07Oct2011

Fall Frenzy Week: Clearly the easiest Halloween decorations you’ll ever make!

You may have a couple glass cylinders at home and if you don’t, you should consider getting some. They’re super versatile, cheap decorations! I use cylinders for flower arrangements, candles, treats and decorations for all kinds of events.

Here we’ve created some cool DIY Halloween decorations. Simply use your home computer to create some “spooky” sayings or add some black and white clip art. Print your creations on white or colored paper and insert into the cylinder. Add a battery tea light and viola! A spooky decoration in minutes.

Shop our wedding reception decorations to find more bargain-priced items.

If you liked our Fall Frenzy ideas this week, be sure to check back for more wedding decorating ideas, inspiration and planning advice every Monday and Thursday.  We’re happy to have you!

 

Enjoy this beautiful season and have a happy Halloween!

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06Oct2011

Fall Frenzy Week: Easy pumpkin decorations for your home!

Get creative when decorating your home for Fall and Halloween with unique pumpkin decorations. We’ve got four ideas for you to try!  (Perfect for a harvest or fall wedding theme too.)


1. Find grommets at your local hobby store and simply push them into the outside of your pumpkins.

2. Choose from a variety of craft wires at the hobby store and create spirals, which push easily into pumpkins.

3. Drill holes with a power drill all around the pumpkin. This creates a spooky effect when lit with a candle at night.

4. Use a linoleum cutter to create fun grid patterns along the outside of your pumpkin.

We used both real and artificial pumpkins. Can you tell the difference? Reusing the artificial pumpkins year after year is a helpful timesaver. Also, I love mixing traditional orange pumpkins with white “ghost” pumpkins and all kinds of gourds. Consider using a collage of pumpkins and gourds as inexpensive wedding decorations if you’re having a fall wedding. They’re easy, cheap and perfect for the season!

Shop our other wedding reception decorations to add the finishing touches.

Tip: Growing your own pumpkins? Try deeply scratching a name or spooky saying into the pumpkin as it is on the vine. A sharp pointed tool like a linoleum cutter works best. The pumpkin will scar over leaving your words or name.

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05Oct2011

Fall Frenzy Week: Decorative glasses designed by you

Paint markers are so much fun! With a little imagination, you can create anything from spooky votive holders to Halloween shot glasses.

 

Get started by finding the right colors of paint markers (be sure to read the directions to make sure they’ll work on glass). We found a spiderweb design we wanted and sized it appropriately to fit our glasses. We then taped the piece of paper inside the glass with the design pointing outward, which allowed us to trace the design with a paint marker onto the outside of the glass. It only takes a few minutes to dry, and the paint will come off with soap, water and a little scrubbing.

What a great wedding reception idea, too! Handwrite the names of each bridal party member on toasting flutes and place them at the head table for a personal touch.

 

Halloween Tip: Sprinkle plastic spiders or bugs on tables and serving trays like confetti, and don’t forget the personalized napkins!

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04Oct2011

Fall Frenzy Week: DIY Halloween treat displays for your upcoming events!

Two ideas with rave reviews. Have some fun with these festive treats!

Witch’s Hat

You’ll need…

Chocolate waffle cones

Chocolate circle cookies

Chocolate frosting

Fall-colored candies

Spread frosting around the rim of the cone and center the cone on top of the cookie. Put more frosting around the base of the cone where it meets the cookie and decorate with bright, fall-colored candies. You can fill the hat with candy corn, caramel popcorn or mini marshmallows.

 

Fun ways to display your treats!

Get creative in the way you display food on your tables. We’ve put caramel puff corn in handmade paper cones and displayed them in a wooden box filled with sunflower seeds. You could also use candy corn, peanuts or popcorn kernels to get the same affect. This is a great wedding appetizer idea for fall weddings, as well. It’s affordable, creative and stylish.

 

Come back every day this week for more Fall Frenzy and DIY Halloween tips!  Spice up your favor ideas and check out our favor boxes and bags, ribbons, seals and more to create your treat display.

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03Oct2011

Fall Frenzy Week: Frightfully fun napkins to dress up your tables!

Planning a party this Halloween? If your answer is yes, you have already started thinking about decorations, theme, menu and, of course, your costume. For my Halloween parties, I like to create a buffet-style feast. Guests can help themselves to food throughout the night and you can have fun decorating the table.

 

Label your appetizers or snacks with fun, DIY Halloween name cards. For example, spicy meatballs could be Tortured Toads, or a homemade trail mix could be Owl Toenails and Lizard Eyes. Of course, don’t forget your personalized napkins. The personalization is FREE so get creative! They come in two sizes: beverage size, perfect for cocktails or appetizers, and Luncheon size, perfect for meals or messy foods.

Halloween Theme Personalized Napkins

 

Tip: Our wedding napkins can be personalized to fit any occasion. Check out the many designs available and find one for your next event.

 

Come back every day this week for more Fall Frenzy and DIY Halloween tips!

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29Sep2011

Be Prepared with a Bride’s Emergency Kit

As a bride-to-be striving for the wedding day of your dreams, it’s best to be prepared. Below is a list of must-haves to help you avoid any mishaps or potential disasters that might rear up throughout the day. Sometimes even the smallest item can be a lifesaver!

