Tips for an Inexpensive Wedding
Every girl wants their fantasy wedding. It’s a (hopefully) once in a lifetime experience. But you can have all the frills without going overboard. You don’t want to start your marriage by going in debt on wedding expenses. Also keep in mind that in most cases the groom would be just as happy eloping. Here are a few tips on having an inexpensive wedding:
1. The flowers. Instead of buying real flowers, buy artificial ones. You can get silk flowers from specialty stores, or create your own arrangements with pickings from a generic craft store. This actually has multiple benefits.
- You don’t have to worry about any of your guests having allergies to one of the flowers.
- The bouquet can be saved as a reminder of the special day, it won’t die. Fresh flowers can be preserved, but that’s one more cost that can be avoided.
- The obvious price difference. Just the bridal bouquet of fresh flowers can cost more than silk flowers for the entire wedding party.
2. The dress. Why buy an expensive dress you’re only going to wear once? Here are some options:
- Look into getting a used dress. Of course, you’ll still want to try it on and it may need adjusting, but the initial cost will be cheaper.
- Wear your mother’s or sister’s wedding dress if you’re a similar size. The legacy will add sentimental value.
- Are you a seamstress? Buy a simple dress and embellish it on your own, adding lace, beads, or embroidery. Your dress is guaranteed to be personalized and unique.
3. Location. The fancy reception hall, the luxurious hotel, you can picture the amazing setting. But someone’s backyard or a local church with the right decorations can still lend the right atmosphere. Be realistic on your guest expectations, ask for RSVPs. Don’t overbook or get a venue that is bigger than your needs. It’s simply a waste of space and money. The same number of people will look like more in a smaller area. There will be more interaction as well.
But I need the scent of fresh flowers, you say. Or the fancy themed reception hall. My most important advice is this - prioritize. To make the wedding memorable, pick just one or two things where you don’t want to compromise. If you cut back on the other less important areas, you’ll have more to spend to reserve that perfect location or whatever it is you need.
Whatever you do, remember that it is the people involved, not the decorations, that make a wedding memorable. Good luck in your venture, and I wish you the best in your new life.
This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.Prye.Com/ which is a site for Wedding Invitations.
How To Divide Perennials
Perennials are a favorite type of garden plant for many gardens as they will bloom for several seasons without replanting. Perhaps one of the best qualities of perennials is that you can divide them and make more plants for free! Dividing your perennials periodically is important as it will keep them from getting overcrowded and help insure healthy lush plants.
Many perennials can be divided easily, but this does not hold try for every variety. In general, division is easiest with perennials that grow in clumps or ones with an expanding root mass. Perennials which stem from single taproot typically cannot be divided but can be duplicated by using root cuttings or seeds.
It is important to divide the plant at a time when the plant is most likely to be receptive to this procedure. Fr plants that come up in spring and summer, the best time to divide them is in the fall Perennials that bloom in the fall or late summer should be divided in the spring.
You can divide perennials with a minimum of preparation. If you will be replanting the divisions, you should have already decided on the new area and prepared the soil to accept the new plants. If you are dividing to give the plants to a family member or friend, have an appropriate receptacle handy to put the division in.
Loosen the soil, gently, around the plant clump that you plan to divide. You can use a spading fork to scrape up the dirt and be sure not to damage any parts of the plant. The clump should then be sliced with a garden trowel and divided into four parts. Make sure your trowel is sharp so you get a clean cut, otherwise your plants could become damaged. Break up the four sections by hand into four inche by four inche sections. Plant the small sections immediately.
When you are dividing plants, make sure you thoroughly wet the soil a couple of days before you do the division. This will make it easier to dig up the clump for division. Also, you should add compost or some other organic material to the soil both around the original plant and in the soil where the new divisions will be planted. This will give the plants the nutrition they need and help them to grow strong in their new area of the garden. Once the new plants are in place, make sure you water thoroughly and fertilize appropriately.
Planning your perennial plantings and divisions can help you grow your garden without having to spend extra money. All it takes is a little bit of time and patience and you can have a large full garden on even a small budget!
Lee Dobbins writes for Backyard Garden And Patio where you can get more great gardening and landscaping tips.
