Wed Tip #1

(projectwedding.com)

Wed Tip #1: For dramatic effect in your wedding, use specialty lighting. Local companies charge between 300 and 600 for basic lighting!

Happy 2010

Well to quote a Celine Dion song "Another Year Has Gone By" and we made it through. 2010 holds so much for us here at Your Day of Fairy Tales. Here is a look at what to expect:

1. More Blog Posts featuring Vendors, fun filled wedding facts, more DIY projects!

2. The biggest wedding Your Day of Fairy Tales has ever planned

3. Working on our first ever Destination wedding with an amazing couple

4. This little thing I like to call our wedding!

2010 is going to be a great year. What are each of you looking forward to in 2010?

Happy Planning!

Hillary

And the

NATOSHA!!!

Contact me so I can get you your gift card!

Merry Christmas

Hillary

Nashville Wedding and Event Planner

count down til we are married contest

That's right folks, it's time for yet ANOTHER count down contest! We are at 10 months from today until we get married! So excited!



Last month's winner Cassandra won a fabulous dinner and a movie package to Regal Movie Theatres and the Melting Pot! Congratulations Cassandra!

So what is this month's you might ask? Well, another thing that James and I enjoy doing is going to good ol Wal-Mart or Target and Acting like total goofballs!

With that being said, this month's contest if for a $25 gift card from either Wal-Mart or Target.



To enter: Leave us a comment telling us what you and FI would do with your gift certificate and how it would strengthen your relationship. We will randomly select one winner using a randomized method.


(** Entries MUST be posted by 11:59 cst Sunday December 20, 2009 to be eligible. Engaged couples only please.**)

In the mean time, What do you think about this bouquet for a springy outdoor wedding?

Until Next Time,

Hillary

Happy Thanksgiving!

When you are reading this, I will be in Illinois for some much needed family time. Today kicks off what is going to be the busiest month for Your Day of Fairy Tales since opening in 2008. But before the hustle and bustle begins, I would like to thank a few moments to give thanks to those who inspire, support, or are some way involved in the being of Your Day of Fairy Tales.

1. I praise God everyday that I have been given the ability and talent to plan weddings for such wonderful couples. Without him nothing would be possible. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."- Philippians 4:13

2. The wonderful Kristin Kaplan of Simply Stunning Events. She has been an inspiration to me since I started and I had the honor of meeting her this past year and she is going to be helping us out with our wedding next year. :)

3. The fabulous Heather and Eugene of 2duce2 videography. Our 2 hour dinner meeting inspired me beyond belief and proved to me that I am going to be a success!

4. My family. They are the ones who have been supportive throughout all times of my life and I am forever thankful!

5. My Fiance. Words cannot describe how thankful I am to be marrying such a supportive man :)

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and Leave us a comment telling us what your thankful for!

Penny Pinching Bride- Finding the Perfect Budget Engagement Ring

While the holiday season is rapidly approaching us, the engagement season is as well. “Silver Bells” and “Merry Christmas” are familiar phrases of the holiday season, but “Will You Marry Me” is a very popular phrase for couples.

This holiday season will be a penny pinching one for many, requiring many people to get creative in their search for affordable engagement rings. But, there are ways to get a quality ring without breaking the bank. Take into consideration these 5 easy pointers to save money on your soon to be fiance’s engagement ring!

1. Be educated! - You hear everyone talking about the 4 C’s (Clarity, Cut, Color and Carat) engagement ring shopping. If you don’t know what those are, stop reading right here and visit Shane and Co.’s website (shaneco.com) for jewelry education. This website will teach you everything you need to get the best bang for your buck when engagement ring shopping. Going in uneducated on the ins and outs of ring shopping could land you with a bad buy for your money. Know what kind of ring your fiancé wants and what color most of her jewelry is. If she has a right hand ring that is yellow gold, buying a white gold engagement ring could end up costing you more money than you anticipated. Talk to your fiancé’s family and friends about what type of engagement ring she would like as well.

2. Choose a smaller stone to propose with- There is no shame in buying your future fiancé a starter ring and updating the ring on an anniversary to come, such as 1 year or even 5 year. Shane Co. offers this service and also a free lifetime warranty.

3. Don’t be afraid of higher end department stores. Some higher end department stores such as JcPenney, Macy’s, Belk, and Dillard’s offer quality rings at a fraction of the price. When we got engaged last December, James told me that it was a temporary ring and that he wanted to get me a different ring eventually. We were out shopping one Sunday at JcPenney and found a great 1/3 of a carat nearly colorless, small inclusion ring for $300! That was too For example this Blue Nile (www.bluenile.com) ring sells for $1600.

www.bluenile.com

Did you know that you can find similar rings for around $500 or $600. This ring below can be found at Wal-Mart (Don’t cringe, read below) for $398!

Walmart.com

4. Don’t Settle for a Ring that is not “the Ring”- Too many men regret that they did not take longer in searching for the perfect ring for their fiancé. If you don’t find the ring by when you wanted to propose, don’t worry about it. She will still love you if you propose at a least expecting time. Be 100% sure before you buy.

(Bravo Bride.com)

5. Scout eBay, Craigslist or pre-owned bridal sites, like Bravo Bride - Many recent divorcees sell their engagement rings and wedding bands on these websites for sometimes as much as 75% off. Just be on the look out and make sure everything is legitimate before purchasing.

6. Remember- No matter what amount you spend on an engagement ring, it is the love and thought that you put behind it and how happy you will be when you are husband and wife.

Happy Planning!

And the Winner is.....

THE WINNER IS CASSANDRA!

Cassandra is getting married in 2011 and is blogging her way to the alter on her blog http://sassybridesmission.blogspot.com/

CONGRATULATIONS CASSANDRA! I will be e-mailing you for information on how to get your prize to you! :)

Coming up this week..

-Part 1 of Penny Pinching Bride (As featured on Ashley's Bride Guide)
-Wedding Inspiration for winter weddings.
-Vendor feature from Blair at Nashville Party Authority!