As a bride-to-be striving for the wedding day of your dreams, it’s best to be prepared. Below is a list of must-haves to help you avoid any mishaps or potential disasters that might rear up throughout the day. Sometimes even the smallest item can be a lifesaver!

P.S. Looking for useful wedding favors for your guests? Check out our personalized notepads, matchbooks and sewing kits.

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26Sep2011

Share the Love with Heart Wedding Invitations and Accessories!

You’re getting married and it’s all about the LOVE! What better way to show it than with hearts?



The heart has long been used as a symbol referring to the spiritual and emotional core of a human being. The word “heart” is often used in poetry to refer to the soul, and stylized depictions of hearts are used to represent love.

 

Heart wedding invitations, favors and accessories are all great ways to symbolize your love throughout your wedding. Ann’s offers everything from contemporary to traditional designs, as well as a range of colors from classics like pinks and reds to current color trends like purple.

 

Take your love wedding theme a step further and add romantic quotations to your programs, favors, napkins or thank you notes. Each table could have its own romantic quotation instead of a table number. I recently attended a wedding where each table displayed the word “love” in a foreign language. How beautiful!

 

How will you share the love with your guests?

 

Here is a helpful reference if you like some of the items shown above.  1.)  Interlocking Hearts wedding invitation 2.) Skipped a Beat wedding invitation 3.) Hearts and Flourish wedding invitation 4.) Close at Heart Grapevine wedding invitation 5.) Heart Shaped Favor Box 6.) Initials and Heart Lipstick Favor Labels 7.) Heart Favor Tags 8.) Double Heart Pick/Cake Top

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22Sep2011

The Paper Color Mystery Solved for You!

What is bright white compared to white? Is ecru the same as cream? Is ivory kind of like ecru? All great questions and easily answered!

 

 

BRIGHT WHITE – stunningly white paper that’s crisp and clear. It’s the perfect prelude to a “white” wedding. Feel free to order a sample of a “bright white” invite and a “white” invite to compare. Example: Going Twice wedding invitation shown here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHITE – this smooth, almost vanilla-colored invitation paper has been the favorite of brides and grooms for decades. Sometimes called traditional white or soft white. Example: Snow White wedding invitation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ECRU – a subtle touch of creamy color gives ecru paper warmth, which is perfect for an elegant wedding. Ecru is sometimes called cream, but should not be confused with ivory. Example: Going Once wedding invitation shown here.

 

 

 

 

IVORY – close to white but with tints of yellow, cream or peach. We don’t use the term ivory for our invitations, but we do have ivory accessories and decorations.

 

Helpful Fact: Ecru comes from the French word écru, which means “raw” or “unbleached.” In the world of modern day weddings, ecru is simply a color. It doesn’t necessarily mean the paper or material is raw or unbleached.

 

Shop our complete collection of discount wedding invitations to see all of your options for bright white, white and ecru invitations.

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21Sep2011

The August Winner of Ann’s Bridal Bargains Shopping Spree Is…

Congratulations to Sofia of LA! Sofia signed up to become a member of Ann’s Bridal Bargains in August and was randomly selected to win the Ann’s $500 Shopping Spree! She can spend her $500 on anything at Ann’s – wedding invitations, ceremony accessories, reception accessories, you name it!

Sofia and her fiancé, Jongho, are just starting to plan a beautiful, 2012 winter wonderland wedding in crystal white and blue. The couple met each other at a party hosted by one of Sofia’s friends, and Jongho proposed at their favorite restaurant. Awww…

While the couple is just getting their feet wet wedding planning, they are determined to have fun and have vowed not to let it stress them out. Sofia adds, “Ask friends and family for referrals and don’t be shy to ask for help when you feel overwhelmed.” Great money and stress saving tip!

Congrats to the happy couple, and here’s to creating a beautiful, budget-savvy winter wonderland wedding!

Want to win September’s $500 Shopping Spree? Just visit http://www.annsbridalbargaings.com, and watch your email next month! Believe it or not, winners don’t always respond so we have to select a new winner. Watch for this subject line in your email: You Won the September Ann’s Bridal Bargains $500 Shopping Spree!

Good luck!

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19Sep2011

Satin Ribbon Rolls. The Perfect DIY Wedding Decorations

Satin Ribbon is a great way to decorate and accessorize, adding a pop of color to the ceremony or reception. That pop of color can go a long way, which is why bargain brides should check out 100-yard satin ribbon rolls — the next best thing to wholesale ribbon!

Just think, 100 yards is 300 feet, which equals 3,600 inches of satin ribbon all on one convenient roll. You’d have to buy ten, 10-yard rolls at your local craft store, and that only works if they have 10 rolls of the color you’re looking for.

 

Let your imagination go wild! You can do great things with that much ribbon. Choose from 15 gorgeous colors available at Ann’s, and don’t forget to check out personalized ribbon and curling ribbon. Even more ribbon options are coming this fall!

 

Here are a few Google search terms to help unravel your creativity.

• Ribbon Centerpieces

• Decorate Tables with Ribbons

• Ribbon Wands

• Decorating with Ribbons

• Make it with Ribbons

• Roses with Ribbons

 

What are you doing with ribbon for your wedding?

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