Plant Hardiness - What You Need to Know to Keep from Killing Your Plants and Trees
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is an essential tool for all landscapers and gardeners, whether professionals or weekend do-it-yourselfers. This simple and free tool will help ensure you select only the correct plants, shrubs, or trees for your region. If you do not follow this guide you risk the health of your plant, and ultimately your time and money.
The Map was designed to show the average annual minimum temperature range throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. There are 11 different zones that describe the minimum temperature that can be expected. The zones were divided based on a 10 degree Fahrenheit difference in the average annual minimum temperature.
It is important to understand the zones in order to select a plant that will survive the winter in your region. This is called the plant’s winter hardiness. The winter hardiness of the plant is one of the most crucial factors for the survival and environmental adaptation of the plant. A plant’s hardiness indicates the lowest temperature the plant can sustain and still survive.
Most plants purchased at commercial stores will have their hardiness level indicated on their tag. Determine the Hardiness Zone of the area in which the plant will be located, and make sure the plant’s hardiness falls within the correct zone.
Zone 1 contains areas that see an average minimum temperature below (-) 50 degree Fahrenheit. Example locations include Fairbanks, Alaska and Northwest Territories in Canada.
Zone 2 contains areas that see an average minimum temperature of (-) 50 to (-) 40 degrees. Example locations include Prudhoe Bay, Alaska and Pinecreek , Minnesota.
Zone 3 ranges between (-) 40 and (-) 30 degrees. Examples are International Falls, Minnesota and Sidney, Montana.
Zone 4 ranges between (-) 30 and (-) 20 degrees. Examples are Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota and Northwood, Iowa.
Zone 5 ranges between (-) 20 and (-) 10 degrees. Examples are Des Moines, Iowa and Mansfield, Pennsylvania.
Zone 6 ranges between (-) 10 and 0 degrees. Examples are St. Louis, Missouri, and Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
Zone 7 ranges between 0 and 10 degrees. Examples are South Boston, Virginia and Little Rock Arkansas.
Zone 8 ranges between 10 and 20 degrees. Examples are Dallas, Texas and Gainesville, Florida.
Zone 9 ranges between 20 and 30 degrees. Examples are Houston, Texas and Fort Pierce, Florida.
Zone 10 ranges between 30 and 40 degrees. Examples are Victorville, California and Miami, Florida.
Zone 11 is for annual minimum temperatures above 40 degrees. Examples include Honolulu, Hawaii and Mazatlan, Mexico.
To see USDA Hardiness Plant Maps, and for additional Planting Tips visit http://www.laffodils.com.
Planting Flower Bulbs for Springtime Blooms
As spring begins, my favorite day is the one where,
suddenly, from the ground appear hundreds of tiny shoots
bringing the beautiful flowers planted in my garden the
previous fall.
Daffodils are by far my favorite with their happy yellow
blooms brightening up my garden and my life. You can enjoy
these beautiful flowers as well.
During the fall, you will need to buy and plant the bulbs
for a beautiful spring bouquet. Although some people do
choose to plant bulbs helter-skelter across their yard, the
impact is a thousand times greater if you plant them in
large clumps of 15 or 20 bulbs; this type of planting
accentuates their brightness and beauty.
Directions will be given on the package of bulbs
concerning how far below the ground to plant them and what
types of places in your yard in which they will grow (i.e.,
sunny, shady, partial shade, etc.).
One drawback to planting bulbs is that many times
squirrels will try to dig them up. However, there is an
easy solution to this problem. By wrapping the bulbs in
steel wool and leaving just the tip of the bulb exposed, so
it can grow out of the little wire cage you’ve created, you
can prevent squirrels from stealing your bulbs.
Another option is to plant the bulbs and then cover the
bed with chicken wire or plastic fencing until the bulbs
starting blooming in the springtime.
When the bulbs come up in the spring and begin to bloom,
clip off the blooms as they start to wither. This helps to
keep the bulb from producing seeds, which takes a lot of
energy, and you want the bulb to concentrate all of its
energy to store food in preparation for the bulb’s resting
period.
When the bulbs are finally completely finished blooming,
you will wait to cut off the tops until they are withered
and die back. Until that time, you can bend them over and
slip a rubber band over them to keep them attached. This
will help next year’s growth.
