7 Ways to Recession Proof Your Wedding

As businesses brace for the possibility of a double dip recession, brides and grooms should plan for the unexpected when planning their wedding day: job loss, vendors going out of business, rising prices and traveling limitations.

While weddings still take place even in a down economy, brides and grooms are scaling back and trimming the excess from their celebrations. The numbers show the dramatic shift:

photo courtesy of Birdsong Photography

The average cost of a wedding dropped $10,000 in a year after the recession began. Last year the cost began to recover, rising from $19,581 (2009) to $23,867, according to The Wedding Report. But the latest figures show weddings are taking a hit again, with the average cost of a wedding for the first half of 2011 sinking to $21,277.

Scarcity of jobs, a sour housing market and high fuel costs are making wedding planning a challenge - for couples and vendors alike. Florists, caterers and bakers are feeling the pinch of rising prices and are passing those costs onto their clients.

But, there are ways to recession-proof your wedding and make your day of celebration a little easier on the wallet for everyone involved. Here are several ways.

1. Go off-peak. Choose an off-season month (January, February or November) to get married, and an off-peak day and time. Saturday afternoon and evenings are the most desired spots, so go for Saturday morning, or Friday or Sunday night to save money on venues and services.

Click to read more ...

Recipe Time : rice krispy canapés with yogurt & berries from "bite by bite"

I have to say that I love the mini creations from Peter Callahan of Peter Callahan Catering. And, now you can make 100 of his stylish little plates for any party with his new book called bite by bite. I recently made the Rice Crispy Canapés with Yogurt and Berries and loved how they came out. Forming the rice crispy bowls was a bit hard but it did work. They're the perfect mini little desserts and you can easily swap out blueberries for strawberries, kiwi, peaches . . . pretty much any kind of fruit would work.

Recipes says it makes 2 dozen, but I ended up with less - maybe I made my bowls too big :)

Ingredients:
1 tbsp unsalted butter
6 large marshmallows
1 cup Rice Krispies cereal
1/2 cup vanilla organic yogurt {I actually used soy vanilla}
2 pints fresh blueberries {I just went by eye and placed between 4-5 blueberries on each}

Directions:
- lightly coat a 24-cup mini muffin tin with nonstick pan spray
- in a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir with a non-stick spatula until completely melted. Turn off the heat and add cereal. Keep stirring until it's completely coated with marshmallow.
- working immediately so the mixture doesn't cool and harden, spoon 1 tsp of the mixture into each cup of the muffin tin
- allow the mixture to set up for 1 minute before removing them from the muffin tin
- arrange the bowls on a plate or platter and fill each with a little yogurt and top off with a few blueberries

You can purchase your copy of bite by bite at Amazon

Photos above taken with my iphone

Amazon is an affiliate with Best Wedding Sites

Real Wedding : a traditional wedding for an Alaskan couple in Washington

[Olympia, Washington]

Today's wedding features a couple from Alaska that loves the outdoors.
Photographed by Aric Becker Photography.

Vendors
Photographer: Aric Becker Photography
Hair Stylist: Ambience Salon
Floral Designer: Gwen's Creations
Reception Venue: Occasions Catering
Dress Store: David's Bridal
DJ: Music De-Lite the Wedding DJs/MCs
Ceremony Location: Grace Community Covenant Church
Officiant: Reverend Randall Thyberg

Shopping by Color : Navy Blue + Yellow Wedding Accents

It's Tuesday so that means it's time for the Shopping by Color feature. Today we're focusing on wedding accents {jewelry, accessories and more} in the lovely color combo of navy blue and yellow. Since this magazine is meant to be interactive, I'm calling all other designers to please leave us a link to your navy blue and yellow wedding accents for all to see. And, don't forget - we're featuring a specific color combo here - but each shop featured has many more styles and colors to choose from.

Ruffled Just Right - Kisslock Clutch | It's So Clutch | $64 | Ships Worldwide

Citrine Earrings - Pearl, Blue Agate Drops | Marie's Gems | $25 | Ships Worldwide

Navy and Yellow Custom Color Bridal Clip | The Headband Shop | $36 | Ships Worldwide

Bridesmaids Clutches in Navy and Canary | {AO3 Designs} | $270 for 6 | Ships Worldwide

Guest Book Wedding Wish Address Box | It's My Day | $56 | Ships to US + Canada

Love Bird Ring Bearer Pillow | Vintage Green Limited | $34 | Ships Worldwide

9 Feet Party Bunting Banner | Vintage Green Limited | $28 | Ships Worldwide

A blue and yellow Michigan Wedding with sparkling beads + candy

Alaina & Jon | Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

The beautiful wedding of Alaina & Jon {from Jackie Blair of JACQART} features the colors of the University of Michigan which was the financé's alma mater. The entire wedding was tied together with a monogram and the blue and yellow {gold} color scheme. The bride even handmade all her invitation packets. The reception was overflowing with amazing details including tall candlesticks that were draped with sparkling beads. And, for the cocktail hour, there was a candy bar in the wedding colors.

Vendors:
Photographer: Jackie of JACQART
Location: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Florals: Wafaa Gatie
Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid & White Chicago
Cake: Christine’s Cakes & Pastries
Beauty: Salon Noir
DJ & Video: Mike Staff productions
Cathedral: St. Hugo of the Hills Stone Chapel
Reception & Catering: Wabeek Country Club

Recipes : Cocktail Time . . . Napa Sunrise + Classic Peach Bellini

Eat, Drink and Be Married with The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley. As customized cocktails and desserts continue to be a huge wedding trend, The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley offers great DIY recipes for the bride that will help keep costs in check. The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley provides fresh fruit flavors in an easy to use frozen format that will make pulling off a grande fete a breeze. Today it's all about cocktails. Last Friday it was all about desserts.

Napa Sunrise
Dana M. Bruner, The Perfect Purée

- 1/2 oz. St. Germaine
- 1/2 oz. Perfect Purée Citrus Sensation™ Concentrate, thawed
- 1/2 oz. Perfect Purée Mandarin/Tangerine™ Concentrate, thawed
- Top with Domaine Chandon Blanc de Noir

In an 8 oz. Champagne flute, add the first three ingredients. Slowly top with sparkling wine. Stir gently, and serve.

Classic Peach Bellini

- 1 oz. Perfect Purée White Peach, thawed
- 5 oz. Italian sparkling Wine

Add White Peach Puree to a wine glass, or champagne flute. Gently add sparkling wine, pouring carefully to avoid foam-up. Stir gently to combine.

Inspiration Board : Navy Blue + Yellow with nautical touches

Today we are joined by Janna of SparklyLove who has created a gorgeous inspiration board in this months color palette - navy blue and yellow. I love all the nautical touches and isn't the knot with the grooms boutonniere the perfect touch? And, I LOVE the kissing fishies on the invitation suite.

Photo Credits:
1. Yellow Beach Ribbon: Project Wedding
2. Yellow and Navy Bouquet: MMD Events
3. Groom's Boutonniere: Meredith Perdue {}
4. Wedding Shoes:  Abby Jiu via United with Love
5. Smiling Bride: Serendipity Studios
6. Cake: Details Details via Style Me Pretty
7. Invitations: Branchville Studios
8. Yellow Dress: Holly Stalder

Much love to Janna for joining us today. Please be sure to visit her blog, Sparkly Love that started when she was planning her own wedding, which was celebrated in July 2011 with a beach wedding in New Haven, CT. Janna started blogging as place to share her DIY projects, planning best practices, and general wedding excitement. Now, after her wedding, she's sharing the lessons she learned, the inspiration she finds, and the wonderful work of vendors she loves!