Get the look for less- how to emulate your favorite vibe in a more affordable way.

So, if you want your reception to look like this (see below), but you are a budget-savy bride (or groom), you gotta figure out what concepts you love and why, and how you can make those concepts come to life in other ways. For example, what I love about these photos are the bright pops of color, the votive candles to accent the centerpieces and the unique vibe. Here are some very simple ways to emulate what I liked.

Anna's version:
No floral centerpieces needed. Really, they die and they're expensive as heck. Choose your style- I've included several to achieve that chic, colorful look on a budget.
1. Rice paper votive holder: just google rice paper votive holder and you will find a plethera of affordable and cute, chic votice holders. Try here. Only like 3 bucks I think.
2. Blue votive, only 2.75.
3. Wholesale votive holders: You pay $33 for a box of 72. Awesome!
4. Pier 1 Imports- cute lanterns, now on sale for less than 5 bucks each! Fabulous centerpieces. These are not votive sizes; they're probably 7-8 inches. I have one.
5. Thank you again, Pier 1, for being so addictive. Mercury Glass Star Tealight Holders- normally 10 bucks, now only 2.48.
6. Yes, Pier 1 again. 4 bucks for this pretty starfish ceramic tealight holder. Precious, elegant, laid back at the same time. Delicious.
7. Get a satin table runner at wholesale prices. There are a bunch of websites that offer this, here's one. 35 bucks for 15 table runners... seems too good to be true!



Coral, grey, light blue- inspiration for my color scheme!

Blog readers, if you're out there, here are my colors. It always helps to find pictures that inspire you so you can figure out what looks you like, as my mother suggested. So, here is my inspiration! My colors are light grey, coral & light blue... or as one photo adequately labels the colors- coral, oyster and lagoon. Whatever. I am torn though... coral dresses or grey dresses with coral earrings and coral flowers? My only hesitation about coral dresses is the guys... they may not be too keen on coral vests and ties. It's not life or death though; they can deal. I do like the pop of color coral dresses have, but then again, it's an evening wedding so the effect is a bit different. I'll probably do a post on grey dresses- they are soooo the rage right now. SO hot. Like a hot potatoe.

Also, if you didn't know, I am doing a "taste of Florida" theme since my fiance and I kinda have 2 homes- our home in South Florida, and our roots in New Hampshire... so since the wedding is in NH, we are bringing a taste of our sunny Florida to the wedding.