Although the flowers growing in your neighbor’s yard may
seem hard to live up to, planting flower bulbs is a fairly
easy and practical way to begin growing flowers of your
own. So this fall, visit your local store, pick some flower
bulbs that you will enjoy, plant them, and relax until they
bloom beautifully in spring!
Josie Volker’s articles on topics related to flowers and
gardening are published at Flowers eShop , a
premier resource on-line for information about flowers. For
addtional articles by Josie, visit First Class Wedding and Florist by Net
How To Plan The Floral Arrangements For Your Wedding Flowers
Flowers seem to be a significant part of every wedding. The decision to have flowers usually isn’t the hard part, as is deciding which kind to have. There are many different options for wedding flowers. Having real flowers or silk flowers and deciding on type, color and arrangements can be a daunting task.
Deciding on the types of flowers may be one of the most challenging aspects. Some things you may want to consider are between real flowers and silk ones. Real flowers are beautiful but also expensive. You also have to put them all up and take them down again. Knowing what flowers are in season at the time of your wedding and going with them could save you a lot of money.
You also have to decide on colors, if your colors are the same as some flower then you could save a lot of money not having to dye them. Silk flowers on the other hand are easy to dye and will be something to keep forever if you wanted. You could use them in arrangements around your house after the wedding.
Another point to keep in mind is where to get the flowers. You need to shop around well in advance since wedding flowers have to be ordered and possibly dyed. Some places to check for the best deal are grocery stores, farmers markets, always check flower shops last since they are the most expensive way to get flowers.
If you are planning an outdoor wedding you may not even need the flowers. If you plan to wed in a park for example, you probably won’t need flowers. Try just tying ribbons or making the most of the flowers already in the park. If the park will allow some arrangements you could consider donating them to the park after the wedding.
Most churches allow flowers with some restrictions. It is important to know far in advance what is expected. Some churches will allow flower arrangements along the aisles as long as they are removed promptly. As for flowers around or on the altar, it is imperative that the instructions for decorations are clear. Some churches will not allow any flowers or decorations on or near the altar. Another point to keep in mind is what the plans are for the flowers after the wedding. Some churches will appreciate a donation of some flower arrangements while others may not.
When planning a wedding the flowers are a very important part and very time consuming. From the decision making to the actual wedding, flowers may consume a lot of the planning time, however they are a special piece of the wedding and you will treasure the memories for years to come. Walking down the aisle to your new life together, don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers.
Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Flowers Delivered at http://www.flowersandgiftsdirect.com
Flowers And Flower Delivery
Flowers are one of natures beautiful things that have always fascinated humans. Flowers are perfect for all occasions. Be it a birthday, anniversary, Valentine’s day, funeral or a wedding there are flowers to suite.
Flowers can be the perfect gift and a perfect way to express your emotions. And its not just women who like to receive flowers as a gift either. The society of American Florists conducted a survey and found that 60% would like to receive flowers on special occasions, especially Valentine’s Day.
By searching on the Internet or looking through the local phone directory you should be able to find a good florist to arrange a flower delivery. If you would like to arrange for a flower delivery and you have not done this before you may be slightly unsure of some things. For a florist the busiest times of year will be Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, although a good florist will manage to stay busy all year round by specializing in creating flower arrangements for funerals, weddings and other events. If you want to arrange for a flower delivery around a busy time like Valentine’s Day then you should do your best to contact a florist with plenty of advance notice. You wouldn’t want your loved one to not receive any flowers because you left arranging the flower delivery till the last minute would you.
The range of options open to you from a good florist is very impressive. It is possible to arrange for flower deliveries anywhere in the country, but also worldwide if needs be. Many florists will also be able to store your personal details like your important dates and preferences. This way the florist can alert you when a birthday is coming up or even your wedding anniversary should you forget it. This way you will always have a perfect present arranged for your loved ones.
Of course many florists will now have a web site therefore making it even easier to arrange for a flower delivery. You will normally be able to go on the web site and order by flower type and see pictures of what will be sent and then arrange for the flower delivery. Many people do not mind what flowers they receive so do not worry too much if you are unsure what to send, as the gift of any flower will make a person happy.
When arranging a flower delivery it would probably be a good idea to ring a few reputable florists and compare prices, as there can be large variations. Flowers are such a wonderful gift and so easy to send to someone that there really is no excuse for not doing so.
