Hello readers! Thank you all for your wonderful comments about our DIY Bingo Card Save the Dates; we’re so proud of them, and we’re so excited that you all love them just as much as we do!

Today isn’t so much a “Green Friday;” it’s more like a “Budget-Friendly Friday!” The girls over at DIY Bridal Files were kind enough to feature our Save the Date cards on their blog, so I wanted to show them a little love by introducing my readers to the sheer loveliness over at DIY Bridal Files.

Look for these girls to post twice per day on DIY goodness found all over the blogosphere! From Daily DIY projects to free printables, DIY Bridal Files is a one-stop shop for any DIY, budget-conscious bride.

Big thanks to the girls over at DIY Bridal Files for their feature! Go show them some love, readers – check out DIY Bridal Files here!

Have a blissful weekend!

First of all, I can’t even believe that this template is FREE for download, but click over here at Ruffled for a free printable notecard & envelope template; this is too gorgeous not to use! (Can anyone say invitations for a rehearsal dinner or a gift-opening brunch?!) Plus, the template is designed in our wedding colors!

J and I have been seriously fighting against the Wedding Industrial Complex (WIC) lately, and that has caused some pretty hefty friction in our relationship as well. I know that it’s “normal” for couples to bump heads while planning a wedding, but I think that I have really been sucked into the WIC lately.

While J and I stated at the beginning that we wanted our wedding to be cost-effective (i.e. we didn’t want to go into debt for one day in our lives), I realized that I’ve been operating under the assumption that “everything would work itself out” in terms of finances, and if a snapshot of our last week is any evidence of that (to summarize: life changes quickly), I realize that I am seriously wrong.

That being said, J and I haven’t spent one dime…yet. (Well, that’s not entirely true; I purchased 12 brooches (mostly gold) from an antique store in Lincoln, NE, this summer for a measly $30.o0 (a steal, really!)). So, in spirit of what J and I originally envisioned for our wedding day, today marks the day that I’m rethinking a lot of things.

First off, the guest list. While from the beginning I said that I wanted a small wedding, the guest list has sort of ballooned into a 150+ party, and J and I have serious issues about footing the bill to accommodate that many guests. While we love all of our family and friends, we desperately want to pare down the guest list and only invite those family members and friends who have watched us grow in love and who we couldn’t imagine being without on such an important day.

So, our new target number:  no more than 80 guests. I’m expecting the process of cutting down the list to be rather painful, but liberating at the same time.

Second, the venue:  I emailed my contact at the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls this morning to gauge the availability (and pricing structure) of a smaller space within the museum. The Pavilion is full of beautiful, historical spaces, and I very much would like to take advantage of all they have to offer (staffed bar, indoor venue, free parking, etc). J and I also plan to get a quote for renting a tent that can accommodate 80 people, for price comparisons. Since my Dad’s company would be able to provide us with chairs and tables at minimal or no cost, we would certainly save funds there by not having to rent them from a third-party.

Third, the dress:  After many, many conversations about the importance of the dress to me, I hope that J is finally beginning to understand that for me, the wedding gown embodies all that I’ve been waiting my life for. I’ve never worn a garter (not even to Prom) intentionally because I wanted to save that for my wedding day. I’ve had two Prom dresses that were both found on clearance, and while these dresses were beautiful, I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life to have a gown that makes me feel like a princess. I am beginning to understand that spending ridiculous amounts of money on a gown I’ll wear once is very, very silly and rather selfish in the grand scheme of things, but at the same time, I’m recognizing that my desire to feel like a bride on my wedding day is valid and deserved. So, the quest for an affordable but beautiful vintage-inspired gown continues next weekend, as I head to Sioux City’s Happily Ever After salon with my Mom and…my Dad! I’m very excited that he’s coming along.

Last, pre-marital counseling:  Especially after this past week’s struggles, J and I are realizing the importance and utter necessity of pre-marital counseling. While we try very hard to communicate with each other in an open and clear manner, we are both very stubborn and passionate individuals, which makes coming to terms with a decision very difficult. We’re very anxious to begin this process, and plan to begin investigating what opportunities are available to us.

I hope that my renewed vision and focus on creating the wedding of our dreams on an affordable budget will prove fruitful in our discussions with our families and in my discussions with J.

I apologize for not posting yesterday; one of my very good friends from high school was in town, and we spent the evening chatting about boys, playing games and reminiscing about our days at Brandon Valley High School. It was a blast!

Today’s post is a lot of fun – I’m beginning to hone in on what I envision for our wedding invitations! As you all are aware, I’m in love with all things vintage-inspired, and I desperately want to incorporate this love of old things and of tradition into my wedding while still keeping some elements new. I am starting to realize that J and my wedding will be a blend of “Something Old” with “Something New,” and I love that!

As of now, J and I are planning on a mid-July 2010 wedding, so instead of the deep browns and crimson reds and olive greens that I was imagining for a fall wedding, I’m now thinking bright and bold colors! Lately, I’m loving the idea of bright, fuschia pink flowers and cobalt blue dresses, ties, and linens. How fun does that sound!

If we indeed go that route, I found this WONDERFUL and (get this: FREE) invitation suite on IDIY awhile back, and I just love the simplicity of it! All we would need to do is change the wording to fit our needs, add our own personal touches to make it our own, and print away! These invites have an old-world feel to them that I love!

However, I’m also So. In. Love. with the invitation below, and I think I can tap the graphic design skills of a few friends and family members to get something like this done. It’s a new twist on a wedding invitation; get ready to scroll, people!

Hope you have a wonderful, restful weekend!

[Photo credits: IDIY]

Good evening, all! (Actually, how about great evening? Are you having one?)

As an attempt to develop a blogitorial calendar, I figured I would devote my first Tuesday post to honoring the talents of others who have inspired me to devle into the world of vintage-inspired or eco-conscious weddings (hence the title: Tuesday Fanblog). First up: Vintage Glam Weddings.

Arriving at my office each morning is exciting, and apart from the peanut butter toast that I’m about to consume (it’s one of my Monday – Friday rituals), the majority of my eagerness to open the office doors each day stems from the blog I view first each morning: Vintage Glam Weddings.

From her super-chic photography showcases to her wonderful knack for knowing what makes weddings special (it’s in the details, people!), Amanda is a vintage bride herself, and it shows (click here to see her unbelievable wedding photography). Not only does Amanda offer free downloads (like this telegram template), but the weddings that she showcases on Vintage Glam Weddings are inspirational in their DIY goodness and their creativity.

Vintage Glam Weddings certainly provided a wonderful launching pad for me in trying to decipher what I wanted for my own wedding, and for the endless inspiration that Amanda provides, a big THANK YOU!