DIY Ribbon Wands

Hey everyone...a month from now I will be Mrs. Gobble. I am super excited. Mainly for the honeymoon. Does that sound bad? I am happy to get married, a little scared to have my life change in such a big way, but so happy to have this next adventure with my best friend.

Now on to some money saving stuff. So, everyone probably knows that I took on this ribbon wand project as one of the feature items for my Ribbon in the Sky wedding theme. I got an Oriental Trading magazine in the mail, well actually John got it in mail and I looked at it. I was looking through and guess what I saw. Ribbon Wands. They were $17.00 for a pack of 24. I couldn't believe it. These things are getting pretty popular. I think I am ahead of the trend. Anyway I will compare their unit price to the price that I am spending on all my materials as well as give a quick run down on how easy it is to make them for cheap.

Here is the stuff  that I bought/used for my wands...

Ribbon: $3.93/100 yards on papermart.com. I will need 800 yards to complete 400 wands.

Grilling Skewers: $.99 for a pack of 100. I am gluing two skewers together so I need 8 packs.

Scissors: already have

Hot Glue Gun: Already Have

Measuring Tape: Already Have

DIY Unit Price: $.10 per wand

Oriental Trading Unit Price: $.70 per wand

That a pretty big savings. I am pretty proud of myself. I think that my time is worth $240. Sheesh. Well, they are pretty easy to make. Just take your skewers, and glue two of them together to make them stronger and make sure they don't break when people wave them around. I cut off the pointy side once I glue them together. 

Cut the ribbon to the desired length (I used a foot and a half) and then glue as many as you want to one end of the sticks. I am using three in my wedding colors of light blue, silver and white.

Then wrap the skewers with another strip of ribbon. This will make it stronger as well as hide the skewers and make them prettier.

My finished product looks like this:

They are really easy to make and it will take you a lot less time then me because I am making 400 of these. They are a lot cheaper than bubbles, and they're no mess no fuss unlike throwing rice. 

I love these and I hope that I can get some cute pictures of people waving them. I have a couple more DIY projects that I need to start along with these. I finished the wedding programs and now need to print them. I've gotta go out and buy the fabric for my veil and make that. Things are coming together slowly but surely. 

I hope this helps out some other DIY brides and that you find as much joy in making your day as beautiful as you would like it to be. Save those pennies brides and remember what this is all about. Your and your future husband making a life together. 

Brandy's Bougie Bridal Bananza

Hey everyone. I know its been a while since my last post. As everyone can imagine, its been so crazy. With about a month and a half until the big day, things are getting crazier and crazier. Weddings bring out something strange in people, but oh well on to happier things like the wonderful bridal shower that I had. It was perfect. I have been saying that I wanted something small and intimate since our wedding is going to be rather large. Well, my mom kept inviting people to the shower and I just gave up on my small and intimate affair, just like I did with the wedding. But, it turns out that it was a small and intimate affair after all.

My mom and bridesmaids are the best. Some of the highlights of the day were:

1. My cousin and bridesmaid coming from North Carolina to surprise me. The funniest part was the fact that I had just talked to her earlier in the week and she was saying how she wouldn't be able to make it. I was totally cool with that, but then I saw her drive up, it really made me happy. Thanks Blaire.

2. My maid of honor's bougie bridal shower ideas. Watches and such as prizes for games, custom made raffle tickets with the wedding theme design on them and last but not least chocolate bars with custom made labels with the wedding theme on them. The name of this post pretty much sums up my bridal shower. Love it. LOL

3. My friend Erica driving all the way from Ohio when she heard that her invitation got lost in the mail somehow. I told her when the bridal shower was going to be and she made her way here. I have some really great friends. Thanks Erica. Love you girl.

4. Two words: Gas Card. LOL

5. The most amazing bougie desserts a bridal shower could ever have. My aunt Mar made various flavors of parfaits (most places call them shooters) and there were even mini spoons to eat them with.

6. The huge smile on my fiance's 91 year old grandmother face when I opened up various lingerie sets.

7. Last, but certainly not least, the family and friends who came out to celebrate such a life changing event in my life. I am so grateful to have such great family and such great friends.

Pictures are to come. Once again thanks so much for everyone who came out to celebrate this special day with me. I really enjoyed myself and had a blast.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Hey everyone. Two months until our wedding and guess what, yup the invitations have been sent out. I am super excited about them. I personally think they are the best invitations I have seen, but I am of course bias. Thanks to my buddy PJ for helping me design them. The pictures do not do them justice. I still have a few to send out, but I have been lazy and haven't gotten around to sending them, but the bulk of them have been sent out and I have heard from people who have gotten them. 

Ok...I will admit, they were slightly over budget, but I feel that I got exactly what I want for about the same price as if I would have bought something I wasn't completely in love with. I made 260 of these invitations as well as reply cards and 2 different direction cards. The paper is shimmery silver (which took me forever to find) and the envelopes were on sale buy two get one free. I had coupons and got a bulk discount as well. John laughed at me the whole time I called all over the city to get the price I wanted, but ended up actually under budget if you add in the stamps. Because I didn't use reply cards that needed envelops and the paper was a lighter weight, I didn't have to pay extra to send the invitations. All in all, I think I got a pretty good deal with these considering the custom work and the specialty paper. 

What they look like closed

The opened invitation and RSVP postcard

I also have already gotten some RSVPs back. So love people who are punctual and send in the RSVPs back before the deadline, but I know there will be a ton that I will have to call next month to get a final head count. 

I really hope that I did not offend anyone. Me and John are paying for this wedding ourselves and are doing everything within our power to include as many people as we can. I personally wanted a small intimate garden wedding, but given the fact that my family is very large that is virtually impossible. But, anyway, I hope everyone who received or will receive the invitations loves them as much as I love them. If you are reading this and would like to know where we are registered, all the information is on our wedding website. But, to keep you from going multiple places, we are registered at Target, Macy's & JC Penney. I will be adding new items as often as I can. 

Our day is coming up really quickly. Yes, I am excited, but honestly, I am more excited to spend time with my honey at the honeymoon. We may argue and disagree on stuff, but John, you are without a doubt the best man for me and I am so happy that you will be my husband. 

Save those pennies everyone and enjoy your evening.