The shop is now open!  http://www.etsy.com/shop/joannraydesigns PWer's always get 10% off! 

Few sneak peeks from my Alice in Wonderland themed inspiration to reality shoot for the shop.  Photos by Dreama Camphuysen Photography.

I started collecting photos never considering I would create a bio but I do my best to give credit where credit is due by referencing different photos, blogs, websites and vendors. If I happen to miss something, please let me know so that I can give the appropriate person the credit they deserve.  And in return please credit any photos you use of mine.  Thank you. 

Slideshow http://port44.com/richmondphotographics.com/ray/                                 

 http://amandasamford.zenfolio.com/p327954453

Our second flower girl cried more than I did.  When we asked her what was wrong she said it was just so sweet.

Yep that is me in the background on my wedding day waiting to get my hair done still working on the veil!  I'm still waiting on the one from the photographer of me finishing the last two inches while I'm in my wedding gown.

The completed product!

I started out trying to plan a $2000 wedding, but the photography alone was killing that so now I am trying to stay under $5000. 

Join my PW Group Freebies, Discounts, Deals & Steals.

The venue was hard for us to find.  We wanted something local, that didn't break the bank, and it had to be handicap accessible for my dad.  Dorey Park was the only thing we could find to fit all three.  Our ceremony will be held outside on the lake gazebo and the reception will in the barn.  I urge brides looking for something budget friendly to check with their local parks and recs.  That is where we found our venue and it only cost $250 for 4 hours if you are county resident and it comes with all the tables and chairs.  The lake gazebo is only $25 for half a day. 

Gazebo draping inspiration by Ashley Kohler Events, photo by April Smith. I found a cheap celebration canopy on ebay for the inside of the gazebo and will use window scarves for the outside.  It seemed to be the cheapest way to recreate it, and I like the lighter feel for our Spring wedding.

In the middle will hang this crystal chandelier.

This is something like the look I want.  If someone knows where these photos are from please tell me so I may credit them.

Since most of the guests will be under the gazebo and we will be standing right in front we will use something like this ceremony "arch" inspiration idea from Martha Stewart for our ceremony decor.  I am open to suggestions anyone may have on what kind of branches to use.  Or the second photo by Aaron Delesie on Style Me Pretty. 

I have 20 shepherd hooks that will line the way coming up to the gazebo.   

When we last visited the location the leg of my daughter's jeans got caught on the deck of the lake gazebo.  So I will have to have an aisle runner to prevent my train from snagging.  I am going to attempt to make a petal covered runner, but to cut back on costs I may have to have the petals in a swirl pattern.  It will look something like one of these.

With a large paper flower and paper leaf (or moss) R in the middle of the runner, photo by Jeffery and Juila Woods.

We will be having a sand ceremony using this frame. JohnsGirl0310's bio has a great description of how the frame works.  Bottles from Michael's and sand from dollar tree.

 Silver bride's baskets to hold programs and vintage hankies for tears of joy.  

My rehearsal dinner dress will be Jim Hjelm 5837 in white.  I found it on ebay from seller 1978_nyc_girl for $30 new without tags.  I don't know where she gets them but she gets a lot of Hjelm, Valenta, and Lazaro dresses.  Sometimes they are missing the sash or something minor but most of the time they are perfect with the tags still attached.

For the rehearsal my bridesmaid (and daughter) will be wearing Melissa Sweet style number 215 in leaf.  Another score from ebay for only $12.  I love that it has pockets!

Marisa 737, extra length in ivory with buttons added down the back zipper.  Ordered from Pearl's Place, please see my review before ordering with them.  After buying 8 dresses and trading up each time to include a store credit total out of pocket costs $200. 

*Update she's here and she doesn't fit, I have no one to blame but myself.  The extreme stress I have been over has causes to to fine comfort in food. But all is not lost, since I need to pay to have Pearl's Place's zipper error corrected anyway I am having a corset back put in.  I also did not get the extra length that I  paid from from Pearl's Place.  I have filed a complaint with the BBB. 

