Tammy's DIY Planning Thread - at least 20 items, pic heavy & detailed!

[ndvidul]

 

My husband and I were married just over a month ago on Feb 18, 2012 at Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort in Cancun, Mexico.  It was the wedding of our dreams!  We are loving married life!! 

 

 

---

 

The wedding planning process was super intense for me because not only did I only have 8 months to plan, we were also on a really tight budget, and I wanted to find a way to have everything we wanted and still honor our financial goals...

 

So, I DIY'd my heart out!! 

 

In this forum, I'll talk about what I made:

- Invitations (no STDs since I started planning so late)

- Boarding Passes & Luggage Tags

- Passport Welcome Booklets

- OOT Bags & Contents

- Flowers & Boutinnieres

- Time Capsule Guest Book

- Centerpieces

- Ceremony Programs

- Bridesmaids Gifts

- Shells & Chest (for Ceremony Shell Blessing)

- Petal Cone Holders

- He/She Frame (Decoration for Guest Book Table)

- Website

- Postcard Reminders (for people to RSVP on our website)

- Bachelorette Party "Hangover Helper" Kits & Gifts

- Bridal Shower favors (yes, I offered to make these!  yes, I am crazy! )

 

 

Most of what I made were NOT my original ideas. 

 

I spend hours and hours on here researching what others have done, asking for templates, picking what I liked, and then making my projects.  I will do my best to give credit to my sources, although my memory may be a bit fuzzy in areas!  If I accidentally space it and miss someone, please accept my wholehearted post-marital space-cadetness apologies!!  My intention here is not to take credit for anyone's creative genius but to hopefully help others in the planning process. 

 

I don't know what I would have done without this site - it literally saved my sanity.  THANK YOU with all my heart to everyone who makes this site possible and such a positive experience.  A very special thank you to the ladies on the Moon Palace 2012 Forum!!  (woot, woot!)  You are my angels. 

 

Here's to YOUR Big Day and making it happen!  HAPPY PLANNING!!

Lots of Love,

Tammy

 

[ndvidul]

Invitations

 

I did 90 of these babies!! It took me over 6 weeks, several group "dates" of friends/family putting them together, and easily about 35 hours.

 

Our guests ADORED these.  We couldn't hear the end of how awesome they were, and we STILL (post-wedding) hear compliments about them.  Lots of our guests have saved theirs!

 

Again, these were not my original idea.  I TOTALLY copied MrsWeiss1211's thread about these invites and just changed a few minor things for ours.  Her thread lists exactly how she did them and is amazing.  Please check it out!!  THANK you for posting your thread, MrsWeiss!!

 

Here is a list of the materials I used, where to get them, and the cost of them.  The cost without shipping was about $360.  Shipping was $250 (we hand-delivered about a dozen of them). 

 

 

 

P.S. If you look at MrsWeiss's thread --- I used the scented oil WAY too early for the corks. I suggest that if you're going to do that, then do it at the very end before you seal the boxes and ship them.

 

I did the brads/fasteners a different way - vertical -- so I ended not cutting off the ends, which apparently saved me that "nasty job." I designed the labels. And I handwrote the "pull tag" copying a font that I downloaded for free called "Treasure Map Deadhand."

 

What it looks like with the bottle inside.

 

The ribbons ended up being 13 in long. I also handwrote the addresses instead of putting them through the printer since it seemed easier and more personal to me. Mainly, I think I didn't want to go through the aggravation of any misfeeds with the printer --- that's one of my worst nightmares!!

 

The raffia length was about 5 inches each. Then I used a pencil to roll up the invites and did a knot with the raffia. Then, I trimmed the ends. You can kind of see it here.

 

I designed these as well. I got the antique map of the Cancun area from googling "antique map Cancun," and got the idea from another MIB thread on here. Again, the fonts I used were "Treasure Map Deadhand" and "Caslon Antique Italic" which I downloaded off the internet for free.

 

I did 3 different types of Pull Tags since I ran out of starfish & sand dollars. Although the starfish were my favorite, I realized that some of the starfish might have broken as I closed the boxes. So, I would actually recommend using the mini shells instead.

 

These are the 3 different types of sand I used (since I couldn't find a pink sand suggested on this thread). I used 1/4 tsp white sand, 1/2 tsp coarser darker sand, and 3/4 tsp of fine beige sand.

 

We also started putting 2 starfish and 2 sand dollars inside. BUT then the sand dollars turned out to be too big, and we started filing each and every one down to fit the bottles, so then after a bit, we switched to putting in just 1 sand dollar. Also, then we started putting in 1 starfish + 1 sand dollar for like the last 10 bottles so that we'd have enough to glue on the Pull Tags. I would recommend ordering more starfish or sand dollars if you want enough to put in the bottles and for the Pull Tags. Plus, I would look into smaller sand dollars for the bottles, if they're available!

 

Our dining room table that was convered into a DIY space for 6 weeks!

 

Soooo many, haha!!

 

Casey (now my husband!) burning the edges of the invitations --- took about 5 min per invite! Nasty job!

 

Me putting the messages in the bottles. The most satisfying part!!

 

And VOILA!!! A final tip --- get lots of help if you can!! They are soooo worth it.

Wedding Invitations.xls

[Smitten]

OMG.....You guys look so happy!!!!  I can't wait to our BIG Day!!!!  Thanks for Sharing! : )

[mzthan6]

Yay!! Congratulations!! i can't wait to read the rest of your posts i love your invite

Originally Posted by ndvidul 

 

My husband and I were married just over a month ago on Feb 18, 2012 at Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort in Cancun, Mexico.  It was the wedding of our dreams!  We are loving married life!! 

