $100.00. I rented two in case of rain. I could do the ceremony under one and reception under the other one. If sunny, I'll have two pavilions for reception space! The price being only $100.00 has given me extra money for decor and food! I’m excited for my pavilions because it’s near the Navarre Coral Reefs which I think is a beautiful touch to my wedding. I love marine life and protecting the oceans.

Navarre Beach Marine Park Pavilions. Mine are the two on the right!

This is what Navarre Beach looks like. Its a very peaceful beach with very few houses! If anyone ever wants to travel to a calm beach this one is nicknamed "most relaxing beach" because its super peaceful and quiet.

This is an image of Navarre Beach Coral Reef which is right next to my pavilions! Navarre Beach has a huge sea turtle conservation center that educates how to help protect turtles and their nests (they even have a sea turtle you can meet in person!). Each year thousands of baby turtles are born and make their way into the ocean from Navarre Beach!