I purchased a mermaid crinoline off ebay to give a fuller look.

I hope to have the same bustle as gatorbride

Some of my favorite Marisa 737 brides

• http://www.projectwedding.com/biography/list/GatorBride
• http://www.dinofaphotography.com/blog/index.php/2009/09/philadelphia-pa-wedding-deborah-ron/
• http://zoomhaus.com/blog/2009/07/destination-wedding-with-chon-and-hemal-in-st-charles-il/
• http://smgmarried.weebly.com/
• http://wedding626.weebly.com/
• http://snippetandink.blogspot.com/2008/10/real-wedding-saturday-kelly-joe.html
• http://gracefulwhimsy.blogspot.com/
• http://fifteengrandwedding.blogspot.com/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/annieman/collections/72157600400883356/
• http://marryingthenavy.blogspot.com/

These photos by Dinofa Photography of Illinibride contain my dream veil, I can only hope to try and recreate something half as beautiful. 

DIY

6 yards of lace I purchased from ebay seller ni4fashion for the project.  

I was planning to make my own veil but this Edgardo Bonillaveil I bought from ebay seller dollbride for $24.95 new with tags was to good of a deal to pass up.  Please keep you fingers crossed for me that this will be the same color as my dress when it comes in.  Photos before the cap removal.

Lace cut in half and attaching to tulle.

Photos after cap removal and lace pinned.

Here are a few DIY links I found helpful if you are interested in making your own.

• http://diy.weddingbee.com/topic/miss-beagles-diy-veil
• http://diy.weddingbee.com/topic/mrs-spring-rolls-diy-mantilla-veil
• http://www.weddingbee.com/2008/07/31/diy-veil-20/ 

Because these are not in my budget.

I purchased Nina Electra in ivory but I didn't like them on me, back they went.  I ended up getting these by Paris Hilton from My Glass Slipper after seeing them in jennypaul87's bio.

To ensure my tootsies are extra comfy I order the runaway bride kit from Foot petals. 

Since the ceremony is outside I had to order clear solemates.

Silver sixpence brooch for my shoe from ebay seller elaine3080.  After my wedding I will lend this to PW brides http://www.projectwedding.com/post/list/joandcompany-s-sixpence-brooch 

Silver Sixpence in your Shoe. [for luck] Historically (i.e., dating back to the reign of Elizabeth the First in the 16th century), the Lord of the Manor where the bride lived would give a sixpence as a wedding gift. Later, the custom evolved to that of the parents of the bride presenting a sixpence as a dowry gift. Since Victorian times, however, it has become more of a good luck charm to bring wealth and happiness to the marriage.

By the way, the sixpence is traditionally placed in the bride's left shoe.

Hair flower Twigs & Honey- by Myra Callan for the reception.  Hand cut and curled goose nagoire feathers, stripped feathers, stamens and silk flower.  Buying from amanda6033 after her wedding.

Custom garter set (without the rhinestone piece) by Florrie Mitton

Trish McEvoy #9, Blackberry & Vanilla Musk.

He will be wearing a charcoal pinstripe Jones of New York suit from Mens Wharehouse.

DIY St. Florian cufflinks.  We will now be using these just for photos since FI bought a shirt with buttons.

FI's gift from ebay.

My MOH/amazing daughter.

Watters and Watters style 137 in mojito found on ebay from seller auctionbrokerage new with tags for $20.                        

Watters and Watters 124 in Mojito from ebay seller auctionbrokerage for $20, to cut up and make fabric flowers. 

                                                                                                 &nbs p; 

After seeing this photo in luna621's bio of her beautiful gown I am going to DIY something on the side similiar.  I bought this rhinestone applique from ebay seller gloryshouse7 that I will cut up, hand sew on some green beads and add a fabric flower in the middle.

We believe we have the most beautiful flower girls ever, one of them is our daughter.

Sweet Beginnings style number L503 in light ivory also ordered from Pearl's Place (please see my review before ordering with them).

Because our second flower girl was added in, it was too late to order the same dress, but I found a great deal from ebay seller baxter28 on this light ivory Sweet BeginningsL301 for free after my best offer, ebay rewards cert, and paypal discount code. 