 

 

---

 

The wedding planning process was super intense for me because not only did I only have 8 months to plan, we were also on a really tight budget, and I wanted to find a way to have everything we wanted and still honor our financial goals...

 

So, I DIY'd my heart out!! 

 

In this forum, I'll talk about what I made:

- Invitations (no STDs since I started planning so late)

- Boarding Passes & Luggage Tags

- Passport Welcome Booklets

- OOT Bags & Contents

- Flowers & Boutinnieres

- Time Capsule Guest Book

- Centerpieces

- Ceremony Programs

- Bridesmaids Gifts

- Shells & Chest (for Ceremony Shell Blessing)

- Petal Cone Holders

- He/She Frame (Decoration for Guest Book Table)

- Website

- Postcard Reminders (for people to RSVP on our website)

- Bachelorette Party "Hangover Helper" Kits & Gifts

- Bridal Shower favors (yes, I offered to make these!  yes, I am crazy! )

 

 

Most of what I made were NOT my original ideas. 

 

I spend hours and hours on here researching what others have done, asking for templates, picking what I liked, and then making my projects.  I will do my best to give credit to my sources, although my memory may be a bit fuzzy in areas!  If I accidentally space it and miss someone, please accept my wholehearted post-marital space-cadetness apologies!!  My intention here is not to take credit for anyone's creative genius but to hopefully help others in the planning process. 

 

I don't know what I would have done without this site - it literally saved my sanity.  THANK YOU with all my heart to everyone who makes this site possible and such a positive experience.  A very special thank you to the ladies on the Moon Palace 2012 Forum!!  (woot, woot!)  You are my angels. 

 

Here's to YOUR Big Day and making it happen!  HAPPY PLANNING!!

Lots of Love,

Tammy

 

 

[ChocoTaco7568]

I'm super excited a dying of anticipation... I can't wait to read the rest of this thread when it's complete

[DRb2b]

Those invites look great! You have a lot of patience. Can't wait to see everything else!!!!!!!!

[bondgirl0072010]

Great thread Tammy! 
 

Originally Posted by ndvidul 

Invitations

 

I did 90 of these babies!! It took me over 6 weeks, several group "dates" of friends/family putting them together, and easily about 35 hours.

 

Our guests ADORED these.  We couldn't hear the end of how awesome they were, and we STILL (post-wedding) hear compliments about them.  Lots of our guests have saved theirs!

 

Again, these were not my original idea.  I TOTALLY copied MrsWeiss1211's thread about these invites and just changed a few minor things for ours.  Her thread lists exactly how she did them and is amazing.  Please check it out!!  THANK you for posting your thread, MrsWeiss!!

 

Here is a list of the materials I used, where to get them, and the cost of them.  The cost without shipping was about $360.  Shipping was $250 (we hand-delivered about a dozen of them). 

 

 

 

P.S. If you look at MrsWeiss's thread --- I used the scented oil WAY too early for the corks. I suggest that if you're going to do that, then do it at the very end before you seal the boxes and ship them.

 

I did the brads/fasteners a different way - vertical -- so I ended not cutting off the ends, which apparently saved me that "nasty job." I designed the labels. And I handwrote the "pull tag" copying a font that I downloaded for free called "Treasure Map Deadhand."

 

What it looks like with the bottle inside.

 

The ribbons ended up being 13 in long. I also handwrote the addresses instead of putting them through the printer since it seemed easier and more personal to me. Mainly, I think I didn't want to go through the aggravation of any misfeeds with the printer --- that's one of my worst nightmares!!

 

The raffia length was about 5 inches each. Then I used a pencil to roll up the invites and did a knot with the raffia. Then, I trimmed the ends. You can kind of see it here.

 

I designed these as well. I got the antique map of the Cancun area from googling "antique map Cancun," and got the idea from another MIB thread on here. Again, the fonts I used were "Treasure Map Deadhand" and "Caslon Antique Italic" which I downloaded off the internet for free.

 

I did 3 different types of Pull Tags since I ran out of starfish & sand dollars. Although the starfish were my favorite, I realized that some of the starfish might have broken as I closed the boxes. So, I would actually recommend using the mini shells instead.

 

These are the 3 different types of sand I used (since I couldn't find a pink sand suggested on this thread). I used 1/4 tsp white sand, 1/2 tsp coarser darker sand, and 3/4 tsp of fine beige sand.

 

We also started putting 2 starfish and 2 sand dollars inside. BUT then the sand dollars turned out to be too big, and we started filing each and every one down to fit the bottles, so then after a bit, we switched to putting in just 1 sand dollar. Also, then we started putting in 1 starfish + 1 sand dollar for like the last 10 bottles so that we'd have enough to glue on the Pull Tags. I would recommend ordering more starfish or sand dollars if you want enough to put in the bottles and for the Pull Tags. Plus, I would look into smaller sand dollars for the bottles, if they're available!

 

Our dining room table that was convered into a DIY space for 6 weeks!

 

Soooo many, haha!!

 

Casey (now my husband!) burning the edges of the invitations --- took about 5 min per invite! Nasty job!

 

Me putting the messages in the bottles. The most satisfying part!!

 

And VOILA!!! A final tip --- get lots of help if you can!! They are soooo worth it.

 

Wedding Invitations.xls

[Speckles121]

Tammy!!!!! Welcome back to BDW..the ladies of MP 2012 missed you!! We have all been awaiting your planning thread and review!! You looked stunning on your wedding..I saw a few pictures on Chelsea Red-I's facebook!! Glad married life is treating you well..cannot wait to read the rest of your planning thread and review!!

[ellie0717]

Love these and I really can't wait to see the rest of your DIYs!

[EdithC]

GREAT JOB. they look amazing