Questions Questions Questions!!!!

sbrown1809

Okay so first question is for the people who to their e-pictures in deep ellum. My FI and I went down there to pick the murals that we wanted to take our pictures in front of but we only found about 2 before we decided it was too hot and we were hungry. Does anyone remember street names that some other murals are on or landmarks they are by? We were planning on trying again Friday after work and i told him i would ask you guys.

Question number 2 is about gown and bouquet preservation. From what I found its going to cost about 200-800 dollars just for my dress alone, I don't know about my bouquet. Is there an alternative thats cheaper? Is there another way I can preserve my stuff without paying so much?

Question 3...Party Favors and centerpieces...What are some good party favor idea? We don't want to do candy or food because most of my dad's side of the family is diabetic and I honestly think cake and Italian food is enough. We want something that will last forever. I am the first one in my immediate family to get married...well have a ceremony and my mom wants to make an album and keep everything so i want the favors to be nice and non-lame. As for the centerpieces...same thing...our wedding is supposed to be elegant and classy yet we want stuff you don't see at weddings all the time you know? I am a DIY bride so i don't mind making things. I have a year to make things but I just haven't came up with any ideas thats different but yet still nice.

Last Question...We have no idea what we want to give our parents or ushers or groomsmen as gifts...we are trying to make a budget for that category but we have no clue what kind of gifts we want to give. My bridesmaids...Im makeing them personlized tote bags that they can put their stuff in for the wedding I will also put things in there that they will like as well as maybe a necklace or earrings and i would give them that at the bach party or bridal shower.

Once again suggestions will be greatly appreciated...

KendallandAlbert

Q1 - Cafe Brazil is where we parked.  If you go south 1 street then turn back west, you will find several

Q2 - Not much help as I am doing neither

Q3 - I am going to be brutally honest - most non-edible favors get left or trashed.  As much as we want to believe that everyone is sentimental about our wedding, they don't want to take home silly favors.  I have been to at least 10 weddings with non-edible favors.  I took 1 of them - a coozie.  And I only took it because we were going on a road trip to the beach the next weekend.  Edible favors don't have to be high-sugar either.  You can always get around those things

For centerpieces, you need to decide first if you want floral in your centerpieces or not as the design with floral will be much different without (ie: a way to keep them hydrated)  Also, you need to decide if you want rounds or long tables.  What looks awesome by itself on a round table may look silly on a long banquet table.  A good place to start would be looking through photos on TK's real weddings for ideas to start your creative juices.  We don't know your taste/style, so we need something to brainstorm off of.

Q4 - When shopping for attendant/parent/etc gifts, you should think about each person individually.  Your gifts don't have to be matchy matchy.  Think of what each person might like for their birthday for example.  For our Bridesmaids, I am buying one a coach clutch with her favorite perfume.  The other will be getting tickets to a concert that she is dying to go to.  Our GMs are getting cufflinks that relate to them (one with planes for the pilot, one with music related items for the musician).  We are also getting them their favorite bottle of liquor and a flask. 

fallbride1109

Q3 - I am going to be brutally honest - most non-edible favors get left or trashed.  As much as we want to believe that everyone is sentimental about our wedding, they don't want to take home silly favors.

This.  The only non-edible favors I like are candles and that's just because I happen to love candles.  It's really hard to please everyone and favors aren't necessary and are better off skipped entirely.  I didn't listen when I was a bride and people told me this and now I wish I had.

A good alternative to favors is a photobooth.  People love those.

Stef&Bobby0612

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_questions-questions-questions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:102Discussion:6a2f8e6f-d3c6-49d2-8491-4e67d170d3f9Post:fcdfd754-a40d-42e8-a24f-523000a07e04">Re: Questions Questions Questions!!!!</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>A good alternative to favors is a photobooth.  People love those.</strong>
Posted by stephiehall[/QUOTE]

This is what we did for our wedding 2 weeks ago and it went over very well! We got a copy of all of the pictures in a scrapbook, which we used as our guestbook and every guest got to take home a copy of their pictures as their favor. We also did something for the kids at our wedding since we only had about 10 kids. We made coloring books and gave them crayons and candy necklaces and ring pops to keep them entertained and they enjoyed the extra candy as their favor.

serlace

Photobooth is a good option.

Last Question: I bought my BMs Coach coin purses and we bought our GMs the ties that they wore to the wedding.
Our ring bearer: A dog from build-a-bear that he carried down the aisle.
Flower girl: A tiara that she wore down the aisle.
Moms: A hankerchief off of etsy.  See stephiehall's bio for more info
Dads: I seriously can't remember.  Monogrammed something...

fallbride1109

We gave the dads monogrammed pocket squares and the moms/grandmothers handkerchiefs. 

We paid for all the tuxes so that was our gift to the groomsmen as I could not convince DH getting them actual gifts was proper etiquette.  I took my girls for a spa day but the tote bag full of stuff is a pretty common bridal party gift.  That's nice that you're making it yourself.

professorscience

I support the photobooth idea.  We are not doing favors because we just can't justify the expense.