Tina Banks can be found writing articles about flower delivery at http://www.a1-flower-delivery.com
Learn How To Preserve Your Flower Bouquets So They Will Last Longer
Fresh flower bouquets make a room smell fresher and look brighter. Flowers are a nice way to brighten up someone’s mood also. Whether ill or just down in the dumps, flowers can quickly lift spirits.
Birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions are made better with fresh flowers. Although we wish they could last forever fresh flowers will wither and die.
Learning how to preserve flowers is a great way to keep those beautiful bouquets lasting longer. It is not terribly difficult, with a bit of time and patience you will have a lasting bouquet for years to come.
To preserve your flowers the only ingredient you need is a bottle of aerosol hairspray. To begin simply gather your flowers and spray with hairspray before they begin to die. If you wait until they die the color will be gone and you can’t bring it back.
Next just find a cool, dry and dark place such as a basement or closet and hang the flowers upside down until they dry. It may take a few days to dry but be patient. If you try to arrange them too soon you will damage the flower petals and possible the entire flower. Once they are completely dry you can arrange them in a vase or however you wish. Your flowers will stay beautiful for years to come. Just keep in mind they are very fragile and will break easily when handled.
Another popular method for long lasting flowers is to preserve them by pressing. Using some wax paper or paper towels place flowers in between them and put them in a book. The easiest way is to put more books on top or some thing heavy. The flowers should stay there for a while just remember to check them every few days. After a week or so the flowers will be pressed flat. You can then use them as decoration in picture frames, scrapbooks or albums. You can laminate some of them with a picture from the special occasion and make a beautiful bookmark.
There are so many different ideas to use them in such as when making cement stepping stones for your garden. Cut the bottom 6 inches of a five gallon bucket off. Line the bottom piece you cut away with wax paper, and then pour instant cement into the wax paper. Let it set partway and then sprinkle the flowers onto the cement. Let it dry the rest of the way. When the cement is completely dry take it out of the bucket and peel away the wax paper. Now you have a permanent stepping stone for your garden.
If you do not want to preserve the flowers yourself you can take them to a florist and for a small fee they will do it for you. Any way you choose to preserve your flowers will leave you a lasting treasure to share with future generations.
Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Flowers Delivered at http://www.floralbouquetsdelivered.com
The Rich History of Chrysanthemums
Did you know that those lush, colorful blooms called chrysanthemums are rooted in beliefs of human immortality and perfection? Today the “mum” graces gardens, cut flower arrangements and even salads (yes mums taste great), but they were taken much more seriously after T’ao Yuan Ming started it all in China around 500 A.D.
Over long periods of careful cross-pollination and selection, he developed stunning varieties of the flower and when he died, his birthplace was renamed Chuhsien. The City of Chrysanthemums. His efforts had produced a legacy that would bring pleasure to this world for centuries.
When China imported the first chrysanthemums to Japan, the people there bestowed many honors upon them. The Japanese wrote legends. To sip dew from the petals meant long life. To eat the flower meant immortality. Philosophers said that the systematic opening of the “ray” flowers symbolized both the sun and the perfection of orderly life.
By 800 A.D. the chrysanthemum had become so prestigious that only royal and noble families were permitted to cultivate it. Among the highest honors that could be bestowed in Japan was admittance to the Order of the Chrysanthemum… a reward granted to nobility for service to the Emperor.
In great contrast to this, the “mum” didn’t make much of an impression when traders introduced it to Europe in the 1600s. But when in finally did catch on, it became one of the most popular blooms for both flower shops and gardens.
Today the mum comes in dozens of varieties. Fuji mums project rays with curly ends. Spider mums have straight-ended rays. Starburst mums have forked ends, while spoon-ended mums have a loop at the end of their rays. China mums are called “standard” and “football” because of their large, round heads. Daisy-like mums are called pompons. And those forming tight little balls are called button pomps.
Whether associated with spoons, forks or footballs, or with royalty or immortality, “mum” is the word for beautiful gardens and long-lasting floral arrangements. When you care for them as cut flowers, try to keep their ancient beauty away from such modern-day contraptions as air conditioning, TV sets and heaters. Don’t place them in drafts or direct sunlight. Do watch their water, and replace it when needed. This way, a bouquet of mums can make your day every day for at least a week, maybe two.
