DIY: Bridesmaid Jewelry

Our DIY necklaces and bracelets for the bridesmaids were completed towards the end of January - sorry for the delay just trying to get caught up & share the crafty inexpensive idea with my fellow followers. :)

So here is a little sneak of my FH Ricky (sucha team player) crafting the bridesmaid jewelry (gifts) with me (Oh, & a close up of my e-ring!)!

Items Used:

♥ 1 Sheer Ribbon (for the necklaces) $1.99

♥ pack of 8 bracelets bought online at forever21 $3.80

♥ 2 bags of white pearl beads (6mm) from JoAnns $2.10 each (on sale)

♥ 1 pack of memory wire (contains 6 - but we cut them smaller) from JoAnns $1.25

♥♥♥TOTAL: $11.24

[[[$11.24/ 8 bridesmaids = ~$1.41 per bridesmaid for both a necklace and bracelet!]]]

How To:

♥ For the BRACELETS we cut the wire with regular pliers, strung the beads and bent the end under the beads. To tie in the grey on the bridesmaid shoes and the grey sheer ribbon for the necklaces I choose a satin-like grey ribbon and tied a little bow on every bracelet.

♥ For the NECKLACES we cut different size lengths of sheer ribbon (for different length necklaces and beading, thread the ribbon onto a large sewing needle and thread the beads onto the ribbon, to complete the ribbon they tie into a pretty bow. As pictured above.

Hope the girls love these handmade crafty creations!

Guess we'll find out in 5 1/2 months!

Bridesmaid Gift Idea

Last night I went shopping with my Matron of Honor [Amanda] and I was in search of cheap tank tops to make "Matron, Maid, Bridesmaid" Shirts. I know that NOT all of the girls want to wear one of these tanks BUT I also know my younger sisters [Bridesmaids] REALLY want one!

So, after walking around Old Navy I spotted the ribbed tanks that are usually 2 for $10 but instead their $7.50 each [OUCH!] After debating on tank top that reads "Matron, Maid, Bridesmaid" I weighed a decision that has yet to be made...

For everyone I could MAKE [I smell a DIY project] buttons that pin onto whatever their wearing OR sashes. :) And instead I could buy them all...

TA DA! This sun dress from Old Navy ONLY $15 & this way they could wear it again - rather than a "matron, Maid, Bridesmaid" tank. And we could all wear this (in different colors) for the rehearsal! Now only if I could find a coupon or something and I would totally jump on this thought.

$15 Sun Dresses x 1 Matron 1 Maid & 6 Bridesmaids = $120

I want great gifts for the girls but this may be pushing the gift budget just a little.

Wedding Cost Estimater

Wedding Cost Estimate
Based on the zip code you entered for 48380 Milford township: Oakland County, MI , the number of guests (200+), and the items selected, the estimated wedding cost is between $53,638 and $89,400.

OUCH! I'll let you ladies know what I come up with in the end!
Cause I know it won't be near $53,638.

Want to know how much your wedding will average... CLICK HERE.

[ Got this link from a dear blogger JESS ]

Introducing...

THE WEDDING PARTY

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THE LADIES

Stephanie: (on the left/ me on the right, Christmas 2008) My Maid of Honor. "Sister" (without the same birth parents) we have lived together since we both graduated high school... we argue just like "real" sisters.

Amanda: (above on the right) My Matron of Honor - married in June 2008. My Fiance's first cousin. My childhood friend - we've been best friends since I was 4 and she was 3.
Kari: (above on the left) My Bridesmaid. Best friend that lives miles and miles away in Italy. Military wife cousin.

LeighAnn: (above on the left) My Bridesmaid. Fashion forward friend. Future sister in-law (she is marrying my fiance's twin {on the right}).

Breanne: (above) My Bridesmaid. Future cheerleader sister in-law. Younger text crazy sister of my fiance'.

Brooke: (above far left) My Bridesmaid. My crazy dancing sister who loves Michael Jackson.
Samantha: (above in the middle) My Bridesmaid. My getto talking sister who is in love with Terry Clark.
Paige: (above far right) My Bridesmaid. My sassy sister who has mood swings for days.

FLOWER GIRLS PHOTOS COMING SOON!

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THE GUYS

Scott (left) & Kevin (right): Two Bestmen. Scott & my fiance' Rick are Twins. Kevin is my fiance's little brother. They are all three crazy sports lovers and best friends.

Brian: (yellow shorts above) Groomsman. Cousin of my fiance'. Good man - married to a great woman, lives in Georgia.
Nick: (white t-shirt) Groomsman. Cousin of my fiance'. Good guy - in love with a wonderful girl.

Josh: Groomsman. A very good friend of mine ("E") since high school.

Andrew: (above on the left) Groomsman. My Brother. A father - soon to be husband. Walking me down the aisle.

Kyle: Groomsman. My youngest brother. Baseball fanatic. Walking me down the aisle.



Ryan: Ring Bear. My "Brother". My "sister" Stephanie's adopted brother. Ryan loves his Ricky's. (Since he was little he called both me & Rick - Ricky - I think because Erica was too hard for him to say, it's so cute!)


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SOME SPECIAL ADULTS IN MY LIFE

Rhonda & Bill
Grandpa T.
Mary Kay & Craig
Barb & Carl

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1 Chronicles 16:34 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Flower Girlies

I AM TORN!

Do I want my beautiful flower girlies to wear:

1. A cute little white dress; or

2. A cute little bright pink dress?

SEXY Bridesmaids

And Oh Are My Ladies Sexy. :) ;)

So, Rick & I have 8EIGHT Bridesmaids in our wedding, all different shapes, sizes and heights - so we headed to David's Bridal multiple times and FINALLY found the most PERFECT bridesmaid dresses.

Little Black DRESSES
We are going to let the girls pick between the strapped dress and strapless.
The dresses will be black (like the photos).
The girls love these dresses because they have "hidden" pockets.
& the fabric is a cotton/satin blend that according to some of the girls feels like bed sheets. ;)
&&& the best part about these dresses is that you can wear them again!

SHOE Fanatic
Being that our bridesmaids are all different shapes, sizes & HEIGHTS I choose 2TWO amazing shoes that I spotted at Target on SALE.

The HEELS are mostly black, with a dark gray heel & bow & on the bow is a black beaded flower-like cluster. To boot - these babies are super cozy. & The FLATS are a beauty too! THANK YOU TARGET!

Pink High Heels

The CUTEST pink high heels EVER finally showed up on my door step this evening. And let me tell you they are the HOTTEST shoes ever! Well you can be the judge but I totally already voted. Plus, you can't beat the price $12.50 - gotta love Forever21.

(Update on these Pink High Heels... well - I had to get 7 girls to tell me their shoe size & by the time I got sizes figured out there were not longer the right sizes online & finding these babies in the store... come-on-now- have you ever tried to find something at forever21? Their items come & go... So though these shoes are very cute and totally worth the price they just weren't meant to be.)