For the gifts, definitely shop for personalized things.  You have over a year, so just look around while you are out, and if you find something you think someone will like, grab it.  I think in the long run it will help so you're not spending hundreds all at once.  Just a warning: I ordered some bridesmaids' gifts off the Knot shop back in May, and last I checked, they're still "processing."  Little frustrating.
Check out Etsy for cute personalized gifts.  I found a vendor who makes ties and ordered one with a map printed on it for FI, and I found a guy who makes flasks with really neat leather covers, so we'll probably be ordering some of those for the GM (and probably some maids, too).

MarieSD

I would've loved to have been able to afford a photobooth! Those pictures would be something people would hold onto, so it fits with your "keepsake" idea.

As for favors -- I didn't actually do them. Mostly to save money, but also because I never take them at weddings I attend. My MIL made goodie bags as favors for the RD (to which everyone was invited), and I don't think many people took them.

For preservation, I'll be getting my gown preserved soon so I might be able to post later on that topic. But for now, I have no idea. I didn't want to save my bouquet -- it was gorgeous, but I wasn't as sentimental about that.

For gifts, I had trouble with this. I ended up getting them each a tiny makeup bag, a monogrammed compact mirror, some cute little chapsticks, and a cute little kit of makeup applicators. There might've been something else too. More info is in my bio.

For groomsmen, we got them monogrammed multi-tools. We got beer for the ushers. We didn't end up doing parent gifts, although we brought something home for each of our mothers from Italy (where we honeymooned). I wanted to get them a GC for a nice dinner out or a weekend getaway as the wedding gift (but it didn't wind up being in the budget); most people on TK, if they get parents anything, it's a wedding album after the fact, or a card/handkerchief on the wedding day.

meghanttu08

The first two-no help I'm sorry.
Favors: We are doing a photobooth so they can most def take home prints. (very unique). Second we are doing is coasters. At each place will be a pack of two coasters that I got online for an amazing deal!!! Inside I'm just printing our name and date. I know they can use them there at the wedding and take them home (we all need coasters too-specially the ones with a bar in their home). It's something different and unique (IMO).

Centerpieces: I'm doing simple/elegant. A battery op. candle with crystals and rose petals. 
The table overlay will be black, so the rose petals (pink and red) will really show up among the crystals. I know I will prob. get chewed out for this...but with the whole wedding, I'm keeping in mind my guests. I wanted one venue for both ceramony and reception. I want food for those few veggietarians than just veggies and salad. I also wanted simple and small centerpieces, so guests don't have to worry about something tall getting in the way of conversations at the table.

sbrown1809

The photo booth is a great idea but we can't afford it. But I think with all ya'lls ideas im sure we can think of something. Thanks!!!!

dianaslik

Favors: We did an assembly line putting together favors.  We put together a few extra as I still had folks that didn't RSVP, and had a TON left.  They were little pillowboxes with dice and kisses inside (nothing big) but since the wedding, I had the pleasure of sitting and undo-ing them.  I'd go the photo-booth route if it's in budget instead of regular favors.  As Stephie said, I kinda wish I had listened to other brides about them.

Bouquet: I really loved my bouquet, and am a bit crafty, so before it got too wilted I selected flowers from it and am pressing them.  I may used them in a shadowbox, photo frame or album (haven't decided)

btweety04

Q1: Your photographer should have an idea of spots to shoot in Deep Ellum, but you can always walk Main, Elm, and Commerce Streets. They are all up and down those streets. We parked at Cafe Brazil too and just walked all around from there. Also the Deep Ellum mural and robots are on Good Latimer. HTH

professorscience

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_questions-questions-questions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:6a2f8e6f-d3c6-49d2-8491-4e67d170d3f9Post:cc99d47e-b090-42ff-89fc-a1109f8082bf">Re: Questions Questions Questions!!!!</a>:
[QUOTE]The photo booth is a great idea but we can't afford it. But I think with all ya'lls ideas im sure we can think of something. Thanks!!!!
Posted by sbrown1809[/QUOTE]

TexanTreasure made a list of nearly all the photobooth companies in Dallas with prices -- you'd be surprised at what you can get for not a lot of money.  It's on the vendor site linked in the sticky at the top of the page.  It's one of the things I would really like to have if I have the money left over at the end of all this.  =)

One other favor I have always liked (though admittedly never used) is seed packets.  I've been to a couple weddings where every guest gets a packet of local wildflowers.  Being a Biology teacher/giant nerd, I really love that kind of thing.

KendallandAlbert

Courtney could help you with those.  She has this awesome seed bookmark recipe (like seriously)...

It calls for putting paper in a blender...  Totally awesome idea from that alone.  Who wouldn't want to put paper in a blender?

professorscience

Well, I did just receive a blender that I am dying to use...

But I am having trouble visualizing a "seed bookmark."