They both will be wearing these from Payless, love those BOGO sales.  I wanted to get them both something that wasn't too dressy, that way maybe they could wear them again. 

They will carry vintage Leonard silver ice buckets.  I know that seems like a strange choice and a little heavy but when I found it, I fell in love with the shape and the $3 price tag. 

Ooops! After months of searching I thought I had found a matching bucket for my second flower girl on ebay and purchased immediately.  Lesson learned, always read the description!  But seriously who would have thought this bucket comes in different sizes.  To correct the problem one flower girl will carry petals in the small bucket and the other will carry the I Do cards. 

I want to DIY some amazing sashes for both girls, like the Vera Wang Audrey sash.

Will be wearing this suit from ebay, and this tie from Kohl's.

In this economy I didn't want anyone to have to spend a fortune to attend our wedding, so we decided to included clothing for close family in our budget.  I found this for the MOG new with tags on ebay for $35. 

My e-ring.

My wedding band

FI's wedding band, Titanium with Mother of Pearl inlay. 

Bracelet inspiration found on the Knot and will DIY my own, I am also making one for both of my daughters.     

 My location does not allow petals outside so I have been toying with the idea of making paper flowers for the aisle on the sides, here is the first try.

Plan to add a ribbon like this found on Style Me Pretty, photo by B & G Photography.  Ribbon can be purchased at www.masterstrokecanada.com I will DIY (YUDU) my own to say "You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on." - Jane Austin

I Do card inspiration for our vows.  I wish I knew who these photos belong to. 

Guest card pens, I found this idea on Pash Weddings. 

I found these hanging mirrors at Dollar Tree, I cut the "hanging" part off and will spray paint them.  Thought they would make really cheap/cute side table decor in the waiting areas.  I got clear glass tea light holders at Michael's clearance 4/$1.00 to go around them.

Bouquet Inspiration

These photos by Aaron Delesie on Style Me Pretty made me change everything.  The bouquet is perfect,  but the braidesmaid bouquet needs to be a little fuller, maybe add a few garden roses. 

Maybe some large branches with hanging votives.

Centerpiece inspiration by Ashley Kohler Events, photo by April Smith

Maybe half of the centerpieces to look like these.

I collected a bunch of baskets from work that were going to be tossed out after all the corporate Christmas food gifts.  I am thinking about dry brushing them white and making something like this at the front of our ceremony with the programs.

Our inspiration.                     

After going through our cake guy's book this is the one we picked.  Minus the dots, flowers and with the addition of a green ribbon. 

Inspiration for our cake stand came from Kristeen. 

Our cake server, a Pottery Barn but with an R monogram, a Christmas gift from my aunt.

I honestly did not want a cake topper, I just don't like them but when we got this present we couldn't say no, we will never find anything more special.  Let me explain they had a "holiday shop" at school and I asked our daughter (who is 5) if she wanted to go.  She said no, she wanted mommy to take her shopping for daddy and daddy for mommoy.  So I did not send any money.  On the last day of school before break she came home with a present all wrapped up with a brown grocery store bag, I thought it was something they made.  On FI's birthday she said can I give your Christmas present now.  We said no, to just wait 2 more days.  She said it really isn't a Chistmas present, you two just need to be together, and I don't have to open a present today, I just want to give you yours.  So we opened the present.  It was a bride and groom figure, she looked at us and said won't it just be perfect on the cake.  I cried, I had no idea that this wedding meant more to the kids than it does to us.  It took me two days to find out how she got it without any money.  The teacher took all of the kids to the shop even the ones that were not buying.  And when she saw the figure she had to have it, so she asked her teacher to borrow the money.  She has been giving her teacher her ice cream money everyday since to pay it back.    

