“Wait, they don’t love you like I love you…”

Given the title of this blog is a song lyric, I’m sure you can guess where this is going.  For any unfamiliar with the song, it was Maps, and this blog is all about maps.

I often sing the praises of books and things made from books, so I thought I would lean towards maps this time!  Here are some beautiful DIY things made from maps!  If, like me, you love books, these things could also easily be made with book pages!

Maybe you love to travel, or met on holiday, maybe you’re having a destination wedding, or maybe you just love maps; hopefully there’s some inspiration here for you!

It’s The Little Touches…

(Forgive the shorter post tonight, and the missed post over the weekend, I’m a little under the weather!)

Tonight’s post is a few little touches that you may not have thought of.  Either take these ideas for your own, or perhaps they will inspire you to add your own unique little touches!

Creating A Colour Scheme

I touched briefly on colour schemes for Autumn and Winter in the post for cold-weather weddings, and with a palette in front of you it’s easy to select a few colours that go together, but how do you go about creating a colour scheme from scratch?

To do this you need to both understand colour, and understand what kind of vibe you’re trying to create, whether it’s using different shades or tones of the same colour family, or clashing colours for a vibrant look.

We’re going to look in-depth at a colour wheel so that we can really understand the relationships between the colours!  There are more in-depth posts out there, but as our aim here is creating colour schemes for weddings, I’m going to stick to a few main groups.

Cold Weather Weddings

Autumn and winter may not be the most popular time to be wed, but it’s my favourite time of year so here are some lovely ideas to inspire you to have your own cold weather wedding!

Also, remember that (aside from Christmas) a lot of venues will be cheaper at this time of year!  So if you’re after a cheaper alternative to a summer (peak time!) wedding, then why not consider an autumn wedding?  There’s a lot of joy to be had in choosing rich, autumnal colours, and seasonal blooms.

Budget Planning Made Easy

Budget planning for your wedding is so extremely important, and most brides don’t realise just how important it is.  It’s no good playing it by ear, not unless you’ve got the money to spare for going way over budget.  Another huge, and common, mistake is brides planning their budgets around their wedding, not their wedding around their budget.

We all have that DREAM venue, or that DREAM dress, but be realistic; can you afford it?  If you desperately want it, then do include it in your budget, but make savings elsewhere.  You’re spending extra on the dream dress, so maybe opt for a buffet instead of a sit down meal.  You’re getting your dream venue despite the extra money?  Don’t provide any drinks for toasts etc.  Bear in mind that your Groom may have other ideas on what’s important, so be sure to sit down and talk about what you both want from your wedding day.

As a bride these are the tough choices you’ll need to make.  To help you on your way, here is a complete budget planner, including a few blank lines at the end for anything that may be missing (God forbid!)

Click to download: CRAFTY BRIDES Budget Planner

For further tips on managing your budget, and your own expectations…

Imaginative & Useful Save The Date Cards

I’m a big believer in making every aspect of your wedding memorable, regardless of size or budget.  It’s why I started this blog!  I believe Save The Dates are SO important, especially in an age where everyone works and no-one can get time off work without booking it six months in advance.  Here are some unique, creative, and even some useful save the date cards to start you on your wedding journey.

Save the date magnets

Magnets are the idea save the date, that you KNOW your guests won’t lose.  Who doesn’t have a fridge?  This way they will see your wedding date every day, and can keep it long after the wedding as a keepsake!  Bride & Groom Direct have some great ones to buy, or if you want to make your own, see this tutorial by Project Wedding.

Will You Be My Bridesmaid?

Asking your girls to be your bridesmaids is, and should be, a big deal.  Yes, you’re engaged and your best friends will naturally assume that they are your bridesmaids.  It may even be something you’ve spoken about in the past, but it’s still nice to be asked!  It’s like a proposal, you knew that was where your relationship was heading, but you still expect to be asked. (Hey, why should the groom get all the fun of planning a proposal?) Here are some creative and squeal-inducing ways to ask your girls to be your bridesmaids.

1. The traditional written “invite” (with a DIY twist)

This tutorial from Glamour & Grace is just about my most favourite thing in the entire world.  Very simply made with white pencil and watercolour paints (we all did this at school!)  There’s even a tutorial to make the envelopes!  You can personalise colours to suit your bridesmaids tastes, or your themes, and you don’t have to use the template provided – Let your imagination run wild!

A Wedding To Remember

So you’ve been slaving away planning your wedding, but let me ask you, what sets it apart from other weddings?  What are your guests going to remember about it in 20 years time?  I’ve gathered some great, and fun ideas to make your wedding extra memorable, from sending the save the dates right up to making the day itself a little different.  I hope you enjoy them!

 

1. Send a memorable Save The Date

Save the date cards are the intro to your ENTIRE wedding.  They give people a taste of what the day is going to be like, so colour scheme, fonts, and anything else you think about are important.  Personally, I ALWAYS save any Save The Date cards or invites that I receive, so why not make them memorable?  They will give your guests a giggle, and let’s face it they’re more likely to remember the date!

Cute DIY Wedding Favours

Ahh, wedding favours.  Of course they’re a must, you want to give your guests a keepsake, but sometimes you find the perfect gift, and realise that the cost per guest is just too much.  Here are some unique ideas for memorable DIY keepsakes that cost pence per guest, not pounds, and will keep your guests smiling long after the wedding.

1. A Cup of Tea

We Brits just can’t resist a delicious cup of tea, with these two tutorials you can make a really great favour for your guests and give the gift of a great cuppa.  Boho Weddings tutorial uses existing tea bags, meaning you can go as standard or fancy as you like, or for an added personal touch Spokane Bride have a great tutorial using loose tea leaves and muslin.

Inspiration: DIY Bows

From table decorations, to invite bling, to cake toppers, bows are beautiful and versatile.  Here are some of my favourite bow tutorials from around the web.  Experiment with colour, texture, and patterns to add a whole new dimension to your wedding.

1. Easy “Cheat” Bow

I just adore this “cheat” bow from All Things Original.  So simple to make and you could easily up or down size to make the perfect sized bow for your needs!  Tiny ones would be so simple to make to use as embellishments on invites, or other stationery.