Additional information and resources related to this article can be found at: http://www.garden-source.com/archives/
2005/05/30/the-rich-history-of-chrysanthemums/
© 2005 This article is provided courtesy of The Garden Source Network - http://www.garden-source.com
This article may be freely published on any website, as long as the links are live, and this notice is left intact.
Garden Room Boundaries…
The areas of your landscape can be divided into several sections and areas, which are also known as garden rooms. Garden rooms are spaces where you plant, grow, and display different ideas in gardening in various creative methods. One garden room could be a rose garden, while another could include the use of a water garden, while still another garden room in your landscape could include the use of just purple flowers. Garden rooms are your creation, and only limited to your imagination.
To create the rooms in your landscape where you can be both different and creative you need to actually create some type of walls in your gardens. The walls in your gardens are going to be grown from other larger types of plants. Living fences are one ‘way’ that you can create garden rooms.
Dependable shrubs and hedges that you can use for fences or as wall between the garden rooms include various types such as:
Forsythia is a spring flowering shrubs that would make the country garden room lovely. Long after the spring months, the flowers will die off but the leaves on this shrub will fill in as a wall nicely.
Broadleaf evergreens are another type of shrub that is very popular in creating garden rooms. One in particular is the boxwood. The boxwood can be shaped rounded or with a boxy shape. It will take years to grow to be very tall, but it is a very thick shrub, that will create wonderful walls for the garden rooms. The leaves are very small, appearing in the late spring months and lasting until the very coldest of the winter months.
There are many ‘ways’ that you can create walls in the garden to grow private rooms. Lilacs are a ‘flowering boundary type’ plant that will spread but very slowly. The flowers on the taller bushes create a nice backdrop for many garden rooms. The Border Privet is a smaller shrub that is fast growing. This plant would grow to fill in the walls of any room in the garden.
Juniper evergreens, holly, burning bushes, and even rose bushes grow and tame to produce what will look like walls. When you are creating several different areas in your landscape, you have hundreds of choices of plants, shrubs, or even bushes that will fill in nicely.
One important thing to remember when you start creating your walls for any type of garden room is that the final display inside of the room is going to be accented by the type of plants that you use to create the actual room.
Gordon Goh is author of the free, informative website Simply Flower Garden offering quality useful tips for flower garden lovers.
Flower Delivery
In today’s frenetic world, saying it with flowers is no longer a walk in the park. Flower business is tricky with seasons, longevity, time, place, weather and tastes, ruling the terms. Florists are fast becoming important service providers in a mercurial, niche market. If you are tongue-tied by emotion or an occasion, seek a florist well versed in floriography or the language of flowers, to articulate it best. They can brilliantly bouquet your feelings, tag a well-worded enclosure card and deliver with panache. Putting together highly personalized object d’arts, florists cater to individual needs as well as corporate events, private functions, school and college ceremonies or public extravaganzas.
Choosing the right florist can be tough. Check with friends, family, church, local yellow pages, floral guides or website recommendations to select the right person. Whether florists operate from homes, stores, supermarkets, garden supply stores or through on-line brokers, word-of-mouth recommendations are the safest bet. Out-of-city deliveries mean that your florist must be part of a floral wire service or national affiliation that makes for easy networking.
Decide on the budget and then customize the selection. If the basket must be delivered, provide the name, address and contact telephone number, as well as the best time it needs to be dropped off. Give the florist at least a few days’ prior notice and remember to sign the personal card that goes with it.
For busy individuals, flower delivery via telephonic orders is an easy option. But spell out choices on color, single type or mixed flower arrangement and offer the same information on the recipient that you would do at the store. Payment can be by any major credit card or through an in-house account.
For big events, flower delivery orders must be placed at least a month in advance to enable the florist schedule order-supply-delivery and set-up time. Especially if it is the holiday season, flower delivery can be fraught with hits and misses. Provide all the information about the location, purpose and scope of the event, so that the final delivery is top notch. And ensure your contract spells it all out, including taboo flowers, second choices, rental, delivery, set-up costs, payment schedule, cancellation or refund clauses.
Let that spontaneous gesture of love and attention be an indelible one-affirm it with flowers and remain a delightful forget-me-not.
Flowers provides detailed information about flowers, flower gifts, flower delivery, floral arrangements and more. Flowers is the sister site of Silk Wedding Flowers.