Our reception food will be BBQ from Q Barbeque

Check out our caterer (Team Cool Smoke) on TLC's BBQ Pit Masters http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/bbq-pitmasters/pitmasters/tuffy-stone.html

The menu

• Pulled Pork Barbeque with Sauce 
• Pulled Chicken Barbeque 
• Beef Brisket  
• Q BBQ Sauce,  Sweet Sauce & Hot Sauce
• Martin’s Potato  Buns 
• Salad
• Cole Slaw    
• Potato Salad 
• Baked Beans    
• Macaroni and Cheese 
• Homemade Hush Puppies with Butter

Yes we are using plastic!  Plastic plates that look like these from BJ's.  After searching for coupons, catching them on sale and using gift cards from point rewards.  Total costs for all plates and cups was only $12.

Wooden flatware from EcoWare.

And chinet cups and cake plates.

DIY letterpress I built to press our invitations. 

Invitation inspiration.  I know I want Burgues Script font, and I will letterpress my own. I wish I could remember where I found the laser cut invitation photo.  I am going to try to cut the pocket fold with my cricut in the same way just a different design.  Or maybe name cut out belly bands like these I made for a friend http://tidbitsoftrisha.blogspot.com/2009/08/invites-are-out.html

Update: After thinking about it I have decided to scale down my invitations.  Most people are not going to keep them and with our small budget I can put the money elsewhere.  However I can never make things easy so I am aiming for a budget of 60 cents per invitation, before postage. 

I got these at Michael's with 60% off coupons and a small mypoints giftcard.  They came with the invitation, envelope, trifold, rsvp & envelope, direction insert, and ribbon.  Total cost before postage 34 cents each. 

Vintage hankies I found on ebay for tears of joy, $10 for 40 of them.

Table number holders/sign holders also found on ebay.  I got 14 of them from a bride who spray painted them silver.  Now I need to decide what color I want them and paint them. 

Chalkboard sign for entrance purchased from ebay seller ozark-trading, photo by B & G Photography.

Paloma Nest ring bowl from Etsy that says "Stop searching forever happiness is right next to you." It's a message from a fortune cookie we got at dinner years ago but I have carried it in my wallet ever since. 

Bridal March

• Jonathan Cain (Journey) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIyXWm_cw2E 
• Journey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgQZFnsqJJk 

Must play

• Memories of Us - Keith Urban (For us)
• Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong (Chris & Al)
• If Tomorrow Never Comes - Garth Brooks (Chris & Mad)
• Hero - Enrique Iglesias 
• Halo - Beyonce 
• Broken Road - Rascal Flats
• Armageddon - Areosmith
• Single Ladies - Beyonce (bouquet toss)
• It's getting hot in here - Nelly or Let's Get It on - Marvin Gaye(garter removal)

Considering

• Drift Off to Dream - Travis Tritt

If you're looking for some amazing vendors in Richmond, VA here they are:

Alterations: Nittaya's Designs and Boutique

Cake: Scott Henderlite

Catering: Q Barbeque http://www.qbarbeque.com/

DJ: Sean Smith

Dress: Pearl's Place http://www.pearlsplace.com/

DOC: Christy Harman, Celebrations of a Lifetime http://christyharmanevents.com/

Groom's Attire: Mens Warehouse http://www.menswearhouse.com/

Makeup: Rusty www.rustygoff.com

Officiant:  Retired Fire Chief Mike Harman

Photography: Richmond Photographics http://www.richmondphotographics.com/

Rentals: The Prop Shop http://propshoppartyrentals.com/

Venue: Dorey Park http://www.co.henrico.va.us/departments/rec/recreation-centers---facilities/recreationcenters/                    

• http://www.stylemepretty.com/
• http://www.weddingbee.com/
• http://tidbitsoftrisha.blogspot.com/
• http://thebudgetsavvybride.com/2009/04/29/wedding-program-inspiration/
• http://snippetandink.blogspot.com/
• http://www.inspiredbride.net/
• http://brideslittlewhitebook.blogspot.com/

Linen sizing http://www.letsdolinens.com/pdf_files/Tablesizechart05.pdf

Candy buffet 101 http://www.projectwedding.com/wedding-ideas/candy-buffet-table-101

Cheap candles http://www.candle4less.com/